Benjamin Franklin Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution

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").

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from 1 April through 31 March.

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.

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.

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.