Bylaws - NHOH Lag

Constitution of Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag

(Adopted 08/24/96. Amended 08/03/02 and 08/07/04)

Article I: Name

The name of this organization is Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag. It was established in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 19, 1995.

Article II: Purpose

The Lag is organized for the following cultural and educational purposes relating to the Nord Hedmark and Hedemarken areas of Norway:

to help people learn more about Norwegian history, culture and customs and to aid in the preservation of that heritage;
to teach and assist people in genealogy research;
to collect and prepare historical information and data relative to immigration and settlement and to encourage research and writing of family, immigration and settlement histories;
to develop a library of resources, such as bygdeboker (farm histories) and Norwegian church and government records;
to develop and maintain a working relationship between the Lag’s members and organizations in the Hedmark area of Norway which share the Lag’s interest.

Article III: Membership

The Lag shall be a membership organization. Any person or organization with an interest in the Nord Hedmark or Hedemarken areas of Norway is eligible for membership. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish membership dues and other rules pertaining to membership in accordance with the by‑laws. Membership in the Lag does not constitute a contract with the Lag or any of the members, officers or directors.

Article IV: Officers

The officers of the Lag shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Additional positions may be established by the by‑laws.

Article V: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers, the immediate Past President, the Lag’s Chief Genealogist, the Newsletter Editor, and at least three members elected by the membership. The election, terms and duties of Officers and Directors shall be as set forth in the by‑laws.

Article VI: Dissolution

The Lag may be dissolved by a two‑thirds affirmative vote of members present and voting at a membership meeting, provided advance written notice of the intent to dissolve the Lag has been given to the membership. If the membership votes to dissolve the Lag, the Board of Directors, after paying or making provision for payment of all the Lag’s debts, shall dispose of the Lag’s assets in such manner as the Board deems consistent with the purposes for which the Lag was formed.

Article VII: Amendments

The Constitution may be amended by a two‑thirds affirmative vote of the members present and voting at a membership meeting of the Lag, provided advance written notice of the intent to amend the Constitution has been given to the membership.

Bylaws of Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag

(Adopted 08/24/96. Amended 08/03/02 and 08/07/04)

Article I: Name

The Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag encompasses the following districts and kommuner in Norway:

Nord Østerdal: Alvdal, Folldal, Os, Rendalen, Tolga and Tynset.
Sør Østerdal: Åmot, Elverum, Engerdal, Stor Elvdal and Trysil.
Hedemarken & Hamar: Hamar, Løten, Ringsaker, Stange and Vang.

Article II: Purpose

The Lag is organized for the following cultural and educational purposes relating to the Nord Hedmark and Hedemarken areas of Norway:

to help people learn more about Norwegian history, culture and customs relating to the Nord Hedmark and Hedemarken areas of Norway;
to teach and assist people in genealogy research;
to collect and prepare historical information and data relative to immigration and settlement and to encourage research and writing of family immigration and settlement histories;
to develop a library of resources, such as bygdeboker (farm histories) and Norwegian church and government records;
to develop and maintain a working relationship between the Lag’s members and organizations in the Hedmark area of Norway which share the Lag’s interest.

Article III: Membership

Any person or organization with an interest in the Nord Hedmark or Hedemarken areas of Norway is eligible for membership.
The Board of Directors shall establish application forms, procedures and dues.

Article IV: Officers

The Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer:

President. Duties of the President include:

serving as the principal administrative officer of the Lag and maintaining general oversight of the Lag’s activities with the objective of seeing that the mission of the Lag is being accomplished;
convening and presiding at meetings of the membership and of the Board of Directors and, in cooperation with the Board or others as necessary, preparing agendas for such meetings;
appointing the members of the Lag’s committees, subject to approval by the Board of Directors;
consulting with other officers, board members and committee members to assure that the business of the Lag is being conducted effectively.

Vice President. Duties of the Vice President include:

assuming the duties of President when the President is not able to serve;
serving as a consultant to and liaison with committees not served by another Director.

Secretary. Duties of the Secretary include:

preparing and distributing minutes of Board and Membership meetings;
maintaining copies of minutes and other official Lag documents;
preparing and distributing notices of Lag and Board meetings;
handling official correspondence in cooperation with the other Officers and Board members.

Treasurer. Duties of the Treasurer include:

receiving and recording all income of the Lag and making deposits in an appropriate bank account;
recording and paying the Lag’s bills in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors;
presenting a financial report at the end of each fiscal year and at the Lag’s Annual Meeting and preparing and presenting such interim financial reports as may be requested by the Board of Directors;
keeping the Membership Committee apprised of membership status, in particular, lapsed or delinquent status.

Article V: Board of Directors

The affairs of the Lag are managed by its Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors consists of the four Officers, the Immediate Past President, the Lag’s Chief Genealogist, the Newsletter Editor and three Directors elected by the membership.
The Board shall determine when and where to meet. Five members constitute a quorum for doing business.

Article VI: Elections

Officers and Directors are elected by vote of the members at the Annual Business Meeting.
Elected Officers serve for one year or until their successors are elected. The three Directors serve staggered 3‑year terms or until their successors are elected. Terms of office for newly‑elected Officers and Directors begin with the close of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected.
The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy that occurs during a term of office.

Article VII: Committees

The Lag has the following standing committees whose listed responsibilities may be expanded by the Board of Directors if the Board deems it necessary for the effective conduct of the Lag’s business:

Annual Stevne Program Committee. The Committee proposes and prepares programs for the Lag’s Annual Stevne and for any other Lag membership meetings and, in general, takes the steps necessary to assure that its programs are supportive of the Lag’s purposes and are successfully implemented. The Committee also recommends locations, times and dates for membership meetings.
Audit Committee. The Committee conducts an annual audit of the financial records of the Lag and prepares an audit report for the Board.
Genealogy Committee. The Committee maintains an inventory of genealogical records and assesses the genealogical interests and needs of the Lag’s members. It works with the Annual Stevne Program Committee in conducting genealogy sessions. It responds to genealogical inquiries or refers them to the appropriate person for response. The President shall appoint a Chief Genealogist for the Lag who will also serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
History and Heritage Committee. Through various means, the Committee collects historical information and informs members of the history, heritage, culture and traditions of the various districts and kommuner in Norway encompassed by the Lag and maintains the Lag’s historical artifacts.
Membership Committee. The Committee is responsible for membership development and recruitment and develops procedures for recruiting new members. The Committee maintains a current membership list and informs the Board of Directors of membership status. It develops a method for informing members of potential lapse of dues.
Newsletter Committee. The Committee assures that newsletters and other publications of the Lag are published in a timely fashion with quality editing and workmanship.
Nominating Committee. The Committee presents a slate of Officers and Directors for election at the Annual Business Meeting in accordance with the Constitution and By‑laws.

The Board of Directors may authorize the appointment of temporary ad hoc committees to meet specific needs of the Lag. The existence of such a committee terminates when its purpose has been fulfilled or at such time as is fixed by the Board.

Article VIII: Membership Meetings

There shall be an Annual Stevne and an Annual Business Meeting. The meetings normally will be held concurrently each summer, but the Board of Directors may schedule either of the meetings at another time if needed.
The Annual Stevne shall be educational in accordance with the purposes of the Lag.
The Annual Business Meeting shall include the election of Officers and Directors and any other public business of the Lag.
Reports of the Annual Stevne and Annual Business Meeting will be published in subsequent Newsletters.

Article IX: Miscellaneous

These By‑laws may be amended, repealed or added to by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of members voting at an Annual Business Meeting.
The Lag’s fiscal year is the calendar year.
The Membership Year is the calendar year. Membership dues are payable in advance of the calendar year to which they apply. Members whose dues for the current year have not been paid by August 15 shall be notified by the Treasurer that their membership will lapse unless the dues are received by September 30. New members who apply for membership and pay dues prior to the start of the Annual Stevne shall have their dues credited as if they had paid their dues at the beginning of the current year. New members who join during the Annual Stevne or later in the year will have their dues credited as if they had paid dues at the beginning of the following year.