TEXAS SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, INC.
CHAPTER NO. 64,
TXSSAR. INC.
BY‑LAWS
(
Rev2, Feb 08)
ARTICLE I‑ MEMBERSHIP
Application
for membership in TXSSAR and NSSAR shall be made through this Chapter and sponsored
by two members of this Chapter in good standing. Procedures for membership
outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the NSSAR and the TXSSAR shall
control.
The
expulsion of any member from this Chapter will require that the same procedures
and rules outlined in Article X of the TXSSAR Constitution be followed.
ARTICLE II‑ FEES AND DUES
The
National and State Societies establish initiation fees and annual dues. Dues
are invoiced and collected in accordance with TXSSAR policy. The TXSSAR returns
portions of the funds collected to the Chapter to defray operating expenses of
the Chapter.
ARTICLE III ‑ OFFICERS
REQUIRED OFFICERS
The
President will be the official executive officer of the Chapter, and will be
responsible for calling and conducting meetings; appoint the Chairman and
members and be member ex‑officio of ALL
committees; be responsible for the budget; represent the Chapter in public;
preside at Chapter Board of Managers' meetings; maintain general supervision
over the affairs and business of the Chapter and is responsible for all assets
of the Chapter. The President shall be responsible for implementation of all
motions approved by a quorum of the membership at a regularly noticed meeting.
The President shall be authorized to spend up to $75 without prior approval of
the membership. The President, in the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer,
is authorized to sign checks.
The Vice
President shall, in the absence of the President, assume the duties of the President's
Office and shall be Cochairman of the Programs Committee.
Provided
there are sufficient chapter members available and to be a separate Treasurer,
the office of Secretary /Treasurer may be separated in any fiscal year.
The
Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the official records of the
Chapter; record the minutes of all meetings in a neat and legible manner;
keeping the register of all members and advise State/National of the
membership; maintain a membership roster which will include deaths, transfers,
dual memberships, dues payments, delinquencies; notification of all meetings;
conducting the correspondence of the Chapter, and in the absence of the
President and Vice-President shall preside over the Chapter meeting. The
Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting, safekeeping, and depositing all
funds of the Chapter; disbursing funds only with the prior approval of the
President; filing the required state and/or federal tax reporting; maintaining
the financial records in ready form for an audit at any time and shall be
Chairman of the Budget Committee.
OTHER OFFICERS
In the
event that there are insufficient applications to the nominating committee or
from the floor for any of the elected positions of registrar, chaplain,
chancellor and historian, the vacant positions may be appointed by the elected
president after taking office, for the duration of his term.
The Registrar shall assist
potential applicants with genealogical research as requested, shall confirm
that two chapter members have sponsored the applicant, shall keep the board of
managers informed of potential new applicants and the registrar or the primary
sponsor shall forward the required application copies and related documentation
to the State Registrar. If forwarded by the sponsor, the sponsor shall provide
a copy of the application for the registrar’s files. The Registrar shall
maintain records of all applications received, dates of receipt and approvals,
and results of interim actions ending in final approval of the memberships; and
maintain a copy of each individual member’s record application, NSSAR Number
and TXSSAR number and coordinate approved membership with other Chapter
officers. All new applicants shall
submit their application through the chapter to the state society.
The
Chaplain shall assist in meetings by being prepared to offer an invocation and
a benediction, proper on such occasions; the "friendship" Chairman of
the Chapter, making every effort to stay informed of the health, illness,
birthday, wedding anniversary, hospitalization, death or misfortunes of Chapter
members and their families; respond with appropriate expressions that will
evidence the Chapter's concern; and visit with each new member, answer any
questions concerning the SAR and generally make the new member welcome into the
Chapter.
CHANCELLOR
The
Chancellor shall be an attorney at law and it shall be his duty to give opinions
on legal matters affecting the Chapter when such questions are referred to him
by the President. He shall also act as the Parliamentarian interpreting Roberts
Rules of Order at all meetings of the chapter and the Board of Managers.
HISTORIAN
Provided
there are sufficient willing members to staff a separate Historian position,
the Historian shall be an elected office and serve on the CBOM. Otherwise, the
duties of Historian shall reside with the Secretary who may delegate the tasks
to any member of the chapter who is willing to provide help to the Secretary.
ARTICLE
IV ‑ CHAPTER BOARD OF MANAGERS
The
Chapter Board of Managers (CBOM) is an executive function that manages the
affairs of the Chapter between regularly scheduled membership meetings. It has
no legislative powers. It may not change chapter policy or practice without an
approved motion of the quorum of the membership at a regularly noticed meeting.
The CBOM shall, within the guidelines established by approved motions of a
quorum of the members at a regular meeting of the chapter, have charge of and
manage the business and affairs of the Chapter; prepare a budget to allocate
monies for desired programs and activities; and after approval of the budget by
a quorum of the membership at a regular noticed meeting, be responsible for
subsequent management and performance against that budget. The CBOM may plan
meetings, events and other activities of the chapter for presentation to the
membership for approval. It may take emergency action to prevent damage to the
chapter, provided it then reports to the chapter membership at the next regular
meeting of the membership and receives ratification of the actions.
The
President and other elected officers, plus the immediate Past President and any
others so selected by the President shall comprise the Chapter Board of
Managers and shall meet at such frequency as called for by the President. While the CBOM may include a number of
appointed and visiting members, and the appointed and visiting members may be
polled by the President for their opinions, only the elected officers and the
immediate Past President may initiate and vote on CBOM decision motions
presented at the CBOM. The treasury records shall be audited whenever there is
a change in treasurer prior to transfer of the treasury records to the newly
installed treasurer or every year prior to the February meeting and the audit
report shall be presented at the February meeting. The President shall select
the audit committee or auditor.
ARTICLE V ‑ INSIGNIA
Chapter
officers and members are entitled to wear any of the various medals of the
Society as prescribed by pertinent regulations of the NSSAR. All insignia shall
be purchased by the member and shall not be for the Chapter's account except
for the SAR rosette which is given to each new member as part of the ceremony
welcoming him into the Chapter membership and any medals given to the officers
and members by the President or the Chapter Board of Managers for services
performed for the Chapter.
These
Bylaws may be amended at any regular business meeting of the Chapter by a three
fifths vote of the members present, provided that a quorum exists and further
provided that the said amendment was proposed at the preceding regular business
meeting.