Stephen Hopkins Colony
Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Florida
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this Colony shall be the Stephen Hopkins Colony of the Florida Society of
Mayflower Descendants.
ARTICLE II. OBJECTS
Section 1: To perpetuate to a remote posterity the memory of our Pilgrim Fathers; to
maintain and defend the principle of civil and religious liberty as set forth in the
Compact of the Mayflower, “For the Glorie of God, and advancement of the Christian
faith, and the honor of our countrie.”
Section 2: To cherish and maintain the ideals and institutions of American freedom, and
oppose any theories or actions that threaten their continuity.
Section 3: To transmit the spirit, the purity of purpose, and steadfastness, of the Pilgrim
Fathers to those who shall come after them, an undiminished heritage of liberty and
law.
Section 4: To promote the interests that are common to all the State Societies of
Mayflower Descendants which can best be served by a federal body, and to secure
united efforts to discover and publish original matter in regard to the Pilgrims, together
with existing data known only to antiquarians, and to authenticate, preserve and mark
historical spots made memorable by Pilgrim association.
Section 5: The Colony shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried
on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of any current United
States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are
deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or
corresponding provisions of any current United States Internal Revenue Law).
Section 6: The fiscal year of the Colony shall be January 1st through December 31st.
Stephen Hopkins Colony By-Laws – April 2024 2
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Active Member: Any person over the age of eighteen years who is a current
member in good standing of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) and
the Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants (FSMD) or, as a dual member, the General
Society of Mayflower Descendants and another state or provincial Mayflower Society
chartered by GSMD, may join the Colony as a member.
Section 2: Active Memberships shall include Life Memberships as specified in the By-
Laws of the (FSMD). Any member of the Society, except a junior Member, who has been
a Florida member in good standing for five years and is at least 50 years old, is eligible to
become a Life Member of the (FSMD). The Life Membership fee shall by determined by
the members age at the time of application and the scale established and published by
the (FSMD).
The member will thereafter be exempt from payment of annual dues as of the year
following the year of enrollment for Life Membership. All Life Membership fees shall be
maintained by the State Treasurer in a Life Membership Reserve Fund (LMRF). From said
fund, the Treasurer will pay all annual colony, state society and general Society dues on
behalf of each Life Member who has been reported by the Colony as a member as of 31
December of the year reported.
Section 3: Transfers & Reinstatements: Transfers in or out of the Colony, for members in
good standing, as well as any reinstatement of membership in the Colony, and any fees
for these actions, will be accomplished and charged in accordance with the policies and
procedures of the (FSMD) consistent with the most current amendments in force.
Section 4: All resignations shall be presented to the Colony Secretary in writing and
referred to the Board of Assistants for action. No resignation shall be accepted until all
dues are paid in full to the date of resignation.
Section 5: Prospective Members: Prospective members shall follow the application
procedure as established and published by the Florida State Historian that shall also be
consistent with guidelines published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants
(GSMD) and the (FSMD). All persons over eighteen years of age who are descended
from a passenger on the Mayflower on the voyage which terminated at Plymouth, New
England, in December 1620, shall be eligible for membership consideration. No person
shall be eligible for the (FSMD) or Stephen Hopkins Colony membership who is pledged
to or advocates the overthrow, by force or violence, of the Constitution of the United
States, or that of any State or Territory; or who has been found guilty of any treasonable
practice, or who is not of good moral character. As noted in Section 1, Colony
Membership is contingent on membership in good standing in the General Society of
Mayflower Descendants and the Society of Mayflower Descendants of the State of
Florida.
Section 6: Any member of the Colony, for cause or conduct prejudicial to the interests
of the Colony, may be suspended or expelled by a two-thirds vote of the membership of
the Board of Assistants, but no member shall be suspended or expelled unless written
charges against such member shall have been presented to the Board of Assistants
which shall give such member a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to refute such
charges.
Section 7: Spouses or partners of members, prospective members and guests are
welcome to attend meetings of the Colony, as are members of other Mayflower
societies or colonies. All are guests and are not entitled to vote or hold office.
Section 8: Junior memberships may be established in the Colony according to applicable
and current procedures of the Society of Mayflower Descendants of the State of Florida.
The Colony Junior Membership Chair shall keep a record of all Colony Junior Members,
distribute application forms, and submit the completed forms to the State Junior Chair.
ARTICLE IV: DUES & FEES
Section 1: Annual dues for each member, except Life Members, shall be as set forth in
the Standing Rules of the (FSMD), and are payable to the Colony Treasurer by December
31st. Dues are considered delinquent after December 31st each year. A new member
shall pay the colony dues for the current year when their application for membership is
submitted by the State Historian.
Members who are still in arrears by April 1st each year may be dropped from the Colony
rolls by a majority vote of the Colony Board of Assistants unless the Colony Board of
Assistants, by a majority vote, chooses to extend the time for payment of delinquent
dues. The list of members who have been recommended to be dropped from the Colony
rolls will be presented to the Board of Assistants of the (FSMD) at their November
meeting for ratification and dropping from the Society of Mayflower Descendants of the
State of Florida (FSMD) rolls.
Section 2: A member dropped for the non-payment of dues may be reinstated upon the
payment of the arrears for the year in which he or she ceased to be a member and the
dues for the year(s) of reinstatement. If the member does not wish to be reinstated, he
or she shall pay the arrears for the year in which he or she ceased to be a member and it
shall be recorded that the member resigned in that year in good standing.
Section 3: Fees for original applications, for supplemental applications, copies of lineage
papers, transfers, and/or reinstatement will be charged by the Colony to applicants at
the rate currently set by the (FSMD).
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of this Colony shall be Governor, Vice-Governor, Membership
Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Archivist, Elder, Captain (Color Guard), and
three (3) Directors, one of whom shall be the immediate Past Colony Governor. If the
immediate Past Colony Governor is not available or declines to serve, another Colony
Member may be elected or nominated as Director by the Colony Governor with
concurrence of the Officers. The Colony Governor is a member of the Board of
Assistants of the Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Section 2: The Governor of the Florida State Society is an Honorary Member of the
Board of Assistants of the Stephen Hopkins Colony.
Section 3: The foregoing officers shall constitute the Board of Assistants of the Stephen
Hopkins Colony.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1: Elections in the Stephen Hopkins Colony shall take place in the same year as
Florida State Society elections at the November meeting.
Section 2: The Board of Assistants shall, at the first Board meeting of the year in which
the Election of Officers occurs, appoint a three-person Nominating Committee of two
members of the Colony, and the Colony Governor. The Nominating Committee shall
present a slate of Directors and Officers to the Board of Assistants at their first fall
meeting for approval. The final list shall be presented to the members at the first fall
General Membership Meeting, with the election to take place at the November General
Membership Meeting. At the November General Membership Meeting, nominations
may also be accepted from the floor. These are to be followed by the election by a
majority vote of the members present, provided a quorum is met. Installation of Officers
and Directors shall take place at the close of the November meeting after the election
has taken place.
Section 3: All officers shall be elected for a term of three years. No officer who has been
elected and has served a full term shall be eligible for re-election for more than one
additional term for the same office, with the exception of Archivist, Treasurer,
Membership Secretary, and Recording Secretary who shall be eligible, at their request
and subject to concurrence of the Board of Assistants, to succeed himself/herself for
additional terms without limitation.
ARTICLE VII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The Colony Governor shall preside at all meetings of the Colony and the
Board of Assistants appoint all committees except the Program Committee and perform
such duties as pertain to the chief executive officer of any organization.
Section 2: The Colony Vice Governor shall perform all of the duties of the office of
Colony Governor during the absence or disability of the Colony Governor. The Colony
Vice-Governor shall appoint members of the Program Committee.
Section 3: The Membership Secretary shall conduct the roll call of ancestors at the
general meeting of the colony. The Membership Secretary shall report all membership
changes to (FSMD), as required. In addition, the Membership Secretary shall maintain
and provide a membership roster to members as needed, and notify the General
Membership of meetings, information and newsletters.
Section 4: The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the Colony and shall deposit them in
such bank(s) as designated by the Colony Board of Assistants. This officer shall make a
report on the condition of the treasury at every regular meeting. The Treasurer’s books
shall be audited yearly, and always at the change of a Treasurer by an Audit Committee
appointed by the Colony Governor. The Treasurer shall report and remit dues to the
(FSMD) in accordance with the schedule determined by the FSMD.
Section 5: The Archivist shall make a detailed report on all celebrations of the Colony,
file all documents, papers and speeches, and perform any other duties assigned by the
Board of Assistants.
Section 6: The Elder shall serve as chaplain. This officer shall give the invocation, meal
blessing and benediction at the general meeting and the invocation, and benediction at
the board meeting as well as keep a record of the deaths of members and forward this
information to the State Elder and the State Membership Secretary giving the date of
expiration and the name and address of next of kin. He or she shall send a message of
condolence to the family upon the death of a Colony member.
Section 7: The Captain shall have charge of the flags of the Colony and shall lead the
membership in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pilgrim Pledge at the general meeting,
as well as carry out all the orders of the Colony Governor and the Board of Assistants.
Section 8: The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the meetings of the
Board of Assistants and General Membership Meetings of the Colony. This officer shall
also perform other duties usually pertaining to the office of Recording Secretary.
ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES
Section 1: The Colony Governor shall appoint the members and the Chair of the Junior
Membership Committee. The Junior Membership Chair shall be responsible for
enrollment of junior members, providing forms, certificates, maintenance of a roll of
current junior members, etc., and provide a report on number of junior members
periodically to the Board of Assistants and General Membership meetings. Upon the
approval of each junior application, the Junior Chair shall provide the name of the
applicant; the sponsor and birth date of the applicant to the Colony Secretary so that
the Colony Secretary can record the information on the colony roster.
Section 2: The Colony Governor shall appoint members and the Chair of the Education
Committee. The Education Chair shall be responsible for planning educational programs
and activities in nearby communities, and order any educational materials and supplies
for community schools and teachers as deemed appropriate. A report will be submitted
periodically to the Board of Assistants and the General Membership Meetings.
Expenses must have prior approval of the Board of Assistants.
Section 3: The Vice-Governor shall appoint members of the Program Committee and
shall serve as Chair. The Program Chair shall be responsible for developing and arranging
speakers and programs for the General Membership Meetings that are consistent with
the direction of the Board of Assistants.
Section 4: Two Colony members in good standing shall be appointed annually by the
Governor to be the annual Audit Committee, which will review the financial records of
the previous fiscal year. The Treasurer’s records shall be made available to the
Committee by 15 January. The audited report shall be presented to the Board of
Governors as soon as practicable but no later than the second Board of Governors
meeting of the calendar year. At the General Membership Meeting following
presentation of the audit review report to the Board of Assistants, the results will be
reported to the membership.
ARTICLE IX. DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF ASSISTANTS
Section 1: The Board of Assistants, composed of the officers of the Colony, shall conduct
the business of the Colony as necessary and shall fill such vacancies on the Board as may
occur in the list of officers. The Colony Governor may request telephonic or electronic
discussion and vote on matters between board meetings if deemed necessary.
Section 2: The Board of Assistants shall annually review and update the fee schedule for
membership, initial application fees, supplemental applications and junior
memberships. A schedule of these fees shall be periodically be published and made
available to Colony Members and prospective members. The fee schedule shall be
consistent with and may not exceed the fees established by Society of Mayflower
Descendants in the State of Florida (FSMD). The Board of Assistants may approve a
special assessment for pressing needs.
Section 3: The Board of Assistants shall prepare and approve a description of the duties
and responsibilities of all officers and committee chairs. These descriptions shall be
periodically reviewed and updated by the Board of Assistants, at least every three years.
ARTICLE X: MEETINGS
Section 1: The Board of Assistants shall adopt a General Membership Meeting schedule
for each calendar year. The Board of Assistants will also establish the schedule of
meetings of the Board of Assistants. The schedule for both General Membership
Meetings and Board of Assistants Meetings will be provided to members at the
beginning of calendar year.
Section 2: The Board of Assistants may change a meeting date of a General Membership
Meeting or Board of Assistants Meeting when granted by a majority vote of the Board at
a Board of Assistants meeting, electronically or telephonically during interim periods.
Section 3: A quorum of a Board of Assistants Meeting shall consist of one more than
50% of the voting positions on the Board of Assistants. The quorum may be determined
by in-person, telephonic or electronic participation. The quorum at a General
Membership Meeting shall be 15 members. There may not be telephonic or electronic
voting participation at General Membership Meetings.
ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
Section 1: These By-laws may be amended or repealed at any meeting of the general
membership of the Colony by a two-thirds vote of the members present; provided that
such amendment or repeal has been proposed at a previous General Membership
Meeting of the Colony or published in writing or electronically to the membership in
advance of a scheduled meeting and meets the quorum requirements. The State
Governor must approve all changes.
Section 2: These By-laws and any Colony Special Rules are to be consistent with those of
the (FSMD) and the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD).
ARTICLE XII. RULES OF ORDER
Section 1: Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the meetings of this
Colony in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with the Bylaws or special rules of this Colony or those of the Society of Mayflower
Descendants in the State of Florida (FSMD).
ARTICLE XIII DISSOLUTION
Section 1: Upon the dissolution of this Colony, all of its assets remaining after payment
of all costs and expenses of such dissolution shall be distributed to organizations which
have qualified for the exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
or the Federal Government, or to a State of Local Government, for a public purpose and
none of the assets will be distributed to any member, officer or trustee of this Society.
Approved as to form by the Governor (FSMD) Brian McWaters, February 28, 2024.
Approved by Stephen Hopkins Colony Membership on April 1, 2024.
History of By-Laws:
Original Bylaws, Stephen Hopkins Colony were dated 2001
Reviewed and Approved by Governor, FSMD, July 2001
2017 Revisions Approved by Stephen Hopkins Board of Assistants, February 2, 2017
Approved by Stephen Hopkins Colony Membership, April 13, 2017
2022 Revisions Approved by Stephen Hopkins Board of Assistants, February 6, 2023
2022 Revisions Approved by Stephen Hopkins Membership, April 10, 2023
2022 Revisions Reviewed & Approved by Suzanne Adams, FSMD Governor, Aug 28, 2023
2024 Revisions Reviewed and Approved by Stephen Hopkins Colony Board, February 28, 2024
2024 Revisions Reviewed and Approved by Brian McWaters, FSMD Governor, February 28, 2024
2024 Revisions Approved by Stephen Hopkins Membership, April 1, 2024
KB: 4/2/24, 4/30/24
Stephen Hopkins Colony 