CONSTITUTION
LAST REVISED: 16 Jun 2013
Article I - Name
The Name of this Society shall be "The Kentucky Society, Sons of the American Revolution" (KYSSAR).
Article II - Affiliation
The Society shall be a part of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and shall in all respects be subject to its Constitution and By-Laws. KYSSAR recognizes all other State Societies as co-equal.
Article III - Purpose
The objects of this Society are declared to be patriotic, historical, and educational, and shall include those intended or designed to perpetuate the memory of men who, by their services or sacrifices during the War of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American people; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire their descendants and the community at large with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire and preserve records of the individual services of the patriots of the War, as well as documents, relics, and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the War; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and to carry out the purposes expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution of our country, and the injunctions of Washington in his Farewell Address to the American people. Whenever possible, this society shall in particular apply the foregoing purposes to Kentucky, its history, and people.
Article IV - Members
Section 1 - Any man shall be eligible for membership in this Society who, being of the age of eighteen years or over, and a citizen in good repute, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in his loyalty, and rendered actual service in the cause of American independence, either as an officer, soldier, marine, militiaman, or minuteman in the armed forces of the Continental Congress or any of the several colonies or states; or as a signer of the Declaration of Independence; or as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any continental, provincial, or colonial congress or legislature; or as a civil officer of either one of the colonies or states, or of the national government; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.
Section 2 - Application for membership shall be on forms provided by the National Society. Upon completion of the requirements, the form shall be filed with the Kentucky Registrar in duplicate, together with all required state and national fees. Upon approval as provided in the By-Laws, one copy with the requisite fees shall be forwarded by the Registrar to National Headquarters, and no membership shall be valid until approved by the Registrar General.
Section 3 - No person shall be accepted for membership-at-large. All applications must be made through a chapter.
Section 4 - Categories of membership in the Kentucky Society shall be those established by the National Society, including Life Members, Youth Members, and Memorial Members, except that the Kentucky Society no longer enrolls new Life Members at the state or chapter levels.
Article V - Life Member Trust Fund
Section 1 - There shall be a Life Member Trust Fund which shall be perpetual, and which shall be maintained separate and apart from all other funds of the Society. The Life Member Trust Fund shall be administered by the Life Member Trust Fund Committee.
Section 2 - All life membership fees shall be deposited in the Life Member Trust Fund and shall be invested by the Committee in an insured bank account or certificates of deposit of an insured bank, in obligations of the United States government or in publically traded corporate bonds and debentures rated AAA by Moody's or AAA by Standard and Poor Corporation, or, at the discretion of the Life Member Trust Fund Committee, funds may be invested by the National Society in a Special Purpose Operating Fund which has been created for the purpose of investing the funds of the various State Society Life Membership Programs.
Section 3 - No part of the corpus or principle of the Life Member Trust Fund shall be spent or donated for any purpose, except that an amount necessary to pay the Kentucky Society dues of all life members may be withdrawn. Income from the investments of the Fund shall be paid to the Kentucky Society in amounts sufficient to pay the annual national and state dues of life members. Chapter dues of life members shall be paid in an amount determined from time to time by the Life Member Trust Fund Committee. All interest in excess of the amount necessary to pay national, state, and chapter dues shall be transferred as follows: First Priority - An amount necessary to repay any monies taken from the Fund to pay state dues shall be paid to the Fund. Second Priority - Any surplus over the first priority shall be transferred to the Fund or to the Society as determined by the Committee.
Section 4 - The principal amount of the Life Member Trust Fund may be reduced annually by up to five percent to pay for any shortage in available funds which are necessary to pay the national dues in full, plus the state dues up to six dollars, and the chapter dues (actual chapter dues up to six dollars) for all life members. Available funds will be defined as all Life Member Trust Fund earnings from the calendar year prior to the dues year, plus any donations from life members for this purpose. A letter shall be sent to all life members requesting a donation at the same time that the annual dues notices are sent. Life members who cannot be reached by registered mail addressed to their last recorded place of residence or post office shall be removed from the Society rolls and the rolls of life members, and no dues paid in their name. Should such a member seek to become active, he shall be restored to the rolls and reinstated without penalty.
Section 5 - The affirmative votes of four members of the Committee shall be required to take any action regarding the investment or reinvestment of the principle of the Life Member Trust Fund.
Section 6 - Upon the death of a life member, all payments of his national, state, and chapter dues shall cease. Upon the dissolution of the Kentucky Society, the Fund shall be distributed with other funds of the Society.
Article VI - Officers
Section 1 - The officers of this Society shall be a President, President Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Chancellor, Historian, Chaplain and Surgeon. They shall rank in the order listed in this section.
Section 2 - In the event of the death, resignation, permanent disability, or removal of an officer, the Board of Governors shall appoint an interim officer to serve the unexpired portion of the term.
Article VII - Elections
Section 1 - A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President no later than three months prior to the meeting at which elections are to take place. The President Elect shall serve as chairman of this committee, which shall consist of no fewer than six members, drawn from at least three different chapters.
Section 2 - The Nominating Committee shall propose a slate of officers for the Society, a Trustee, an Alternate Trustee, any other elected position, and, when appropriate, a nominee for Vice-President General for the Central District. It shall inform all nominees of the duties of office, and insure that the prospective officers are qualified. It shall obtain from each his approval before the slate is presented to the Society. In making its selections, the committee shall give consideration to appropriate distribution among the chapters.
Section 3 - No later than one month prior to the meeting before the annual meeting, the Nominating Committee shall present its slate of nominees, which shall be sent to the membership with the call for that meeting.
Section 4 - At the meeting prior to the annual meeting, the Nominating Committee shall place in nomination the slate of officers and candidates for any other elected position. Nominations may be made from the floor.
Section 5 - At the meeting at which elections are to take place, the Nominating Committee shall also present for approval nominees for the office of Trustee and Alternate Trustee. Trustees and Alternate Trustees are formally elected and installed at the annual Congress of the National Society.
Section 6 - When it is the turn of the Kentucky Society to nominate the Vice-President General for the Central District, the Nominating Committee shall also present a nominee for approval at this meeting. The Vice-President General is further nominated at the District Meeting, and elected and installed at the annual Congress of the National Society.
Section 7 - A majority of votes cast by the members present and voting shall decide the outcome of the elections.
Article VIII - Board of Governors
Section 1 - The Board of Governors shall superintend the interests and control the management of the affairs and funds of the Society between meetings of the Society. It shall recommend plans to the Society for promoting its purposes, and shall prepare business for the meetings of the Society. It shall supervise all publications issued in the name of the Society. It may require the attendance of any member or any committee of the Society for consultation and advice. It shall further perform such additional duties as may be required by the Constitution, By-Laws, standing rules, or resolutions of the Society.
Section 2 - The Board of Governors shall consist of the officers of the Society, as enumerated in Article VI, above, together with the immediate Past President of the Society, the Trustee and Alternate Trustee, any General Officers of the National Society who are members of the Kentucky Society, and the president and one other delegate from each chapter.
Section 3 - In the event that a chapter president be unable to attend a meeting of the Board of Governors, he may designate a proxy. All other members must be present in person in order to participate and vote.
Section 4 - Each member of the Board of Governors shall have one vote.
Article IX - Meetings
Section 1 - The annual meeting of the Kentucky Society shall be held in the spring of each year, at a date, time, and place determined by the Board of Governors, for the purpose of conducting the business of the Society. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting shall be sent to all members at least one month in advance.
Section 2 - At the annual meeting, officers and other elected personnel of the Society shall be installed. Nominations shall be made for the position of Trustee, Alternate Trustee, and, when appropriate, Vice-President General for the Central District.
Section 3 - Each member of the Kentucky Society in attendance and in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 4 - Additional meetings of the Kentucky Society shall be held when called by the President or the Board of Governors, or upon the request of any two chapters.
Section 5 - The Board of Governors shall meet at the same day and place as the annual meeting of the Society, but in separate session, and no less than two additional times between annual meetings at a time and place determined by the President.
Section 6 - Any member of the Kentucky Society may attend the meetings of the Board of Governors, but only those designated as members in Article VIII, Section 2, above, shall have a vote.
Article X - Chapters
Section 1 - Any ten or more members of the Kentucky Society, resident in this state, may request a charter as a chapter from the Board of Governors. The members of the new chapter shall adopt an appropriate name for the chapter.
Section 2 - Each chapter shall adopt a constitution and such by-laws as are not inconsistent with those of the Kentucky Society or the National Society.
Section 3 - Each chapter shall have a President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, and such other officers as it may elect.
Section 4 - Each chapter shall meet at least once each year for the election of officers. All chapters are encouraged to meet more often.
Section 5 - Each chapter shall send two delegates, including its president when possible, to each annual meeting and meeting of the Board of Governors.
Article XI - Committees
Section 1 - Standing Committees of the Society must be approved by the Society or the Board of Governors, with its composition and purpose incorporated into the by-laws of the Society.
Section 2 - Such ad hoc committees as may from time to time be needed shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws.
Article XII - By-Laws
By-Laws not inconsistent with this Constitution or the Constitution or By-Laws of the National Society may be enacted for the further regulation of the business of the Kentucky Society.
Article XIII - Amendment
This Constitution may be amended at any annual meeting of the Kentucky Society, provided the proposed amendments have been sent to each member along with the call for the meeting. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members present and in good standing shall be required for the adoption of any amendment.