UNITED HANCOCK COUNTY FIREFIGHTER’S ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
PREAMBLE
We, the delegates of the fire companies of Hancock County of the State of
West Virginia in meeting assembled in order to form a more perfect organization,
establish harmony, insure prosperity and success, provide pecuniary benefits,
and cultivate fraternal fellows in and among the companies, and to promote
the best interests of the firefighters of our district, do hereby adopt the
following constitution:
ARTICLE I
Section I
The name of the association shall be the United Hancock
County Firefighters Association of West Virginia, and all fire companies chartered
in Hancock County, West Virginia shall be eligible for membership.
Section II
The object of this association shall be to consider the
best methods of firefighting, together with fire prevention, to encourage
a fraternal and lasting friendship among the firefighters, and to unite in
united action to gain financial or other action for the benefit of all.
ARTICLE II
Section I
The membership of this association shall be the members of
any fire company in the state of West Virginia having suitable equipment
to fight fires, which comply with this constitution in regard to initiation
fees, yearly dues, and the election of delegates and alternates to attend
the regular meetings and pay dues and required fees is a member of this association. All
companies must be listed as bonafide firefighters.
Section II
Honorary members shall consist of such persons who by act
or deed in the interest of this association shall have generally commended
themselves to the esteem of this association.
Section III
Associate membership shall consist of any emergency service
organization that would mutually benefit the association and/or their association
by their membership in the association. They shall be represented by one
(1) delegate and one (1) alternate fire department or company in Hancock
County shall be eligible for membership.
ARTICLE III
Section I
The officers of this association shall consist of the following:
(1) a President; (2) two Vice-Presidents, one who is First Vice-President
and the other who is Second Vice-President; (3) a Secretary/Treasurer; — all
for a one year term. Three (3) Trustees, each to be elected by majority of
valid votes cast by delegates shall serve for three years until their successors
have been elected and qualified. One trustee is to be elected annually.
ARTICLE IV
Section I – Committees
All committees shall be appointed by the President
subject to the approval of the delegates present.
ARTICLE V
Section I – Meetings
This organization shall meet every month. The
entertaining company shall be selected by the membership and shall be selected
so as to allow each company represented the honor of being host to the organization
at least once before a meeting is held by a company which has previously been
host. (The weather should be considered when selections are made.)
Section II
Special meetings may be called by the President upon request
of nine or more delegates representing five or more companies, and the business
to be transacted must be clearly stated.
Section III
Nine (9) or more delegates, representing a minimum of five (5)
individual departments or companies, two (2) of which shall be elected officers,
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; that is, payment
of bills and regular routine business. This association shall not be dissolved
as long as any number of members is willing to continue it.
Section IV
Should there from any cause need to be a change in the
place or time for holding the regular meeting, or should the place or time
fail to be designated by the association, the President is empowered to designate
a place and time with the approval of said designated company.
Section V
The meeting of the association shall be conducted according to
the Order Of Business.
ARTICLE VI
Section I
Each fire company or department desiring to hold membership in
this association shall pay to the Secretary $100 (dollars), the amount of annual
dues. Associate
members shall be assessed $20 (dollars) annual dues.
Section II
Each company or department complying with provision of Section
I shall be entitled to elect five (5) delegates and five (5) alternates to
attend each meeting and to participate in said meetings or special meetings
and to act as their official representative for one (1) year.
Associate members shall elect one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate, and
have one (1) vote in said meetings and special meetings.
Section III
Each company or department electing or appointing delegates and
alternates to the regular meeting shall furnish with them proper credentials,
signed by the proper officials of their department or company, and turn them
over to the Secretary before February 1.
Section IV
The member of any company or department which shall fail to pay
its annual dues by February 1, as provided for in Section I, shall be disbarred
from voting on any motion before the meeting.
Section V
Past delegates may attend all meetings and have privilege of the
floor but cannot have a vote in the meeting.
Section VI
Honorary members shall have the privilege of admittance to the
meeting and be permitted to the floor when invited but cannot vote or hold
office. Honorary
members or visitors may be requested to vacate hall during voting or discussion
of any question which the President may deem of such nature as to require
privacy.
ARTICLE VII
Section I – Nomination and Election of Officers
All officers of this
association shall be nominated at the last regular meeting of the year, with
further nominations allowed on election night. The
election must be held the first meeting of the year following nominations
which took place at the last meeting of the old year.
Section II
The nomination and election of officers shall be conducted by
the President who shall appoint two (2) tellers and one (1) judge to conduct
the same.
Section III
All elections shall be by ballot and require the majority of
valid votes cast. Each company or department is entitled to five votes. No
proxy votes are allowed.
Section IV
Associate members shall not be entitled to hold an office in the
association.
Section V
Associate membership shall be limited to four (4) organizations.
ARTICLE VIII
Section I – Duties of Officers
The President shall preside at all
meetings of the association, appoint and ex-officio of all committees, preserve
order, sign all orders drawn on the treasury, call special meetings when,
in his judgment it is necessary, or on petition of nine (9) delegates, representing
five (5) departments or companies in good standing. He shall be governed
in his ruling by Robert’s
Rules of Order. He shall be allowed to vote only when there is a tie in
balloting for officers and upon the call for yeas and nays.
The President shall represent the association in all matters concerning
association business and well-being or appoint someone on his behalf.
Section II
The first vice-president shall perform duties of the President
in his absence; the second vice-president shall perform the duties if they
are both absent. Either
officer shall assist the President in performance of his duties when necessary.
Section III
It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to write and
sign all orders drawn on the treasury; to keep a true and correct account
of all monies coming into his hands; to pay the same monies promptly to the
treasury taking his receipt for the same; to keep a complete record of the
proceedings of all meetings; to keep a detailed statement of all receipts
and expenditures; and to be prepared at all times to submit his book for
audit. He shall not
disburse any money except upon order signed by the President and the Secretary. He
shall receive, answer, and file all communications and papers pertaining
to the business of the association. He shall deliver to his successor all
books, papers and property of the association in his possession.
Section IV
The trustees shall have charge of the property of the association
and shall audit the books and papers of the secretary and treasurer, and at the end of each term make a true report
back to the President in a regular meeting. They shall have power to demand
of the officers and committees of the association all books and papers which
they may require to complete their work and also to request the presence
of any officer or committee if necessary. A majority of their members shall
constitute a quorum to transact business.
Section V
Sergeant-at-Arms: The President shall appoint one (1) member of
the entertaining company to act as sergeant-at-arms to preserve order.
ARTICLE IX
Section I
Any amendments to these sections or articles shall be adopted by
a two-thirds vote of the delegates present. No alteration or amendments
shall be made to the constitution except by being proposed in writing and
read at one meeting prior to voting on same and concurrent vote of two-thirds
of delegates present at the meeting.
BY-LAWS
Section I
The President shall decide all questions or order without debate
subject to the appeal of the meeting.
Section II
Any delegates may call the previous question and, if it is in
order, all debate cease and the pending shall at one be put to vote.
Section III
A member called to order shall immediately take his seat until
his point of order is decided. He shall then be entitled to the floor. No
member shall use any personalities or indecent language.
Section IV
Nine (9) or more delegates or alternates, representing five (5)
departments or companies, two of which shall be elected officers, shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business; that is payment of bills and regular,
routine business at any meeting.
Section V
Business of the association shall not be discussed in public without
the approval of the floor except where provided under Article 8, Section
I of the constitution.
Section VI
Any change or amendments of the by-laws must be made in writing
and pass by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
Section VII – Order of Business
- Fireman’s Prayer
- Roll Call
- Minutes of Previous Meeting
- Report of Officers and Committees
- Bills and Communications
- Report of Receipts and Expenditures
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
- Nomination of Officers
- Election of Officers
- Installation of Officers
- Good of the Organization
- Selection of time and place of next meeting
- Adjournment
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