Copy
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BY-LAWS OF ST. STEPHEN POST 221
of
THE AMERICAN LEGION - DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
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ARTICLE I.
Section 1. The Post existing under these By-Laws is to be known as ST. STEPHEN POST NO. 221 OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA.
Section 2. The objects of this Post are as set forth in the Constitution.
ARTICLE II - MANAGEMENT.
Section 1. The Government and management of the Post is entrusted to an Executive Committee of Ten (10) Members, to be known as the "Executive Committee".
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of Junior Post Commander, in addition to the Officers of the Post, and together with the other Officers of this Post, shall be elected annually on the First Tuesday of October of each year, and take office at the meeting next following that of the election. All Elections of Officers and Executive Committeemen shall be by ballot and the Candidate or Candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the respective office or offices for which they are Candidates.
Section 3. All vacancies existing in the Executive Committee or in any office of the Post, from any cause other than the expiration of the term, shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Committee, and a person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member of the Committee or Officer whom he succeeds. A vacancy shall exist when a member or Officer is absent from his Post for a continuous period considered detrimental to the interest of the Post by the Executive Committee.
Article III - POST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Section 1. The Post Executive committee shall meet for organization and such other business as may come before it at the call of the Post Commander, within ten days after the installation of the Post Officers. Thereafter, the Post Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Commander at least every month, and as often as said Commander may deem necessary. The Commander shall call a Meeting of the Post Executive committee upon the joint Written request of three or more members of said Post Executive Committee, Six members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum thereof.
Section 2. The Post Executive Committee shall hire such employees as may be necessary; shall authorize and approve all expenditures; shall require adequate Bonds from all persons having the custody of Post funds; shall hear the reports of Post Committee Chairman; and generally, shall have charge of and be responsible for the management of the Affairs of this Post.
Article IV - DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Section 1. DUTIES OF POST COMMANDER: It shall be the duty of the Post Commander to preside at all Meetings of the Post and to have general supervision over the business and affairs of the Post, and such Officer shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Post. He shall approve all orders directing the disbursement of funds and shall make an annual report covering the business of the Post for the year, and recommendations for the ensuing year, which shall be read at the Annual Meeting and a copy thereof immediately forwarded to the Department Adjutant. He shall perform such other duties as directed by the Post.
Section 2. DUTIES OF VICE COMMANDER: The Vice Commander shall assume and discharge the duties of the Office of Commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by the Post Commander.
Section 3. DUTIES OF POST ADJUTANT: The Adjutant shall have charge of and keep a full and correct record of all proceedings of all Meetings, keep such records as the Department and National Organizations may require, render reports of membership annually, or when called upon at a Meeting, and under direction of the Commander, handle all correspondence of the Post.
Section 4. DUTIES OF THE FINANCE OFFICER: The Finance Officer of the Post shall have charge of all finances and see that that they are safely deposited in some local Bank or Banks and shall report once a month to the Executive Committee the condition of the finances of the Post, with such recommendations as he may deem expedient or necessary for raising funds with which to carry on the activities of the Post. He shall sign all checks disbursing the moneys of the Post. He shall furnish such Surety Bond in such sums as shall be fixed by the Post Executive Committee.
Section 5. DUTIES OF POST HISTORIAN: The Post Historian shall be charged with the individual records and incidents of the Post, and Post Members, and shall perform such other duties as may properly pertain to the office as may be determined by the Post or the Executive Committee.
Section 6. DUTIES OF POST CHAPLAIN: The Post Chaplain shall be charged with the Spiritual Welfare of the Post Comrades and will offer divine but non-sectarian Service in the event of dedications, funerals, public functions, etc., adhere to such ceremonial rituals as are recommended by the National or Department Headquarters from time to time.
Section 7. DUTIES OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: The Sergeant-At-Arms shall preserve order at all Meetings and shall perform such other duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Post Executive committee.
ARTICLE V - DELEGATES.
Section 1. Delegates and Alternates to a Department Convention shall be elected by Ballot by the Post at the regular Meeting of the Post, to be held at least twenty days prior to the date of such convention.
ARTICLE VI - APPOINTMENTS.
Section 1. The Post Commander, immediately upon taking office each year, shall appoint the following standing Committees: Membership, House, Finance, Legal, Publicity, Service, Visiting, Americanism and Athletic: such Standing Committees shall consist of such members and the Chairman thereof, as shall be designated by the Post Commander.
Section 2. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: The Membership Committee shall have charge of all matters pertaining to the membership of the Post, including the procuring of new members, reinstatement and eligibility of members.
Section 3. WORLD WAR II LIAISON COMMETTEE: To oversee all activities of the Post, in connection with World War II Veterans, their families and dependents.
Section 4. HOUSE AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE: The House and Enterainment Committee shall have charge of all matters pertaining to the care of the Post Quarters, promotion of Club Advantages and arrangements for social activities.
Section 5. FINANCE COMMITTEE: The Finance Committee shall be charged with the administration of the financial policy, preparation of Budget Recommendations and Supervision of receiving, disbursing and Accounting of all Post Funds.
Section 6. LEGAL COMMITTEE: The Legal Committee shall be charged with the legal supervision of Post Affairs and Audit of Post financial Accounts.
Section 7. PUBLICITY COMMITTEE: The Publicity committee shall be charged with the promotion of Public Support of the Legion's Program by the establishment of proper contact with the American Legion Magazine, Department and National Legion News Service and by Local Publicity of Post Programs and Activities.
Section 8. REHABILITATION AND SERVICE COMMITTEE: The Rehabilitation and Service Committee shall supervize all matters pertaining to service to comrades in the prosecution of all just claims against the United States Government, Employment, Relief, etc.
Section 9. VISITING COMMITTEE: The Visiting Committee is charged with the visiting and comforting of members and their families when sick or bereaved and with visiting ex-servicemen in nearby hospitals.
Section 10. AMERICANISM COMMITTEE: The Americanism Committee shall be charged with the inspiration of patriotism and good citizenship by arrangements for proper observance of patriotic occasions; encouragement of patriotic and civic phases of instructions in schools; Americanization of Aliens; combating Anti-American Propaganda by educators of the general public in American Ideals through public forums, etc., and activities for community and civic betterment.
Section 11. ATHLETIC COMMITTEE: The Athletic Committee shall be charged with the promotion of physicial development and clean sports by the organization of the Post Athletic Teams, Recreation, etc., and by cooperation and support in the general Recreational and Athletic Programs of the Committee.
Section 12. DISASTER RELIEF COMMITTEE: With the consent and advice of the Constituted Authorities, a permanent Post Committe on Home Defense and Disaster Relief should be organized.
Section 13. SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION COMMITTEE: Shall have overseeship of the operations of the Post's Squadron of the Sons of the American Legion.
Section 14. CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE: Shall be charged with aid and service to children of veterans, cooperating with other established Agencies in the Communitty; laboring for the betterment of child conditions and in coordinating services and agencies in the community for the above purposes. To act as intermediary for the needy child of a Veteran in obtaining the fulfillment of the Legion's Pledge that "no child of a World War Veteran shall be in need of the necessities of Life" and "a square deal for every child".
Section 15. DEFENSE COMMITTEE; Shall work with and coordinate Legion Efforts with the local Defense Council on matters pertaining to National, Civilian and Home Defense. To assist the Armed Forces of the United States in recruiting efforts and in every way be active in community activities for the Defense of the Nation and the security of the American Home.
ARTICLE VII - RESOLUTIONS.
Section 1. All Resolutions of State or National Scope presented to this Post by Members or reported to this Post by a Committee shall merely embody the opinion of this Post on the Subject and copy of same, shall be forwarded to the Department Headquarters for its approval before any publicity is given or action other than mere passage by the Post is taken.
ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS.
Section 1. The regular Meetings of the Post shall be held at the Club Rooms on the First Tuesday of each month, at which may be transacted such business as may properly be brought up for action; such Meetings may be converted into Entertainment Meetings, as may be deemed adviseable by the Officers of the Post.
Section 2. The Post Commander or a majority of the Executive Committee shall have power to call a Special Meeting of the Post at any time.
Section 3. Upon the Written Request of Fifteen Percent (15%) of the members, the committee shall call a Special Meeting of the Post.
Section 4. Fifteen Percent (15%) of the members shall constitute a Quorum.
ARTICLE IX - NOTICES.
Section 1. Every member shall furnish the Post Adjutant with his or her address for mailing purposes.
Section 2. The Post Adjutant shall cause notice of the Annual Election to be given at least two weeks prior thereto.
ARTICLE X - RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. All proceedings of this Post shall be conducted under and pursuant to Roberts' Rules of Order, except as herein otherwise provided.
ARTICLES XI - LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITIES
Section 1. This Post shall incur, or cause to be incurred, no liability nor obligations whatever shich shall subject to liability any other Post, Subdivision, Group of Men, members of The American Legion, or other individuals, Corporations or Organizations.
ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be duly amended at any regular Post Meeting by a vote of two/thirds of the members of said Post attending such Meeting, provided, that the proposed Amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the next preceding regular meeting of said Post; and Provided, Further, That Written Notice shall have given to all members at least ten days in advance of the date when such Amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members that at such meeting, a proposal to amend the By-Laws is to be voted upon.
These Post By-Laws were unimously adopted on December 1st 1959.
IN THE PRESENCE OF: ST. STEPHEN POST NO. 221 OF THE
AMERICAN LEGION, DEPARTMENT OF
__________________________ MINNESOTA
__________________________ BY:___________________________
ALEX HLEBAEN, Commander
By: __________________________
JOSEPH KOZEL, Adjutant
COPY BY: __________________________
JOHN R. FERCHE, Finance Officer