United Veterans Council of Dona Ana County

P.O. Box 6201

Las Cruces, NM 88006-6201

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UNITED VETERANS COUNCIL OF DONA ANA COUNTY

BYLAWS - REVISED (JAN 98)

(Item hi-lighted in red in Article III Section I ... duplicated in error)

ARTICLE I. NAME - LOCATION

SECTION 1. NAME: The name of this organization shall be the United Veterans Council (U.V.C.) of Dona Ana County.

SECTION II. LOCATION: The principal office of this Council shall normally be located within the city of Las Cruces, but may at times be located anywhere within Dona Ana County at the discretion of the presiding Chairman.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE - LIMITATIONS - PARTICIPATION

SECTION I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Council shall be when called upon, to represent the combined voice of the veteran's organizations represented on the Council in the common interest and safeguarding veterans benefits in the state of New Mexico and our nation. And to promote Americanism for the common good of our Community, State, and Nation.

SECTION II. LIMITATIONS: At no time shall the Council usurp the constitution and bylaws of the representative organizations represented on this Council. The representative members of this Council shall adhere to the requests of the representative organizations. At no time shall the representatives obligate their organizations without permission.

SECTION III. PARTICIPATION: To allow for certain situations which arise from time to time, each member organization of the U.V.C. reserves the right to refrain from participating in actions promoted by the U.V.C. It is further understood that should any member organizations withhold its participation, they shall not block or impede any actions or policies promoted by the U.V.C.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP - VOTING - QUORUM - DUES

SECTION I. MEMBERSHIP: The members of this Council shall be the duly elected or appointed representatives of the V.F.W. 6917, Marine Corps League El Perro Diablo Detachment, D.A.V. Chapter 10, DAV Chapter 25, DAV Chapter 38. AMVETS Post #5, Vietnam Veterans of America #431, American Ex-P.O.W. Bataan Veterans, American Legion Post 10, Reserve Officers Association Las Cruces Chapter #005, V.F.W. 3242, The Retired Officers Association Mesilla Valley Chapter, V.F.W. 10124, Women's Army Corps Veterans Association Tumbleweed Chapter #80, Mesilla Valley Chapter of Military Order of the World Wars, The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Chapter 2, V.F.W. 6917, The National Association of Atomic Veterans, and Societe of 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux Voiture 641. Other veterans organizations, whether newly formed or already in existence at the time these bylaws are adopted, are free to apply for membership in the U.V.C. at any time. An organization requesting membership status shall be considered accepted into the U.V.C., if approved by a majority of those present and voting at any regular meeting at which there is a quorum.

SECTION II. VOTING:

A. The voting strength of this Council shall be one (1) vote per member organization. A caucus can be held to determine an organization's vote.

B. If an attendee is representing more than one organization, he/she shall have only one (1) vote.

C. All organizations duly accepted as U.V.C. members shall automatically have voice in the proceedings through their elected or appointed representatives. The right to vote on actions of the U.V.C. is restricted to those organizations who have provided their annual contributions supporting the U.V.C. activities. A majority vote of representatives of member organizations in attendance at regular and special meetings is required for the conduct of ordinary Council business.

SECTION III. QUORUM: Five (5) organizations present with a voting member from each organization shall constitute a quorum of this Council.

SECTION IV. DUES: Annual contributions shall be as follows: twenty ($.20) cents per member per organization up to a maximum of twenty ($20.00) dollars per organization, due prior to the September election. These contributions shall be a means to conduct business and pay expenses of operation.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS - DUTIES - ELECTIONS - MEETINGS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS:

A. The officers of this Council shall be elected from the duly elected or appointed representatives to this Council. The commanders, presidents, or other presiding officers of each member organization shall designate the three (3) elected or appointed members to the Council in writing to the U.V.C. prior to the September election.

B. The elected officers of this Council shall be a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Treasurer. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Chairman. The Chairman/Vice Chairman of the Council shall not succeed himself/herself.

C. Chairman Succession Procedure: If a Chairman cannot complete his/her one year term of duty, the next organization in line of succession will be named to replace him/her for the rest of the term with the option of also serving a full year in office. If the organization named elects to serve only the balance of the term, then the next organization in line will be named Chairman. If an officer is not present for three (3) or more meetings in any given year he/she will forfeit his/her turn in office on the succession list. As of September 1997 the present Chairman is from WAC VETERANS ASSN CHAP 80.

THE ORDER OF SUCCESSION IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. V.F.W. 6917
2. Marine Corps League, El Perro Detachment 478
3. D.A.V. Chapter 38
4. AMVETS Post #5
5. Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #431
6. American Ex-P.O.W. Bataan Veterans
7. D.A.V. Chapter 10
8. American Legion Post #10
9. Reserve Officers Association Chapter #005
10. V.F.W. 3242
11. Mesilla Valley Chap of The Retired Officers Assn.
12. V.F.W. 10124
13. The Women's Army Corps Veterans Assn. Tumbleweed Chapter #80
14. D.A.V. Chapter 25, Chaparral
15. Mesilla Valley Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars
16. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Chap. 2
17. National Association of Atomic Veterans
18. Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux Voiture 641

D. The Vice Chairman will be appointed from the next organization in line of succession beginning in 1997. If for any reason the Vice Chairman is unable to finish his/her one year term, a new one will be chosen from the same organization. if that organization declines, the next organization will succeed.

E. The Treasurer shall be elected from the Council members.

SECTION II. DUTIES:

A. The Chairman shall be the presiding officer of this Council. He/She shall Chair the Council in a manner befitting the Chairman of any post, chapter, association or corporation, or as set forth in the Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

B. The Vice Chairman shall serve in the absence of the Chairman. He/She shall represent the Council in the capacity of a Vice Chairman of any post, chapter, association or corporation and shall aid the Chairman in a manner germane to the Council.

C. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the deposit, maintenance and disbursement of funds of the Council, and shall keep a current strict account of the fund thereof. He/She shall not disburse funds without the approval of the Council and shall deposit all funds in a bank account designated by the Council.

D. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Council. He/She shall compile the minutes and distribute a copy to each organization represented on the Council prior to the next meeting of the Council. He/She shall inform the members of the Council of the time, place and date of the next Council meeting and perform other duties that may be deemed germane to the Council.

SECTION III. ELECTIONS - NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A. ELECTIONS: The Council shall hold an election of officers at the September meeting each year.

B. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: A nominating committee shall be appointed at the March meeting to present a slate of officers at the May meeting.

SECTION IV. MEETINGS:

A. The Council shall meet the second Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November. Special and emergency meetings may be called when necessary by the Chair or upon the request of five (5) other members of the Council.

B. It is deemed fitting that non-members of the Council attend the meetings of the Council without vote, so that they may realize the functions and actions of the Council.

ARTICLE V. FINANCES -CHECK AUTHORIZATION -EXPENSES -EMERGENCIES

SECTION I. FINANCES: The finances of the U.V.C. shall be derived from donations from member organizations, from individuals, and from fund-raising projects that may be authorized from time to time by the Council.

SECTION II. CHECK AUTHORIZATION: Two (2) signatures shall be required on checks authorized for issuance by the Council, consisting of the Treasurer's signature and one of two (2) other members appointed by the Chairman or elected by the council.

SECTION III. EXPENSES: No funds shall be disbursed by the Treasurer without the approval of the U.V.C. at a regular or special meeting. A simple majority shall be sufficient for approval.

SECTION IV. EMERGENCIES: In the event that emergency disbursement of funds (defined as: a clear need to make disbursement supporting the purposes of the U.V.C. but requiring action before the regular meeting of the Council), the Chairman shall have the choice of either calling a special meeting or of contacting a voting member to ask for approval. If the latter method is chosen, a record must be kept showing the date, time, who was contacted from each voting member organization, how they voted and any pertinent questions raised. A quorum of three-fourths (3/4) of the voting membership and an affirmative vote of the majority of those contacted is required for disbursement. This record will be entered into the minutes of the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE VI. APPOINTMENTS

SECTION I. COMMITTEES: The Chairman may appoint committees to expedite the functions of the Council. Said committees shall report to the Chairman and the Council before taking specific action, unless the Council has given the committee authority to act upon a specific project or matter.

ARTICLE VII. RESOLUTIONS - ACTIONS

SECTION I. RESOLUTIONS: All resolutions presented to the Council and considered for approval by the Council shall be forwarded to the member organizations for approval unless approval has already been given, before the Council takes final action on the resolution.

SECTION II. ACTIONS: This Council shall confine and restrain all action to those matters and programs germane to the representative organizations policies.

 

ARTICLE VIII. RULES OF ORDER

SECTION 1. PROCEEDINGS: All proceedings of this Council shall be conducted under and pursuant to Robert's Rules of order, Newly Revised; except as herein otherwise provided.

SECTION 11. ORDER OF BUSINESS: The order of business of this Council shall be conducted according to the outline of order in Robert's Rules of order, Newly Revised; except those line items of business that may encumber in expediting business of the council.

ARTICLE IX. DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. ORGANIZATION: The word organization refers to the United Veterans Council of Dona Ana County. The plural of organization refers to the different groups represented on the Council.

SECTION II. COUNCIL: The word Council refers to the United Veterans Council of Dona Ana County.

SECTION III. MEMBER GROUPS: The words post, chapter, association refer to the member groups represented on this Council.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS: These bylaws may be amended at any regular Council meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of said Council members present and voting and provided a quorum is present and provided further that written notice shall have been given to the member organizations at least ten (10) days in advance of the date when such amendments or amendment are to be voted upon, notifying said organizations that at such meeting a proposal to amend these laws is to be voted upon.

APPROVED THIS    11^th      DAY OF    NOVEMBER      1995

IN MEETING ASSEMBLED.

ATTEST:

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COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

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