BY-LAWS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
BRANCH NO. 132
- Name
The Branch shall be known as the Beausejour
Branch # 132 of the Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command of the
Royal Canadian Legion.
- Interpretations
Words indicating the Masculine import the
Feminine. Words indicating the Singular import the Plural.
- Membership
Shall be in accordance with the General By-laws
of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Initiations
(a)Once a new applicant has been accepted, he
may appear at the next General Meeting for initiation.
(b)
All members initiated shall be issued a copy of
the General BY- Laws and a Legion lapel pin.
(c)
The Secretary or Stewards shall give an official receipt for
dues received, which shall serve as a pass to the Branch Clubrooms,
until the candidate has had a reasonable time to present himself for
initiation, such time to be decided by the Executive.
(d)
In the case of a candidate not being able to attend
initiation at a General Meeting for reasons beyond his control, he
may be initiated by a member of the Executive Committee in the
Branch Office.
- Annual Dues
Each member shall pay annual dues in the amount
to be decided by a General Meeting of the Branch excepting that the
Branch Executive shall have discretionary powers as regards to Life
Members and Members warranting special consideration due to unusual
circumstances.
(a)
Branch dues shall be paid as per the General By-laws.
(b)
A committee consisting of the President, Past President, First,
Second, Third Vice Presidents, the Service Officer, and the Membership
Chairman will meet to handle any application for assistance and pass
recommendations to the full Executive for further consideration.
(c)
The Membership Chairperson shall annually present a list to the
Executive of the names of those whose membership has lapsed.
(d)
Dues of an “Early Bird” member who is deceased prior to January 1st
of the upcoming year may be refunded by the Branch.
- Meetings
(a)
The monthly General Meeting of the Branch shall be held on
the third Monday of the month, excepting July and August, except as
the previous General Meeting may change the scheduled date of a
meeting. Such changed date of the meeting shall be posted on the
Branch Bulletin Boards immediately after the meeting in which the
change was made.
(b)
The Monthly Executive Committee meeting shall be held the first
Monday of each month except as amended by the Executive Committee, of
which such notice shall be given.
(c)
The Annual General Meeting shall be held on the third Monday of
November, unless otherwise directed by the October General Meeting and
adequately publicized.
(d)
A member wishing to introduce a motion or to speak shall rise and
wait until he is recognized by the chair before speaking.
(e)
Members shall not hold private discussions during a meeting or
talk on any subject in an unseemingly manner so as to disrupt the
business of the meeting.
(f)
At all general meetings fifteen members present
shall constitute a quorum which shall be maintained throughout the
meeting.
- Special General Meetings
(a)
In unusual or pressing circumstances, a Special General Meeting
may be called by the Branch Executive Committee or by a written request
of at least fifteen (15) voting members of the Branch. Members shall be
notified at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Such notice shall
contain briefly, the purpose of the meeting.
(b)
Only that business for which the Special Meeting has been called
shall be dealt with.
(c)
The minutes of the Special Meeting shall be recorded and posted
for the information of all members unless, for a special reason, the
meeting directs otherwise.
- Nominations
(a)
At the September general meeting a Nominating
Committee chairperson shall be appointed. He shall present his
nomination list at the annual general meeting. All candidates shall
be present to accept nomination or have filed a letter of acceptance
with the Branch Secretary. Nominations shall also be accepted from
the floor.
(b)
The President, prior to the General Meeting in September, shall
appoint an Election Chairman from the Officers of Command, District,
Zone Level, or other Branches to conduct Branch Elections.
(c)
All elections shall be by secret ballot. Such ballots shall be
disposed of after the election by motion from the floor at the election
meeting.
(d)
A member shall be in good standing for a period
of one year and have attended a minimum of three general meetings
since the last Annual general meeting to stand for the position of
President.
To be eligible to stand for the position of 1st,
2nd, 3rd Vice presidents a member must be in
good standing for a period of one year and attended a minimum of
three general meetings since the last Annual Meeting.
(e)
To be eligible for President, a Member must be a Member of the
Branch Executive for a period of one year.
(f)
All members must be in good standing and remain in good standing.
(g)
Any member who is absent from two Executive meetings without just
cause shall forfeit the position or office therein.
(h) All officers elected at the November Annual
General meeting shall assume office on January 1st of the
following year
- Duties of the Executive Committee
(a)
Under the direction of the President, the Executive Committee
shall have full jurisdiction over the affairs of the Branch when the
Branch General Meetings are in summer recess during July and August.
(b)
Notwithstanding the above, the Executive Committee shall have no
power to raise money by way of a loan, mortgage, debenture, buy/sell any
reality or assets belonging to the Branch, except when authorized by a
resolution passed at a General Meeting. For adoption of the resolution
passed at a General Meeting, not less than two-thirds of the members
present and entitled to vote must be in favour of its resolution.
(c)
No expenditure or commitment of over $300.00 shall be dealt with
at a General Meeting unless it is first submitted to the Finance
Committee.
(d)
No expenditure or commitment of over $300.00 can be made without
the consent of the General Membership through a resolution passed at a
General Meeting.
(e)
The above paragraphs (c) and (d) do not apply to current accounts
and routine expenditures:
·
Office supplies as required
·
Lotteries supplies and equipment as required
·
Maintenance of building as required
·
Employees wages and deductions as required
·
Government remittances as required
·
Office, bar, and maintenance equipment in the event of an
emergency
·
Kitchen supplies as required
(f)
All cheques issued by the Branch shall be
signed by two of the four officers consisting of the 1st
Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice
President and the Treasurer.
- Executive Committees
The following shall be the Executive
Committees of the Branch:
Bar
Committee
Financial Committee
Membership
entertainment
house and property
sports
poppy fund
by-laws and honours and awards
sick and visiting
publicity
bingo
ways and means
audit committee
(a)
The Chairman of each Executive Committee shall be appointed by
the President of the Branch from the Executive Committee at its first
meeting of the year. The duties of the Chairman of Executive Committees
shall include a monthly written report to the General Meeting.
(b)
All Executive Chairmen may select from the General Membership to
serve on their committee. Having made their selection, the names of
those members selected will be submitted to the Executive Committee for
approval.
(c)
The Financial Committee shall consist of the President, 1st,
2nd, 3rd, Vice Presidents and the Treasurer.
- Employees
(a)
The Executive Committee may on the recommendation of a bar
committee appoint such salaried officer, servants or agents as may be
required for the operation of the Branch.
(b)
The Executive Committee shall delegate to the bar committee such
powers as are necessary to suspend, discipline, or dismiss any employee
of the Branch for cause.
(c)
All employees who handle Branch funds shall be bonded by a
registered bonding company in an amount to be determined by the
Executive Committee.
(d)
At a General Meeting, Branch employees are entitled to vote on
any question, provided they are voting members in good standing, but
they shall not speak on any resolution pertaining to finances or other
immediate duties, on the floor of any General Meeting.
(e)
At a General Meeting any motion and discussion from the floor
that concerns staff (including staff salaries) shall be ruled out of
order.
(f)
There shall be no cashing of cheques at the Branch.
- General
(a)
The President of the Branch shall be granted an honorarium in an
amount to be determined by the members at a General Meeting.
(b)
No Chairman of any Standing Committee shall be allowed to incur
any expense at the bar unless he is specifically authorized to do so by
the President.
(c)
A member who is to participate in a Legion sporting event and who
wishes to receive financial support from Legion Branch #132, must attend
a minimum of 50% of the General Meetings or work 5 functions of the
Branch in the previous year.
- Poppy Fund Committee
This committee shall be
responsible for the operation and the administration of Poppy Funds. The
Chairman shall be appointed by the President. The Chairman shall appoint
committee member(s), who must be approved by the Branch Executive.
- Notices
Immediately after the
termination of any General Meeting, the Secretary shall post on the
bulletin board the dates of the next General Meeting. Notices, other
than those pertaining to Branch and/or Royal Canadian Legion activities,
may be posted, subject to approval of the Executive Committee.
- Suspension or Expulsion
Procedures shall be that
outlined in the General By-laws of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Ladies’ Auxiliary
The formation and
operation of the Ladies’ Auxiliary to Branch No. 132 shall be in
accordance with the General By-laws of the Royal Canadian Legion and
Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command.
Members of Branch No. 132
Ladies Auxiliary, upon presentation of their membership cards, will be
allowed clubroom privileges.
- Delegates
(a)
Delegates to District and Dominion conventions must be elected or
appointed three months prior to the month of the convention
(b)
Delegates to Zone and District meetings shall be elected or
appointed at the Annual General Meeting for the ensuing year.
(c)
If a vacancy occurs, a replacement shall be elected or appointed
at the next General Meeting.
- Convention Accredited Delegates
(a)
The President shall be required to attend all conventions to the
best of his ability. To attend Provincial or Dominion conventions he
shall receive financing.
(b)
The 1st or 2nd Vice Presidents
respectfully, shall become the alternates should the President be unable
to attend any convention. To attend the Provincial or Dominion
conventions he shall receive financing.
(c)
If the General Membership decides to finance two or more
accredited delegates the financing of the accredited delegates shall be
determined in order as follows:
(1)
President
(2)
1st Vice President
(3)
2nd Vice President
(4)
3rd Vice President
(5)
Accredited delegates elected by the General Membership
(d)
The President, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents
are automatic accredited delegates to Provincial or Dominion Conventions
(e)
Financing shall be based upon traveling, lodging, per diem
expenses and convention fees. The amount shall be approved by the
General Membership prior to the convention.
(f)
Any member who is an accredited delegate and does not receive
financing (e) shall have his convention registration fee paid. The
amount shall be approved by the General Membership prior to the
convention.
(g)
The maximum of accredited delegates shall be determined by
Dominion Command By-laws.
- Resolutions
All resolutions submitted
by members of this Branch to be presented at any Legion convention must
be in writing and in duplicate.
- Motions
No motion shall be stated
by the chair unless properly moved and seconded. After the question has
been called on a motion, the delegate shall cease and the vote taken.
- Matters of Procedure
In all matters of
procedure not provided for in Branch By-laws the provision of the Legion
“Rules of Procedure for Legion Meetings” shall apply.
- Voting Power
Only Ordinary, Life and
Associate Voting Members and Voting Affiliates in good standing shall
have a vote at any General Meeting of the Branch.
- Members
(a)
All authorized members shall have the privilege of signing into
the Branch Club twenty guests on any occasion, except on special
occasions on which the Executive Committee shall decide.
(b)
All members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary shall have the privilege of
signing into the Branch Club twenty guests on any occasion, except on
special occasions on which the Executive Committee shall decide.
(c)
All Non Voting Affiliates shall have the privilege of signing
into the Branch Club twenty guests on any occasion, except on special
occasions on which the Executive Committee shall decide.
(d)
No member shall knowingly sign in as a guest any person who has
been expelled from the Royal Canadian Legion for any reason whatsoever.
- Legion Uniform
Any member in possession
of the Legion Uniform may wear same in Branch Meetings.
- Order of Business
All meetings shall start
on time.
1.
Call to order by the President or Chairman.
2.
O Canada.
3.
At the word of the Chairman all members shall stand with heads bowed
for one minute of silence in memory of, and in respect of our fallen
Comrades.
4. Roll call of Officers and Executive Members.
5. Initiation of New Members.
6. Minutes of last General and Executive minutes reviewed.
7. Financial statement.
8. Correspondents.
9. Reports from Committees.
10.
Old Business arising from minutes.
11.
New business.
12.
General business, Welfare of the Legion or Branch.
13.
Closing Ceremony, God Save the Queen.
- Amendments to these By-laws
(a)
These By-laws shall not be amended except by motion of which
notice has been given at the previous General Meeting to the one at
which the amendment is to be considered. A 2/3 majority is required to
make such amendments effective.
(b)
Any amendments to these by-laws shall not be effective until
approved by the Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Command of the Royal
Canadian Legion.
