CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE NO. 11-F
We, the law enforcement officers of the United States Federal Air Marshal Service/Chicago Field Office do hereby unite and represent the members thereof together for the following purposes: to support and defend the Constitution of the United States; and of the State of IL; to incubate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America; to promote and foster the enforcement of law and order; to improve the individual proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties; to encourage social, charitable and educational activities among law enforcement officers; to advocate and strive for uniform application of the civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to create a tradition of esprit de corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our members and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and thus more firmly establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of Life and Property.
All terms used herein to denominate gender shall be generic and, whenever appropriate, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
Name
Section 1: This organization shall be known as the The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL. # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, and shall consist of such members as are admitted and shall conform to the Grand and State Lodge Constitutions, By-laws, rules, regulations and Ritual.
Section 2: The right to authorize, control, and restrict the use of the name and insignia of the order shall lie exclusively with the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge. By virtue of our affiliation with the Grand lodge we have the right to use the name, insignia, emblem and mark, trademark or service mark of the Fraternal Order of Police in order to signify and denote our affiliation.
Article 2
Character
Section 1: The The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL. # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police of the Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of qualified members of the United States Federal Air Marshal Service/Chicago Field Office.
Section 2: The Fraternal Order of Police is a fraternal organization composed of professional law enforcement personnel who have joined together for their common good. In no event shall the Fraternal Order of Police join or be controlled by any labor organization.
Section 3: This Constitution shall be the fundamental law of the order, and together with the By- laws enacted in conformance therewith shall govern our conduct
Article 3
Membership
Section 1: Any regularly appointed or elected and full-time employed law enforcement officer of the United States Federal Air Marshal Service/Chicago Field Office shall be eligible for membership subject to the National Constitution. No person shall be denied membership on account of race, religion, creed, color, sex, age, national origin or any other discriminatory reason.
The lodge shall deny membership to anyone who is, or has been, a member of the Communist Party, or of any party regardless of what name known, which advocates the abolition, destruction or violent overthrow of our government or any political subdivision.
Section 2: There shall be three types of membership: active, retired honorary.
A. Active membership: shall include regularly appointed or elected full time law enforcement and retired officers. Only active members shall have voice and vote.
B. Retired membership: shall be comprised of retired members who withdraw from active membership upon or after retirement from the agency.
C. Honorary membership: shall be comprised of individuals recognized by the grand lodge, state lodge or subordinate lodge for exceptional service or contribution to the nation, the state, political subdivision, the law enforcement community or the Fraternal Order of Police.
Section 3: The lodge may remove or deny membership to anyone convicted of a felony in any court of the United States, or any state court, once all appeals have been exhausted.
Article 4
Organization
Section 1: The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL. # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Fraternal Order of Police shall consist of members who are admitted and who conform to the Constitution and such rules and regulations as may be adopted.
Section 2: The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL. # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police will have a general membership meeting on the first Tuesday of each month (The members shall approve a Constitution and shall elect from their ranks the officers of the lodge.
Section 3: There shall be a Board of Directors, which shall be comprised of the lodge officers: President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, Chaplain and three Trustees. The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police will not have an elected Chaplain position. The President will appoint a Chaplain, who will serve as a non-voting officer for a period of one year). The Board of Directors will meet as directed by the President, to advise the President in carrying out the administration and affairs of the lodge between general membership meetings.
Section 4: Delegates to the National Biennial and State Conferences will be elected in the manner and method as prescribed by the provisions of the National and State Constitutions and By-laws.
Article 5
Officers
Section 1: The Officers of the The Butch O’Hare Memorial Lodge IL # 11F of the Fraternal Order of Police shall consist of President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, Chaplain, and three trustees. The term of office shall be for 1 year(s).
Section 2: Nominations, Election and Installation
A. To be eligible for office a member shall be in good standing and shall have attended at least (four) of the regular meetings in the past twelve months.
B. No member shall be nominated or be a candidate for election to more than one office at the same time.
C. To be eligible for the office of President, the candidate shall have served at least one term on the Board of Directors.
D. Nominations will be conducted at the November membership meeting. The election shall be conducted during December by a written secret ballot. The Election Committee shall conduct the election.
E. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast shall be ruled the winner.
F. The officers-elect shall be installed at the December meeting as the last order of business. Any Past President may install the officers.
Article 6
Board of Directors
Section 1: The Board of Directors shall have and exercise all administrative powers of the lodge during the period between general meetings.
Any lodge officer of the Board of Directors who resigns from active police duty for any reason other than to retirement on pension, or otherwise becomes ineligible as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, shall automatically forfeit their office and membership on the board of directors.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall immediately fill the office for the remainder of the term. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors.
Section 2: The President shall call meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the Board of Directors can request a meeting, and such a request shall be honored.
Article 7
President
Section 1: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Lodge. The President shall preside at all meetings. The President shall have general management of the business of the order and shall see that all orders and resolutions are carried into effect.
Section 2: The President
Shall execute any and all contracts.
Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Shall have power, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, to appoint a majority of all committees.
May inquire into any affair or matter affecting or concerning the order.
Shall call the meetings of the Board of Directors when he deems it necessary.
Shall at each monthly meeting submit a full and complete report of the official business transacted by him/her since the last meeting.
Shall convey to his successor all unfinished business of the order.
Shall, with the Treasurer, attest all warrants or vouchers for disbursements from any fund of the lodge.
Article 8
Immediate Past President
Section 1: The Immediate Past President shall advise and assist the President and the Board of Directors in the performance of their respective duties and shall execute such assignments as may be ordered by them.
Section 2: The Immediate Past President shall be the most recent to have been elected President by the membership, served at least one complete term and not removed from office.
Article 9
Vice President
Section 1: The Vice President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President and shall otherwise generally perform the duties of the President during his absence.
Thc Vice President shall also perform such other duties as shall be ordered by the Board of Directors. With the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, the Vice President shall appoint the minority of all committees.
Article 10
Secretary, Treasurer, Second Vice President,
Sergeant at Arms, Chaplain
Section 1: The Secretary, Treasurer, Second Vice President, Sergeant at Arms and Chaplain shall each perform the duties proscribed for their respective office by the By-laws hereof.
Article 11
Board of Trustees
Section 1: The trustees shall constitute a group known as the Board of Trustees. They shall elect from among their own number, by voice vote, show of hand or secret ballot, one member to be known as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Article 12
Legal Counsel
Section 1: Legal counsel may be obtained by the President on the advice of the Board of Directors to handle any Litigation in which the lodge may become involved.
Article 13
Discipline
The lodge recognizes the process contained in the Grand Lodge Constitution and By-laws.
(Please read the National Constitution on this matter and adopt a set of rules)
Article 14
Associate Lodge
Section 1: The Fraternal Order of Police recognizes, acknowledges, and validates Associate Members. They shall be known as Fraternal Order of Police Associates and may function as an Associates Lodge. Such associates shall be subject to the control and supervision of this lodge with which they are affiliated. They may adapt a Constitution and By-laws subject to the approval of this lodge.
Article 15
Auxiliaries
Section 1: The Fraternal Order of Police recognizes, acknowledges, and validates the Auxiliaries. Such Auxiliary shall be subject to the control and supervision of the lodge. They shall conform to and be governed by a Constitution and By-laws that they shall adopt and which at all times shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors of the lodge.
Article 16
Amendments
Section 1: Any member may propose an amendment to this Constitution Such proposal shall be in written form, stating the reasons for the amendment; and be attested by the members signature.
Section 2: Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be submitted in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote. The Secretary shall read the proposed amendment at two consecutive general meetings. A copy of such proposed amendment shall be published in the monthly minutes. Upon adoption by a two-thirds vote of those voting members, the proposed amendment shall become a part of this Constitution.
Section 3: The Secretary, upon receipt of a proposed amendment, shall immediately give the material to the Constitution and By-laws Committee. They shall review the proposal for form, grammar, language and placement and substance and shall report to the membership its conclusions and recommendations thereon prior to a vote on the proposed amendment. They shall review the material to assure that it is not in conflict with the State and National Constitution and By-laws.
Article 17
Parliamentary Procedure
Section 1: Except as provided in the Constitution and By-laws, the latest edition of "Roberts Rules of Order Revised” shall govern the conduct and deliberations of all meetings of the order.
Article 18
Dues and Assessments
Section 1: Membership dues are $50.00 annually. This amount may be raised or lowered by the Board of Directors for the good of the lodge.
Article I
Membership
Section 1: "Member in good standing” is:
A. Hereby defined to be a member who has paid all dues and assessments due and payable, or who is not more than thirty (30) days in arrears of such payments as of the date specified for the payment thereof.
B. Not suspended. A member may be suspended for good cause and with due process. A member who is in the act of appealing a suspension is a member in good standing.
Section 2: Any member in good standing for a period of one (1) year or more immediately preceding the holding of any election and who has met all other requirements shall be eligible for election to office, including the office of delegate; and any member not so qualified shall be ineligible for election to any such offices.(This provision is generally not in a new lodge constitution, but it may be included with a date of enactment)
Section 3: Any member in arrears of payment of dues or assessments more than thirty-one (31) days and less than ninety (90) days shall be deemed to be delinquent and not in good standing.
Section 4: Any member in arrears of payment of dues or assessments more than ninety-one (91) days and less than six (6) months shall be and is hereby automatically suspended.
Section 5: Any member delinquent or suspended because of dues may be reinstated and restored to good standing by payment of all amounts due, and, in addition thereto, the payment of dues for the whole of the current year in which such reinstatement is made.
Section 6: Any member who is delinquent, or who has been suspended by a subordinate Lodge any reason, shall not be eligible for membership in any other subordinate Lodge until suspension has been lifted.
Section 7: Any officer or member of the Fraternal Order of Police who violates this section by giving the membership mailing list to anyone, or who uses the membership list for any purpose other than official lodge business, shall be ordered to stand trial. If found guilty of such violation, he shall be suspended from the Fraternal Order of Police for a period of not less than one (1) year.
Article 2
Secretary
Section 1: The Secretary shall have custody of books, records, documents, the seal of the lodge, office paraphernalia and equipment. The Secretary is under the general authority and orders of the President and the Board of Directors.
Section 2: The Secretary:
Shall record and transcribe minutes of all meetings and shall submit the same for approval, modification or rejection at the next succeeding meeting.
Shall conduct the general correspondence of the lodge.
Shall attest, under the seal of the order, all duly authorized contracts of the order.
Shall be the official custodian of the Constitution and By-laws of the order, which shall be authenticated by the seal of the order and the signatures of the President and Secretary. He shall keep a record of the official amendments adopted, amending the Constitution and By-laws.
Shall furnish a surety bond for the faithful performance of duty in such amount as shall be specified by the Board of Directors.
Shall record all incoming monies and then forward said monies to the Treasurer for deposit in the proper accounts of the order.
Shall, within thirty (30) days of leaving office, deliver to the successor the official seal of the order and all books, documents, records, paraphernalia and equipment in his possession, and shall require and receive a receipt.
Shall be allowed $50.00 in cash for the purpose of paying emergency current expenses.
Section 2: The Secretary shall not release the mailing list of names and addresses of members to anyone unless it shall have been with the consent of the Board of Directors.
Article 3
Treasurer
Section 1: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fluids of the lodge.
Section 2: The Treasurer:
Shall sign all checks duly authorized by the President, for disbursement of funds.
Shall keep an itemized record of all receipts and disbursements.
Shall deposit all funds collected in a bank approved by the Board of Directors except that he may retain in his office a contingency fund of not more than $50.00 for the purpose of paying emergency current expenses.
Shall furnish a surety bond in the amount specified by the Board of Directors.
Shall set up special accounts for special funds and allocate to each, respectively, the amount allocated or collected therefore.
Shall perform such duties as are usual and incident to the office.
Shall make quarterly reports to the Board of Directors on the condition of funds.
At the expiration of the term of office and within thirty (30) days thereafter, the Treasurer shall deliver to his successor all monies, record books, documents and equipment in his possession and shall require and receive a receipt. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Secretary and /or President may sign checks.
Article 4
Vice President
Section 1: The Vice President shall examine dues cards of officers and members, ascertaining that all those present at meetings are in good standing, take up the password and make a report to the President. He shall perform such other duties as the President may order. The Vice President shall:
1. Take charge of all the physical property of the order .
2. Make a complete and itemized inventory.
3. Within thirty (30) days after an election file with the Board of Directors a copy of the inventory
Article 5
Sergeant at Arms
Section 1: The Sergeant at Arms shall have charge and control of the conference hall or meeting place. Permitting only qualified persons to enter or remain and shall execute such duties as the President may order.
Article 6
Chaplain
Section 1: It is the responsibility of the chaplain to open and close each meeting with a prayer.
Section 2: It is the duty of the chaplain to inform the lodge of any member that is sick or in distress. It is his duty to attend and assist at funerals according to the Ritual and the direction of the Lodge.
Article 7
Board of Trustees
2. Section 1: Recommend to the Board of Director the amount of bond to be required of the President, Secretary and the Treasurer for the faithful performance of their duties.
3. Conduct an audit annually of all fluids arid financial books and records of the order and make report thereon to the Board of Directors.
4. Ascertain that all monies received have been allocated to the credit of the proper funds and so deposited in the name and to the credit of the order.
5. Make full and complete report to the members of all business transacted since the last meeting.
Article 8
Reports
Section 1: Reports of Lodge officer and the chairmen of all standing committees shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary.
Article 9
Committees
Section 1: There shall be the following standing committees:
A. The Constitution and By-laws Committee chaired by the immediate past president, which will review all proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-laws for form, grammar, language and placement. They shall also review the material to assure that they are not in conflict with the State and National Constitutions and By-laws and report such finding at the election to adopt the amendments.
B. Elections Committee, which will hold the elections, will consist of 3 members who are not candidates for office.
C. (The type and number of committees depends on the size and activities of a lodge. Some lodges have legislative, financial assistance, legal aid, fund raising, lodge hall, etc. It is best that each have an odd number of members. Special committees can be appointed on an as needed basis)
Article 10
Official Order of Business
1. Roll call of officers.
2. Reading of the minutes of previous meeting.
3. Acceptance of new applications for membership.
4. Report of lodge officers.
5. Report of committees.
6. Bills.
7. Communications
8. Reports of members sick or in distress.
9. Initiation of new members.
10. Unfinished business.
11. New business.
12. Good of the order.
13. Nominations/election of officers.
14. Installation of officers.
15. Adjournment.
Article 11
Expenses and Compensation
Section 1: Travel by lodge officers or members performing the duties of, or service for, the lodge by the orders of the membership or the Board of Directors may receive compensation at the rate prescribed by the membership or the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Upon furnishing in duplicate to the Secretary or Treasurer a detailed, itemized statement of their expenses incurred and paid by the officer or member in the performance of such duties or services shall be reimbursed by the Lodge.
Section 3: The President, for the good of the order, may spend up to, but not more than, $100.00 without the prior approval at a meeting or from the Board of Directors. However, this expenditure must be made known at the next general meeting.
Article 12
Section 1: The fiscal year of the lodge shall be from January 1 through December 31 of each year. The Board of Directors may order a complete audit of all funds and properties through a certified public accountant
Section 2: The President shall present a budget to the Board of Directors based on the income of the previous year. The budget shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
Article 13
Amendments to the By-laws
Section 1: Any member of the Board of Directors may propose an amendment to these By-laws. The proposal shall be in writing at least thirty days prior to the vote and shall be attested to by the member's signature. The proposal shall be read at two consecutive Board meetings and shall be made a part of these By-laws if approved by a two/thirds vote of the voting members of the Board of Directors.
Section 2: A. A two/thirds majority vote of the membership voting may add, modify or remove any By-law.
B. An Active member may propose an amendment to the By-laws. The proposal shall be in written form and attested by their signature(s) and given to the Secretary at least thirty days prior to the vote on the proposal. The proposal shall be read at two consecutive general meetings and made part of these By-laws if approved by a majority vote of the voting members.
Section 3: All proposed amendments to the By-laws will be given to the Constitution and By-laws Committee for their review when they are presented to the Secretary.
_________________________ _________________________
President Secretary
Date Adopted: _____________________