Veterans First, Inc. Constitution

“Veterans First, Inc., they earned it!” is a non-profit organization. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman are all elected officers. All others are appointed by the President.

Founder(s)
The executive duties of the Founder(s) are as follows:
1. Founder(s) duties are to oversee Veterans First, Inc. organization.
2. He/she can advise, correct, change or direct the Officers if the need arises. However, the Founder(s) cannot over rule a Board’s decision or the vote of the Chapter. The majority’s vote will rule the Chapter.
3. The President is responsible for the actions of the Chapter. The Founder(s) will abide by the President’s decisions unless it is not in the best interest of the Chapter.
Addendum added at the 07/11/10 meeting

Officers
PRESIDENT
The executive duties of the President are as follows:
1. To preside over meetings of both the Executive Board and the Chapter as a whole.
2. To judge items not covered in the Constitution or in the rules and regulations.
3. To act as the personal representative of the Chapter in the area of public relations.
4. To represent the Chapter in any business contacts and to supervise major economic transactions.
5. To assist Veterans First officers in the interpretation of their Chapter’s responsibilities.

VICE-PRESIDENT
The executive duties of the Vice President are to assume the responsibilities of the Presidency when the President is unable to do so.

SECRETARY
The executive duties of the Secretary are as follows:
1. To record and safeguard the minutes of the Chapter’s meetings.
2. To maintain the Chapter’s Constitution, recording any additions, deletions, or modifications.
3. To handle any Chapter correspondence.

TREASURER
The executive duties of the Treasurer are as follows:
1. To monitor and record the Chapter's income and expenditures.
2. To collect the dues owed by members.
3. To deposit and disperse monies that have been collected for the Chapter as needed.

CHAIRMAN
The executive duties of the Chairman are as follows:
1. Designating duties to members.
2. Procuring arrangements for Chapter events.

Appointed Positions
SERGEANT AT ARMS
The executive duties of the Sergeant at Arms are as follows:
1. To maintain order at Chapter meetings in particular and Chapter activities in general.
2. To ensure that members adhere to Chapter rulings, policies and expected models of conduct when dealing with other members or outsiders.
3. To maintain sign-in sheets for each meeting and event.
4. To introduce new members and/or attendees to the Chapter.

Quartermaster
The executive duties of the Quartermaster are as follows:
Responsibilities:
1. Keep track of all organization items for sale
2. Maintain an inventory all items
3. Keep trailer key safe, secure and available
4. Notify the Chairman of the Board immediately of all damaged or missing goods or equipment
5. Maintain adequate supply of items
Procedures:
1. Attend all organization meetings if at all possible
2. Bring trailer key and trailer with its contents to all needed functions
3. Once a month, review and organize the trailer
4. Every 3 months, check trailer for damage, missing pieces of equipment or supplies, etc.
IF YOU ARE UNAVAILABLE TO ATTEND AN EVENT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL DO YOUR JOB AT THAT EVENT. ONCE YOU FIND ANOTHER MEMBER TO DO THIS, NOTIFY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Addendum added at the 04/11/10 meeting

Historian
The executive duties of the Historian are as follows:
Responsibilities:
1. Responsible for having a camera available at all meetings and events
2. Maintain the historical files of the chapter
3. Keep material produced by the Chapter throughout the year, flyers etc.
4. Document Chapter achievements through the year
5. Keep the history files organized
6. Bring Veterans First photo album to events to be viewed by public
Procedures:
1. Attend each meeting, if possible. If you cannot attend, submit a report to the President beforehand on your activities
2. Ability to store historical information
3. Computer system to store archive data Addendum added at the 04/11/10 meeting

EDITOR
The executive duties of the Editor are as follows:
Responsibilities:
1.   Prepare language and images for newsletter
2.   Make appropriate corrections, condensation of organization facts to be posted
3.   Modification of various media to be posted
4.   Mailing of in monthly minutes and newsletter etc. to non-email members
Procedures:
1.   Creative Skills to make newsletter appealing human relations with committee and membership to obtain information
2.   Fact check submissions for newsletter Addendum added at the 10/04/09 meeting

ROAD CAPTAIN
The executive duties of the road captain are as follows:
1. To plan the travel routes and organize the basic itinerary of the Chapter prior to going on a 'run' (event).
2. To enforce rules and procedures for group riding.
3 To supervisor safety of members and guest vehicles and/or bikes.

EXECUTIVE BOARD
The executive board consists of those members who were elected as officers of the Chapter. The board holds meetings on a need to know basis. Emergency meetings can be called if a situation demands immediate attention. The Executive Board is responsible for:
1. The monitoring of conflicts within the Chapter.
2. The application of disciplinary procedures.
3. The evaluation of new applicants.

COURT
Court will consist of all patch holders that are eligible to vote.

ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS
Officers of the Chapter serve a twelve-month term of office, annual elections are held at the last regular meeting of the year, in June.
1. In order to be eligible for office, a patch holder has to have been an active member in good standing for a minimum of one year.
2. Patch holders who aspire towards a particular position will campaign informally for one month prior to the elections.
3. A member in good standing can be nominated by their peer and asked to accept the nomination.
4. Nominations will be taken at Chapter meetings held in May and June.
5. Silent election will be held in June. Two members, male & female will be designated by the President to count the votes and only the winner will be announced, no count will be revealed.

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
1. To honor and respect what our organization is about.
2. To be available to help and assist when called upon for the Chapter’s needs.
3. Only the Prospects who demonstrate legal and moral values will be allowed in the chapter.
4. Applicants must show a sincere interest in our cause.
5. Dues and patches must be paid for before becoming a full member.
6. Applicants must be sponsored by a member.
7. Sponsor is responsible for Applicant.
8. Applicant will pay $15.00 for their center patch upon receipt. $50.00 is for annual dues, due upon enrollment. This amount is not refundable.

MEETINGS
1. Organized meetings will be held on the second Sunday of each month, with the exception of a holiday week-end. On holiday week-ends the meeting will be held on the 3rd Sunday of that month. Amended at the 10/04/09 meeting.
2. Majority rules.
3. Meetings are open to anyone.
5. All meetings will be run on a parliamentary basis. Members will be evicted for unruly conduct.
6. Quorum for a meeting and votes are three members.
7. Members should have their vest and patches on when attending meetings. At any Chapter event, members are expected to wear a white shirt (t-shirt, dress shirt, polo, blouse, etc.) and their vest. No other motorcycle club (MC) color or organization patches will be wore at Veterans First meetings or events.
8. Members must be of sound mind (straight) when attending meetings.
9. During a meeting there will be no talking among members until they are acknowledged by the President. A Sergeant-at-arms, if not present, will be appointed and anyone not abiding by the above will be evicted.
10. If a member is asked to leave the Chapter or quits the Chapter, he loses his right to wear the Veterans First rocker patches and will be asked to return them to one of the officers.

RULES AND REGULATIONS
The rules of the Chapter will be enforced. The Executive Board will make a decision if the rules and regulations are broken to either immediate dismissal or suspension, whatever the Executive Board sees fit.
1. Failure to pay his dues according to the section dealing with the paying of dues.
2. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior while wearing the Chapter’s patch.
3. If a patch holder quits, patches are pulled and they are automatically removed as a member from the Chapter.
4. Members who wear other motorcycle club (MC), organizations &/or group patches on the back of their vest in lieu of their VF patches while attending a Chapter function.
5. Any fraudulent activity that reflects on our Chapter.
6. No member will go against the Chapter’s Constitution which the Chapter voted for and passed.
8. No member will plan a Chapter ride before bringing it before the rest of the Chapter for a vote.

DUES
1. Chapter dues are paid each year, they are due by June first. Members enrolling after November 30th will be paid through May 31st of the following year after. Example: Join on Dec. 5th 2008 – paid through May 31 st 2010.
2. The dues are $50.00 yearly.
3. Upon failure of paying dues by June 15 th, the member will forfeit their patches and they will no longer be considered a member. The only exception to this is a hardship. It must be written and given to one of the Officers prior to the due date. If the hardship is valid, then an extension will be granted.

PATCHES
1. Respect your patches.
2. No vulgar language on your vest.
3. Nothing will be worn in between your rockers and circle patch.
4. It is mandatory that Chapter patches be worn when attending Chapter events.
5. No motorcycle club (MC), patches will be worn on the VF vest.
6. A new member will purchase the circle back patch for $15 upon joining the Chapter. The rockers are given to a new member 45 days after joining the Chapter, upon approval of the Executive Board at no cost to the new member to wear as long as they are a participating member in good standing. Amended at the 10/04/09 meeting.
7. When a member leaves the Chapter, the member turns over their rocker patches to an officer of the Chapter.

GENERAL RULES
If anyone breaks general rules, the Executive Board will decide on the course of action.
1. if you don't help out the Chapter in its activities and you use the Chapter solely for your benefit, you will be warned.
2. The Treasurer shall keep a clear record of all money paid in and out during the month and will balance it before every meeting.
3. Any complaints regarding a fellow member will be brought before an officer through the chain of command, COB, first, Vice President, second and if all else fails, then President. Action upon this member will then be determined by the board. Amended at the 10/04/09 meeting.
4. Any personal problem with another member will be reconciled outside or away from any Chapter meeting or event .No arguing or fighting between fellow members will be tolerated when meeting as a group.
5. Membership dues will be paid within 15 day of due date.
6. Rides will be voted upon by the membership.
7. Each patch holder is required to maintain a valid motor vehicle license, which includes the authorization to operate motorcycle (if riding one) when driving or riding in a Chapter event.
8. If the Road Captain or an Officer determines your bike is unsafe to ride; you are grounded until it is safe.
9. Any suggestions for events or rides brought before the members will be voted on and the member who made the suggestion will be responsible for setting up the event or ride and coordinating with the Road Captain. The member will decide the time, place, route, if applicable and provide all of the necessary details to the road Captain and members. They can select a committee if needed. Whoever picks the bike run, will lead.