Going Afoot: A book on walking.

by Bayard Henderson Christy

1. The officers of the Club shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, four Departmental Councillors, and two Councillors-at-Large, and there may be an Honorary Secretary. These officers shall form a governing board, to be termed the Council, and this body shall elect new members, control all expenditures, make rules for the use of the Club’s property, except as hereinafter provided, and act for its interests in any way not inconsistent with these By-laws. Five members of the Council shall form a quorum.

2. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Club and of the Council, and shall appoint (with the advice and consent of the Council) the several standing committees. One of the Vice-Presidents shall act in the absence or disability of the President.

3. The Recording Secretary shall be the Clerk of the Corporation, and shall have charge of the muniments of title and of the corporate seal. He shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the Club and Council, give notice to the members of the time and place of meetings, and prepare each year a report of the Club and Council to be presented at the annual meeting.

4. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Club with kindred organizations and with Honorary and Corresponding members, keeping proper files and records of the same, and shall prepare a report for the previous year to be presented at the annual meeting.

5. The Treasurer, under the direction of the Council, shall collect, take charge of, and disburse all funds belonging to the Club, except such as are in the hands of the Trustees of Special Funds or by legal restriction are under separate control. He shall keep proper accounts, and at the annual meeting, and at other times when required by the Club or Council, present a report of its financial condition.

6. The four Departmental Councillors shall represent severally the departments of Natural History, Topography and Exploration, Art, and Improvements. It shall be their duty to conserve and foster the interests of their several departments, and they are authorized to call special meetings of members interested therein, at which they shall act as chairmen, and to appoint departmental committees, subject to the control of the Council. They shall present at the annual meeting reports of their respective departments for the year.

7. There shall be a Board of Trustees of Real Estate, consisting of a member of the Council, to be designated by it, and four other members of the Club, one being elected annually by ballot to serve four years and until his successor is chosen.—These Trustees shall elect annually from their own number a chairman and such other officers as may be required, and may employ such assistance as they shall find necessary. They shall administer and manage any real estate which may be held by the Club as a public trust; subject, however, to the general supervision of the Council.—Any real estate other than public trust reservations to which the Club holds title shall be managed under the direction of the Council, but nothing herein shall be construed to mean that the management of such property may not be delegated to the said Board of Trustees or to a standing committee created for the purpose.—No real estate shall be acquired or title to the same accepted except by vote of the Council upon the recommendation of this Board.—The Trustees of Real Estate shall make to the Club at the annual meeting a report in writing relative to the property committed to their care, together with a statement of the finances connected with their trust.

8. There shall also be a Board of Trustees of Special Funds, consisting of three members of the Club, one being chosen by ballot annually to serve for three years and until his successor is elected. They shall choose their own chairman. The Treasurer of the Club shall not be eligible to election upon this Board.—All permanent endowments and funds of a permanent or special nature (unless otherwise legally restricted), as well as the Reserve Fund hereinafter provided, shall be entrusted to these Trustees, and they shall have power to make, change, and sell investments.—All moneys received for life membership, and such other sums as may be received or appropriated for this special purpose, shall be known and invested separately as the Permanent Fund, of which the income only shall be expended.—There shall also be a Reserve Fund to and from which appropriations may be made by not less than five affirmative votes at each of two meetings of the Council, notice of the proposed action having been given on the call for the second meeting.—At each annual meeting, and at such other times as the Club or Council may request, the Trustees of Special Funds shall make a written statement of the condition of each of the funds in their hands.

9. The fiscal year of the Club shall end on December 31. The Council shall at the close of each year employ an expert accountant to audit the books and accounts of the Treasurer and of the Boards of Trustees, and shall present at the annual meeting the written report of his findings; it may also cause to be audited in the same manner the accounts of other agents and committees of the Club.

10. The following Standing Committees shall be appointed: on Publications; on Field Meetings and Excursions; on Legislation; on Active Membership; and on Honorary and Corresponding Membership. These Committees shall consist of not less than five members each, and members of the Council shall be eligible to appointment thereon. They shall be vested with such powers as the Council sees fit to delegate to them, and nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting that body from appointing such other committees as may be required.