ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

BY-LAWS
Castine Volunteer Firefighter's Association
(Revised February 2000)

These by-laws shall be followed and abided by every member of said association and can be changed only by a special meeting carrying a post period of thirty (30) days and designed for such purpose. A minimum of (51%) of the active members must be present and any change of the by-laws shall carry two-thirds of that majority.

1. Name: This organization shall be known as the CASTINE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER'S ASSOCIATION.

2. Purpose: The Association's primary purpose is to serve the needs of the Castine firefighters. This service includes such things as conducting fund raising for new department equipment without utilizing money collected through taxation, recognizing individual achievements, and sponsoring social functions. The association may participate in any activity permitted a 501c 3 entity under the rules of the IRS.

3. Officers: The officers of the association shall consist of PRESIDENT, VICE- PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, and such others as the officers from time to time may propose.

A. Elections: Officers shall be elected or selected at the annual meeting scheduled in February. Nominations will be made at the monthly meeting scheduled in December and a written ballot with space for write-in votes prepared by the secretary. All terms will run for a period of one year from the time of election. Officers shall be 18 years of age or older, with active service of the Association. If a vacancy occurs in any office, the President or Vice-President may call for an immediate election to fill the vacancy. Such an election would be conducted at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

B. Duties:

1. PRESIDENT: The President shall be a member of the Association qualified by experience to moderate. The President shall act as "The Chair" of regular and special meetings; and, as such, will be responsible for conduct and procedure as outlined by the Robert's Rule of Order.

2. VICE-PRESIDENT: The Vice-President shall be a member of the Association elected the same as and qualified the same as the President and whose duties shall be to substitute as President in the President's absence. The Vice-President shall be an active member in all Committees.

3. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Association, record all members present and absent at all meetings, and keep and preserve the records of the association.

4. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall collect all money due the Association, keep regular account of all Association monies and holdings, and pay all bills by vote of the Association. The Treasurer shall submit the books for examination when requested by the Association and report financial standing at each meeting. All Association checks shall be signed by the Treasurer upon verbal concurrence with the President or Vice-President. In the case of the absence of the Treasurer, the President or Vice President shall sign Association checks. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual report of the Association's finances to be presented to the membership at the annual meeting in February.

IV. Membership:

A. Eligibility:

1. A member shall be currently in good standing with the Castine Volunteer Fire Department either as an active or reserve firefighter and have paid annual dues as set by the Association.

2. Personnel on the association roster at this time (February 2000) cannot be excluded from their position currently held in the association.

B. Duties: It shall be the duty of all members to be prompt at all meetings. No member shall be excused from attending regular meetings except on the grounds of absence from town, sickness, or absolute necessity./H4>

C. Review: In December of each year, the officers will meet to review the active member list. The purpose of this review is to determine if any active member has missed an excessive number of meetings without a reasonable excuse. Any active member who, in the opinion of the officers, has an excessive number of absences will be contacted by the officers to see if the member wishes to remain on the active or reserve list. Any member who chooses to stay on the active list but who continues to exhibit excessive absences will automatically be placed on the reserve list.

D. Booster Membership: The association may accept as many booster or reserve, non-voting members as from time to time may be deemed appropriate by vote of the association membership at regular monthly meetings.

V. Meetings:

A. Quorum: A vote may not be taken at a meeting unless a quorum consisting of at least 7 active members of the association are present.

B. Annual Meeting: The annual meeting shall be held the first Tuesday of February, beginning February 2000.

C. Rules: The following rules shall govern all association meetings:

1. One member shall have the floor at one time;

2. Each member wishing the floor shall address the chair;

3. No member shall be allowed to speak until recognized by the chair;

4. No question may come before the association unless properly moved and seconded and declared open for discussion by the chair;

5. All questions shall be settled by a majority of votes cast; and

6. When a motion is properly before the association, it must be disposed of before another one can be brought before the association.

D. Voting:

1. Only an active member in good standing has voting privileges.

2. New members shall be eligible to vote after attending two (2) consecutive meetings.

E. Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the President or Vice-President in the President's absence. Such meetings should be limited to the reason for which the meeting was called.

VI. Fiscal year:

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