GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER

GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER

SONS of the AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Arkansas Society

Bylaws of the GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this organization shall be "GENERAL LAFAYETTE CHAPTER", Arkansas Society, SONS of the AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

ARTICLE II- Purposes & Objects

The objects of this Society 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 and/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 the government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire and preserve the records of the individual services of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, relics, and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the war and of 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 our country and the injunctions of Washington in his farewell address to the American people.

ARTICLE III -Membership

SECTION 1.

Any man shall be eligible for membership in this Society who, being of the age of eighteen years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal desce.ndant 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, or of any one of the several Colonies or States; or as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, or as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial or Colonial Congress or Legislature; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.

SECTION 2.

Any person eligible for membership may become a member of this Society by submission of an Application for Membership, in duplicate, to the Chapter Registrar on blank forms furnished by the Society. The Application must be accompanied by documents or other proof of qualification and by payment of the regular fees and dues as required by the Society. Each applicant must be sponsored by two members in good standing. After approval by the Chapter and the State Society, the Application must be approved by the National Society. Upon approval by the National Society, each new member is entitled to receive a Certificate of Membership from the National Society.

SECTION 3.

There shall be two classes of membership.

a. Active members are those who are in good standing, not a Life Member, and who are current with payment of dues.

b. Life members are those who are in good standing who have paid a one time fee as established by the National Society. A Life membership may be awarded any member in good standing, deemed worthy, by a majority vote of the Board of Governors of the Society and recommended for Life Membership by a majority vote of this Chapter. A Life Member shall be exempt from the payment of further dues to this Society, except for Chapter and State dues. .

There shall be no other classes of membership and there shall be no honorary members nor shall there be any members-at-large.

SECTION 4.

The official designation of a member of this Society shall be COMPATRIOT.

ARTICLE IV -Officers

The officers of this Chapter shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President "only when the membership exceeds 100", Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Chaplain and Historian-Genealogist. The President shall be a person who has made a meaningful contribution to the Society. The officers shall be elected bi-annually and will serve a term of two years.

ARTICLE V -Meetings

The chapter will meet once each month at a time and place decided by a majority of those present and voting at a regular meeting. A special meeting may be called by the President or at the request of any five members. The bi-annual meeting for the election of Officers and election of Delegates to the State Annual Meeting shall be held two months prior to the State Annual Meeting. At this meeting, the membership may also vote on nominations of qualified members to State Office. The report of Elections and nominations will be forwarded to the State Board of Governors and the State Secretary prior to the January 15^th following each election year

ARTICLE VI -Elections

SECTION I.

A nominating committee shall be elected at the September meeting of each election year and shall present a slate of officers at the November meeting. Nominations for any position may also be made from the floor at any time during that meeting. Election of Officers and Delegates will be held at the regular meeting in December of each election year.

SECTION 2.

The Secretary shall notify every member at least one week prior to the December meeting that an election is to be held.

SECTION 3.

If more than one person is nominated for a position, the election shall be by ballot. A majority of the votes cast are required for election.

SECTION 4.

The offices of Secretary and Treasurer or any other two offices other than President may be filled by one and the same person.

ARTICLE VII -Duties of Officers

SECTION I -General

The duties of the Officers of this Chapter shall be such as usually appertain to their offices. Also, they shall have such other duties as are hereinafter imposed and such powers as shall be delegated to them by the President or by the membership at any regular meeting or special meeting called for such purpose. They shall render reports as required at regular or special Chapter meetings.

SECTION 2- Duties of the President.

a. He shall be the official representative of this Chapter in activities of the Society at all levels.

b. He shall maintain a general supervision over business and affairs of this Chapter and be responsible to see that the Chapter is operated in accordance with these Bylaws.

c. He shall preside at all meetings, both regular and special, of this Chapter .

d. He shall appoint such committees as deemed necessary for the conduct of business and he shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

e. He shall have power to suspend or remove from office any appointive officer who may refuse or neglect his duties as hereinafter prescribed.

SECTION 3- Duties of the First Vice President

a. He shall serve as Chairman of the Committee on Programs.

b. He shall preside at meetings and fulfill the duties of the President in the event of his absence.

c. In the event of death or resignation of the President, the first Vice President shall assume the duties of the President for the remainder of his term. The Second Vice President, if one has been elected, shall assume the duties of the First Vice President.

d. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

e. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

SECTION 4- Duties of the Second Vice President

A member is elected to this office "only when the membership exceeds 100" per Article IV.

a. He shall serve as chairman of the Committee on Membership and be responsible for membership recruitment and orientation.

b. He shall preside at meetings in the absence of both the President and First Vice President.

c. He shall assume the duties of the First Vice President in the event of death, resignation or assumption of duties of President.

d. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

SECTION 5- Duties of the Secretary

a. He shall record and keep in his custody the minutes of all meetings of this Chapter, both ..regular and special.

b. He shall have available for reference at all meetings a copy of these Bylaws, a list of all officers and committee chairmen, and a roster of all members.

c. He shall keep on file all communications received by the Chapter and copies of all letters sent.

d. He shall give notice to the membership of the time and place of all meetings of this Chapter.

e. He shall keep a register of names and dates of election, transfer, resignation, or death of all members of the Chapter.

f. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

SECTION 6- Duties of the Treasurer.

a. He shall have custody of all funds and other assets of this Chapter

b. He shall keep a correct account of all receipts, disbursements and balances; and make report of same at each regular monthly meeting or as requested by the President.

c. He shall be responsible for collecting all annual dues and all dues and fees for new applications; and in February of each year shall provide a roster of members who have paid all current dues and fees.

d. He shall present the books to the Audit Committee for audit at least once each year.

e. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

SECTION 7 -Duties of the Registrar

a. He shall receive and maintain a file of applications and other pertinent data for each member of this Chapter .

b. He shall receive all membership applications for new members, ascertaining that these applications are correct and complete and that all supporting data is attached. All possible assistance will be given to prospective members in preparation of the application.

c. He shall receive all Supplemental Applications from members ascertaining that these applications are correct and complete and that all supporting data is attached. All possible assistance will be given to members in the preparation of the Supplemental Application.

d. He shall cause to be reported to the Chapter the names of any deceased member, adding, if possible, a short biographical sketch.

e. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

SECTION 8 -Duties of the Historian-Genealogist

a. He shall, when appropriate, make recommendations to the Chapter for the collection and preservation of historical and genealogical material.

b. He shall coordinate the collection and recording of information in reference to historical sites and other related historical matters.

c. He shall make recommendations to the Chapter on books of historical or genealogical value to be given to local public or school libraries.

d. He shall develop and keep current the history of this Chapter

e. He shall call attention to, and give information to, the Chapter on matters of historical interest.

f. He shall keep records of the history and genealogy of the members and render all possible assistance to prospective members in establishing their eligibility for membership.

g. He shall perform such other duties as are requested by the President.

ARTICLE VII -Committees

SECTION 1.

The following standing committees shall be appointed by the President bi-annually.

a. Public Relations. Tell the SAR story and publicize the activities of the Chapter and the State and National Societies.

b. Americanism. Participate in the Flag Program and inform the public about the symbols, documents, and historic events of American freedom.

c. ROTC Awards. Recognize outstanding ROTC Cadets on the Junior (Bronze) level and the Senior (Silver) level.

d. Orations Contest. Inform local schools about the Oration Contest and encourage participation on the Chapter, State, and National levels.

e. Boy Scouts. Recognize new Eagle Scouts and encourage them to apply for the Scholarship Program.

f. Law Enforcement. Recognize outstanding performers in all law enforcement agencies and in those professions associated with law enforcement.

SECTION 2.

The President may appoint temporary committees or other standing committees as needed to conduct the business of this Chapter.

ARTICLE VIII -Finance

SECTION 1.

The fiscal year of this Chapter shall commence on January 1^st of each year and end on December 31^st of each year .

SECTION 2.

New members approved and admitted shall pay Chapter, State and National dues for that calendar year. When a new member is approved and admitted between December 1^st and December 31^st inclusive, fees and dues shall be applied to the succeeding calendar year.

SECTION 3.

The annual dues shall be payable on or before the last day of December of each year. Notice of such dues shall be given by the Treasurer to each member no later than November 1^st of each year. A member who fails to pay such dues by the last day of December of each year shall be deemed to be delinquent. Unless such dues are paid by March 31^st of the next succeeding year, he may again become an active member of this Society only by reinstatement prescribed in these Bylaws.

SECTION 4.

A member who is in arrears for dues shall not be entitled to act as a delegate or as an alternate at any Congress of the National Society or meeting of the State Society nor shall ha be eligible to hold office in this Chapter or Society or to act on a committee.

SECTION 5.

A previous member who has been dropped for non payment of his dues may apply to the local Chapter to again become an active member

ARTICLE IX - Parliamentary Authority

The actions of this Chapter shall be governed by Robert Rules of Order, Newly Revised unless in specific conflict with these Bylaws or the Constitution and Bylaws of the State Society or the National Society.

ARTICLE X - Amendments

These Bylaws amended at a regular meeting of the Chapter or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Written notice of the proposed amendments must be given to all members at least 15 days prior to such meeting. Such amendments shall require a two-thirds vote for approval.

ARTICLE XI - Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of this Chapter, all monies, the Charter of Organization, the SAR flag, all other Chapter property and all files and membership records will be turned over to the State Society with proper receipts therefore.

Ratified:

(Signature)

President

(Signature)

Secretary

(Signature)

Treasurer

Date 5/1/04

Printed April 20, 2004