Article 1                                               Name

 

Article 2                                               Purpose

 

Article 3                                               Membership

                                                            Sec. 1 – Qualifications

                                                            Sec. 2 – Applications

                                                            Sec. 3 – Committee Approval

                                                            Sec. 4 – Vote

                                                            Sec. 5 – Privileges

                                                            Sec. 6 – Withdrawal Card

                                                            Sec. 7 – Suspension

 

Article 4                                               Meetings

                                                            Sec. 1 – Regular meeting

                                                            Sec. 2 – Roberts Rules

                                                            Sec. 3 – Special Meeting

                                                            Sec. 4 - Executive Committee Meetings

 

Article 5                                               Officers and Trustees – Duties and Powers

                                                            Sec. 1 – President

                                                            Sec. 2 – Vice-President

                                                            Sec. 3 – Recording Secretary

                                                            Sec. 4 – Treasurer                                                                                                                    Sec. 5 – Financial Secretary

                                                            Sec. 6 – Marshal

                                                            Sec. 7 – Sentinel

                                                            Sec. 8 – Corresponding Secretary

                                                            Sec. 9 – Chaplain

                                                            Sec. 10 –Trustees

                                                            Sec. 11--Resignation

 

Article 6                                               Election of Officers and Trustees

                                                            Sec. 1 – Office elected

                                                            Sec. 2 – Qualifications

                                                            Sec. 3 – Nomination

                                                            Sec. 4 – Nomination Comm.

                                                            Sec. 5 – Election

                                                            Sec. 6 – Vacancy

                                                           

Article 7                                               Finances

                                                            Sec. 1 – Initiation Fee

                                                            Sec. 2 – Dues

                                                            Sec. 3 – Assessments

                                                            Sec. 4 – Expenses

 

 

Article 8                                               Committees and Duties

                                                            Sec. 1 – Executive Committee

                                                            Sec. 2 – Charity Committee

                                                            Sec. 3 – Membership Committee

                                                            Sec. 4 – Golf, St.Patrick’s and Christmas Comm.

                                                            Sec. 5 – Irish History Committee

 

Article 9                                               Hearings and Appeal

 

Article 10                                             Licenses and Permits

 

Article 11                                             Insurance

 

Article 12                                             Amendments to By-Laws

                                                            Sec. 1 – Submitting

                                                            Sec. 2 – Voting on                   

                                                            Sec. 3 – Effective Date

 

 

Article 1 – Name

 

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be the John McDermott Division #32, Chicago, IL. of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc. This Division was organized on September 21, 1951.

 

Article 2 – Purpose

 

Section 1. The purpose of this organization shall be to (A) promote friendship, unity and Christian Charity among its members; (B) uphold and sustain loyalty to the government of the United States of America; (C) aid and advance by all legal means, the aspirations and endeavors of the Irish people to complete and absolute independence and; (D) foster the ideals and cultivate the history and traditions of the Irish Race.

 

Article 3 – Membership

 

Section 1.  Qualification.  Applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years old, a male resident of the United States, a practicing Roman Catholic of Irish birth or descent and of Good Character.

 

 The term “ Good Standing” shall refer to a member who meets all conditions of this article; is not delinquent in his dues as defined in Sec 7 of this article and attends at least one Division function or General Meeting during a calendar year.

 

Section 2.  Application for new and reinstated members must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and one year’s dues.   Reinstatement application, in addition to the above, must be accommodated by dues owed since suspension up to one year.  The application form shall be that of the National AOH

 

Section 3.  Said application will then be referred to the Membership Committee to investigate the character and qualification of the applicant. The committee must unanimously approve the application before the applicant will be approved.

 

Section 4. New or reinstated applications thus approved by the Committee will be voted on at a regular membership meeting.  A majority vote of those present is necessary for a new application to be approved.  A 2/3 vote of those present is necessary for a reinstatement application.

 

Section 5.  Regular Membership shall entitle the member to hold all offices of the Division subject to the provisions of Art. 6 Sec. 2, and to attend all membership meetings and vote on all matters.

 

Section 6.  Withdrawal Cards shall be given to a member in good standing who resigns from the Order as outlined in the National Constitution. A former member lawfully in possession of and presenting a withdrawal card may be readmitted to the Division, provided he meets the requirements of Sections 1 and 2 of this Article.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 7.  Suspension:  When a member fails to pay his dues or assessments for a period of three months, (i.e. he is delinquent) he shall be notified in writing by the Treasurer of his indebtedness and asked to pay it by the end of the next regular meeting.  If he does not, the Membership Committee shall personally contact the member to try to reclaim him if possible.  After these two steps have been taken, suspension may be made if carried by a motion at a regular meeting.  In the alternative, when a member is delinquent nine (9) months, he is suspended automatically at the close of the meeting on which the ninth month expires.

 

Any member who is delinquent will not be eligible to serve on any committee, to hold any office or vote for Officers of the Division

 

Potential members who have expressed interest in joining this Division may be included on the mailing list for the Division newsletter and notice of the General meetings for a period of three months. After three months have elapsed the potential member will be dropped from the list if he does not fulfill the requirements of this Article and become a member.

 

This section shall be effective retroactively to January 1, 2002. 

 

Article 4 – Meetings

 

Section 1.  Regular membership meetings shall be held the first Wednesday of each month.

 

Section 2.  All meetings of the Division shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

 

Section 3.  Special Call Meetings may be called by the President by giving the membership a two (2) week notice of the time and place of the meeting and the topic to be discussed.  No other business shall be conducted at the Special Call Meeting.

 

Section 4. Executive Committee meetings shall be held as directed by the President upon notice to the Committee members. The notice shall advise the members of the time, place and agenda of such meetings.

 

Article 5 – Officers and Trustees – Duties and Powers

 

Section 1.  The President shall be the Executive Officer of the Division and shall be its representative to the State and National Convention.  He shall preside at all meetings of the Division and rule on all questions of governing said meetings.  He shall appoint all Committee members and define their work within the parameters of these by-laws.

 

The term of each President shall be limited to two years and no President may serve consecutive terms.

 

Section 2.  The Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the President in his absence or disability.  The Vice-President shall also keep the official record of sworn members.

 

Section 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings and read those minutes at the next meeting. He shall have custody of the records and papers of the Division.

 

Section 4.  The Treasurer shall bill and collect all dues and assessments, and give to the Financial Secretary all monies collected at the close of each meeting for deposit.

 

 

 

Section 5.  The Financial Secretary shall have custody of the bank account, checkbook and other funds of the Division.  He shall pay all approved bills.  All checks issued by the Financial Secretary shall bear the signatures of any two of the President, the Vice-President or Financial Secretary. From time to time (but at least twice a year) he shall make a report to the members concerning the Divisions financial condition.

 

Section 6.  The Marshal shall be responsible for the decorum at all meetings and shall see that all the customs and ceremonies of the Order are observed. He shall see that the American and Irish Flags are properly displayed at all Division meetings and functions.

 

Section 7.  The Sentinel shall admit no one but members to Division meetings, except the Catholic Clergy and shall assume the duties of the Marshall if he is not present. He shall have full charge of all regalia, paraphernalia and equipment of the Division and be responsible for its safe keeping. 

 

Section 8.  The Corresponding Secretary shall publish all official notices and announcements as well as all news and educational publications of the Division.

 

Section 9.  The Chaplain shall be appointed by the Division President in accordance with the National Constitution.  He shall be a member of the Division and be responsible for its moral and spiritual leadership.  He shall give the prayers at all meetings, religious occasions and at the wake of a member.

 

Section 10. Trustees.  Seven Trustees shall be elected. The Trustees are to serve in an advisory capacity to the Officers in all matters affecting the Division. In the event any Officer (other than the President) is unable or unwilling to perform his duties, the Trustees shall act in his place by a majority vote. 

 

Section 11.  Upon their resignation or the election of their successor, all Officers and Trustees of the Division shall give all records, books, papers and all other properties of the Division, in their possession, to their successor within 14 days of their installation.

 

Article 6 – Election of Officers and Trustees

 

Section 1.  The offices of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Marshall, Sentinel and Trustees shall be elected by the membership at the February membership meeting in each even numbered year.

 

Section 2.  Qualification: No member shall be eligible to hold any office unless he has been a member in good standing for the six  (6) months before election or appointment.

 

Section 3. 

 

Nomination of Officers and Trustees shall be held every other year at the January membership meeting immediately preceding the election. Nominations will be opened at the start of the meeting and will close at the end of the meeting. All members in good standing will receive written notice of the time, date and place of nominations and elections

 

 

 

 

Section 4.

 

A Nomination Committee of three (3) appointed by the President shall solicit and encourage qualified candidates for all offices. All candidates shall be nominated from the floor at the January meeting. A reading of the offices by the President shall be followed by the nominations.  All nominees must signify their willingness to serve by being present at the meeting or notifying the President, in writing, subsequent to the meeting.

 

The Nomination Committee will certify those nominated and deliver written certification to the President with 48 hours after the close of nominations. The president or his designees shall cause the ballots stating the office and nominees for that office as well as voting instructions to be delivered to each member in good standing prior to the February meeting.

 

Section 5.

 

The election of Officers and Trustees shall be by secret ballot.  No Absentee ballots shall be allowed.  The Officers and Trustees shall serve for two years beginning with their installation at the February membership meeting.

 

Section 6.  Vacancy in the office of the President, for any reason, shall be filled by the Vice-President for the remainder of the term.  All other vacancies shall be filled by an election at the meeting following the vacancy and all members shall be notified in writing before the election.

 

 

Article 7 – Finance

 

Section 1.  The Reinstatement Fee and Withdrawal Reinstatement Fee shall be established by the Executive Committee and shall be payable upon submission of the application.

 

Section 2.  The Yearly dues shall be established by the Executive Committee and shall be payable and due on January 1^st.  Member joining the Division after July 1^st shall be charged one-half (1/2) of the yearly dues.  The fiscal year of the Division shall be a calendar year.

 

Section 3.  Assessments are due and payable within thirty (30) days of their approval.  All Assessments must be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved at a membership meeting.

 

Section 4.  Expenses necessary for the normal operation of the Division shall be paid upon the submission of the expense to the Financial Secretary. All extraordinary expenses must be approved by the membership before payment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 8 – Committees and Duties

 

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers, Trustees and the immediate Past President. The Executive Committee shall transact the regular business of the Division and shall report their activities to the members at each membership meeting.

 

Section 2.  The Charity Committee shall carry out the Division’s charitable activities and shall regularly report their activities to the membership.

 

Section 3.  The Membership Committee shall have charge of the Division’s recruitment efforts and shall carry out those duties in Article 3 Sections 3 and 7. The Committee shall regularly report its activities to the membership.

 

Section 4.  The Golf Committee, St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Picnic Committee, Christmas Committee and Special Events Committee shall have charge of their respective events including all arrangements and preparations which in their judgement are necessary for the success of those events. They shall report their activities to the membership regularly. They shall give a full accounting of all financial expenditures associated with their events to the Financial Secretary as soon a practical.

 

Section 5.   The Irish History Committee shall be in charge of the study of Irish History in the Division.  It shall encourage the recognition of the Irish History in schools, academies and colleges.

 

Section 6. From time to time the President shall solicit all members to serve as committee members and shall have the authority to establish new committees or dissolve existing committees to best serve the needs of the Division.

 

Article 9 – Hearings and Appeal

 

Section 1.  Improper Conduct of a member shall be addressed as outlined in the National Constitution.  Hearing Suspensions, Penalties, and Appeals shall be done in accordance with the National Constitution.

 

Article 10 – Licenses and Permits. The Division shall obtain and maintain all licenses and permits required by law for the conduct of the Division’s activities.

 

Article 11 – Insurance. The Division shall purchase and maintain in force insurance necessary to protect its members and guests from legal liability in conjunction with the conduct of designated Division activities or events. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to designate those activities and events.

 

Article 12 – Amendments to By-Laws

 

Section 1.  Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by the written request of twenty percent (20%) of the membership.

 

Section 2.  Proposed By-Laws Amendments must be read at two (2) consecutive regular membership meetings.  The proposal will be voted on after the second reading and must pass by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present to be approved by the Division.  The membership will be notified of the proposed Amendment, in writing, one (1) week in advance of the vote.

 

Section 3.  These By-Laws shall become effective as of July 1, 2002 after being approved by the Division membership, the state Board and the National President