FGS Bylaws Review and Workbook

Is your genealogical society a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies? If so, have you taken advantage of their bylaws review?

The California Genealogical Society is a member society and we had our review earlier this year. We received some great feedback and suggestions for improvement.

And there was unexpected bonus!

Roberta "Bobbi" King, Chair of the FGS Bylaws Review Committee, asked for permission to use parts of the California Genealogical Society bylaws as "good examples" in an upcoming revision of the FGS Bylaws Workbook. King wanted to use real examples of real bylaws in the workbook.

Permission was granted and I am thrilled to report that several snippets of our bylaws appear in Bylaws Workbook: A Handbook for New and Established Societies, Second Edition.

The workbook is designed to help societies create successful bylaws that prevent confusion, dissension, and disagreement. Whether large or small, new or established, societies can use this guide in planning, drafting, and implementing bylaws that guarantee a smooth-running organization. Whether a society realizes it or not, the most important document for its members is the bylaws. It is the only document that tells the members how the society is supposed to function.

Bylaws Workbook is available for purchase directly from Amazon.com ($4.99 + shipping/handling)

About the Authors

Marcia S. Lindley, an active member of the Arizona State Genealogical Society, has served a variety of positions including president, vice president, director and member of the Editorial Board. She was responsible for leading a group of society members in an extensive review of their bylaws. She is a staff attorney with the Court of Appeals of the State of Arizona and holds degrees in history and law.

Roberta "Bobbi" King was for several years a member of the FGS board of directors as well as serving as Vice-President of Administration and parliamentarian. King is a member of the bylaws committee and the bylaws review committee, for which she has reviewed dozens of society bylaws. She is associated with several Colorado genealogical societies, as well as a member of the National Genealogical Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She was recipient of the APGQ Award of Excellence in 2008.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Annual Business Meeting Postponed One Week

Saturday, January 21, 2012
1:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

The bylaws of the California Genealogical Society specify that the regular January membership meeting shall be the Annual Business Meeting "at which time the annual budget shall be adopted and all appropriate business presented."

This year's meeting will be postponed one week to avoid the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The Annual Business Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012, at 1:00 p.m.


President Steve Harris will preside over the meeting. Agenda items will include:

• treasurer's report from Laura Lee Karp and approval of the society budget
• report from the nominating committee by Linda Okazaki, nominations and election of new board members
• brief committee reports
• remarks from the president

Following the meeting there will be a member reception and refreshments in the Sherman Room.

In addition, the library will hold a used book sale from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Library Committee volunteer Arlene Miles reports some great bargains among the wide variety of used genealogy books and periodicals set aside for the sale. Donated books continue to be a welcome source of materials in the library and the society is selling those which are duplicates of items already on our shelves and some which do not meet the strict collection policy. Proceeds are used to purchase more books.



Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

CGS Directors, Officers and Duties

On Monday I reported on the slate of nominees to the board of directors to be announced and voted on at the Annual Meeting in January. The following is the relevant section of the society bylaws - Article V - from page two:

ARTICLE V: DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND DUTIES

Section 1. Directors
a. The number of directors shall be not less than five (5) nor more than twenty (20).

b. The last active past president, he or she consenting, shall serve as a Member of the Board of  Directors until replaced by a new past president willing to serve on the Board of Directors.

c. Immediate family members of Directors are ineligible for candidacy during the period of the sitting Director's term.

d. The term of each Director shall be two (2) years from the date of election.

e. Any vacancy in the Board during an unexpired term may but is not required to be filled by the Board. Such Director shall serve until a successor Director is elected.

f. Directors shall be limited to a maximum of three successive two-year terms, or a total of six (6) consecutive years.

Section 2. Officers
a. The Directors shall determine officers.

b. The officers shall be President, Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary.

Section 3. Duties
a. The President shall be the executive officer and spokesperson for the Society, preside at all meetings, and supervise all its business and affairs. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President may assign other duties to Directors as necessary. The President shall appoint committee chairs.

b. The Vice President shall have all the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

c. The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for the financial operation of the Society and serve as chair of the Investment Committee.

d. The Treasurer shall see that a proper financial system is maintained to record all receipts and disbursements of the Society.

e. The Recording Secretary shall keep a minute book of the proceedings of all meetings of the Society.

f. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence for the Society and maintain a file of all the Society's correspondence.

g. The Directors-at-Large shall be assigned duties by the President as needed.