VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

ARTICLE I

NAME AND LOCATION

Section 1.   By virtue of the charter granted, this Post shall be known as Seminole Post No. 9272, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Section 2.   The location of this Post shall be in the City of Seminole, County of Pinellas, State of  Florida.

ARTICLE II

SUBORDINATION

Section 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 By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the By-Laws of the Department of Florida, orders issued by authority of the National Convention, National Council of Administration, the Commander-in-chief, the Department of Convention, Department Council of Administration and the Commander of the Department of Florida.  For the purpose of this Article and Section, Resolutions adopted by the National Convention are held to be lawful orders.

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS

Section 1.   Place:   The regular meeting place of this Post shall be at 10997 72nd Ave. N., Seminole, State of Florida.

Section 2.   Time:  The regular meetings of the Post shall be held on the first Saturday of each month, to be called to order at 1000 AM.

Section 3.  Special meetings may be called in accordance with the provisions of the National By-Laws.

Section 4.   Quorum: 6 members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 5.   A change in the regular meeting place may be made by authority of the Department Commander, having first been approved at the instance of a majority vote of the members present at any meeting provided the entire Post membership has previously been given written notice at least thirty(30) days prior to such contemplated action.  The appointed day and time for the Post meeting may be changed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

Section 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 By-Laws.

Section 2:   The admission fee of this Post shall be $1.00, payable in accordance with the National By-Laws.

Section 3.   (a)  The dues of this Post shall be $30.00 per year, to be paid in accordance with the National By-Laws and the lawful orders and provided the dues shall never be less than the amount required to cover Department and National dues.

(b)  No amendment to this section shall be proposed within three (3) months prior to the beginning of the first dues year for which the amendment is to be effective.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1.   The officers of this Post, eligibility to, nomination, election or appointment, installation and term of office shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National By-Laws.

Section 2.  The duties of all officers shall be those prescribed by National and Department By-Laws, lawful orders as the Post my direct and as these By-Laws in this Article may hereafter provide.

Section 3.  When this Post is the occupant of quarters of which it is the owner or lessee, the Commander shall, at the beginning of his term of office, appoint a “House Committee” of not less than three (3) members nor more than seven (7) members, one of which shall be designated as Chairman.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES AND DUTIES

Section 1.  All committees and their Chairmen, unless otherwise provided, shall, as promptly as possible after installation in office, be appointed by the Commander and as such shall serve at his will and pleasure.  The Post Quartermaster, by virtue of his office, shall be treasurer of all committees handling funds.

Section 2.   The Standing Committees of the Post shall be as follows:

(a)    Membership                      (f) House

(b)     Relief                                   (g) Americanism

(c)     Poppy                                  (h) Ways and Means

(d)     Publicity                            (i)  Community Activities

(e)    Youth Activities               (j)  Safety

(k) Bingo

Section 3.  (a)  The House Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) members.

(b)  The Committee shall be responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the quarters and the 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 insure 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 the protection of the Post’s quarters and its equipment, provided that the total amount so expended between any two regular meetings shall not exceed                   .

(e)  All monies received by the Committee through the sub rental of Post 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 check drawn by the Post Quartermaster.  The checks shall be signed by the Post Quartermaster and countersigned by the Post Commander.

(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 Quartermaster shall be the treasurer of the House Committee.

ARTICLE VII

SUBSIDIARY UNITS

Section 1.  Subsidiary units of this Post may elect their own officers from the membership of their respective unit, provided that the Quartermaster of this Post shall be the Treasurer of the unit handling all of its funds.

Section 2.  The voting membership of a subsidiary unit shall be confined to members in good standing in this Post or subordinated groups.

Section 3.  All equipment issued to, or acquired by, any subsidiary unit shall be and shall remain the property of this Post.

Section 4.  All monies received by any subsidiary unit shall be deposited with the Post Quartermaster, and all expenditures shall be made by regularly drawn warrant by that officer.

Section 5.   No rules or regulations adopted by any subsidiary unit shall be in conflict with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, or the By-Laws of this Post.

ARTICLE VIII

EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS

Section 1.  Expenditures of funds shall be made only on proper vouchers drawn by the Adjutant and approved by the Commander.  All checks for expenditures of Post funds shall be numbered in sequence, the number of each check to correspond with the voucher authorizing the same and in addition to the signature of the Quartermaster.

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

Section 3.  No other payment or expenditures shall be made except on the specific authorization of the Post in each and every case.

ARTICLE IX

COMPENSATION

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

Section 2.  For services rendered, the Post may, by majority vote, pay the annual dues of the Adjutant and Quartermaster for the periods or parts of periods they serve as such.

ARTICLE X

FUND RAISING PROMOTIONS

Section 1.  This Post shall solicit funds or donations only by prior vote of the members agreeing to the proposition.  It shall not solicit funds outside its jurisdiction without prior approval in the manner provided in Section 214 in the Manual of Procedure.

Section 2.  The Post shall not solicit funds or otherwise engage in fund-raising activities or projects outside the immediate geographical area or community of the Post.

ARTICLE XI

SOLICITATIONS, ET CETERA

Section 1.   Unless previously authorized by a majority vote of the Post, no solicitations, canvass or ticket sales shall be permitted in the Post quartes or social meeting nights unless such solicitations, canvass or ticket sales have been approved by the Post.

Section 2.  The Ways and Means Committee shall confine its consideration of solicitations, canvass or ticket sales to stated and social meetings of the Post in or around the Post quarters.

Section 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.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.   Every member of this Post shall keep the Post Adjutant and Quartermaster advised of his current address by promptly reporting any change of same.

Section 2.   One copy of these By-Laws shall be made available to every member of this Post.

Section 3.   In all Post procedures not provided for by the Congressional Charter and By-Laws or these By-Laws, Demeter’s Manual shall be the Authority, and it shall be the duty of the Post 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.

Section 4.   All courtesies and canteen privileges will be extended to all members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Post No. 9272, providing that they possess a current membership card to the same and the same disciplinary action that applies to the Post members will also be accorded members of the Post Auxiliary at anytime that such action is duly warranted.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1.   These By-Laws shall become effective after adoption by the Post and when and if reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Section 2.   These By-Laws may be amended by the Post by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the stated meeting thereof:  (except as otherwise provided in Section 3(b) of Article IV), provided, however, such amendments have been read at the preceding stated meeting and each member notified at least seven (7) days in advance by first class mail, of the contents of the amendments and the date on which the proposed amendments are made to be presented for adoption.  All amendments shall be forwarded through channels and reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief before becoming effective.

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

ARTICLE XIV

SPEECHES

Section 1.   No member will be permitted to speak on any on 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.

These By-Laws were adopted, subject to approval of the Commander-in-Chief and the Commander of the Department of Florida, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on this1st day of March 2008, at the regular meeting of this Post in the City of Seminole and the County of Pinellas, State of Florida.

POST NO. 9272

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS of the U.S.

BY:________________________________________

Post Commander

OFFICIAL:

BY:_________________________________________

Adjutant