Revised By-laws for Council 1111 will be voted on at the Business meeting to be held at the Knights of Columbus hall at 7:00 PM on Tuesday May 3, 2011. 

The proposed By-laws are as follows:

Article I

1. This Council shall be known as St. Vincent Council, No. 1111, Knights of Columbus.
2. The initiation fee shall be paid by the council.
3. Dues payable by each member shall be levied annually in an amount as fixed by the council. The dues for the next calendar year shall set at the first meeting of October of each year.
4. Members who have attained the actual age of sixty-five years and who have been members of the Order twenty-five consecutive years, shall be designated as honorary members and on due request in writing they shall be exempt from one half of the general council dues which shall include State and Supreme Council per capita charges and levies.
5. Members who have attained the actual age of 70 years and who have been members of the Order for twenty-five consecutive years, and those who have been members of the Order for fifty years regardless of age, shall be designated Honorary Life members, and on due request in writing they shall be exempt from further payment of dues, per capita charges and assessments. All priests and members of religious communities, upon taking the First Degree of the Order, shall automatically be designated as Honorary Life members and thereafter shall be exempt from further payment of dues, per capita charges and assessments.
6. Any member who is disabled by bodily injuries or disease and is thereby prevented from engaging in any occupation or employment for remuneration or profit and shall have been so prevented for a period of no less than six consecutive months may, on due request in writing to the Supreme Council and upon certification by evidence satisfactory to the Supreme Council of such disability, be relieved from the payment of all council dues and Supreme and State per capita taxes as of the date of approval of said request and any suspension of such member for non-payment of such dues and tax shall cease as of the date of such approval.
7. Any member who is in arrears in payment of his dues shall not be allowed the use of the Council facilities.
8. The annual election of officers shall take place at the first regular meeting in June.

Article II   --   Elections

1. All officers, except the Financial Secretary, Lecturer and Chaplain, shall be elected annually, by ballot, at a regular business meeting as set forth in Article I, Section 8, and with the exception of the Trustees who shall serve for terms not to exceed three years, said officers shall hold their offices for the term of one year from the first day of July following, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
2. The Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Board of Trustees may annually select a priest to act as Chaplain, but such selection must be made in accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield - Cape Girardeau.
3. The Grand Knight shall select annually a Lecturer.
4. The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight
5. The Grand Knight shall appoint two members to act as Tellers. After all who are entitled to so do have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then proceed to count the votes in full view of the Council. One of the Tellers shall examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots. The Recorder shall tally the same and the result thereof shall be announced by the presiding officer.
6. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month succeeding his election, unless excused by a vote of the Council, and must present himself for installation at the time specified in the notice issued by or through the State Deputy or District Deputy, unless excused by such officer. Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant.
7. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by election at the regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the vacancy was created.

Article III   --   Officers

1. Only members who are in good standing and who have been initiated in the first three Degrees of the Order shall be eligible to hold office in this Council. No member shall hold more than one office at the same time. Only insurance members shall be eligible for the office of Financial Secretary.
2. The elective officers shall be as follows: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard and Board of Trustees.
3. The appointive officers shall be as follows: Financial Secretary, Lecturer and Chaplain
4. The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight. He shall hold office at the will of the Supreme Knight. He shall receive annual compensation as follows: From the council an amount equal to eight percent of the dues collected from both insurance and associate members, payable in quarterly installments at the end of each quarter, and from the Supreme Council, in a manner approved by the Board of Directors.
5. The Chaplain shall be selected by the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Board of Trustees in accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese.
6. The Grand Knight shall select the Lecturer.
7. At the last regular business meeting in June of each year the Council shall determine the amount of the bond (if any) to be given by the Treasurer and Financial Secretary in addition to the bond furnished by the Supreme Council, and the Treasurer and Financial Secretary shall not take office or be installed or receive any money or property of the Council until they have furnished such bond and the same has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The premium on said bond shall be paid by the Council.
8. The Council Officers shall perform the duties required of them by the Laws and Rules of the Order and by Article IV of these By-laws and such other duties as the Council may direct.
9. Where a member ipso facto forfeits his membership the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary shall immediately notify the Supreme Secretary of such forfeiture and shall immediately send notice in writing to the member; but failure to send such notice shall not affect such forfeiture. Provided, however, that in those cases relating to ipso facto forfeiture for failure to pay council dues, such notice shall not be sent to the Supreme Secretary or to the member until an officer or a member of the conservation committee shall contact the member and endeavor to have him retain his membership.

Article IV   --   Duties of Council Officers

1. The Grand Knight shall preside over meetings, appoint committees, act as Chaplain in the absence of the regular Chaplain, countersign orders drawn and signed by the Financial Secretary, countersign checks drawn and signed by the Treasurer and perform such other duties as the Order may impose. Except when notice of applications shall be published as provided by Section 110 of the Laws and Rules, it shall be the duty of the Grand Knight, as early as practicable before each regular meeting, to file with the Recorder a list of candidates to be balloted upon at such meeting.
2. The Deputy Grand Knight shall preside in the absence or inability of the Grand Knight and execute all the duties of said Grand Knight. He shall perform such other duties as the Order may impose.
3. The Chancellor shall assist the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight in the performance of their duties and shall take charge of the council during the incapacity or extended absence of both. He shall be charged with the total participation of the membership in the activities of the council. Subject to the approval of the Grand knight he shall institute a program to develop the availability and interest of the members in the specific activities of the council and refer his findings to the Grand Knight. He shall exercise a special interest in new members and those members who are sick or in distress. He shall perform such other duties as the Grand Knight directs.
4. The Recorder shall keep a true record of the doings of the council in a filing book to be provided for that purpose, conduct all correspondence of the council and shall perform such duties as the council or the Order may direct.
5. The Financial Secretary shall collect and receive all moneys due the council, and all funds obtained from any source, keep an account of the indebtedness of each member and each certificate holder and the amount received from each, pay over to the Treasurer of the council all moneys received, keep a roll of the members and certificate holders, their ages, residences and occupations, with the dates of initiation. The Financial Secretary shall cause every member before initiation to subscribe his name, subjecting himself to the constitution and by-laws of the Order and of the council. He shall notify the Supreme Secretary of the names and addresses of all council officers, names of members initiated, suspended, expelled, withdrawn, deceased, reinstated, readmitted, transferring to or from the council, and change of address, for necessary entry on the Supreme Council records. He shall notify the Comptroller of the Fourth Degree Assembly of any Fourth Degree member who may transfer to the council, or who may transfer from the council, or who may be suspended by the council. He shall perform all other acts required by the laws of the council and the Order and the rules of the Board of Directors.
6. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the council, receive from the Financial Secretary all moneys received by said Secretary. All moneys received by the Treasurer shall be deposited to the credit of the council in a bank or other secure institution of deposit, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees or majority vote of the council. He shall pay all orders which are signed by the Financial Secretary and countersigned by the Grand Knight. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the Order and the rules of the Board of Directors.
7. The Lecturer shall endeavor to devise means to entertain his council at meetings and perform such duties as his council may direct.
8. The Advocate shall be the attorney of the council in case of trial and investigation of any matter whatsoever of interest to the council.
9. The Warden shall be present at all meetings of his council, and at the opening of the same. He shall have charge of all the council property, except moneys and account and record books of officers, and keep the same in proper condition for the meeting of his council. He shall instruct his guards in their duties and appoint the same at pleasure, and perform such other duties as may be imposed by his council.
10. The Inside Guard shall attend the entrance to the council chamber, through its inner door; the Outside Guard, the entrance through the outer door; and each shall perform such other duties as may be imposed by the council.
11. The Board of Trustees shall consist of the Grand Knight and three members to be elected by the council. The Grand Knight shall be its chairman. The term of a Trustee shall be three years, with terms staggered so that the term of one Trustee will expire each year. The Trustees shall have supervision of all the financial business of the council and their approval shall be necessary for the payment of all moneys except Benefit Fund moneys and demands of the Supreme Council or Board of Directors or State Council, and the regular and usual stated payments of the council, and payments authorized by the council after notice and vote in accordance with Section 122 of Supreme by-laws. They shall audit the accounts of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer at least every six months, and in January and July report thereon to their council, State Deputy, District Deputy and Supreme Secretary, upon blanks approved by the Board of Directors. They shall see that the Financial Secretary and Treasurer give proper bonds running to the Knights of Columbus in trust for their particular council and in amounts fixed by said trustees, and they shall be the custodians of such bonds. But in case the Board of Directors shall bond such officers, the trustees shall be charged only with fixing the amount of such bonds in excess of the amount provided for by said Board of Directors, and in such case they shall have evidence that said officers shall have been bonded in such excess amount. They shall perform such other duties as their council or the District Deputy or the officers of the Order may direct.

Article V   --   Meetings

1. The council will hold two meetings per month at days and time as the Assembly shall designate. At least one meeting per month shall be designated as a regular business meeting.
2. At each and every meeting of the Council, whether regular or special, the flag of the United States of America shall be prominently displayed during the entire meeting.
3. All meetings of the Council shall be presided over by the Grand Knight.
4. The following shall form a part of the order of business and procedure at regular business meetings of this Council:

           1. Call to Order.

           2. Warden’s Report on Membership Card.

           3. Prayer.

           4. Pledge of Allegiance to Flag or some other suitable patriotic display of loyalty.

           5. Roll Call of Officers.

         *6. Opening Ode.

           7. Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting.

           8. Report of Admission Committee and Reading of Applications.

           9. Balloting for Membership.

         10. Reading of Notices of Applications in other Councils.

       *11. Initiations.

         12. Grand Knight’s Report.

         13. Chaplain’s Report.

       *14. Treasurer’s Report.

       *15. Reading by Grand Knight of Receipts of Treasurer to Financial Secretary and Treasurer’s Voucher of Deposit.

       *16. Reading of Bills and Communications.

         17. Financial Secretary’s Report of Receipts of Meeting.

       *18. Report of Auditors and Trustees.

       *19. Chancellor’s Report.

       *20. Report of Committees.

        21. Unfinished Business.

      *22. New Business (When elections are in order, this is the first item under New Business).

        23. Insurance Agent’s Report.

        24. District Deputy’s Report.

      *25. Good of the Order.

        26. Chaplain’s Summation.

        27. Closing Prayer.

      *28. Closing Ode.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

           *Parts of the order of business marked with an asterisk may be omitted at regular meetings other than regular business meetings.                At regular business meetings minutes of all meetings to and including the last regular business meeting shall be read.         

1. It shall be the duty of all officers to attend each meeting of the Council.  In case of inability of any officer to attend a meeting, due notice shall be given to the Grand Knight and arrangements made to have all necessary books and papers in the possession of such officer at the meeting.  If a Chair Officer is absent from a meeting, the presiding officer shall designate a member to act for him.
2. In the absence or inability of the Grand Knight to perform his duties, the Deputy Grand Knight shall preside and he shall execute all of the duties of the Grand Knight.  In the absence of the Grand Knight and the Deputy Grand Knight it shall be the duty of the Chancellor to perform said duties.  In the absence of the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and the Chancellor it shall be the duty of the Recorder to perform said duties.  If all the above are absent the duty to preside shall devolve on the other officers of the Council in the order in which they are named in Section 126 of the Laws of the Order.
3. If any meeting shall fall on a legal holiday said meeting shall be held the following day unless the Council, by vote at a previous business meeting, annul such meeting or fix a different date for such meeting within the month for which it is scheduled.

Article VI   --   Admissions Committee and Balloting

1. The Grand Knight shall appoint an Admission Committee. Within five days after the presentation to him of the application, the Grand Knight shall refer the application to the Admission Committee and thereupon said Committee shall notify the applicant to appear before it for examination as to his qualification for membership. If a majority of the members of the Committee shall file a written report withholding endorsement because the applicant is not a practical Catholic, said applicant shall be deemed rejected. Otherwise the recommendations of the Admission Committee shall be evidenced by the certificate of the Chairman of the Committee on a form to be prescribed by the Board of Directors. In the event of the failure or neglect of the Admission Committee to make report within ten days after an application has been referred to it, the Grand Knight shall discharge the said Committee and shall forthwith present said application to the council for action.
2. The Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight shall in turn privately inspect the ballot box, both before and after the ballot, and the former shall announce the result. If the number of negative ballots cast does not exceed one-half of the members present, the applicant shall be declared elected, otherwise rejected. The exact number of negative ballots shall not be stated. All Ballots for membership shall be secret, but the Grand Knight may order a second ballot at the same meeting upon the same application, when, in his judgment, it may be warranted by circumstances, provided such second ballot shall be ordered taken and declared before the first ballot shall be declared and before any further business shall be transacted, but no further balloting shall be permitted. (Sec112 p48).
3. If more than one candidate is to be balloted for at a meeting, the Grand Knight may announce that the first ballot shall be a general one upon all the candidates, and that if not more than one-half of those present shall cast negative ballots upon such general ballot, no other ballots shall be taken. If such announcement is made, and not more than one-half negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, all candidates so balloted for shall be declared elected. If more than one-half negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, then an individual ballot shall be taken on each candidate.
4. If for good and sufficient cause it shall be made to appear to the Grand Knight and District Deputy that any applicant elected to membership ought not to be initiated, the initiation of said applicant may be stayed by said officers and the Grand Knight shall thereupon give notice to the proposer of said applicant, and to the council at a meeting thereof, that such initiation has been stayed and that the vote by which said applicant was elected may, if so ordered by the council, at the next regular meeting thereof, be reconsidered.

Article VII   --   Committees

1. In addition to the Committees provided for in the Laws and Rules of the Order, the following standing Committees shall be appointed:
   1. General Program Chairman to have supervision of the operation of the 6-Point Program in the Council
   2. Catholic Activity Committee, with sub-committees on Charity, Devotion, Education, Family, Catholic Contact
   3. Council Activity Committee, with sub-committees on Entertainment, Athletics, Civic Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Social Affairs
   4. Fraternal Activity committee, with sub-committees on Personal Acknowledgment, Relief and Welfare, Sick, Memorial
   5. Membership-Insurance Committee, with sub-committees on Prospects, Enrollment, Admission, Readmission
   6. Public Relations Committee, with sub-committees on Council Bulletin, Press, Radio and Television, Internet, Speakers, Visual-Audio Aids
   7. Youth Activity Committee, with sub-committees on Columbian Squires, Youth Leadership and Services, Religious, Social and Recreation, Welfare
   8. Conservation Committee of which the Grand Knight shall act as Chairman
   9. Committee on Stationery, Printing and Postage, to consist of the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary, whose duty it shall be to provide such stationery, printed matter and postage as may be necessary for the business of the Council.
2. Except as herein provided, all Committees shall be appointed by the Grand Knight and the first person named on the Committee shall act as Chairman thereof. Standing Committees shall serve for the current fiscal year or until their successors have been appointed. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business

Article VIII   --   Funds

1. All moneys obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name of the Council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered Council Funds and shall be forthwith delivered to the Financial Secretary, who shall give his official receipt and who shall report at the close of each meeting the amounts so received and from what source and shall deliver the same to the council Treasurer and take his receipt.
2. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys received from the Financial Secretary in a bank to the credit of the council. Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check signed by two of the following three persons: the Grand Knight, Financial Secretary and Treasurer.
3. No money in excess of $100.00 shall be paid or transferred from the Treasury of this Council (except such moneys as the Council is called upon to regularly pay for its current expenses and as provided by the Laws of the Order, or for purposes approved by the Supreme Council or Board of Directors) unless by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at which notice in writing of a resolution of intention to pay or transfer such money and the purpose and amount to be paid or transferred shall have been given and regularly read.
4. Building Fund – Five percent (5%) of all money received on account of dues shall be deposited in a special fund to be known as the “Building Fund” of this council, and such fund, together with the interest thereon, shall be maintained for the purpose of providing and maintaining a permanent home for the council.

Article IX  --  Funerals, Etc

1. On the death of a member in good standing the Financial Secretary shall give notice to the members and, if time permits, shall request them to assemble to pay their respects and, if requested by the family, to pray the rosary for the repose of the soul of the deceased, at a time and place to be indicated in such notice.
2. Each deceased member in good standing will be enrolled in a purgatorial society.  An appropriate certificate of enrollment will be purchased by the council and presented to the next of kin by the Grand Knight or his designee after the rosary.  When a rosary is not requested the certificate will be presented at the wake or at a later date.
3. On the death of a party in the immediate family of a member in good standing the Financial Secretary shall give notice to the members, and if time permits, request them to assemble and pay respects and, if requested by the brother knight, to pray the rosary in memory of the deceased at a time and place indicated in such notice. The phrase “party in the immediate family of a member” shall be defined as a wife, father, mother and child under the age of 25 years.

Article X -- Miscellaneous

1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at which a resolution in writing providing for such amendment shall have been read and notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the members in writing or in the council publication at least five days prior to the second meeting.
2. Procedure and debate shall be in accordance with the Laws and Rules of the Supreme Council, the Board of Directors, these By-Laws and the Rules of Parliamentary Law known as “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

These By-Laws adopted by vote of the Council, ______________, 2011.

Robb Sawin, Grand Knight                                                                 

Jeff Wulfers, Recorder

Date of Institution   ________________, 2011                            Approved   ______________________, 2011

                                                                                                            John A. Marrella, Supreme Advocate

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