The Century Chest Collection

Constitution and By-Laws of the Women of Eight-Nine

(Transcribed from the original)

CONSTITUTION
-AND-
BY-LAWS
-OF THE-
Women of Eighty-Nine
OKLAHOMA CITY, 1911

Constitution
Artile I – NAME

This organization shall be known as The Women of '89.
Article II.

The object of this Organization shall be philanthropic, and to create a feeling of fraternalism among its members, perpetuate the history of Pioneer days, and extend the hand of fellowship to each and ever '89er whenever and wherever the situation or occasion may offer an opportunity.
Article III.

Section 1. Any woman of good moral character, who became a resident of Oklahoma during the year 1889, or the wife or female lineal descendant of any man who became a resident of Oklahoma during the year 1889, shall be eligible to membership.
Sec. 2. Any female lineal descendant of an '89er, past the age of sixteen years, shall be eligible to membership in this Organization, but shall not be a voting member until she has reached the age of eighteen years.
Sec. 3. Applications for membership, containing all data of settlement in Oklahoma, shall be made in writing to the Recording Secretary, who shall present the same at the next regular meeting, when the application shall be referred to a Membership Committee and voted upon by a ballot at the next subsequent regular meeting.
BALLOTING
Sec. 4. A Majority vote of members present shall be necessary to elect an applicant for membership.
Article IV – OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be President, two Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.
Sec. 2. An Executive Board may act in any emergency that the President may deem necessary, in the intervals between the regular meetings of this Organization, or when any contingency arises where the exigency of the case will admit of no delay.
Sec. 3. Said Executive Board shall consist of seven members, including the President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer, the other four to be elected at the annual meeting.
Sec. 4. The Executive Board shall not expend to exceed $25 in any case of emergency without first reporting to a regular meeting.
Sec. 5. The regular term of officers shall begin at the adjournment of the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Sec. 6. The duties of officers shall be such as are implied by their respective titles, and such as are specified in this Constitution.
Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of this Organization, and all meetings of the Executive Board, and perform such other duties as appertain to this office.
Sec. 8. In the absence of the President, the Vice Presidents, in order, shall perform the duties of that office, and be ready to assist the President at any and all times.
Sec. 9. The Recording Secretary shall keep a correct record of all the meetings of this Organization and of the Executive Board. She shall present all names for membership, keep an accurate list of all members, with the date of settlement in Oklahoma, and present address; issue notices as directed by the President, receive all money, and pay the same to the Treasurer, giving and taking a receipt for each sum transferred.
Sec. 10. The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to the correspondence, and when requested by the President, prepare articles for publication and in every way assist the President in the furtherance of the work.
Sec. 11. The Treasurer shall take charge of all money, pay all bills, only upon warrants signed by the President and Secretary; keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, giving a brief statement of each at every regular meeting, and a complete statement at the annual meeting; and shall give a bond for a sufficient sum to insure the faithful performance of her duty.
Sec. 12. The Parliamentarian shall be informed regarding the rules of order, giving rulings when requested, and be able to cite authority for same. She shall conduct the annual election.
Sec. 13. All officers shall be nominated and elected at the annual meeting, and shall continue in office for one year, or until their successors are elected and installed. Nominations and election are to be by ballot.
Sec. 14. In balloting for officers a majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to constitute an election; if there is no election on the first two ballots the name receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped and so on until an election shall be made.

Article V – MEETINGS
Sec. 1 The annual meeting shall be the regular meeting in May.
Sec. 2. Regular meetings shall be held the first Saturday in each month at 2:30 P.M., beginning with October and ending with May.
Sec. 3. The Executive Board shall be subject to the call of the President.
Article VI – COLORS
The colors of this Organization are green and white.
Article VII – FLOWER
The flower of this organization is the White Rose
Article VIII – MOTTO
The motto of this Organization is: "An effort to make others happy lifts us above ourselves."

Article IX – QUORUM
The quorum of this organization shall be seven; the quorum of the Executive Board shall be five.

Article X – AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1 This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of all members present, the proposed amendment having been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting.
Sec. 2. By-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote.

By-Laws
Article I - DUES
Section 1. A membership fee of one dollar shall be paid by each on becoming a member of this Organization.
Sec. 2. Dues to the amount of one dollar per year shall be paid by each member, said dues to be payable at the annual meeting.
Sec. 3. Members in arrears for dues after the November meeting shall not be privileged to vote or hold office until same have been paid.
Article II – COMMITTEES
Such committees may be appointed by the President from time to time as shall be considered necessary to further the different lines of work that this Organization may desire to prosecute.
Article III – ANNUAL REPORTS
Each officer and chairman of each committee shall make a full report of the year's work at the annual meeting.
Article IV – ORDER OF BUSINESS
The order of business at the annual meeting shall be as follows:
1 Call to order.
2 Report of previous meeting.
3 Report of retiring officers and chairmen of standing committees.
4 Roll call.
5 Election of officers.
6 Address of retiring President.
Article V.
The order of business at the regular meetings shall be left to the discretion of the President.
Article 6.
This Organization shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
Article 7 OBLIGATION
Every woman joining this Organization shall consider herself pledged to investigate and report to the Secretary any case of serious illness or the destitution of any '89er that may come to her notice, in order that relief or sympathy may be extended with as little delay as possible.
Article VIII – SUSPENSION
Any article of this Constitution and By-Laws may be suspended, by unanimous consent, for not more than one meeting.
_____
NOTE: As revised, presented and accepted by the committee appointed April 22nd, 1911.
MRS. W. R. CLEMENT.
MRS. O. A. MITSCHER.