TEC by-laws and constitution were placed in effect as of September 1987.
First Amendment August 15, 1991.
Second Amendment August 11, 2000
Third Amendment August 2, 2002
Fourth Amendment August 18, 2006
Fifth Amendment November 23, 2010
Sixth Amendment November 22, 2011
Seventh Amendment May 4, 2014
Article I – Name, Purpose and Society Year
Article II – Membership and Dues
Article III – Officers, Governors, Governing Board
Article IV – Meetings
Article V – Special Provisions
Article VI – Amendments to Constitution and By-laws
Article VII – Dissolution
Article I – Name, Purpose and Society Year
SECTION 1. The name of this society shall be ‘The Elongated Collectors’, a non-profit organization.
SECTION 2. The purpose of the society shall be to encourage and promote the study, acquisition and exhibition of elongated coins and related items; to cultivate friendly relations among collectors and students thereof; to encourage research and the publication of articles pertaining thereto in official publications of the society and elsewhere; to encourage and assist new collectors and to foster the interest of youth in such material; and to encourage realistic and consistent valuations of such material.
SECTION 3. The Fiscal Year of the society shall be a calendar year.
Article II – Membership and Dues
SECTION 1. The membership of the society shall be composed of Regular Members, Associate Members, Young Numismatists, Honorary Members and Life Members.
SECTION 2. Individuals of good moral character and reputation who are interested in elongated coins and related items shall be eligible for Membership. Any duly organized Numismatic Club shall also be eligible for regular membership.
SECTION 3. Honorary and Life Memberships may be conferred by the President, subject to approval of the Governing Board, upon any person who has performed for the organization or the science of numismatics some particular or noteworthy service, and who is considered deserving of the special and distinctive title of Life or Honorary Member. Honorary memberships may be conferred upon persons that have never been a member of TEC; Life memberships may be conferred upon persons that have been or are currently a member of TEC. The member who has served as President will automatically receive a Life Membership at the close of his or her term of office.
SECTION 4. Applications for membership shall be on forms prescribed by the Secretary and approved by the Governing Board. Such applications, together with a remittance of the first year’s dues, shall be sent to the Secretary who shall issue a membership card identified with a membership number. Membership applications received after the date of mailing of the last issue of TEC News for the year (usually around the 1st of October) will have the next year added to their membership without additional cost.
Questions by the Secretary regarding admission or re-admission of any applicant or the suspension or expulsion of any member shall be referred to the Governing Board for a decision.
Section 5. Effective beginning with dues for 2015, the amount of the annual dues is determined by the members election to receive electronic or paper versions of the quarterly newsletter, TECNews. The amount of the annual dues for Regular Members electing paper newsletters shall be $15.00. The amount of the annual dues for Regular Members electing to receive electronic quarterly newsletters shall be $11. The amount of the annual dues for Associate Members shall be $6.00. Associate Members are those who live at the same address as a Regular Member and shall not receive TEC News or the coins that are associated with it. The amount of the annual dues for Young Numismatists shall be $7.00 when electing the electronic newsletter and $12 when electing paper versions of the newsletter. Young Numismatists shall be under 18 years of age, and shall receive TEC News, but will not be eligible to vote in elections or run for office. Honorary and/or Life Members shall not be required to pay dues. All dues shall be payable in advance, on a calendar year basis. Any change in the Dues structure requires a 2/3′s majority vote of approval by the Governing Board. Members outside the United States, defined as any location which does not have a U. S. Postal Zip Code, shall be charged $18.00 dues annually when electing paper versions of the quarterly newsletter and $14 when electing the electronic versions of the newsletter. Regular, Associate, Foreign, and Young Numismatists not paying their dues for any year prior to January 1 will not receive TEC News until such time as their dues are received by the Secretary. Those who have not paid their dues prior to March 31 shall be dropped from membership effective April 1. A member who has been dropped from membership for non-payment of dues shall be readmitted by paying the dues for the current year. The former membership number may be reassigned if it can be documented by TEC. Suspended Members renewing and New Members joining late in the year will not receive back issues of TEC News unless electing to receive the electronic newsletter.
SECTION 6. Any member violating the bylaws of the society, committing any unethical act in his dealings with others, unjustly defaming the character of any other member, interfering with the activities of the society, committing a criminal offense, engaging in conduct unbecoming to a member or engaging in conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the Society shall be subject to expulsion or other disciplinary action as hereinafter provided. Proceedings for such expulsion or other disciplinary action shall be initiated by written charges signed by the person making them. Such charges, with particulars thereof, shall be filed with the Secretary, who shall thereupon mail a written copy or summary thereof to the accused member at the last address furnished by him or her to the society. The accused member shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to enter a written defense to such charges. The matter shall then be referred to the Governing Board which shall determine the case under such rules and regulations as may apply. The Governing Board may dismiss such charges, or it may censure, suspend or expel the accused member. It may cause the result of its action to be published in the official publication of the society.
SECTION 7. Whenever the Governing Board is informed (through sources deemed by the Board to be reliable) that a member has been indicted or otherwise prosecuted for the alleged commission of a criminal offense, the Governing Board may suspend such member pending the final determination of such proceedings. In the event that the Governing Board (through sources deemed by the Board to be reliable) is informed that a member has pleaded guilty to the commission of a criminal offense or has been judicially convicted of committing a criminal offense, the Board may expel such member unless an appeal is pending from the conviction upon which the expulsion may be based and the Board has been informed thereof. A member may be suspended or expelled pursuant to this Section 7, whether or not written charges are brought against him and without compliance with the requirements of the preceding Section 6. The Governing Board may cause the result of this action to be published in the official publication of the society.
Article III – Officers, Governors, Governing Board
SECTION 1. The Society shall have a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Governors, all of whom are elected in the current period, and the immediate Past President who was replaced by the current President; These elected positions shall constitute the voting members of the Governing Board, which shall govern the affairs of the society. The society shall also have a Historian, Editor, and Webmaster who are appointed by the President (subject to the approval of the elected members of the Governing Board), and who shall serve as advisory members of the Governing Board. These appointed Governing Board members participate in all Governing Board discussions, but do not have a vote on issues brought before the governing board.
SECTION 2. The President, in 1971 and in each odd numbered year thereafter, shall issue a call for nominations of officers and governors in the issue of the official publication of the society published in January of said year. All nominations shall be made in writing to the Secretary until March 31st of said year. Nominations shall be made only by Regular, Associate or Life Members in good standing at the time of submitting the nominations. Nominees must also be Regular, Associate or Life Members in good standing at the time of nomination. No member may nominate himself. The Secretary shall promptly write to each nominee notifying him or her of all such nominations and requesting his or her written acceptance or refusal thereof. The use of e-mail will be considered an acceptable means of notification and acceptance, if the Secretary and the nominee have access to such methods of communication. No nominee may accept a nomination for more than one elective office in any one election.
SECTION 3. The Secretary shall cause a list of nominations and the actions of the nominees thereon to be listed in TEC News issued in April. The publication should include a biography, supplied by the nominee, not exceeding 300 words in length, of each nominee who has so accepted a nomination. Such biography should include a record of his or her services to the Society and to numismatics in general.
SECTION 4. The Secretary shall cause the names of all such nominees who have so accepted to be printed on official ballots and shall cause one of such ballots to be mailed, at least 40 days prior to the election year membership meeting, to each Regular, Associate and Life Member in good standing, together with an envelope marked ‘Official Ballot’ and addressed to the Secretary. Each envelope shall bear a different number, but the numbers selected shall be within the sole discretion of the Secretary. All Regular, Associate and Life Members in good standing shall have the right to vote. Young Numismatists and Honorary Members shall not have voting rights and may not hold an elective office. Voting shall be by mail only. Each voting member shall insert his ballot in said numbered envelope, apply postage, seal and mail the same. Such envelope must be postmarked at least 20 days prior to the date of the election year membership meeting in order for the ballot therein to be counted. The Secretary shall retain all sealed ballots unopened and, on the first day of the convention, shall deliver said ballots and a list of the envelope numbers selected to an election committee to be appointed by the President.
The Election Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) members of the Society who are not candidates for office. Such Committee shall tabulate only those ballots that are included in envelopes bearing numbers corresponding to those selected by the Secretary. Write-in candidates are not allowed and are not to be considered. In instances where more than one envelope bears the same number, the Committee shall endeavor, by an inspection of the envelopes and the ballots therein, or by other means, to determine which ballots are falsified. Any ballots received in election envelopes containing any documentation or material other than the official shall be deemed invalid and shall not be counted. The Committee shall cause all valid ballots, all envelopes and a report of the votes cast for each candidate to be delivered to the Secretary promptly following the tabulation.
SECTION 5. The candidate or candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the respective offices shall be declared duly elected. The President will announce the names of those duly elected at the election year membership meeting. Formal installation ceremonies shall be optional. New officers and Governors shall assume office following the close of the last business session of an election year convention.
SECTION 6. In the event that an office is uncontested, and a singe candidate is running unopposed for said office, the candidate shall be announced on the ballot as unopposed, but voting and tabulations for that office shall not be necessary. Candidates running unopposed shall be declared elected at the annual meeting. In the event that all candidates running for all offices are unopposed, there shall be no ballots mailed; The President (with approval of the Governing Board) shall declare the candidates elected by acclamation at the membership meeting.
SECTION 7. The Officers and Governors shall have the usual duties inherent to their respective offices in conducting the affairs of the Society and shall serve until their successors are elected. Such service shall be without compensation unless otherwise authorized by the members at any annual meeting.
SECTION 8. All Officers and Governors must be Regular, Associate or Life Members in good standing who have attained the age of 21 years. No member shall be eligible to be nominated and elected to serve as an Officer or Governor unless he or she has been a Member of TEC for the two calendar years immediately prior to the March 31st deadline for nominations in the election year. No member shall be eligible to be nominated and elected to serve as President unless he or she shall have previously served at least one complete two-year term as an elected member of the Governing Board.
SECTION 9. The President shall preside at all meetings and generally supervise all matters of business of interest to the society. In the absence of the President at any meeting, the next highest officer present shall preside in the order named in ARTICLE III, SECTION 1 hereof. The President shall have the authority to make decisions on routine and urgent matters of importance that arise in the period between meetings. Such actions shall be reported to the Governing Board.
SECTION 10. A vacancy in any office may be filled by appointment by the President, subject to the approval of the Governing Board.
SECTION 11. The President shall appoint such committees as deemed necessary or proper for the conduct of the affairs of the society and may appoint other personnel required by the society, such as Sergeant-At-Arms, Historian, Librarian, Legal Counsel or others, as deemed necessary. The Editor shall be appointed by the President, subject to the approval of the Governing Board. The Editor will have the authority to set advertising rates with the approval of the Governing Board. The Historian, Editor, and Webmaster shall constitute the non-voting members of the Governing Board. Other personnel serving in official capacity for TEC may also be considered as constituting non-voting members of the Governing Board at the President’s discretion (with Governing Board approval) The President shall be deemed an ex-officio member of all committees.
SECTION 12. It is recommended that the Treasurer and Secretary be bonded. Any expense incurred in bonding will be assumed by TEC.
SECTION 13. The President may issue awards in recognition of outstanding service or actions by an out-going or retiring officer, a subordinate officer or member. The President may also authorize a special recognition award to be presented to Young Numismatists on their birthdays. The Editor of TEC News may issue an award to members who have contributed to the publication during the year. The Secretary may issue an award to members who have contributed to the recruitment of new members to the society during the year. The scope and value of such awards to be established by the Governing Board.
Article IV – Meetings
SECTION 1. A meeting of the Governing Board and a meeting of the Membership shall take place during each Annual Summer Convention of the American Numismatic Association at the site of such convention.
SECTION 2. Each member of the Governing Board shall have one vote on any and all issues to be voted upon. All issues and affairs of the society shall be determined by a majority vote of the voting members of the Governing Board present and voting. Decisions of the Board shall be reviewed at the membership meeting. Such decisions may be over-turned by a majority vote of the members present.
SECTION 3. All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised.
SECTION 4. During the period intervening between Annual Meetings of the Governing Board, voting by written ballot mailed to all members of the Governing Board shall be permissible. Any proposed changes to the bylaws of the society must be submitted to TEC Secretary no fewer than 30 days in advance of the annual meeting of the society to allow proper review for voting at said meeting.
SECTION 5. The following order of business at membership meetings is included herein as a guide and convenience only and is to be flexible in application as conditions warrant: (1) Call to Order; (2) Introduction of visitors and celebrities; (3) Reading of Secretary’s minutes of last meeting and acceptance thereof; (4) Reading of Treasurer’s Report, and acceptance thereof; (5) Report of other Officers, and acceptance thereof. (6) Reading and acceptance of resignations; (7) Communications; (8) Unfinished Business; (9) New Business; (A) Reports of Committees; (B) Other Business; (C) Election of Officers; (10) Introduction and Installation of Officers; (11) Opportunity to present any new business to, or by the new Officers; (12) Appointment of Committees; (13) Adjournment.
Article V – Special Provisions
SECTION 1. The Society shall maintain membership in the American Numismatic Association and may make contributions to said association at the Governing Boards discretion.
SECTION 2. No debts shall be contracted by the Society without the approval of the Governing Board, except that elected and appointed officers of TEC may purchase stationary, postage, and supplies needed to needed to conduct normal business of those offices, including expenses incurred for the official publication of the society. Any club expenditures are to be accounted for in a written report to be read at the Annual Membership Meeting and placed on file for audit purposes.
SECTION 3. The official publication of the Society shall be entitled ‘The Elongated Collectors News’ and referred to by the acronym ‘TEC News’. It shall be issued quarterly during the first week of the first month of each quarter, if possible, and furnished to Regular, Young Numismatists, Life and Honorary Members in good standing. Members in the Associate Member category shall not receive TEC News individually.
SECTION 4. The privacy of our members is of the utmost importance to the society, and will be closely guarded at all times by all officers. At no time will members addresses be provided to anyone other than an authorized officer without the written permission of the member. Officers of TEC may have access to members addresses as needed for official business only.
Article VI – Amendments to Constitution and By-laws
SECTION 1. The constitution and bylaws may be amended by affirmative vote of not less than five members of the Governing Board, provided, however, that any amendment that changes the voting rights of the members must be approved by majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting of the Society.
Article VII – Dissolution
SECTION 1. Upon dissolution of The Elongated Collectors, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of TEC, dispose of all the assets of TEC by donation to The American Numismatic Association.
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