CONSTITUTION of NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF HISTORIANS rev. Aug. 2025, adopted March 2026
ARTICLE I: Name
The official name shall be the North Carolina Association of Historians.
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 terms. 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 X.
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 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.
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 Sec./Tres 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. 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.
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) 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 membership of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consist of three (3) elected members. 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 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. (3) 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 meeting, the President shall announce 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 shall 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.