Article I: Name.

The name of this organization shall be the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia, hereinafter referred to as "The Society."

Article II: Objectives.

Section 1. The objectives of the Society shall be:
A. To collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge and information about Jewish genealogy.
B. To promote interest and encourage interested persons to engage in genealogical research.
C. To stimulate and provide instruction in research methodology, the utilization of resources and adherence to standards of accuracy and thoroughness.
D. To foster careful documentation and to promote scholarly genealogical writing and publication.
E. To promote the preservation of genealogical records and resources.
F. To hold meetings for the instruction and education of its members and the general public.

Article III: Membership and Dues.

Section 1. Membership in the Society is open to anyone wishing to support the objectives and activities of the Society, and abiding by the Bylaws of the Society. The Society shall include groups of Affiliates who request to become associated with the Society and are accepted by the Board.

Section 2. Categories of membership in the Society shall be:
A. Individual: members are entitled to attend all meetings and functions of the Society and receive all publications of the Society. Individual members shall have one vote at Society meetings.
B. Family: two persons in the same household, who are entitled to attend all meetings and functions of the Society and receive all publications of the Society. Each family member shall have one vote at Society meetings.
C. Sponsor: a level of Individual or Family membership with a higher level of dues.
D. Patron: a level of Individual or Family membership with a higher level of dues than the Sponsor level.
E. Non-Resident: an individual or family residing more than 90 miles from Philadelphia. Non-Residents will receive Chronicles.
F. Non-Resident with Local Mailings: an individual who receives all mailings.
G. Overseas: An individual or family residing outside of the United States. Overseas members will receive Chronicles via Airmail.

Section 3. The amount of annual dues for each category of membership in the Society shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Dues are payable for the calendar year. Those members delinquent past April 1 of each calendar year shall be dropped from membership in the Society.

Article IV: Officers.

Section 1. The Officers of the Society shall be President, Vice President (Programming), Vice President (Membership), Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. A vacancy in any elected position shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors, to serve until the next annual election.

Article V: Duties of Officers.

Section 1. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Society, and shall be responsible for its day to day operation. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and the Board of Directors. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominations/Election Committee. The President shall keep in safe custody any papers and all documents relating to the official business of the Society.

Section 2. The Vice President (Programming) shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President. The Vice President shall be responsible for developing and overseeing programs for the Society.

Section 3. The Vice President (Membership) shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of both the President and the Vice President (Programming), and shall serve as Membership Chairperson. The Vice President (Membership) shall keep a current record of all active and former members of the Society, shall encourage and generate programs for the acquisition of new members and the retention of current members, shall make presentations about the Society to outside groups and shall introduce new members of the Society at general meetings.

Section 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for sending notices about meetings of the Society to the membership, informing local media about activities of the Society and for any necessary correspondence of the Society.

Section 5. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of the meetings of the Society and shall record the minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the Society, shall deposit them in such insured financial institutions pursuant to policy established by the Executive Board, and shall be responsible for maintaining the financial records of the Society. The Treasurer shall submit financial statements to the Board of Directors and shall submit a recommended annual budget to the Board of Directors.

Article VI. Board of Directors.

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the Society, one representative of each of the Society Affiliates and chairpersons of its Committees and Special Interest Groups. The two preceding Presidents of the Society shall serve as Trustees on the Board. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the Society.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as may be required at the call of the President. The Corresponding Secretary will be responsible for notifying Board members of the time and place of the meeting at least two weeks in advance. A Special Meeting of the Executive Board may be requested by any five Board members. Specific items to be considered must be stated in the call. At least seven days' notice must be given to each Board member as to the time and place of the Special Meeting.

Section 3. A quorum of each quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors shall consist of at least 50% of the members of the Board.

Section 4. The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes of each Board Meeting and shall report them at the next Board Meeting.

Section 5. The President shall report relevant matters from the Board of Directors to the membership at the next regular Membership Meeting.

Section 6. Only members of the Board of Directors may incur financial expenses or obligations on behalf of the Society. Board members may incur expenses on behalf of the Society with approval of the President.

Article VII. Committees.

Section 1. The Standing Committees shall be Membership, Publicity, Library, Publications, Register of Roots, New Member Orientation, JGSP Webmaster.

Section 2. Chairpersons of Committees of the Society shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3. Membership on Committees is open to any member who wishes to serve.

Section 4. The duties of the Committee chairpersons shall be:
A. The Membership Chairperson shall work in conjunction with the Publications Chairperson to attract new members to the Society and to retain members.
B. The Publicity Chairperson shall be responsible for obtaining suitable media publicity and other advertising for the Society and its programs.
C. The Library Chairperson ("Librarian") shall be responsible for the maintenance, safekeeping and making available to members of the Society the books, periodicals, maps, records and other materials which the Society may from time to time may acquire. The Librarian shall determine, along with the Library Committee, the acquisition of books, periodicals and tapes for the Library, shall maintain a current list of items in the Society Library, and shall take an inventory of the Library collection annually.
D. The Publications Chairperson shall serve as Editor of the quarterly newsletter of the Society, Chronicles and shall be responsible for all phases of its publication. The Publications Chairperson shall also be responsible for reciprocity of publications with other genealogical societies.
E. Register of Roots will maintain a database of the surnames and towns being researched by members of the Society. A hardcopy of the database will be maintained in the Society Library.
F. The New Member Orientation chairperson will contact and welcome each new member of the Society.
G. The JGSP Webmaster will be responsible for keeping and maintaining the Society's Web Site. The Webmaster shall maintain a close liaison with Jewishgen, the host of the JGSP Website.

Section 5. Other committees of the Society may be established by the President with the concurrence of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII. Special Interest Groups.

Section 1. The Special Interest Groups of the Society shall be the Russian Special Interest Group and the German Special Interest Group. Membership in each special interest group will be open to any member of the Society.

Section 2. Each Special Interest Group shall have a chairperson appointed by the President of the Society, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors. The chairperson of each Special Interest Group shall be responsible for establishing a schedule of meetings, in coordination with the President, and shall also be responsible for maintaining the records, recruiting speakers and corresponding with the members of the Special Interest Group.

Section 3. The Russian Special Interest Group shall focus on aspects of genealogical and historical research related to Eastern Europe and pre- and post-Revolutionary Russia. Section 4. The German Special Interest Group shall focus on aspects of genealogical and historical research associated with territories in Europe with German-speaking populations.

Article IX: Meetings of the Society.

Section 1. The Society shall hold at least eight (8) General Membership Meetings annually. The annual schedule of meetings shall be established by the Board of Directors. Notification of the dates of the General Membership Meetings will be made to the membership by the Corresponding Secretary, and will be advertised in Chronicles.

Section 2. At General Membership Meetings, the suggested Order of Business shall be:
1. Announcements.
2. Treasurer's Report.
3. Committee Reports.
4. Special Interest Group Reports.
5. Old Business.
6. New Business.
7. Special programs or speakers.

Article X: Publications of the Society.

Section 1. The Society shall publish a quarterly Newsletter (Chronicles) to promote the objectives of the Society.

Section 2. The Newsletter may include material of genealogical interest, including, but not limited to the presentation of new research methods, enhancement of older methods, factual information of interest to members, news of upcoming events, book reviews, editorial columns and stories or personal anecdotes of genealogical interest.

Section 3. Members are encouraged to submit material for publication, subject to review by the Editor(s).

Section 4. Distribution of Chronicles will be made to members of the Society and to other genealogical societies involved in the newsletter courtesy exchange program.

Section 5. The report of the Nominations/Election Committee shall appear in the Fall issue of the Newsletter.

Article XI: Nominations and Elections.

Section 1. At a meeting of the Society in June of each year, the President shall announce the appointment of a Nominations/Election Committee, consisting of a Chairperson and three members. The Immediate Past President of the Society shall serve as Chairperson. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The Committee shall present a slate of nominees for elected office. Each nominee for office in the Society shall give verbal consent to a member of the Nominations/Election Committee. Candidates for office shall have paid their Annual Dues prior to being nominated for office.

Section 3. The report of the Nominations/Election Committee shall be presented in the Fall issue of Chronicles, and at the October and November meetings of the Society. The election of officers shall take place at the December meeting of the Society. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the December meeting.

Section 4. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members attending the December meeting. A quorum of fifty (50) members will be necessary for election.

Section 5. The term of office for each officer of the Society shall be for one year, from January 1 to December 31.

Article XII: Amendments.

Section 1. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors or may be offered at any meeting of the Society by petition signed by at least five members and submitted to the Recording Secretary.

Section 2. Notice of each proposed amendment shall be mailed or given to all members at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the projected vote. The vote on each proposed amendment will take place at the next regular meeting of the Society.

Section 3. Any amendment must be ratified by a vote 50 (fifty) members.

Article XIII: Dissolution. In the event that the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia shall be ultimately dissolved, the Board of Directors shall, after paying all the liabilities of the Society, dispose of any and all remaining assets by transference to one or more qualified Jewish genealogical, historical or archival organizations.

Bylaws of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia, as amended at the November 11, 2002 General Meeting.