By-Laws

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Membership shall be of eight classes:

a. Individual (Digital Only) Members – Any person interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible to become a voting member.

b. Student & Senior Members – Any full-time student or Senior interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible to become a voting member.

c. Individual & Family Members – Any family unit of two or more persons interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible for a single-family membership. The heads (2) of each family unit shall each be entitled to vote.

d. Business Members – Any business, organization, board, school, or library interested in the history of Annville shall be eligible. Each group shall be entitled to one vote.

e. Friend of FOOA – One step above “Individual & Family” members; a person or persons offering special support to the objectives of the Society; entitled to one vote.

f. Benefactor Designation – One step above a “Friend of FOOA” – a person or persons offering special support to the objectives of the Society; entitled to one vote.

g. Founder Designation – One step above “Benefactor” – a person or persons offering special support to the objectives of the Society; entitled to one vote.

h. Patron Designation – The highest membership category; a person or persons offering the highest level of support to the objectives of the Society; entitled to one vote.

i. Complimentary Membership. Granted at the discretion of the Board to individuals, organizations, or businesses that donate to Historic Old Annville Day or otherwise work to advance the mission of the Society.

Section 2. Dues

Annual dues for each class listed in Section 1 shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Payment of Dues

Annual dues shall be payable at any time of the year prior to the expiration date noted on the member’s address plate on the Society’s bimonthly newsletter, The Landmark. Members in arrears more than six months after payment is due shall be dropped from the membership.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT

Section 1. The Society shall be governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer (collectively, the “Officers”), and up to eight members-at-large.

They shall be elected for terms of two years by majority vote at an annual meeting or by appointment as determined by a majority vote of the Board. The terms shall be staggered so that no more than half of the directors will leave office at one time. The Board of Directors shall conduct all affairs of the Society.

Section 2. A committee on nominations, appointed by the president, shall select the slate of candidates. Nominations may also be made by any member of the Society prior to the balloting at the annual meeting.

Section 3. There shall be no term limits established for directors.

Section 4. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting in the fourth quarter of each year and shall begin their term January first (1st) of the following year. In the event of resignation or incapacity of any director, except the president, the vacancy may be filled by a vote of the Board of Directors for the unexpired term of office. In the case of the president, the vice-president shall complete the remainder of the term. If any director fails to attend three consecutive board meetings of the Board of Directors without legitimate cause, they may be removed from office and an interim replacement shall be appointed by the Board of Directors for the remainder of the term. All members are eligible to vote at the annual meeting and must be in attendance to do so unless prior arrangements are made with the FOOA Board.

Section 5. A candidate for election to the Board of Directors shall be a member of the Society.

Section 6. The president shall supervise the activities of the Society within the scope provided by the constitution and bylaws. The president, or in the absence of that officer, the vice-president shall preside at all meetings. The president shall report annually on the activities of the Society. The president shall appoint the chairpersons of committees not otherwise provided for and is a member ex officio of all standing committees. The president shall hold primary responsibility for internal and external correspondence, and share that responsibility with the secretary.

Section 7. The vice-president shall assume the duties of the president in the event of the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the president.

Section 8. The secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors, and, at the president’s direction, share with the president the responsibility for correspondence.

Section 9. The treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of funds and for maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records.

a. The treasurer shall make timely deposits in a financial institution of all monies received in the name of the Society.

b. Monies shall be paid out by numbered checks signed by the treasurer and/or the president; checks of amounts $500 and above shall require the signature and/or the written authorization of both the treasurer and the president.

c. The treasurer shall render a report at each board meeting and at the annual meeting of the Society.

d. The treasurer shall have the authority to establish automatic payments for utilities.

e. A biennial independent review of the financial records of the Society shall be conducted by a third-party approved by the Board.

f. The treasurer shall be bonded.

Section 10. Standing Committees. The work of the Society will be undertaken by the following standing committees, each of which shall be under the leadership and direction of a chair, who shall also be a Board Member unless decided otherwise by the Board; some committees may require a co-chair:

a. The Membership Committee shall keep an accurate and updated record of all of the Society’s members, and shall delete from the membership roll the names of those whose dues are more than six months in arrears.

b. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the organization and presentation of programs throughout the year.

c. The Digital Archive Committee shall coordinate the collection and provide for the preservation and accessibility of historical records, images and photographs, relevant printed materials, and authentic material objects illustrative of life, conditions, and activities in the Annville community in the past and present. All official records of the Board of Directors shall be deposited with the Digital Archive Committee after they have served the current purposes of the Board.

d. The Media & Communications Committee shall coordinate all activities relating to publicity for and the external face of the Society, including public relations, press releases, social media, the Society’s website, and its bimonthly newsletter, The Landmark.

e. The HOAD Planning Committee will initiate and coordinate all planning for each year’s Historic Old Annville Day.

f. The Finance & Fundraising Committee shall coordinate all activities relating to the Society’s finances and fundraising.

g. The Façade Grant, Property Pride & Historic Building Awards Committee shall initiate and coordinate all activities relating to the Society’s Façade Grant Program, Property Pride Award, and Historic Building Award.

h. The Train Station Committee shall coordinate all activities and maintenance of the historic Annville Train Station at 155 North Moyer St. in Annville.

i. The Quittie Creek Nature Park Committee shall coordinate all activities relating to the stewardship of Quittie Creek Nature Park, in collaboration with Annville Township, and provide regular reports of events and other goings-on in the Park to the Board.

Section 11. All committee chairs may call for ad hoc committees to assist in carrying out any projects, providing that the Board of Directors is informed of the sub-committee formation. No work may be commenced or activity conducted on behalf of the Society without the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. The annual business meeting shall be held in the fourth quarter.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the president.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall meet bi-monthly, or no fewer than six (6) times per calendar year, but may hold special meetings when necessary. The president shall call all meetings of the Board. A quorum of the Board of Directors is a majority of the combination of members and officers.

Section 4. Ten per cent of the voting members of the Society shall constitute a quorum at the annual business meeting of the Society.

ARTICLE VI. AWARDS

The Society shall present awards to encourage the restoration and renovation of Annville structures. These awards shall include:

1. Historic Building Award – An award shall be given annually, when appropriate, for a major restoration or rehabilitation of an existing property. An engraved bronze plaque, to be affixed to the exterior of the building, shall be presented to the recipient at the annual meeting. The recipients shall be selected by the Board of Directors.

2. Property Pride Award – This award shall be presented at Historic Old Annville Day, if possible, for improvements to properties in the historic district. Such improvements may include restoration, whole-house renovation, landscaping, etc. The Façade Grant, Property Pride & Historic Building Awards Committee shall recommend awardees to the Board of Directors, which will vote on whether to accept the recommendation and issue the Property Pride Award. A small framed award certificate shall be presented to the recipients.

3. Façade Grant Awards – Façade Grant Awards shall be presented annually or at a different interval deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The Façade Grant Assistance Program is designed to assist owners of private residences and independent businesses in restoring and preserving their historic buildings. The grant program will focus on the façades of historic properties within the historic district defined by the National Register of Historic Places but will also consider historically significant structures outside of that district. Façade work supported by these grants should generally be visible from the street and in the public view. The number and value of the grants awarded in any given year shall be determined by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of the members attending, provided that written notice was given to the membership at least ten days prior to the meeting. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors prior to notification of the membership.

ARTICLE VIII. LIABILITY

Section 1. Limitation of liability.

A director of this Society shall not be personally liable for monetary damages as such for any action taken, or any failure to take action, unless the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his office under Section 8363 of the Pennsylvania Director’s Liability Act, as from time to time amended, of any successor provision, and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness. This provision shall not apply to the responsibility or liability of a director pursuant to any criminal statute or the liability of a director for payment of taxes pursuant to local, State of Federal law. This section 1 shall be applicable to any action taken or any failure to take any action on or after January 27, 1987.

Section 2. Indemnification.

The Society shall indemnify any director (or employee or agent designated by majority vote of the Board of Directors to the extent provided in such vote) who was or is party or is threatened to be made party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including action by or in the right of the Society) by reason of the fact that he is or was an officer (or employee or agent) of another society, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding. This indemnification shall extend to all affirmative defenses and compulsory counterclaims.

Officers and directors of subsidiaries of the Society shall be deemed to be persons acting as an officer or director of another corporation at the request of the Society. Indemnification pursuant to this Section shall not be made in any case where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by the Court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness. Expenses incurred by a director, employee or agent purportedly indemnified by this Section in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Society in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Society. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 2 shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, employee or agent of the Society and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. This Section 2 shall not be effective with respect to any action, suit or proceeding commenced prior to January 27,1987.

ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION

Section 1. Dissolution shall be proposed by:

a. The adoption by the Board of Directors of a resolution recommending that the Society be dissolved voluntarily.

b. Petition of members entitled to cast at least 25% of the votes to the Board of Directors recommending that the Society be dissolved voluntarily.

Section 2. Dissolution Process

a. The Board of Directors shall direct that the question of dissolution be submitted to a vote of the members of such Society. If a majority of the voting members of the Society favor dissolution, the Society shall be dissolved.

b. The Board of Directors shall have full power to wind up and settle the affairs of the Society according to the stipulations of the constitution and bylaws. Upon dissolution of the Society, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Society, dispose of all assets of the Society exclusively for the purpose of the Society in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for historical, charitable, or educational purposes as shall at that time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE X. LIMITATIONS AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION

No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, the members of the Board of Directors, except that the Society shall be authorized and empowered to pay reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the organization.

No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Society shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Society shall not carry on any activity not permitted to be carried on (a) by 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) by a corporation contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

ARTICLE XI. RATIFICATION

These by-laws shall become effective when approved by a two-thirds vote of the members attending either a regular meeting of the Society or a special meeting called for that purpose, at least ten days prior notice having been given in The Landmark.

REVISIONS

Amended November 11, 1989 by Board of Directors and approved at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

Amended on November 18, 1999 by Board of Directors and approved at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

Amended on November 7, 2007 by the Board of Directors and approved at Annual Meeting of the Society.

Amended November 11, 2017 by Board of Directors and approved at the Annual Meeting of the Society.

Amended on November 12, 2022 by the Board of Directors and approved at the Annual Meeting of the Society.