Constitution
Benjamin Franklin Chapter
Sons of the America Revolution
Article I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the "Benjamin Franklin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution." It is and shall remain subordinate to i' the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (hereinafter referred to as the "National Society") and to the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (hereinafter referred to as the "Ohio Society").
Article II
Objectives
The objectives of this Chapter are declared to be patriotic, historical and educational and shall include those intended or designed to perpetuate the memory of those who, by their services or sacrifices during the War of the American Revolution achieved the independence of the American people; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendents; to inspire them and the community at large with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire and preserve the records of the individual services of the patriots of the War, as well as documents, relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; to celebrate the anniversaries of prominent events of the War and of the Revolutionary period; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and to carry out the purposes expressed in the preamble of the Constitution of our nation and the injunctions of Washington in his farewell address to the American people.
Article III
Membership
Section 1
Any man shall be eligible to membership in this Chapter and in
its state and national affiliates who, being of the age of eighteen
years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is
the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times
unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered active service in the cause
of American Independence, either as an officer, soldier,
seaman, marine, militiaman, or minuteman in the armed forces
of the Continental Congress or of anyone of the several
Colonies or States; or as a signer of the Declaration of
Independence; or as a member of a Committee of Safety or
Correspondence; or as a member of any continental, Provincial
or Colonial congress or Legislature; or as a recognized patriot
who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the
authority of Great Britain -provided, however, that no person
advocating the overthrow of the Government of the United
States by use of force or violence shall be eligible for
membership in the Chapter.
Section 2
There shall be four classes of membership: (a) honorary, (b)
resident, (c) non-resident, and (d) life.
(a) Honorary
Any member in good standing of any State or Territory
or overseas Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution who has performed an outstanding civic or
patriotic service for the United States of America may be
made an honorary member of this Chapter by a vote of its
membership. Honorary members shall not be required to
pay membership fees or annual dues and shall be entitled
to all of the privileges of the Chapter except the right to
vote or to serve as a delegate to a State Conference or to
a National Congress.
(b) Resident
Members of the Chapter who reside within the limits of
Franklin, Union, Delaware, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield
and Licking Counties shall be resident members.
Resident members shall be entitled to all the privileges of
the Chapter and shall pay membership fees and annual
dues as fixed from year to year by the Chapter.
(c) Non- Resident
Compatriots who reside outside the limits of the above
named counties shall be non-resident members. Non
resident members shall be entitled to all the privileges of
the Chapter and shall pay membership fees and annual
dues as fixed from year to year by the Chapter.
(d) Life
Life members of the Chapter, having paid a prescribed
assessment which shall be subject to periodic adjustment
to account for inflation and interest rates, shall continue
to be members of the Chapter in perpetuity without
obligation to pay annual dues. During the lifetimes of
these members, their annual dues for membership in the
National Society and the Ohio Society shall be paid from
the treasury of the Chapter.
Section 3
The official designation of members of this Chapter shall be
"Compatriots."
Article IV
Officers
Section 1
The officers of this Chapter shall be a President, a First Vice
President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a
Genealogist-Registrar, an Historian, a Chaplain, a Sergeant-at
Arms, and a Chancellor, all of whom shall be elected at the
Annual January Business Meeting-of the Chapter and shall hold
office for two years and until their successors shall be elected
and installed.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the top ranking Vice-President shall become President for the remainder of the unexpired term. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled for the unexpired term through appointment by the President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Management.
Section 2
Full power and authority over the affairs of the Chapter shall be
vested in the Board of Management, which shall consist of the
officers listed in Section 1, plus all living Past Presidents who
are resident members. Each member of the Board of
Management has one vote, and seven members shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 3
An Executive Committee consisting of the President, the Vice-
Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall exercise the
powers of the Board of Management during intervals between
meetings thereof. Three members of this Executive Committee
shall constitute a quorum.
Article V
Meetings and Elections
Section 1
The Annual Business Meeting of the Chapter for the election of
officers and for the transaction of budgetary and other major
business shall be held in the month of January.
Section 2
Other meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President
and shall be called by him when he is directed so to do by the
Board of Management or its Executive Committee. General
business, except for such matters as fees, dues, elections, etc.,
which are specifically scheduled for the Annual Business
Meeting, may be transacted at any other meetings, though some
meetings may be limited to patriotic, historical, and educational
interests or may be of an entirely social nature.
Section 3
Fifteen members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting of the Chapter.
Section 4
Nominations for officers shall be made by a Nominating
Committee to be appointed by the President, but additional
nominations may be made from the floor. Officers shall be
elected by a majority vote of the members present.
Article VI
Membership Fees and Annual Dues
Section 1
The Chapter's membership fees and annual dues for the
individual shall be fixed or adjusted from year to year, but only
at the Annual Business Meeting, by a majority vote of the
membership present for such business.
Section 2
A member who shall fail to pay annual dues within three
months following the first day of January in any year will be
considered in arrears and may be suspended from the rolls by
the Board of Management or its Executive Committee. A
former member may be reinstated upon the terms prescribed by
the Board of Management, the Ohio Society and the National Society.
Article VII
Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from 1 April through 31 March.
Article VIII
By-Laws
The Chapter may make By-Laws, rules and regulations for its government so long as such By-Laws, rules and regulations do not conflict with this Constitution nor the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Society and the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution.
Article IX
Amendments
This Constitution may be altered or amended at any Annual meeting of the Chapter or at a Special meeting of the Chapter called for that purpose. Provided however that not Jess than (30) days prior to the Annual meeting or a Special meeting called for that purpose, the Chapter Secretary shall provide the full text of the proposed alterations and/or amendments to each Chapter member in good standing, either by ordinary United States mail or electronically. A vote of two- '. thirds of those members present shall be necessary for the adoption of such alterations or amendments.
Article X
Effective Date
Upon the approval and adoption by a two-thirds vote of Chapter members present at a meeting scheduled for such business the alterations and/or amendments to the Constitution of the Benjamin Franklin Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, Columbus Ohio shall take effect (30 days) after a vote of approval.