PROPOSED RESOLUTION 1-97
Whereas: The National Bylaws of the organization, U.S. SubVets of WWII, Article IV, Meetings, now reads:"Section 1. (As amended August 7,1964, August 1970, and further amended September 1991.) (Note: I believe 1991 is in error and should be 1992). At least one National Convention shall be held each year with the time and place determined at the National Convention, three years in advance. The site shall be selected by a majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting. There shall be an appointed Standing Convention Steering Committee, consisting of members having qualifying experience in hosting our National Conventions. They shall be responsible for investigation and negotiations with those areas desiring to submit bids for hosting a National Convention. Those found to be most suited will be presented to the membership for a final vote.
Section 2: (Unamended). Executive Board Meetings may be called and held at such time as the Executive Board may designate.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved: That Article IV, Meetings, of the National Bylaws of the organization, U.S. SubVets of WWII, be amended to read as follows:
"Section I. (As amended August 7, 1964, August 1970, September 1991 and further amended October 1997). (Note: I believe 1991 is in error and should be 1992.) At least one National Convention shall be held each year with the time and place determined at the National Convention, three years in advance. The site shall be selected by a majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting. There shall be an appointed Standing Convention Steering Committee, consisting of members having qualifying experience in hosting our National Conventions. The Standing Convention Steering Committee will only take action when no state presents a bid and in that event they will only inspect a site if agreed to by the state presenting a bid."
This proposed Resolution requires a majority vote of the delegate votes cost at the annual Business Meeting, as per Article XI.
The submitter of this proposed resolution states the adoption of this resolution will incur no known additional cost to the National Organization or to the states submitting a bid.
This proposed resolution submitted by
Walter G.E. Heiden, Wisconsin State Commander, Card No. 6504, a member in good standing of the South East Chapter, State of Wisconsin.
The Resolution Chairman notes if adopted, there will be an expense to National for revision and distribution of copies of the revised Bylaws.
A Proposed Resolution to add a SILENT SERVICE FUND to the Constitution and Bylaws.
This proposed Resolution was submitted by the Wisconsin State Commander, Walter G.E. Heiden, card No. 6504, a member in good standing of the South East Chapter, State of Wisconsin.
This letter is a follow-up to your telephone call to me a couple of days ago. Resolution 2-1997 is hereby being established in two part with the constitutional part being required for passage before the Bylaws part is considered.
Article 12 is to be added to the constitution as follows:
SILENT SERVICE FUND
There shall be established a silent service fund for our shipmates, which will provide for the raising of funds for our shipmates of World War It who are in dire financial need of support for the purpose of pursuing the aims of the organization as defined in Article II of the Constitution. These funds shall be held in a separate ledger account and are not to be part of the income or assets of the corporation far any other purpose. A committee for this function shall be comprised of one member from each of the regions with the Director of each region appointing a member to the committee and the National President appointing the chairman. In the event that the National President appoints the same person as a Regional Director, the Regional Director will appoint another person from his region. The details of this article shall be as specified by the bylaws. The specific operating method for this article shall be as stated in Article XV of the Bylaws.
Note: This resolution will require a 2/3 delegate vote in accordance with the Article IX of the constitution. This resolution will incur no known expense to the National Organization.
Article 15 is to be added to the Bylaws as follows:
SILENT SERVICE FUND
The members of the committee shall, by letter correspondence, establish the methods of operation and the requirements for providing help to a shipmate in need. The silent service funds shall be held and invested (as directed by the silent service committee by the national treasurer as an independent ledger entry. The committee will solicit funds from fellow members and any outside source established by a vote of the majority of the members at the annual business meeting. The committee shall spend no more than 5% of the receipts donated to this cause for the overall expense of operation. The committee members shall not receive remuneration of an (any) sort, including convention expenses, for their services.
Note: The cost of implementation and operation of the silent service activity shall be no more than 5% of the receipts donated to this cause and it is hereby noted that the adoption of this resolution will incur no known additional cost to the National Organization. The silent service committee shall be a group of volunteers who love their shipmates and do not expect to have personal benefits such as a paid vacation to a national convention.
It is also hereby noted that a majority of the delegate votes cast at the 1997 annual convention business meeting is required to adopt this resolution to amend the National bylaws in accordance with Article XI of the bylaws. The acceptance of this change to the bylaws is contingent upon the acceptance of the constitutional portion of this resolution.
As stated in this resolution, another article in the Constitution and another article in the bylaws will be established for this purpose. There is no mention of amending the scholarship fund as stated in the constitution or recouping the funds which were unwisely given to the Dolphin Foundation. The purpose of this resolution is to provide a choice, which I believe will be substantial, to our contributing members. (This paragraph is for information and not required in publication.)
Comments related to The Charter and the Constitution.
A. This resolution complies with the portion of the Charter,
"OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF CORPORATION": which states: "...promotion of the spirit and unity that existed among United States Navy submarine crews during World War II:" The charter also states, in the same section, (Note part underlined) as follows: "...Sponsoring annual college scholarships; and performance of such acts of charity as provided for by the constitution and bylaws."
Note: Resolution 2-97 provides for this charitable act in our constitution and bylaws.
B. This resolution also complies with the constitution which states: Article II, Purpose. The purpose of this organization shall be ... to promote sociability, general welfare and good fellowship among its members..."
Very truly yours,
Walter G.E. Heiden U.S. SubVets of WWII
3-97
PREFACE
As most members are aware the cost of producing and disseminating Polaris is ever increasing, even though our annual intake of proceeds are diminishing. In an effort to augment and maintain the funding for the Polaris publication, the National Executive Board has solicited monetary donations from its membership. Although monetary donations have been spontaneous and have augmented the fund to some extent, other income to support Polaris must be found in order to keep it solvent during the declining years of the organization.
Therefore, this resolution is being submitted for consideration by the membership that will call for a 75-25 percent split of National Convention excess funds. Approval of this resolution will allow the organization to retain seventy-five percent (75%) of these funds to augment the continuing production of Polaris. Twenty-five percent (25%) of these funds would be retained by the host chapter as a bonus for its convention management.
In the past many host chapters have stated that it was not their intent or desire to make a profit off of it's attending shipmates, therefore this proposed split of convention excess funds will have no adverse effect upon the host chapter, but it most certainly will be helpful in maintaining our Polaris Publication for the next several years. This resolution shall become effective upon approval, if feasible, but no later than 1998.
James E. Haywood, PNP
Card #4260
Add a new Section 3 to the By-Laws, Article IV, Meetings, to read as follows:
Seventy-five percent (75%) of any excess funds resulting from the Annual National Convention Meeting shall be retained by the National Executive Board to augment funds available for the Polaris Publication.
Approval of this resolution will not result in any additional administrative costs to the organization, and is not expected to adversely impact the National Convention Host Chapter. This resolution may be adopted by a simple majority of the Delegate votes being cast at the 1997 Annual Business Meeting.
Submitted by,
James E. Haywood, PNP
Card #4260
Acknowledged and forwarded by, Ken Hickes, Sacramento Chapter President.
Victor Radwick, California State Commander
Herman Schmidt, Southwest Regional Director
Received: William J. Cheek, National Resolution Chairman, 1-8-97.
4-97
PREFACE
A majority of we, the members of the US SubVets of WWII, eagerly look forward to attending our annual national conventions. They are our "pride and joy," so to speak.
Enjoyable as they are, we have recently been privvy to many event changes that conflicted with past precedents and procedures as outlined in the Policy and Procedures Manual.
These event changes and their inconsiderate scheduling deflected from an orderly, convenient and satisfying annual convention. Many members arriving a day or so late missed the annual business meeting, much to their chagrin. Most of these event changes were not made by necessity, but by a whim of the National Convention Chairman who appeared to be insensitive to the convenience and desires of the attending members.
The long established convention procedures as outlined in the Policy and Procedures Manual were ignored as having no consequence or validity. The advice of the National Executive Board has also been ignored and flaunted resulting in many inconveniences to the members in attendance. Since the host chapter appoints the National Convention Chairman, he has no responsibility to heed the advice of the National Executive Board, and may or may not have any skills in managing a national convention.
A successful and satisfying national convention depends on many circumstances, but the main consideration is having a National Convention Chairman that is sensitive to the convenience and needs of the attending members plus have a good working relationship with the National Executive Board.
To resolve this matter, it is proposed to provide the National Executive Board with more responsibility in the hosting of the national convention. This can be easily be accomplished by having the proposed candidate for the National Convention Chairman appointed and confirmed by a majority vote of the National Executive Board. "The buck stops here." Commencing in 1993, the host chapter shall submit the name of its candidate for chairman to the National Executive Board for confirmation. The results of this consideration shall be announced at the Annual Business Meeting.
Approval of this resolution will not conflict with the orderly administration of the annual national convention, if the host chapter is dedicated to providing a convenient and satisfying convention for the membership.
James E, Haywood, PNP
Card #4260
Add a new Section 4 to the Bylaws, Article IV, Meetings, to read as follows:
Any chapter desiring to host the Annual National Convention shall provide the name of the proposed candidate for National Convention Chairman to the National Executive Board for confirmation prior to that convention year.
Adoption of this resolution is not expected to result in any additional administrative costs to the organization.
This resolution may be adopted by a simple majority vote of The delegates casting votes at the 1997 Annual Business Meeting.
Submitted by, James E. Haywood, PNP Card # 4260
Acknowledged and forwarded by,
Ken Hickes, Sacramento Chapter President.
Victor Radwick, California State Commander.
Herman Schmidt, Southwest Regional Director.
Received: William J. Cheek, National Resolutions Chairman,
1-8-97.
Whereas, the purpose of this Resolution is two-fold. 1. To protect the solemn voting rights of every single member of the US SubVets of WWII; and 2. To assure that our voting procedure accurately and honestly reflects the will of actual voters within our Organization.
and Whereas, only a small percentage of eligible voters within our Organization choose to cost their vote. And whereas, the choice to abstain from voting on any issue is one of the voting rights that each of us should enjoy.
and Whereas, a simple, popular election, open to all eligible
voters who do choose to participate, will accomplish the above purpose.
now Therefore be it Resolved, that the Constitution be amended as follows: Article XIII "Delegate Voting" line three, following the words "another State:" insert the following sentence: "the vote count to be determined entirely by the voluntary will of the eligible voters; the votes of all non-voters shall be counted as abstain votes." This Resolution bears no cost to the Organization and requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage.
Respectfully submitted,
Howard C. Smay
Life member Card #3993
President San Diego Chapter
Victor Radwick
California State Commander
RESOLUTION
A Resolution to amend Article III, Section I of the Constitution of the US SubVets of WWII.
Whereas: Article III, Section I now reads:
"Regular Membership is restricted to those officers and enlisted men who served in U.S. Navy Submarine Crews and/or U.S. Navy Submarine Relief Crews who were on active duty between December 7, 194l and December 31, 1946."
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that Article III, Section 1, Membership be amended as follows:
"Regular Membership restricted to those officers and enlisted men of US Navy Submarine Crews and/or US Submarine Relief Crews who were on active duty between December 7,1942 and December 31, 1946, as well as those subsequent wars, conflicts and police actions, who attained qualification in submarines and who were honorably discharged from the U.S. naval services, and those who are still on active duty in the US Navy who are designated qualified in submarines and served during times of wars, conflicts and police actions."
A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the delegates votes cast at the 1997 Annual Business Meeting with a roll call vote of the membership is requested to adopt this Resolution to amend the Constitution of the National Organization.
Submitted: January 17, 1997, signed by
Herman W. Kreis
Hawaiian State Commander
Sponsored by Hawaii Chapter: January 17, 1997
Signed by: Stanley K. Nichols,
Deputy State Commander
Forwarded to National Resolution Committee: Recommending approval only for submission to the
National Membership for delegate vote.
19 January 1996
Signed by: Stanley K. Nichols,
Deputy State Commander
Forwarded to National Resolution Committee: Recommending approval only for submission.
28 January 1997
Signed by: Herman R. Schmidt
Southwest Regional Director
RE: RESOLUTION PROPOSALS
1-97 THRU 6-97
Proposed Resolution 1-97
Inserting Article IV of the Bylaws as it now reads is an unnecessary waste of space. Suggest first two paragraphs be deleted. Lacks a preamble clause to support the proposed amendment.
Proposed Resolution 2-97
Suggest this proposed resolution be rejected as it is in conflict with Sec. 8(a) and Sec. 15 of our National Charter.
Proposed Resolution 3-97
Do not believe that Article IV of our Bylaws is the proper forum for this subject matter. P/P Manual would be more appropriate.
Proposed Resolution 5-97
Adoption of this proposed resolution will create more confusion.
Proposed Resolution 6-97
Adoption of this proposed resolution would nessitate a name change in our organization.
Respectfully submitted,
Henry W.
Dardinski
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