VFW POST 9375
CALIFORNIA CITY, CA
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED
POST 9375
BY-
COMMANDER
ANDREW WILLIAMS
ADJUTANT
BY-LAWS VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES ARTICLE I NAME Sec 1. By virtue of the charter granted, this Post shall be known as California City Post No. 9375 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Sec 2. The location of this Post shall be in the City of California City, ARTICLE II SUBORDINATION Sec 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 California, orders issued by authority of the National Convention, National Council of Administration, the Commander-in-Chief, the Department Convention, Department Council of Administration and the Commander of the Department of California. For the purposes of this Article and Section, Resolutions adopted by the National Convention are held to be lawful orders. Sec 2. In accordance with the By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the ARTICLE III MEETINGS Sec 1. Place: The regular meeting of this Post shall be held at Sec2. Time: The regular meetings of the Post shall be held on the second Thursday of each month and be called to order at 6:30PM. Sec 3. Quorum: Five (5) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP ARTICLE V OFFICERS Sec 1. Eligibility to, nomination or appointment, installation and term of office shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National By-Laws. Sec 2. The duties of all officers shall be those prescribed by National and Department By-Laws, lawful orders as the Post may direct and as these By-Laws may provide. ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES AND DUTIES Sec 1. All Committees and their chairmen, unless otherwise provided, shall be appointed by the Commander as promptly as possible after election to office, and such shall serve at his will and pleasure. The Post Quartermaster, by virtue of his office, shall be treasurer of all committees handling funds. Sec 2. The Standing Committees of the Post shall be as follows: (a) House/Building (e) Americanism (b) Membership (f) Entertainment/Publicity (c) Poppy/Relief (g) Community Activities (d) Youth Activities Sec 3. House Committee: (a) The House Committee shall be elected by the Post members to manage certain matters related to the Post property including the operation of Post Club Rooms and Canteen. It shall consist of not less than three members, one each of whom shall be elected annually for a three-year term. Trustees shall not serve on the House Committee. In addition, the Post Commander and Post Quartermaster by virtue of their offices shall be members of the House Committee. (b) The House Committee shall meet at the Post at 6:30PM on the first Thursday of each month. Special meetings of the House Committee may be called by the Committee Chairman whenever the situation deems it necessary for the good of the Post; or a special meeting is requested in writing by a majority of the House Committee members. (c) A quorum of three (3) members is mandatory, and at least one (l) elected Post officer must be present. (d) The Committee shall be responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the quarters and the equipment therein. (e) The Committee has full responsibility to manage the Post Canteen in all administrative and operational functions, to include Canteen employment and termination actions. (f) The Committee shall be in charge of the sub-rental of the Post’s quarters and shall exercise such supervision over sub-renters and will ensure the protection of the Post’s name and property. (g) The Committee may authorize such expenditures for minor emergency repairs and janitor supplies as may be necessary for the preservation and protection of the Post’s quarters and its equipment, provided that the total amount so expended between any two regular meetings shall not exceed $500.00. (h) All monies received by the Committee through the sub-rental of the Post’s quarters or other sources shall be deposited with the Post Quartermaster. (i) All expenditures of the Committee shall be made only by regular voucher and drawn by the Quartermaster in accordance to these By-Laws. (j) The Quartermaster 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. ARTICLE VII CONTROL OF SUBSIDIARY UNITS Sec 1. Any activity, unit, clubrooms or canteen sponsored, conducted or operated by the Post, incorporated separately from the Post or unincorporated, shall be at all times under the direct control of the Post. Sec 2. All funds derived from any of the above shall be in the custody of the Post quartermaster. Sec 3. All money, property and assets of every kind as well as all records in connection therewith used, held and owned by any of the above activities is the property of the Post and must be placed in the care and custody of the Post Quartermaster. Sec 4. For purposes of this Article, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Cootie and the its Ladies auxiliary, and the Men’s Auxiliary are governed by Articles XI, XII and XIII respectively of the National By-Laws and Manual of Procedures of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their respective By-Laws, Rules and Regulations. ARTICLE VIII EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS Sec 1. Expenditure of funds shall be made only after prior authorization by the Post and on proper voucher drawn by the Adjutant and approved by the Commander. All checks for the expenditure of Post funds shall be numbered in sequence, he number of each check to correspond with voucher authorizing the same. Unless otherwise provided for in these By-Laws, all disbursements of Post funds shall bear the signature of the Quartermaster or Commander. The Quartermaster and Commander shall be bonded in accordance with Section 703 of the National By-Laws. Sec 2. The adoption of this Article shall constitute authorization by the Post for the payment of bills, when and as due, for public utility services, canteen stock and supplies, kitchen stock and supplies, postage, janitor services and for janitor’s supplies and minor emergency repairs authorized by the House Committee. Sec 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 Sec 1. No compensation shall be paid to any officer of the Post for his services as such officer, except as hereafter may be provided. Sec 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, and such other compensation commensurate with their duties as may be determined and specified by vote of the Post. ARTICLE X FUND RAISING PROMOTION/SOLICITATIONS Sec 1. This Post shall solicit funds or donations only by prior vote of the members agreeing to the proposition. It shall not solicit funds or donations or otherwise engage in fund-raising activities or projects outside the immediate geographical area or community of the Post. Sec 2. The Post shall not enter into any agreement with a promoter for the purpose of raising funds unless the said promoter shall have first furnished a good and sufficient surety bond in a principal sum sufficient to give the Post ample protection in the particular circumstances. The said bond shall be subject to the approval of the Post Advocate, bear the endorsement of the Post Commander and be kept in the possession of the Post Quartermaster. The bond will be conditioned on the payment to the Post Quartermaster of all monies due the Post as a result of the solicitation within thirty (30) days of the close of the campaign. If the promoter has made satisfactory settlement within the thirty day period, then surety will be determined to be discharged, otherwise the bond will remain in full force and effect. Sec 3. If the bond cannot be furnished, then all collections shall be made by the members of the Post sponsoring the campaign or entertainment and said funds shall be paid to a bonded officer of the Post who shall hold the funds in his custody pending proper pro rata distribution. Sec 4. 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 and least thirty (30) days prior to any Post entering into any such agreement. Sec 5. Unless previously authorized by a majority vote for the Post, no solicitations or ticket sales shall be permitted in the Post quarters or at socials or meetings unless such solicitations or ticket sales shall have been approved by the Post. Sec 6. The Ways and Means Committee shall confine any such approved solicitations or ticket sales to stated meetings and socials of the Post in or around the Post quarters. ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS Sec 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. Sec 2. One copy of these By-Laws shall be issued to each elected and appointed officer of this Post. Sec 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. ARTICLE XII SPEECHES Sec 1. No member will be permitted to speak on any one subject (Pro or Con) more than twice; and the first time no longer than five (5) minutes, and the second time no longer than tree (3) minutes, with the exception of a committee report and recommendations and visiting guests who have a message to impart. ARTICLE XIII POST CANTEEN OPERATIONS Sec 1. The Post Canteen is a fund-raising operation for the Post. It is a privilege offered to members of the Post and those persons and guests authorized access by the Post. At all times, the Canteen will be operated in an efficient and cost effective manner. Sec 2. Any veteran is authorized non-sponsored access to the Post Canteen provided they are eligible and have applied for Post membership. Any other non-VFW member must be a sponsored guest of a Post/Auxiliary member. Members and guests are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentleman at all times. The sponsoring Post/Auxiliary member will be responsible for the conduct of their guests. Sec 3. The House Committee may suspend all Canteen privileges for any person for any act of misconduct upon Post premises, for whatever period the Committee deems appropriate. This suspension will be in writing and may be subject to appeal, in writing by the member. Sec 4. The Quartermaster will not act as the Canteen Manager. The House Committee may appoint or hire a Canteen Manager for the purpose of conducting daily Canteen business. The Canteen Manager, if hired, will receive direction from the House Committee. Sec 5. Canteen employees or volunteers, including the Canteen Manager, if hired, will take direction from the House Committee. Sec 6. The House Committee shall have final decision making authority concerning all matters of Post Canteen operations and shall provide the Quartermaster with written or verbal direction. Decisions concerning Canteen operations will only be made at a regular or special meeting of the House Committee called for that purpose. The House Committee shall retain the right to hire and terminate Canteen employees as required. Sec 7. The on-duty bartender is expected to maintain order and discipline within the Canteen at all times. Should an emergency develop that the on-duty bartender can not handle, and Canteen Manager, if hired, can not be contacted, the most senior elected Post Officer available will be contacted to resolve the situation. Sec 8. Should a Post member have questions concerning the Canteen operation, that member should bring them before the House Committee or before the general membership at the next regular Post meeting. ARTICLE XIV AMENDMENTS Sec 1. These By-Laws shall become effective after adoption by this Post and after review by the Commander of the Department and Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Sec 2. Unless otherwise provided for in Post By-Laws, these By-Laws may be amended by the Post by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a stated meeting provided each member had been notified at least twenty (20) days in advance and upon request provided a copy of the proposed amendments. All amendments shall be forwarded through channels and reviewed by the Department Commander and the Commander-in-Chief before becoming effective. Sec 3. Wherever these By-Laws or subsequent amendments may be found to be in conflict with the present or any future National By-Laws and By-Laws of the Department, the latter shall prevail and be binding upon this Post as though written herein. These By-Laws were adopted, subject to the review of the Commander-in-Chief and the Commander of the Department of California, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States on this 11th day of March, 2010, at a regular meeting of this Post in the City of California City and County of Kern, State of California. Veterans of Foreign Wars of the By___________________________________ Andrew Williams Commander OFFICIAL: By___________________________________ Samuel Goldfield Adjutant