For your information, general information about the name, purpose, membership and officers are included here.  Please click here for a full set of current bylaws.

 Partial text of the Bylaws of the Claflin Family Association:

Article 1. Name

 1.1   Name. The name of this organization shall be the Claflin Family Association, hereinafter called the Association.

 Article 2. Purposes

2.1 Purposes. The purposes of the Association shall be to:

2.1.1 Hold annual Claflin Family reunions,

2.1.2 Promote friendships among members of the Claflin Family,

2.1.3 Inform the membership about the genealogy and history of the Claflin Family in America since 1650,

2.1.4 Collaborate with others in informing the membership about the genealogy and history of the Clan MacLachlan of western Scotland, and generally about Scottish geography, history, and culture,

2.1.5 Grant funds for the advancement of education, public health, or historic preservation.

 Article 3. Membership

3.1 Members. The following are members of the Association:

3.1.1 Persons who were members of the Association on the date of the adoption of this bylaw revision,

3.1.2 Persons who are lineal descendants of the Robert MacLachlan who was accepted as a townsman in Wenham, Massachusetts in 1661, their spouses,widows, and widowers,

3.1.3 Others with an interest in or a connection to the Claflin Family, upon approval of their application for membership, made in writing to the Secretary and stating their interest in or connection to the Claflin Family.

3.2 Active Members. Active members are those members whose present mailing addresses are listed in the records of the Association, who are 16 years of age and older, and who are up to date with such dues payments as may be set from time to time by the Association.

3.3 Inactive Members. Inactive members are those members whose present mailing addresses are unknown, who are 15 years of age or younger, or whose dues payments are not up to date.

3.4 Transfer of Status. An Inactive member shall acquire or resume Active membership status upon his/her informing the Secretary of his/her present mailing address, upon reaching the age of 16, and upon his/her payment of such dues as may be set from time to time by the Association. An Active member on his/her request shall be transferred to Inactive membership status.

3.5 Participation in Business Affairs of the Association. Active members shall have the right to participate fully in the business affairs of the Association; Inactive members shall not participate in the business affairs of the Association.

Article 4. Meetings of the Association

4.1 Annual Business Meeting. The annual business meeting of the Association shall be held during the last week of July within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or elsewhere in the United States. The Association shall select the date, time, and place for a future meeting during an annual business meeting. In the absence of such selection, the Executive Board shall select the date, time, and place of the annual business meeting and shall notify the Active members as quickly as expedient as to this selection.

4.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President, and shall be called by the President upon the written request of 20 Active members. No business other than that stated in the meeting notice shall be conducted at a special meeting.

4.3 Notice. The Secretary shall mail written notice of meetings of the Association to all Active members not less than 30 days in advance of such meetings. Such notice may also be posted on the website of the Association.

4.4 Content of Notice. Notice of meetings of the Association, additional to stating the date, time, and place, shall include the agenda for the meeting and shall identify the substance of any special business to be dealt with, the substance of any proposed bylaw amendments, and the names of any nominees for officer or Executive Board member.

4.5 Agenda. The agenda for annual business meetings shall include the following: call to order; approval or disposition of the minutes of previous meetings; reports of officers; reports of standing and special committees other than the Nominating Committee; the report of the Nominating Committee and the elections of officers and members of theExecutive Board, hereinafter called the Board; unfinished business; new business including the locations of future annual business meetings; announcements; and adjournment.

4.6 Agenda and the Friends of the Claflin Family Association. A portion or portions of the annual business meeting may be devoted to reports or affairs of the Friends of the Claflin Family Association, hereinafter called the Friends. Such reports shall be made and such reports and affairs shall be acted upon separately from the reports and affairs of the Association.

4.7 Quorum and Vote Required. Twenty-five Active members shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the Association for the transaction of business. Unless otherwise specified herein or by parliamentary authority, a majority of the legal votes cast shall be required for the adoption of motions and for the election of officers or members of the Board.

Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

 Article 5. Officers

5.1 Elected Officers. The elected officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

5.2 Election and Terms of Service. Elected officers shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Article 13, for terms of one year and shall serve until their successors have been elected.