Preamble:

We are American in every sense of the word, but Americans with a heritage which we do not wish to see lost to our children. Rather, we would wish to have those who come after us know the blessings that God has left to them in their Irish heritage, an inheritance shaped by centuries of steadfastness to the religious beliefs our Irish ancestors held to be true and strengthened by their long and determined refusal to surrender their land and their nation to alien conquerors. We know that in their resistance, our forebears were armed with two irrepressible forces: their faith in God and the sanctity of the family.

Therefore, in order to preserve our heritage in the face of declining acceptance of religion, the break-up of community life, and the instability of marriage in our American life, we have grasped the following forces as the driving purposes of this Society:

  1. to keep our families strong in faith and in unity,

  2. to preserve some of the music, literature, and customs indicative of this culture, and

  3. to enjoy the friendship of those who share these things in common.

Be it therefore stated that no politics, national, local or those of any government shall be discussed by members as a function of this Society.

Let it be clearly stated that in achieving its stated purposes, Christian love, charity and fraternal understanding shall form the spirit of this Society.

It is provided that this Preamble shall be read aloud, in open meeting at least once a year.

Article 1 - Title

The name of this organization shall be "The Irish American Heritage Society." (Hereinafter referred to as "Society")

Article 2 - Function

A. The purpose of this Society is as stated in its Preamble and its function shall be as follows: 

  1. to let our children, and those after us, known by example, words, readings, paragraphs, and any and all manner of illustrations, that the long centuries of virtual slavery within their own country, their Irish ancestors held fast to their religious beliefs, to their land, and to their country, and that we are their heirs to this richness of courage in our Irish heritage; 

  2. to use and cherish Irish music, songs, literature, and customs indicative of our Irish background;

  3. to enjoy the society of those who share these things in common, and

  4. to hold a significant parade on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, annually or, if St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, on the Saturday immediately preceding St. Patrick's Day.

B. Such parade shall be arranged in all particulars by the Parade Committee made up of members appointed by the President to serve for and during the event. The parade shall be headed ceremonially by the Grand Marshal for that parade.

C. Such Grand Marshal shall serve in that honored capacity only once. The Grand Marshal shall be nominated by a majority vote (51% of those present and voting) of a committee comprised of: 

  1. the Officers of the IAHS; 

  2. all Past Presidents of the IAHS;

  3. and all Previous Grand Marshals of the IAHS

    Adequate notice of this meeting shall be sent by the Secretary of the Society seven days in advance of the meeting. Any individual who may qualify in more than one of these capacities shall be entitled to only one vote. The name shall be given to the President and the Grand Marshal selection shall be announced and introduced at the Grand Marshal's Ball.

D. An Irish Lady of the Year shall be selected each year and presented with the Marian Scherer Award. Such Irish Lady shall serve in that honored capacity only once and shall be nominated by a majority vote (51% of those present and voting) of a committee comprised of:

    1. The Officers of the IAHS;

    2. All Previous Irish Ladies of the Year;

    3. Members appointed by the President

The Committee shall follow the procedures outlined by the Officers of the IAHS for consistency in the selection process. The name shall be given to the President and the Irish Lady of the Year selection shall be announced and introduced at the Grand Marshal's Ball.

E. An Irish Family of the Year shall be selected each year. The President shall appoint no fewer than five members to a committee which shall follow procedures outlined by the Officers of the IAHS. The name shall be given to the President and the Irish Family of the Year selection shall be announced and introduced at the Grand Marshal's Ball.

Article 3 - Membership

A. Regular membership shall be made up of adults, 21 years of age or older, who shall have at least one Irish ancestor or shall be married to someone having at least one Irish ancestor.

B. A candidate for membership shall be a person of good character in the community. An applicant for membership must be approved by secret ballot of the Membership Committee appointed by the President, and, in order to be approved for membership, such applicant must not have received a total of two dissenting votes in such ballot. Should an applicant be twice rejected for membership, he shall not be again considered for membership in this Society.

C. A waiting list for membership shall be maintained in strict accordance with the date of application.

D. In the event of a divorce, the parties will remain as members only if they qualify under Article 3, Section (a).

E. The annual dues schedule, as well as delinquency and reinstatement policies shall be established by the Officers of the IAHS and shall take effect upon approval of the Executive Committee.

F. Dues may be increased by no more than twenty percent (20%) per calendar year, and in no event shall any increase exceed ten dollars ($10.00) in a single year for an individual member. Any such increase shall be established by the Officers of the IAHS and shall take effect upon approval of the Executive Committee.

G. A market-rate adjustment to dues may be considered only during a bylaws update cycle. Any such adjustment shall be established by the Officers of the IAHS and shall take effect upon approval of the Executive Committee. Routine annual increases shall remain subject to the limitations set forth in Section F.

A record of all dues adjustments shall be maintained and affixed to these bylaws as Appendix A, reflecting each change, its effective date, and the approving authority.

H. Honorary membership category shall be for those worthy individuals whom the Officers and Executive Committee deems deserving of such recognition. Honorary members shall be non-dues paying, non-voting members and are not counted in the "Regular" membership limit.

I. Distinguished membership category shall be reserved for Society Grand Marshals. Distinguished members shall be dues paying, as for regular members, and have voting privileges. They are not counted in the "Regular" membership limit.

Article 4 - Officers

A. The following named officers shall be elected in accordance with the bylaws pertaining hereof:

  1. President

  2. Vice President

  3. Treasurer

  4. Secretary

B. The President shall preside at all meetings. They shall conduct the meetings and shall perform any and all functions set out in the Constitution and Bylaws. They shall appoint all committees necessary to further the work of the Society.

C. The Vice President shall assume the functions and duties of the President in the President’s absence.

D. The Treasurer shall maintain a current account of all monies of the Society and report the state of such financial matters at each regular meeting. They shall collect all dues from members. In the absence of the President and Vice President, the Treasurer shall assume the functions and duties of the President.

The Treasurer shall also ensure appropriate financial transparency and oversight by:

  1. Notifying the Past Presidents of any withdrawal from the Society’s savings account, including the purpose of the withdrawal.

  2. Presenting a balance sheet of all Society accounts upon a formal written request.

  3. Submitting any updates to these financial procedures to the Officers, the Executive Committee, and the Past Presidents for approval by majority vote. The Treasurer shall maintain a current account of all monies of the Society and report the state of such financial matters at each regular meeting. They shall collect all dues from members.

E. The Secretary shall record the official minutes of all meetings and shall be responsible for receiving and answering all correspondence. They shall prepare and send all notices of meetings to members in good standing. They shall maintain current rolls of members and an accurate record of applicants on the waiting list by date of application. In the absence of the President, Vice President, and Treasurer, the Secretary shall assume the functions and duties of the President.

Article 5 - Nominations & Elections

A. A Nominating Committee of no fewer than three (3) members in good standing shall be appointed by the President prior to the Grand Marshal Ball each year. This committee shall prepare a slate of all officers to be presented to the Society.

B. The election of officers shall take place at the May meeting, and shall be conducted by the Chair of the Nominating Committee.

C. The slate of proposed officers shall be presented as a whole for a majority vote of those members present and in good standing.

D. If the slate is not approved by a majority vote, an alternative slate may be nominated from the floor and voted upon in the same manner. Additional slates may be considered until one is approved by majority vote.

E. Officers of the Society shall be installed at the May meeting as the final order of business.

F. All terms of office shall be for one (1) year. The office of President may not be held by the same individual for consecutive terms.

Article 6 - Vacancies & Disciplinary Action

A. A vacancy shall occur when an officer submits their resignation or is unable to serve, as determined by the fellow Officers of the IAHS and shall take effect upon approval of the Executive Committee. Vacancies among elected officers occurring during their terms of office may be filled by appointment of the President of the Society or by the officer serving in the President’s stead.

B. A member may be dropped from the rolls and expelled if the member has been declared delinquent in the payment of dues or if the member commits an offense that brings discredit upon the Society, provided that the member is first notified of the alleged grounds and given an opportunity to respond. Expulsion shall be determined by the Officers of the IAHS and shall take effect upon approval of the Executive Committee.

Article 7 - Executive Committee

A. The Executive Committee shall serve as a working board of the Society and shall advise and support the President and the Officers in carrying out the work of the organization.

B. The Executive Committee shall be composed an odd number of:

  • The Officers of the Society;

  • The Immediate Past President;

  • One representative selected annually by the Past Presidents at the Past Presidents’ Meeting;

  • All standing Committee Chairs as appointed annually by the President;

  • No fewer than three (3) At-Large Members as appointed annually by the President.

C. The Executive Committee shall meet at the discretion of the President or upon request of a majority of its members to conduct the business of the Society.

Article 8 - Meetings

A. The Society shall hold a regular meeting each quarter, traditionally held in the months of February, May, September, and December.

B. Special meetings, and meetings for entertainment, may be called at any time by the President or by an officer acting in his stead.

C. All matters of procedure not covered by Constitution and By-laws shall be determined as set forth in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order (Current Edition).

D. Twenty percent of the voting members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.

E. There shall be no voting by proxy.

F. Members in good standing shall have one vote each in determining all matters of this Society

Article 9 - Amendments

A. This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any time at a regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the total number of members present provided their number constitutes a quorum, and provided all recommended amendments have been presented at a previous regular meeting.

Article 10 - Approval of the Constitution & Bylaws

A. This Constitution shall be in force when it shall have been accepted and approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the first formal meeting of this Society in accordance with the by-laws herein provided, and such approval shall be attested by the affixed signatures of its elected officers.

Approved and accepted this 14th day of March 1978 as hereby attested:

  • John H. Douglas, President

  • William P. Kelly, Vice President

  • John J. Walsh, Secretary

  • Joseph E. Kelly, Treasurer

This version of The Constitution and Bylaws is as originally adopted on March 14th 1978, and includes all amendments as of May 30, 2013. The amendments were adopted on June 25, 1992, December 6, 1996, December 11th 2004, August 31st 2006, May 30th 2013, and February 7th, 2026.

Appendix A - Membership Dues Record

This appendix serves as the official record of all membership dues adjustments approved in accordance with Article 3, Section F.

Each entry shall reflect the membership year the change took place, the dues amount, the type of adjustment, the approving authorities, and the date of approval.

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