CLAN MACQUARRIE
Society
BY-LAWS
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of the organization is to provide a way to re-forge the link between
MacQuarries and their Highland heritage in Scotland and to re-forge their links
with their world-wide kinsfolk in the clan. The aims of the Society are
educational and social.
Those born as MacQuarrie or a descendent there of or of related names are
automatically members of Clan MacQuarrie. Anyone interested in the clan may join
the Clan Society. The Society is designed for those who are actively interested
in their clan heritage and kin.
Article 2
Membership
Membership in the Society is reserved for any person of Scottish ancestry who
bears the surname of MacQuarrie, however spelled, and for the wife and
descendants of such a person. Any person related by marriage or adoption to one
of the above persons is also eligible. In keeping with Scottish traditions, all
others who wish to honor our Clan through their association with us are welcome
to join as a “Friend of the Clan.”
Through your membership in the Clan MacQuarrie Society, you can support your
Clan in its efforts to get the word out about our re-establishment so that we
can bring our kinsmen together and grow our membership. We have several hundred
years of catching up to do! And, you will be supporting the Society's efforts to
gain official recognition from the authorities in Scotland. With your help, we
hope to someday soon be able to speak of our Clan with the recognition it so
rightfully deserves. Additionally, through your membership in the Society, you
help to preserve the records of the Clan’s history and, to sponsor the Clan’s
presence at Highland Games
Membership dues should be paid annually on the date of your joining the society.
The dues will be $25.0 per person. This will include all family members. This
shall include a numbered membership card, a periodic newsletter. Ten dollars of
each membership fee shall be given to the state chapter for their purposes.
Article 3
Officers
Officers of the society shall consist of the following and have a term due for
reelection; (see Amendment 1 for duties)
Clan MacQuarrie Society Commander: As an interim measure, while no heir is
forthcoming, the Lord Lyon may appoint a Clan Commander to act as Chief for a
fixed period, or until the true Chief is found.
National President: 3 years
President: (each State Chapter) 3 years
Vice President: 3 years
Editor/Publisher: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Treasurer: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Historian: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Travel Coordinator: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Secretary: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Web-Master: Volunteer keep as long as he/she wants the job
Other officers as deemed necessary by the membership. An interim national
President shall be elected until such time that a Commander or Chief is approved
by the Lord Lyon.
Only the President and Vice President shall be elected all other officers should
be volunteers and they may keep their jobs as long as they wish. However, it is
requested that they find a replacement before stepping down.
Any officer elected or volunteer may be removed by the members whenever in its
judgment the best interests of the Association will be served. All members in
good standing (dues paid) are eligible for office.
Article 4
Accounts
All society accounts shall be audited once a year and/or at the change of office
holders by non-officers.
Each state chapter shall establish its own checking and savings accounts. They
shall also conduct their own fund raising.
Article 5
Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the Society or any chapter, or in the event it
shall cease to carry out the intent; objective and purposes herein set forth,
all the property and assets of the Society or chapter shall be transferred and
distributed to benefit the any remaining chapters or the closest Scottish
Heritage association
Article 6
Amendments
These by-Laws may be amended at any time by action of the members
Article 7
State Chapters
Each state/province or country shall maintain it’s own officers who will report
to the Commander/National President. They shall also create if so desired their
own by-laws. However, such by-laws shall not supersede the by-laws of the
society and a copy shall be given to the Society Secretary along with a list of
chapter officers.
Chapter officers shall be in line with the society officers. However, each state
chapter shall have as many officers as they see fit, but shall at a minimum have
a president, treasurer, and state coordinator.(see Amendment 2)
Article 8
Meetings
Every effort will be made to hold an annual Clan MacQuarrie Society gathering
hosted by one of the State Chapters. However, each state chapter should hold
it’s gathering at the Highland Games or other such event in their state. If
there is no Scottish event in the state then every effort should be made to hold
a meeting at their convenience.
Minutes and election results shall be submitted to the Society Secretary as soon
as possible. All members present shall constitute a quorum so business may be
conducted.
Each state President shall maintain e-mail address of those members who have
e-mail in order to conduct business, those without e-mail shall be keep in touch
with via regular mail, to include ballots and other such items deemed necessary.
The same will hold for the Central Society
Article 9
Voting
The vote of a majority of the votes cast by the membership either in person,
mail or over the internet shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter. A
date shall be set to receive all e-mail or mail in ballots before a matter is
decided. Any votes received after the cut off date will not be counted.
Article 10
Discrimination
This society will not discriminate on the basis of ,age, sex, religion, race or
orientation. Any State Chapter doing so will have its charter pulled and all its
members removed from the membership from the society.
ADMENDMENT 1
Duties
The duties and responsibilities of the society officers shall be as follows.
Commander;
To be determined once position is approved
Interim Clan President;
Shall perform all duties as the Chapter President except at the
National/International level.
Chapter President;
The chapter or State President shall preside overall meetings of the chapter and
the members. The president shall appoint or approve all members to work area
committees. He shall be an ex-officio member of all such committees and shall
have the power to vote at all committee meetings.
And other duties deemed necessary by the membership.
Vice President
The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President or upon the Presidents
written instructions, perform any duties performed by the President.
Secretary:
Shall keep full and complete records of the meetings. The Secretary shall also
maintain the minutes and election results submitted by the state chapters.
Insure that all ballots that need to be mailed to the members are sent and a
return date established. This may be done via e-mail or regular mailings.
Treasurer;
Shall be responsible to the Society for the collection and disbursement of all
monies belonging to the Society. The treasurer will provide to the members an
annual statement of the financial condition of the Society. The Treasurer shall
also keep on file the financial statements submitted by the state chapters. It
shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer to register as a non-profit
organization and to submit yearly reports to the state and federal governments
as required. The treasurer shall submit a yearly budget to the society officers.
Editor/Publisher;
Shall be responsible for the newsletter and getting it out to the membership
,E-mail may be used to do this in order to keep cost down. However, those
members that have not provided or do not have one the newsletter shall be mailed
to them. Work with the Travel Coordinator to insure that all details of any
tours or events are placed in the newsletter.
Historian;
Shall be in charge of the Clans history and genealogy. The historian shall
maintain contact with the state chapter historian in this regard.
Travel Coordinator;
The travel Coordinator shall develop travel plans for the society to travel to
Scotland, research the best tours to the homeland and act as a reservation
contact for such a trip.
The travel coordinator shall also be in touch with the state chapter coordinator
to advise the society of Highland Games, and other events around the country and
provide a list of places to stay near the event.
Web-Master;
The Web-master shall maintain the official Clan MacQuarrie Society web-site. The
web-master shall have links to all state web-sites if the chapter has one. Also
links to other sites of Scottish interest should be maintained, there should be
a message board where Society Officers and the general membership may leave
messages. Also contact information shall be available for all officers.
Officers may submit items to be posted to the site by the web-master who will
post as soon as possible.
ADMENMENT 2
STATE CHAPTERS
Clan members from any state or province/country wishing to establish a local
chapter will have the right to do so. The International Commander/President will
issue a charter to the group and welcome them into the clan.
Each chapter will elect their own slate of officers and provide that list to the Clan Secretary.
Each chapter shall do their own recruiting,
however, membership will be in the International Society and all dues will be
paid to the International Society. The International Treasurer will return
$10.00 of the dues to the state chapter.
Chapter officers will perform the same duties as the International Officers except at the local level and will keep the society informed.
It will be expected that each state/province/country chapter host a Clan
gathering for the entire Clan Society. The local chapter will also hold a local
gathering to conduct business and or other social events as they see fit. And
have a Clan Tent at Scottish events such as Highland Games.
Each local chapter will have a state/province coordinator to work with the
International Society to keep them informed as to their schedule of events and
other activities of the chapter and to act as a contact point.
Each local chapter will maintain the standards and goals set forth by the
International Clan MacQuarrie Society.