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171.311 Kentucky Historical Society.
The Kentucky Historical Society created by Acts 1880, ch. 244, shall have all the
powers and liabilities of a corporation and there is hereby granted to the society the
following charter:
I
The Kentucky Historical Society shall collect, maintain, and preserve authentic
records, information, facts, and relics connected with the history of the
Commonwealth and the genealogy of her peoples; and promote a wider appreciation
of the American heritage, with particular emphasis on the advancement and
dissemination of knowledge of the history of Kentucky. The society may receive and
hold by donation or devise, real or personal property to any extent and may, by gift,
loan, purchase, or otherwise hold books, papers, documents, historical memorials,
and any other articles suited to promote the objects of the society in the Old State
Capitol Building but all such property shall be held in trust for the Commonwealth of
Kentucky according to the terms of acceptance.
II
All American citizens, partnerships, corporations, or associations who shall evidence
their dedication to the promotion of the objects and purposes of the society may
become active members thereof upon their approval under regulations prescribed by
the executive committee, and the payment of annual dues in a sum determined by
the executive committee. Any person possessing the qualifications for membership
may become a life member on the payment of a sum determined by the executive
committee. The executive committee may determine classes of memberships and
establish respective rates of dues. Every member in good standing, including the
authorized representative of an institutional member, shall have the right to vote in
person or by proxy, hold office, and otherwise take part in the proceedings of the
society. Membership may be terminated by resignation or nonpayment of dues.
III
The officers of the society shall be a chancellor, who shall be the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, a president, first, second, and third vice presidents,
who shall be ex officio members of the executive committee. All officers, except the
chancellor, shall be elected for a term of one (1) year at the annual meeting of the
society in a manner provided by law, and the president shall be ineligible to succeed
himself if he has been elected for two (2) successive terms.
IV
There is hereby created an executive committee which shall consist of sixteen (16)
members, the officers of the society and one (1) person designated annually by the
State Archives and Records Commission. The sixteen (16) members of the
executive committee shall be divided into four (4) equal classes, so arranged that
the terms of one (1) class shall expire at each annual meeting of the society. The
class whose term expires shall be ineligible to succeed itself.
V
The executive committee shall execute all the powers and duties conferred on the
society, except those expressly delegated to the officers. It shall adopt bylaws at any
regular or special meeting. It shall supervise and direct the financial concerns of the
society, approve an annual budget and provide for and fix the salaries of employees,
subject to the approval of the Personnel Cabinet. It shall provide for reimbursement
of travel expenses of employees and may provide for reimbursement of expenses of
officers and members of the executive committee incurred in performing specific
duties assigned to them. It shall appoint a director, who shall be the management
officer of the society under the direction of the president and policies established by
the executive committee, and an assistant director, who shall assume the duties of
the director in his absence and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him
by the director. It shall establish and prescribe the duties of such other positions as
are necessary to operate the society, and all persons engaged to fill such positions
shall be employed by the director, subject to the approval of the executive
committee, which approval shall constitute exemption from KRS 18A.005 to
18A.200, and their work shall be under the director's supervision.
The committee shall provide for the publication or preservation of historical
documents and manuscripts; publish an edition to be known as the "Register";
provide by contract, subject to the approval of the Finance and Administration
Cabinet, for all the printing, publication, and distribution of reports, books, and other
publications calculated to promote and advance the historical interest of Kentucky
and augment the society's various collections at all times. It shall supervise and
direct the ordinary affairs of the society; appoint a nominating committee; and
determine other necessary committees of which the president and the director of the
society shall be ex officio members. The committee shall cooperate with, provide
assistance to, and coordinate its functions with those of the state Archives and
Records Commission. It may designate honorary members of the society and it shall
have the power to fill any vacancies until the next annual meeting, including those
occurring within its own membership.
VI
The executive committee shall hold regular meetings in January, April, July, and
October. Matters to be determined and discussed at such meetings shall be
furnished the director at least ten (10) days prior to such meetings in order that he
may prepare and distribute an agenda to each member of the committee at least
three (3) days before the meeting. Special meetings shall be held at the request of
the president or any three (3) members of the committee, in which case the director
shall give written notice together with the agenda of such meeting at least ten (10)
days in advance. In an emergency, nine (9) members of the committee may waive
the provision of notice.
VII
The regular annual meeting of the society shall be held in the Old State Capitol
Building on the first Friday after the first Monday in November. The meeting shall be
open to all members. Special meetings may be called in Frankfort or elsewhere by
the president or a majority of the executive committee or by the director upon the
written request of twenty (20) members of the society. Members shall have fifteen
(15) days written notice of the time, place and object of the meeting.
VIII
Twenty-five (25) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all
business at any meeting of the society, and one-third (1/3) of the membership of the
executive committee shall constitute a quorum at their respective meetings.
IX
The Chancellor of the Society, at his discretion, may preside at any meeting of the
society or the executive committee, or he may participate otherwise in any meetings.
X
The president of the society shall be the chief executive officer of the society and
shall preside over meetings of the society or the executive committee in the absence
of the chancellor or at his request. He shall recommend the appointment of all
necessary or desirable committees and he shall name persons to comprise such
committees, except the nominating committee.
XI
The vice presidents of the society shall preside in the absence of their successive
superiors in office at all meetings of the society and the executive committee. They
shall attend all regular and special meetings of the society and the executive
committee and endeavor to familiarize themselves with the conduct and operations
of the affairs of the society. They shall aid and assist the president in the
performance of his duties, counsel and advise the executive committee, and
endeavor at all times to advance and promote the public interest in the history of
Kentucky and her people.
XII
Nominations to membership on the executive committee and to the offices of
president, first vice president, second vice president, and third vice president shall
be made by a nominating committee or by any member present at the regular
annual meeting. The nominating committee shall consist of five (5) members, shall
be appointed at the first regular meeting of the executive committee after the annual
meeting of the society and shall consider candidates to fill vacancies in the executive
committee and offices which will occur at the subsequent annual meeting. The
nominating committee shall meet in the office of the society forty-five (45) days prior
to the annual meeting and nominate candidates to fill vacancies on the executive
committee and at least one (1) candidate for the office of president, first vice
president, second vice president, and third vice president, and file same with the
president. Upon the call for the election of officers the president shall promptly report
the nomination by the nominating committee together with all other nominations.
When more than the required number of candidates have been nominated for
membership on the executive committee or more than one (1) candidate for the
offices to be filled, the president shall call for an election by the vote of those
present, together with the number of votes cast by proxy, and a plurality of all votes
cast shall be sufficient to elect. Where no vote count is required the president shall
cast one (1) vote for each candidate and he or she shall be declared elected.
XIII
This charter may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and
voting at any regular meeting or at any special meeting of the society called for the
purpose, provided that written notice containing the substance of the proposed
amendments shall have been mailed to members not less than thirty (30) days in
advance of such meeting and the same approved as an amendment by the first
General Assembly, meeting after the action of the society.
Effective:July 15, 1998
History: Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 154, sec. 82, effective July 15, 1998. -Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 448, sec. 69, effective July 15, 1982. -- Amended
1980 Ky. Acts ch. 188, sec. 128, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1974 Ky.
Acts ch. 34, sec. 1. -- Amended 1962 Ky. Acts ch. 143, sec. 1. -- Created 1960
Ky. Acts ch. 169, sec. 1.
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