| WESTERN MONTANA MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (WMMOA) |
| BYLAWS Adopted September 14, 2006 This is to certify that these amended bylaws were approved and adopted at the regular meeting of the Western Montana Military Officers Association, a Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America at Missoula, Montana on Sept 14, 2006. |
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Western Montana Military Officers Association, a Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, hereinafter referred as ‘the Chapter’.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSES
Section 1. The purposes of the Chapter shall be to promote the purposes and objectives of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) primarily at the local level; foster fraternal relations among retired, active and former officers of the uniformed services and their National Guard and Reserve components; protect the rights and interests of active duty, retired, Reserve and National Guard personnel of the uniformed services and their dependents and survivors; provide useful services for members and their dependents and survivors; and serve the community and the nation.
ARTICLE III – STATUS
Section 1. The Chapter shall be a non-profit organization, operated exclusively for the purposes specified in Article II above.
Section 2. Officers, directors and appointed officials shall not receive any stated compensation for their services, but the board of directors may authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Section 3. Nothing herein shall constitute members of the Chapter as partners for any purpose. No member, officer or agent of the Chapter shall be liable for acts or failures to act on the part of any other member, officer or agent be liable for acts or failures to act under these bylaws, excepting only acts or failures to act arising out of willful misfeasance.
Section 4. The Chapter shall use its funds only to accomplish the purposes specified in Article II above, and no part of said funds shall inure or be distributed to members.
Section 5. In the event of dissolution of the Chapter and after the discharge of all its liabilities, the remaining assets shall be given to a non-profit organization whose purposes and objectives are similar to those of the Chapter, such organization to be designated by a majority vote of the board of directors.
Section 6. Until more than one chapter exists in Montana, this Chapter shall serve members throughout the state.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership of the Chapter shall be composed of men and women who are service or have served on active duty or in one of the National Guard or Reserve components as a commissioned or warrant officer in one of seven U.S. uniformed services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Public Health Service) as well as widows and widowers of any deceased individual who would, if living be eligible of membership.
Section 2. Subject to the provisions of Section 1 above, membership shall be of two classes; regular and honorary. Honorary membership may be granted to certain individuals not otherwise eligible for membership in recognition of their services to the nation, the retired officer community or the chapter.
Section 3. Recommendations for regular membership shall be submitted in writing to the board of directors.
Section 4. Regular members shall submit recommendations for honorary membership in writing to the board of directors. The board of directors shall be empowered to accept or reject any application on recommendation for membership.
Section 5. Regular members are encouraged, and officers are required, to hold and maintain membership in the Military Officers Association of America.
ARTICLE V – VOTING
Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, all questions coming before the regular membership shall be decided by a majority vote.
Section 2. Only regular members in good standing, present at a meeting of the Chapter, shall be entitled to vote.
Section 3. Proxy voting shall not be permitted at any meeting of the Chapter.
ARTICLE VI – DUES
Section 1. The annual dues for each member for the next calendar year shall be determined by the membership at the annual meeting after receiving the board of directors’ recommendation in the matter.
Section 2. The annual dues for a calendar year shall be due on September 30th of that year.
Section 3. The treasurer shall notify any member who fails to pay dues within 60 days from the time they become due, of delinquency. If the member fails to make payment within the next 60 days, the board of directors may, without further notice and without hearing, drop the member from the rolls. The member shall thereupon forfeit all rights and privileges of membership.
Section 4. Any member who has been dropped for non-payment of dues may be reinstated upon reapplication for membership and payment of the annual dues for the current year and those in arrears.
ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter during the month of April for the receipt of annual reports, the determination of annual dues for the next calendar year, the election of officers and directors and the transaction of other business. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed (sent) to each member at least 20 days in advance
Section 2. Regular luncheon meetings of the Chapter shall be held during the months of September through April unless otherwise decided by the board of directors. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed (sent) to each member at least 10 days in advance.
Section 3. A special meeting for addressing a subject affecting the membership shall be called by the board of directors upon receipt of a petition signed by fifteen (15) members.
Section 4. Business meetings shall be conducted in accordance with “Robert’s Rules of Order”.
ARTICLE VIII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the elected officers (president, 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, secretary and treasurer) and the immediate past president.
Section 2. The elected directors shall be elected annually by the membership at the April meeting. Each elected director shall take office at the first regular or special meeting following election and shall serve for a two-year term. The board of directors may appoint a member to temporarily fill a vacancy in office. The appointee shall stand for election at the next meeting of the membership.
Section 3. The board of directors shall have supervision and direction of the affairs of the Chapter, shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limits of the bylaws, shall actively prosecute its purposes and shall have discretion in the disbursement of its funds for normal operating expenses. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as may be deemed advisable and may, in the execution of the powers granted appoint such agents as it may consider necessary.
Section 4. The board of directors shall not be authorized to adopt resolutions or to establish positions in the name of the Chapter.
Section 5. The board shall meet upon call of the president at such times and places as he/she may designate. Notice of each meeting of the board of directors shall be sent/mailed to each member of the board at least 10 days in advance. The 10 day advance notice requirement may be waived by a quorum of the board at any meeting called with less than 10 days advance notice.
Section 6. A majority of the entire board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the board.
Section 7. All questions coming before the board shall be decided by a majority vote, with each member of the board present being entitled to one vote. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
ARTICLE IX – OFFICERS
Section 1. The elected officers shall be a president, a 1st vice president, a 2nd vice president, a secretary and a treasurer, each of whom shall be a regular member of the Chapter.
Section 2. Normally, a member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms as president; however, this provision may be waived if there are no volunteers to assume the office and the member agrees and the Board of Directors concur in having the member serve another term.
Section 3. The 1st vice president shall fill a vacancy in the office of the president automatically. The 2nd vice president shall fill a vacancy in the office of the 1st vice president automatically.
Section 4. The president shall be the chief elected officer of the Chapter, shall preside at meetings of the Chapter and the board of directors, and shall be a member ex officio, with right to vote, of all committees except the nominating committee.
Section 5. In the event of the president’s temporary disability or absence, the 1st vice president shall perform the duties of the president. In the event of the temporary disability or absence of the president and the 1st vice president, the 2nd vice president shall perform the duties of the president. The vice presidents shall perform other duties such as the president might assign.
Section 6. The secretary shall provide timely written notification of all meetings of the Chapter and of the board of directors and shall maintain a record of all proceedings. The secretary shall also carry out these duties: maintain the membership records, prepare such correspondence as might be required, maintain the Chapter’s correspondence files and safeguard all important records, documents and valuable equipment belonging to the Chapter. Further, the secretary shall perform such other duties as are commensurate with the office or as might be assigned by the board of directors by the president.
Section 7. The treasurer shall maintain a record of all sums received and expended by the Chapter, collect the member’s annual dues, make such disbursements as are authorized by the Chapter of the board of directors, deposit all sums received in a financial institution approved by the board of directors and make a financial report at the annual meeting or when called upon by the president. The funds, books, and vouchers in custody of the treasurer shall at all times be subject to inspection and verification by the board of directors.
ARTICLE X – COMMITTEES
Section 1. The president, subject to the approval of the board of directors, shall annually appoint standing special committees such as might be required by the bylaws or might be advisable
Section 2. The standing committees of the Chapter shall include membership, personal affairs legislative, and program.
Section 3. At no less than 60 days before the annual meeting, the board of directors shall appoint a nominating committee of 5 regular members not currently holding elective or appointive office to nominate candidates for the elective offices. The committee shall notify the secretary in writing, at least 30 days before the annual meeting, of the proposed slate of elected officers and directors for the next year. The secretary shall list in the Chapter’s newsletter the nominated candidates for the elected office or mail a copy there of to each regular member at least 20 days before the annual meeting.
ARTICLE XI – AMMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by a two-thirds vote at any duly organized meeting of the Chapter, provided that a copy of any amendment proposed for consideration has be sent/mailed to each regular member at least 15 days before voting.
ARTICLE XII – THE FLAG
Section 1. The American flag shall be displayed and honored at all meetings of the Chapter.
Western Montana Military Officers Association Donation Request Policy
Overview: The Western Montana Military Officers Association (WMMOA) is a group of former and present military officers, who following World War II, began meeting regularly at the Fort Missoula Officers Club in Missoula, MT. The group, now formally organized as the Western Montana Military Officers Association still meets regularly twice each month. Since 1972, WMMOA has been a chapter of the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA), a national organization that represents the interests of military personnel. Our chapter, currently the only one in Montana, is essentially autonomous and self-supporting. We are dedicated to serving the interests of all former and retired active duty and National Guard and Reserve officers, as well as their spouses and survivors. Through its various committees and auxiliary, the chapter sponsors a wide range of programs and activities throughout the year.
WMMOA Funding: WMMOA relies on dues, 50/50 sales, proceeds from our annual banquet and donations for our budget. We are asked for donations from numerous organizations or individuals in support of worthy charitable causes throughout the year. We will make every effort to accommodate as many requests as possible. WMMOA annually provides a $200 scholarship to a deserving University of Montana Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet.
Donation Procedure: The WMMOA board consisting of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer and our Auxiliary Leader will meet to review requests for donations. They will prioritize military/Veteran related requests first at the local level, then the state level before considering requests for national projects. Due to our limited resources, requests will be limited to $100.00. Requests in excess of this limit will be considered on a case by case basis. The board will not spend more than $500.00 per year to charitable requests. The board will make every attempt to publicize worthy causes to our membership at our meetings and in our newsletter in order to offer members the chance to make an individual donation.
Request Process: All requests must be submitted to a board member in writing or email. Requests must specify the purpose of the request, the amount, date required and the name/relationship to the requestor. Priority will be given to organizations who have not received a donation in the last year.
Exclusions: WMMOA will not consider requests of a political or religious nature.
Western Montana Military Officers Assoc. 