CONSTITUTION
& BY-
Revised
http://www.patriot-web.com/
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Article I - Name
The
name of this organization shall be: Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American
Revolution. It is organized under the Florida Society, SAR.
Article II - Objectives
The
objectives of the Chapter are declared to be patriotic, historical, and
educational and shall include those intended or designed to perpetuate the
memory of those who, by their services or sacrifices during the war of the
American Revolution achieved the independence of the American people; to unite
and promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire them and the
community at large with a more profound reverence for the principles of
government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in
relation to the American Revolution; to celebrate the anniversaries of the
prominent events of the War and the Revolutionary period; to foster true patriotism;
to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and to carry out
the purposes expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States
and the injunctions of President Washington in his Farewell Address to the
American people.
The
Chapter shall not carry on activities of propaganda, attempt to influence
legislation or participate in political campaigns.
Article
Section
1.
Any male, 18 years of age or older, shall be eligible for membership in the
Tampa Chapter who, being a citizen of good repute in the community, is the
lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to,
and rendered active service in the cause of American Independence either as an
officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or minuteman, in the armed forces
of the Continental Congress of any one of the several Colonies or States, as a
signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of a Committee of Safety
or Correspondence, as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial
Congress or Legislature, as a foreign national of, but not limited to, France,
Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland who rendered service in the cause
of American Independence or as a recognized patriot who performed actual
service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain, provided,
however, that no person advocating the overthrow of the Government of the
United States by use of force or violence shall be eligible for membership in
this Chapter.
Section
2.
Applicants will fall in one of several classes of membership as specified in
the Official Handbook of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
Article IV – Officers and Board of
Governors
Section
1.
The Officers of the Chapter shall be:
President Vice President
Secretary Treasurer
Genealogist/Registrar Chancellor
Chaplain Historian
Sergeant-at-Arms
Section
2.
The Board of Governors shall consist of the elected Officers of Section 1,
Supra, plus the immediate Past President and two Members-at-Large, who shall be
elected each year during the elections of Officers.
Article V – Parliamentary Authority
The
rules set forth in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall
govern all meetings of this Chapter and of the Board of Governors in which they
are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of the National and
State Societies, the Articles of Incorporation of the National and State
Societies and any special rules of order the National and State Societies may
adopt.
Article VI - Amendments
This
Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at
any regular meeting of the Chapter, provided a quorum is present and the
proposed amendment shall have been presented at either a regular Chapter
meeting or in writing at least one month prior to the vote. Publication of the
proposed amendment on the Chapter Website and announcement of the same at a
regular meeting and by electronic mail at least one month before the vote shall
be considered sufficient notification within the intent of this Article.
Amendments shall become effective upon adoption.
BY-
OF THE
By-Law
1 – Membership
Section 1.
Application for membership in the National Society shall be made through the
Chapter and the Florida Society in accordance with current procedures
established by those Societies and must be accompanied by the requisite fees
and dues. An applicant for membership shall be sponsored by two members of the
National Society in good standing and the applicant shall make oath that the
statements in his application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Section 2. New
members shall be inducted at a regular meeting and shall be presented with
their Certificate of Membership, after which they shall take the SAR Pledge,
during which all members shall stand.
Section 3.
Requests for reinstatement, transfer and dual membership shall be processed in
accordance with procedures established by the National and Florida Societies
and must be accompanied by the requisite fees and dues.
.Section 4. Members who
are able to establish their eligibility on the services of more than one
Revolutionary ancestor may file a supplemental application. Supplemental
applications must be filed in accordance with procedures established by the
National Society and must be accompanied by the requisite fees. Each
supplemental membership may be denoted by a gold star worn on the breast ribbon
or neck ribbon.
Section
5.
A copy of each member’s application shall be retained by the Chapter Secretary,
either in paper or electronic form.
Section
6.
The official designation of a member of the Chapter shall be “Compatriot.”
By-Law 2 – Officers and Board of Governors
Section
1.
The Officers of the Chapter shall be those enumerated in the Constitution.
Section
2.
There shall be a Board of Governors as enumerated in the Constitution.
Section
3.
The Board of Governors – a majority of those present constituting a quorum – is
empowered to:
a.
Exercise general control and management of the
affairs and business of the Chapter, and
b.
Declare
any office vacant for good cause, and
c.
Fill
an Officer vacancy occurring after the general election; the member so
appointed to an unexpired term shall hold that office with full power until the
next regular election.
Section
4.
The President shall, when present, preside as Chairman of the Board of
Governors and shall have a vote.
Section
5.
Meetings of the Board of Governors shall be held at the call of the President or
at the request of the members of the Board, acting in concert, and should occur
as often as may be
required
to properly discharge the responsibilities of the Board.
The
date, time and location of all meetings of the Board of Governors shall be
communicated in advance to the members of the Chapter and shall be open to all
members of the Chapter who wish to attend. An announcement of a Board of
Governors meeting at a regular meeting of the Chapter or by electronic mail
shall be considered sufficient notification within the intent of this By-Law.
Section
6.
None of the elected or appointed officers shall receive any remuneration.
By-Law 3 - Meetings
Section
1.
The Chapter shall meet monthly with the exception of June, July and August at a
date, time and place selected by the Board of Governors. Additional meetings
may be held at the discretion of the Board of Governors.
Section
2.
The order of business at chapter meetings shall be established by the President
and shall include, but is not limited to, an Invocation, the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag of the
Section
3.
Ten (10) members or 20% of the membership at the prior year-end, whichever is
greater, shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a regular or
special meeting and a majority vote of those present shall determine the will
of the
Chapter,
except as otherwise provided herein.
By-Law 4 - Communications
Section
1.
The Chapter shall maintain a website for the benefit of its members and members
of the public seeking information on the Chapter and its activities.
Section
2.
The Chapter shall publish a newsletter for those months in which regular
meetings are held. The newsletter shall be distributed by electronic mail at
least one week prior to each regular meeting.
By-Law 5 - Elections
Section
1.
The election of the Officers of the Chapter and the Members-at-Large of the
Board of Governors shall be held each year at the November meeting.
Section
2.
To prepare for election, not later than the September meeting the President
shall call for nominations from the floor of three members to constitute a
Nominating Committee to propose a slate of Officers for the ensuing year. The
three nominees receiving the greatest number of votes shall constitute this
Committee. The slate of Officers proposed by the Nominating Committee at the
November meeting may be supplemented by nominations from the floor. Voting
shall be by written ballot if requested by any member.
Section
3.
Newly elected Officers and Members-at-Large of the Board of Governors shall
take office at the December meeting of the Chapter.
By-Law 6 - Committees
Section
1.
The Chapter President shall appoint all Committees except the Nominating
Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of the same.
Section
2.
Within thirty (30) days after taking office the President shall appoint
standing committees at his discretion.
Section
3.
The President shall appoint such other committees as he shall deem necessary.
By-Law 7 – Fiscal
Section
1.
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from January 1 through December 31.
Section
2.
The annual dues to the Chapter shall be set by the Board of Governors with the
approval of the membership.
Section
3.
All funds of the Chapter with the exception of a nominal Petty Cash Fund shall
be held on deposit in the name of the Chapter in an FDIC insured bank or FSLIC
insured savings and loan association. Expenditures shall be by check drawn on
such bank or savings and loan association, signed by the Treasurer. In the
event of the unavailability of the Treasurer, the President may sign checks.
All expenditures must be accompanied by a competent receipt.
Section
4.
Other than dues and fees assessed by the National and Florida Societies, this
Chapter shall incur no obligations without
prior
approval of the Board of Governors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
President may approve individual expenditures up to $100. The Chapter shall be
prohibited from incurring liabilities in excess of Chapter assets.
Section
5.
No Chapter funds shall be expended for the personal benefit of any Chapter
member, but that shall not preclude the reimbursement for expenses reasonably
incurred in the performance of official duties, subject to the prior approval
of each expense by the Board of Governors or the President. Reimbursements to
the Treasurer shall be made by check signed by the President.
Section
6.
There shall be an annual audit of the funds of the Chapter, and such other
audits as may be required, by a committee of two members appointed by the
President. The annual audit shall be conducted after January 1 and completed
before February 1.
By-Law 8 – Dissolution
In
the event of dissolution of the Chapter, the Board of Governors shall, after
paying or making provision for payment of all liabilities of the Chapter,
convey all assets of the Chapter, including the Chapter Flags, to the Florida
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Inc.
By-Law 9 – Amendments
The
By-Laws of this Chapter may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members
present at any regular meeting of the Chapter, provided a quorum is present
when the vote is taken.
Originally
adopted
1st
Amendment
2nd
Amendment
3rd
Amendment