14th District Masonic Officer Association Constitution And By-Laws

(Last Revised Dec. 03, 2005)

THE 14th DISTRICT MASONIC

OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
NAME

This organization shall be known as The Fourteenth District Masonic Officers Association.

ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this Association shall be to promote the general welfare of the Masonic Fraternity; to further the Tenets of Masonry among its members; to consider matters common to the general welfare of the Lodges within its jurisdiction; and to do all things necessary to carry out the above objectives, none of which shall be in conflict with the laws, rules and regulations of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

The membership of this Association shall be composed of Past Masters and Officers, both elected and appointed, of each Lodge in the District, eligibility being completed when a Lodge ratifies this Constitution by paying its contribution as provided in the By-Laws for the maintenance of this Association.

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

A. The Officers of this Association shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Chaplain, and three (3) Trustees. The officers of this Association shall be elected for one (1) year. The Trustees shall be elected for three (3) years. Not more than two (2) members from any Lodge to be in the 14th District officer's line at one time and not more than one in the moving line at one time.

B. There shall be an executive committee composed of the officers of the Association, current District Deputy Grand Masters and current Worshipful Masters of the Fourteenth Masonic District. Past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, F. &A.M., residing in the 14th District and Past Officers of the District Association shall assume the status of Lifetime Board Members with Ex-Officio status and without vote. They will be entitled to attend and take part in all discussions at Executive Committee Meetings.

ARTICLE V
AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a three fourths vote of those present at a regular meeting of the Association, provided said proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous regular meeting. Said proposed amendment shall be signed by at least three members of the Association, each representing a different Lodge.

BY-LAWS

SECTION 1
NOMINATION OF OFFICERS

At the Annual Meeting of the Association, a representative of the Nominating Committee shall present in nomination, names of members of the Association for each of the following elective offices: President, Vice president, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Chaplain, and a Trustee. Additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted. No one shall be nominated to the office of President, who has not served at least one year as a Vice President. Only actual Past Masters of a subordinate Lodge are eligible to be nominated for office in this Association.

 

SECTION 2
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

  1. The officers of this Association shall be separately elected by written ballot at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the ballots cast shall be necessary for the election of any officer.

  2. Where there are more than two nominees for the same office, and on the first ballot, a majority does not prevail in favor of a particular nominee, only the two nominees receiving the greatest number of votes shall be considered and other ballots taken until a majority in favor of one nominee prevails.

  3. Where there is but one nominee for one office, he may on motion duly seconded and passed, be elected unanimously, with the presiding officer or the secretary casting the ballot.

  4. No officer, excepting the Secretary, Treasurer and the Trustees shall be re-elected to the same office until at least one year shall have elapsed.

SECTION 3
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

The officers of this Association may be installed following their election at the Annual Meeting; provided however, that by majority consent of the Association members present, the installation of any or all of the officers may be deferred to a subsequent meeting.

SECTION 4
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee. All other officers shall assist the president as he and or the Executive Committee shall prescribe. Officers of the Association shall serve in their respective office until their successor has been elected and installed.

SECTION 5
THE TRUSTEES

  1. Shall be responsible for all assets of the Association, including the investment of its funds.

  2. Shall present at the Annual Meeting of the Association, a written and signed report of their acts and the amount and nature of all assets of the Association.

  3. Shall perform all duties which usually appertain to such office, or as may be delegated to them by the Association.

SECTION 6
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. Shall act for the Association in all matters between meetings except in such matters as may, under these By-Laws, be considered only by the Association, either in regular or special meeting.

  2. Shall appoint the following standing committees and designate the Chairman of each: Audit, Special Projects, and other committees as deemed necessary.

  3. Shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three members of the Executive Committee who are not being nominated, a representative of which shall present the names for each office to be filled by election at the Annual Meeting.

  4. Shall appoint a qualified person to the un-expired term of any officer when such vacancy is created by death, resignation or inability to serve.

  5. Shall recommend to the Association appropriate compensation for the secretary.

  6. Shall supervise the activities of the 14th District Masonic Service Association.

  7. Shall have the power to enact rules for its own government, which rules shall be binding upon all officers of the Association

SECTION 7
BOND OF OFFICERS

The secretary, treasurer and trustees shall each give bond to the Association in an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee for the faithful discharge of their respective duties, the premium for such bond to be paid from the funds belonging to the Association.

SECTION 8
COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS

No officer of this association, except the Secretary, shall receive any fee, salary, compensation, or remuneration for his services.

SECTION 9
MEETINGS

  1. Regular meetings of the Association shall be held at 7:30 PM the fourth Thursday in February, May, and September.

  2. The Annual Meeting of this Association shall be held in conjunction with the annual Past Master’s Convocation.

  3. Special meetings may be held when properly called, and no other matter, save that stated in the call, may be considered.

  4. Each component Lodge shall be notified in writing concerning any meeting to be held and the nature of the matters to be considered.

  5. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held prior to each Quarterly Meeting, at a time and place selected by the President. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the President.

SECTION 10
ELIGIBILITY OF VOTERS

Each member of this Association when present at any meeting thereof shall be entitled to one vote on any matter under consideration. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

SECTION 11
QUORUM

Members representing ten or more of the component Lodges, together with at least one of the first three ranking officers of the Association shall constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business.

SECTION 12
AUDIT

  1. The fiscal year of the Association shall end on the 30th of September. After September 30 and prior to the Annual Meeting, the Committee on Audit shall audit the books, records, and accounts of the Secretary, Treasurer, and Trustees. The Committee on Audit shall present a written and signed report at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

  2. If, for any reason during the year, the office of the Secretary, Treasurer, or Trustees becomes vacant, the committee on Audit shall, before the vacancy is filled, audit the books, records and accounts of such vacant office. The Committee on Audit shall present a written and signed report of such audit at the first meeting of the Association, thereafter.

SECTION 13
DUES

Lodges in the 14th District shall pay annual dues to the Association of $0.25 (twenty-five cents) for each member, as shown on the last July 31st Annual Return. Dues shall be paid by January 1st of each year.

 

 

SECTION 14
AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by a three fourths vote of those present at a regular meeting of the Association, provided said proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous regular meeting. Said proposed amendment shall be signed by at least three members of the Association, each representing a different Lodge.

SECTION 15
RULES OF ORDER

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of this Association when these By-Laws do not apply.

SECTION 16
REPEAL

  1. The Constitution, By-Laws and Standing Rules of this Association in effect prior to the adoption of these Constitution, By-Laws and Standing Rules are hereby repealed.

  2. Presented in writing at a Regular meeting of the Association on Sept. 22, 2005 and adopted at a Regular meeting of the Association on Dec. 3, 2005 at Linden Lodge No. 637.