BY- LAWS

PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD

ENLISTED ASSOCIATION

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of this association shall be known as the "Pennsylvania National Guard enlisted Association," also referred to as the PNGEA. It is established as a non-profit organization.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The purpose of this organization is:

 

    1. To enhance the prestige, morale and well being of enlisted members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

      2.  

    2. To facilitate the exchange of ideas and the solution of problems relating to the enlisted members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

      3.  

    3. To provide a method for the individual enlisted members of the Pennsylvania National Guard to propose resolutions, which can be acted on by the Association to improve various aspects of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

      4.  

    4. To encourage and provide a vehicle for fraternal and social activities for the enlisted members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

      5.  

    5. To encourage and support other organizations which support the Pennsylvania National Guard.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Section I Classes of membership are:

 

    1. Annual
    2. Life
    3. Associate
    4. Honorary

 

 

Section II Qualifications and requirements for the classes are:

 

    1. ANNUAL: Annual members shall consist of enlisted members of any unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Army or Air; either active or who were honorably separated after eight (8) years or more of service as a Guardsperson in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who makes application and payment of the prescribed dues.

      2.  

    2. LIFE: Upon application, payment of the prescribed dues and approval of the Membership Committee of the PNGEA, a person who is qualified to be an annual member may be issued a Life membership.

      3.  

    3. ASSOCIATE: Upon application, payment of prescribed dues and approved by the Membership Committee, a person not otherwise qualified for membership may be issued an Associate membership. An Associate membership may not be an accredited delegate, hold office or be entitled to vote.

      4.  

    4. HONORARY: Honorary Membership for some outstanding service to the PNGEA or to the Pennsylvania National Guard shall upon recommendation of the Membership Committee be awarded an Honorary membership. An Honorary member may not be an accredited delegate, hold office, or be entitled to vote.

 

Section III Dues required for membership are:

 

The membership by a 2/3 vote will set the amount paid for dues – Annual, Life, Associate, and Honorary memberships.

 

Section IV Membership termination.

 

    1. A membership can be terminated by the recommendation of the Membership Committee and approved by the Executive Committee.

      2.  

    2. A member terminated must be given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence on their behalf.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Section I OFFICER TITLES

 

    1. PNGEA Officers
    1. President
    2. Vice President
    1. Army
    2. Air
    1. Secretary
    2. Treasurer
    3. Past President
    4. Financial Secretary

 

    1. Executive Committee
    1. President
    2. Vice President Army and Air
    3. Secretary
    4. Treasurer
    5. Past President
    6. Financial Secretary

 

 

 

Section II DUTIES AND POWERS

 

    1. President:

 

    1. A Member ex-officio of all committees, except the Nominations Committee.

 

    1. The President shall:
    1. Direct the affairs of the PNGEA in accordance with the policies adopted by the By-Laws and in general of special conferences of the PNGEA.
    2. Appoint all committees and designate the chairperson and vice chairperson of each committee except the Committee on Nominations.
    3. Issue a call for a General Conference and when a special conference is called by the Executive Committee. Establish the necessary arrangements for such Conference.
    4. Render an Annual Report to the PNGEA.
    5. Convene a membership meeting as deemed necessary but at least twice a year.
    6. Submit an annual budget.
    7. Attend the National Conference.

 

    1. Vice Presidents Army and Air:

 

    1. A member of the Executive Committee
    2. Assume the office, title and prerequisites of the President in the event the President cannot perform his duties or is removed from office and serve the unexpired term of that office.
    3. The precedence will be if the President is Army National Guard, then the Vice President Air Guard will succeed and vice versa.
    4. Must attend a majority of the membership meetings.

 

    1. Secretary:

 

    1. The recording officer of the Association.
    2. Responsible for the records of the PNGEA
    3. A member of the Executive Committee.
    4. Must attend a majority of the membership meetings and when unable to attend, make the minutes available for the meeting.

 

    1. Treasurer:

 

    1. A member of the Executive Committee.
    2. Be the custodian of the funds of the PNGEA. Shall prepare a financial report for each membership meeting. If the Treasurer is unable to attend a meeting, a report will be forwarded to one of the members of the Executive Committee.
    3. Prepare a Financial Statement for each General Conference.
    4. Must attend a majority of the membership meetings.

 

    1. Financial Secretary:

 

    1. A Member of the Executive Committee
    2. Authorized to countersign all checks, assist in the maintenance of all funds of the PNGEA.
    3. Assist in the preparation of the yearly budget.
    4. Must attend a majority of the membership meetings.

 

Section III ELECTIONS

 

    1. The President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary of the PNGEA shall be elected biennially, by a majority of the accredited delegates, at the General Conference of the PNGEA. In the event that a nominee for an office of the PNGEA fails to receive a majority, the succeeding votes shall be taken on the two nominees who receive the highest number of votes on the previous ballot.

      2.  

    2. Nominations will be held on the morning of the first day of the conference. Elections will be held in the afternoon of the first day of the conference.

 

Section IV TENURE

 

All elected officers will be installed immediately following the election. The term of office will be two (2) years.

 

Section V TERMINATION OF TENURE

 

    1. Completion of two years in office

      2.  

    2. An officer may be removed from office by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Committee for sufficient cause.

 

Section VI NOMINATION OF OFFICERS

 

    1. The Committee on Nominations shall consist of a chairperson (past president) or an appointed individual by the Executive Committee and one delegate from each chapter to serve during the General Conference, Special Conference or until discharged by the President.

      2.  

    2. The Committee on Nominations shall:
    1. Convene on the first morning of the general conference, which is required to elect officers of the PNGEA.
    2. Prepare a slate of nominees consisting of names of eligible members of the PNGEA for each office required to be filled.

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

Section I GENERAL CONFERENCES

 

A General Conference will be held annually.

 

Section II SPECIAL CONFERENCES

 

A special conference of the PNGEA may be convened at the call of the President, or a majority of the Executive Committee.

 

Section III REPRESENTATION

 

    1. All members may attend the General and Special Conferences and debate and vote on matters before the PNGEA, with the exception of matters specified in the By-Laws.

      2.  

    2. Voting for officers and amendments to the By-Laws shall be by delegates from each unit.
    1. Each chapter shall have two delegates for the first one hundred members and one additional member for every fifty members over the first one hundred. The maximum number of delegates per chapters is five. The President of each chapter will also be a delegate and not be counted in the delegate count.
    2. Delegates for each chapter shall be based on the paid membership of each chapter as of 31 December of the previous year.
    3. In the event of a partial or complete mobilization into active Federal service or State service of the Army and Air National Guard of Pennsylvania or both for a period extending beyond the 31st of December last preceding a General Conference of the PNGEA. Representation at such conference shall be apportioned on a basis of actual active members of the association of each unit as of the 31st day of December last preceding the date the initial order or call of the unit into active service under the mobilization.

 

Section IV DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONFERENCE

 

    1. Delegates elected to the National Conference at the State Conference shall be entitled to:

 

    1. Per Diem set by the Finance Committee and approved by the Executive Committee.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Section I EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

The Executive Committee shall consist of:

 

    1. The elected officers of the PNGEA and presidents of each chapter.

 

Section II DUTIES AND POWERS

 

    1. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the appropriate section of the By-Laws.

      2.  

    2. Appoint the Chairperson of the Committee on Nominations

      3.  

    3. Ensure the well being of the organization.

 

 

 

 

 

Section III TENURE

 

Members of the Executive Committee shall serve for the same as the elected officers of the PNGEA.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Section I STANDING COMMITEES OF THE PNGEA

 

    1. Committee on Legislation
    2. Committee on Finance
    3. Committee on Membership
    4. Committee on Publication
    5. Committee on Public Relation
    6. Committee on Pennsylvania Army National Guard
    7. Committee on Pennsylvania Air National Guard
    8. Committee on By-Laws
    9. Committee on Retirement
    10. Committee on Ways and Means

 

Section II GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, SPECIAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

 
    1. Committee on Credentials and Rules
    2. Committee on Resolutions
    3. Committee on Nominations
    4. Committee on Time and Place

 

Section III STANDING COMMITTEES DUTIES

 

    1. All committees will consist of that number of members of the PNGEA appointed by the President.
    2. Serve at the President’s pleasure.
    3. Develop and recommend to the Association, programs and policies pertaining to the respective committee.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Section I CHAPTERS

 

    1. The PNGEA can organize at each armory or air base.

      2.  

    2. Each chapter shall elect four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer with on individual holding one office. All names must be submitted by 21 March of the following year and/or upon change of officers.

      3.  

    3. The chapter hosting the state conference shall be liable for all costs and shall keep all profits derived from any monies received to defray these costs.

      4.  

    4. State officers and their guests at the annual state conference shall have their expenses reimbursed by the State Association upon approval of the Executive Committee.

      5.  

    5. Any monies, loaned to a chapter by the PNGEA to defray costs of the conference shall be repaid.

      6.  

    6. Chapters shall annually submit a financial statement to the Executive Committee not later than 1 March of the following year.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Section I PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

    1. Robert’s Rules of Orders, Revised
    2. The By-Laws of the PNGEA
    3. Standing or special rules established by a general or special conference.

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

Section I VOTING

    1. Except as otherwise provided by these By-Laws, the method of voting shall be by a General, Special, or Conference Committee of the PNGEA as determined by the presiding officer or chairperson thereof, but a written ballot may not be taken.

      2.  

    2. Voting may be by proxy in accordance with the maximum number of delegates authorized by the chapter as presented in writing to the Credentials Committee by the authorized delegate and as approved by the Credentials Committee.

      3.  

    3. Upon demand of the majority of the units present, the presiding officer shall have a vote by roll call.
    1. In the event of a vote by roll call of the chapters, each chapter shall:

a. Be entitled to one vote for:
    1. Each delegate accredited thereby whether or not present.
    2. Each member of the voting body of the conference described in Sub-Section C and 1., 2. of this section whose membership is credited to the chapter.
    1. In the event of a roll call vote by chapters, a member of the voting body described in Sub-section C. 1., 2. of this section may on the floor of the conference demand that the members of the voting body described in said paragraphs who are accredited by or credited to their chapter, be polled, in which case the secretary of the conference shall:
    1. Poll the said members of the voting body accredited by or credited to the chapter concerned.
    2. Determine the votes thereof.
    3. Record the total number of votes to which that chapter is entitled under the unit rule in the same manner provided in Section I, Sub-section c., paragraph 2. of this article.

 

Section II CAUCUSES

 

    1. Chapter Caucus: A chapter caucus consisting of the members of the voting body of the conference from the chapter concerned, as described in Section II, Sub-Section c., 1., 2., of this article shall be convened whenever:
    1. There are more eligible members proposed than there are vacancies to be filled for state offices
    2. A vote by roll call of the chapters on the floor of a general or special conference is ordered pursuant to Section II, Sub-section c., 1., and 2. of this article.

 

    1. A chapter caucusing pursuant to clause A., paragraph 1. of this sub-section shall cause the vote of its delegate in the appropriate chapter to be cast for each of the two members of the PNGEA who receive the highest number of votes in the chapter caucus.

      2.  

    2. A chapter caucusing pursuant to clause A., paragraph 2. of this sub-section shall cast the vote of the chapter under unit rule:
    1. If the request is on election to an office of the PNGEA, for two nominees who receive the highest number of votes in the caucus.
    2. If the question is on the adoption or rejection of an amendment to the By-Laws, as determined by majority vote of the caucus.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Section I AUDIT

 

A certified public accountant employed by direction of the Executive Council of the PNGEA shall annually audit the records and finances of the PNGEA and render a report thereon to the Executive Council of the PNEGA which will transmit same to the Committee of Finance and at the next annual General Conference.

 

Section II FUNDS

 

In case of the dissolvement of the PNGEA, all assets of the PNGEA will be given to the Pennsylvania National Guard Scholarship Fund.

 

Section III EXPENDITURES

 

    1. Bills, claims, and expenditures of the PNGEA shall be:

 

    1. Certified by the President or Executive Director of the PNGEA.
    2. Paid by warrant drawn on funds of the PNGEA and executed by any two of the following officers:
    1. Treasurer of the PNGEA
    2. Financial Secretary of the PNGEA
    3. President of the PNGEA
    4. Vice President Army of the PNGEA
    5. Vice President Air of the PNGEA
    6. Secretary of the PNGEA

 

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Section I WHEN ARTICLE INVOKED

 

    1. This article may be invoked by a majority of the executive committee of the PNGEA in the event of
    1. War
    2. National emergency
    1. Proclaimed by the President of the United States
    2. Declared by Congress of the United States
    1. State emergency
    1. Proclaimed by the Governor
    2. For a period or more than 30 days

 

    1. This article when invoked, shall take precedence over any conflicting provisions of the By-Laws of the PNGEA.

 

Section II TENURE AND FILLING VACANCIES

 

    1. On and after the date of invocation of this article:

 

    1. Subject to the provisions of Article IV, Section IV of these By-Laws, the tenure in office of each officer of the PNGEA is, if so determined by the Executive Committee of the PNGEA extended for the duration of the National or State emergency and for six (6) months thereafter or until the Executive Committee by majority vote determines that this article shall no longer be in effect.
    2. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee, a member may be appointed by the president for the remainder of the unexpired term.
    3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of president, and there are no vice presidents of the PNGEA to succeed thereto, the Executive Committee shall elect to the office of President, by majority vote, a member of the existing Executive Committee.
    4. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Financial Secretary of the PNGEA, the President shall place in office a member of the PNGEA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

Section I BY TWO-THIRDS VOTE

 

These By-Laws may be amended at a general conference of the PNGEA by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present. An amendment may be proposed by a unit or a member of the PNGEA and shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the PNGEA at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the convening of the conference at which the proposed amendment is to be considered. As soon as practical, after its receipt, the Secretary shall mail copies of the proposed amendment(s) to the chairman of the By-Laws Committee. The chairperson of the committee shall mail copies of the proposed amendment(s) to the Executive Committee not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date set for the convening of each conference. After committee consideration, the By-Laws committee chairperson shall render a report to such conference, with such recommendations concerning the proposed amendment as the committee may see fit.

 

Section II BY UNANIMOUS VOTE

 

These By-Laws may be amended at a General Conference of the PNGEA by a unanimous vote without prior notice, provided the By-Laws Committee has reviewed the proposed amendment(s) and made its recommendation to the PNGEA.

 

Section III EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Unless otherwise provided, an amendment of the By-Laws shall be effective upon adjournment of the General Conference which adopted it.