LEGION RIDERS of Ohio Department 9, Post 112
By-Laws and ConstitutionChapter By-Laws
Article I - NamePage 1 of 7
Section 1. The Chapter existing under the By-Laws is to be known as American Legion Riders, Jay WilsonPost 112, The American Legion, Department of Ohio.
Section 2. The name and nature of this Chapter are set forth in the Constitution.Article II - Management
Section 1. The Officers of the Chapter shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-atArms,Road Captain, Historian, Chaplin and Membership Chairperson.
Section 2. Between Chapter meetings the administrative power of the Chapter shall be vested in the Chapter Executive Committee which shall consist of all elected Officers for the current year and in addition the immediate Past President.Section 3. Officers of the Chapter shall be elected annually during the first regular meeting in May and take office at the meeting next following that of the election. All elections of officers shall be by ballot and the candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the respective office or offices for which they are candidates.
Section 4. All vacancies existing in any office of the Chapter from any cause other than the expiration of the term shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the committee and a person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term of the members of the committee or office whose positionwas vacated.Page 2 of 7
Section 5. A vacancy shall exist when a member or officer is absent from the Chapter due to resignation, loss of qualifications, incapacity from injury or illness or for a continuous period of unexcused absences considered detrimental to the interest of the Chapter by the remaining members of the Executive Committee.Section 6. All Past Chapter Presidents shall be members of the Executive Committee with voice but without voting privileges.
Article III - MeetingsSection I. The regular meeting of the Chapter shall be held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Post 112 Home at which may be transacted such business as may properly be brought up for action; such meeting may be converted into entertainment meetings as may be deemed agreeable by the Officers of the Chapter.
Section 2. The Chapter President or a majority of the Executive Committee shall have the power to call a special meeting of the Chapter at anytime.Section 3. Upon the written request of three (3) members, the Executive Committee shall call a special meeting of the Chapter.
Section 4. Three (3) members shall constitute a quorum.Article IV - Chapter Executive Committee
Section I. The Chapter Executive Committee shall meet for organizational or such other business as may come before it at the call of the Chapter President within ten (10) days after the installation of the new Officers. Thereafter the Chapter Executive Committee shall meet as often as the Chapter President may deem necessary. The Chapter President shall call a meeting of the Chapter Executive Committee upon the joint written request of three or more members of said Chapter Executive Committee and three (3) members of the committee shall constitute a quorum thereof.Section 2. The Chapter Executive Committee, based on a majority vote, shall hire such employees as may be necessary; shall authorize all expenditures; shall provide or require adequate bonds for all persons having custody of Chapter funds; shall hear the reports of committee chairs; and generally shall have charge of and be responsible for the management of the affairs of this Chapter.
Article V - Duties of OfficersSection I. Duties of President: It shall be the duty of the Chapter President to preside at all meeting of the Chapter and to have general supervision over the business and affairs of the Chapter and such Officer shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Chapter. The President shall approve all orders directing thedisbursement of funds and shall make an annual report covering the business of the Chapter fore the year and recommendations for the ensuing year which shall be read at the annual meeting and a copy thereof immediately forwarded to the Department Adjutant. The President shall perform such other duties as directed by this Chapter.
Section 2. Duties of the Vice President: The Vice-President shall assume and discharge the duties of the Office of President in the absence or disability of or when called upon by the Chapter President.Page 3of 7
Section 3. Duties of Chapter Secretary: The Secretary shall have charge ofand keep a full and correct record of all proceedings ofall meetings; keep such records as the Post and Department organizations may require; render reports of membership annuaIly or when called upon at a meeting and under direction of the President handle all correspondences of the Chapter.Section 4. Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge ofall finances and see that they are safely deposited in some bank or banks and shall report once a month to the Chapter Executive Committee the condition of the finances of the Chapter with recommendations as he or she deem expedient or necessary to carry on the financial activities of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall be a signer for all checks disbursing the monies of the Chapter and shall be provided such surety bonds in such amounts as shall be fixed by the Chapter Executive Committee and obtained by the Chapter. The signature of one or more other members of the Chapter Executive Committee in addition to the Treasurer is required for the expenditures of funds. The Treasurer prepares the Chapter's monthly financial report for the sponsoring Department/Post Executive Committee.
Section 5. Duties of Chapter Historian: The Chapter Historian shall be charged with the individual records and incidents of the Chapter and Chapters members and shall perform such other duties as may properly pertain the office as may determined by the Chapter or Executive Committee.Section 6. Duties of Chapter Chaplin: The Chapter Chaplin shall be charged with the spiritual welfare of the chapter comrades and will offer divine but nonsectarian service in the event ofdedications, funerals, public functions, etc., adhere to such ceremonial rituals as are recommended by the National or Department Headquarters from time to time.
Section 7. Duties of Raod Captain: The Road Captain shall plan all tours, runs, activities and events; lead the Chapter in formation riding or parades; arouse interest in activities; enforce all rules of safe motorcycle operation and group riding. AdditionaIly the Road Captain may select assistants to aid in special tasks and may chair appropriate activities ommittee as directed by the Chapter President or Executive Committee.Section 8. Duties of the Sergeant at Arms: The Sergeant at Arms shall preserve order at meetings and gatherings assist the Raod Captain in enforcing all rules ofsafe riding during rides and runs and performsuch duties or chair committees as may be from time to time assigned by the President or Chapter Executive Committee.
Section 9. Duties of Membership Chairperson: The Membership Chairperson is responsible for maintenance of membership records. The Membership Chairperson shall collect membership dues as determined by the Chapter By-Laws and provide same to the Treasurer on a regular basis. The Membership Chairperson is charged with the review and/or collection ofeligibility documentation as required to demonstrate compliance with the National Membership Requirement and to demonstrate any additional requirements as may be defined by the sponsoring Post Executive Committee, applicable Department Rules; or State and Local laws. The Membership Chairperson shall render detailed membership reports annually or when called upon to do so at regular meetings of the Chapter. Additional1y, the Membership Chairperson shall send renewal notifications to members of record upon availability ofTAL, ALA and SAL membership cards for the fol1owing membership year.Section 10. Additional Roles: The Chapter may define additional roles either elected of appointed within their local By-Laws. Any such addition to the By-Laws must definitively state whether the position is elected or appointed. If an additional role is fiIled by appointment, any such addition to the By-Laws must definitely define who has the right ofappointment (usual1y President or Chapter Executive Committee by majority). Final1y, any such additions to the By-Laws must define which, if any, ofthe additional positions constitutemembership on the Chapter Executive Committee.
Page 4 of 7Article VI - Delegates
Section 1. Delegates and Alternates to a Department American Legion Riders Meeting, convention, regional gathering or other activity shall be elected by ballot by this Chapter at regular meeting of the Chapter to be held prior to the date ofsuch event.Article VII - Appointments
Section 1. The Chapter President immediately upon taking office each year may appoint standing committees or commissions for the furtherance of Chapter programsSection 2. Such standing committees shall consist of such persons and the chair thereof as designated by the Chapter President.
Article VIII - ResolutionsSection 1. All resolutions of State and National scope presented to this Chapter by a member or reported to this Chapter by a committee shall merely embody the opinion of their Chapter on the subject and copy of the same before any publicity is given or action other then mere passage by the Chapter is taken.
Article IX - NoticesSection 1. Every member shall furnish the Chapter Secretary with a valid email or postal mailing address.
Section 2. The Chapter Secretary shall cause notice of the annual election to be given at least two (2) weeks prior thereto.Article X - Rule of Order
Section 1. All proceedings of this Chapter shall be conducted under and pursuant to Roberts' Rules of Order(Newly Revised) except as herein otherwise provided.
Article XI - Limitations of LiabilitiesSection 1. This Chapter shall incur, or cause to be incurred, no liability nor obligation whatever which shall subject to liability any other Chapter, subdivision, members ofThe American Legion, Post, Department or other individuals, corporations or organizations.
Article XII - AmendmentsSection 1. These By-Laws may be amended at any regular Chapter meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members of said Chapter attending such regular meeting provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the next preceding regular meeting. Any changes will be reported to the sponsoring Department or Post.
Section 2. Written notice to the addresses of record indicated in Article IX, Section 1 shall have been given to all members at least five (5) days in advance of the date when such amendment is to be voted upon; notifying said members that at such meeting there will be presented a proposal to amend the By-Laws.Constitution
PreamblePage 5 of 7
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following pmpose:To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,
To maintain law and order,To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism,
To preserve the memories and incidents ofour association in the Great Wars,To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation,
To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses,To make right the master of might,
To promote peace and goodwill on earth,To safe guard and transmit to posterity the principles o fjustice, freedom and democracy,
To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.Purpose
The American Legion Riders is formed to promote the aims and purposes ofThe American Legion as a family oriented motorcycling activity for members ofThe American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons ofthe American Legion.Article I-Name
The name of this program shall be THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS a/Ohio Department 9, Post 112.Article II -Nature
Section 1. The American Legion Riders (ALR) is a program for members ofThe American legion, The American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of the American Legion members collectively "The Legion Family\y,"'who share an interest in motorcycling.Section 2. The American Legion Riders upholds the declared principles ofThe American legion as well as conforms to and abides by the regulation and decisions of the Department, Post or other duly constituted governing body.
Section 3. The ALR maintains and protects the image ofThe American Legion at all times through appropriate wearing ofThe American legion Emblem. The emblem ofThe American Legion demands "that the wearer shall ever guard the sanctity of home and country and free institutions."..··Section 4. Members of the ALR avoid any perception of being a motorcycle or "biker"'club or gang. Rather the focus of membership is for the enjoyment of motorcycles and comradeship and furthering Legion programs in the community.Section 5. The ALR will improve the public's perception of the motorcycling community by promoting the honorable nature ofservice to one's community, state and nation through the sport of motorcycling. Section 6. Members of the ALR shall comply at all times with motor vehicle safety, licensing andinsurance laws or regulations of the state in which operating.
Page 6 of 7Article III - Organization
The American Legion Riders is organized at either the Department or the Post level. Each Chapter exists at the discretion of the sponsoring Post/Department. The Chapter officers and Executive Committee are responsible and accountable to the sponsoring Post/Departrnent.Article IV - Membership Eligibility
Section 1. Eligibility for basic membership in The American Legion Riders shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution ofThe American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of the American Legion.Section 2. All members ofThe American Legion Riders must further demonstrate current individual membership in good standing in The American Legion Post 112, The American Legion Auxiliary Post 112 or The Sons of the American Legion Post 112.
Section 3. Members will not at any time hold membership in more than one chapter of The American Legion Riders.Section 4. In addition to Sections 1- 3 above, members must be the legally registered owner of a motorcycle or be the spouse of the legally registered, licensed and insured owner within the state of registration; said owner also being a member of the American Legion Riders in good standing.
Section 5. All operators must be properly licensed and insured per state laws,Section 6. All members will obey the motor vehicle laws in any state which they are operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger.
Section 7. All officers and members eligible to be a voting member must be a member in good standing of Jay Wilson Post 112 of the American Legion.Article V - Wear of American Legion Emblem
Section 1. The Americana Legion Riders back patch, as copyrighted and sold by The American Legion's Emblem Sales Division is authorized for wear by all current members of the ALR.Section 2. No other back patch or back patch design is authorized for wear.
Section 3. Department standards for patch sales should be on file with Emblem Sales.Section 4. If Department or Post identifying information is to be embroidered on the patch, Emblem Sales must have on record authorization form Department Adjutant that such identifying information may be used on the patch.
Section 5. Use of rockers or patches physically attached to The American Legion Riders back patch are not recommended due to trademark lawsArticle VI - Determine Elected Officers
Section 1. The recommended officers of the Chapter are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arrns, Road Captain, Historian. Chaplin and Membership Chairperson elected annually.Page 7 of 7
Section 2. Between Chapter meetings the administrative power of the Chapter shall be vested in the Chapter Executive Committee whose voting members shall consist of all elective officers for the current year and the immediate Past Chapter President.Section 3. All other Past Chapter Presidents shall be members of the Executive Committee with voice but no vote.
Article VII - FinanceSection 1. The revenues of the Chapter shall be derived from such membership fees or dues and from other sources as may be approved by the Chapter Executive Committee. Dues are not a requirement at the National level and are optional at all other levels.
Section 2. The amount of such membership or initiation fees and the amount of such annual Chapter dues shall be fixed and determined by the Chapter.Section 3. The Chapter will provide a monthly financial report to the sponsoring department/post executive committee.
Article VIII - Amendments Section 1. This Constitution is adopted subject to the provisions of the National Constitution, Department Constitution and Post Constitution of which this Chapter is a subordinate program. Any amendment to the National, Department or Post Constitution that is in conflict with any provision hereof shall be regarded automatically repealing or modifying the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws of this Chapter to the extent of such conflict.Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular Chapter meeting by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership attending such regular meeting provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the immediate preceding Chapter meeting. Further, that the traditional mail or electronic mail notice shall have been sent to all members addresses of record at least five (5) days in advance of the date which such amendment is to be voted upon notifying said members that at such meeting there will be a proposal to amend the Chapter Constitution