Contact Us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right. 

450 S Michigan Ave, AUD 540
Chicago IL 60605
United States

312-341-2247

Illinois Labor History Society

Constitution & Bylaws

Constitution & Bylaws

ILLINOIS LABOR HISTORY SOCIETY
AMENDED CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

As Adopted August 5, 1969
Amended November 21, 1970
Amended October 30, 1977
Amended November 10, 1988
Amended May 1, 2006

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
Name

Section 1.  Name.
The name of this society shall be the Illinois Labor History Society (“ILHS”).

ARTICLE II
Organization, Purpose and Function

Section 1.  Organization.
The Society is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purpose within the meaning of section 501(c)(3)of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2. Purpose.         
The purpose of the ILHS is to promote and encourage the preservation and study of labor history of the Illinois Region, to arouse public interest in profound significance of the past to the present, and through these activities, to support the growth of a vital labor movement.

Section 3.  Functions.
The functions of the ILHS include the discovery and preservation of documentary papers and other materials which may help to establish or illustrate the history of labor in the region; and to channel such materials into the appropriate repository for safe keeping and accessibility to study and research by scholars and persons with a legitimate interest therein.

The Society acts to disseminate labor history information, and to arouse public interest in the profound significance of the past to the present

ARTICLE III
Membership

Section 1. General.
Membership is open to all persons who subscribe to the Purpose of the ILHS.

Section 2. Classes – Individual
There shall be two classes of individual membership, each with one vote in all matters.

a.       Basic Membership, applicable to students and persons of law income.

b.      Contributing Membership.

Section 3. Organization Membership
This membership class is available to labor unions and interested organizations.

ARTICLE IV
ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the ILHS shall be held at a place and time to be determined by the Board of Trustees.  Election of officers and other matters determined by the Board of Trustees shall take place at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE V
Officers and Trustees

Section 1. Officers.  The officers shall be a President, an Executive Vice-President, a Vice-President for Downstate, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected for a term of one year.

Section 2. Trustees.  In addition to the officers, there shall be 18 trustees who are elected in groups of six for terms of three years, each expiring in successive years.

Section 3.   Board of Trustees.  The trustees, with the officers, shall form the Board of Trustees.  The Board is empowered to do all things not reserved to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VI
Elections and Installment of Officers

Section 1.  Elections.
All officers and trustees shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast at the Annual Meeting.  There shall be not vote by proxy.

Section 2.  Notice.
Not less than one month prior to the Annual Meeting, all members must be sent an official notice of the time and place for the meeting.  The notice shall contain the name of the Chair of the Nominating Committee to whom suggested names of candidates for officers and trustees may be submitted at the stated address of the chair.  The Nominating committee shall select a slate for submission to the Annual Meeting.  Nominations may also be made from the floor.

Section 2.  Installment of Officers
Officers and trustees shall be installed at the Annual Meeting.  Officers and trustees who resign or fail to carry out their duties, may be relieved from office by a simple majority vote of the Board.  The Board of Trustees shall have the power to designate a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous

Section 1.  Business Meetings.
Business meetings of the ILHS and its various bodies, shall be governed by the applicable version of Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 2.  Dissolution of ILHS.
Upon the dissolution of the ILHS, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the ILHS, shall dispose of all the assets exclusively for the purposes of the ILHS in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational,, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county in which the principal office of the ILHS is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Courts shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE VIII
Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at an Annual Meeting by a two-thirds majority of those members attending, provided that thirty days notice of an impending change shall have been given to all members.

ILLINOIS LABOR HISTORY SOCIETY
BY-LAWS

As Adopted November 21, 1970
Amended October 30, 1977
Amended November 10, 1988
Amended May 1, 2006
Amended May 1, 2015

ARTICLE I
Membership and Dues

Section 1.  Membership.
Any person interested in the labor history of the Illinois Region who applies for membership and tenders dues thereby becomes a member.

Section 2.  Dues.
Annual dues for all membership categories shall be set by the Board of Trustees.

Section 3.  Arrears.
Annual dues shall be payable in advance, and members in arrears more than six months shall be dropped from membership.

ARTICLE II
Meetings

Section 1.  Annual Meeting.
As provided in the ILHS constitution, there shall be at least one annual meeting for the membership. Ten members of the ILHS shall constitute a quorum at the annual meeting.

Section 2.  The Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees shall meet at least two (2) times per year, inclusive of the annual Meeting.  Six trustees and/or officers of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3.  Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee consist of the elected officers and the chairs of any standing committees that will meet at least four times per year. Meetings are open to any ILHS Trustee.

Section 4.  Committees.
Committees as outlined in Article IV below shall as is determined necessary by the Chair of each committee.                  

ARTICLE II
Duties of officers and Trustees

Section 1.  President.
The president shall have executive supervision over the activities of the ILHS within the scope provided by these by-laws. The president shall report at each Board of Trustees meeting and the annual meeting on the activities of the ILHS.  S/he shall appoint the members and chairs of committees not otherwise provided by the Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 2.  Executive Vice-President.
The executive vice-president shall assume the duties of the president in the event of absence, incapacity, or resignation of the president.

Section 3.  Vice-President for Downstate.
The vice-president shall convene and chair the Downstate Committee and shall be from the Central/Downstate Illinois area.

Section 4.  Recording Secretary.
The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings of the ILHS, of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee.  The Recording Secretary shall also keep the records of the membership.

Section 5.  Treasurer.
The treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the funds of the ILHS and for maintaining adequate financial records.  The treasurer shall deposit all monies received in a reliable banking company in the name of the ILHS.  Monies shall be paid out by numbered checks signed by the treasurer or president.  The treasurer shall collect the dues and report on the financial condition at meetings of the Board of Trustees and at the annual meeting.

Section 6.  Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees shall have the power to conduct all affairs of the ILHS between annual meetings. The Board of Trustees shall decide matters of policy and perform such other functions as may be designated in the by-laws. Trustees shall serve on a committee or committees as outlined in Article IV below.

Section 7.  Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall also have the power to conduct all affairs of the ILHS as necessary between Board of Trustee meetings.

Section 8.  Vacancies.
The Board of Trustees has the authority to appoint a replacement for the unexpired term of a trustee or officer should a vacancy exist.

ARTICLE IV
Committees

Section 1.  Committee Membership and Participation.
Trustees are required to serve on a committee.  Trustees may volunteer for the committee, or committees, of their choice and the president has the discretion to appoint additional members as deemed necessary.   Non-Board members with specific areas of expertise may serve on committees but are not entitled to vote on Board of Trustee matters. The President shall sit as ex-officio on all committees pursuant to this structure.

Section 2.  Trustee Accountability.
Renomination to the Board of Trustees will be based on trustees’ contributions to the organization through their committee work. Trustees who cannot, or do not participate in the working committees may be asked to relinquish their position.

Section 3.  Administration Committee.
The Administration Committee is responsible for the financial and organizational stability and growth of the ILHS, which includes but is not limited to the following areas:  oversight of budget and finances, rent/office space, volunteer work and staffing, overview of database, facilities, equipment, bookstore business, communications, membership maintenance, library, archives, papers, records and the ILHS website.

Section 4.  Finance and Fundraising Committee.
The Finance and Fundraising Committee is responsible for stabilizing and developing the budget of the ILHS to support its operations, activities and program goals.  This committee will be responsible for the following activities:  overseeing the ILHS budget and investments, developing a strategy for the raising of funds through union contributions, individual contributions, union hall of honor and other fundraising events, grants and membership campaigns.

Section 5.  Program Committee.
The Program Committee is responsible for organizing, developing and running programs to support the organization’s diverse constituencies through its tour program, historic sites, developing grant-based programs, presentations, and outreach.

Section 6. Education Committee
The Education Committee is responsible for organizing, developing and running educational programs and workshops for K-12 students, teachers, college students, labor organizations, and other diverse constituencies on the topics of labor history, with an emphasis on Illinois Labor History.  The committee will also work toward developing labor history curriculum materials, acquiring books for the bookstore, collecting union artifacts and documents, traveling exhibits and research.

Section 7.  Downstate Committee.
The Downstate Committee is responsible for carrying on and developing fundraising and program work outside of the Chicago area to increase ILHS presence.

Section8. Ad Hoc Committees.
In addition to the above-enumerated standing committees, the President has the authority to convene, any ad-hoc committees deemed necessary in furtherance of the goals and mission of the ILHS.

ARTICLE V
Parliamentary Procedure

Section 1.  Rules
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the ILHS, except in such cases as are governed by the Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI
Amendments

Section 1.  Amendments. 
These by-laws may be amended at any regular or adjourned meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting, providing adequate notices is given to the membership.  All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing.