RED RIVER CHAPTER
ARKANSAS ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
DECEMBER 2017
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I : NAME
Section 1: The name of the organization shall be renamed “Red River Chapter”, a chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society (AAS).
ARTICLE II: OBJECT AND PUPOSE
Section 1: The object and purpose of this organization is to:
Unite people interested in learning, studying, and preserving the archeology of Arkansas both historic and prehistoric.
Establish, support, and maintain a venue (meetings, lectures, or events) to educate chapter members, the public, and students of Southern Arkansas University on archeology, anthropology, and history.
Support the work and mission of the Arkansas Archeological Society and the Arkansas Archeological Survey (both on a state and local station level).
Ethically train and educate chapter members toward the ability to volunteer and support the mission of the Arkansas Archeological Society and Arkansas Archeological Survey (both on a state and local station level).
Record and report to the Arkansas Archeological Survey, through the appropriate Survey Station, the location of sites or potential sites and other information considered of interest to an understanding of Arkansas’ past.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership shall be open to individual who are in sympathy with the objectives and purposes of this organization and of the Arkansas Archeological Society.
Section 2: All enrolled members have voting privileges.
Section 3: Members under the age of 16 must be accompanied on all Chapter activities by an adult who takes full responsibility for their conduct and safety.
Section 4: All active members of this Chapter shall be encouraged to become members of the Arkansas Archeological Society and would thereby receive all privileges of that membership. All members of this Chapter will adhere to the bylaws and rules of the Arkansas Archeological Society, including Article VII of the Constitution and By-laws of the Society, the Code of Ethics.
Section 5: Arkansas Archeological Society dues will be sent to the Central Office by each individual.
Section 6: The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain the Chapter membership list.
Section 7: Chapter membership enrollment shall be established by written or email confirmation.
ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION
Section 1: The officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 2: The officers shall be elected by the membership at large and serve for one year with a maximum tenure of three consecutive terms.
Section 3: The Executive Committee of this Chapter shall be composed of all officers elected by the membership at large, plus the immediate Past President. Each member shall have one vote.
Section 4: All members of the Executive Committee must be members of the Arkansas Archeological Society.
ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: Each officer shall exercise all duties and responsibilities commonly associated with the office.
Section 2: The President shall preside over all meetings of this organization according to Roberts Rules of Order. The President shall appoint members of the organization to any special committees deemed necessary. And the President shall ensure the Chapter does not waver from its objectives and purposes.
Section 3: The Vice-President shall serve as Program Chair for the organization’s meetings and other appropriate duties assigned by the President. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice-President shall preside at Executive Committee and Regular meetings and serve as Interim President. The order of secession goes: President, Vice-President, to Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 4: The Secretary/Treasurer shall compile the minutes of each meeting of the organization and any committee meeting.
Section 5: The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive and administer the finances of the organization. Proper records shall be maintained, which shall be open at all times for inspection be the Executive Committee. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain the membership list and provide the mailing list for any newsletters, emails, Facebook, and notices sent to members.
Section 6: Two members of the Executive Committee present and voting shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section 1: The Chapter shall meet regularly on the 2nd Tuesday of each month during the Fall and Spring semesters of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas. The December meeting will consist of a pot luck holiday season dinner, officer elections, and an archeological lecture.
Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the President on approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Notice of all the meetings must be given to all members one week in advance of the meeting.
Section 4: All meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VII: FINANCES
Section 1: The fiscal year of this Chapter shall begin on January 1st.
Section 2: The Secretary/Treasurer shall be held responsible for the proper administration of the funds of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall make a semi-annual report to the membership on Chapter finances.
ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS
Section 1: The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Executive Committee. A slate of officers shall be presented at the November meeting. Nominations from the floor can also be accepted. Election of officers shall be held at the December meeting. Elected officers shall assume office January 1st.
ARTICLE IX: RESPONSIBILITY
Section 1: The Red River Chapter and its officers and members assume no responsibilities for any accident which might occur on any field trip or during any other activity of the Chapter.
Section 2: Each individual member or guest, by their presence, hereby releases the Chapter, its officers, and the Arkansas Archeological Society from all responsibilities for any accident or injury which might occur. Any visitor or guest will sign a waiver before proceeding on any field trip or activity.
ARTICLE X: ETHICS
Section 1: All Chapter members shall not willfully destroy or distort archeological data, nor buy, sell or barter artifacts derived from archeological sites for personal gain. All Chapter members should encourage the preservation of sites and actively discourage looting and willful destruction of such sites. Artifacts recovered during any Chapter or Society sponsored excavation or field work shall become property of the State of Arkansas, or Federal Government, as appropriate.
Section 2: All Chapter members will follow and obey ARTICLE VII –Ethics of the CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE ARKANSAS ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Section 3: Any form of discrimination during Chapter activities based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or economic status will not be tolerated.
ARTICLE XI: LEGACY
Section 1: This Chapter is the heir and continuation of the Arkansas Archeological Society’s Kadohadatcho Chapter started by Dr. F.F. Schambach, of the Arkansas Archeological Survey, with a group of archeologically interested locals in 1970. Only the Chapter name and Constitution/By-laws were changed and updated in December 2017 to reflect modern clerical, ethical, and archeological concerns.
Section 2: All total assets of the Kadohadatcho Chapter, including funds, publications, equipment, or other things of value continue or convey ownership to the Chapter, newly renamed Red River Chapter.
ARTICLE XII: POWERS
Section 1: In the event of the dissolution of this Chapter, the total assets of the Chapter, including funds, publications, equipment or other things of value shall be given free and without encumbrance to the Arkansas Archeological Society.
ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
Section 1: The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Chapter by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, provided a written notice of the intention to do so has been sent to the membership ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
