| |
|
|
BYLAWS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI
As Amended at the 71st Annual
Conference 2 May 2009
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this Association shall be "THE NATIONAL
GUARD ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI."
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
|
| The purpose of the National Guard
Association of Mississippi shall be: |
| |
a. |
To promote and support State and National
Security. |
| |
b. |
To promote, foster and improve the
Mississippi National Guard and the National Guard
of the United States as a component of the Armed
Forces of the United States. |
| |
c. |
To promote "esprit de corps" in the
Mississippi National Guard. |
|
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1
|
| The membership of the National Guard
Association of Mississippi shall be composed of: |
| |
a. |
All federally recognized commissioned
officers and warrant officers of the Mississippi
National Guard, and those officers and warrant officers
who have formerly been federally recognized officers
of the Mississippi National Guard and all former
Adjutants General shall be eligible for membership
in the National Guard Association of Mississippi.
|
| |
|
|
(1.) |
Eligibility Requirements: Each officer/warrant
officer must be an annual dues paying participant
or be a life member of both the state (NGAMS) and
national (NGAUS) association to participate in the
insurance program, serve as an officer, delegate,
or any other benefit of the NGAMS or NGAUS. |
| |
b. |
Enlisted personnel may become associate
members of the National Guard Association of Mississippi
for the purpose of participating in group insurance
and travel programs. No annual dues shall be required
of or paid by an associate member. |
| |
c. |
Former National Guard members with
less than 20 years military service may become associate
members of the National Guard Association of Mississippi
for the purpose of participating in group insurance
and travel programs. No annual dues shall be required
or paid by such associate members. |
| |
d. |
Employees of the National Guard Association
of Mississippi and the Mississippi Military
Department may become associate members of the
National Guard Association of Mississippi for the
purpose of participating in group insurance and
travel programs. No annual dues shall be required
or paid by such employees who are not covered under
paragraph (a) above. |
| |
e. |
Friends of the Guard may qualify for
associate membership to participate in group travel
programs sponsored by the National Guard Association
of Mississippi. No annual dues will be charged,
but an associate membership fee may be applied for
each such member. |
|
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION I
The officers of the National Guard Association
of Mississippi shall be: President; Vice President,
Air National Guard; Vice President, Army National
Guard; Secretary; and Treasurer.
SECTION II
|
| |
a. |
The President and Vice President of
the National Guard Association of Mississippi shall
be elected at the last regular meeting of the Association
each fiscal year in the following manner: |
| |
|
|
(1.) |
The Association shall elect a President,
who shall be an Army National Guard Officer in 1977,
a Vice President, Army National Guard, and a Vice
President, Air National Guard. The Army Vice President
shall be designated President Elect and shall automatically
ascend to the Presidency of the Association the
following year. |
| |
|
|
(2.) |
Therefore, the Association shall elect
a Vice President, Air National Guard and a Vice
President, Army National Guard; one of whom shall
be designated as the President Elect and will automatically
ascent to the Office of President at the end of
his term of office as Vice President. The designation
of the Vice President as President Elect shall be
made in such manner that the Vice President, Army
National Guard ascends to the Office of President
for three consecutive years and the Vice President,
Air National Guard, ascends to the Office of President
each fourth year. |
| |
b. |
The Secretary and Treasurer of the
National Guard Association of Mississippi shall
be elected in the following manner at the Annual
State Conference: |
| |
|
|
(1.) |
An Army Secretary shall be elected
in 1992. An Air Secretary shall be elected in 1993
and every fourth year thereafter, i.e. 1997, 2001,
2005, etc. During intervening years, the Office
of Secretary will be designated as Army Secretary.
The Secretary each year will be elected by the total
membership present at the Annual State Conference.
|
| |
|
|
(2.) |
An Army Treasurer will be elected
in 1992 and 1993. An Air Treasurer will be elected
in 1994 and every fourth year thereafter, i.e. 1998,
2002, 2006, etc. During intervening years, the Office
of Treasurer will be designated as Army Treasurer.
The Treasurer each year will be elected by the total
membership present at the Annual State Conference.
|
|
SECTION III
|
| |
a. |
The President of the National Guard
Association of Mississippi with the approval of
the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors,
shall appoint a Nominating Committee to consist
of not less than seven (7) members of the Association
who shall meet and report their nominations not
less than 30 days prior to the Annual State Conference
of the Association. The nomination report will be
distributed to the various National Guard Units
throughout the State so all members will be aware
of who will be nominated. |
| |
b. |
The Nominating Committee shall nominate
two (2) nominees for each elective office of the
Association in keeping with the designated years
in which the Secretary and Treasurer will be ANG
members as stated previously in ARTICLE IV, SECTION
III, Paragraph b. The Chairman of the Committee
shall make an official report to the members at
the Annual State Conference. |
| |
c. |
Nominations may be made from the floor
of the Conference at any time after the report of
the Nominating Committee and prior to the election
for that particular office. Nominations from the
floor must follow the designated years in which
the Secretary and Treasurer will be ANG/ARNG members
as stated previously. |
| |
d. |
Elections shall be by secret written
ballot, with a majority vote being required for
election. Only those members present at the Conference
and in good standing are entitled to vote.
The Nominations Committee will be responsible for
ensuring that members in good standing whose
military status prevents attendance at the Annual
Conference have the opportunity to vote through
absentee ballot. |
|
SECTION IV
|
| |
a. |
All officers shall have been a member
of the National Guard Association of Mississippi
for at least two (2) years next before their election. |
| |
b. |
The President shall preside at all
meetings, call special meetings, direct the work
and promote the general welfare of the Association,
and appoint all committees with the approval of
the Board of Directors. |
| |
c. |
The Vice President designated President
Elect shall preside in the absence of the President.
The two Vice Presidents shall assist the President
in the conduct of the meetings as the President
directs. |
| |
d. |
The Secretary shall keep full and
accurate minutes of all meetings and perform such
other duties as the President may assign. |
| |
e. |
The Treasurer or Financial Manager shall countersign, with
the Executive Director, all checks and disbursements
for the Association. The Treasurer shall make financial
reports to the scheduled meetings of the Board of
Directors and perform other duties as the President
may assign. |
| |
f. |
The Executive Director shall collect
the annual dues of members of the Association and
keep a full and accurate account of all funds received
and expended by the Association. He shall be responsible
for the operation of the Association Office, including
the supervision of the employees who work therein.
The Board of Directors may authorize the Executive
Director to pay the expenses necessary to carry
on the work of the Association. |
| |
g. |
There shall be a Chaplain for the
Association, who shall be appointed by the President,
and it shall be his duty to promote the spiritual
well being of the Association. |
| |
h. |
The Board of Directors of the Association
shall be composed of the following: |
| |
|
|
(1.) |
The five (5) elected officers of the
Association. |
| |
|
|
(2.) |
The two (2) retired members of the
Association who shall be elected at the retired
caucus, one of which shall be elected for a two
(2) year term and one for a one (1) year term in
1989, so that in the next such scheduled caucus
beginning in 1990, one retired member shall be elected
each year for a two (2) year term; |
| |
|
|
(3.) |
The Adjutant General of the State
of Mississippi, who shall be an ex officio member
without vote; |
| |
|
|
(4.) |
The Executive Director of the Association
who shall be a nonvoting member elected in the manner
hereinafter provided; |
| |
|
|
(5.) |
The immediate two (2) Past Presidents
of the Association; |
| |
|
|
(6.) |
Thirteen (13) active directors who shall serve
for a period of two (2) years. Three (3) of the
thirteen (13) active directors shall be members
of the Air National Guard and elected by the Air
Guard at caucuses of members of the Air Guard
so that Jackson, Meridian, and Gulfport/State
Headquarters comprise the three Air Guard caucuses.
Two (2) of the thirteen (13) active directors
shall be company grade and warrant officers of
the Mississippi National Guard and shall be elected
at caucuses of company grade and warrant officers.
Rotation for the Air Guard Directors will be:
Gulfport/State Headquarters to be elected for
a two-year term in 1992; Meridian for a two-year
term in 1992; and Jackson for a two-year term
in 1993. A caucus will be held every two years
by respective units so that three (3) Air Guard
Directors are elected to serve on the Board of
Directors.
Rotation of company grade and warrant officers
on the Board of Directors: one warrant officer
(W1 - W5) and one company grade officer (O1 -
O3) will be elected from one Congressional District
every other year. This requirement will be rotated
among the four Congressional Districts. This will
allow a warrant and company grade officer to serve
continuously on the Board of Directors. Beginning
with the year 2002, District One will elect a
warrant and District Two will elect a company
grade. In 2004, District Three will elect a warrant
and District Four will elect a company grade.
The other eight (8) directors, who shall be Army
National Guardsmen, shall be elected from the
four (4) Congressional Districts of Mississippi,
with each District having two (2) members, except
the year in which a Congressional District is
required to elect a warrant officer and company
grade officer, then that district would be allowed
three representatives on the Board, and they shall
be elected respectively by members of the units
which are located in the respective Congressional
Districts. The Directors from the Air Guard and
the Directors from the Congressional Districts
shall be elected at caucuses of members of the
Air Guard and the Army Guard units from the Congressional
Districts, respectively, said caucuses to be held
at the annual meeting of the Association, and
the Association Director from each Congressional
District who is serving in his first year of two
(2) year term shall serve as Chairman of the caucus
for the purpose of conducting such election. In
such elections nominations shall be made from
the floor. The President of the Association shall
announce the time and place of each such caucus
at the first business session of the Association.
|
| |
i. |
The elected member or members from
each Congressional District shall serve for the
term specified herein, and the elected member's
unit, or the elected member or members shall not
be eligible for reelection until each Battalion
and Higher Headquarters in said district shall have
elected a member of the Board. The election shall
therefore be on a rotational basis so that each
Battalion and Higher Headquarters in succession
shall have representation on the Board. No unit
may have two (2) Directors on the Board at the same
time. |
| |
j. |
In the event of Congressional Redistricting
by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi,
the number of directors shall not change unless
the Bylaws are amended. Vacancies, which might occur,
shall be filled by appointments by the President
with approval of the other Directors, for the remainder
of the unexpired term. |
| |
k. |
If, for any reason, either of the
two (2) preceding Past Presidents shall be unable
to serve, the vacancy shall be filled from positions
of one of the preceding Vice Presidents by rank
or date of rank serving in the same year as President
whose vacancy is being filled. The President of
the Association shall serve as Chairman of the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet
once each quarter and at such other times as the
Chairman shall direct, except that the Chairman,
with concurrence of the Executive Committee of the
Board, may dispense with any quarterly meeting.
A majority of the Board of Directors may call a
meeting of the Board by proper notice to all members
in writing. A majority of the members of the Board
of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. The Board of Directors shall have authority
to execute the policies of the Association. |
| |
l. |
There shall be an Executive Committee
of the Board of Directors that shall be composed
of the elected officers of the Association and the
Executive Director of the Association, who shall
be a nonvoting member of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
shall meet at the call of the President and shall
have power to act on emergency matters when it is
necessary to act upon matters having such time consideration
that a full meeting of the Board of Directors cannot
be assembled. The Board of Directors may authorize
the Executive Committee of the Board to perform
certain duties and responsibilities for the Board.
All actions of the Executive Committee of the Board
shall be subject to the approval and ratification
of the Board of Directors. |
| |
m. |
An Executive Director shall be employed
by the Board of Directors. His service shall be
on a contractual basis and he shall hold office
for a term of three (3) years or such other period
and not exceeding five (5) years as may be determined
by the Board of Directors. He may be reappointed
for succeeding terms. He shall have the same qualifications
for holding such position as are required of the
President of the Association. |
| |
n. |
The Association is authorized to sponsor
a program or programs of group insurance coverage
for its members and associate members; the Directors
of the Association, may for, and on the behalf of
the Association, enter into a trust agreement to
which trustees shall administer the insurance program
and invest the portion of divisible surplus, if
any, attributable to any group insurance policies.
|
|
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
SECTION I
The fiscal year shall be from the first day of
June through the 31st day of May of each year.
The meeting of the National Guard Association
of Mississippi shall be held at least once each
fiscal year, and at such other times as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. The Board
of Directors shall designate the place and time
of such meeting.
SECTION II
A quorum shall consist of twenty percent (20%)
of the paid membership.
SECTION III
No business shall be conducted at any meeting
unless a quorum is present.
ARTICLE VI
DUES
SECTION 1
|
| |
a. |
The Annual Dues of the Association
shall be set by the Board of Directors and approved
by the Association membership at the Annual Conference. |
| |
b. |
All active National Guard members
who are life members of the National Guard Association
of the United States will pay the same annual State
Dues as required by respective ranks. |
| |
c. |
The Executive Director shall collect
all state membership dues and may also collect those
dues for the National Guard Association of the United
States in such amounts as that Association may from
time to time specify. Membership dues for both NGAMS
and NGAUS are due and payable effective 1 July of
each year. |
|
ARTICLE VII
DELEGATES
SECTION I
|
| |
a. |
The National Guard Association of
Mississippi, at its annual conference, shall elect
a delegate at large and an alternate to the annual
conference of the National Guard Association of
the United States. The delegate at large and alternate
will be designated from the Air National Guard in
1992 and every fourth (4th) year thereafter. During
intervening years the delegate at large will be
designated from the Army National Guard. Such delegate,
or alternate, together with the president of the
association, shall attend the said annual conference
with registration, travel, and room accommodation
expenses paid by the Association. In addition, the
president and delegate at large shall receive the
same delegate expense as determined and authorized
by the Board of Directors for all official delegates
of NGAMS to said conference. |
| |
b. |
In the event the President cannot
attend, he shall be represented by one of the elected
officers as selected by the President, or one of
the directors, if no officer can attend. |
|
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of
the Association by vote of 2/3 of those present
and voting, provided first that said proposed
amendment shall have been submitted in writing
to each member by mailing to his last known post
office address at least thirty (30) days before
the meeting at which such amendment is submitted,
a copy of such proposed amendment.
ARTICLE IX
TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION I
|
| |
a. |
In the event of war or other emergency
declared by the Congress as a result of which the
Mississippi National Guard is ordered or called
into the active military service of the United States,
the Board of Directors of the Association is authorized
and empowered to carry on and conduct the business
of the Association during the period of such war
or emergency. |
| |
b. |
In the event it shall become apparent
that the elected officers and the Board of Directors
shall become unable to serve as such as the result
of war, emergency, or otherwise, then the Board
of Directors shall prior to its becoming unable
to serve, select by majority vote a temporary Executive
Committee composed of members of the National Guard
Association of Mississippi to direct the affairs
of the Association during the absence of the regularly
elected officers and directors. This temporary Executive
Committee shall be composed of at least three (3)
members and not more than five (5), three (3) of
whom shall be designated by the Board of Directors
as Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer respectively.
This temporary Executive Committee shall be authorized
to transact all business on behalf of the Association
which the regular officers and directors are authorized
to transact. |
| |
c. |
Any temporary Executive Committee
appointed as above provided shall serve until a
majority of the regular officers and directors shall
return from emergency or war service and assume
their duties or until a regular election of Association
officers shall be held, whichever shall occur sooner. |
|
E N D
|
|
|
