THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MILITARY COMPTROLLERS

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE CHAPTER

CONSTITUION AND BY-LAWS

(Dated 15 September 1982 with Amendments dated: 17 October 2003, 19 Jan 2006 and 25 April 2013)

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – Name

 

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be the FORT GEORGE G. MEADE CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MILITARY COMPTROLLERS, hereinafter called the Chapter.

 

Section 2.  Military Comptrollership in the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard is defined as the fields of financial, general, and resource management; accounting; finance; budgeting; programming; reporting; statistics; auditing; cost and price analysis; management analysis; and supporting activities in management/industrial engineering; automatics data processing; operations research/systems analysis and supporting activities.

 

ARTICLE II – Purpose

 

Section 1.  The purpose of the Chapter is to promote education for improvement and development of capabilities relating to comptrollership.  This organization is organized exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  More specifically, the purpose of the Chapter is to serve the public interest by:

a.  Promoting education and training of its members, and accordingly, supporting the development and advancement of comptrollership.

b.  Sponsoring research in military comptrollership subjects and publishing the results of such, as appropriate.

c.  Encouraging a free exchange of techniques, approaches and problem solving.

d.  Providing communication facilities to keep members and other interested individuals abreast of current events in comptrollership, which can be beneficial to them, their employing organizations, and the public.

 

Section 2.  In fulfilling this purpose, the Fort George G. Meade Chapter will:

a.  Conduct conventions, seminars, and other educational meetings.

b.  Cooperate with other educational and professional organizations in matters of mutual interest.

c.  Give formal recognition to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of military comptrollership.

d.  Undertake any other activity that the Chapter deems appropriate.

e.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by organization contributions which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

ARTICLE III – Membership

 

Section 1. Membership in the Chapter is voluntary and is open to: (1) all Officers, Warrant Officers, Enlisted Personnel and Civil Service Employees of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Coast Guard, who are or have been, engaged in comptrollership duties as defined above, and (2) employees of corporations affiliated with DoD or Coast Guard financial management activities. Membership shall not be denied anyone oh the basis of age, race, religion, national origin or sex.

 

Section 2.  There shall be five classes of membership:

  1. Active Members shall be persons, who are or have been employed as professionals in the military comptrollership field and who, to remain in good standing, have paid the appropriate dues and fees.
  2. Life Members shall be those Active Members who have been in good standing for twenty consecutive years, or who are past National Presidents.
  3. Associate Members shall be persons who, though not qualified for Active or Life Membership, demonstrate an interest in the military comptrollership field and who to remain in good standing, have paid the appropriate dues and fees.
  4. Honorary memberships may be conferred upon persons making significant contributions to military comptrollership who are not eligible for, or who would not otherwise be expected to join, one of the other classes of membership.
  5. Corporate Members shall be corporations, which demonstrate an interest in the military comptrollership field and who to remain in good standing, have paid the appropriate dues and fees.

Section 3.  Application for Active, Life, Associate and Corporate Memberships shall be tendered to the National Headquarters of the Society on application forms designated for that purpose. Honorary members shall be nominated by a Chapter President or National Executive Committee member and approved by the National President.

 

ARTICLE IV – Membership Fees and Dues

 

Section 1. Members of this Chapter shall pay fees and dues as provided by the National Constitution. The membership year shall be for a period of one year after initial receipt of dues by the National Headquarters.

 

Section 2. With the consent of two-thirds of the Chapter membership, an annual or special one-year fee may be levied in addition to National dues requirements. A schedule of any additional fees or surcharges made by the Chapter shall be filed with the National Executive Committee.

 

Section 3. All retained funds of the Chapter shall be deposited into federally insured bank or credit union accounts established in the name of the Chapter, or shall be invested as approved by the Chapter and National Executives Committees.

 

ARTICLE V – Membership Rights and Privileges

 

Section 1.  Chapter members shall be accorded all rights and privileges as provided by the National Constitution and By-Laws.

  1. Active members shall legislate and guide the activities of the Chapter, fix any dues or fees in excess of the National dues, elect Chapter officers, and decide upon all matters which affect the welfare of the Chapter or any of its members.
  2. Associate and Honorary members shall have the rights and privileges of Active members, except that they may neither vote nor serve as Chapter officers or delegates.
  3. Corporate members shall have the rights and privileges of Active members.
  4. The right to resign membership is reserved to all members.
  5. When appropriate, Chapter membership may be terminated for non-payment of dues.

 

ARTICLE VI – Chapter Meetings

 

Section 1. This Chapter shall hold regular meetings on a monthly basis during the year with the exception of December. The President is empowered to call special meetings as deemed appropriate. The Secretary shall provide Chapter members timely notice of all meetings.

 

Section 2. All Chapter regular and special meetings and affairs are open to all members unless specifically closed by the Executive Board with good, proper and sufficient notice. The command or other competent authority, which has jurisdiction over the location where the Chapter meeting or other activity is held, shall prescribe dress.

 

Section 3. For the purpose of transacting Chapter business, a simple majority of active members present is required for approval. Proxies shall be counted as members present.

 

 

ARTICLE VII – Officers

 

Section 1.  All officers shall be members who are employed in the military comptrollership field or related fields.

 

Section 2.  Officers shall be nominated April and elected in June’s regular membership meeting, unless nominated slate is approved at the April membership meeting, installed in June, and will take office in July.

a.  Candidates shall be nominated by a committee of at least three members.  In addition, members present at the April meeting may nominate candidates from the floor.

b.  In the event any office becomes vacant during the year, the Executive Committee shall appoint a member to complete the term.

c.  Officers shall serve a term of 12 months beginning 1 July and ending 30 June the following year.

d.  The incoming and outgoing officers shall determine and coordinate the orderly transfer of responsibilities and records in accordance with National guidelines.

 

Section 3.  The President shall be the chief executive and shall preside at Chapter meetings, appoint committees and act as ex-officio member of all committees (except the nominating committee), execute the powers of the office, enforce the Constitution, By-Laws, contracts, policies and directives of the Society and this Chapter, and assign duties to officers and committees.  The Presidency shall strive to be rotated at least every year among major activities, and the president may serve more than one term.

 

Section 4.  The Chapter shall strive to have representation from each major activity in the Fort Meade area, such as; National Security Agency, JFSC (Joint Field Support Center), 902nd MI, Coast Guard, Defense Commissary Agency, Army Audit Agency, Corps of Engineers, Fort George G. Meade, At-Large.  A Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President on a rotating basis.  Each Vice President will be the primary Chapter representative from his/her agency.

 

Section 5.  The Secretary shall:

a.  Disseminate information pertaining to Chapter operations and policy.

b.  Handle all correspondence and write letters as authorized by the President.

c.  Send the President an information copy of items of interest.

d.  Read to the Executive Committee and general membership all pertinent correspondence (excerpts are acceptable).

e.  Record the proceedings of Chapter meetings and Chapter Executive Committee meetings, and read all minutes at the next business meeting.

f.  Be custodian of Chapter records, charter and papers; and keep an updated written history of the Chapter.

 

Section 6.  The Treasurer shall:

a.  Be custodian of Chapter financial records and transactions.

b.  Manage Chapter financial transactions.  Receive and deposit money, pay bills, prepare vouchers and maintain books in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS) and guidelines in the National Accounting handbook.

c.  Be the focal point for the annual chapter audits of chapter books.

 

ARTICLE VIII – Committees

 

Section 1.  The President shall appoint committees as provided below and may appoint additional ones when appropriate.  Only the incoming President may appoint the Audit Committee.  Committees shall serve as the pleasure of the incumbent President but no longer than twelve months.  Chairpersons may not vote except to break a tie vote on committee affairs.

a.  Executive Committee.  Shall be a committee consisting of all chapter officers to include: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  The Executive Committee shall carry out the executive functions of the Chapter as provided in this and the National Constitution.  The Chapter President shall be the chairman, and the Executive Committee will meet at his/her pleasure, or whenever required.

b.  Audit Committee.  The President shall appoint a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor to perform the audit.  The audit is to determine that the Treasurer has properly accounted for all cash received and paid.  The auditor may scrutinize all recorded transactions.  A check should be made:  (1) to ascertain that all the cash received was recorded in the cash records and deposited in the Chapter’s bank account; (2) that cash was disbursed only for authorized expenditures, and (3) that the statements fairly reflect the results of Chapter operations for the Chapter year and the financial condition of the Chapter at the year end.

c. Program Committee.  The Program Committee Chairperson has the responsibility for developing a well-rounded program in the general fields of financial management that will appeal to the membership.  The Program Committee has the responsibility for securing speakers, panel members or other program materials, and is responsible for making the arrangements for the regular chapter meetings.

d. Community Service/Fund Raising Committee.  The Community Service/Fund Raising Committee will coordinate the organization’s participation in various activities to support the local community and other charitable efforts.  This Committee will also be responsible for coordinating fund raising activities in support of the Chapter’s scholarship awards program.

e. Journalism and Publication Committee.  This committee shall have three Chapter members.  The Committee shall elect its own Chairperson.  It will be responsible for encouraging and reviewing submissions of manuscripts or other articles for publication in the Armed Forces Comptroller magazine; develop and submit for approval the categories for Chapter Awards and Chapter nominees for National Awards.  The Committee shall also be responsible for publishing a Chapter Newsletter, frequency to be determined by Committee.

f.  Membership Committee.  The Membership Committee has the responsibility for prompting the interest of prospective members in the Chapter and the responsibility for increasing the interest of present members so as to improve attendance at meetings.  Prospective members should be invited to attend a future chapter meeting.  Special efforts should be made to invite prospective members to meeting where an outside speaker is featured and the subject would be of interest to the prospect.  The Membership Committee should also call members who are not attending meetings to ascertain the reason and invite them to come back.

g.  Education, Training and Certification Chairperson.  This Chairperson is responsible for providing the Newsletter Chair timely and accurate information on all relevant opportunities for continued training, conferences, seminars, PDIs or other venues of education, training, and certifications.

h.  Newsletter.  The Newsletter Chairperson will manage the monthly publication and distribution of the ASMC, Fort Meade Chapter Newsletter, called the “Crabpot”.

i.  Webmaster.  The Webmaster will ensure that the local chapter’s web page is kept current and reflects the information needs of the chapter membership.

 

 

ARTICLE IX – Amendments

 

Section 1.  Amendments may be proposed from the floor, or by a committee appointed by the President.

 

Section 2.  Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws require approval of two thirds of the simple majority.  A meeting specifically designated for this purpose and announced following a reading of the proposed amendment (at a previous regularly scheduled meeting) shall be required.  Or, in lieu thereof, a mailing of the proposed amendment to all members, announcing the intent to vote on the proposed amendments at a specific time and place (regular meeting), shall be required at least seven days before the regular meeting.

 

ARTICLE X – Dissolution of the Society/Chapter

 

Section 1.  In the event of dissolution of the National Society, the Chapter’s assets shall be disposed of in accordance with provisions of Article XX of the National Constitution.

 

Section 2.  A two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee is required to effect dissolution of this Chapter.  In that event, all assets shall be converted to cash if feasible, all liabilities paid in full, and the balance donated to charitable organizations by the action of the Executive Committee.  Records shall be submitted to the National Society and disposed of at their discretion.

 

Section 3.  Upon winding up and dissolution of this organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or organization which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, education, religious and/or scientific purposed and which has established its tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

ARTICLE XI – By-Laws

 

I. The President and committee chairpersons shall designate the time and place for all special meetings and affairs of the Chapter under their authority.

 

II. All Chapter functions are open to members and guests unless closed by the Executive Committee with good and sufficient notice.

 

III. The Chapter shall participate in official civic affairs to foster and preserve good public relations with local citizens of the Fort Meade area.  The Executive Committee, in coordination with the Program & Publicity Committee, shall guide and monitor such participation.

 

IV. A simple majority shall rule at committee meetings.  All Chapter members have the right to attend meetings and speak about any subject on the agenda.  Chairpersons may appoint sub-committees and designate assistant chairpersons.  Reports on committee activities shall be made at each regular meeting of the Chapter.

 

V. Non-members may attend two Chapter functions at regular member rates.  After that point, non-members may be assessed an additional 25% charge above regular rates at any function.

VI.  Section 1. The Chapter shall maintain the following records, as a minimum, on a permanent basis:

  1. National Constitution and By-Laws;
  2. National Policy Declarations;
  3. Minutes of meetings of the National Council;
  4. Minutes of the meetings of the National Executive Committee;
  5. Chapter Constitution and By-Laws; and
  6. Minutes of the meetings of the Chapter Executive Committee.

 

 

Approved by majority vote on __25 April 2013______________.

 

 

Signed//14 May 2013                                                                          Signed//14 May 2013

Steve Nicewarner                                                                                Tracy Gifford

President                                                                                             Secretary