I. Officers and Executive Committee

1. Officers of the Heritage Education Commission shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Archivist.
    
2. Terms of the officers shall be at least one year. Officers may serve consecutive terms in their respective offices. Officers shall be elected at the October meeting and take office at the November meeting. Old and new officers will meet at 3:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday in November (before the regular meeting) to create a calendar for the year and create committees for the year.
    
3. The officers and a representative from MSUM shall constitute the Executive Committee.
    
4. The responsibilities of the officers shall be:
   1. President
      To preside at all Commission meetings, prepare agendas for the same, provide for an annual report of commission activity and work in close relationship with the University and such committees or task forces as the Commission may create.

   2. Vice President
      To preside at all commission meetings in the absence of the President and to serve in other capacities as may be assigned by the Commission or the President.

   3. Secretary
      The Secretary will record the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Commission and attend to Commission correspondence. The Secretary will assist the President, as needed, in the preparation of agendas and the annual report. The secretary will inform the Commission of all regular and special meetings and keep the attendance records.

   4. Treasurer
      The Treasurer will be assigned those duties regularly falling to this office and shall use the services of the MSUM Business Office of the administration and accounting of the finances of the Commission including its committees and task forces.

   5. Archivist
      The Archivist will gather minutes, brochures and other materials and will work in cooperation with the NW MN Historical Center in organizing and preserving them.

   6. Immediate Past President
      The immediate Past President shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

5. Membership
   Steps for obtaining new members include 1) invitation, 2) acceptance by the Commission; 3) letter of invitation from MSUM president; 4) orientation meeting with Executive Committee at 3:30 p.m. preceding the first meeting the new member will attend.

II. Committees and Task Forces

1. Committee and task forces may be appointed by the Commission from time to time as necessary.  Committee and task force members may include non-Commission members.  Committee and task force chairpersons are directly accountable to the Commission and shall report at regular meetings. Committee chairpersons will keep minutes and other documents of meetings, projects, actions and other accomplishments.  At the conclusion of the same, they shall submit all folders and materials to the Commission President for review and subsequent filing of appropriate items by the Archivist.  Committee and task force chairpersons will prepare annual reports for the Commission and for the permanent records of the Commission for the annual meeting.
    
2. The Executive Committee shall meet as necessary between regular meetings of the Commission and report actions taken to the next regular meeting of the Commission.
    
3. Nominating Committee
   The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee in August which shall present a slate of officers for election at the October meeting.
    
4. Family History Workshop Committee
   The President shall appoint a Family History Workshop Committee chair/co-chairs in November who will chair the committee to plan the Family History Workshop

III. Meetings and Attendance
 

1. The Commission will conduct a minimum of ten (10) monthly meetings per year at times it shall determine.
    
2. The meetings of the Commisssion will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
    
3. The minutes of each meeting will be mailed out and reading of the same at the subsequent meeting(s) may be assumed as fulfilled.
    
4. The meeting in November each year will be considered the annual meeting at which time the annual report will be presented in printed form and officers assume their duties.
    
5. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Commission members.
    
6. Three consecutive unexcused absences will result in declaring that Commission member’s position vacant. The unexpired term of such Commission member may be filled by the President of the University.

IV. Mailing Address

1. The general mailing address of the Commission shall be:
   Heritage Education Commission
   1104 7^th Ave. S.
   Minnesota State University Moorhead
   Moorhead, MN 56563
   (218) 477-2183
   www.mnstate.edu/heritage
    
2. All Commission correspondence should be on Commission stationery.

V. By-Laws

1. A motion to amend these by-laws may be made at any meeting. The motion will be voted on at the next meeting.
   
2. These by-laws shall be reviewed at least every five years.

February 2006 revision