Bylaws of Albert Pike Preceptory
 

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                                                      ARTICLE

                                                           01                                       NAME  & PURPOSE

                                                           02                                       MEMBERSHIP

                                                           03                                       OFFICERS

                                                           04                                       MEETINGS & QUORUM

                                                           05                                       COMMITTEES

                                                           06                                       FINANCES

                                                           07                                       PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

                                                           08                                       AMENDMENTS

                                                           09                                       ADOPTION

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ARTICLE I.


Name and Purpose

Section 1. This PRECEPTORY shall be known as the ALBERT PIKE PRECEPTORY LEGION OF HONOR, and shall be under the control and direction of the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay, the Executive Officer in Texas, and Albert Pike Chapter No. 58.



Section 2. The Preceptory shall have for its purpose the promotion and exemplification of the principles and teachings of the Order of DeMolay for the lasting benefit and inspiration of the young manhood of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 and of all San Antonio and wherever the sphere of influence of this Preceptory may extend.

 

ARTICLE II.


Membership

Every Legionnaire in good standing with the International Supreme Council who is a Senior Member of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, or who is nominated by the Advisory Council of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, shall be ipso facto a member of this Preceptory and entitled to participate in its activities; Provided that any Legionnaire who is a Senior Member of any other Chapter may petition to be elected to membership in this Preceptory by the unanimous consent of the members present at the meeting; Provided further that such election to membership shall be by secret ballot.

 

ARTICLE III.


Officers

Section 1. The elective officers of this Preceptory shall be: Dean, Vice Dean, Secretary and Treasurer. The appointive officers of this Court shall be: Chaplain and Sergeant-at-Arms.

Section 2. Nominations for elective office in this Preceptory shall be made from the floor, and balloting shall be secret.

Section 3. The term of office for all elective officers of this Preceptory shall be Ad Vitam. The term of office for all appointive officers of this Preceptory shall be at the pleasure of the Dean.

Section 4. Any Legionnaire in good standing with the International Supreme Council, and a member of this Preceptory, is eligible for any office, and may be elected or appointed whether present or not and may be elected or appointed to any office he has held in the past.

Section 5. The Dean shall, in addition to the duties prescribed by the International Supreme Council, the Executive Officer in Texas, the Texas State Preceptory Legion of Honor, and Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, preside at all meetings of this Preceptory, appoint all committees, and be prepared to have the Preceptory perform the Investiture of the Degree of the Legion of Honor when requested to do so, and perform such other duties which naturally pertain to such an office, and shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

Section 6. The Dean Ad Vitam may at any annual meeting at his option retire and assume the rank and title of Past Dean; Provided further the Dean Ad Vitam may at the announcement of his retirement be elected by a majority of this Preceptory present at such meeting to the position and title of Dean Emeritus and at his expiration shall be accorded the rank and title of Past Dean; Provided further that a Dean Emeritus may at any annual meeting at his option retire and assume the rank and title of Past Dean.

Section 7. The Vice Dean Ad Vitam shall assist the Dean Ad Vitam in the discharge of the latter's duties and in the latter's absence preside.

Section 8. The Secretary Ad Vitam shall keep all minutes, records, and reports.

Section 9. The Treasurer Ad Vitam shall collect all monies and assessments, have charge of all finances, and keep proper books showing all receipts and disbursements and make a report thereof to the members at the annual meeting.

Section 10. A vacancy which occurs in the office of Dean Ad Vitam shall be filled in accordance with Section 7 of this Article and the Vice Dean Ad Vitam filling the vacancy shall preside until the next annual meeting at which time a Dean shall be duly elected Ad Vitam. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment of the Dean, and such appointee shall serve until next annual meeting at which time a new Dean and Vice Dean shall be elected Ad Vitam. If there be no living Dean, Vice Dean, Dean Emeritus, or Past Dean, the Senior Active Legionnaire who is a member of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 shall preside until the election of a new Dean and a new Vice Dean Ad Vitam.

 

ARTICLE IV.


Meetings and Quorum

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Albert Pike Preceptory Legion of Honor shall be held on or about March 18 of each year at a time and place as determined by the Dean; Provided that such place is within the metropolitan limits of San Antonio, Texas, and that the membership is advised at least one week prior to the meeting as to time and place.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Dean provided notice thereof is mailed at least one week prior to the date of the meeting and only for the transaction of the business stated in the notice. The Dean, upon written request of at least ten percent of the members, shall call a special meeting giving notice of time, purpose, and place as above provided.

Section 3. No meetings of this Preceptory shall be held or any business transacted at any meeting unless there is present at least a quorum of the membership. A quorum shall be an indispensable number of five members of this Preceptory, including at least two officers of this Preceptory, one of which must be the Dean, Vice Dean, or any Dean Emeritus; Provided, however, that in the absence of the Dean, Vice Dean, and all Dean Emeriti, a Past Dean of this Preceptory in order of seniority shall preside.

 

ARTICLE V.


Committees

Section 1. The Dean shall at his discretion appoint any committee that may be deemed necessary by himself; Provided that any committee appointed by the Dean shall make a written report of the Committee's activities and functions at the next annual meeting.

 

ARTICLE VI.


Finances

Section 1. There shall be no annual dues.

Section 2. Assessments may be charged of each member when deemed necessary by a majority of the membership of this Preceptory present at the meeting at which the assessment is levied.

Section 3. The Treasurer shall keep all funds of the Preceptory separately as trust funds on deposit in a bank or savings institution that is insured by an agency of the Federal Government; Provided that such funds shall be considered a part of the general assets of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 with the custody and use thereof assigned to Albert Pike Preceptory Legion of Honor. The Treasurer is authorized to expend said funds for those materials deemed necessary for the routine business affairs of the Preceptory. He is authorized to make such further expenditures as may be approved by this Preceptory.

Section 4. The trust account shall be carried in the name of Albert Pike Preceptory Legion of Honor with the authorized signatures being those of the Dean, Vice-Dean, Secretary and Treasurer.

 

ARTICLE VII.


Parliamentary Authority

This Preceptory shall be governed by Sturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, Latest Edition, in all cases where applicable and not inconsistent with the Statutes of the International Supreme Council, the orders and directives of the Executive Officer in Texas, and the bylaws, rules and regulations of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58.

 

ARTICLE VIII.


Amendments

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership of this Preceptory present at any Annual Meeting; Provided that one month's notice has been mailed to all Legionnaires of this Preceptory; Provided further that there is at least a quorum present, and when approved shall become a part of these Bylaws.

Section 2. Any action of the International Supreme Council, the Executive Officer in Texas, or Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 which may affect or alter these Bylaws in any respect is hereby declared to be an amendment.

 

ARTICLE IX.


Adoption

These Bylaws shall be placed in full force and effect upon approval in the manner prescribed for amendments to these Bylaws and shall then supersede all previous Bylaws for this Preceptory.
Adopted March 18, 1964

 

AMENDMENTS

Article III, Section 3: The term of office for all elective officers of this Preceptory shall be three years. Officers shall be elected in years evenly divisible by three. The term of office for all appointive officers of this Preceptory shall be at the pleasure of the Dean.
Article III, Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are amended to delete the term Ad Vitam.
Amended March 23, 2004