ZILMER-RILEY POST #84 - Proposed Changes
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - Name
Section I-1: The Post existing under these By-Laws is to be known as ZILMER-RILEY POST
#84, The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin, incorporated under the Laws of the State
of Wisconsin.
Section I-2: The objects of this Post are as set forth in the Constitution.
ARTICLE II - Management
Section II-1: The government and management of the Post are entrusted to an Executive
Committee of nine (9) members and an Adjutant, to be known as the Executive Committee.
Section II-2: The Executive committee will consist of: one (1) Commander, two (2) Vice
Commanders, a Finance Officer, one (1) Past Commander, Veterans Affairs and rehabilitation -
(Service Officer), three (3) members at large, and the Adjutant as an ex-officio (non-voting)
member. These are to be elected annually at the May meeting, installed in June at the County
Installation Ceremony, and take office on July 1. All elections of Officers and Executive
Committee members will be by ballot (secret, voice or acclamation) and the candidate or
candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the respective office or offices
for which they are candidates.
Section II-3: All vacancies existing in the Executive Committee, or in any office of the Post
from any cause other than the expiration of the term, will be filled by a majority vote of the
remaining members of the Committee, and a person so appointed will hold office for the unexpired
term of the member of the committee or officer whom he or she succeeds. A vacancy will exist
when a Member or Officer is absent from his or her post for a continuous period considered
detrimental to the interest of the Post by the Executive Committee.
Section II-4: Records: It is important that written records be kept of all actions of the Post and
its committees. Written records will include meeting minutes as will as the financial reports of all
committees including, but not limited to, House and Entertainment, Fair Committee and Cabin
Committee. All records will be kept and maintained at the Post offices. Individual members will
have the right to inspect any and all records, documentation or information as may be needed from
time to time upon reasonable prior request of the member to the Post Adjutant. The Post Adjutant
or his designee will be present during the review of requested records. Ownership of all records
necessary to conduct business in a professional manner and meet legally and American Legion
requirements will rest with the Post.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99
ARTICLE III - Post Executive Committee
Section III-1: The Post Executive Committee will meet for organization and such other
business as may come before it at the call of the Post Commander within ten (10) days after the
installation of the new Officers. Thereafter the Post Executive Committee will meet at the call of
the Post Commander at least every month and as often as said Post commander may deem
necessary. The Post Commander will call a meeting of the Post Executive Committee upon the
joint written request of three (3) members of said Post Executive Committee. Five (5) members of
the Post Executive Committee will constitute a quorum thereof.
Section III-2: The Post Executive committee will approve the hiring of such employees as may
be necessary; will authorize and approve all expenditures; will require adequate bonds fromall persons having custody of Post funds; will hear the reports of post committee chairs; and, generally, will have charge of and be responsible for the management of the affairs of this Post.
( Suggested Change of Section III-2 is to replace, “bonds from” with “insurance for”.)
ARTICLE IV - Duties of Officers
Section IV-1: It will be the duty of the Post commander to preside at all meetings of the Post
and to have general supervision over the business of and affairs of the Post; such Officer will be the
Chief Executive Officer of the Post. He or she will perform such other duties as directed by the
Post.
Section IV-2: The 1st Vice Commander will assume and discharge the duties of the Office of
Commander in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by the Post Commander. He or
she will conduct the membership drive for the Post and serve as its chair.
Section IV-3: The 2nd Vice Commander will be House Committee chair and be responsible for
the operation of the clubroom bar and the Post kitchen. He or she will keep inventory of all
property not inventoried otherwise. He or she will be responsible for building maintenance and
refuse/garbage disposal. Hall rental and bar employees' contracts must be reviewed annually by
this committee. Hall rental records will be given to 2nd Vice Commander and the rental fees will
be forwarded to the Finance Officer.
Section IV-4: The Post Adjutant will have charge of and keep a full and correct record of all
proceedings of all meetings, keep such records as the Department and National Organizations may
require, render reports of membership annually or when called upon at a meeting and under
direction of the Commander, and handle all correspondence of the Post.
Section IV-5: The Finance Officer of the Post will have charge of Post finances and see that
they are safely deposited in a local bank or banked and will report once a month to the Executive
Committee and Post on the condition of the finances of the Post, with such recommendations as he
or she may deem expedient or necessary for raising funds necessary to carry on the activities of the
Post. He or she will sign all checks disbursing the moneys of the Post, and will serve as Chair of
the Post Finance Committee. He or she will furnish, at Post expense, such surety bonds in such a
sum as will be fixed by the Post Executive Committee.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99
(2)
Section IV-6: The Post Historian will be charged with the individual records and incidents of
the Post and its members and will perform such other duties as my properly pertain to the office as
may be determined by the Post Executive Committee.
Section IV-7: The Post Chaplain will be charged with the spiritual welfare of Post Comrades
and will offer divine but non-sectarian service in the event of dedications, funerals, public
functions, etc., and will adhere to such ceremonial rituals as are recommended by the National or
Department Headquarters from time to time.
Section IV-8: The Post Service Officer is responsible for bringing to the attention of all veterans
and their dependents the rights and benefits granted them by law. His or her job is getting
information to the full-time professionals to make certain that every veteran and his or her
dependents are adequately represented. The Post Service Officer will also serve as Chair of the
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee (Service Officer).
Section IV-9: The Sergeants at Arms will preserve order at all meetings and will perform such
other duties as may be assigned to them by the Post Commander and Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V - Delegates
Section V-1: Delegates and alternates to a Department Convention will be elected by ballot
(secret or oral) or by acclamation, by the Post at a regular meeting of the Post to be held at least
twenty (20) days prior to the date of such convention. An allowance for registration, housing and
mileage will be recommended to the Post by the Executive Committee for payment to delegates or
their alternates in attendance at the Department Convention and the Mid-Winter Conference.
ARTICLE VI - Appointments (Committees)
Section VI-1: The Post Commander, immediately upon taking office, will appoint the following
standing committees: Americanism, Cabin, Children & Youth, Fair, Finance, Graves
Registration & Memorial, House & Entertainment, Legislative, Membership, Public Relations,
Sons of the American Legion, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation (Service Officer). Such
standing committees will consist of such members and the chair thereof as will be designated by
the Post Commander, or as designated herein. The Post Commander will appoint the Post
Chaplain, Two (2) Post Sergeants at Arms, and the Post Historian. The Post Commander will
post, at the Legion Club, a list of all appointments and all committee members by July 1.
Section VI-2: The Americanism committee will be charged with the inspiration of patriotism
and good citizenship by arrangement for proper observance of patriotic and civic phases of
instruction in schools, Americanisms of aliens, combating anti-American propaganda by
education of the general public in American ideals through public forums, etc., and activities for
community and civic betterment.
Section VI-3: The Cabin Committee will have charge of all matters pertaining to the operation
of the cabin located in Oneida county. This committee will prepare complete written statements
of income and expense detailing the financial activities of the committee during the calendar year
and will submit the complete financial reports to the Post Finance Officer no later than July 1 of
each year.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99 (3)
Section VI-4: The Children & Youth Committee will be charged with aid and service to
children of veterans, cooperating with other established agencies in the community, will labor for
the betterment of child conditions and will coordinate services and agencies in the community for
the above purposes. To act as intermediary for the needy child of a veteran in obtaining the
fulfillment of the Legion's pledge that "no child of a war veteran will be in need of the necessities
of life” and "a square deal for every child." This committee will also be charged with the
promotion of physical development and clean sports by the organization of Post athletic teams,
recreation, etc., and by cooperation and support in the general recreational and athletic program of
the community. The Committee will also administer the Badger Boys State Program.
Section VI-5: The Fair Committee will be charged with the operation of the fair stand. This
committee will prepare complete written statements of income and expense detailing the financial
activities of the committee during the calendar year and will submit the complete financial reports
to the Post Finance Officer no later than November 1 each year.
Section VI-6: The Finance Committee will be charged with the administration of the financial
policy, preparation of budget recommendations and supervision of receiving, disbursing, and
accounting of all Post funds. The Post Finance Officer will serve as Chair of this committee.
The Cabin Committee and Fair Committee will prepare complete written statements of income and
expense detailing the financial activities of the committee during the calendar year and will submit
the complete financial reports to the Post Finance Officer no later than the date listed in their
description of duties. The annual report of the Finance Committee and Post Finance Officer will
incorporate and include copies of the reports as submitted by the Cabin and Fair Committees.
The fiscal year for this Post will be from July 1 to June 30.
Section VI-7: The Graves Registration & Memorial Committee will be charged with recording
of grave sites and complete information on veterans burial in cemeteries near the Post. Special
assistance can be given to the Service Officer in providing flags, headstones or proper decorating
of graves.
Section VI-8: The House and Entertainment committee will have charge of all matters
pertaining to the care of the Post quarters, promotion of club advantages and arrangements for
social activities. The 2nd Vice commander will serve as chair of this committee. These
committee members will include the Auxiliary president, vice president, and one auxiliary
member at large. This committee will oversee operation of the fish fry. The House and
Entertainment Committee may contract for employees with final approval of contract and
employee by the Post Executive Committee. This committee meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first
Tuesday of each month.
(Suggested Change of Section VI-8: The House and Entertainment Committee may contract for services with final approval of contract and services by the Post Executive Committee. This committee meets monthly at a mutually agreeable time for the committee members as long as it occurs before the post meeting.)
Section VI-9: The Legislative committee will be charged with having knowledge of what is
going on in Congress, State Legislature, County and City Governments - what we favor or oppose,
and should be ready to initiate action in support of our position when requested by the National or
Department Organization.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99 (4)
Section VI-10: The Membership Committee will have charge of all matters pertaining to the
membership of the Post, including the procuring of new members, reinstatement, and eligibility of
members. The 1st Vice Commander will serve as Chair of this committee. All membership dues
collected will be turned over to the Finance Officer.
Section VI-11: The Post Commander will appoint a Nominating Committee by February 1,
consisting of the immediate Past Commander as chair and two (2) post members. The slate of
nominated officers to be voted on at the May meeting will be read at the March and April
meetings.
Section VI-12: The Public Relations Committee will be charged with the promotion of public
support of the Legion's program by the establishment of proper contact with the American Legion
Magazine, Department and National Legion news service and by local publicity of Post programs
and activities. This committee will be responsible for publication and distribution of the Post
Newsletter.
Section VI-13: The Sons of the American Legion Committee will have supervision over the
operations of the Post's Squadron of the Sons of the American Legion.
Section VI-14: The Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee (Service Officer) will
supervise all matters pertaining to service to comrades in the prosecution of all just claims against
the United States or State Governments, employment, relief, etc. The committee will also be
charged with the visiting and comforting of members and their families when sick or bereaved and
with visiting ex-service members in nearby hospitals. This committee will submit a written
report of its yearly activities to the Finance Officer by July 1 of each year.
ARTICLE VII - Resolutions
Section VII-1: All resolutions of State or National scope presented to this Post by a Member or
reported to this Post by a Committee will merely embody the opinion of this Post on the subject
and copy of same will be forwarded to the Department Headquarters for its approval before any
publicity is given or action other than mere passage by the Post is taken.
ARTICLE VIII - Meetings
Section VIII-1: The regular meetings of the Post will be held at the clubrooms on the third (3rd)
Thursday of each month at which may be transacted such business as may properly be brought up
for action, such meetings may be converted into entertainment meetings, as may be deemed
advisable by the officers of the Post.
Section VII-2: The Executive committee will meet prior to the regular Post meeting.
Section VIII-3: The Post Commander or a majority of the Executive Committee will have
power to call a special meeting of the Post at any time.
Section VIII-4: Upon written request of twelve (12) Post members, the committee will call a
special meeting of the Post.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99 (5)
Section VIII-5: Twelve (12) Post members will constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX - Notices
Section IX-1: Every member will furnish the Post Adjutant with his or her address for mailing
purposes.
ARTICLE X - Rules of Order
Section X-1: All proceedings of this Post will be conducted under and pursuant to Robert's
Rules of Order, except as herein provided.
ARTICLE XI – Limitations of Liabilities
Section XI-1: This Post will incur, or cause to be incurred, no liability or obligations whatever
which will subject to liability any other post, subdivision, group of men or women, members of the
American Legion, or other individuals, corporations or organizations.
ARTICLE XII – Amendments
Section XII-1: These By-Laws may be amended at any regular Post meeting by a vote of
two-thirds (2/3) of the members of said Post attending such regular meeting, provided that the
proposed amendment will have been submitted in writing and read at the next preceding regular
meeting of said Post and provided further, that written notice will have been given to all members
at least thirty (30) days in advance of the date when such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying
said members that at such meeting a proposal to amend the By-Laws is to be voted upon.
Revised 01/25/96
Revised 12/16/99
(6)