We the Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers of the U. S. Coast Guard,
having derived due and necessary authority from Article 1, Section 5
of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chief Warrant and Warrant Officer
Association of the U. S. Coast Guard, with Headquarters at Washington,
D. C., to form a Chapter consistent with the precepts, rules or regulations
of the preamble, constitution and bylaws of the aforesaid association,
do hereby declare, form and constitute the formation of the Golden Gate
Warrant Officers' Chapter, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.
BYLAWS
Article I. ORGANIZATION:
The Chapter formed under the provisions of the foregoing constitution
shall be organized as provided hereinafter:
(a) The Chapter Headquarters shall be in the greater San Francisco Bay,
California area.
(b) The Chapter Officers shall be stationed or located in the immediate
vicinity of San Francisco, California, known as the greater Bay Area.
(c) The Chapter Officer shall be as follows:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Treasure
(d) That no officer shall serve in any one office for a period in excess
of two consecutive years.
(e) That the term of office shall commence on the first day of the calendar
year.
(f) That installation of officers shall be made at a regular meeting
held in January of each year.
(g) That in event of transfer or other form of separation of any officer
from the Chapter preventing continuance of duties of his office, the
Chapter may nominate and elect another member at a regular meeting to
serve the remaining portion of the term of office, except for the office
of President, in which case the Vice President shall succeed to the
Presidency, with full rights and authority of the office, and a Vice
President will be elected from among the membership.
(h) Active duty members shall serve in office as President or Secretary,
except where the Vice President succeeds the President to serve the
remaining portion of office, then he may be a retired Warrant Officer.
(i) Chapter Officers will be nominated and elected at a regular meeting.
If more than one nomination is made for an office and acceptance is
indicated by parties so nominated, then ballots will be sent to all
Chapter members for a vote.
(j) That the duties of the officers of the Chapter and its functions
and procedures shall be parallel to and similar to those laid out in
the Bylaws of the parent association.
(k) That the primary purpose of the Chapter shall be to encourage camaraderie,
raise esprit de corps, promote good fellowship and group representation
of the National Council, obtaining and disseminating information of
vital interest and to assist its membership in any problem presented.
(m) The following personnel are eligible for membership:
1. Members of the National Association in good standing.
2. Any retired Warrant Officer of former Warrant Officer, other than
those noted in 1. above, who holds Warrant or Commissioned status on
the retired list of the U. S. Coast Guard. Personnel in this category
shall be denoted as Associated Members. Such Associate members shall
be deemed to be members of the Chapter and shall not be eligible for
election to office and shall have no voice or vote in matters affecting
the Association when under consideration by the Chapter.
3. Associate members shall have full voice and vote in matters affecting
the Chapter only.
Article II. MEMBERSHIP: Membership in the Chapter shall be limited to:
(a) Chief Warrant and Warrant Officer, either permanent or temporary,
and those Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers holding, or subsequently
promoted to a higher temporary commission, either active or retired,
who are members of the Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association.
(b) Retired members of the Coast Guard, who qualify as stated above
may have full membership and have voting privileges in the Chapter and
may hold office as Vice President or Treasurer.
(c) Associate members as defined in Article I, section (m) 2. above.
Article III. DUES:
(a) Twelve dollars ($12.00) per calendar year shall be paid for dues and
shall be paid in advance. Members joining the Chapter after 1 July shall
pay 1/2 the annual dues for the remainder of the calendar year. CWO's
transferring into the bay area or newly commissioned CWO's shall be
given free membership for the current calendar year. The chapter may
reduce or increase the four dollar ($4.00) dues at a regularly scheduled
meeting by a majority vote of a quorum of one board officer and two members in good standing.
(b) That in event of delinquency of dues to the Chapter extending for
a period of two (2) months, the member shall be advised of his delinquency
and shall be dropped from membership of the Chapter.
(c) That an officer may be reinstated to membership in the Chapter by
submission of a letter application thereafter, accompanied by remittance
of the delinquent dues.
Article IV. EXPENDITURES: The following procedures are established for
expenditures:
(a) That where there is a balance on hand of $125.00 or less, the funds
shall be used solely for operating expenses, small expenditures may
be made for sending flowers in case of death, congratulatory telegrams
and other items of similar nature, the cost of which shall not exceed
$15.00.
(b) That where there is a balance on hand exceeding $125.00, these funds
in excess may be used on occasions of functions benefiting members of
the Chapter. Funds so expended shall be properly approved at a regular
meeting and shall be prudently expended and within reason so as to preclude
financial embarrassment of the Chapter.
(c) A petty cash fund not exceeding $50.00 shall be maintained by the
Treasurer without an prior authorization, which may be used for purchase
of stamps stationary, and other supplies and services necessary to edit
and mail newsletters and monthly meeting notices, in which cases such
bills shall be presented and approved at a regularly held meeting. Expenditures
of funds over $50.00 will not be made unless approval at a regular meeting.
(d) At least once each fiscal year the Chapter may designate one officer
of member (not an associate member) to attend a National Council meeting,
all expense money necessary to such attendance to be borne by the Association.
Article V. NOMINATIONS AND VOTING:
(a) All voting for Officers of the Chapter will be by open ballot.
(b) All members in good standing will be allowed one (1) vote for each
office.
(c) Nomination of officers will be made at the October meeting from
the list of members in the San Francisco Bay area eligible to hold office.
(d) Officers shall be elected to serve a term of one (1) calendar year.
Article VI. MEETINGS:
(a) Meeting place, time and date will be designated by the Secretary
at a regular meeting, by newsletter or post card.
(b) The Secretary is charged with issuing notices and newsletters for
each meetings.
Article VII. CUSTODY OF FUNDS:
(a) That all money except the petty cash fund, shall be deposited to
the credit of the Golden Gate Warrant Officers Chapter at an bona fide
bank in the San Francisco Bay area. Withdrawals of which may be made
by the Treasurer and only for such proper purposes as covered by these
bylaws.
(b) That in the absence of the Treasurer, the President of the Chapter
shall have the authority to issue checks or make withdrawals of funds
for expenditures covered by these bylaws, appropriate arrangements to
be made at the bank selected to cover such contingencies at the same
time funds are deposited to the credit of the Chapter.
Article VIII. QUORUM:
(a) Unless otherwise provided, two (2) members in good standing of the
Chapter at any regular or special meeting with one (1) officer shall considered a quorum.
(b) Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted in writing
at a regular meeting of the Chapter. The proposed amendment will be
read by the Secretary under the heading of correspondence. After such
notice, the proposed amendment shall become part of the bylaws if it
is approved by a two-thirds majority at the next regular meeting, a
quorum of six (6) members in good standing being present, or it may
be approved by a majority of the enrolled membership in good standing
of the Chapter by the use of written ballots.
Article IX. OATH OF OFFICE:
(a) The following oath of affirmation shall be administered to all elected
Officers by the presiding officer of the Chapter prior to assumption
of duty in an elected office, such to be performed in open meeting with
a quorum present:
Do you, (NAME) solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will faithfully and
the best of your ability, perform that duties of (office) of the Golden
Gate Warrant Officers Chapter, to which you have been elected, and that
you will honestly and loyally serve the best interest of this Chapter.
Article X. COMMITTEES:
(a) An executive committee shall be organized and may be comprised of
all or any of the Chapter officers and the chairmen of any standing
committees.
(b) Standing committees at the discretion of the President may be organized
not to exceed the tenure of the President.
(c) Chairmen of all committees, including standing committees, shall
be designated by the President.
(d) The President and Secretary shall be members ex-officio of all committees.
Article XI. SPECIAL MEETINGS:
(a) Special meetings of the Chapter shall require due notice thereof,
and shall be called only after such has been determined to be warranted
in the course of a preceding meeting or by the formal deliberation of
the executive committee.
(b) Any business transacted in a special meeting shall be subject to
rectification at the following regular meeting of the Chapter.
Article XII. RESIGNATION:
(a) A Chapter officer wishing to resign from office shall give notice
of his intention in writing to the Secretary, who shall present the
resignation at the next regular meeting.
This Constitution and Bylaws approved and adopted at the Golden Gate
Warrant Officers meeting held on 1 February 1957 at B. O. Q. Bldg. U.
S. Coast Guard Base, Government Island, Alameda, California.
This Constitution and Bylaws amended and approved by vote of the membership
at a regular meeting 21 March 1991.
