Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE

AMHERST FIRE COUNCIL

ARTICLE 1 - NAME

       The name of this organization shall be "THE AMHERST FIRE COUNCIL".

A.        Mission Statement -

       Our goal is to firmly implant in the Amherst Fire Council, Amherst Fire Companies, the Town of Amherst and community, the idea of honesty, loyalty, and respect for authority, and to grow trustworthy so that organizations in the Town of Amherst see we are committed to continuous cost saving improvement of the fire service.

B.     Vision Statement -

      Our vision strives for a future where we work cooperatively with the Amherst Fire Companies and the Town of Amherst for the benefit of community and fire districts.

ARTICLE 2 - OBJECTIVES

       The objective of this organization is as follows:

     A. To promote legislation that is calculated to benefit fire companies and departments in and throughout the State and to assist in defeating any pernicious laws or proposed laws relating to the preservation and operation of the fire companies and departments and at all times to protect such fire companies and departments existing in the Town of Amherst against any local ordinances or legislation which may be detrimental to the interests and welfare of firefighter or fire companies or departments generally.

     B. To help aid and assist, insofar as it is possible and consistent with the objects of this organization, any fire company or department or firefighter in need or in distress.

     C. To promote recreation or amusements and athletic of such character that may be beneficial, ever bearing in mind the high ideals of good fellowship.

ARTICLE 3 - MEETINGS

     The annual meeting of the council shall be held on the fourth (4th) Monday in the month of January of each year for the purpose of accepting new members appointed or designated by the various fire companies or departments and to elect officers and appoint permanent committees for the ensuing year. We will also conduct necessary business to the association.

     Quarterly meetings shall be held on the fourth (4th) Monday of each of the following months; April, July and October of each year at which meetings and any matters of importance or interest may be discussed and disposed of in the manner herein provided, excepting that no business may be transacted at such Special Meeting which comes properly before the annual meeting. The President may call a Special Meeting of the members of this council at any time he/she deems it advisable and shall direct the Secretary to call a meeting of the members whenever requested by petition signed by three (3) or more members.

ARTICLE 4 - MEMBERSHIP

     1.   The charter membership shall be continued under the provisions of the original constitution and by-laws.

        2.   Membership in the fire council shall consist of two (2) delegates each year from each respective company, department and exempt association member. At the expiration of their term as delegate, they shall be eligible to continue membership by the payment of the annual dues as provided in the by-laws.

     3.   Membership in this council shall be open to any firefighter who is a member of a Town of Amherst Fire Company/Department for at least one (1) year. He/she shall be eligible to continue membership by payment of the annual dues as provided in the by-laws.

     4.   A member with continuous membership in good standings for fifteen (15) years, will be presented a "white life" membership card.

     5.   At age sixty-five (65) a member in good standings with at least ten (10) continuous years of membership and retired may make an application to the Board of Directors for a "gold life" membership card.

     6.   Upon completion of a term of office as President of the association, he/she will be presented a "gold life" membership card.

     7.   The Board of Directors may exempt any member from paying dues as provided under Article 11.

ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS

     The officers of this fire council shall consist of a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary and Treasurer. There shall also be a Board of Directors consisting of one (1) member from each company, department and exempt association, said member to be designated by each company, department and exempt association. Term of office shall begin at the conclusion of the balloting and after the announcement of the results thereof. The President shall appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms and Chaplain(s) at the annual meeting, who shall act for the current year as such.

ARTICLE 6 - QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS

     No member shall be eligible for any office who has not been a member of the Amherst Fire Council for at least two (2) years.

ARTICLE 7 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

     1.   The President shall preside over all meetings of the fire council, both regular and special. He/she shall call special meetings of the council when he/she deems a call of the council is necessary, or as otherwise provided in Article 3 of the by-laws. He/she shall preside over meetings of the Board of Director, at the annual meeting he/she shall appoint a committee of five (5) to act as an auditing committee at the July meeting. He/she shall appoint a nominating committee pursuant to Article 11 of the by-laws.

     2.   The Vice President shall function in place of the President in his/her absence or should he/she fail to function as President.

     3.   The Recording Secretary shall keep a complete record of all proceedings of the fire council. He/she shall notify all members of a meeting whether regular or special, together with the purpose of the meeting, by mail at least ten (10) days prior to said meeting. He/she shall receive and answer all correspondence pertaining to the fire council. He/she shall assist the President when so called upon.

     4.   The Financial Secretary shall collect all dues and other money due to the fire council from any undertaking. He/she shall deposit all such money into a banking corporation approved by the Board of Directors. He/she shall transfer such funds to the Treasurer as needed. He/she shall prepare the annual dues cards for members and keep a separate account for each member. He/she shall prepare and send invoices for dues to the various companies, departments and exempt associations prior to January 1st.

     5.   The Treasurer shall pay all bills of the fire council only upon authority of the membership. At the annual meeting in January, he/she shall present a written report of all receipts and disbursements.

     6.   The Sergeant-at-Arms shall check in membership at the door with the help of a representative of host company and report on attendance. He/she shall maintain order and remove anyone, at the direction of chair, during the meetings.

          7.   The Chaplain(s) shall attend as many meetings as possible. He/she shall offer public prayer at the quarterly meetings of the Amherst Fire Council. He/she shall pray for spiritual, physical and emotional health and safety of the Amherst Firefighters. He/she shall provide worship at the annual firefighter's memorial service and breakfast. He/she shall provide pastoral care for firefighters at their own request, the request of the family and at the request of their own fire company, department or exempt association. He/she shall pay a visit to the funeral home for deceased members when possible or when requested by members of the deceased's fire company, department or exempt association or by the family. He/she shall provide any other services when deemed necessary and/or appropriate.

ARTICLE 8 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) representative from each company, department and exempt association, together with the president, vice president. recording secretary, financial secretary and treasurer. It shall be the duty of the board of directors to guide the fire council in a careful and prudent manner.

     A.   Only the appointed director shall have the privilege to vote. In the absence of the director, one (1) of the delegates shall represent the organization.

     B.   The board shall have the power to exempt any member in distress or financial difficulty from paying dues until such time he/she may recover from his/her misfortune, upon application of said member in writing to the said Board of Directors.

        C.   In the event of a vacancy in office due to resignation, death or dismissal, the fire company, department or exempt association shall appoint a new director.

     D.   The board of directors shall meet at the call of the president and seven (7) days prior to the quarterly meeting.

ARTICLE 9 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

     1.   At the July meeting, the president shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of three (3) council members and two (2) members of the board of directors for the purpose of nominating a candidate for each of the following offices: president, vice president, recording secretary, financial secretary and treasurer and shall present said nominations at the October meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the October meeting and nominations may also be made by filing a petition signed by twenty-five (25) members in good standings with the secretary no later than December 31st. There shall be no further nominations for any office after December 31st.

     2.   The annual election and installation of officers shall be held at the January meeting and printed ballots shall be used. The term of office for the officers shall begin at the conclusion of the balloting and announcement of the results thereof. A plurality of ballots cast shall prevail.

     3.   The president shall appoint four (4) members and the financial secretary as tellers. Upon opening of the balloting only paid up members shall receive a ballot from the tellers.

ARTICLE 10 - REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

     1.   Any officer or member of this fire council may be removed from office or the association by presentation of written charges to the board of directors. The board upon investigation shall make a report to the membership.

     2.   A 2/3 vote of the members present shall be necessary to remove an officer or member from office or membership.

ARTICLE 11 - DUES

     1.   The annual dues of each company, department or exempt association shall be set at the October Board of Directors meeting and shall become due at the Annual meeting in January. This fee will cover the two (2) delegates and the directors dues.

     2A.  The annual dues of each individual member shall be set by the Board of Directors at the October meeting.

       B.  The dues of each "White Life Membership" shall be set by the Board of Directors at the October meeting.

       C.  The dues for each "Gold Life Membership" shall be five ($5.00) dollars per annum.

       D.   All membership dues shall be payable and shall become due at the annual meeting in January.

     3.   Any member in distress may be relieved from paying dues until such time as he/she is able to resume paying by applying in writing to the board of directors who shall have the power to grant such relief. the Board of Directors will review and act on those exempt from paying dues at January directors meeting each year.

     4.   On the night of the annual meeting in January, the financial secretary will not collect dues after 7:00 p.m. until after the polls have closed.

ARTICLE 12 - AUDITING COMMITTEE

     It shall be the duty of the auditing committee to examine and audit the books and accounts of the financial secretary and the treasurer; to audit the receipts and disbursements of all fund raising activities including the annual drawing and the annual yearbook accounts and to report the results of said audits at the April quarterly meeting.

ARTICLE 13 - ORDER OF BUSINESS

     The following shall be the order of business at all meetings:

(1) Meeting called to order. (2) Pledge to the flag. (3) Invocation. (4) Roll call. (5) Reading of the minutes. (6) Report of officers. (7) Report of committees. (8) Report of treasurer. (9) Report of financial secretary. (10) Unfinished business. (11) Election of officers. (12) New business. (13) Good of the council. (14) Benediction. (15) Adjournment.

ARTICLE 14 - QUORUM

     1.   Seventy-five (75) members shall constitute a quorum at all membership meetings.

     2.   Ten (10) members shall constitute a quorum at all board of directors meetings.

ARTICLE 15 - AMENDMENTS

     The constitution and by-laws may be amended by 2/3 vote of all members of this fire council present at any meeting, regular or special. Any proposed changes to these by-laws must be submitted in writing to the board of directors. The board shall present any changes to the body at the regular or special meeting and voted upon at the next quarterly meeting.

Org. 1929 

Rev. Jan. 2015