Saint Simon Men's Club ByLaws (pdf version)

ARTICLE I   - Name

Sec. 1 The name of this organization shall be SAINT SIMON MENS CLUB.

ARTICLE II   - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be:

Sec. 1 To develop and foster a close relationship between the men of the Parish, to enrich their lives and enrich their relationship with the parish. (social activities)

Sec. 2 To develop, and carry out, a planned program of religious activities for the fulfillment of the members and betterment of the Parish. (religious activities)

Sec. 3 To promote the spiritual well-being of all members through fellowship, service to the parish, service to our community, and other religious activities which better the parish and our community.   (service activities)

Sec. 4 In pursuing this purpose, the Saint Simon Mens Club shall at all times act as, and shall be, a part of Saint Simon Parish, organized under its auspices and subject to the oversight and control of the Saint Simon Parish Council and the Saint Simon Parish Pastor.       

ARTICLE III   - Membership

Sec. 1 Any male twenty-one (21) years of age or older who is a registered member of Saint Simon Parish shall be eligible for membership.

Sec. 2 To be a member in good standing, he must volunteer their service at two service commitments in a calendar year.   His annual dues must also be paid.

Sec. 3 Any or all of the above qualifications may be waived by the action of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV - Dues

Sec. 1 All members shall pay annual dues of determined by the Executive Board   to the treasurer, who shall, after proper recording of the receipt of such monies, turn over to the membership chairman a record of all member's dues paid.

ARTICLE V - Officers and Governance

Sec. 1 The Officers of this Club shall be:

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Sec. 2 The Officers shall constitute the Executive Board.

a. The Pastor and any Associated Pastor shall be Ex-Officio members.

b. The past President shall be a non-voting advisory member with the privilege of attending all board meetings.

c. No member of the Executive Board shall, under any circumstances, have more than one vote per person.

Sec. 3 A Presidential vacancy shall be filled by the Vice-President. Other vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the individual who receives the most votes of the membership at the next regular meeting.

Sec. 4 In the absence of the President at any meeting, the other Officers shall preside in the

following sequence: Vice-President-Secretary-Treasurer

Sec. 5 The Saint Simon Parish Pastor shall have the right to veto any decisions of the Saint Simon Mens Club. The Saint Simon Parish Pastor shall have the authority to dissolve the Saint Simon Mens Club.

ARTICLE VI - Duties of Officers

Sec. 1 The President shall preside at all meetings and shall act as Chairman of the Executive Board. He shall appoint Chairmen of all Committees and the Tellers of elections, with the approval of the Board. He shall be Ex-Officio member of all committees and shall perform all other duties incident to the Office of President.   Presidents serve 2 year terms.

Sec. 2 The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the president in his absence. He shall, in the event of a committee chairman vacancy, act as chairman of that committee, as directed by the Executive Board, until such time as a chairman is appointed, unless the board finds it no longer feasible to continue that committee function or event.   Vice Presidents serve 2 year terms.

Sec. 3 The Secretary shall keep Minutes of all meetings and a record of Club activities. He shall notify all Officers of their election and conduct the correspondence of the Club.   Secretaries serve a one year term.

Sec. 4 The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds of the Club under the direction of the Executive Board and keep the books of account, which shall be at all times open to the inspection of the Executive Board.   He shall make an Annual Financial Report at the July meeting or before leaving office and also financial reports at each regular meeting and at any time when requested by the Executive Board.   Treasurers serve a one year term.

ARTICLE VII - Committees

Sec. 1 There shall be Committees, convened from time to time, which shall be used to perform business on behalf of the Mens Club.

ARTICLE VIII- Meetings

Sec. 1 The regular meeting of the Club shall be held the first Wednesday of every month.

Sec. 2 Special meetings shall be called by the President or upon written petition by any five (5) members.

Sec. 3 The Executive Board shall meet at least once each Quarter, at a time and place to be determined by the Chairman, and shall have general supervision over the affairs of the organization.

Sec. 4 One quarter of the registered members of the club, or more, present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.

Sec. 5 Newly elected Officers shall take office at the January meeting at the conclusion of old business by the outgoing Board.

Sec. 6 All officers and Chairmen of Committees upon completion of or resignation from office shall deliver to the incoming President all monies, accounts, record books, reports and other properties of the Club.

ARTICLE IX - Nominations and Elections

Sec. 1 Each year at the September meeting the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members.

Sec. 2 The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of at least one (1) candidate for each office and conduct the elections.

Sec. 3 Candidates for office must be members of the Club in good standing.

Sec. 4 Nominations from the floor for each office shall be in order at the November meeting.

Sec. 5 Officers shall be elected for a one (1) or two (2) year term of office - as dictated in Article   VI - by secret ballot at the December meeting.

Sec. 6 The individual with the most votes will be elected.

Sec. 7 Only members in good standing will be eligible to vote.

Sec. 8 Voting by proxy shall not be allowed unless authorized by the board in advance

ARTICLE X - Order of Business

Sec. 1 The Order of Business at all regular meetings shall be:

Sec. 2 Call to Order.

Sec. 3 Opening Prayer.

Sec. 4 Reading of Minutes by the Secretary.

Sec. 5 Report of the Treasurer.

Sec. 6 Report of the Executive Board.

Sec. 7 Reports of Committees.

Sec. 8 Unfinished business.

Sec. 9 Correspondence.

Sec. 10 New business.

Sec. 11 Closing Prayer.

Sec. 12 Adjournment.

ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Authority

Sec. 1 Parliamentary procedure in accordance with revised Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the Club, subject to the special rules which may be adopted from time to time.

ARTICLE XII - Amendments

Sec. 1 This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at a regular meeting of the Mens Club by the affirmative vote to amend by two-thirds (2/3 rds) vote of the members' present subject to the following:

The formal amendment(s) must be made and read into the minutes at the two (2) regular meetings immediately preceding the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted upon. After so made, and recorded in the minutes the amendment is not to be changed, altered, added to or deleted from. An affirmative motion to place the amendment on the agenda for the next meeting must be made at the meeting immediately preceding the meeting the vote is scheduled.

Sec. 2 If any part of this Constitution and By-Laws is found to be in violation of or in conflict with any ruling, policy or directive of the Parish Council, or the Hierarchy of the Church, or if any later action by such bodies should cause violation or conflict to occur, the Mens Club shall act to remove the violation or conflict in accordance with Section I of this Article.

ARTICLE XIII- Expulsion

Sec. 1 Any Officer or member of this organization found in violation of the purposes of this organization or any Articles of the Constitution and By-Laws shall be expelled from membership on recommendation of the Saint Simon Mens Club Executive Board and majority vote of the membership at a regular meeting. A member facing expulsion will have the right to present his case to the membership before the vote is conducted.

ARTICLE XIV - Oath of Office

Sec. 1 The following Oath is to be administered by the Associate Priest or the out-going President, to the newly elected

Officers at the January meeting prior to the assumption of their duties.

"I, (state name and office elected to) elected by the members of the St. Simon Mens Club, do

solemnly swear that I shall conscientiously and faithfully perform the duties of my office in the spirit of the

Constitution and By-Laws of this Club; that I shall earnestly promote the good and welfare of the Club. In

the keeping of this Oath, so help me God."

ARTICLE XV - Limitation on Spending by Executive Board

Sec. 1 All expenditures, pay-outs, disbursements, assignments or commitments from the treasury of the Club must be approved by the President and Treasurer of the organization. If the expenditure is more than a total of Five Hundred ($500.00) a minimum of 3 members of the Executive Board must approve the disbursement.

Sec. 2 All disbursements made under Sections 1 and 2 of this article shall be included on the agenda as "Report of the Executive Board" and reported to the members at the next regular meeting.

Sec. 3 Any Executive Board member or committee member shall:

a. Submit all bills, before paying them, to the treasurer who shall obtain approval of a majority of the Executive Board before they are paid.

ARTICLE XVI - Obtaining a Copy of the By-Laws

Sec. 1   A copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of this Club shall be made available to any member in good standing requesting same. The Membership Chairman shall keep a supply of copies for new members.