[NCAH] Circulation of proposed revisions to the NCAH Constitution to be voted on at 2026 NCAH Conference

[Eric Walls]

Greetings colleagues and scholars!

The Executive Council and Constitution Committee of the North Carolina
Association of Historians has been working on some updates to the
organization's Constitution over the past year and have come up with some
proposed changes that need to be voted on at our upcoming conference in
March. Our bylaws state such changes need to be circulated to the wider
membership four weeks prior to any vote. Since the listserv does not allow
attachments, I have copied and pasted the new proposed constitution below.
You can compare this to the current one posted on the NCAH website here:

https://www.nchistorians.org/constitution-and-by-laws/

If anyone has any questions or concerns relating to the proposed changes,
please make note and raise them at the Business Meeting at the conference.

CONSTITUTION of THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF HISTORIANS rev. Aug. 2025
& Jan.2026

ARTICLE I: Name
The official name shall be the North Carolina Association of Historians.
(abbr. NCAH
and referred to as “the Association” in these documents)

ARTICLE II: Purposes
The purpose of the Association shall be to promote and stimulate an
interest in and the
study of history through the encouragement of research, teaching and
publication by
historians to broaden and deepen the appreciation for historical knowledge
among
historians and the public.

ARTICLE III: Officers
Section 1: The officers shall be the President, Vice President, Historian,
and Executive
Secretary Treasurer. All officers shall be elected by the membership and
serve as
follows:
Section 2: The President shall be a member of the Executive Council to
serve for a one-
year term and be able to stand for re-election to an additional one-year
term if desired.
If the current president does not wish to stand for re-election, it should
be stated at the
time when first elected to the office. The President’s main duty is to
preside at
meetings of the Association and the Executive Council and to assist in the
formulation
of policies for presentation to the Executive Council and Association that
fulfill the
purposes of the Association.
Section 3: The Vice President shall be a member of the Executive Council to
serve a
one-year term. If they so desire, the Vice President may remain in their
current position
for one additional year, provided the current President is reelected to a
second term. If
the current President is not reelected to a second term or choices to serve
for only one
term, then the Vice President will succeed to the position of President. In
the event of
the absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice President shall serve
as the acting
President. The Vice President shall succeed to the Presidency upon the
expiration of the
term of office of the President. The main duties of the Vice President
shall be to
coordinate the program of the Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Program
Committee. [See Article VII Section 4 of the Bylaws].
Section 4: The Historian shall be a member of the Executive Council. The
Historian shall
be elected for a three-year term and be eligible for re-election. The main
duties of the
Historian shall be to collect documents and record minutes of all
proceedings of the
Association and the Executive Council and be responsible for the deposit of
the
Association’s records in the East Carolina University Manuscript Collection.
Section 5: The Executive Secretary Treasurer shall be a member of the
Executive
Council and shall be elected for a three-year term and shall be eligible
for reelection. In
the event of the absence or inability of the Secretary Treasurer to serve,
the Executive
Council shall appoint a replacement to serve until the next regularly
scheduled business
meeting. The main duties of the Executive Secretary Treasurer shall be to
maintain a
permanent institutional address for the Association, receive and disburse
all funds,
maintain complete records of the membership and of all financial
transactions, and
perform duties which may be assigned by the Association or the Executive
Council. The
Executive Secretary Treasurer shall report to the Association at least
semiannually
[once electronically and then at the annual meeting] and provide records to
the Historian
for institutional preservation.

ARTICLE IV: Executive Council
Section 1: The Executive Council shall include, in addition to the
officers, two members
elected at large to serve a staggered two-year term. They shall not be
eligible to
succeed themselves.
Section 2: The Executive Council shall take care to protect, promote, and
advance the interests of the Association when it is not in session. It
shall recommend
policies to the Association for approval and such duties as the Association
may assign
to it.

ARTICLE V: Annual Meetings
The Association shall have an annual meeting in the spring at a location
determined by
the Association in accordance with Article V of the Association Bylaws

ARTICLE VI: NCAH Membership
Membership shall be open to all persons regardless of race, creed, color,
sex or national
origin. Various levels of membership are designated in Article VI of the
Association’s
Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII: The Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Association shall be April 1 through March 30.

ARTICLE VIII: Quorum
A quorum of ten percent of the active membership of the Association as
specified in
Article VI of the Bylaws shall be present at the Business Meeting held in
conjunction
with the Association’s annual meeting to conduct the business of the
Association. All
business of the Association shall be conducted by a majority vote from
those present,
except as provided in Article XI.

ARTICLE IX Committees
There shall be standing and other committees of the Association according
to the
duties specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE X: Nominations:
The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers to the
Association at the
spring meeting.

ARTICLE XI: Amendments to this Constitution
Amendments may be prepared by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
Individual
active members may propose amendments or changes to the Constitution and
Bylaws
Committee. Amendments and/or Bylaws changes recommended by the Constitution
and Bylaws Committee shall, with the assistance of the Secretary Treasurer,
be reported
to the membership by electronic means four weeks before the next annual
business
meeting and shall be placed on the agenda of that meeting. The constitution
may be
amended by a two thirds majority of active members voting when a quorum is
present.
ARTICLE XII: Bylaws

The Association may adopt Bylaws consistent with the provisions of the
constitution.
ARTICLE XIII: The constitution shall go into effect upon adoption by the
membership
of the Association.

BYLAWS of NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF HISTORIANS
ARTICLE I: Name

This organization of historians and friends is the North Carolina
Association of
Historians. (abbr. NCAH and referred to as “the Association” in these
documents)

ARTICLE II: Purpose
The purpose of the Association shall be to promote and stimulate
interest and appreciation of historical knowledge.

ARTICLE III: Officers elections
The officers of the Association shall be elected by majority vote of active
members
present and voting at the regular spring business meeting.

ARTICLE IV: Executive Council
Section 1: The Executive Council shall meet as often as necessary to
conduct the
Association’s business.
Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Executive Council to protect and
advance the
interests of the Association; to recommend policies to the Association; to
hear and act
upon all appeals brought before it by members; to serve as a reception
committee to
welcome guests of the Association; and when vacancies occur, to appoint
officers and
committee members to serve until the next regularly scheduled election.
Section 3: The Executive Council shall approve the Executive Secretary
Treasurer’s
financial report for the past year and the proposed budget for the coming
year by the
end of each fiscal year. These reports shall be presented by the Secretary
Treasurer to
the membership for discussion and approval at the Annual Meeting. The
Executive
Council shall be responsible for obtaining and reporting an annual audit of
the
Association’s accounts. It shall recommend the Association annual dues. An
additional
important responsibility of the Executive Council shall be to aid in the
solicitation of
funds for the support of the Association, including from host institutions
for the Annual
Meetings. All financial decisions of the Association shall be made by the
Executive
Council with the advice and assistance of the Executive Secretary Treasurer
of the
Association.
Section 4: The Executive Council shall develop and disseminate publicity
for the purpose of attracting members to the Association. It shall seek in
every
way possible to enhance the Association’s public image; furthermore, it
shall undertake
to promote and stimulate the public’s interest in and for the study of
history.

ARTICLE V: Annual Meeting
The Executive Council shall select the meeting site and date of the
annual meeting of the Association in consultation with the local host
institutions.
Meeting sites shall be chosen from a list compiled by the Executive
Secretary Treasurer
of the Association under the supervision of the Executive Council. The date
and site of a
meeting shall be announced to the membership at least 60 days prior to the
meeting. A
business session shall be held at the annual meeting and for all issues
voted on at that
meeting, a quorum of ten percent of the active membership of the
Association shall be
present.

ARTICLE VI: Membership
Section 1: NCAH shall draw its membership primarily from North Carolina and
neighboring states. Anyone residing outside this region who is interested in
participating shall also be welcomed to membership upon payment of dues.
Section 2: Active Members are those who are current with their dues and/or
regularly
attend the Annual Meetings. Active members shall have voting privileges at
the Annual
Business Meetings.
Section 3: Student Membership is open to graduate students, members of
undergraduate student honor societies and students recommended by faculty
members
of the Association. Students who have paid membership dues at the student
fee level
shall also be deemed “Active Members.”
Section 4: Institutional Membership are those such as libraries interested
in receiving
Association publications
Section 5: Sustaining Membership, both individual and corporate, are those
who
contribute a sum determined by the membership. Individual sustaining
members shall
be considered an Active Member.
Section 6: Inactive Members are those whose dues are not current, but who
remain
interested in the activities of the Association. Their names and contact
information
may be retained for the purpose of distribution of Annual Conference
information, Calls
for Papers, etc.

ARTICLE VII: Standing, Special, and Ad Hoc Committees
The Standing Committees of the Association shall be open to active members
of the
Association. Elected members of the committees shall be chosen by majority
vote of
the active members of the Association at the Annual Meeting; no member
shall serve on
more than two standing committees. Reports of the activities of Committees
shall be
given to the Secretary Treasurer within a reasonable time after the
committee meeting
occurs. The President shall be an ex officio member of all standing
committees with
voting privileges.
The standing committees of the Association shall be the (1) Program
Committee, (2)
Membership Committee, (3) Constitution and Bylaws Committee, (4) Audit
Committee,
(5) Awards Committee, and (6) Publication Committee.
The term of office for elected committee members shall be for three years
and shall
begin when the committee is elected and run for three calendar years or
until a
successor has been elected. Initially, upon the election of committees,
procedures will
be developed that will allow for one, two, or three-year terms of office so
that one
member rotates off each year, and a new member is added.
Section 1: Program Committee
The Committee shall consist of three (3) elected members, and the Vice
President of
the Association who shall serve as chairman of the Committee. Working with
the local
arrangements host, the Committee shall provide a program for the annual
spring
meeting of the Association. Any Program Committee expenditure must first be
approved by the Executive Council.
Section 2: Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall consist of a chairman and four (4) other
elected
members. The chairman shall be elected by the Association for a three-year
term and
shall not be eligible for reelection. The Committee shall publicize the
Association and
shall actively solicit and invite people committed to the purposes and
activities of the
Association to become members.
Section 3: Constitution and Bylaws Committee
The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consist of three (3) elected
members and
shall be eligible for re-election. The Committee shall keep the
Constitution and Bylaws
under continuing review to see that they remain functional and practical.
When deemed
advisable, revisions shall first be presented to the Executive Council with
a request to
present items to the Association for their consideration.
Section 4: Audit Committee
The President, with the advice of the Executive Council, shall appoint
annually an Audit
Committee which shall consist of two (2) members who shall examine the
financial
records of the Association. The Executive Secretary Treasurer shall provide
the Audit
Committee with these records of the Association and provide such assistance
as
requested by the committee as needed for clarity. At the summer meeting of
the
Executive Council, the Executive Secretary Treasurer shall present the
Audit Committee
report.
Section 5: Awards Committee
The President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, shall
appoint
members to the Two Awards Committees. (a) Each committee shall consist of
at least
three (3) members, and one person shall be named as chair of the respective
committees. (b) Submissions of papers for the Awards be made to the
Executive
Secretary Treasurer who will distribute them to the respective committee
members.
Chairs will report results back to the Executive Secretary Treasurer to
share with the
Executive Council and then contact the winners with the proper award funds,
announce
them to the membership, and share the papers with the Chair of the
Publication
Committee.
Section 6: Publication Committee
The Publication Committee shall consist of a chairperson and three members.
(a) The
current editor of The Journal of the North Carolina Association of
Historians, selected by
the President with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, shall
serve as the
chairperson. (b) Other than the chairperson, the committee shall consist of
three
additional members, one of which shall also serve as the Book Review Editor
of the
Journal. (c) Members of the Committee shall serve as the advisory editorial
board for
Association publications. (d) Members shall be selected from among
volunteers and/or
nominees at the NCAH Annual Conference Business Meeting and affirmed by the
voting
members present, with the advice and consent of the President and the
Executive
Council, for three-year terms.

ARTICLE VIII: Nominating Committee
Section 1: This is a special committee that shall exist only for the
purpose of
nominating officers and committee members. The Nominating Committee shall
consist
of three (3) members, one of whom shall be the immediate past President of
the
Association, who shall serve as Chairman. At the annual meeting the
President shall
solicit potential nominees from the membership of the Association. During
the summer
or fall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, the
President shall
announce to the Association the names of members of the Committee. At each
Annual
meeting, the President shall present to the Association a slate of nominees
for
Nominating Committee membership. Additional nominations may be made from the
floor. Members shall be elected by majority vote of those present and
voting.
Section 2: At the annual spring meeting of the Association, the Committee
shall present
to the membership a slate of candidates chosen from active members for
office and
committee memberships which are up for election or appointment approval.
The slate
of candidates shall be made available to the membership not later than
registration for
the spring meeting.

ARTICLE IX: Rules
The Association’s parliamentary authority shall be Robert’s Rules of Order
Newly
Revised.

ARTICLE X: Amendments
The Bylaws may be amended at a regular meeting of the Association by a
majority vote
provided that any proposed amendments have been circulated to members
through
electronic means at least four weeks before the next business meeting.
ARTICLE XI: Prohibited Activities
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association
shall not carry on
any other activities prohibited to be carried on by (a) a corporation
exempt from Federal
income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or
the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law or
(b) a
corporation contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2)
of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954 or any other corresponding provision of any future
United States
Internal Revenue Law (c) nor shall any part of the Association’s net
earnings inure to the
benefit of any of its officers, directors, or members, or any other private
individual.

ARTICLE XII: Dissolution
In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization
(Association) will be
turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as
organizations described in sections 501(c) (3) and 170 (c) (2) of the
Internal Revenue
Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future Internal
Revenue Code, or
to the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public purpose.