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By laws

 Article I

Name and Jurisdiction

 

 

Section 1. This organization shall be known as the N.E. Ohio Ghost Society and has been under that name since July of 2006.

 

Section 2.  The jurisdiction of this organization is worldwide with a special emphasis on North East Ohio.

 

Section 3.  The principal office of this organization shall be located in the County of Medina, State of Ohio.  The organization may have such other branches either within or without the State of Ohio as the President may require from time to time.

Article II

Objects

 

 

Section 1.  The objects of this organization shall be:

  1. To scientifically and without prejudice explore the real of the supernatural with a special emphasis on the topics of ghosts, haunting, poltergeists and life after death.
  2.  To attempt to prove the existence of ghosts through on-site investigations at alleged haunted locations with the aid of special equipment and/or psychics.
  3. To report such findings in the organization’s official paranormal publication, The Other Side newsletter and/or magazine.
  4. To examine all forms of evidence for the existence of ghosts including; psychic photographs, audio sounds and any physical proof gathered.
  5. To receive, manage, invest, expand or otherwise use the funds and property of this organization to carry out the duties and to achieve the objectives set forth in these By-Laws and for such additional purposes and objects not inconsistent therewith as will further the interests of this organization and its members, directly or indirectly.

Article III

Eligibility for Membership

 

 

Section 1. Subject only to the specific conditions stated hereinafter, any person of good moral character who has an interest in the paranormal shall be eligible for membership at the discretion of the President.

 

Section 2. Anyone wishing to become more involved with the organization may become an Active Member by applying for Active Membership through the Facebook group, Nearly Everywhere Ohio Ghost Society and if he or she meets the following requirements:

 

  1. All Active Members must be at least twenty one (21) years of age and have a valid driver’s license prior to joining.
  2. He/she must fill out the application for Active Member.
  3. He/she must attend a one investigation with the investigation team in his or her area.

 

Section 3. No person shall be eligible for membership if:

  1. There is reason to believe that he/she may not adhere to and abide by the By-Laws and our rules and regulations.
  2. He/she advocates race, religious or class hatred.
  3. His/her attendance to monthly meetings, field excursions, special or haunted house investigations falls below par in any given six (6) month period.

 

Section 4. Your active membership can be permanently revoked if:

  1. Attendance to NEOGS sponsored events fall below average.
  2. Divulging privileged or confidential information gathered at a haunted house investigation with anyone outside the NEOGS circle.
  3. Attempting to undermine the credibility of the organization in anyway.
  4. Arriving late to NEOGS-sponsored events.

 

Section 5.  Other membership points:

  1. The President has the exclusive right to deny Active or Regular membership to anyone who does not meet with the high standards set forth by the NEOGS.
  2. Active members are given a trial period of one year and evaluated at the end of that time.  It is then up to the President whether or not the said member will be invited to renew as an active member.  Renewal points taken into consideration are: attendance to monthly meetings, field excursions, special haunted house investigations, ability to learn and grow with the NEOGS, neatness in appearance, willingness to contribute to the society as a whole and other general membership practices.
  3. The President is not obligated in anyway to retain any individual that doesn’t meet with the above-mentioned criteria and others deemed necessary by the President.
  4. The NEOGS is not obligated to accept members who already have their own paranormal research organization established at their time of joining.  This is a conflict of interest and there will be no exceptions.  However, it is fine if the new member belongs to other organizations.

Article IV

Officers

 

 

Section 1.  Officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Other officers may include, Operations Director,  Area Representatives, State Coordinator, Public Relations Director, Tech Director, Research Director, Fund Raiser Director, Haunted History Director, Field Investigators, Special Consultants and Foreign Correspondents.

 

Section 2. Eligibility to hold appointed office shall be governed solely by the President and the provisions of the By-Laws.

  1. All officers are appointed and not elected by the President.  The President may revoke their status and office at any time.
  2. Appointed officers have a slightly higher ranking than an Active Member and are offered some special privileges.
  3. Any Active Member may apply for any vacant position anytime after their one (1) year anniversary date.  You must maintain a better than average attendance to all meetings and Field Excursions.
  4. The President for any reason may remove officers from their position at anytime.

 

Section 3. It shall be the Duty of the President:

  1. To Preside over all local and out of state branches of this organization and to preserve order therein.  He shall appoint all committees and shall also have the right to serve on all committees by virtue of his office.
  2. To appoint officers to the organization, create branches in other states or countries and to have sole power to dissolve any branches, officers or the organization as a whole at anytime.
  3. To organize Field Excursions, Special or haunted House Investigations for the membership and be in charge of such.

Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President:

A.      To preside over all local and out of state branches in the absence of the President.  He/she shall                     

        perform such other duties and render such assistance as may    be needed by the President.

 

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer:

  1. To maintain a record of all members, Active or otherwise, in good standing with their last known address.  Said record shall not be opened to inspection of any member except as and to the extent required by statue.
  2. To maintain and track all donations, fundraisers and NEOGS Merchandise.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary:

     A. To report directly to the President.

      B.   Keep the minutes and records of the organization.

    C.   File any certificate required by any statute,
          federal or state.

      D.    Minimum age required is 21

 

Section 7. It shall be the duty of the Director of Operations:

 

  1.  To report directly to the president.
  2.  Over see all directors.
  3. To assist the President in recruiting new members and area representatives.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of the Tech Director:

  1. To report directly to the President.
  2. Assist all charters with software and equipment issues.
  3. Assist in development of new equipment tests.
  4. Minimum age requirement is 21.

 

Section 9. It shall be the duty of the Public Relations Director:

A. To report directly to the president, vice president and director of operations.

B. Contact only businesses that the President, Vice President or Director of Operations asks you to   contact.

C. Send out press notices to the media when the MGS has a high profile investigation, unless otherwise  stated not to do so by private owner or President.

 

Section 10. It shall be the duty of the State Coordinator:

  1. To report directly to the director of operations.
  2. To assist the President in recruiting new members and area representatives.
  3. In charge of all local charters and branches in their respective state.
  4. To have top seniority over any other active members or field investigators.
  5. Minimum age requirement is 21.

 

Section 11. It shall be the duty of the Area Representative:

  1. To report directly to the State Coordinator.
  2. To research and investigate new leads as directed by the President.
  3. To assist other active members on scheduled field excursions and special haunted house investigations.
  4. To assemble data in all forms and send such findings to the President without exception using an investigation log.
  5. Organize and run all scheduled field excursions and meetings in their respective branch.
  6. Minimum age required is 21.

 

   

 

 

Section 12. Fund Raising Director:

  1. To report directly to the President and the Treasurer in that order.
  2. Assist the organization in putting fund raiser together.

 

Section 13. Other Officers:

  1. Foreign Correspondents are individuals in foreign countries that are not necessarily members of the NEOGS.  They are simply called upon by this organization for their expertise on the subject of the paranormal and the occult. 
  2. Special Consultants are individuals within the United States that are not necessarily members of the NEOGS.  They are called upon by the NEOGS for the expert opinions in the subject of the supernatural and/or the paranormal.
  3. This organization does not allow for a Board Of Directors nor will it ever.

 

Section 14. It shall be the duty of the field Investigator:

  1. To report directly to either the Area Representative, Case Manager or President in that order.
  2. Assist both the  Area Representative and Case Manager in examining or gathering of data or information.
  3. May be given new leads to investigate by the President or other officers.
  4. Minimum age requirement is 21.
Section 15. No officer shall for reason of his office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an officer or director for receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as a director or officer.

                               Article V

Officers – Generally

 

Section 1. All officers of this organization when installed after appointment may be required to take the following obligation for office:”

I.                     __________________________________ do most sincerely promise, upon my honor, that I will truly and faithfully, to the best of my ability, perform the duties of my office, as prescribed in the By-Laws of this organization.”

 

Section 2. All officers in the performance of their duties shall adhere to the terms of these By-Laws.

 

                                Article VI

Membership Outings

 

Section 1.  Field Investigations, Special & Haunted House Investigations.

  1. All active members are required to attend all meetings especially those prior to a scheduled field investigation or eligibility to the same is void.
  2. Field investigations are usually held two (2) times a month, usually in May, June, July, August, September and October.  Meetings before an investigation are mandatory.
  3. Those members that cannot make a regularly scheduled field investigation will have that missed outing counted as one against their attendance and cannot be made up.
  4. Special and Haunted House Investigations will be offered only to those Active Members whose attendance to field investigations and meetings is better than average and whom showed promise at past field investigations.
  5. Special and haunted house investigations are not automatic to all active members.
  6. All active members who attend field investigations, special & haunted house investigations or out-of-state- research trips assume full responsibility and agree to relieve NEOGS and the President of any liability as far as personal injury, legal action or anything deemed as an act of God.
  7. Out of State active members aren’t automatically guaranteed field investigations unless a Case Manager, area representative or field investigator already exists in their respective state.
  8. All outings are for active NEOGS members only!  Please do not bring wives, friends, or relatives.
  9. All information obtained during NEOGS-sponsored outings should remain within the NEOGS circle and not shared with anyone not already a member.  The NEOGS holds exclusive copyright of any material presented, investigated or obtained during or afterwards.  This would include: photographs, video or audiotapes, and research reports.
  10. All active members are expected to arrive on time with the proper equipment discussed at the previously scheduled bi-monthly meeting.
  11. If a member cannot make a scheduled field investigation, special or haunted house investigation, it shall be his/her responsibility to phone in advance to the Case Manager or Area Representative.  In case of an emergency, some notification as soon as possible would be appreciated.

                          Article VII

                         Membership Fees

(Some charters already have membership dues in place.)

 

Section 1. The type of membership an individual desires shall calculate by yearly dues.  Active members are considered those who can attend monthly meetings.  Investigation team members are considered those who can attend monthly meetings, participate in scheduled field and haunted house investigations. 

 

  1. Investigation Membership:
    1. $50.00 first year which includes the Other Side newsletter, Photo ID card, NEOGS t-shirt, on line help and research requests, plus the opportunity of assisting in ghost research, field investigations and on the job training.

Section 2. Renewal of Membership:

  1. Notice will be given with the last issue of the Other Side newsletter.  No second notice or reminders will be sent.  Members are expected to renew promptly.
  2.  $30.00 is the renew fee for membership dues.
  3. Members who let their membership lapse for six (6) or more months must be re-interviewed and present their first year dues in person to the President, Case Manager, or area representative at the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting.  No exceptions!

 

Section 3. Change of Address:

All members must provide current change of address forms to this organization when they move.

                              Article VIII

Meetings

 

Section 1. Meetings shall be held Bi-monthly beginning in January in a voice conference.

Section 2. Attendance in mandatory for all active members. 

Section 3. Schedule of meeting:

  1. Opening comments or last meeting minutes.
  2. Review of prior field investigation.
  3. Collection from area representative of evidence or data from prior investigation.
  4. Discussing of next investigation
  5. Open floor discussion or question/answer time.
  6. Closing comments.
  7. Adjournment.

 

Section 4. The President upon reasonable notice to the membership may call mini-meeting of this organization for Case Manager and Area Representatives.  These meetings will be held either at the NEOGS headquarters or via phone.

Article IX
Contracts, Checks and Deposits
 
 Section 1.   Contracts. The President may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the organization, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
 

Section 1.  Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the organization and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the board of directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 2.    Checks, Drafts, or Orders. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the organization shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the organization.

Section 3.        Deposits. All funds of the organization shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as the President may select.

 
 
 

                               Article X

Fiscal Year

 

The fiscal year of this organization shall be from January 1 to December 31.

                                Article XI

Field Investigations

 

Section 1. This organization shall have three main types of research trips; Field investigations, Special Investigations and Haunted House investigations.

  1. Field investigations are usually held 2 times a month, usually in June, July, August, September and October and are open to all active members whom are in good standing and have attended the previous meeting.  That same member must have already filled out an application for Active Membership, submitted a photograph of himself and must have already been interviewed for Active membership.
    1. Field Investigations usually consist of a public accessible area mostly outdoors where paranormal activity has been reported. These outings usually last two to three hours.

        B.   Special Investigations are usually held irregularly at various times throughout the year and are open to all Active members who are in good standing and have fulfilled the above requirements listed in the field investigation paragraph plus has attended at least one (1) prior field investigation  in the past.  He/she must have better than average attendance to all meetings as well. 

    1. Special Investigations are not automatic to all active members only those who meet the various requirements plus show promise in the investigation field.
    2. Special Investigations are usually overnight stakeouts, sometimes indoors but can be Outdoors as well.  These outings can be from several hours to overnight in length. 
  1. Haunted House Investigations are usually held irregularly as the President receives calls or requests to investigate an alleged haunted house or sites.  These investigations deal with the
  2. general public and are not for everyone.  Requirements are listed below.
    1. Haunted house investigations can be quite lengthy and often require follow-up visits from time to time.  All information gathered at these investigations is completely confidential.
    2. attendance may be limited to a few select people even though others may be qualified to attend.  This is due to the client’s wishes and cannot be circumvented.
    3. A fair rotational program is in place for Haunted house investigations but the Active Member must remember that certain equipment is necessary for such investigations and those having such needed equipment may have some special privileges.

                     Article XII

Official Logos

 

Section 1. All logos on this organization’s business cards as well as those on the web site are copyrighted and remain the property of the NEOGS.  This would also include cover designs of the Other Side Newsletter and all special interest directories.  These designs and logos cannot re reproduced without expressed written consent from the President and the North East Ohio Ghost Society.

 

Section 2. The designs on this organization’s membership cards and photo identification cards are also copyrighted and cannot be duplicated under penalty of law.

 

Section 3. The title North East Ohio Ghost Society remains the exclusive property of Andrew Pearson, President and cannot be used by any other organization or business under penalty of law.

 

 

Article XIII

AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the President at any regular or special meeting of the organization.

 

Revised November  2001, June 2002,  September 2004, July 2009, August 2009, February 2010

© 2000-2011. All photos, evps and videos recordings on this site are property of   N.E.Ohio Ghost Society (NEOGS) and may NOT be duplicated or copied without expressed written permission.