Section 1. Regular meetings of the Chapter
shall be held on the last Friday of each month, unless a meeting is omitted or
date and time revised by previous Chapter vote or by action of the Chapter
Executive Committee with due and reasonable notice to members. The dates for the
November and December meeting are normally revised to avoid the Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays. The November meeting will be the annual meeting. Normally
one meeting will consist of a picnic that is primarily a social occasion without
the normal business meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings shall be called
by the Chapter President when necessary, or upon written request of one-tenth of
the Chapter's members. Normal meeting notification procedures shall be used to
inform Chapter members of any special meeting and the nature of the business for
which the special meeting has been called. As part of this procedure notice of
the date, time, place and business of any special meeting shall be placed on the
Chapter web site at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. A quorum for conducting Chapter
business at a regular or special meeting shall consist of the majority of the
members in good standing of the Chapter who are present at the meeting.
The following is the recommended order of business
at all regular meetings of the Chapter. The President, with the consent of the
members present, may modify this order if the nature of the program so dictates.
1. Call to Order 6. Reading of the Minutes
2. Invocation/Moment of Silence 7. Officer & Committee Reports
3. Pledge of Allegiance 8. Unfinished Business
4. Introduction of Guest & New Members 9. New Business
5. Speaker/Program
10. Adjournment
The provisions of Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern Chapter business in all matters not in conflict with the Chapter Constitution and Bylaws or the Association's Articles of Incorporation and National Bylaws.
Section 1. The officers of the Chapter
shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall be
elected annually for a one-year term. The President and Vice-President shall
serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms.
Section 2.
The President shall appoint standing and ad hoc committee chairs as
appropriate to conducting Chapter activities. The standing committee chairs may
include Program, Membership, Service Officer, National Legislation, Alzheimer,
NARFE PAC, NARFE Net Coordinator/Chapter Web Master, Sunshine and State
Legislation. The committee chairs may appoint committee members as appropriate
and consistent with these Bylaws. Each committee and committee chair shall make
recommendations for actions or changes to the President and/or Chapter as
appropriate.
Section 3. The duties and
responsibilities of the Chapter officers and committee chairs shall be in
accordance with the recommended duties and responsibilities set by the national
association and as supplemented by these Bylaws and chapter procedures. Each
officer and committee chair shall keep the Chapter membership apprised of
activities and developments within their area of responsibility. This may be
accomplished by periodic reports at Chapter meetings, articles and notices for
the Chapter web page and newsletter and similar activities. Each officer and
committee chair shall coordinate with his or her appropriate Federation
counterpart as appropriate. The officers and committees should undertake
additional duties and activities in support of the Chapter after coordination
with the Chapter President.
Section 4. There shall be an executive
committee, of which the elected Chapter officers shall be members, plus any
committee chairs and other members the President shall appoint. The Executive
Committee shall fill a vacancy in any office and shall exercise such other
functions as the Chapter and Chapter President shall prescribe.
Section 5.
It is the duty and responsibility of the Program Committee to obtain
interesting and informative speakers and programs for each Chapter meeting. The
Program Committee shall actively seek the advice of the Chapter membership in
fulfilling these duties. It is the duty of each Chapter member to support these
activities, providing suggestions for speakers, topics and programs to the
Program Committee and assisting the Program Committee to the maximum extent
practical.
Section 6.
It is the duty and responsibility of the Membership Committee to urge all
persons in the area who are eligible for national membership, as set
forth in the National Bylaws, to join and become active participants in the
Association and the Chapter. The Membership Committee shall encourage the use of
dues withholding by all new and existing members. All Chapter members are ex
officio members of this committee. The Membership Committee shall contact
prospective and new members and encourage them to attend and become active in
Chapter activities. The committee shall also contact any delinquent members to
encourage their continued participation and ascertain any reason for
dissatisfaction with the chapter or national organization.
Section 7.
It is the duty and responsibility of the Service Officer to provide
support and advice, when requested, to members in dealing with specific
retirement issues such as annuity payments, Federal health insurance, Federal
life insurance, beneficiary and spousal provisions.
Section 8. It is the duty and
responsibility of the State and National Legislative Committees to keep abreast
of state and national legislative matters concerning federal civil annuitants
and prospective annuitants and to keep the Chapter membership informed of
developments. When appropriate the committees shall make recommendations and
lead in actions by the Chapter members and/or officers in supporting specific
legislative actions.
Section 9. It is the duty and
responsibility of the Alzheimer Committee to collect donations for the NARFE
Alzheimer fund and to forward these donations to the Federation Alzheimer Chair.
The Chapter Treasurer will normally serve as the Alzheimer Committee chair.
Section 10. It is the duty and
responsibility of the NARFE PAC committee to inform the Chapter members on PAC
activities, especially as regards to SC and local political candidates and to
encourage and assist Chapter members in making contributions in support of NARFE
PAC. Contributions to NARFE PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions
for federal income tax purposes.
Section 11. It is the duty and
responsibility of the NARFE Net Coordinator/Web Master to maintain the Chapter
web page, including updating meeting times and dates, speakers and proposed
business. The NARFE Net Coordinator/Web Master shall also distribute by e-mail a
monthly newsletter on Chapter meetings and activities.
Section 12.
It is the duty and responsibility of the Sunshine Committee to maintain
knowledge of the status of the health and wellness of Chapter members, express
the concerns of the Chapter for the speedy recovery of any ill members and
condolences to the families of any deceased members. It is the duty of each
Chapter member to keep the Sunshine Committee informed of the health and
wellness of other Chapter members.
Section 13. The Chapter, by majority vote
at any regular or special meeting, may require the Treasurer (or the
Secretary-Treasurer) to give bond for the faithful performance of his /her
duties. The expense of obtaining a bond shall be paid from Chapter funds.
Chapter dues shall be Four (4) Dollars per year.
Chapter dues may be increased no more than once per year by majority vote at a
regular or special meeting. Chapter dues shall be waived for members granted
Honorary Life Membership by the Association. Dues payments and gifts or
contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for
federal income tax purposes.
This Chapter shall be affiliated with the South
Carolina Federation of Chapters and subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of
that body.
Proposed amendments to the Chapter Constitution or to these Bylaws shall be submitted, in writing, to the President for timely consideration, discussion or revision by Chapter members. Enactment of the amendment requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting provided written notice of the proposed amendment was made available to all Chapter members not less than twenty (20) days prior to the meeting. Posting the proposed amendment on the Chapter web page with notice of the date, time and place of the meeting is equivalent. In addition, copies of the proposed revisions will be available at the meeting. If discussions by Chapter members result in significant revisions, the revised proposed amendment shall be reposted for a minimum of twenty (20) days with final voting at the next regular meeting. Amendments to the Chapter Constitution and Bylaws must be approved at National Headquarters before becoming effective.
Margaret Faile Chapter Secretary
Date
APPROVED at National
Headquarters
National Secretary
Date