— The Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. —

Tampa Bay Chapter

Chapter Constitution & By-Laws

Tampa Bay Main Page Tampa Bay Officers Constitution & By-Laws

Next Meeting: Oct. 14, 2008; 11:30, Columbia Restaurant

Contents Constitution
Article I: Title
Article II: Purposes, Policies, and Powers
Article III: Membership
Article IV: Chapter Officers
Article V: Nominations and Elections
Article VI: Eligibility and Term of Office
Article VII: Nominations and Elections
Article VIII: Changes in the Constitution

Contents By-Laws
Meetings
Section 1. Duties of Chapter Officers
Section 2. Impeachment
Section 3. Committees
Section 4. Committee Action
Section 5. Duties of Permanent Committees
Section 6. Finances
Section 7. Dues
Section 8. Quorum
Section 9. Amendments

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Constitution

Constitution of the Tampa Bay / Central Florida Chapter of CAMM

ARTICLE I
Title
Section 1. Chapter Name The name of this organization shall be “THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN MASTER MARINERS, INC. – TAMPA BAY/CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER, STATE OF FLORIDA.”

ARTICLE II
Purposes, Policy, and Powers
Section 1. Purposes

  1. To sponsor, within the Tampa Bay/Central Florida area, a chartered chapter of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. to facilitate association of those members of said council residing in or otherwise situated within the Tampa Bay/Central Florida area, embracing and abiding by the purposes of the parent council, its constitution, by-laws and amendments thereto.
  2. To provide by this council, a fraternal and benevolent society, contributing to the best interests and well being of its members both professionally and socially.
  3. To recognize, foster and otherwise assist all wise and provident measures dedicated to the furtherance of the Maritime industry of the United States of America; to assist in the enhancement of the stature of the American Master Mariner; and to promote accomplishment of those purposes set forth in the Declaration of Policy in the constitution of the national Council of American Master Mariners, Inc.

Section 2. Policy

  1. To promote, by such lawful determinate means, good will, public understanding, and recognition of these purposes and dedications.

Section 3. Powers

  1. This organization, through its properly elected officials and concurring membership, empowers constructive furtherance of the above stated purposes by such appropriate and necessary action in connection therewith as is justly accorded within the laws where under this organization shall function.
  2. All motions, measures and means for the utilization of these powers, being duly ratified by lawful assembly, shall henceforth constitute expression of popular subscription to the foregoing.

ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. Active Membership

  1. Active membership in this chapter shall be composed of members of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc., in good standing, residing, working, or otherwise situated within the Tampa Bay/Central Florida area. Members of the national Council not residing or working in the area described and not affiliated with another established chapter of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. may be a member of and associate with the Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter.
  2. The active membership referred to in this section shall comprise the four classes of members described in Article III, Section 1 of the constitution of the national Council of American Master Mariners, Inc., namely that of Regular, Special, Associate, and Honorary membership.

Section 2. Companion Membership

  1. Persons interested in the aims and purposes of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. that are not members of the national Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. may, upon application to and recommendation of the chapter’s membership committee, be accepted by lawful assembly, under terms of this constitution, to the Chapter’s Companion Membership. Such Companion Members shall have all the rights and privileges of active membership, with the exception of voting and holding elective office.
  2. The total number of companion members shall not at any time exceed one half of the number of active members of the chapter.

ARTICLE IV
Chapter Officers
Section 1. Officers

  1. The elected officers of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc. – Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter shall be the President, the Vice President (seagoing), the Vice President (non-seagoing), the Secretary and the Treasurer.

ARTICLE V
Executive Council
Section 1. Composition

  1. The Executive Council of this chapter shall consist of six members, namely, the five elected officers and the immediate past President.

ARTICLE VI
Eligibility and Term of Office
Section 1. Eligibility

  1. Any active member of the Council of American Master Mariners that is in good standing and an active participant in the affairs of the chapter may be nominated for and elected to any office of the chapter. (Special, Associate, and Honorary members are eligible to hold office.)

Section 2. Term of Office

  1. The term of office for all elected officers of the chapter shall be for two years.

Section 3. Succession

  1. The elected officers shall be permitted to succeed themselves in office, but such succession in any particular office shall be limited to only one additional term beyond that for which originally elected. For the purpose of this section, officers filling a vacancy occurring between the regular biennial elections shall not be considered as having been elected to such office.

ARTICLE VII
Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Elections

  1. Elections of officers will be held during the regular June business meeting of each odd-numbered year.

Section 2. Nominations

  1. Nominations shall be received by the election committee each election year not later than thirty (30) days preceding the election meeting.
  2. At the June meeting in the election year, the election committee shall present the slate of candidates to the lawful assembly, at which time any nominee declining to stand for election may withdraw his name.

Section 3. Balloting

  1. The mode of balloting shall be determined by the members present at the election meeting.
  2. If voice vote or show of hands is decided as the mode of election, the election will be conducted by the chairman of the election committee.
  3. If election is to be determined by balloting, these shall be provided by the election committee, who shall also make the official count. The results shall be reported by announcement not later than the next succeeding meeting by the chairman of the election committee.

Section 4. Results

  1. Election to office shall be by simple majority. All ties shall be resolved by a draw in the presence of the members present at a regular meeting.

Section 5. Assumption to Office

  1. The successful candidates shall assume their office immediately upon announcement of the election results at a regular meeting which shall be not later than the regular meeting next succeeding the elections meeting.

Section 6. Special Elections

  1. Special Elections to fill vacancies shall be held at the first regular meeting next succeeding that meeting at which the existence of a vacancy is announced. Nominations, balloting and certification of the results shall be handled by the election committee. Successful candidates shall assume their office immediately after their election.
  2. If no candidates are nominated for election to the vacancy, the chapter President may appoint a member to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.
  3. When a vacancy occurs within ninety (90) days of the regularly scheduled election, the special election will be held in abeyance and the President of the chapter may appoint a member to the vacant office during the interim.

ARTICLE VIII
Changes in the Constitution
Section 1. Amendments

  1. This constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of a duly noticed meeting of the membership at which a quorum is present. Such amendment or amendments shall be forwarded to the National Board of Governors in accordance with Article I, Section 3 of the By-Laws of the National Council of American Master Mariners, Inc.

By-Laws

By-Laws of the Tampa Bay / Central Florida Chapter of CAMM

Clause Paramount
Nothing contained herein shall be construed to supercede the constitution of the Council of American Master Mariners, Inc.

Meetings
The Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter shall hold meetings on dates specified by the president of the chapter which shall be not less frequently than quarterly. Nothing in this clause shall preclude more frequent meetings of the chapter and monthly meetings shall be encouraged.

Section 1. Duties of Chapter Officers
General: Officers of the chapter shall faithfully and diligently perform their incumbent duties at all meetings, official functions, and special assignments of the chapter assembly.

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings. He shall enforce all laws and regulations of the Chapter. He shall justly hear all grievances and pleas which shall be properly incorporated in the agenda of the meetings. He shall sign all official letters, bills, contracts and documents pertaining to and in the name of the chapter or shall designate such powers by direction. Such direction of powers of signature shall be assigned to another duly elected official.
  2. The Vice Presidents (seagoing and non-seagoing) shall perform all duties of the President in the absence of that officer.
  3. The Secretary shall prepare the agenda of all meetings for submission to the President. He shall keep minutes of all proceedings. He shall keep the official rolls, records, and correspondence.
  4. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the Chapter and shall be responsible for their safe-keeping. He shall prepare and certify budgets, annual statements and necessary records. The later shall include the list of members in good standing.
  5. The Executive Council shall have the power to hold, administer and manage the affairs, funds, property and expenditures of the chapter.

Section 2. Impeachment

  1. An elected official may be subject to proceeding of impeachment.
  2. A charge of impeachment may be presented by an active member of the lawful assembly to the Executive Council for appropriate action.

Section 3. Committees

  1. There shall be five permanent committees appointed by the Chapter President as soon after assumption to office as possible. These committees shall be designated as Positions, Membership, House & Arrangements, Publicity, and Publication Committees.
  2. Ad hoc committees shall be constituted by the Chapter President as and when required.
  3. The chairman of each such committee shall be appointed by the Chapter President.

Section 4. Committee Action

  1. All permanent committee action shall be subject to ratification by the Executive Council.

Section 5. Duties of Permanent Committees

  1. The Positions Committee shall research and report on all new developments in government and industry that bear upon the purposes of the Council and the chapter. Such reports to the Executive Council shall set forth their recommendations as to what action should be taken in support of or opposition to the matter under review. The Chairman of this committee shall maintain close liaison with the chairman of the Positions Committee of the national council for obvious reasons.
  2. The Membership Committee is charged with recruitment of members for the chapter and, in this activity, assist in increasing the membership of the national council by urging qualified persons to become members. The chairman of this committee shall maintain close liaison with the chairman of the national council’s membership committee and the secretary of the national council. Committee members should contact potential members and invite their attendance at a chapter meeting, thereafter following up to assure that every courtesy is extended to such potential members.
  3. The House & Arrangements Committee shall be charged with making the necessary arrangements for the chapter’s meeting place, including refreshments and dining facilities as may be desirable. This committee shall be responsible for organizing social functions of the chapter, as well as the programs at chapter meetings. The chairman of this committee shall be authorized to appoint vicechairmen to head up specific functions under his cognizance.
  4. The Publicity Committee shall perform such actions as appropriate to inform the general public of the activities of the chapter. The chairman shall maintain close liaison with the public relations committee of the national council to ensure that no conflict with policies or procedure of the national council will occur.
  5. The Publications Committee shall be responsible for publication of the chapter newsletter which shall be the official organ of the chapter organization. The secretary shall arrange for mailing copies of this newsletter to all chapter members, the Regional Governor, the national office of the Council of American Master Mariners and such other persons designated by the Chapter President.

Section 6. Finances

  1. The Treasurer shall afford any active chapter member the right of inspection and inquiry as to the financial circumstances of the chapter within a reasonable time.
  2. The Treasurer shall formally present to the membership a financial statement with clarifying brief, certified by the Executive Council, at the September meeting each year.
  3. Each voucher shall be signed by the Treasurer.
  4. A petty cash fund shall be established for chapter purposes and shall be used at the discretion of the chapter President.

Section 7. Dues

  1. In addition to the annual dues paid to the national office of the Council of American Master Mariners, each member affiliated with the Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter shall pay dues in the amount of fifteen ($15) dollars per year.
  2. Upon being accepted for membership in the Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter of the Council of American Master Mariners all new members will pay an initiation fee of twenty five ($25) dollars. The initiation fee may be waived at the discretion of the Executive Council.
  3. Life members of the Council of American Master Mariners may be afforded similar status in the Tampa Bay/Central Florida Chapter by paying ten times the annual chapter dues of one hundred fifty dollars to the chapter treasurer.
  4. Special fund drives or assessments may be instituted by the Chapter President with the approval of the Executive Council.

Section 8. Quorum

  1. A quorum shall consist of ten (10) active chapter members.

Section 9. Amendments

  1. These By-Laws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of a duly noticed meeting of the membership at which a quorum is present. Amendments shall become effective following adoption subject to approval by the National Board of Governors.