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                                By-Laws (Approved August 20, 2007)

Article 1: Name

The legal name of the organization will be the Trail of Florida’s Indian Heritage, Inc., simplified in the By-Laws as “the Trail.”

Article 2:  Purpose

The Trail will be a network of archaeological sites, history museums, educational institutions, research centers, historical interpreters, other allied nonprofit organizations and commercial businesses and individuals who will work cooperatively to support the Trail mission statement.

The Trail of Florida’s Indian Heritage mission statement:

-      promoting responsible site visitation and

-      public education of Florida’s Indian heritage.

Article 3:  Membership

3.1        Classes of Trail Membership

There will be the following classes of membership:

Individual, open to any person meeting the qualifications for membership and paying the required annual dues for this class of membership.

Non-profit Organization: open to any nonprofit organization meeting the qualifications for membership and paying the required annual dues for this class of membership.

Site/Independent Historical Interpreter: open to any publicly-accessible site or historical interpreter meeting the qualifications for membership, completing an application form that is approved by the Trail Board or its designated Committee and paying the required annual dues for this class of membership.

Sponsor: These are CVB’s and for profit organizations including CRM firms who desire to support the Trail and its mission, and pay the annual dues for this class of membership.

3.2        Qualifications for Membership

The Trail Board, or its designated Committee, shall establish qualifications for membership and have the power to accept or reject any request for membership.

 3.3        Dues

The amount of annual membership dues shall be determined by the Trail Board and apply from October 1 to Sept. 30 of the following year except for dues for new members which are payable at the time of their request for membership. 

3.4        Voting

All members in good standing of all classes will each have one vote on any motions and actions at any General Membership meeting. All members have the right to attend Trail Board meetings as well, but they cannot vote on Trail Board decisions.

Article 4: Trail Board of Directors

4.1        Duties and Membership of the Trail Board

A Trail Board of Directors, simplified in the By-Laws as “Trail Board,” will consist of the Officers of the Trail and Directors at Large.  The Trail Board will have general control and management of the affairs, funds and properties of the Trail.  The authority of the Trail Board will extend to and include, but not be limited to, the right to conduct the continuing operation of the Trail and to engage in the acquisition, transfer or sale of the Trail’s tangible properties, including all publications.

4.2        Election of Board of Director

The Trail Board will be elected for one-year terms by a majority vote of the General Membership at the August General Membership meeting or at some other General Membership meeting as approved by the Board of Directors. The election will be from the slate proposed by the Nominating Committee as well as nominations from the floor.

4.3        Nominating Committee

The slate of proposed Board of Directors will be selected by a Nominating Committee and announced to the General Membership one month prior to the August General Membership meeting.  The Nominating Committee will be appointed by the President of the Trail Board and consist of three members in good standing of the General Membership, only one of which can be a member of the current Trail Board. The Trail Board member on the Nominating Committee can also be included on the slate of proposed Board of Directors members.  Election to the Trail Board comes with the following minimum responsibilities for each Board member:

-      Each Board member must attend at least two Trail Board meetings per year.

-      Each Board member must respond in a timely manner via email to requests for Board member approvals or Board decisions.

-      Each Board member must accept some task responsibility requested in support of the Board and complete that task during their tenure. 

4.4        Election of Officers and their responsibilities

At the first Trail Board meeting following the annual General Membership meeting, the Trail Board will elect Trail Board officers for one-year terms. Officers of the Trail Board will include President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.  The Trail Board President and Vice President can not serve in their specific capacities more than three consecutive one-year terms.

The President of the Trail Board shall be responsible for and preside at all Trail member meetings and at meetings of the Trail Board unless absent and then the Vice-President will preside. 

The Vice-President shall assist the President in any such fashion as the latter may deem necessary and in the absence of the President shall assume all duties and privileges of the President.

The Secretary shall record, maintain and disseminate the minutes of all meetings of the Trail member meetings and of the Trail Board, shall maintain minutes of committee meetings when those minutes are submitted by committees; and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct or as are customarily assigned to that office.

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Trail; shall collect all dues and financial contributions to the Trail; shall disburse the monies in accordance with Trail’s budget or with direction of the Trail Board; shall keep full and accurate financial accounts; shall submit a complete financial statement at the Annual Meeting; shall submit a financial statement at any time, upon request of the Trail Board; shall create and submit a monthly statement on receipts and disbursements of Trail funds; and shall perform such other duties as are customarily assigned to that office. 

4.5  Voting

Decisions by the Trail Board can be made by a majority vote of Board members attending any Trail Board meeting, providing notice of the meeting and the items to be voted on were provided to all Trail Board members two weeks prior to the meeting.

                                                                     Article 5:  Revision of By-Laws

5:1  The Trail By-laws may be amended or revised by a two-thirds vote of the eligible voting General Membership present at the annual General Membership meeting, provided the proposed changes have been made available in writing to the General Membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

Article 6:  Roberts Rules of Order

6:1  All meetings of the Trail Board and the General Membership will be conducted according to the current version of Roberts Rules of Order.

Article 7:  Dissolution of the Organization

7:1  In the event of dissolution of the Trail, its assets will be turned over to the Florida Anthropological Society which is exempt as an organization described in sections 501 (c) 3 and 170 (c) 2 of the IRS Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future law, or to the federal, state or local government for exclusive public support.

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