Sorry blue moons and flying pigs, we have a new standard for rarity. At today’s meeting, the long-proposed comprehensive amendment to the constitution passed the required 2/3 vote, with 34 for and 16 opposed. The main changes are to add a new section (Article II) establishing a Jewish identity for the Society while also making allowing non-Jewish spouses to join the Society as full members (Article IV).
A pdf of the text of the constitution that was voted on can be downloaded here
Click for more to see a comparison of the changes from the old constitution to the new one.
CONSTITUTION of the ISRAEL CANTOR FAMILY SOCIETY
Article I
Name
This Society shall be known as the Israel Cantor Family Society as long as the Society is in existence. This name shall never be changed.
Article II
Identity
As a Jewish family society, we celebrate our shared and diverse Jewish heritage in our communal activities. All Society activities shall be consistent with Jewish traditions, culture, or values. This article may not be changed or repealed without a supermajority of 75% of the members voting.
Article II III
Object
The aims of the Society shall be:
- To foster the welfare of the members.
- To be the medium of extending help to those in need.
- To promote social activities so that the generations to come may be bound by the same ties that hold us now.
Article III IV
Membership
- Only direct descendants of Yechiel Michel Cantor and descendant’s spouse shall be eligible for membership.
- All direct descendants of Yechiel Michel Cantor and legal spouses (“Spouses”) of those descendants are eligible for membership.
- Four forms of membership shall be maintained:
- Family membership — to consist of a direct descendant and his or her spouse.
- Single membership — to consist of a direct descendant of Yechiel Michel Cantor.
- Social membership — to consist of a direct descendant and/or his or her spouse. Such members are to be permitted to vote on all questions except those pertaining to cemetery.
- Associate membership — to consist of a spouse of a direct descendant when such spouse is outside of the Jewish faith and any descendants of non-Jewish mothers. Such members are permitted to vote on all questions except those pertaining to the Constitution and the cemetery.
- There are two types of Membership available to all eligible Members:
- General Membership: Available to any direct descendant. General Members are granted voting rights on all issues before the Israel Cantor Family Society. General Memberships are available as a Single (Descendant) or Family (Descendant, Spouse, and any children under 21).
- Social Membership: Available to any direct descendant. Social Members are identical to General Members with two exceptions: they do not receive burial benefits and they cannot vote on matters pertaining to the cemetery. Social Memberships are available as a Single (Descendant) or Family (Descendant, Spouse, and any children under 21).
- When a member resigns or is expelled from the Society he or shethat member may not be readmitted unless such re-entry is approved by a 2/3rds majority at a regular meeting.
- When a direct descendant arrives at the age of 21 years and he or she applies immediately for membership, such descendant shall be accepted into the Society upon payment of the necessary fees without a vote.
- If a descendant does not exercise the privilege of becoming a member upon reaching his or her 21st birthdaythe age of 21 years, then the Society shall vote on the question of admission. A majority vote along with payment of necessary fees is necessary for admission to membership.
- In all cases of proposed members over 30 years of age, the Society may, by a majority vote, require the proposed member and his or her spouse to be examined by a doctor. Upon receipt of the doctor’s report the Society shall vote the question of admission.
- When a member or eligible member marries outside of the Jewish faith, the spouse of such member or eligible member may enter the Society only as an associate member. Associate members may become single, family or social members upon conversion to the Jewish faith. Children born of Jewish mothers are eligible for single, family or social membership regardless of the faith of their fathers. Children of non-Jewish mothers are eligible for associate membership.
Article IV
Burial Benefits
- Single or family membership but not social or associate entitles the member to burial benefits.
- A General Member, in good standing at the time of death, is entitled to burial benefits. A General Member otherwise entitled to burial benefits is only entitled to such benefits if the Society owns a vacant burial plot, and the General Member is eligible for that plot according to the rules of the cemetery in which the burial plot is located. If the Society does not own such a plot at the time of the member’s death, that member’s burial benefits are forfeit. Social Members are not entitled to burial benefits.
- All burial plots owned by the Society must be in a Jewish cemetery or a Jewish portion of a cemetery.
- These burial benefits shall be extended to the unmarried Jewish children of family members until their 21st birthday.
- Within one year after the death of the husband or wifea member who receives burial benefits, the surviving Spouse has the right to reserve as his or her own gravethe Spouse’s own grave in the nearest possible vacant plot to the grave of the deceased. For such privilege, the surviving spouse shall pay $50.00. Terms of payment may be $10.00 upon reservation and the balance paid up within six months.Spouse may be required to pay a reasonable amount as determined by the bylaws.
Article VI
Survivor’s Rights
- Upon the death of a member, the surviving Jewish spouseSpouse may assume the membership of the deceased.
- Should a non-descendant surviving sSpouse remarry outside the family, his or herthe surviving Spouse’s membership may continue. Membership and its benefits shall not accrue to the new spouse nor to their issue.issue of their union.
- Unmarried children of the deceased and survivor are entitled to burial benefits as long as the surviving sSpouse maintains membership. This burial benefit ceases upon their 21st birthday. In any case, children are entitled to membership when they come of age.
- In the event of the death of a surviving sSpouse, children of the deceased are entitled to burial benefits without further dues until they are 21.
Article VII
Appropriations
Appropriations must be approved at a regular meeting in advance of their expenditure.
Article VIII
Voting
A member must be present to vote. Votes by proxy shall not be recognized. A family member and his or her wife or husband are both entitled to vote. Neither may vote for the other.One member cannot vote for any other member (including one’s spouse) who is not at the meeting.
Article VIIIIX
Amendments
Amendments to this constitution except Article I, shall be submitted in writing at a meeting and may not be voted upon until the next meeting. Special mention shall be made in the meeting notices of the intent to vote on such amendments. Two-thirds of the members voting shall be necessary to pass the amendment, except for amendments amending or repealing Article II (“Identity”), which require a supermajority of 75% of all members voting in order to pass.
Changes in the by-laws shall be made in the same manner except that a majority vote shall be necessary.