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Constitution and By-Laws May 2021
Section 1: This organization shall be known as the Seated Half Society. Section 2: The club is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club whose objective is contained in the following pledge: to encourage, promote and dispense numismatic knowledge of Liberty Seated half dollars; to cultivate fraternal relations among its members and all those interested in the science of numismatics. The club shall hold its Annual Meeting at the summer convention of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and electronically publish a club quarterly record containing research articles, current news, topics of interest, and member stories on Liberty Seated Half Dollars struck at the United States Mint and Branch Mints from 1839 to 1891. Section 3: The club quarterly record shall be called "The Half Crazy Ledger" and will be published in the Liberty Seated Collector Club’s publication E-Gobrecht with the permission of the Liberty Seated Collector Club’s President and co-operation of the E-Gobrecht Editor. Section 1: There shall be two (2) club officers, the President and Vice-President. Section 2: Additional Officers and support positions may be appointed at the discretion of the President and with the consent of the Vice-President when needs arise. Section 3: Any member in good standing who is at least 18 years of age at the time he/she begins service shall be eligible to hold office or serve in a support position. Section 4: All club officers shall be elected by ballot distributed electronically to all members no later than November 15th of each even-numbered year with all ballots received by December 15th of that same year being counted. Candidates shall be listed on the ballot by nomination from the membership or by self-nomination. The Officers shall ensure that reasonable notice and opportunity is provided for any member to become a candidate for office. The term of office of the officers shall begin on January 1st of the year following their election and shall extend for two (2) years. Section 5: If the President resigns during his/her term or otherwise becomes ineligible to serve, the Vice-President shall become President for the remainder of the term and chose a new Vice-President to fill the remaining term of the Vice-President. If in the future there are other officers and a similar vacancy occurs during the term of any such officer, the President shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the term. Section 1: Membership in the Seated Half Society is earned through ones collecting efforts and is not freely given. It should be considered an achievement in the collecting carrier of a Liberty Seated Half Dollar collector, but not an exclusive club. As such, the Society may be considered somewhat difficult, but not impossible to get into. Any individual having a serious interest in Liberty Seated Half Dollars is eligible to apply for club membership. Membership in the Seated Half Society may be earned by meeting the criteria stipulated in Article IV of the Constitution of the Club. Section 2: All members of the Seated Half Society upon acceptance of membership agree to audit the collections of prospective new members in their area, at the members convenience, and without recompence. Section 3: Honorary membership, or qualification exemption may be granted by the club President and Board of Directors for persons known to have or have had significant Liberty Seated Half collections. Section 1: 100 points are required for membership. Points for membership are allocated as specified in sections 2 and 3 of this article. This point system was developed to try and encompass the many different ways collectors collect Liberty Seated Half Dollars. Section 2: Point allocation. 1 pt common dates/ die marriages (up to and including R-3) 2 pts better dates/ pop varieties (R-4 die marriages) 3 pts semi-key dates/ R-5 or better die marriages and varieties 5 pts 1878-S (* gold star member) 1 pt bonus for certified MS coins Only one example of each die marriage accepted unless different cataloged die state Better dates/ popular varieties and R-4 die marriages 2 pts: Ultra-low mintages 1879 thru 1890 1840(O), 1844-Odd, 1846/H6, 1855/54, 1850, 1856-S, 1857-S, 1872-CC, 1873-CC, 1873-S Mintages 201,000 – 500,000 Semi-key dates/ rare varieties and R-5 and above die marriages 3 pts: 1842-O sd, 1847/6, 1849 ddd, 1873 nao3, 1876 lg over sm dt, 1877/6, 1875-S (micro S) 1851, 1852, 1852-O, 1855-S, 1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1874-CC, 1878-CC Mintages up to 200,000 but not including the so called Ultra-low mintages of 1879 thru 1890 1878-S (Key Date) 5 pts Gold Star member status Section 3: All point allocations are according to Bill Bugert’s Registers of Liberty Seated Half Dollars and addendum. Wiley/Bugert’s Guide Book of Liberty Seated Half Dollars will be used for any die varieties yet to be published in Bugert’s Register. Section 1: Amendments to this Constitution and its By-Laws may be proposed by the President or Vice-President, or by submission in writing to the President of a petition containing the proposed amendment that is sponsored by at least five (5) current members of the Seated Half Society. Section 2: Promptly, following receipt of a petition for amendment, the President may recommend revisions to the proposed amendment language to the petitioners, which the petitioners may accept or reject at their option. Section 3: The President shall submit any properly proposed amendment to this Constitution and By-Laws to a vote of the full, current membership of the Seated Half Society as soon as is practical after it is received. The notice to the membership shall be posted in writing in the next quarterly report and shall contain the full text of the proposed amendment(s). The notice presenting the proposed amendment shall set a closing date for all ballots to be received, which shall be not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the notice is posted. The closing date for receiving ballots may be extended only if insufficient returns are received to achieve a quorum, and in such case, may only be extended once to a new date not more than thirty (90) days after the original date. Section 4: The President may send a letter via USPS presenting a proposed amendment to be voted upon in electronic format to those members for whom email addresses are unavailable, provided that a diligent effort is made to ensure that all members receive a ballot. Section 5: Twenty percent (20%) of the current membership of the Seated Half Society shall constitute a quorum for a vote on a proposed amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws. Any proposed amendment that is submitted to the full membership as provided above shall be deemed approved only if it receives an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those voting on the question, provided that the total number of ballots returned meets or exceeds the quorum amount. Section 1: The Seated Half Society may be dissolved by vote of the membership. The resolution to dissolve shall be proposed in the same way and for passage shall require the same process and vote result as for an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws as provided in Article IV of this Constitution. Section 2: Upon dissolution of the Seated Half Society, any cash or property owned by the Club after all bills have been paid shall be donated to the Liberty Seated Collectors Club or the American Numismatic Association. The resolution to dissolve shall provide for the disposition of the Club’s assets, consistent with this section. Section 1: The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the club and its leadership, shall provide general direction for club activities, and shall ensure that the decisions of the club and the Board of Directors are properly executed. The President, in co-operation with the Vice-President or any other officers, as provided above, shall appoint the additional members who serve as the Board of Directors in addition to the officers, as provided in Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution. The President shall perform the duties of editor for the club’s quarterly record known as "The Half Crazy Ledger." Section 2: The VICE-PRESIDENT shall perform any of the duties of the President in the absence or at the request of the President and shall assist in the appointment of Officers or members of the Board of Directors. The Vice-President may also lead special projects at the request of the President. Section 3: The President, Vice-President, and any ADDITIONAL OFFICERS or SUPPORT POSITIONS shall constitute a Board of Directors and shall participate in the meetings of the Board of Directors, vote on the questions put before them, and assist the club officers in providing general direction for the club. Section 1: The Annual Meeting of the club shall be held each summer at the ANA Convention. The members present shall constitute a quorum. At its Annual Meeting, the club shall conduct such business that is required to provide general direction for the club’s activities during the coming year, including but not limited to presentation of a report from the President on prior year activities. All formal actions at the Annual Meeting shall be taken by resolution approved by a majority of those voting, with a quorum present, and shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. Section 2: The President, Vice-President and Board of Directors shall meet in person or by conference call monthly or as needed at the discretion of the President; however, there shall be at least one such meeting every calendar quarter. The President and such Board of Directors as the club may have, may approve any action necessary or desirable for the general direction of the club that is consistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of the club and the actions approved at prior Annual Meetings. A quorum for meetings of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of its members. All formal actions of the Board of Directors shall be taken by motion approved by majority vote with a quorum participating and shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. When there is urgent necessity, the President along with the Board of Directors may also take action between meetings by email. Upon request of any member of the Board, the President shall submit a motion to the Board for approval, provided that the proposed action is consistent with the authority granted to the Board in these By-Laws. The motion shall be deemed approved if properly made and approved by a majority of all members of the Board. The motion made and the results of the vote on the motion shall be reported in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board. Section 1: The official electronic publication of the club shall be known as "The Half Crazy Ledger." Section 2: The club record shall be published on a quarterly schedule for each year, as determined at the prior year's Annual Meeting or by the President and the Board of Directors. Section 3: The Half Crazy Ledger will publish articles on topics related to Liberty Seated Half Dollar coinage. The Editor of the journal will have the final authority on whether a particular article meets the educational objectives of the journal and should be accepted for publication. Section 4: Articles published in the journal will be contributions submitted to the Editor. No payments shall be made to the authors for submitted articles. Section 1: The Club shall award an annual certificate award known as "The Wiley/Bugert Research Award" as voted on by the members. This award shall constitute any article or publication pertaining to Liberty Seated Half Dollar research. Articles or publications in the Half Crazy Ledger, E-Gobrecht, Gobrecht Journal, or other publications or books will qualify for this award. Section 2: The Club may, through normal procedures at the Annual Meeting or by the Board of Directors, establish other awards to recognize significant accomplishments by club members and may implement appropriate processes to select and recognize recipients. Section 1: Applications for membership shall be made in writing to the President or Vice-President. Section 2: Membership may be earned by qualified audit of the prospective members collection of Liberty Seated half dollars as laid down in the Club constitution. Section 2: Membership may be denied to any individual who does not meet the requirements for club membership as laid down in the Club constitution or has in the past displayed conduct detrimental to the Liberty Seated Collectors Club or the hobby/coin industry, is a convicted felon, or has a history of questionable hobby/coin industry conduct. A felony record shall not be automatically disqualifying; rather, the Board of Directors shall decide based on the individual circumstances. Membership once granted may be rescinded if judged to be in error or based on new information. Section 3: Club members may be dismissed from club membership for illegal numismatic activity, such as knowingly selling stolen, altered, or counterfeit coins, or for any other behavior or pattern of activity that is severely detrimental to the best interests of the Club. Section 4: A complaint against any club member by another club member or any other person must be made in writing to the Board of Directors. The Board shall request a written statement from the defendant and then shall render a judgment in writing on the complaint. Section 5: In all cases, membership decisions rest with the President, Vice-President and any Board of Directors. Section 1: There are no annual dues at this time, but this may change in the future as club needs change and grow. |
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