BYLAWS COMPANY A, 79TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS

ARTICLE I

The organization shall be known as Company A, 79th New York Volunteers, “Cameron Highlanders”. Here after referred to as Co A 79th NY.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of Co A 79th NY is to preserve the Civil War heritage of our country and the historical role played by the ordinary soldier from 1861 to 1865. To achieve this purpose, Co A 79th NY will present to the general public a historically accurate and educational picture of the average Union Army soldier. Through participation in historical reenactments, living history events, and first person demonstrations, members of the Co A 79th NY will strive to recreate an accurate portrayal of the soldier’s experience. The objective being to help the general public understand the dedication and sacrifices our forefathers committed to the Union cause.

ARTICLE III

Organizational Structure. Co A 79th NY is organized into two distinct components. The first component is the “Club” organization, and the second is the “Military” organization. Co A 79th NY is a member of the United States Volunteers (USV).

1. The club organization shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the general membership.
2. The Club President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are to be elected annually by vote of the general membership.
3. Duties of Elected Officers:
   1. The President shall perform the following duties:
      1. Preside over the monthly business meeting.
      2. Coordinate club activities and participation in Civil War related events.
      3. Serves as a point of contract with other living history organizations.
      4. Represent the clubs interests at the annual business meeting of the USV.
   2. The Vice president shall assume any or all of the duties of the President in absence of the President.
   3. The Secretary shall perform the following duties:
      1. Maintain an accurate roster of club members. Provide members copies of the current roster of members twice a year.
      2. Edit a monthly newsletter. In the event the elected secretary lacks the facilities to publish a newsletter, this responsibility may be filled by a volunteer.
      3. Conduct any correspondence for the club that may be required.
   4. The Treasurer shall perform the following duties:
      1. Receive and disburse funds from and for club activities.
      2. Maintain a checking account with a reputable financial institution, to deposit and disburse club funds.
      3. Maintain a detailed record of all club financial transactions.
      4. Provide the Secretary with a monthly balance in the checking account for inclusion in the newsletter.
      5. Provide a detailed accounting of club financial transactions at the first business meeting of each calendar year.
   5. The elected offices of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
4. The military organization of Co A 79th NY shall be determined at the first business meeting of each calendar year. Positions in the military organization are filled by election at that meeting. The military organization of Co A 79th NY shall closely conform to the Company organization of the United States Army, circa 1861.

ARTICLE IV

Membership: General membership is open to all persons, 18 years of age or older with an interest in the goals and objectives of Co A 79th NY. Persons younger than 18 may participate on a case by case basis. Membership is maintained by participating in a minimum of two business meetings and two events per year.

ARTICLE V

Elections: All officers in the club and military organizations are to be elected to those positions annually. Any member of the club is eligible to run for any of the elected positions. The annual election is to be held at the first business meeting of the calendar year. Election is to be by majority vote of the membership attending the first business meeting of the calendar year. There is no specified limit to the number of times that a member can hold an elective office. Members may offer themselves up as candidates for office or they may be nominated for office by other members. Individual members of Co A 79th NY may be elected to responsible positions in other organizations such as the USV. Election to such positions in other organizations does not confer any special privilege or rank within Co A 79th NY.

ARTICLE VI

Co A 79th NY does not collect dues from the membership. No member of Co A 79 NY may make any fundiciary gain from their membership in the organization while participating at a scheduled Co A 79th NY event. Individual members may be reimbursed for participating at a Civil War event as long as that participation is not under the guise of Co A 79th NY.

ARTICLE VII

Standards of Authenticity

1. Basic Uniform: The official uniform of Co A 79th NY is the infantry privates fatigue uniform of the United States Army circa 1861, as issued. All members of Co A 79th NY will have this uniform, as a minimum, to participate in Events sponsored by Co A 79th NY or in which Co A 79th NY is participating as a unit.
2. Accouterments are to be of patterns issued to troops by the United States Army circa 1861.
3. Insignia, if worn, is to be that prescribed by Army Regulation.
4. All members of Co A 79th NY will hold the rank of private, unless elected to a position of rank by the membership. Insignia of rank are to be worn only by those members elected to a position of rank. Members elected to positions of rank in other organizations and not holding a similar position in Co A 79th NY may only wear the rank insignia while participating in the other organizations events.
5. The official uniform is the only uniform authorized to be worn to events sponsored by Co A 79th NY or events in which Co A 79th NY is participating. In some instances, for educational purposes, members may be asked to wear uniforms in their possession, other than those specified above.

ARTICLE VIII

Members of Co A 79th NY who violate the rules of the organization may be asked to leave the organization. The decision to ask a member to leave will be made by a majority vote at any regular scheduled business meeting.

ARTICLE IX

The bylaws may require modification at times. To modify the bylaws, the proposed modification will be printed in the monthly newsletter. At the next regular business meeting, a majority vote of attending members is required to incorporate the proposed modification into the bylaws.