BYLAWS

OUTER BANKS POST NO. 10950

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

         ARTICLE I

NAME AND LOCATION

Sec. 1.    By virtue of charter granted, this Post shall be known as Outer Banks Post No. 10950 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Sec. 2.    The location of this Post shall be in the town of Nags Head, County of Dare, State of North Carolina.

ARTICLE II

SUBORDINATION

Sec  1.    The supreme power of this association is vested in the National Convention and this Post shall be at all times governed by the Congressional Charter and Bylaws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Bylaws of the Department of North Carolina, orders issued by authority of the National Convention, National Council of Administration, the Commander-in-Chief, the Department Convention, Department Council of Administration and the Commander of the Department of North Carolina.  For the purposes of this Article and Section, Resolutions adopted by the National Convention are held to be lawful orders.

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS

Sec. 1.    Place: The regular meeting place of this Post shall be at Colington Volunteer Fire Department, 108 Schoolhouse Road, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

Sec. 2.    Time:  The regular meetings of the Post shall be held on the 1st Monday of each month, to be called to order at 7 p.m.

Sec. 3.    The Post may, after at least fourteen (14) days written notice to the Department Commander and the members of the Post, change its meeting place, appointed day or time upon a majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting called for such purpose.

Sec. 4.    Special meetings may be called in accordance with the provisions of the National Bylaws.

Sec. 5.    Quorum:  Five (5) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE IV

 MEMBERSHIP

Sec. 1.    Membership in this Post, eligibility to, application for, acquiring and maintenance of, loss of and discipline shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National Bylaws.

Sec. 2.    The admission fee of this Post shall be $2.00, payable in accordance with the National Bylaws.  New members shall have their first year's annual dues, including admission fee, paid by the Post.

Sec. 3.    The dues of this Post shall never be less than the amount required to cover Department and National dues.

ARTICLE V

OFFFICERS

Sec. 1.    Eligibility to nominate, elect or appointment, install and hold office for term shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National Bylaws.

Sec. 2.    The duties of all officers shall be those prescribed by National and Department Bylaws, lawful orders as the Post may direct and as these Bylaws may provide.   

ARTICLE VI

 COMMITTEES AND DUTIES

Sec. 1.    All committees and their chairpersons, unless otherwise provided, shall be appointed by the Commander as promptly as possible after election to office, and as such shall serve at the commander's  will and pleasure.  The Post Quartermaster, by virtue of his/her office, shall be treasurer of all committees handling funds.

Sec. 2.    The Standing Committees of the Post/Auxiliary shall be as follows:

            (a) Membership

            (b) Relief

            (c) Buddy Poppy

            (d) Publicity

            (e) Youth Activities

            (f) House (Inactive, at this time)

            (g) Americanism

            (h) Ways and Means

            (i) Community Activities

            (j) Safety

            (k) Bingo (Inactive, at this time)

Sec. 3.    House Committee

            (a)        The House Committee shall be elected by the Post members to manage certain matters related to the Post property including the operation of Post Club Rooms and/or Canteen.  It shall consist of not less than three (3) members, one each of whom shall be elected annually for a three-year term.  Trustees shall not serve on the House Committee.  In addition, the Post Commander and Post Quartermaster by virtue of their offices shall be members of the House Committee.

            (b)        The Committee shall be responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the quarters and equipment therein.

            (c)        The Committee shall be in charge of the sub-rental of the Post's quarters and shall exercise such supervision over sub-renters as will  ensure the protection of the Post's name and property.

            (d)        The Committee may authorize such expenditures for minor emergency repairs and janitor supplies as may be necessary for the preservation and protection of the Post's quarters and its equipment, provided that the total amount so expended between two regular meetings shall not exceed $50.00.

            (e)        All monies received by the Committee through the sub-rental of the Post's quarters or other sources shall be deposited with the Post Quartermaster.

            (f)        All expenditures of the Committee shall be made only by regular voucher and drawn by the Quartermaster in accordance to these Bylaws.

            (g)        The House Committee shall keep a record of all its receipts and expenditures and shall, at every meeting of the Post, report all monies received and all expenditures made since the last meeting.

            (h)        The Post may adopt such further rules and regulations governing the conduct of club or canteen as do not conflict with the provisions of this Article.  Such rules and regulations shall only become effective upon their approval by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose; at least thirty (30) days notice in writing having first been given to all members.

            (i)         The Post Quartermaster, by virtue of his/her office, shall be the treasurer of the House Committee.

ARTICLE VII

 CONTROL OF SUBSIDIARY UNITS

Sec. 1.    Any activity, unit or clubrooms sponsored, conducted or operated by the Post, incorporated separately from the Post or unincorporated, shall be at all times under the direct control of the Post.

Sec. 2.    All funds derived from any of the above shall be in the custody of the Post Quartermaster.

Sec. 3.    All money, property and assets of every kind as well as all records in connection therewith used, held and owned by any of the above activities is the property of the Post and must be placed in the care and custody of the Post Quartermaster.

Sec. 4.    For purposes of this Article the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Military Order of the Cootie and its Auxiliary are governed by Articles XI and XII respectively of the National Bylaws and Manual of Procedure of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their respective Bylaws, Rules and Regulations.

ARTICLE VIII

 EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS

Sec. 1.    Expenditure of funds shall be made only after prior authorization by the Post and on proper voucher drawn by the Adjutant and approved by the Commander.  All checks for the expenditure of Post funds shall be numbered in sequence, the number of each check to correspond with the voucher authorizing the same, other expenditures may be made using acceptable banking practices, such as ACH debits and credit card charges.  Unless otherwise provided for in the Bylaws, all disbursements of Post Funds shall bear the signature of the Quartermaster or other person(s) authorized by the Quartermaster.  Such other authorized person(s) shall be bonded in accordance with Section 703 of the National Bylaws.

Sec. 2.    The adoption of this Article shall constitute authorization by the Post for the payment of bills, when and as due, for monthly rental, public utility service, postage, janitor service and for janitor's supplies and minor emergency repairs authorized by the House Committee, provided that the amounts to be paid for monthly rental and for janitor service shall have been previously established by the Post. 

Sec. 3.  Commander's Discretionary Expenditures:  The Post Commander is granted authority to direct payment for emergency contingencies up to the total amount of $250.00 at his/her personal discretion.  The Post Quartermaster will issue payment(s) when so directed and keep records to assure specified limits are maintained.  Ratification of discretionary expenditures will be voted by the Post members at the next subsequent regular meeting.  Any expenditure not ratified by the Post members will reduce the discretionary fund limits for the Post Commander for the duration of his/her term of office.

Sec. 4. No other payment or expenditure shall be made except on the specific authorization of the Post in each and every case.

ARTICLE IX

 COMPENSATION

Sec. 1. No compensation shall be paid to any officer of this Post for their services as such officer, except as hereafter may be provided.

Sec. 2. The Post and Auxiliary each may designate two delegates to attend the Councils of Administration/Convention conducted in Cary, NC. The Post and Auxiliary will pay the cost for lodging at the COA hotel and the cost of the banquet. One vehicle each is authorized for the Post and Auxiliary to transport the delegates and mileage at the rate of $0.20 per mile will be paid (Post delegate vehicle operator is paid by the Department and Auxiliary delegate vehicle operator is paid by the Auxiliary). Hospitality Room charges, all other meals, and incidental expenses are the personal responsibility of the delegates.

ARTICLE X

 FUND RAISING PROMOTIONS / SOLICITATIONS

Sec. 1. This Post shall solicit funds or donations only by prior vote of the members agreeing to the proposition.  It shall not solicit funds or donations or otherwise engage in fund-raising activities or projects outside of the immediate geographical area or community of the Post, e.g., Dare and Currituck Counties. The Department Bass Pro Raffle is a valid exception.

Sec. 2. This Post shall not enter into any agreement with a promoter for the purpose of raising funds unless said promoter shall have furnished a good and sufficient surety bond in a principal sum sufficient to give the Post ample protection in the particular circumstances.  The said bond shall be subject to the approval of the Post Judge Advocate, bear the endorsement of the Post Commander and be kept in the possession of the Post Quartermaster.  The bond will be conditioned on the payment to the Post Quartermaster of all monies due the Post as a result of the solicitation within thirty (30) days of the close of the campaign.  If the promoter has made satisfactory settlement within the thirty day period, then surety will be determined to be discharged, otherwise the bond will remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 3. Fund-raising organizations or individuals conducting solicitations, activities or projects for a profit shall not be engaged or used by the Post for such purpose unless such engagement is made by written agreement between the Post and the organization or individuals providing those services.  The form of any such written agreement must be submitted to the Department Commander for review at least thirty (30) days prior to any Post entering into any such agreement.

Sec. 5. Unless previously authorized by a majority vote of the Post, no solicitations or ticket sales shall be permitted in the Post quarters or at socials or meetings unless such solicitations or ticket sales shall have been approved by the Post.

ARTICLE XI

 MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 1. Every member of this Post shall keep the Post Adjutant and Quartermaster advised of his current address by properly reporting any change of same. For purposes of controlling costs and making expeditious delivery of information, members are encouraged to provide current email addresses and phone numbers.  No personal contact information shall be distributed outside of the organizational membership.

Sec. 2. One copy of these Bylaws shall be issued to each elected and appointed officer of this Post.

Sec. 3. In all Post procedure not provided for by the Congressional Charter and Bylaws or these Bylaws Robert's Rules Of Order Newly Revised shall be the authority, and it shall be the duty of the Post Judge Advocate, in an advisory way, when called upon to do so by the Post Commander to advise the Post Commander on the proper rule or rules.

ARTICLE XII

 SPEECHES

Sec. 1. In response to the Commander's inquiry, "Any Discussion?", no member will be permitted to speak on any one subject (pro or con) more than twice; and the first time no longer than five (5) minutes and the second time no longer than three (3) minutes with the exception of a committee report and recommendations and visiting guests who have a message to impart.

ARTICLE XIII

 AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1. These Bylaws shall become effective after adoption by this Post and after review by the Commander of the Department and Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Sec. 2. Unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be amended by the Post by two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a stated meeting provided each member had been notified at least twenty (20) days in advance and upon request provided a copy of the proposed amendments.  All amendments shall be forwarded through channels and reviewed by the Department Commander and the Commander-in-Chief before becoming effective

Sec. 3. Wherever these Bylaws or subsequent amendments may be found to be in conflict with the present or any future National Bylaws and Bylaws of the Department, the latter shall prevail and be binding upon this Post as though written herein.

These Bylaws as amended were adopted subject to the review of the Commander-in-Chief and the Commander of the Department of North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on this 5th day of August, 2019, at a regular meeting of this Post in the town of Kill Devil Hills and County of Dare, State of North Carolina.

Outer Banks Post No. 10950

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Attested By____________________________________

            Commander

Attested By____________________________________

Adjutant