BYLAWS

FATHER A. J. RYAN - SAN DIEGO CAMP 302

    • SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
  • PREAMBLE

We, the descendants of Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of the Confederate States of America, have joined this fraternal, patriotic and educational order for the purposes and objectives set forth by the Sons of Confederate Veterans International Organization, and in doing so pledge ourselves to commemorate our ancestors' deeds, render loyal service to our nation, and to promote the maintenance of unqualified American citizenship and respect for and honor to the Constitution of the United States and the Flags of the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, and to therefore establish and adopt these Bylaws for our camp.

ARTICLE I: NAME

 

SECTION A.

The name of the order shall be the Father A. J. Ryan - San Diego Camp 302, Sons of Confederate Veterans, hereinafter referred to as the Camp.

SECTION B.

The Camp is so named in memory of Father Abram Joseph Ryan (1838-1886) " Poet-Priest of the South", author of the poem "The Conquered Banner", and Chaplain to the Armies of the Confederacy.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Camp shall be to associate with men of Confederate ancestry; to aid and encourage the recording and teaching of Confederate and Southern history so that it may be truthfully transmitted to future generations; to comfort, succor and assist needy Sons of Confederate Veterans, their wives, widows and orphans; and to urge, aid and assist in the erection and maintenance of monuments and memorials to Confederate valor.

ARTICLE III: PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

SECTION A.

The camp shall not be conducted for profit.

SECTION B.

The camp shall be strictly non-sectarian and non-partisan and shall not introduce, discuss, or foster sectarian or partisan topics.

 

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Camp shall be open by invitation to any male person regardless of Race, Religion, Creed or National Origin eligible for membership under the qualifications established from time to time by the Sons of Confederate Veterans International Organization. The Camp may admit as "Associates" persons not eligible but said Associates shall not be eligible to hold elective office nor vote in the Camp.

ARTICLE V: DUES AND FEES

SECTION A.

Each Member shall be assessed annual Camp dues, payable each August, in the amount specified in the Camp Standing Rules plus whatever dues assessments are specified by the Division, Army, and/or International Organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Associates of the Camp shall be assessed annual, dues payable each August, in the amount specified in the Camp Standing Rules.

SECTION B.

Each new member shall, upon application for membership, pay in the first year of membership only a registration or application fee in the amount specified by the International Organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

ARTICLE VI: CAMP ORGANIZATION

SECTION A.

ELECTED OFFICERS of the Camp shall be one Commander, one Lieutenant Commander, one 2nd Lieutenant Commander, one Adjutant, one Treasurer, and one Chaplain. The offices of Adjutant and Treasurer may be combined.

SECTION B.

APPOINTIVE OFFICERS may be appointed by the Commander as deemed necessary to further the goals and business of the Camp. Such Officers shall serve at the pleasure of the commander. All appointments, however, shall require the consent of a majority of the camp in meeting assembled.

SECTION C.

ELECTIONS AND TERM OF OFFICE. Officers shall be elected at the January meeting of the Camp on odd-numbered years, to take office at the conclusion of that meeting and, provided no candidate desires a specific office, then the sitting officer can serve consecutive two-year terms.

SECTION D.

VACANCIES IN ELECTIVE OFFICES. When a vacancy occurs in an elective office, a successor for the expired term shall be elected at the next regular meeting of the Camp unless said vacancy is for Commander or Lieutenant Commander in which case, the Lieutenant Commander and/or the 2nd Lieutenant Commander shall automatically succeed to the higher office and a new 2nd Lieutenant Commander shall be elected at the next regular meeting of the Camp.

SECTION E.

Officers of the Camp shall serve without pay or remuneration.

SECTION F.

COMMITTEES: The Commander may establish and appoint standing or ad-hoc committees as deemed necessary to further the goals of the Camp or assist in its operation. The Commander shall serve as ex-officio as a member of all committees.

 

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

SECTION A.

The Commander shall preside at all meetings of the Camp. He shall decide all questions without debate, subject however to appeal to the Camp. It shall be his duty to detail all officers and appoint all committees not otherwise provide for.

SECTION B.

The Lieutenant Commanders shall assist the Commander and perform such duties as assigned or may pertain to the offices, In the absence of the Commander, the 1st Lieutenant Commander shall preside and act in his stead. The 1st Lieutenant shall lead the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America at all meetings. The 2nd Lieutenant shall lead the salute to the Flag of the Confederate States of America at all meetings.

SECTION C.

The Adjutant shall maintain minutes of each meeting, membership records, and other records of the Camp. He shall render at each meeting a report on membership.

SECTION D.

The Treasurer shall maintain all funds of the Camp, receive all monies, and make all disbursements or receipts for the Camp. The Treasurer shall comply with State and Federal regulations applying to non-profit corporations. He shall render a report at each meeting.

SECTION E.

The Chaplain shall perform all such duties as may pertain to the office including keeping the Camp informed of members ill, in need or deceased. He shall deliver an invocation at the beginning of each meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS

SECTION A.

Regular meetings of the Camp shall be held on the 2nd Saturday of each odd-numbered month (January, March, May, July, September, November) at a time specified from time to time by the Camp in meeting assembled and at location(s) to be announced at a minimum of two weeks prior to each meeting. All meetings of the Camp shall be within the boundaries of San Diego or adjacent counties.

SECTION B.

Special meetings of the Camp may be called by the Camp Commander with written notices of each such special meeting provided to all members of the Camp a minimum of two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting.

SECTION C.

Postponement or cancellation of a meeting shall be the responsibility of the Commander and shall be provided verbally or telephonically to all members a minimum of two days prior to the scheduled meeting.

SECTION D.

A quorum for conducting business at any meeting shall consist of five (5) members to include either the Commander or Lieutenant Commander in his stead and one other elected officer.

SECTION E.

All questions or elections brought before the Camp at a regular or special meeting shall be decided by a majority vote for those present and entitled to vote.

SECTION F.

The Flag of the United States of America and a Flag of the Confederate States of America and the Camp charter shall be displayed at all meetings of the Camp.

SECTION G.

All meetings of the Camp shall commence with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, followed by the salute to the Flag of the Confederate States of America.

SECTION H.

All meetings of the Camp shall be conducted in a businesslike manner following the guidelines of the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX: FINANCES

SECTION A.

The fiscal year of the Camp shall be the same as that of the International Organization, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

SECTION B.

All funds of the Camp shall be deposited in a reliable depository insured by the FDIC. All such accounts shall have two authorized signatures for deposit, transfer or withdrawal; however only one such signature shall be required for any such transaction.

SECTION C.

APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS. The forwarding of required application fees and per-capita taxes on membership to Division, Army, and/or International Organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans shall be made by promptly and as specified by the Constitutions or Bylaws of those organizations. All other expenditures or disbursements of Camp funds shall require approval of the Camp in meeting assembled with the exception of emergency payments which shall require the approval of the Commander.

SECTION D.

REIMBURSEMENTS. Camp Officers may be entitled to reimbursement of certain expenses necessary for the conduct of their respective offices. Such reimbursements shall be limited to actual expenditures and shall be reimbursed only upon presentation of a written request with receipts or copies of receipts attached at a meeting for approval. Typical expenses would include but are not limited to charges for toll calls, postage, copying expenses, and correspondence materials. Reimbursements for time are not authorized.

SECTION E.

Donations of expenses shall be handled in the same manner as reimbursements as specified in section D proceeding with the Treasurer issuing a receipt for the actual value in lieu of reimbursement.

 

ARTICLE X: INCLUSION OF DIVISION, ARMY AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION CONSTITUTIONS.

Included herein by reference and made part of these Bylaws are the Constitution of the Division, Army and International Organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Where these Bylaws are silent or in conflict with the referenced Constitutions, the Constitution of the highest referenced organization addressing the question at hand shall rule.

ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION AND DISPOSAL OF ASSETS

In case of surrender or forfeiture of the Camp charter, all Camp property, records and funds shall be turned over to the Commander-in-Chief, Sons of Confederate Veterans, National Headquarters or his duly authorized designee and shall be held by National Headquarters as a charitable trust that is held for the purpose for which the order exists.

ARTICLE XII: SUSPENSION OF BYLAWS

There shall be no suspension of these bylaws during any meeting of the Camp.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Camp by a two-thirds vote (2/3) of the members present at the meeting and eligible to vote; provided however, that a copy of all proposed amendments are submitted in writing to the Camp membership at the preceding meeting or sixty days prior in lieu of a meeting.

 

ADOPTION OF BYLAWS

* These Bylaws were proposed at a regular meeting of the Camp held on January 18,2014 at San Diego, California.

          • MICHAEL A.  SCHOOLING, COMMITTEE ON BYLAWS
  • * These bylaws were approved and adopted by the membership of the Camp at a regular meeting of the

Camp held on March 8, 2014 by a vote upon motion to approve and adopt by Steve Smith,

seconded by George Faircloth.

          • JAMES M. STEPHENS, COMMANDER
    • ATTEST:
    • ROY E. ADAIR, ADJUTANT
  • *These Bylaws were reviewed and amended as shown herein at a regular Camp meeting held on January 24, 2019.