Our Bylaws
I. Preamble
The Society of Historians of Eastern European, Eurasian, and Russian Art and Architecture, Inc. (SHERA) is an affiliated society of the College Art Association and of the Association of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies. As such, it is a not-for-profit corporation oriented exclusively towards the support of scholarship. The purpose of SHERA is to promote research, provide a forum for ongoing conversations on areas of mutual interest, and foster contacts and collaboration among scholars of Eastern European, Eurasian, and Russian art and architecture through activities such as an online newsletter, a listserv, and active participation in research conferences. SHERA is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or the corresponding provision of any future federal tax code. It is the purpose of these bylaws to provide a plan of governance for SHERA consistent with its status as an Affiliated Society of the College Art Association and the Association of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies and engage in any other activities that are appropriate or proper under section 501(c)(3) of the Code.
II. Membership
Membership in SHERA shall consist of those persons who have paid current annual dues or have been elected Honorary Members by dues-paying members of SHERA.
III. Meetings
A. SHERA shall hold a business meeting during the time of, and in the same city as, the College Art Association’s annual meeting, the annual convention of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, or at such time and place as a quorum of the membership shall agree upon at its last meeting.
B. SHERA shall hold a minimum of one meeting per year.
C. A quorum shall consist of those present at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy.
IV. Voting
Each dues-paying member of SHERA shall be entitled to one vote.
V. Officers and Board of Directors
A. Officers shall comprise, but not be limited to, the following:
A President, who shall serve a term of one year. The President shall preside over meetings, shall have general management of the affairs of the Society, and shall perform all the duties incidental to the office. The President shall take office after serving a one-year term as President Elect and will continue for one year as Outgoing President following service as President (a total commitment of 3-years).
A President-Elect, who shall serve a term of one year. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the general management of the affairs of the Society, and shall perform all the duties incidental to the office. The President-Elect shall take on the office of President at the end of his or her term.
An Outgoing President, who shall serve a term of one year. The Outgoing President shall be available for consultation to the President and President-Elect. The Outgoing President shall take office after serving a one-year term as President.
A Secretary-Treasurer, who shall serve for a term of two years. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for collection of membership dues, maintenance of membership records, and all fiscal matters. The Secretary-Treasurer shall record the minutes of each meeting and distribute them at or before the next meeting.
A Communications Officer, who shall serve for a term of two years. The Communications Officer shall communicate official SHERA business, edit and post news items on the website, maintain and moderate the society’s communication platforms, and help develop online resources relevant to SHERA’s membership. B. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be responsible, along with the Officers, for the administration of the Society.
The Board of Directors shall include the five above Officers of SHERA, and up to four other members-at-large.
Members-at-large shall be appointed initially for one year. Thereafter they shall be elected by the membership for a two-year term.
The Officers and Board of Directors shall be elected by anonymous electronic ballot upon a call for nominations that is circulated electronically. Election results shall be announced on the Society’s discussion platform or listserv, website, and email to the membership.
VI. Committees
A. The President shall have the power to appoint members to standing committees with the approval of the Board of Directors.
B. Members or groups of members may form additional committees so long as the Chair and the Board of Directors are informed.
VII. Miscellaneous
A. The board shall adopt and periodically review a conflict of interest policy to protect SHERA’s interest when it is contemplating any transaction or arrangement, which may benefit any director, officer, affiliate or member of a committee with board-delegated powers.
B. No part of the net earnings of SHERA shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article First hereof. All of the corporation’s earnings shall be used to further such purposes of the corporation. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, its assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the U.S. federal government, or to a U.S. state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
VIII. Effectiveness
These bylaws and subsequent amendments shall become effective as soon as they have been adopted by a majority of votes by the Society of Historians of East European, Eurasian, and Russian Art and Architecture by electronic ballot.
IX. Matters Not Covered
All matters not covered by these bylaws shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.