Motion by Bryan Bledsoe to remove wording highlighted in red in various sections of Article IV of the bylaws of Post 154. Article IV and the affected sections are attached. Second by Larry Carstensen Motion Carried
Article IV - Duties of Officers
Section 1. General. The following is a list of the post officers: Commander, First Vice-Commander, Second Vice-Commander, Finance Officer, Judge Advocate, Service Officer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Historian, Adjutant and Chaplain. The Post Adjutant shall serve as secretary of the Executive Committee. The term of office of members of the Executive Committee shall be for one (1) year. The Post, by its Bylaws may provide for such standing committees as the business of the organization may require. All pertinent proceedings of the Executive Committee must be submitted to the Post membership for approval at the next regular meeting. The officers of the Post shall focus on assisting the Post Commander in executing the Post mission and it's supporting plans and programs.
Section 2. Duties of Post Commander. The Post Commander shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. It shall be the duty of the Post Commander to serve as the chief executive officer of the Post, as ex officio member of all appointed committees, to preside over all executive, general and special membership meetings of the Post, coordinate and publish an agenda for all regular and special Post meetings, and to have general supervision over the business and affairs of the Post. The Post Commander shall approve all orders directing the day-to-day disbursement of budgeted and authorized funds and shall make an annual report covering the business of the Post for the preceding year, and recommendations for the ensuing year. The Post Commander shall also review the recommended/updated Post Three Year Plan at the annual meeting and direct that the Adjutant forward copies of all annual reports thereof immediately to the Department Adjutant. The Post Commander shall perform such other duties as directed by the membership.
Section 3. Duties of First Vice Commander. The First Vice-Commander shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The First Vice-Commander shall assume and discharge the duties of the office of Post Commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by the Post Commander. In doing so, the First Vice-Commander shall be knowledgeable in all ceremonial protocol of regular and special Post meetings. The First Vice-Commander shall expressly interest themselves in the membership of the Post and shall be a chairperson member of the Post Membership Committee. Because no single factor has so important an influence on the Post‘s success as membership, the First Vice-Commander shall be assisted by the most active and devoted members of the Post The First Vice-Commander shall also be the exponent of means of safeguarding the honor of the Flag of our Country. The First Vice-Commander is the teacher of democracy and shall therefore be committed to these endeavors and shall fulfill each and every one of them. The First Vice-Commander shall be the chairperson for the Flag Committee.
Section 4. Duties of Second Vice-Commander. The Second Vice-Commander shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The Second Vice-Commander shall also be responsible for assisting the Post Commander with all duties. Particularly, the Second Vice-Commander shall be vested with responsibility in developing Post activities, in developing entertainment features which mark all meetings, and in patriotic observances of all kinds including those requiring an Honor Guard observance. The Second Vice-Commander will be the chairperson of the Welcoming Committee, and will perform such duties at all membership meetings. The Second Vice-Commander shall be the chairperson of the Ceremonials Committee.
Section 5. Duties of Post Adjutant. The Post Adjutant shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The Post Adjutant’s duties are primarily administrative in nature. The Adjutant is the personnel officer and thus maintains intimate contact with individual Post members. The Post Adjutant maintains membership records, minutes of meetings, coordinates with and assists with the work of the other officers and committees, and publishes official orders, announcements, and instructions. The Post Adjutant, in all matters relating to finance, shall furnish such surety bonds (at the expense of the Post) in such sum as shall be fixed by the Post Executive Committee, and shall carry on the work in close correlation with the Post Finance Officer. The Adjutant shall be secretary to the Post Executive Committee and shall prepare and keep all records and minutes of proceedings of said Post Executive Committee. The Post Adjutant shall be authorized in the event of death or resignation of the Post Commander, to summon the Post Executive Committee for the election of a successor. In the event the Adjutant shall fail, refuse or neglect to summon the Post Executive committee, within fifteen days after said death or resignation, then said meeting for the purpose of electing a successor may be held upon the written demand therefore signed by the majority of the Post Executive Committee members, giving fifteen days’ notice thereof. The Post Adjutant shall be responsible for the administrative conduct of all special and regular elections for the Post.
Section 6. Duties of the Post Finance Officer. The Post Finance Officer shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The Post Finance Officer shall have charge of all finances and see that they are safely deposited in a designated local bank or banks and shall report once a month to the Post Executive Committee, as well as the general membership of the Post, the condition of the finances of the Post, with such recommendations as may deem expedient or necessary for raising funds with which to carry on the activities of the Post. The Finance Officer shall sign all checks disbursing the monies of the Post. All checks issued by the Finance Officer shall be countersigned by the Post Commander or First Vice-Commander. The Post Finance Officer shall be the chairperson of the Post Finance Committee and shall provide the general membership of the Post a report on the state of Post finances at each regular business meeting.
Section 7. Duties of Post Historian. The Post Historian shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The Post Historian shall be charged with the preservation of all records and incidents of the Post and Post members, and shall perform such other duties as may properly pertain to the office as may be determined by the Post or the Post Executive Committee. Also, the Post Historian shall create an annual Post Historian Book to be displayed at every general membership meeting and sent to the Department Historian to coincide with the Department Convention. They will be responsible for displaying the current photos of events and providing up to date information for the newsletter and webpage. The Post Historian shall be the custodian of any and all awards, decorations and/or memorabilia received by the Post.
Section 8. Duties of Post Chaplain. The Post Chaplain shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The Post Chaplain shall be charged with the spiritual welfare of the Post’s comrades and when requested, will offer divine, but nonsectarian service in the event of dedications, funerals, public functions, etc., and shall adhere to such ceremonial rituals as are included in the Manual of Ceremonies, or recommended by the National or Department headquarters from time to time. The Post Chaplain shall be the chairperson of the graves Registration and Memorial Committee.
Section 9. Duties of Post Sergeant-at-Arms. The Post Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. As the outer guard of the Post, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order at meetings, identify and introduce to the Post Commander all visiting comrades and guests of the Post, shall assume charge of the stand of colors which will be properly displayed at all Post meetings and ceremonial occasions, and shall perform such other duties as may be from time to time assigned by the Post Executive Committee, the Post Commander, or delineated in the Manual of Ceremonies.
Section 10. Duties of Post Service Officer. The Post Service Officer shall be elected to serve for a period of one year.The Post Service Officer shall conduct all matters pertaining to service to and the welfare of comrades through educational efforts/programs concerning the rights and benefits for all veterans, and their dependents as granted them by law, and in the prosecution of all just claims against the United States or state government, employment, relief, etc. The Post Service Officer shall be the chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee.
Section 11. Duties of Post Judge Advocate. The Post Judge Advocate shall be elected to serve for a period of one year. The primary duty of the Judge Advocate is to supply advice in the conduct of the post business or to procure proper counsel and is the guardian of constitutional form of post government.