SHASTA COUNTY VETERANS AFFILIATED COUNCIL
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME, SERVICE AREA, PURPOSE

Section 1: This organization shall be known as the Shasta County Veterans Affiliated Council (Council).

Section 2: The service area of the Council shall be Shasta County.

Section 3: The purpose of this organization is to:

A. Advance the interest and participation of veterans in local, state and federal legislative activities as the affect veterans.

B. To uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, encourage public understanding and support for all fundamental principles of good government in accordance with city, county, state and national laws.

C. To promote respect for and the display of the flag of the United States of America, the Stars and Stripes, as our Nation’s symbol of freedom, and to actively oppose any form of desecration thereof.

D. Enhance and protect the rights and interests of all veterans and their dependents within the service area in the state of California, and nationally, to sponsor patriotic and community events, programs and activities to memorialize the service and sacrifices of all those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Membership will consist of honorably discharged veterans and veteran-oriented organizations (male or female) who are current members of a recognized nationally or state chartered veteran or veteran-oriented organization or in the process of becoming nationally or state recognized and will participate in the Council through designated posts or chapters or equivalent representative delegates.

A. The Council retains the right to exclude such organizations that might not prove beneficial to the purposes of the Council.

B. Recognized women’s Auxiliary organizations are eligible and invited to join the Council.

1. Auxiliary organizations will vote as an independent organization from their affiliated posts.

2. Members of a recognized national chartered auxiliary organization or in the process of becoming nationally recognized within the service area are

eligible for election to Council offices.

C. An Associate Membership is open to individuals and/or organizations who fulfill all the membership requirements as specified in this section, with the exception that their nationally or state chartered organization is not presently a member organization of the Council, or they and/or their organization are not within the Council’s service area.

1. An Associate Member may be accorded voting privileges by recommendation of the Board of Directors and ratification of the delegates representative body by a majority vote.

ARTICLE III - REPRESENTATIVE BODY

The representative body shall consist of representatives of each affiliated post/chapter and/or their auxiliaries. These representatives shall be designated as delegates to the Council in accordance with their respective post/chapter/auxiliary By-Laws. Regardless of the number of representatives a post/chapter/auxiliary might have in attendance, each post/chapter/auxiliary shall have one delegate vote or one alternate vote at Council meetings.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. PRESIDENT: The President shall act as the Council’s Chief Executive Officer and preside over meetings of both the Board of Directors and the representative body, and will determine all agendas.

Section 2. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: The First Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the President’s absence or incapacity and will carry out other assignments as directed by the President and /or Board of Directors.

Section 3. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: This officer shall assume the duties of the President in the President’s and the First Vice-President’s absence or incapacity and shall carry out other assignments as directed by the President and/or the Board of Directors.

Section 4: SECRETARY: The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Council and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered. He/She shall have charge of the correspondence, notify the officers and Council members of their election to office, keep a roll of the members, carry out other duties as are prescribed in these Constitution and By-Laws or by direction of the President or Board of Directors. The Secretary will provide a copy of the minutes of the quarterly meeting and special meetings to each member of the Council and its officers. The Secretary shall also send notice of quarterly meetings to all delegates of the Council.

Section 5: TREASURER: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies due to and belonging to the Council. He/She shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to the officers and Board of Directors, in the name of the organization. The books shall be open at all times to inspection by the officers and he/she shall report to them at the quarterly meeting the condition of the organization’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported. At the Fourth Quarterly meeting, he/she shall render an accounting of all monies received and expended during the previous fiscal year. There shall be an audit of the books at least thirty (30) days prior to election of officers for the ensuing year. The Treasurer may be bonded in such amount as the officers may determine. He/She, at the time of taking office as Treasurer, shall obtain a signature card from the council’s bank to change the signature of authorized check signers to the newly elected authorized check signers. Authorized check signers shall be the President of SCVAC, the Treasurer and the Secretary. All checks shall be signed with two (2) authorized signatures.

Section 6: LIASISON OFFICER: The officer will coordinate veteran concerns within the county, state, or nationally, and bring them to the attention of the Council, subject to the ratification of the Board of Directors and the representative body. At the discretion of the President and the Board of Directors, this officer also acts as the liaison between the Council and the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and other entities as designated.

Section 7: PARLIAMENTARIAN: The Council Parliamentarian should be a member who is versed in parliamentary law and procedure. He/She shall be elected primarily to advise the presiding officers and the organizations on questions of parliamentary law and procedure, thus helping to safeguard the rights and privileges of all the members equally, and to assist in the transacting of the business of the assembly legally and efficiently. The Parliamentarian shall be strictly nonpartisan at all times.

Section 8: BOARD OF DIRECTORS: There shall be five (5) additional Officers designated as members of the Board of Directors of the Council, and elected by the representative (delegates). Additionally, the retiring immediate Past President of the Council shall automatically become a member of the Board of Directors for a one-year term.

Section 9: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The officers and Board of Directors shall have the responsibilities of overseeing the business and general affairs of the Council, but the ultimate authority shall rest in the representative body comprised of the designated delegates of the member posts/chapters/auxiliaries.

Section 10: VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER: The Shasta County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) will be invited to participate in the regularly scheduled membership meetings and Board of Directors meetings. To avoid any conflict of interest, the CVSO will not have voting privileges nor be permitted to hold office. The CVSO will address issues pertaining to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) as requested by the President and/or governing Board. SCVAC members/veterans or their eligible dependents requesting individual counseling and assistance will be referred to the CVSO.

ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS

Section 1: TERM OF OFFICE: All officers will be elected to terms running from January 1st to December 31st, by a simple majority of the designated delegates the member’s post/chapter/auxiliary attending the electing meeting.

Section 2: QUALIFICATIONS: Any member in good standing may be elected to office.

Section 3: NOMINATION: Nominations and elections will be conducted at any time during the fourth quarter of the year, as designated by the President. Nominations will be made from the floor, provided that the person so nominated accepts when his/her name is proposed, and provided further, that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, his or her proposer shall present to the Secretary a written statement from the proposed candidate signifying his or her willingness to be a candidate and serve.

Section 4: VOTING: Voting shall be by secret, written ballot only. There will be no voting by proxy. Ballots shall be distributed and tabulated by member organizations roll call. One vote for each officer, delegate or alternate. No more than one (1) vote per person acting as officer, delegate or alternate present at the meeting in progress. No committee members will have a vote.

Section 5: ELECTION BY ACCLAMATION: If there is only one candidate nominated for each office, the President of the Council may, with the unanimous consent of the delegates representative body present, declare the slate of nominated officers elected by acclamation.

Section 6: Nominations cannot be made in any other manner other than as provided for in this section.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1: Meetings shall be governed by ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER.

Section 2: QUARTERLY MEETINGS: The representative body shall meet quarterly. The Board of Directors will meet at the discretion of the President or at the request of two (2) members of the Board.

Section 3: SPECIAL MEETINGS: Special meetings shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of one-third of the current eligible member organizations, or as may be determined by the President of the Council. The object for which a special meeting is called shall be stated in said request and a notice of such special meeting shall be filed at least ten (10) days prior thereto, to every member organization in good standing. No business other than that which is stated shall be transacted at said special meeting. Time and place of any special meeting of the member organization shall be determined by the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by these By-Laws.

Section 4: Notice of all meetings shall set forth the place, date, time and purpose of the meeting.

Section 5: QUORUMS: Quorums shall consist of delegates from a majority of affiliated member organizations attending a representative body meeting and two-thirds of any committee meeting.

Section 6: When voting at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the Council, a member of the Board of Directors, i.e. the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison Officer, Parliamentarian, five Board Members and immediate Past President, shall be entitled to one vote. If a member of the Board of Directors is also the designated delegate of an affiliated post/chapter/auxiliary in addition to his/her vote as a member of the Board of Directors. No member is entitled to more than one (1) vote. However, the designated alternate can take the one (1) vote for the affiliated post/chapter/auxiliary.

Section 7: MEETING NOTICE CONTENT POLICY: The Secretary shall not include for mailing or publish for notice, under the name of, or printed on the official letterhead of, or as part of or as an addendum to, any official notice, document, or minutes thereof of the Council, voted on at either a regular or specially called Board of Directors meeting or by telephone poll, any advertisements for events with these exceptions:

A. Notice of events officially sponsored by the Council.

B. Annual officially designated events of the nationally or state chartered veterans organizations which are members of the Council, such as the American and Loyalty/Memorial Services, Memorial Day, Veterans Day services, etc.

ARTICLE VII - FISCAL YEAR DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1. FISCAL YEAR: The fiscal year shall coincide with the terms of the officers of the Council, i.e. January 1st to December 31st.

Section 2. ANNUAL DUES: Annual dues and/or special assessments shall be set by resolution of the Board of Directors and/or representatives of the member organizations at any time, as them deem it necessary, for the operation of the Council, subject to the approval of a majority of the representative body of eligible member organizations present and voting.

ARTICLE VIII - POLITICAL POLICY

Section 1. POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS: All political endorsements must be approved by two-thirds of the representative body present at a regular or special meeting. No endorsements shall be made except for veteran- related affairs.

Section 2. LOBBYING POLICY: Lobbying policy shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of the representative body present at a regular or specially called meeting. Any position taken shall be implemented by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES

Section 1: STANDING COMMITTEES: Standing committees of the Council are: Legislative, Shasta County Veterans Affiliated Council Veterans Affiliated Council Veterans Administration Clinic Representative, State Veterans Cemetery Board, Veterans Day Parade, Publicity, Historian, Redding Veterans Memorial Hall, Redding Veterans Outpatient Advisory Council Delegate, Veterans Homeless Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee on Health and Services, Memorial Day Committee, and Audit Committee.

Section 2: Other committees may be formed and dissolved as needed by direction of the President or the Board of Director.

ARTICLE X - GUEST SPEAKERS

Any member of the representative body may invite a guest to speak before the representative Council as long as the subject pertains to veterans’ affairs and is approved beforehand by the President and/or Board of Directors and placed on the agenda.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Section 1: CHARGES: Any member may file charges against a delegate for alleged disruptive behavior, misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of the organization, or loss of good standing within the delegate’s parent organization. The Secretary shall promptly notify the officers and Board of Directors of the Council which shall fix a date of a hearing not less than three (3) weeks or more than six (6) weeks thereafter. The Secretary shall promptly send one copy of the charges to the accused member by registered, signed receipt, mail together with a notice of the hearing and an assurance that the defendant may personally appear in his/her own defense and bring witnesses if he/she wishes.

Section 2: HEARING: The officers and Board of Directors shall have complete authority to decide whether counsel may attend the hearing, but both complainant and defendant shall be treated uniformly in that regard. Should the charges be sustained, after hearing all the evidence and testimony presented by complainant and defendant, the officers and Board of Directors of the Council may, by majority vote of those present, terminate the defendant from membership, or impose a suspension of membership privileges for a specified period of time. Immediately after the officers and Board of Directors have reached a decision, their findings shall be put in written form and filed with the Secretary. The Secretary, in turn, shall notify each of the parties and the representative body of the officers’ and Board’s decision and penalty, if any.

ARTICLE XIII - DISSOLUTION

The Council may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than two-thirds of the representative body and ratification by majority vote of the officers and Board of Directors. In the event of the dissolution of the organization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or by operation of law, none of the property of the organization shall be distributed to any members of the organization nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the organization shall be distributed to any members of the organization, but after payment of the debts of the organization, its property and assets shall be given to the Shasta County State Veterans Cemetery or a charitable organization to be selected by majority vote of the individuals who are members of the last Board of Directors and which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 1.501(c)(19)-1 and by the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California as a tax exempt non-profit veterans organization.

ARTICLE XIV - ORDER OF BUSINESS

At the meetings of the organization, the Order of Business, so far as the charter and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:

Quarterly Meetings Officer & Board Meetings

A. Call to Order A. Call to Order

B. Opening Invocation B. Roll Call (Sign In sheet)

C. Pledge of Allegiance C. Minutes (handout of previous meeting)

D. President Opening & Introduction of Guests D. Treasurer Balance Report

E. Roll Call E. Correspondence

F. Minutes (handout previous meeting) F. Unfinished Business

G. Correspondence G. New Business

H. Treasurer Full Report H. Announcements

I. Reports of Committees, Standing and Special I. Adjournment

J. Unfinished Business

K. New Business

L. Announcements

M. Closing Invocation

N. Adjournment

SCVAC By-Laws and Constitution Revision Record
Revised/Amended by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee
and Approved by Vote of Member Organizations.
Shasta County Veterans Affiliated Council

Most Recent Revision Dated: July 18, 2009
Re-Typed by Pete Stiglich,
Member of SCVAC, September 4, 2009
Reviewed by: Kitty Seiler,
Secretary of SCVAC, September 6, 2009