Constitution of the The Lance-Lantz-Lentz-Lence People, Inc.
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Constitution Sections

Amendments

Original Constitution

Preamble

This organization was established May 22, 1988, on campus of North Georgia College at Dahlonega, GA.  An election was held and Mr. Dennis Lance of Nelson, GA, was elected as the first President and Mrs. Lillie Lance Casey of Buford, GA, was elected as Secretary.  Some discussion was held regarding the purposes and aims of the organization.  Articles of Incorporation were drawn up and dated as of 18 November 1988 and officially registered in the State of Georgia.

In the ensuing year, some effort was made to construct and adopt a Constitution and Bylaws.  However, the first edition of a Constitution and Bylaws was not presented and adopted until the eighth annual meeting held in Charlotte, NC, on June 9-11, 1995.  A committee consisting of Mr. Dennis Lance, President, and Rev. Glenn A. Smith, Chaplain, presented the first edition of Constitution and Bylaws.

All provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws shall be considered and applied so as to effect the intent and spirit of the law over the letter of the law.

Article I - Name

As per the Articles of Incorporation the name of the body shall be "The Lance-Lantz-Lentz-Lence People, Inc."

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of the Corporation shall be to organize and hold family reunions with a view to assisting members of the family in clarifying and strengthening family ties and enhancing appreciation for our heritage.  This purpose shall be executed in such a way and at all times so that the Corporation is recognized as being non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political.

Article III - Membership (See First Amendment for update.)

Membership is open to all persons known or believed to be descendants of the four brothers: Sebastian Lentz, Dewalt Lentz, Sr., Peter Lentz, Sr. and John Lentz, Sr.  (All emigrated from Germany in the 18th century and bear various spelling of both their sur and given names.)  Membership is likewise open to spouses of these descendants.

All members are expected to be in agreement with and supportive of the stated purpose of the Corporation.

The following types of membership are to be recognized by the Corporation.  All members of whatever type are encouraged to full participation and all except honorary members are entitled to full voting privileges.

  1. Regular Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to one of the four brothers and has registered at any annual meeting, present or past.

  2. Charter Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to one of the four brothers and registered at the 1988 meeting.

  3. Life Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to one of the four brothers and has made a one-time contribution of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more to the treasury of the organization.

  4. Honorary Member - One who has no genealogical connection to the family but has shown outstanding interest in the organization, its purpose and family.

Article IV - Organization and Governance (See Second Amendment for update.)

All affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by an Executive Committee composed of the following elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Chaplain, Founder, Director of Public Relations plus one member holding no other office in the Corporation.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to alter, amend, repeal or adopt new bylaws provided the bylaws at no time shall contain any provision inconsistent with law, the Articles of Incorporation, or this Constitution.

Article V - Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed through the Executive Committee and upon its approval presented to the corporation in the next annual meeting.

Amendments to the constitution shall in all cases require a two-thirds majority approval of those present in the annual meeting for two consecutive years.

Amendments

First Amendment - Open Membership for Lance-Lantz-Lentz-Lence People
Approved at the 10th Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia, June 7, 1997

Article III was amended to open organization membership to any person with the name Lance, Lantz, Lence, Lentz or other variations.  A proven or suspected relationship to one of the four Lentz men believed to be brothers is no longer required for membership.  The amended article now reads as follows:

Membership is open to all persons who are believed to be descendants of the Lance-Lantz-Lence-Lentz people or variations of these names. Membership is likewise open to the spouses of these descendants.

All members are expected to be in agreement with and supportive of the stated purpose of the Corporation.

The following types of membership are to be recognized by the Corporation.  All members of whatever type are encouraged to full participation and all except honorary members are entitled to full voting privileges.

  1. Regular Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to the Lance-Lantz-Lence-Lentz people or variations of these names and has registered at any annual meeting, present or past.

  2. Charter Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to the Lance-Lantz-Lence-Lentz people or variations of these names and registered at the 1988 meeting.

  3. Life Member - One who by birth or marriage is related to the Lance-Lantz-Lence-Lentz people or variations of these names and has made a one-time contribution of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more to the treasury of the organization.

  4. Honorary Member - One who has no genealogical connection to the Lance-Lantz-Lence-Lentz people or variations of these names, but has shown outstanding interest in the organization, its purpose and its people.

Second Amendment - Addition of Immediate Past President to Executive Committee
Approved at the 10th Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia, June 7, 1997

Article IV was amended to its current form above to include "Immediate Past President" to the Executive Committee.  The amended article now reads as follows:

All affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by an Executive Committee composed of the following elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Chaplain, Founder, Director of Public Relations, Immediate Past President, plus one member holding no other office in the Corporation.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to alter, amend, repeal or adopt new bylaws provided the bylaws at no time shall contain any provision inconsistent with law, the Articles of Incorporation, or this Constitution.

Third Amendment - Clarification on the Filling of Officer Positions
Discussion Started on June 10, 2000 by Executive Committee
First membership vote passed at the 15th Reunion at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, June 8, 2002
Approved by a second membership vote passed at the 16th Reunion at Jekyll Island, Georgia, June 7, 2003

It was noted during an Executive Committee meeting that Article IV and the Second Amendment lists eight "elected officers."  However, it was noted that two of the listed officers are not elected: Founder and Immediate Past President.

After much discussion by the Committee, it was decided that some clarification is needed on which officers are elected and which are not.  The Founder and Immediate Past President should be classified as "automatic" officers.  Furthermore, due to the length of elections at the annual meeting, it was discussed to have the election for the "core" officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer) and have the President appoint the remaining officers (Chaplain, Director of Public Relations, and Member-At-Large).

The following amendment to Article IV and the Second Amendment was approved as follows:

"All affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by an Executive Committee composed of the following officers:

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