25th Masonic
District
Blue Lodge
Association
By-Laws
Proposed
as Amended January 28, 200
ARTICLE
I NAME
Section 1
This organization shall be known
as the 25th Masonic District Blue Lodge Association.
ARTICLE
II PURPOSE
Section 1
The purpose of the Association
shall be to promote matters pertaining to the welfare
of Blue Lodges in the 25th Masonic District, to arrange and
conduct District meetings and functions, including the
reception of Grand Lodge Officers on appropriate occasions
in conjunction with the 25th District Deputy Grand Masters,
to receive such information from the Grand Lodge as the
District Deputy Grand Masters may deem necessary, to promote
Good Will and Brotherly Love among its Members and do any
and all things necessary to carry into effect the above aims
and purposes.
ARTICLE
III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
The membership shall consist of
all Master Masons who are members in good standing of a
Member Lodge in good standing.
Section 2
Member Lodges shall be located in the 25th Masonic District
and chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
Section 3
A Member Lodge shall be in good standing if such Lodge has
ratified the By-Laws of the Association and has paid its
annual per capita contribution, on or before January 1st
of each year, for the maintenance of the Association.
Section 4
The current District Deputy Grand Masters who are serving in
the 25th Masonic District, all Grand Lodge Officers of
active status, all Past Grand Masters and all Past
Presidents of the Association (and its predecessors) shall
also be Members of this Association.
ARTICLE
IV OFFICERS
Section 1
The Association shall have a President, 1st
Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, 3rd
Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Central Secretary,
each of whom shall serve for one (1) year or until his
successor is elected and installed.
Section 2
The Association shall have three (3) Trustees, one of whom
shall be elected annually, to serve for a period of three
(3) years or until his successor has been elected and
installed. The first election shall be one (1) Trustee for
one (1) year, one (1) Trustee for two (2) years and one (1)
Trustee for three (3) years.
Section 3
The Association shall have a Chaplain who shall be appointed
by the President to serve during his term.
QUALIFICATIONS OF
OFFICERS
ARTICLE V
Section 1
All Officers shall be Members of the Association at the time
of their installation as defined in ARTICLE III.
Section 2
No two elected Officers from the same Lodge may serve as
President and Vice-President during the same year.
Section 3
Insofar as is practical and possible, the Officers shall be
selected from Lodges geographically distributed throughout
the 25th Masonic District.
ARTICLE
VI PRESIDENT
Section 1
The President shall preside at all meetings, and do all
things usually incumbent to this office. He is responsible
for the satisfactory performance of all committees and may
make personal changes in their composition to achieve the
results he desires from them.
ARTICLE
VII VICE-PRESIDENTS
Section 1
In the absence of the President, the 1st
Vice-President, or in his absence,the 2nd
Vice-President, or in his absence, the 3rd
Vice-President shall preside and perform all the duties
incumbent on the President.
Section 2
The First Vice-President shall customarily be appointed to
serve as Chairman of the Grand Master’s Reception Committee.
Section 3
The Second Vice-President shall customarily be appointed to
serve as Chairman of the Outdoor Raising Committee.
Section 4
The Third Vice-President shall customarily be appointed to
serve as Chairman of the Awards Night Banquet.
ARTICLE
VIII SECRETARY
Section 1
The Secretary shall keep a complete record of the minutes of
each meeting, send out notices of each meeting and conduct
correspondence of the Association as is necessary and
proper. He shall prepare and mail to each Member Lodge,
within thirty (30) days following the closing of each
meeting, a summary report of such meeting’s actions if
deemed necessary by the President. He shall immediately give
or send a copy of these By-Laws and any approved amendment
thereto to each elected and appointed Association Officer,
and other Association Members by request, at their cost. His
records shall be audited not more than thirty (30) days
prior to each Annual Meeting and prior to his relief from
office at any other time.
ARTICLE
IX TREASURER
Section 1
The Treasurer shall receive and promptly deposit in the
checking account of the Association all moneys due the
Association, keep a strict accounting thereof, promptly pay
such obligations and duly submit to the Association for its
approval. He will send out notices of and collect all moneys
due the Association. He shall serve as Chairman of the
Finance Committee, and annually submit to the Finance
Committee a written recommendation regarding the best
investment of funds entrusted to his care. He shall withdraw
from or transfer funds between accounts when approved in
accordance with these By-Laws, and shall be bonded as
determined by the Trustees. His records shall be audited not
more than thirty (30) days prior to each Annual Meeting and
prior to his relief from office at any other time.
ARTICLE
X CENTRAL SECRETARY
Section 1
The Central Secretary shall prepare and mail to each Member
Lodge a periodic summary report including but not limited
to: new petitions, dimits, affiliations, suspensions and
upcoming District functions as submitted by the Secretary of
each Member Lodge and as requested by the President when
deemed necessary. He shall keep a complete record of all
reports and he shall also serve as Chairman of the Directory
Committee.
Proposed Amendment
1/28/08
Section 1
The Central Secretary shall prepare and mail to each
Member Lodge a periodic summary report including but not
limited to: new petitions, dimits, affiliations, suspensions
and upcoming District functions as submitted by the
Secretary of each Member Lodge and as requested by the
President when deemed necessary. He shall keep a
complete record of all reports and he shall also serve as
Chairman of the Directory Committee.
ARTICLE
XI TRUSTEES
Section 1
The Trustees shall establish the amount of and care for
surety bonds,insurance, and all property of the Association.
They shall keep a current item valuation inventory of the
property and be required to submit a report to the
Association at the Annual Meeting each year, which shall
be included in the minutes of the Association. They shall
insure that no bonded Officer shall possess or be
responsible for the renewal of his own bond. The Trustees
shall serve on the Audit Committee.
ARTICLE
XII SALARY
Section 1
No Officer of the Association shall receive a salary.
Section 2
The Secretary, Central Secretary and Treasurer may each
receive an allowance for incidental expenses not to exceed
one hundred dollars ($100.00) each per annum as contingent
upon the approval of any required and favorable report by
the Association.
ARTICLE
XIII PLACE OF MEETINGS
Section 1
Any regular or special meeting may be held at any regular
Lodge meeting place in the District when so announced by the
President and when due notice is given to all Member Lodges
of the Association.
Section 2
The Committee on Place will announce the meeting places of
the next January, April, and October meetings at the regular
meeting in October.
ARTICLE
XIV MEETINGS
Section 1
Regular meetings shall be held during the fifth partial or
full week of the months of January, April and October.
NOTE: These meeting dates are subject to change when deemed
necessary by the Association Officers and D.D.G.M.s. No
meetings shall be held on a Sunday or a Holiday. The
October meeting shall be the Annual Meeting of the
Association. The January meeting shall be the Annual
Installation of Officers, which may be open to invited
guests at the request of the President-elect and the consent
of the Association. All regular meetings shall start
promptly at 7:30 P.M. or, if held in conjunction with a
Lodge Meeting, as soon thereafter as practical.
Introductions shall be recognized by the Presiding Officer
of the Association.
Proposed Amendment
1/28/08
Section 1
Regular meetings shall be held during the fifth partial or
full week of the months of January, April and November.
NOTE: These meeting dates are subject to change
when deemed necessary by the Association Officers and
D.D.G.M.s. No meetings shall be held on a Sunday or a
Holiday. The November meeting shall be the Annual Meeting
of the Association and election of Officers and will be held
immediately following the conclusion of the Past Masters
Convocation. The January meeting will be held on the
first Saturday after the first Sunday and shall be
Annual Installation of Officers the, which may be open to
invited guests at the request of the President-elect and the
consent of the Association. All regular meetings shall start
promptly at 7:30 P.M. or, if held in conjunction with a
Lodge Meeting, as soon thereafter as practical.
Introductions shall be recognized by the Presiding Officer
of the Association.
Section 2
A special meeting may be called by the President at any
time, and must be called by the Secretary upon written
request of the Masters of four (4) Member Lodges. Due notice
of special meetings may be communicated by any method to at
least one (1) designated representative of each Member
Lodge, or if necessary, to the senior Lodge Officer who can
be contacted, provided that one (1) day elapses after the
last Lodge is contacted before the special meeting is called
to order. Only the business for which the special meeting
was called may be considered by the Association at such a
meeting and must be stated in the due notice communication.
Section 3
All meetings are open to any
Member Master Mason and any such Master Mason may request
the permission of the Presiding Officer to speak on any
subject relevant to the purposes of the Association. He may
also examine the records of the Secretary and Treasurer on
meeting dates or make arrangements to do so at another time,
place and date.
Section 4
All meetings of the Association, except the January meeting
Installation of Officers) may be casual dress unless
otherwise stated by the President.
ARTICLE
XV QUORUM
Section 1
Thirty Members who are qualified to vote and who represent a
minimum of 30% of the Member Lodges of the Association shall
constitute a quorum.
Section 2
Member Lodges in arrears for dues shall not be considered a
part of a calculation for a quorum.
Section 3
If there is no quorum present at the Annual Meeting in
October an election of Officers will still be held.
ARTICLE
XVI ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE
Section 1
After January 1st of
each year, each Member Lodge whose maintenance is paid shall
be entitled to five (5) votes on any question or at the
election of Officers. Provided however, that the number of
votes cast on behalf of a Member Lodge shall not exceed the
number of representatives of the Member Lodge who are
present at the meeting.
Section 2
Each Member Lodge shall exercise its right to vote through
its voting representatives designated by the Master of each
Member Lodge.
Section 3
All current and past D.D.G.M.s, Past Grand Masters, Past
Presidents and Grand Lodge Officers who are Members of the
Association (and its predecessors) shall be entitled to one
(1) vote.
Section 4
Plural Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote as per
Section 1 of this Article.
Section 5
No proxy vote shall be accepted or counted for any purpose.
ARTICLE
XVII VOTING PROCEDURES
Section 1
Voting shall be by a simple majority of the Association
Members who are present and voting (unless otherwise
provided for in these By-Laws).
ARTICLE
XVIII NOMINATION OF ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1
Thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Nomination
Committee shall nominate one or more eligible Brothers for
each elective office. Such nominations, along with any
additional nominations from the floor, shall be reported and
voted upon at the Annual Meeting. The candidate receiving
the greatest number of votes for each office shall be
declared elected and shall be installed during the following
January meeting.
Section 2
The Nomination Committee shall endeavor to select nominees
so that all of the Lodges in the 25th Masonic District
receive reasonably equal recognition in nominations over the
course of years.
ARTICLE
XIX VACANCIES
Section 1
Should the Office of President become vacant it shall so
remain until the next regular election of Officers.
Section 2
Should any other office become vacant, the Presiding Officer
shall appoint a successor or successors to fill the
unexpired term(s).
Section
3 Should any elected
Officer(s) become ineligible to serve, or otherwise be
forced to withdraw prior to their Installation, the
Nomination Committee shall nominate one or more eligible
persons for the said office(s) at the January meeting in
accordance with ARTICLE XVIII, Section 1.
ARTICLE
XX RECALL OF ELECTED
OFFICERS
Section 1
An elected officer may be recalled from his office by the
presentation of a written petition setting forth the reasons
warranting such action and signed by five (5) Members who
are qualified to vote. This must be done at a regular
meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. Such
petition must be read and included in the minutes of the
meeting and carried over to the next regular meeting, or
special meeting called for that purpose, when it may be
voted upon. If a two-thirds favorable vote of those present
and voting is received, it shall be declared carried and
said office declared vacant.
ARTICLE
XXI FEES
Section 1
On or before January 1st of each year, each
Member Lodge shall contribute to the General Fund of this
Association the amount of fifty cents ($0.50) per capita
based upon the latest available Grand Lodge Report
respecting the membership total of each Member Lodge. Five
cents ($0.05) of this fee will be deposited into the 25th
Masonic District Blue Lodge Association Benevolent Fund, and
ten cents ($0.10) of this fee will be deposited into the
Excellence In Youth Award Account.
Proposed Amendment
1/28/08
Section 1 On
or before January 1st of each year, each Member
Lodge shall contribute to the General Fund of this
Association the amount of fifty cents ($0.50) per capita
based upon the latest available Grand Lodge Report
respecting the membership total of each Member Lodge. Five
cents ($0.05) of this fee will be deposited into the 25th
Masonic District Blue Lodge Association Benevolent Fund,
and ten cents ($0.10) of this fee will be deposited into the
Excellence In Youth Award Account.
Section 2
Plural Members will pay dues from one (1) 25th District
Lodge only. It will be the responsibility of the Member
Lodge’s Secretary(s) to submit to the Association a counting
of their Plural Members. The Association Treasurer will also
oversee this Section.
Proposed Amendment
1/28/08
Section
3 When a Member Lodge falls in arrears of its
contribution for the maintenance of the Association, that
member Lodge will not be entitled to any of the benefits of
the Association (such as the Calendar books, attendance to
any of the District functions etc.), until that Lodge’s fees
are current.
ARTICLE
XXII TREASURY
Section 1
The moneys of the Association shall be deposited in the
General Fund. The 25th Masonic District Benevolent Fund, the
Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund, and the Excellence in
Youth Award Account will be separate ledger accounts
maintained within the General Fund.
Proposed Amendment
1/28/08
Section 1
The moneys of the Association shall be deposited in the
General Fund. The 25th Masonic District Benevolent Fund,
the Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund, and the Excellence in
Youth Award Account will be a separate ledger account
maintained within the General Fund.
Section 2
The General Fund shall consist of a checking account in the
name of the 25th Masonic District Blue Lodge Association.
This account shall be carried in a local financial
institution designated at the convenience of the Treasurer
with the approval of the Finance Committee. All moneys drawn
shall be dispensed by checks requiring two (2) signatures,
either of the President, Secretary or Treasurer of the
Association.
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
Section 2
The General Fund shall consist of a checking account in the
name of the 25th Masonic District Blue Lodge Association.
This account shall be carried in a local financial
institution designated at the convenience of the Treasurer
with the approval of the Finance Committee. All moneys
drawn shall be dispensed by checks requiring two (2)
signatures, either of the President, Secretary or Treasurer
of the Association
Section 3
The 25th Masonic District Benevolent Fund shall be under a
separate ledgeraccount maintained within the General Fund.
Control of the Benevolent Fund and withdrawals from the
Benevolent Fund shall be at the sole discretion of the
current District Deputy Grand Masters or any Past 25th
District Deputy Grand Master(s) designated by them.
Section 4 The Outdoor
Raising Maintenance Fund shall be under a separate ledger
account maintained within the General Fund. The Outdoor
Raising Maintenance Fund shall be used solely for the
purpose of maintaining the Outdoor Raising equipment and
paraphernalia. Fifty cents ($0.50) of all entry fees at each
Outdoor Raising shall be deposited in the Outdoor Raising
Maintenance Fund ledger account within the General Fund. Any
withdrawal from this Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund shall
require two (2) signatures, either of the President,
Secretary or Treasurer of the Association
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
Section
4 The Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund shall be
under a separate ledger account maintained within the
General Fund. The Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund shall be
used solely for the purpose of maintaining the Outdoor
Raising equipment and paraphernalia. Fifty cents ($0.50) of
all entry fees at each Outdoor Raising shall be deposited in
the Outdoor Raising Maintenance Fund ledger account within
the General Fund. Any withdrawal from this Outdoor Raising
Maintenance Fund shall require two (2) signatures, either of
the President, Secretary or Treasurer of the Association
Section 5
The Excellence in Youth Award Account shall be under a
separate ledger account maintained within the General Fund,
and will be used for the purpose of supporting our
“Excellence in Youth” recipients each year at the Grand
Master’s Reception. Each “Excellence in Youth” award
recipient will receive a $500.00 Savings Bond from this
fund.
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
Section 5
The Excellence in Youth Award Account shall be under a
separate ledger account maintained within the General Fund,
and will be used for the purpose of supporting our
“Excellence in Youth” recipients each year at the Grand
Master’s Reception. Each “Excellence in Youth” award
recipient will receive a $500.00 Savings Bond or its
equivalent.
ARTICLE
XXIII EXPENDITURES
Section 1
The Treasurer is authorized to expend sums with the approval
of the President and Secretary subject to confirmation by
the Association at its next regular meeting, when all such
expenditures shall be submitted in written form for its
consideration and action.
ARTICLE
XXIV BUDGET OF THE CENTRAL SECRETARY’S
OFFICE
Section 1
The Central Secretary shall prepare an annual budget for the
expenses incident to the operation of his office. This
budget shall be presented to the Finance Committee for
review thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. After
receiving Committee approval, this budget shall be
incorporated into the total annual Association budget.
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
ARTICLE
XXIV BUDGET OF THE CENTRAL SECRETARY’S
OFFICE
Section
1 The Central Secretary shall prepare an annual
budget for the expenses incident to the operation of his
office. This budget shall be presented to the Finance
Committee for review thirty (30) days prior to the Annual
Meeting. After receiving Committee approval, this budget
shall be incorporated into the total annual Association
budget.
ARTICLE
XXV ANNUAL BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR
Section 1
The Finance Committee shall present an annual budget to the
Association at the Annual Meeting and recommend its
approval. Changes in the approved annual budget may be
adopted at any subsequent meeting, provided that due notice
has been given to the Member Lodges of the Association. The
Fiscal Year of the Association shall extend from October 1st
of each year to September 30th of the following
year.
ARTICLE
XXVI COMMITTEES
Section 1
The President shall within thirty (30) days after his
Installation, appoint and announce to the Association the
Chairman and composition of the following standing
committees: Audit, Directory, Finance, Nomination, Program,
Grand Master’s Reception, Outdoor Raising, and Place.
Section 2
The Audit Committee shall consist of three (3) Association
Members and three (3) Association Trustees. It shall be
their duty to audit the books of the Treasurer and Secretary
and submit a written report to the Association during each
Annual Meeting. After the Association adopts the report, a
copy shall be appended to the summarized meeting report sent
by the Secretary to each Member Lodge. The President,
Secretary, Central Secretary, Treasurer, and incumbent
Members of the Finance Committee shall be ineligible for
appointment to the Audit Committee.
Section 3
The Directory Committee shall consist of the Central
Secretary of the Association as Chairman and other such
Members as he may appoint. It shall be their duty to develop
and publish the next annual Directory Booklet.
Section 4
The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer of the
Association as Chairman and at least two (2) other Members.
It shall be their duty to perform the functions of the
Finance Committee as provided elsewhere in these By-Laws,
and to perform such other functions as the President may
direct. The President, Secretary, and incumbent Members of
the Audit Committee shall be ineligible for appointment to
the Finance Committee.
Section 5
The Nomination Committee shall consist of the immediate Past
President as Chairman, the District Deputy Grand Masters,
and five (5) present Masters of Member Lodges geographically
distributed throughout the 25th Masonic District. It shall
be their duty to perform the functions of the Nomination
Committee as provided elsewhere in these By-Laws.
Section 6
The Program Committee shall consist of the Third
Vice-President as Chairman and such other Members as the
President may appoint. It shall be their duty to arrange for
programs of an informative and entertaining nature to be
presented at the appropriate meetings of the Association,
and to plan the Annual 25th District Awards Night in
conjunction with the District Deputy Grand Masters.
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
Section 6
The Program Committee shall consist of the Third
Vice-President as Chairman and such other Members as the
President may appoint. It shall be their duty to arrange
for programs of an informative and entertaining nature to be
presented at the appropriate meetings of the Association,
and to plan the Annual 25th District Awards Night in
conjunction with the District Deputy Grand Masters.
Section 7
The Grand Master’s Reception Committee shall consist of the
First Vice-President as Chairman and such other Members as
he may recommend to be appointed by the President. It shall
be their duty to plan, coordinate, and execute all functions
required in hosting the Annual 25th Masonic District Grand
Master’s Reception.
Proposed
Amendment 1/28/08
Section 7 Grand
Master’s Reception Committee shall consist of the First
Vice-President as Chairman, a current District Deputy
Grand Master, or other Brother selected by the district
Advisor and such other Members as he mayrecommend to be
appointed by the President. It shall be their duty to plan,
coordinate, and execute all functions required in hosting
the Annual 25th Masonic District Grand Master’s Reception.
Section
8 The Outdoor Raising
Committee shall consist of the Second Vice-President as
Chairman and such other Members as he may recommend, whom
the President appoints. It shall be their duty to plan,
coordinate, and execute all functions required in hosting
the annual 25th District Outdoor Raising.
Section
9 The President shall
appoint the Committee on Place.
Section
10 The President may
create, staff, alter, and dissolve ad hoc committees at his
pleasure. He shall establish their membership, duties, and
authority in harmony with these By-Laws. He will report all
such actions to the Association during its next regular
meeting following such actions.
Section
11 All Standing and ad hoc
Committee(s) personnel assignments shall terminate at the
moment that the appointing President vacates his Office.
ARTICLE
XXVII ACCEPTANCE OF BY-LAWS
Section 1
When a Member Lodge pays its contribution for the
maintenance of the Association after the adoption of these
By-Laws, such payment shall be considered as act of
acceptance.
ARTICLE
XXVIII AMENDMENTS
Section 1
Any proposed amendment must be submitted in writing and
signed by five (5) Members who are qualified to vote, and
presented at a regular meeting, or a special meeting called
for that purpose. It must then be read, included in the
minutes of the meeting, and carried over to the next regular
meeting, or a special meeting called for that purpose, when
it may be voted upon. If the proposed amendment receives a
two-thirds favorable vote of those present and voting, it
shall be declared carried and become part of these By-Laws.
Proposed By-Laws amended January 28, 2008
