We,
the former crew members of the Destroyer, UNITED STATES SHIP COGSWELL (DD-651)
with the aims of: promoting and enhancing the memory and preserving the
heritage of this guardian of freedom, and promote camaraderie, respect, and
fellowship among its members, and provide the means by which this camaraderie,
respect and fellowship may be continued through the years, and uphold the
principles and purpose of good citizenship by dedicating our allegiance to the
United States of America and fidelity to its Constitution and Laws, and provide
the means by which these aims can be continued throughout the years, do hereby
establish, enact, publish and adopt these bylaws for and on behalf of the USS
COGSWELL (DD-651) ASSOCIATION.
The
name of this association shall be the USS COGSWELL (DD-651) ASSOCIATION.
Herein referred to as "THE ASSOCIATION."
THE ASSOCIATION shall be an unincorporated, fraternal, nonprofit organization, not affiliated with the U .S. Department of the Navy, which has as its sole purpose and intent the scheduling and conducting, at intervals to be determined by its membership, reunions and meetings of shipmates, and the establishment of communication within its membership, all as set forth in the Preamble of these bylaws.
The
operating year of THE ASSOCIATION shall be from January 1 through December 31,
each year.
Full
membership in THE ASSOCIATION shall be available to all former members of the
ship's company of USS COGSWELL (DD-651) during any period of commissioned
service, family members or relatives of former ship’s company.
The
officers of THE ASSOCIATION shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer. Officers shall be drawn
from the membership and elected by a simple majority during the final business
meeting at each reunion held by the membership. Officers shall serve until a successor is elected and
installed. If an office becomes
vacated for any reason, before the next election, the vacancy may be filled by
appointment by the President of THE ASSOCIATION.
The direction of THE ASSOCIATION shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which board shall consist of the elected officers; two at-large representatives and THE ASSOCIATION past-Presidents. The board members shall be responsible for presentation of items for discussion and member concerns to be brought up at the next scheduled reunion, to the President.
Annual
dues for THE ASSOCIATION year or any part thereof shall be at a rate to be
determined by the general membership, as required for the financial stability of
the Association, except that dues received from new members after November 1st
will be credited to the following year. Dues
shall be payable to USS COGSWELL (DD-651) ASSOCIATION.
THE
ASSOCIATION shall conduct general business meetings of its general membership
during regular scheduled reunions at which time reports from officers and
matters of concern submitted by members and the Board of Directors may be
discussed. The general membership
meeting shall also include an election of officers and appointment of area
representatives, as required. The
Board of Directors of THE ASSOCIATION shall conduct no less than one meeting at
each scheduled reunion, and such other "called" meetings the President
may deem appropriate and/or necessary.
Reunions shall be scheduled on a regular basis as a means to
promote camaraderie, respect and fellowship among THE ASSOCIATION members.
Nominations for the dates, frequency, and sites of future reunions will
be determined by member surveys. Final
selection of inclusive dates and site for the reunions will be determined by the
majority vote from the surveys.
A.)
PRESIDENT -The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of THE
ASSOCIATION. He shall be the
presiding officer at all meetings of THE ASSOCIATION general membership and
Board Of Directors and shall prepare an agenda for each ASSOCIATION general
membership meeting. He shall be
authorized to sign checks.
B.)
VICE-PRESIDENT -The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in
his absence.
C.)
SECRETARY -The Secretary shall maintain an accurate list of members of THE
ASSOCIATION. The Secretary shall issue all notices necessary to the membership
and shall handle all official correspondence for THE ASSOCIATION as directed by
the President. The Secretary shall
record the minutes and keep a record of transactions at each general membership
meeting and meetings of the Board of Directors.
D.)
TREASURER - The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipt, control,
disbursement and accounting of all funds of THE ASSOCIATION.
The Treasurer shall render such financial reports as may be prescribed by
the President. He shall be
authorized to sign checks.
E.)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS -A Board of Directors consisting of the elected officers and
at-large representatives shall provide advice and consent and direct the
business and financial affairs of THE ASSOCIATION as prescribed by the
President.
These
bylaws may be amended at any scheduled general business meeting by a two thirds
(b) majority vote by those ASSOCIATION members present.
These
bylaws are hereby approved and adopted on __October 19, 2002___