ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be The USS MASSEY ASSOCIATION, hereinafter called the Association.
Section 2
The purpose of The Association shall be to promote friendship, comradeship and kinship between Navy shipmates with a common bond of once having served aboard USS MASSEY. We shall strive to instill pride and patriotism in those, for having so served.
Section 3
The Association shall be non-profit and shall not have, nor issue shares of stock or dividends.
ARTICLE II: OFFICERS, TERMS OF OFFICE, COMMITTEES
Section 1
The elective officers of The Association shall be President, Vice President and Treasurer. They shall be elected by show of hands or ballot at the annual meeting during the reunion and their terms of office shall be no more than two (2) years. No President shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
Section 2
There shall be a Recording Secretary, a Historian, a Master-at-Arms and a Newsletter Editor appointed by the President and their terms of office shall be for two (2) years.
Section 3
The President may form committees, including but not limited to a Reunion Committee, Membership Committee, Election Committee and a Newsletter Committee and may appoint a chairman for such committees as necessary to conduct the business of The Association.
Section 4
There shall be an executive Committee composed of the officers designated in Section 1 and 2 above. Upon completion of his term of office, the President shall remain a member of the Executive Committee for a period not to exceed two (2) years. The Executive Committee shall fill its own vacancies.
Section 5
Upon completion of their terms of office, the ex-officers shall serve as a Nominating Committee until the next election of officers is held. The nomination to serve as an elected officer carries with it a commitment to attend the annual reunion of The Association. If such a nominee at the time of nomination knows he cannot attend the next reunion, he should decline nomination at that time.
ARTICLE III: DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Section 1
The President shall preside over all meetings of The Association, preserve order and decorum and shall perform all duties incident to the office of President. He shall give notice of all meetings and conduct the correspondence of The Association. The President shall have the authority to fill vacancies by appointment, for the remaining term of office, in the event of resignation or death of an officer.
Section 2
The Vice President shall render such assistance to the President as he may require and shall perform the duties of the President in his absence or disability.
Section 3
The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association and report thereon at the annual meeting and at such other times as the Executive Committee may request. His accounts shall be audited by an Auditing Committee appointed by the President. The majority of said committee shall be members of the Executive Committee.
Section 4
The Master-at-Arms shall be responsible for The Association banners and colors. Under the direction of the President, he shall maintain order at all meetings and functions.
Section 5
The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for taking and reading of the minutes of all meetings.
Section 6
The Historian shall be responsible for maintaining the archives of The Association, receiving and recording donation of memorabilia from members and shall report such to the Executive Committee.
Section 7
The memberships Chairman shall be responsible for maintaining the membership roll.
Section 8
The Election Committee shall conduct the elections at the annual meeting. Voting shall be by show of hands. In the event of a tie vote, a revote shall be by ballot.
Section 9
The Newsletter Committee shall publish a periodic newsletter, which shall be distributed to the membership as directed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP, DUES, CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 1
All persons who served on the USS MASSEY DD778 at any time are eligible for membership in the Association. They shall be designated as Ships Company.
Section 2
Spouses, children and friends of men who served on the USS MASSEY are entitled to become associate members. Persons who did not serve in, but have contributed to the success of the Association may be designated as honorary members. Neither associate nor honorary members shall be entitled to vote.
Section 3
Annual dues shall be $10 for members and shall cover a period from 1 January through 31 December. Members whose dues are unpaid during the annual meeting will not be eligible to vote. Changes in (annual) dues shall require a majority vote of the membership at the annual business meeting.
Section 4
Donations and contributions shall be accepted for the purpose of funding the functions of The Association. All such donations or contributions shall be forwarded to the Treasurer for recording and deposit.
ARTICLE V: MEMBERS
Section 1
Members shall assist in locating former shipmates and forward their current address and, if possible their telephone number, dates served on board, wife’s name and rate/rank to the Membership Chairman.
Section 2
Members may assist in obtaining newspaper, television, radio and magazine coverage for reunions and distribute flyers and/or bulletin board notices of same.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS, REUNIONS, ELECTIONS
Section 1
There shall be at least one (1) Executive Committee meeting during the reunion. A minimum of four (4) members must be present at committee meetings to constitute a quorum for making decisions and/or approvals. The committee may choose a reunion site should it become necessary.
Section 2
All members of good standing may attend meetings. Only members of The Association who served on the MASSEY are eligible to vote.
Section 3
The next reunion site will be selected by vote of the members at the annual reunion (if this had not been done at the previous reunion meeting).
Section 4
If members attending a reunion are requested to be present at the annual business meeting to elect officers and/or vote on other matters – it should be so.
Section 5
The election of officers shall take place at the annual business meeting held during the reunion by a majority of those members attending the meeting. The results of the election shall be announced at the banquet, or another suitable gathering; and officers introduced.
Section 6
Robert Rules of Order shall be the official guide of The Association for conducting business and/or settling disputes of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE VII: PROTECTING THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1
No member of The Association, acting in the name of The Association, shall engage in any activity for self-profit in the form of money or assets, arising from business transactions or dealings.
Section 2
Any member whose actions may dishonor or jeopardize the existence of The Association shall be subject to review and possible expulsion from The Association by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII: LADIES AUXILIARY
Section 1
Nothing shall prevent spouses of regular members from organizing as a Ladies Auxiliary provided such a group is committed to support the objectives of The Association. However, such a group will operate as an independent and separate entity and The Association assumes no responsibility for its operation or activities.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT OF SECONDARY LAWS*
Secondary laws may be amended at any meeting of the members provided that:
(1) The amendment is received and reviewed by the Executive Committee prior to the meeting.
(2) The amendment is passed by a two-thirds vote of the members of The Association attending the meeting.
*Secondary laws are used in place of by-laws.
ARTICLE X: FOUNDERS
Section 1
The names of the founders of The Association shall be permanently listed on the back pages of the Secondary laws.
AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENT 1
In order to increase accountability and effectiveness of the association elected officers, the following PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BY-LAWS is hereby submitted by President Phil Smith and will be submitted to be considered by association membership at the next annual business meeting to be held in September 2005, Branson, MO.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BY-LAWS
Deleted items in parenthesis (delete) Add items in upper case-ADD-
Article 2, Section 1
The elected officers of the association shall be President, Vice President, (and) Treasurer, – AND RECORDING SECRETARY – . They shall be elected by a show of hands or ballot at the annual meeting during the reunion and their terms of office shall be no more than two [2] years. No President shall serve more than two [2] consecutive terms.
The purpose of this change is to make the Recording Secretary an elective office.
Article 2, Section 2
There shall be a (Recording Secretary), Historian, Master-at-Arms ( and a newsletter editor) appointed by the President and their term of office shall be two [2] years.
Purpose of deleting Recording Secretary is change to Section 1 and newsletter editor due to the change in duties of officers.
Article 2, Section 4
(Delete this section) and replace with – THERE SHALL BE AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, RECORDING SECRETARY, TREASURER,HISTORIAN, MASTER-AT-ARMS, AND IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL FILL ITS OWN VACANCIES.
Purpose is to define exactly of whom the executive committee shall consist.
Article 3, Section 5
The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for the taking and reading of the minutes of all meetings – AND FOR THE COMPOSITION, AND MAILING OF NEWSLETTERS, MAINTAINING A CURRENT MEMBERSHIP LIST, AND THE TIMELY MAILING OF MEMBERSHIP CARDS.
Purpose is to make the Recording Secretary responsible for the newsletter and dues card mailings. Nothing in this change shall prohibit the Secretary from obtaining assistance for this task if he so desires.
Article 3, Section 9
(Delete this section) – Unnecessary; addressed in section 5.
Disposition:
Amendment 1 was presented to and adopted by a show of hands by the association membership present at the business meeting on September 29, 2005 in Branson, MO. Amendment 1 is hereby incorporated into the USS MASSEY ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS effective on September 29, 2005.
AMENDMENT 2
The following PROPOSED REVISION TO BY-LAWS is hereby submitted by President Tom Postoski to be submitted for consideration by the association membership at the next annual business meeting to be held in November 2010, Washington, DC.
PROPOSED REVISION TO BY-LAWS
Deleted items in parenthesis (delete) Add items in upper case-ADD-
Article II, Section 4
. . . Master at Arms, – CHAPLAIN – and immediate Past President.
Purpose to add the Chaplain as a member of the Executive Committee.
Article III, Section 10
– SECTION 10: THE CHAPLAIN SHALL PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AT THE ASSOCIATION GATHERINGS TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE MEMORIAL SERVICES, OPENING PRAYERS AT BANQUETS OR OTHER MEALS IN MASS, OPENING PRAYERS AT MEETINGS, OR BY REQUEST OF THE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, OR REUNION CHAIRMAN. HIS PRAYERS SHALL BE IN HONOR OF GOD, THANKING HIM FOR OUR SURVIVAL OF THE PAST, PRAYING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE PRESENT, AND FOR HIS MERCY WHEN IT IS OUR TIME TO STAND OUR FINAL WATCH.
Purpose to define general duties of the Chaplain.
Disposition:
Amendment 2 was presented to and adopted by a show of hands by the association membership present at the business meeting on November 2, 2010 in Charleston, SC. Amendment 2 is hereby incorporated into the USS MASSEY ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS effective on November 2, 2010.
AMENDMENT 3
The following Proposed Amendment To the MASSEY Association By-laws is hereby submitted by President Gordon Risk and Past President Dick Pearsall for consideration by the association membership at the next annual MASSEY Association business meeting to be held in September 2014 in Portland, ME.
Proposed Amendment to By-Laws
Deleted items in parenthesis (delete) / Add items in upper case (ADD)
ARTICLE XI – DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. GENERAL: AT THE 2013 ASSOCIATION BUSINESS MEETING, THE MEMBERS PRESENT FORMALLY AGREED ON THE NEED FOR A PLAN TO FORMALLY DISSOLVE THE ASSOCIATION AT A TO BE DETERMINED DATE AND TO CONCURRENTLY DISPERSE OR EXPENSE ALL REMAINING ASSOCIATION ASSETS.
SECTION 2. DISSOLUTION DECISION: THE DECISION TO DISSOLVE THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BE PROPOSED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO THE MEMBERSHIP PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL PROPOSE THE MONTH AND YEAR RECOMMENDED FOR FORMAL DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION. THE DATE SET FORTH FOR DISSOLUTION SHALL BE AT LEAST ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE PROPOSAL. TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT MUST APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S PROPOSAL FOR IT TO TAKE EFFECT. ONCE APPROVED, THE DECISION IS BINDING WITHOUT RECOURSE.
SECTION 3. ASSOCIATION RESOURCES: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL CONCURRENTLY RECOMMEND A PLAN TO DISPERSE OR EXPENSE THE FISCAL AND MATERIAL ASSETS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
- FISCAL ASSETS REMAINING MAY BE USED TO DEFRAY THE COST OF THE FINAL REUNION OR MAY BE DONATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART TO A MILITARY ORGANIZATION OR CHARITY OF THE ASSOCIATION’S CHOOSING. THE ASSOCIATION TREASURER OR IN HIS PLACE, THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, IS CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT ALL FISCAL ASSETS ARE EXPENDED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
- REMAINING MATERIAL ASSETS MAY ALSO BE DONATED TO A MILITARY ORGANIZATION OR CHARITY OF THE ASSOCIATION’S CHOOSING. IF NO INTEREST IN THE MATERIAL ASSETS IS INDICATED, THE ASSOCIATION SECRETARY OR IN HIS PLACE, THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, IS CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT THE REMAINING MATERIAL ASSETS ARE DISPERSED OF USING BEST JUDGEMENT.
- TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT MUST APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S PROPOSAL TO DISPERSE OR EXPENSE THE FISCAL AND MATERIAL ASSETS OF THE ASSOCIATION. ONCE APPROVED, THE DECISION IS BINDING WITHOUT RECOURSE.
Disposition:
Amendment 3 was presented to and adopted by a show of hands by the association membership present at the business meeting 20 September 2014 in Portland, ME. Amendment 3 is hereby incorporated into the USS MASSEY ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS effective 20 September 2014.