Professional Football Researchers Association
740 Deerfield Road
Warminster, PA 18974

PFRA Bylaws

ARTICLE I – NAME
This organization shall be known as the Professional Football Researchers Association, Inc., and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Association.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES
The purposes and objectives of the Association are:
1) to foster the study of professional football as a significant social and athletic institution;
2) to establish an accurate historical account of professional football; and
3) to facilitate the dissemination of professional football research information through publications and presentations.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
1) Membership shall be open to those who have a sincere interest in the history of professional football or related subjects.
2) One may become a member of the Association by the payment of dues and the submission of a completed application form.
3) Members shall be accorded all privileges to which membership shall normally entitle them.
4) Any member who fails to abide by the objectives or any other provision of the By-Laws or Code of Behavior of the Association shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Association, up to and including expulsion from the Association. Disciplinary action may be imposed by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV – FINANCES
1) Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.
2) All moneys received by the Association shall go directly into the Association’s treasury and shall be used to defray expenses incurred by the Association.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
1) The officers of the Association shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer elected by majority vote of the members who participate in an election, the officers shall serve two year terms. In addition to the four elected positions, there shall be three appointed officers: the executive director, assistant executive director and editor-in-chief of Coffin Corner.
2) The officers shall serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Association.
3) In the event of the death, incapacitation, or resignation of the president, the vice-president shall assume the office of president. In the event of a vacancy in any other office, the Board of Directors shall designate a successor to complete the unexpired term.
4) The president shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and any meetings of members, carry out directives of the membership and the Board of Directors, submit an annual budget to the Board of Directors, and ensure that the corporate and tax responsibilities of the Association are fulfilled.
5) The vice-president shall assume all duties of the president in the absence of the president. The vice-president shall also chair the membership committee.
6) The secretary shall keep the minutes of the Association. The secretary shall also be the chair of the fundraising committee.
7) The treasurer shall assume responsibility for finances, prepare and maintain books suitable for audit, and, under the direction of the president, file any necessary tax returns, financial reports, and corporate reports.
8) The executive director is appointed by the president and shall be responsible for the daily activities of the association. The executive director shall appoint the assistant executive director.
9) The assistant executive director serves at the discretion of the executive director. The assistant executive director shall oversee all committees.
10) The editor-in-chief of Coffin Corner is appointed by the president and shall be responsible for all aspects of the publication of Coffin Corner.

ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1) The Board of Directors shall consist of the seven officers. The Board shall determine the broad policies of the Association and issue directives to the president to implement those policies.
2) The Board of Directors shall conduct a meeting at the request of any member of the Board of Directors. Except when the president declares an emergency, meetings shall be announced two months in advance through publication in the Coffin Corner, and they shall be open to all members of the Association. Meetings shall be conducted in person or by a method determined by the Board of Directors.
3) The president shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors.
4) A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the members of the Board. Proxy voting is not allowed.
5) The Board of Directors shall schedule a general meeting of members of the Association every two years. At least one member of the Board of Directors must be in attendance for the meeting to become official.

ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES
1) The assistant executive director, with the approval of the president, shall appoint all committees and their chairmen.
2) Each committee shall consist of a chairman and of any other members appointed.
3) The membership committee shall be responsible for formulating and implementing initiatives to increase membership in the Association.
4) The fundraising committee shall be responsible for formulating and implementing initiatives to raise funds for the Association.

ARTICLE VIII – TAX-EXEMPT STATUS
The Association is organized exclusively for charitable, literary, and educational purposes, as specified in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and it shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from federal income taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the Association), and no member, trustee, director, officer, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets of the Association upon its dissolution.

No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by section 501 (h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954), or participating in or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

In the event of dissolution, all the remaining assets and property of the Association shall after necessary expenses thereof by distributed to such organizations as shall qualify under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
1) These by-laws may be amended by majority vote of the members of the Association who participate in an election on the proposed amendment. Any proposed amendment must be submitted to the membership in writing, either by personal mail or by publication in the Coffin Corner, with a voting period of at least one month.
2) The Articles of Incorporation of the Association may be amended as provided by the law of the State of Connecticut.

ARTICLE X – CODE OF BEHAVIOR
The Board of Directors is empowered to adopt a Code of Behavior outlining rights and responsibilities of membership in the Association.

ARTICLE XI – PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The proceedings of any meetings of the Association shall be governed and conducted according to the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE XII – GENDER
For the purposes of these by-laws, use of words of a certain gender includes reference to both genders.

Last Amendment: May 1, 2009