Section 1. Business. The chapter must be opened at least in the first degree to conduct business. If all present have had both degrees conferred, then the chapter must open in the second degree. The following order of business will be observed: Opening Roll call of officers Reading of previous minutes Sickness and distress Almoner’s report Treasurer’s report Bills against the chapter Reports of committees- *note* not all committees will report at every meeting. Entertainment committee report Auditing committee report Sickness and distress committee report Finance / Fund raising committee report Public Relations committee report Membership committee report Balloting for candidates Reading of communications Entrance of sweetheart Unfinished Business New Business Exiting of the Sweetheart Good of the Order Closing Section 2. Dress Code. Section 2.a General dress guidelines Demolay are not allowed to wear anything that would be considered offensive such as clothing displaying alcohol or tobacco advertisements, vulgar language, illegal substances, or profanity in any way. Section 2.b - Meeting dress code On the first meeting of the month, no member will be permitted to enter unless he adheres to the following dress requirements: Dark Colored slacks Light (preferably white) button up dress shirt Dark (preferably Black) tie Dark colored shoes. On the second meeting of the month, there is no dress code required. It is casual. Section 3. Time of Meetings. Meetings will be held at Rolla Lodge at 7:00 PM on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. Members are expected to be at the Lodge at least fifteen minutes prior to start time. Section 4. Quorum. The chapter shall not be opened unless there are at least five members present, three of which MUST be qualified to vote. If a quorum is not present, then the meeting will be considered a ritual practice. DeMolay events may be discussed, but not official business can be transacted unless their is a quorum. Section 5. Elected Officers and Elections. The elected officers of the chapter will be: The Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor. A member can only be elected as MC if he has been either SC or JC for at least one full term. It is also preferred that he has either taken at least two LCC courses or been to LTR. Anyone eligible to hold office can be elected to be Senior or Junior Councilor. One full term is roughly six months. The above mentioned officers will be elected by paper ballot on the last meeting in July and the last meeting in January. Campaigning and Electioneering are not allowed, offenders will be subject to automatic disqualification for holding an elected office for that term. No one is to talk while the ballots are being cast. The remaining officers of the chapter will be appointed by the Master Councilor elect. All officers will be installed on a convenient day with in 45 days of their election / nomination. All elections will be final. Section 5-a. Duties of the Officers. 1. Master Councilor The Master Councilor must distribute a copy of his six month plan to all members in attendance by the first meeting night of his term. He must appoint all non-elected positions (except for scribe) before he is installed. He is also required to uphold the statutes set forth by The ISC. The Master Councilor is the ranking person in a meeting, therefore, during a meeting his word is final. The Master Councilor has the power to eject anyone from a meeting, but must exercise extreme judgment when doing so, and only do so if absolutely necessary. The Master Councilor may sit in on any Advisory Board meeting. 2. Senior Councilor. The Senior Councilor’s duties are outlined in the Leaderships Resource guide. He must be able to stand in for the Master Councilor is need be. He is also highly encouraged to memorize the Master Councilor’s ritual parts. He should have a six month plan ready because he is the most likely candidate to become Master Councilor in the next term of office. The Senior Councilor may sit on any advisory board meeting with the approval of the Master Councilor. 5. Junior Councilor. The Junior Councilor has two main jobs. They are to assist or take charge of the chapter recruitment plans, and to familiarize the new members with the Order of DeMolay. His main job (other then recruitment) is to be friendly to all members, to make them feel like “brothers”. 4. Scribe. The Scribe is the keeper of all the paperwork. Most of his duties are outlined in the leadership resource guide. The Scribe may also stand in as the Treasurer and the Almoner unless their is a surplus of membership and we have enough available people to hold these offices. The Chapter Dad or other Advisor may serve as the Scribe. The Scribe is appointed by the Advisory council and serves for one full year. 5. Additional duties of appointed officers. In addition to their normal duties, the Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward are responsible for the setting up and tearing down of the chapter. On occasion, the Master Councilor may appoint others to do this duty. Section 6. Resignation. Any officer may resign from their position. For the officer to officially do so, he may first state his intentions at a regular meeting, and at the next regular meeting, the chapter will vote as to accept his resignation or not. If the chapter accepts, and he still wishes to resign, then he will officially be removed from office. Section 7. Vacancy in Office. A vacancy in an appointed office shall be filled by appointment by the Master Councilor. A vacancy in an elected office will by filled in one of two ways. (to be decided by vote of the chapter) Master Councilor will always be elected by a vote of the chapter. 1. Automatic succession. In this case, every elected officer moves up one chair. 2. A written ballot using the same guidelines as in a regular election, to be held at the meeting following the one where the vacancy occurred. If this is done, there must be a written notification to the regularly attending membership. Section 8. Membership fees. All applications must be accompanied by fifty dollars, twenty five of which the chapter keeps, and twenty five of which is sent to DeMolay International. No prospect will be installed unless they have paid their full amount of fifty dollars, unless voted upon by the chapter in extreme circumstances. Section 9. Eligibility to vote and to hold office. No member is eligible to vote or hold office unless he has returned both of his proficiencies. No member is eligible to vote or hold office unless they also profess before chapter that they have read and understand these chapter by-laws and the DeMolay International By-Laws and Rules and Regulations. Section 10. Sweetheart and Associate Sweetheart. The chapter Sweetheart and Associate Sweetheart will serve for one year and will be elected by a written ballot on the first meeting in February. Before the Sweetheart is to be voted on, all applications for sweetheart will be read. The Associate Sweetheart will be chosen by the applicant that has the second most votes in the written ballot. If the sweetheart is chosen unanimously then a second vote for the Associate will be held. Section 11. Controlled Substances And Tobacco Alcohol is not permitted in any way at any DeMolay function, by member or Adult. Any member caught in possession with alcohol with be automatically suspended for no less than thirty days from all DeMolay activities. Any adult possessing alcohol at a DeMolay event will be respectfully asked to leave. Section 11 (cont.) Any member caught possessing illegal drugs at any DeMolay function will be automatically suspended from all McRae functions for sixty days. DeMolay members under the age of eighteen (or whatever the state legal age is) are not allowed to posses tobacco at any DeMolay function. DeMolay over the age of eighteen cannot smoke inside of a Masonic building. If they choose to smoke, they must leave the building and be away from members under the age of eighteen because it sets a bad example for the younger members of the chapter. Section 12. Provisions Regarding Removal from Office. A member may be removed from office if their is a three fourths vote and approval of the advisory board and Executive Officer. For this vote their must be at least nine members in attendance, at least seven of which must be able to vote. Section 13. Provisions regarding Ritual books in Chapter. In the interest of each member memorizing their parts of opening and closing the chapter, no member shall be allowed to read from their ritual book two meeting after they are installed. They will be however allowed to write their part on a piece of paper and read from that if necessary, but this will be discouraged. Any member that does not know their part, and does not have it written on a piece of paper, before the opening of the meeting, must approach the alter, and in front of the entire membership, explain why he does not have his part memorized. Exceptions to this are to be made in the case of members who have trouble reading, or some sort of learning disability. In this case the Master Councilor is to use his judgment, and extreme tact is to be used. In this exception, the Master Councilor is to appoint a member to help or coach the member on their memorization of the ritual. Section 14. Provisions regarding DeMolay Law (code of conduct). If a DeMolay is conducting himself in a manner unfitting a DeMolay (i.e. repeatedly violating the seven cardinal virtues - Filial Love, Reverence for Sacred things, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness and Patriotism) then another member may file a formal report stating the actions that violated DeMolay Law. He will present this report before the Master Councilor. Unless the report is against the current MC. If he gets the MC’s approval, he will present it before the advisory board. Then if the advisory council approves the report, the member will be notified that charges have been brought up against him. The member has the right to defend his actions to the chapter during the following meeting. The chapter will then vote on what actions to take. A suspension from McRae requires a simple majority vote, an expulsion from McRae requires a two thirds majority vote. The accused may also, if accepted by the chapter and the advisory board, volunteer to do at least 30 hours of community service to be arranged by the Master Councilor. If this is done, no punishment such as suspension or the like will be imposed. Section 15. Advisory Board and Chapter Dad. The Advisory board and chapter Dad are elected and appointed as per the ISC Statutes. The Advisory board will meet no less than once a month, in which the Master Councilor is to be invited. The Advice of the Advisory board will be conveyed to the chapter through either the Chapter Dad or the Master Councilor. The Advisory Board members may sit in on any meetings. Section 16 Provisions Regarding Installations. The Master Councilor-elect is in charge of the installation, it is up to him to arrange everything. The installation must be held within 45 days of the election and may be held on the same night of election. Section 17. Attendance. Each member is urged to attend every meeting, and to be reminded that they are the backbone of the chapter. If a member holding an appointed office, misses more than three meetings in a row without being excused by the Chairman of the advisory board a vote must be held by the chapter as to remove them from office. If voted out of office, then the vacant position will be filled as per SECTION 7. If an officer holding an Elected Position misses two meeting in a row or four total without being excused by the Chairman of the advisory board, then a vote must be held by the chapter as to remove them from office. Any dual member who misses more than a year is no longer considered a dual member. Section 18. Provisions Regarding “Fun” events. In the interest of keeping regular attendance, to be eligible to attend a DeMolay “fun” event, such as conclave, a camp out, or the like, a member must have attended three meetings prior to the event. Exceptions to this rule are as follows. 1. The member must be recently initiated (in which there is no possible way for him to have been to three meetings.) 2. The member must have a very good attendance record. 3. Unforeseen circumstances to be decided on a case by case basis. Section 19. Amendments. These by-laws can only be amended by a two thirds, majority vote of the chapter. If such a vote is to be held at least nine members must be present who are eligible to vote. Written notification must be given to all McRae active members. The amendment to be made must also get approval of the advisory board and the executive officer of the region. Section 20. Provisions Regarding Transportation to DeMolay events. In events where it is necessary for the Chapter as a whole to travel (such as to conclave), DeMolay members are not allowed to Drive their own vehicles. They will be driven by the advisors. If there is not enough advisors to drive all of the DeMolays, then chapter members are allowed to drive provided they are at least 18 and all of the DeMolay riding with them have written parental permission to ride with someone other than an advisor. Section 21. Notification of The Membership. Whenever a vote is to be held for important events i.e. balloting of candidates, revising the by-laws, suspensions and the like, the membership must be notified either verbally or written. Section 22. General Guidelines For Speaking During Chapter. If any person wishes to speak during open chapter, he must first stand, turn and face the east and wait to be recognized by the Master Councilor. Section 23. Dual Membership. A member from another DeMolay chapter may become a dual member of McRae. The fee for dual membership is $1.00. The member must turn in a regular petition, be interviewed (much like a prospect) and be voted upon by the chapter in a regular meeting. A letter must also be sent to the EO for approval. Section 24. Transferring Membership. A member may either transfer in or out of McRae chapter. A. Transferring into McRae Chapter. To transfer into McRae Chapter he must first contact the state EO and the Advisory Council for approval. He must then turn in a regular petition, be interviewed (much like a new prospect) and be voted upon by the chapter in a regular meeting. B. Transferring out of McRae Chapter. To transfer out of McRae Chapter he must first contact the state EO and the Advisory Council for approval, then the Chapter must vote on his release from McRae Chapter. Section 25. Review of The Chapter By-Laws. Once every five years from the original publication date (October 2000) a committee of no less then five members must be appointed to review, revise, and or redo these chapter By-Laws. Written October, 2000 McRae Chapter Order of DeMolay Original Author: Master Councilor Justin Weaver Revised and edited by: Brother Justin Weaver Brother Danial Kirby Brother Shawn May Brother Jerod Rivers Brother Ben Rivers Brother Mason Rivers Dad Nelson Morgan Dad Travis Blevins Dad Kenneth Dingman Dad Steve Rivers Mom Lana Kirby Mom Brenda Jorgenson A Note From The Original Author of These By-Laws. These by-laws are written to give a basic set of rules to go by in and out of chapter. They are to be used to maintain the order and peace of McRae Chapter, Order of DeMolay. They are to be used with common sense and there fore, almost any of these rules may be over looked if it is in the interest for the good of the Order and for the good of the Chapter. If their is a question as to whether or not a specific issue is for the good of the order, it is an easy matter to put the issue before the chapter to vote on. It is each members responsibility to read these by-laws at least once. They are also to be distributed to each new member the first meeting after they are initiated. One final note, I truly wish to impress upon anyone reading these By-Laws, the Order of DeMolay is a brother hood, therefore, each brother should be treated as so... Before I sat down in front of my computer to write I tried to imagine all positive possibilities and unforeseeable pitfalls that may occur in the future. I truly believe that through the hard work of myself and many others that we have realized this goal, therefore; hopefully prevent any disagreements about by-laws and enabling our chapter to experience true brotherhood. Fraternally your brother forever, Justin Weaver Master Councilor Fall 2000 McRae Chapter Order of DeMolay