ARTICLE 1.0 Name
The name of this organization shall be the Mid-Atlantic Region Association,
Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic (hereinafter called “MARA.”)
ARTICLE 2.0 Purpose
Section 1:
Section 2: Goals.: The
goals of MARA shall be as set forth here and are to keep the Departments in the
MARA informed on National Activities, National Encampment Proposals and
Proposals made by Departments in the region; conduct educational workshops on
topics such as, but not limited to, fulfilling the requirement of Programs
established by the National organization; publicizing the activities of the
SUVCW and Allied Orders; development of new Camps and Tents; rejuvenation of
inactive Camps and Tents; increasing membership of Camps, Tents and Circles;
increasing active participation of current members; raising funds for Camp and
Tent programs; reinforcing interrelationships between the Allied Orders and
other Patriotic Groups.
ARTICLE 3.0 Membership
Section 1: Qualifications. The membership of this association shall consist of those Allied Order Departments who support the mission and goals of MARA, have formally agreed to join and have fulfilled the funding requirements established by the Regional Council. Departments who have fulfilled the funding requirements will be considered to be in good standing through the end of the calendar year for which their funding requirements have been fulfilled, and shall be entitled to name two members to the Regional Council and two alternates.
Section 2: Resignation of Members. Any Department may resign from MARA by sending a written resignation to the secretary of MARA. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such resignation or at any later date specified therein. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
ARTICLE 4.0 Meetings
Section 1: General. It
is anticipated that the majority of the business of the Regional Council will
be conducted via e-mail or other electronic means. Regional Council members of
Departments in good standing shall be notified via e-mail or via the
Section 2: Special. A
special meeting of the membership may be called by the President, if he or she
considers it to be in the best interest of MARA, or resulting from a petition
presented with signatures of a majority of the Regional Council. Notice of the
agenda, location, time and date must be sent out by mail, either via e-mail or
via the
Section 3: Voting. Actions can be taken by a majority of the MARA Regional Council present. The act of a majority of such members present at any meeting shall be the act of MARA,
Section 4: Parliamentary Law. In the absence of any provisions of these
by-laws, Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern at all meetings,
either of MARA or the Regional Council; although it is the intention that
meetings be as informal as proper decorum permits.
ARTICLE 5.0 Organizational Structure
Section 1: General. MARA shall be operated by a group named the Regional Council. The organization structure of the Regional Council shall be minimal, just necessary to: (1) organize, publicize and conduct workshops; and (2) acquire and disseminate information of National Allied Order committee activities and actions, and upcoming National Encampment resolutions.
Section 2: Regional Council. The Regional Council shall be comprised of two (2) members from each member Department to insure that at least one representative from each member Department can attend any meeting and to provide continuity. As many as two (2) alternates assigned by the presiding head of the Department as needed. These members shall be named by the sending Department. One of the initial members of the Regional Council shall have a three year term of office, while the second shall have a two year term of office. The purpose of this staggering of initial membership terms is to insure continuity. The terms of office thereafter of all Regional Council members shall be two years.
Section 3: Regional Council Duties: The Regional Council shall be responsible for the preparation of summaries of National and member Department activities and proposals; sharing Department Proposals, Orders and reports of Department and National Encampments; collection and dissemination of proposals to be brought to the National Encampment by member Departments, preparation of workshop programs, identification and solicitation of speakers and workshop participants; determination of workshop site locations.
Section 4: Regional Council Officers - General Provisions. The officers of MARA shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and may also have a: Workshop Chair, Local Arrangements Chair, and Publicity Chair. The officers of MARA shall be chosen by a majority of the Regional Council and each shall serve for a term of two years. If more than one trustee is a candidate for any officer position, election of the officers will be by closed ballot. It is most desirable that Officers be from different member Departments, to insure a wide perspective of viewpoints.
Section 5: Removal of Members. Any member may be removed from the Regional Council by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Regional Council if the Board finds that the actions of the member are seriously adverse to the mission and goals of MARA Any office or seat on the Regional Council, along with any other membership rights, will be forfeited effective the date of removal.
Section 6: President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of MARA; shall have general and active management of the affairs of MARA; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Regional Council are put into effect. The President may create or dismantle Ad Hoc Committees at his or her discretion.
Section 7: Vice
Presidents. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President
in the case of death, resignation, absence or inability of the President.
Section 8: Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Regional Council, shall be responsible for the preparation of the correspondence of MARA and keep accurate records thereof, in one or more minute books kept for that purpose. He or she shall distribute reports, Presentation notes, to Council Members within 30 days.
Section 9: Treasurer. The Treasurer; shall have the custody of MARA funds; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to MARA; shall record income and expenses of Workshops, prepare an Annual Report and submit it to the secretary for distribution, shall deposit moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of MARA, in such depositories as shall be designated by the Regional Council; shall disburse the funds of MARA in a timely manner, as may be ordered by the Regional Council, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; shall render to the President and members, at the regular meetings of the Regional Council, or whenever they may require it, an account of all transactions and of the financial condition of MARA. The Treasurer will be bonded at the expense of MARA, if necessary.
Section 10: Workshop Chair. The Workshop Chair shall develop agendas for each Workshop; solicit speakers for each session; arrange for Workshop locations; solicit and assist the Local Arrangements Chair; and determine the workshop cost for each attendee.
Section 11: Local Arrangements Chair. The Local Arrangements Chair shall arrange for a no-cost or low cost venue to conduct the workshop, identify low-cost motels, prepare maps for motel and workshop locations, arrange catered lunch and refreshments for mid-afternoon break, arrange for photocopying of material, arrange for audio-visual equipment and arrange for the cleanup of the facility.
Section 12: Publicity Chair. The Publicity Chair shall: prepare articles for publication in Allied Order National and Department Newsletters describing the activities of MARA, develop mailing lists for Workshops, and prepare and distribute Workshop notifications to all member Department secretaries.
ARTICLE 6.0 Workshops
Section 1: General. One Day workshops shall be conducted once per year. Invitations shall be extended to each member Department with an agenda. A copy of each session's presentation shall be prepared and distributed to each member Department afterward.
Section 2: Date. The date of the workshop shall be determined by a majority vote of the Regional Council members and ratified by a simple majority of the member Department of MARA.
Section 3: Site Criteria. The criteria to be used by the Workshop Chair and the Local Arrangements Chair shall be that the location have no or low cost for use of facilities, have adequate parking, and have low cost motels available nearby.
Section 4: Host Department Responsibilities. The Host Department shall be responsible for officially opening and closing the workshops, invocation, benediction, pledge of allegiance, and welcome.
Section 5: Format. The format of each workshop shall be established by the Regional Council.
Section 6: Workshop Topics. The workshop topics shall include but not be limited to the following: new member recruitment, membership retention, camp and tent development, camp and tent rejuvenation, cemetery restoration and maintenance [National SUVCW Data Base], monument cataloguing, restoration and maintenance [National SUVCW Data Base], cannon cataloguing [National SUVCW Data Base], G. A. R. document and artifact cataloguing [National SUVCW Data Base], veterans grave site location cataloguing [National SUVCW Data Base], government liaison - local, state, and federal, publicity, and speakers bureau development.
ARTICLE 7.0 Funding.
MARA funding will be determined by a majority vote of the Regional Council members. The funding method is to be annual dues.
ARTICLE 8.0 Modification of By-Laws
Proposed amendments to
these by-laws shall first be approved by a majority vote of the total number of
the Regional Council. Amendments thus proposed by the Regional Council shall be
presented to all Regional Council members by
ARTICLE 9.0 Dissolution
The dissolution of MARA must be approved by a simple majority vote of its member Departments, having received 60 days notice to the intent of dissolution. Upon the dissolution or other termination of MARA, no part of the property of MARA or any of the proceeds shall be distributed to or inure to the benefit of any Regional Council member or Officer of MARA. All such property and proceeds, subject to the discharge of valid obligations of MARA, shall be distributed equally to the member Departments of MARA at the time of its dissolution.
Article 10.0 - Limitations
Section 1: MARA Funds. No part of the net earnings of MARA shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its Regional Council members, officers, or other persons, except that MARA shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered to MARA and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein.
Section 2: Politicking. MARA shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, except as authorized under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
Section 3: Activities. MARA shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on [a] by an Association exempt from Federal income tax under 501c4 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law) or [b] by a Association, contributions to which are deductible under 170c2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law).
Mid Atlantic Region By-Laws - Draft - Joseph F. Seliga
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Mid Atlantic Region By-Laws - Draft - Joseph F. Seliga
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