ARTICLE I
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1 - The Detachment Commander shall be
the executive head of the Sons of The American Legion with full power to
enforce the provisions of the Detachment Constitution, Detachment By-Laws
and the will of the Detachment Convention. He shall appoint all necessary
committees, subject to the ratification of the Detachment Executive
Committee, and shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to
the office.
Section 2 - The Detachment Senior Vice
Commander and Detachment Area Vice Commanders shall act as representatives
of the Detachment Commander in their respective areas on all matters
referred to them by him, and shall, on his request, preside over the
meetings of the Detachment Convention or Detachment Executive Committee, and
shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office.
Section 3 - The Detachment Adjutant shall
give notice of all Detachment Conventions and of all meetings of the
Detachment Executive Committee, shall conduct the correspondence and keep
the records of the Detachment organization, including a list of names,
numbers and addresses of all Squadrons in the Detachment, shall keep the
minutes of all Detachment Conventions and Detachment Executive Committee
meetings, shall notify the Department Officers and Committeemen of their
election and be subject to the direction and control of the Detachment
Executive Committee, Department Executive Committee and Detachment
Commander. He shall have general charge of and supervision over Headquarters
Detachment and all paid employees of the Detachment and shall perform such
other duties as are usually incident to his office. He shall also be
authorized in the event of the death or resignation of the Detachment
Commander to summon the Detachment Executive Committee for election of a
successor.
Section 4 - The Detachment Judge Advocate
shall advise the Detachment Officers and the Detachment Executive Committee
on all legal matters including the construction and interpretation of the
Detachment Constitution and By-Laws, and shall perform such other duties as
are usually incident to the office. His rulings to Squadron inquiries
formally and officially made, shall be binding until and unless overruled in
the following order: Detachment Executive Committee and Department Judge
Advocate.
Section 5 - The Detachment Chaplain shall
perform such divine and non-sectarian services as may be necessary, adhering
to such ceremonial rituals as may be recommended by National and Detachment
Headquarters from time to time.
Section 6 - The Detachment Historian shall
collect from year to year all records and data of value and interest for the
Detachment Headquarters of the Sons of The American Legion, and shall
compile during his term of office a complete history of the year's
activities. He shall also assist Squadron Historians so as to coordinate and
unify the work of these officials and shall have such other duties as the
Detachment Executive Committee shall prescribe.
Section 7 - The Detachment Sergeant-At-Arms
shall be charged with the responsibility of preserving order at all meetings
and shall be given the custody and responsibility of the colors of the
organization. He shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to
his office.
Section 8 - All Officers of the Sons of The
American Legion in the performance of their duties shall be governed by The
American Legion at the appropriate level. All actions of the Sons of The
American Legion shall be subject to review and ratification at the
appropriate level of The American Legion.
ARTICLE II
DETACHMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 - Subject to the provisions of the
Detachment Constitution, the Detachment Executive Committee shall fill any
vacancy in membership of the Detachment Executive Committee for the
remainder of the un-expired term.
Section 2 - The Detachment Executive
Committee shall meet at regular bi-monthly periods or on at least five days'
prior written notice to all members by the Detachment Commander and
Detachment Adjutant, or upon the written request of a majority of the
Detachment Executive Committee.
Section 3 - In the event that a Squadron
Commander of the Detachment Executive Committee is unable to attend a
meeting of that Committee, his Squadron Vice Commander shall serve in his
place.
ARTICLE III
DETACHMENT STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1 - There shall be Detachment
Standing Committees on Americanism, Finance, Publicity, Membership,
Convention, Squadron Activities, Rehabilitation, Legislation, and such other
standing committees at the Detachment Executive Committee may determine
necessary. Each shall be composed of at least three members who shall be
appointed for a one year term. They shall perform such duties and exercise
such authority as may be directed from time to time by the Detachment
Executive Committee.
Section 2 - All such standing committees
shall keep regular minutes of all their transactions and cause them to be
recorded in a book kept for that purpose and shall report the same to the
Detachment Executive Committee when called for.
Section 3 - Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 1 of this Article, the Detachment Executive Committee shall appoint
a Finance Commission of three members. One shall hold office for three
years, one for two years and one for one year. Vacancies will be filled
annually thereafter, for a term of three years; and, when they occur other
than for expiration of term, for the balance of that committee member's
term. The Finance Commission is to have charge of all fiscal matters,
subject to the approval of the Department Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV
DETACHMENT CONVENTION
Section 1 - The annual meeting of the Sons of
The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be a Convention called
pursuant to the provisions of the Detachment Constitution.
Section 2 - Squadron organizations shall be
notified by the Detachment Adjutant at least sixty (60) days in advance of
the time and place of such Detachment Convention.
Section 3 - Alternates shall have the
privilege of voting on the floor of the Detachment Convention only in the
event of the absence or disability of the regular delegates, however they
shall have all other privileges of the regular delegates including the right
to serve on Convention committees.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATION IN NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Section 1 - The Detachment Organization shall
be represented on the National Executive Committee of the Sons of The
American Legion by one member and one alternate to be elected at the
Detachment Convention. Both will hold office for two (2) years from the time
of the National Convention of the Sons of The American Legion immediately
following their election and until their successors are chosen.
Section 2 - The Detachment Organization shall
be represented at the National Convention of the Sons of The American Legion
by one delegate-at-large and one alternate-at-large, plus one additional
delegate and one additional alternate for each two hundred (200) memberships
or major fraction thereof paid up to the National Treasurer thirty (30) days
prior to the date of the National Convention. Said delegates and alternates
are to be elected at the annual Detachment Convention.
ARTICLE VI
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - Membership in the Sons of The
American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be acquired only by
affiliation with a Squadron within its jurisdiction.
Section 2 - The membership of the Detachment
of Connecticut shall be organized into Squadrons as prescribed in the
Detachment Constitution.
Section 3 - Only persons eligible to
membership in the Sons of The American Legion shall be members of this
Detachment or of any Squadron within its jurisdiction.
Section 4 - Each applicant for membership
must enroll in the Sons of The American Legion and pay his dues to the
Squadron in this Detachment to which he applies before becoming a member in
the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, or in any
Squadron of this Detachment.
ARTICLE VII
SQUADRONS
Section 1 - Each Squadron shall be the judge
of its own membership, subject to the restrictions of the National and of
the Detachment of Connecticut Constitution and By-Laws, respectively, and
may restrict its membership as it desires, subject to the approval of the
Detachment Executive Committee, No person who is a member of an organization
which has as its aim to overthrow the United States Government by force or
violence, or who subscribes to the principles of any group opposed to our
form of government, shall be eligible to become a member of the Sons of The
American Legion.
Section 2 - Each Squadron shall have a
headquarters with a Post Office address to which all notices and documents
may be sent. It shall be the duty of the Squadron at time of application for
a charter or at any time thereafter to notify the Detachment of said address
or any subsequent changes in such address; and all notices and documents
shall be held as to have been duly sent to or served upon such Squadron when
mailed to the address of record so furnished by the Squadron. In default of
a Squadron having furnished such address, any notice or document shall be
held to have been duly served upon a Squadron if the same is mailed to it at
the address of its Commander or Adjutant or any other member signing the
application for charter.
Section 3 - Each Squadron shall have a
Constitution and By-Laws to govern its affairs and shall have officers to be
known as Commander, Vice Commanders, Adjutant, Treasurer, and an Executive
Committee. The Treasurer shall be adequately bonded. The Squadron shall
subscribe to the Constitution and By-Laws and regulations of the National
and Detachment organizations; and shall not incur any obligation in the name
of any other Squadron, subdivision, organization, branch, committee, or
group of members of the Sons of The American Legion in which said Squadron
is attached.
Section 4 - Squadrons shall submit copies of
their Constitution and By-Laws and all subsequent amendments thereto for
approval of the Detachment Organization.
Section 5 - All monies received in any manner
for welfare purposes of any nature by a Squadron organization shall be
deposited in a duly authorized banking institution, and none of such monies
shall be withdrawn except for said welfare purposes and only upon a draft
signed by the Squadron Treasurer and at least one other authorized member
who was duly elected for that purpose.
Section 6 - No Squadron shall solicit another
Squadron organization for the purpose of financial aid or relief. Violation
of this section shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of Charter,
Section 7 - All Squadrons shall elect and
install their officers for the current year of the Sons of The American
Legion in the month of June preceding the official start of that year.
ARTICLE VIII
DISCIPLINE OF SQUADRONS/CANCELLATION AND
SUSPENSION OF CHARTERS
Section 1 - The Detachment Executive
Committee may suspend, cancel or revote a Squadron Charter. The action taken
by the Detachment Executive Committee shall be final and conclusive unless
an appeal is taken to the Department Executive Committee within thirty (30)
days from the date of said suspension, cancellation or revocation. The
action taken by the Department Executive Committee upon the appeal shall be
final.
Section 2 - Any Squadron failing to meet the
obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution and By-Laws or ceasing to
function for six months as a Sons of The American Legion Squadron, or
voluntarily ceasing to function as a Squadron, or merging with one or more
Squadron, or refusing to pay the Detachment and National per capita dues, or
under such other conditions as might make such action necessary, shall upon
order of the Detachment Executive Committee surrender its charter for
cancellation. Upon failure to surrender its charter, immediate steps may be
taken for its revocation, suspension or cancellation.
Section 3 - Upon revocation, cancellation or
suspension of the charter of a Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion,
said Squadron shall immediately cease operations and upon revocation or
cancellation shall turn over its charter to the Detachment Commander or the
Detachment Executive Committee, and the Post to which the Squadron is
attached is authorized, empowered and directed by and through its duly
authorized agent to take possession, custody and control of all the records,
property and assets of said Squadron; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall be construed as requiring any Post to which the Squadron is attached
to take over or assume any financial responsibility as to such property.
Said Detachment Executive Committee may provide for the transfer of the
members in said Squadron to other Squadrons of their choice subject to the
approval of such other Squadrons.
Section 4 - In taking action pursuant to this
Article, the Squadron and Officers of the Detachment shall be governed by
the uniform code, defining the procedure to be followed in the revocation,
cancellation or suspension of Squadron charters; and providing for a method
of appeal, having been adopted by the National Executive Committee of the
National By-Laws as the same may be from time to time amended pursuant to
the authority of said section.
ARTICLE X
DISCIPLINE OF SQUADRON MEMBERS
Section 1 - Members may be suspended or
expelled from the Sons of The American Legion only upon proper show of
cause. Charges shall be based upon disloyalty, neglect of duty, dishonesty,
or other conduct unbecoming a member of the Sons of The American Legion. All
charges must be made under oath in writing by the accusers, and, no member
in good standing shall lose his membership until given a fair trial in such
manner and form as the Detachment By-Laws and the Department Executive
Committee of The American Legion shall prescribe. This section shall govern
procedure whenever charges are brought against any person at any time
appearing upon the rolls of a Squadron as a member, upon the grounds of his
ineligibility to membership either in the Squadron or in the Sons of The
American Legion.
Section 2 - Any member who has been suspended
or expelled has the right of appeal to the Department Executive Committee of
The American Legion in the manner prescribed by the Department Commander.
The decision of the Department shall be final.
Section 3 - A member whose dues for the
current year have not been paid by January first shall be classed as
delinquent. If his dues are paid on or before February first, he shall be
automatically reinstated. If he is still delinquent after February first, he
shall be suspended from all privileges. If he is still under suspension on
June fifteenth of such year, his membership in the Sons of The American
Legion shall be forfeited. A membership so suspended or whose membership has
been so forfeited may be reinstated to active membership in good standing by
vote of the Squadron and payment of current dues for the year in which the
reinstatement occurs. Provided, however, that the Squadron, Detachment and
National organization may waive the provisions hereof, with reference to
former members who have been prevented from the payment of dues by reason of
active military service.
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF JURISDICTION OF SQUADRON
MEMBERS, POSTS, COUNTIES, DISTRICTS AND DEPARTMENTS
Section 1 - No individual member of the Sons
of The American Legion, unless specifically previously authorized by the
proper body, shall have the right to speak in the name of the Sons of The
American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, or any Squadron of the Sons of
The American Legion. His individual action is full and unhampered, being
that of an American citizen, but he shall not present such action to be that
of any Sons of The American Legion organization.
Section 2 - All matters of state, national or
international scope that appeal to the Sons of The American Legion,
Squadrons, or Detachment may be treated, discussed and acted upon by any
unit of the Sons of The American Legion, provided, however, that such action
shall be submitted for approval through the prescribed Sons of The American
Legion and The American Legion channels to the body having jurisdiction
thereof.
Section 3 - A Squadron organization may
discuss the action taken by the Detachment or National organization and
adopt a resolution protesting against any action taken by the Detachment or
National organization and request through proper channels that such action
be reversed.
Section 4 - The principles set forth in this
Article shall be observed by all Sons of The American Legion members, by all
Squadrons, and by this Detachment. A violation of any of the provisions of
this Article by a member of the Sons of The American Legion, or by a
Squadron, shall be sufficient cause for investigation and disciplinary
action by the Detachment Executive Committee and in the case of a Sons of
The American Legion member, by the Squadron of which he is a member.
ARTICLE XI
MONEYS AND COLLECTIONS
Section 1 - All Detachment and Squadron
officials handling Sons of The American Legion moneys shall be properly
bonded with a good and solvent bonding and surety company, as surety to
cover double the average amount of money handled in a single year. In case
of delinquencies of the payment of moneys dues Detachment Headquarters or
Department Headquarters of The American Legion, action shall be taken at
once by the proper officials to bring about a speedy and complete
settlement. The bonds provided by Detachment officials shall be approved by
the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion and those provided
by a Squadron shall be approved by the Post Executive Committee.
Section 2 - Department Headquarters of The
American Legion shall, should it deem advisable, detail special auditors to
investigate the membership roll and financial statement of any Squadron or
other subdivision within this Detachment.
ARTICLE XII
REGULATIONS
Section 1 - The Department Executive
Committee of The American Legion is authorized to make and publish
regulations for the organization, management and conduct of this Detachment
and of the Squadrons of this Detachment. Such regulations shall be
consistent with the Department Constitution and these By-Laws, and shall be
complied with by all concerned.
ARTICLE XIII
RULES
Section 1 - The procedure of the Detachment
Convention shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, revised.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENTS
Section 1 - All amendments hereto must
conform to the requirements of Article X of the Detachment Constitution.
(Adopted June, 1987)
