16. Elections. The election of officers shall take place on February 15 of each odd year in accordance with the following procedures.
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a. The President shall notify the membership in the August issue of the Log that nominations for the coming election will be open September 1 of the year prior to the election. Applicants shall make their availability known to the Chairman of the Nominating committee and shall certify that he or she will serve if elected. The nominee shall submit a short biographical sketch to the Secretary of the Nominating Committee by November 1.
b. Candidates for all offices must have been members in good standing of the USCS for a minimum of two years. Candidates for President must have been at one time elected national office holders in the USCS.
c. The Secretary of the Nominating Committee shall forward the list of nominees to the Log Editor for publication in the December Log.
d. On or before November 1, the President shall appoint a Ballot Committee composed of three members who are not candidates for office and who reside in a proximate geographical area. One member of the Committee shall be designated as Chairman by the President.
e. During the first week in December of the election year, the Secretary shall mail to each Subscribing, Life and Youth member in good standing, by first class or air mail as appropriate, a ballot listing all nominees and and addressed reply envelope. Alternately, the ballot and reply envelope may be included in the December Log as an insert. In order
to be counted, all ballots must be received by the Chairman of the Ballot Committee before midnight, February 1st. Ballots mailed otherwise than specified shall be voided.
f. The Ballot Committee shall forward a written report signed by all members to the President listing the totals for each nominee, and the report shall be published in the March Log. In the case of a tie vote for any office, the election shall be decided by a majority vote of theBoard of Directors.
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17. Chapters. Five members in good standing are necessary to form a chapter. An application for a charter, signed by the chapter members and requesting the assignment of a number and suggesting a name for the chapter, shall be made to the President.
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a. Each chapter and its officer shall be amenable to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society at all times and to such regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe for the operation of chapters. Chapters shall submit to the President, annually in January, a report summarizing the prior year's activities and shall submit such other reports as the President may prescribe.
b. Each chapter shall be required to hold at least one meeting a year or the chapter shall be declared inactive. The President, upon direction of the Board of Directors by a two-thirds vote, may revoke a chapter charter for cause. All chapter names, numbers and charters shall remain permanent and are the property of the Society. The President may place an inactive chapter under the supervision of the Vice President, and all records, property and funds shall be turned over to the Vice President, pending reorganization. |
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18. Amendments. Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a majority of the Board of Directors or by a petition signed by a minimum of twenty members in good standing. The amendment shall become effective thirty days after the mailing of the Log in which it appears unless a majority of the members voting do not approve it, in which case, it will be void.
19. By-Laws. By-Laws which are not in conflict with this Constitution may be enacted by the Board of Directors. They will be published in the Log.
20. Dissolution. Upon dissolution of the USCS for any reason, all assets of the Society shall be donated to the American
Philatelic Research Library in State College, PA.
21. Effective Dates. This general revision of the Constitution was adopted by the Board of Directors in July 1971, and became effective December 1, 1971; Amendment (new Art 20) October 1, 1978; Amendment 2 (Arts 4,5,6,7,10,11,13, 16 & 17) December 1, 1985; Amendment 3 (Art 13) November 1, 1987; Amendment 4 (Art 10c) October 1, 1988; Amendment 5 (Art 4c & 16) October 1, 1991; Amendment 6 (Art 6) October 1, 1992; Amendment 7 (Art 18) November 1, 1993; Amendment 8 (Art 10) October 1, 1995; Amendment 9 (split of Secretary-Treasurer into two offices) October 1, 1996; Amendment 10 (# of directors to 9) October 1, 1997; Amendment 11 (Art 16 nominating/ballot procedures) February 1, 2000; Amendment #11 (Art 16 alternate ballot procedures) August 1, 2006; Amendment #12 (Art 4c eliminate family member category) September 1, 2007; Amendment #12 (Art 10b Treasurer requirements) October 1, 2008. Amendment #13 (Art 10b Treasurer requirements & Art 11 Immediate past president as officer, change # board members to 8, business via Internet).
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