Forest City Area Historical Society
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About FCAHS

On this page you will find our Society's History, Mission Statement, and By-Laws.

History of FCAHS
30 years ago, Paul Ferraro and John Kameen wanted to found a local Historical Society. Finally, their plan was incorporated in 2010. The Society was not able to find a location until the Methodist Church congregation decided to disband due to lack of attendees. We talked to members of the congregation and then contacted the Methodist Conference to urge them to donate it to the Society. They donated it at no cost. Local attorney, Dave Bianco did all the legal work pro bono.
It is now the depository of all available artifacts and documents from our past. Since then, all major repairs and improvements, costing more than $50,000, have been funded by donations from benefactors including a new outside wall, sidewalk, an elevator, new stairs, new bathroom, repairing 3 stained glass windows, building a new office, plumbing, and electrical work. At present we are trying to raise the funds for the last 3 stained glass windows.
The museum is a testament to the ethnic diversity of our area. At one time there were 9 churches in Forest City, most being devoted to a particular nationality. In 2018 we conducted four-day series in which we had speakers on the larger ethnic populations who came here in the early 1900’s --- Polish, Slovenian, Lithuanians, Italian, Slovak.
We have done many programs involving veterans including the Hometown hero banners which we hang on the walls in the museum. Paul, who is a Vietnam veteran, and two of our officers, Vice President Dave Homisak and Treasurer Bob Wirts, also veterans, conducted a program in 2017 honoring area Vietnam veterans in which we gathered the names of more than 400 area Vietnam vets and brought many of them together to give them the honor they were not given when they returned from that controversial war.
In 2019 we spearheaded the 100th anniversary of the local American Legion Post and honored them at the Museum after they donated their Post building to construct a new Wayne Memorial Hospital clinic.
In 2018 we had a summer-long celebration of Pennsylvania’s 250th anniversary of the Anthracite industry which was the largest gathering of any community in the state. It ended with a nighttime parade with almost 30 units themed to coal mining and anthracite.
In the future we want to go to the local school to interest elementary school students in learning about the history of Forest City and our area.

MISSION STATEMENT

Forest City Area Historical Society

The purpose of the society shall be to promote:
      Research,
      Preservation and
      Education
relevant to the history and historical artifacts in the towns of:
      Browndale (Wayne County)
      Forest City (Susqehanna County)
      Richmondale (Lackawanna County)
      Vandling (Lackawanna County)
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


Forest City Area Historical Society Newsletters


FOREST CITY AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

            BY LAWS

                                      ADOPTED May 2, 2010

ARTICLE  I - Name
The name of this organization shall be:  Forest City Area Historical Society, herein referred to in this document as the "Society".

ARTICLE  II -  Purpose
The purpose of the Society shall be to promote research, preservation and education relevant to the history and historical artifacts in the towns of Browndale (Wayne County), Forest City (Susquehanna County), Richmondale (Lackawanna County) and Vandling (Lackawanna County) in Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE  III - Membership
Membership in the Society shall be open to all individuals and organizations that are interested in and help further its purpose and who shall pay their membership dues and otherwise comply with Society rules and regulations.  All members in good standing shall have the right to cast a vote.  Dues shall be $15.00 per year for each individual or $25.00 for a family.  After the initial payment of dues, they will not be assessed again for one year. 

ARTICLE IV - Eligibility of Officers
Any active member of the Society who is over the age of 18 years shall be eligible for office.

ARTICLE  V - Officers
Officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Election of officers will be held at the Annual Meeting in June.

ARTICLE  VI - Duties and Terms of Officers
A.  All officers shall be elected annually, and serve no more than three (3) consecutive years.  Candidates for the elective officers shall be designated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the voting membership of the Society at the Annual Meeting.  The officers will take office at the next scheduled meeting.

B.  In case of vacancy of office, the office shall be filled by appointment by the President at the next monthly meeting.

C.  The President shall call meetings of the Society and its officers, preside at meetings and perform duties generally required of this office.

D.  The Vice-President upon absence or resignation of the President shall assume all duties of the President.

E.  The Secretary shall maintain a list of Society members, shall keep actual records of all meetings, and shall handle all correspondence pertaining to the Society.

F.   The Treasurer shall receive dues, contributions and revenues and pay bills authorized by the Society.   Checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and one additional officer.  The Treasurer shall submit monthly and annual financial reports.


ARTICLE  VII - Committees
A.  Collection Committee
Members of this committee are responsible for collecting, cataloging, cleaning, repair, and storage of historic objects; for arranging Society exhibits, and the correct historical interpretation of these exhibits; and for the care and upkeep of Society quarters.

B.  Publicity and Membership Committee
Members of this committee are responsible for publicity of news articles, press releases, and events, as well as membership drives and recruitment.

C.  Fundraising Committee
Members of this committee are responsible for raising funds through various fundraising events.

D.  Nominating Committee
Members of this committee are responsible for collecting officer nominations from the membership and conducting the election process at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - Removal of Members of the Governing Body
Any member of the governing body may be removed from office for just cause at any monthly meeting by a majority vote of Society members present at that meeting.

ARTICLE  IX  -  Meetings
A.  The Society shall meet on the Second Sunday of each month beginning at 6:00 PM at a location to be determined at the previous month's meeting. 

B.  Meetings may be called by the President at any time.

C.  Special meetings may be called at any time as deemed necessary by the majority of the officers.


ARTICLE X  -  Quorum
A quorum shall consist of three (3) officers and three (3) active members.  Proxy voting shall not be permitted.  Each voting member shall have the right at every membership meeting to only one vote, which must be exercised in person.  In extenuating circumstances, voting members may petition the Officers for absentee ballots.

ARTICLE  XI  -  Revision of By Laws
Bylaws may be revised with the approval of a majority of those present at any regular meeting.  Any proposed by law change shall be submitted to all Society members one full meeting prior to the vote.

ARTICLE XII  -  Authorized Expenditures
All expenditures of the Society must first be approved by three (3) of the officers.

ARTICLE XIII  -  Definitions of Terms
A.  An active member is a member whose dues are paid and is present at the meeting.

B.  The annual meeting is held every year on the second Sunday of June.


ARTICLE XIV - Disband
If the FC Area Historical Society should disband all monies shall be donated to the Forest City Area Community Foundation.

The undersigned hereby certifies that she is the secretary of this Forest City Area Historical Society and that the foregoing by laws consisting of three (3) pages, of which this is the third (3rd) page, were adopted as and for the bylaws of Forest City Area Historical Society.

- Signed by Secretary Historical Society_______________________
                                                                         NAME                           DATE Revisions:_______________________________________________

 


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