PREAMBLE
To inculcate and stimulate love of our country and our flag;
To defend the honor, integrity, and supremacy of our national government and the Constitution of the United States;
To advocate military forces adequate to the defense of our country, and to oppose any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the national security;
To aid active and retired personnel of the Uniformed Services, their dependents and survivors in every proper and legitimate manner; and
To create harmony and a spirit of camaraderie among all active, reserve, guard and retired officers or persons who have held a status as officers of the Uniformed Services of the United States through an organized program of social and fraternal activities designed to accomplish these aims.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be The Military Officers Club of Northeastern Wisconsin, Inc., an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Section 1. To bring together Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers, active, reserve, guard and retired, and persons who have held a status as Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the Public Health Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Guard and Reserve Components thereof for the purpose of supporting the objectives as stated in the Preamble hereof.
Section 2. To actively support the legislative aims and objectives of the Military Officers Association of America which have been adopted at the most recent convention of the Military Officers Association of America, when and if these aims and objectives are not at variance with the views of the majority of our own Club members as represented by a quorum at any given meeting.
Section 1. Subject to the provisions hereof, membership in this organization shall be composed of (a) men and women who are or have been Commissioned or Warrant Officers of the seven U.S. Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Service) or the Guard, Reserve or other Components of these services and (b) widows and widowers of any deceased individuals who would, if living, be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Membership shall consist of four classes, viz:
(a) Regular Members. Those active, reserve, guard or retired individuals who meet the criteria enumerated in Section 1 hereof.
(b) Life Members. Life membership will be granted to those members who will reach 80 years of age in the next dues- paying year, providing they have been a member of this Chapter for a period of ten (10) years. Proof of age is required if not available in Chapter records. They will be provided with a Life Membership card and will be exempt from paying dues.
(c) Auxiliary Members. Widows and widowers of deceased members will automatically be
classified as Auxiliary members until the next dues-paying period. If they do not renew their membership, they will then be dropped from the rolls.
(d) Honorary Members. Honorary membership may be extended to selected individuals in the community. Where an individual holds an elective office or appointive office at the national, state or local level, such individual may be extended honorary membership without the requirement of the payment of dues during his tenure of office.
Section 3. Regular membership may be extended to the surviving spouse of any deceased individual who, if living, would be eligible for membership as provided in section 2 (a) above.
Section 4. Club members, with the exception of Honorary Members, are encouraged to hold and maintain membership in the Military Officers Association of America, Inc. (National).
Section 5. Club members, with the exception of Honorary Members, shall be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to the membership for a vote.
Section 6. Application for membership shall be in writing and addressed to the Board of Directors, which may accept or reject any application for membership; however, no person, otherwise qualified for membership, shall be denied membership in this organization solely on the basis of his race, religion, creed, or color. Any member of the organization may be dropped for good and sufficient cause by the Board of Directors after the individual has been given an opportunity to be heard.
Section 7. Recommendation for Honorary membership may be submitted by any Chapter member; however, such recommendation shall be in writing and addressed to the Board of Directors and, upon approval, thereby submitted to the membership for approval.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers of the organization shall consist of a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In general, they will perform the duties as outlined in Article IX of the By-Laws printed in the National MOAA Chapter Handbook.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected by the membership from among those who qualify as Club members, as set forth in Sections 2 (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Article III, and shall hold office for two years, unless sooner removed or otherwise disqualified. Officers shall serve without compensation from the funds of the organization other than approved expense accounts which are authorized in advance by the membership or by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the First Vice President for the unexpired term. Vacancies in the offices of the First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer may be filled by appointment of a qualified member by the President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors. The appointment of an individual to fill one of these vacancies shall be confirmed by the general membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the organization.
ARTICLE V - DUES
Section 1. Annual dues of this Club shall be $10.00 for each calendar year beginning January 1, and shall be payable on or before January 1 of each year, with a grace period of thirty (30) days.
Section 2. A member may be dropped from membership in this organization for nonpayment of dues
when his dues have remained unpaid for a period of 90 days after January 1 of the year for which due. A member who has been dropped for nonpayment of dues may be reinstated upon re-application for membership and payment of the current annual dues.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1. The annual meeting of this organization shall be in December of each year.
Section 2. In addition to the annual, meeting, regular meetings shall be held at least once during each quarter, including the quarter of the annual meeting. The President shall determine the hour, place, and date for each meeting. Other meetings of the organization may be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may determine.
Section 3. Due notice by mail shall be given to every member at least fifteen days preceding special meetings, accompanied by a statement of the purpose of the meeting.
Section 4. Ten percent (10%) of the members of the Club shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The business management and the affairs of this organization shall be under the direction of the Board of Directors, which shall have authority to expend funds, incur liabilities, authorize contracts, and attend to such other matters associated with the conduct of organizational activities as are found necessary for the efficient accomplishment of the Club objectives.
Section 2. The Board of Directors of the Club shall be composed of the elected officers, one Immediate Past President, and the Program Chairman, the Legislative Chairman, the Membership Chairman, and the Personal Affairs Officer, who will also be elected for 2-year terms. The Board of Directors meetings shall be open to all members.
ARTICLE VIII - LIABILITY
The organization is a non-profit organization operated solely and exclusively for the purposes set forth in the Preamble hereto. No member of this organization shall be liable for the debts, liabilities, or other financial obligation of the organization other than in the proper exercise of his function as an officer of the organization.
ARTICLE IX - ELECTIONS
Section 1. At the meeting of the organization held during the third quarter in odd-number years, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee which will present at the annual meeting the names of the officers and other members of the Board of Directors recommended by it to preside for the ensuing two years.
Section 2. At the annual meeting in the odd-number years, the recommendations of the Nominating Committee will be read and additional nominations will be invited from the floor. Nominations will then be closed and the election will be held. A majority of the votes cast by the members present will determine the outcome of the election. The Secretary shall publish to the membership the results of the election. The newly elected officers and other members of the Board of Directors will take office upon completion of the election.
ARTICLE X - THE AMERICAN FLAG
The American flag shall be displayed and honored at all meetings of this organization.
ARTICLE XI - EFFECTIVE DATE OF BY-LAWS
These By-Laws shall become effective after approval by the general membership of The Military Officers Club of Northeastern Wisconsin, Inc. at its next general meeting.
ARTICLE XII - CHANGES IN BY-LAWS
The By-Laws of this Association may be altered, amended, or changed, or new By-Laws may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting of the organization, provided the membership is notified at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the issue or action which is to be taken.
I certify that these By-Laws were approved and adopted at a general meeting of The Military Officers Club of Northeastern Wisconsin, Inc. at Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 8, 2006.
James Strong
Major - U.S. Army (Ret.)
President