Immaculate Lady
Council 5208
Bylaws
ARTICLE I
Section 1. This Council shall be known as Immaculate Lady Council, No.
5208,
Sec. 2. The initiation fee shall be $25.00
except that for applicants under 26 years of age it shall be $l0.00 and for
Priests and Religious it shall be nil. One half the initiation fee shall
accompany the application but it shall be refunded If the applicant is
rejected.
Sec. 3. Each member shall pay annual
dues, the same to be payable quarterly in advance at the first regular meetings
in January, April, July and October. The annual dues of members shall be
$40.00, excepting insured members under 26 years of age whose dues shall be
one-half of that sum, honorary members who shall pay $10.00, and honorary life
members who shall pay nothing. With exception of dues to be paid by insurance
members under the age of 26, the dues of associate and insurance members shall
be the same.
Sec. 4. The officers shall receive
annual compensation payable in quarterly installments at the end of each
quarter, as follows: Financial Secretary: From the Council an amount equal to
eight per cent of the moneys collected on account of dues from both insurance
and associate members, payable in quarterly installments at the end of each
quarter.
ARTICLE II- Elections
Section 1. The annual election of
officers shall take place at a regular business meeting held between May 15 to
and including June 15. Not less than two months before the annual election the
Grand Knight shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three who shall prepare a
slate of candidates for the elective Council officers. This state shall be
presented to the Council not later than the regular business meeting preceding
the meeting at which annual elections are to take place. Other nominations may
be made from the floor and nominations may not be closed until the election
meeting has convened and the members are ready to ballot.
Sec. 2. The election of officers
shall be by ballot. A majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect,
except that where several of equal degree are to be chosen, a majority shall
not be necessary, but all shall be voted for on one ballot. No ballot
containing names of more or less candidates than there are such offices to be
voted for shall be counted, and those receiving the highest number of votes
will be declared elected in the order of the number of votes received.
Sec. 3. The Grand Knight shall
appoint two members to act as Tellers. After all who are entitled to do so have
voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then proceed
to count the votes in full view of the Council. One of the Tellers shall
examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read
aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots. The recorder
shall tally the same and the result thereof shall be announced by the presiding
officer.
Sect. 4. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month of July succeeding his election, unless excused by a vote of the Council. He must present himself for installation at the time specified in the notice issued by or through the State Deputy of District Deputy, unless excused by such officer. Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant.
Sec. 5. Vacancies in elective
offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by election at the
regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the
vacancy was created.
ARTICLE III - Officers
Section 1. Only members who are in good standing and who have been
initiated in the first three Degrees of the Order shall be eligible to hold
office in this Council. No member shall hold more than one office at the same
time.
Sect.2. The elective officers shall
be as follows: (3raid Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder,
Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard (two Outside Guards
may be elected), Board of Trustees.
Sect. 3. The appointive officers shall be as follows: Financial Secretary, Lecturer and Chaplain.
The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight.
The Chaplain( and Assistant Chaplains if so desired) shall be selected by the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Board of Trustees in accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese. The Grand Knight shall select the Lecturer.
Sec. 4. At the last regular business meeting in June of each year the Council shall determine the amount of the bond (if any) to be given to the Treasurer and Financial Secretary in addition to the bond furnished by the Supreme Council. The Treasurer and Financial Secretary shall not take office or be installed or receive any money or property of the Council until they have furnished such bond and the same has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The premium on said bond should be paid by the Council
Sec. 5. The Council Officers shall perform the duties required of them by the Laws and Rules of the Order and these By-Laws and such other duties as the Council may direct.
Sec. 6. Except when notice of
applications shall be published as provided by Section 110 of the Laws and Rules,
it shall be the duty of the Grand Knight as early as practicable before each
regular meeting, to file with the Recorder a list of candidates to be balloted
upon at such meeting and the Recorder shall incorporate such information in the
notice of said meeting to be sent to members.
Sec. 7. At the end of each
semiannual period, the Board of Trustees shall meet and audit the several books
of this Council and shall each January and July make a full report of their
findings, including the receipts and disbursement of the moneys of this Council
for the previous semiannual period, the balance on hand to the credit of each
of the various funds at the end of each semiannual period, and the assets and
liabilities of this Council. The Grand Knight shall issue the call for such
meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Sec. 8. Where a member ipso facto forfeits his membership the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary shall immediately notify the Supreme Secretary of such forfeiture and shall immediately send notice in writing to the member, including the date and the reason. In those cases relating to ipso facto forfeiture for failure to pay Council dues, such notice shall not be sent to the Supreme Secretary or to the member until an officer or member of the Retention Committee shall contact the member and endeavor to have him retain his membership.
Sec. 9. The Recorder shall file all
reports in a tiling book to be provided for that purpose and the same shall be
preserved as a part of the records of this Council.
ARTICLE
IV - Meetings
Section 1. The Council shall hold at least two regular meetings each
month, not less than one of which each month shall be designated as a regular
business meeting. Time and place of such meetings shall be given to the members
in writing or in the council publication at least fourteen days prior to said
meetings. Twelve members shall constitute a quorum at business meetings.
Sec. 2. All meetings of the Council
shall be presided over by the Grand Knight, who will ascertain from the Warden
if all present possess the current membership card.
Sec. 3. The order of business and
procedure at regular business meetings of this Council shall conform to Section
125 of the Laws of the Order.[see inside back coven
Sec. 4. Special Business meetings shall be convened as follows: By vote of the Council at preceding regular business meeting by direction of the Grand Knight; by the Grand Knight upon written request of seven members, stating the object of the meeting. Due notice of special meetings and their purpose shall be given to each member in writing and no to her business shall be transacted at any such meeting.
Sec. 5.
The following shall be the order of business and procedure at Special Business
Meetings:
1. Call to Order.
2. Warden’s Report on Membership Cards.
3. Prayer.
4. Roll Call of Officers.
5. Opening Ode. *
6. Special Order of Business
7. Prayer.
8. Closing Ode.*
*parts of the Order marked with an asterisk may be omitted. Minutes of all
meetings to and including the last regular business meeting shall be
read.
Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of all
officers to attend each meeting of the Council. In case of inability of any
office to attend a meeting, due notice shall be given to the Grand Knight and
arrangements made to have au necessary books and papers in the possession of
such officer at the meeting. If the Chair Officer is absent from a meeting, the
presiding officer shall designate a member to act for him.
Sec. 7. In the absence or inability
of the Grand Knight, the Deputy Knight shall preside and he shall execute all
of the duties of the Grand Knight. In the absence of the Grand Knight and
Deputy Grand Knight the duty of Presiding shall devolve on other officers of
the Council in the order in which they are named in Section 126 of the Laws and
Rules and of the Order.
Sec. 8. If any meeting shall fall on
a Legal holiday said meeting shall be held the following day unless the
Council, by Vote at a previous business meeting, annul such meeting or fixes a
different date for such meeting within the month for which it is scheduled.
ARTICLE
V — Balloting
for Candidates
Section 1. The
Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight shall privately inspect the ballot box,
both before and after the ballot, and the former shall announce the result.
Balloting of candidates shall be in charge of the Warden who shall distribute
ballots to all members present. He shall place the ballot box on the salutation
table and take his place six feet there from. He shall request their ballots,
but no member shall pass
the Warden until the member preceding him has voted. After all who desire to do
so have voted, the Warden shall exhibit the ballot box to the Grand Knight and
Deputy Grand Knight and they shall count the votes. If the number of negative ballots
cast does not exceed one-half of the members present, the applicant shall be
declared elected, otherwise rejected. The exact number of negative ballots
shall not be stated. If more than one candidate is to be balloted for a
meeting, the Grand Knight may announce that the first ballot shall be a general
one upon all the candidates, and that if not more than one-half of those
present shall cast negative ballots upon such general ballot no other ballots
shall be taken. If such announcement is made, and not more than one-half
negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, all candidates so balloted
for shall be declared elected. If more than one-half negative ballots are cast
upon said general ballot, then an individual ballot shall be taken on each
candidate.
ARTICLE VI- Committees
Section 1. In addition to the
Committees provided for in the Laws and Rules of the Order, the following
Service Program Directors shall be appointed:
(a) Program Director whose goals
will be the direct involvement and personal commitment of the Council and
membership in a program that will establish the
(b) Membership Director to have
supervision of a comprehensive program of recruitment and retention for his
Council. The Membership Director can have committee members for Retention and
Recruitment to assist with the membership responsibilities.
(c) Director for Church Activities
to promote a program that will enable the membership to respond to the constant
call for the active participation of the laity in the work of the church
(d) Director of Community Activities
whose responsibility it will be to make the Council aware of its life within
the community and to develop programs that will be of service to the community.
(e) Director of Council Activities
who will be concerned with the promotion of brotherhood through athletic,
cultural and social programs. Additionally, he will be responsible for the
development of public relations in the Council.
(f) Director of Youth Activities
to provide the youth in the community with the means and the opportunity to
become personally committed and involved in meeting the challenges of our
times. He will also be responsible for the promotion of the Order’s junior
organization, the Columbian Squires.
(g) Director of Family Activities to
involve the members’ wives and children in commitment to the life of Catholic
Knighthood.
(h) Such other Committee as may be
required.
Sec. 2. Except as herein provided, all Committees shall be appointed by the Grand Knight. The first person named on the Committee shall act as Chairman. Standing Committees shall serve for the current fiscal year or until their successors have been appointed. A majority of the committees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII - Funds
Section 1. All moneys obtained
from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name
of the Council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered Council
Funds and shall be delivered to the Financial Secretary. He shall report at
each meeting the amounts so received and from what source and shall a deliver
the same to the Council Treasurer and take his receipt therefore.
Sec. 2. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys received from the Financial Secretary in a bank to the credit of the Council. Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check signed by the Grand Knight and Treasurer. The depository bank shall be furnished with a copy of this section.
Sec. 3. No money in excess of
$100.00 shall be paid or transferred from the Treasury of this Council, (except
such moneys as the Council is called upon to regularly pay for its current
expenses and as provided by the Laws of the Order or for purposes approved by
the Supreme Council or Board of Directors) unless by a two-thirds vote of the members
present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular
business meeting at which notice in writing of a resolution of intention to pay
or transfer such money and the purpose and amount to be paid or transferred
shall have been given and regularly read.
Sec. 4. All bills should be
presented to the Recorder and by him read to the Council before being referred
to the Board of Trustees. In case a bill is not approved by the Board of
Trustees, it shall be referred back to the Council for action.
Sec. 5. (RELIEF FUND)
The sum of $900.00 shall be paid from the General Fund to the Financial
Secretary and shall be known as the Relief Fund. The Grand Knight , Financial Secretary and Treasurer shall
constitute a Relief Committee. They shall investigate the case of any Brother
or widow who is reported in distress or in need of relief and if in their
judgment the case is one deserving assistance, they shall have the power to
draw from this Relief Fund such reasonable sum of money to afford assistance as
the circumstances of the case may require, provided that in no single case
shall more than $300.00 be paid without reference to and approval by the
Council.
ARTICLE VIII— Funerals, Etc.
Section 1. On the death of a member in
good standing the Memorial Committee (Chaplain or Associate Chaplain,
Chancellor, Grand Knight or his appointee) shall give notice to the members
and, if time permits, shall request them to assemble and pay their respects to
the memory of the deceased at a time and place to be indicated in such notice.
Sec. 2. When notice of the death of
a member in good standing is received the Memorial committee shall forward to
the family of the deceased a message of condolence on behalf of the Council and
the Memorial Committee shall arrange to have five Masses said for the repose of
the soul of the deceased.
Sec. 3. The Memorial Committee shall
arrange for the celebration during the month of November of each year of a
Requiem Mass for the repose of the souls of the deceased members and shall
cause five days’ notice to be given to members of the time and place of such
Sec.4. The Council shall receive
Holy Communion in a body during the Easter period, at a time arid place to be
determined by vote of the Council.
ARTICLE IX - Miscellaneous
Section 1. These By-Laws may be
amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular
business. This meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at which a
resolution in writing providing for such amendment shall have been given to the
members in writing or in the Council publication at least five days prior to
the second meeting.
Sec. 2. Procedure and debate shall
be in accordance with the Laws and Rules of the Supreme Council, the Board of
Directors, these By-Laws and the Rules of Parliamentary Law known as “Robert’s
Rules of Order.”
These bylaws were adopted by council vote on June 7, 2006