By-Laws
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
St. Thomas Council 13861
Sanford, Maine 04073
Article 1 – Council
Sec. 1. This Council shall be known as St. Thomas Council No. 13861, Knights of Columbus. {Sec. 97, 98}
Sec. 2. The initiation fee shall be $25.00 and for Priests and Religious it shall be nil. The initiation fee shall accompany the application but it shall be refunded if the applicant is rejected. {Sec. 118 (a)}
Sec. 3. Each member shall pay annual dues, payable at the first regular meeting in January. The annual dues shall be $25.00 excepting honorary members who shall pay $10.00, and honorary life members who shall pay nothing. {Sec. 118(b), (c), (d)}
Article 2 – Elections
Sec. 1. The annual elections of officers shall take place at a regular meeting held between May 15 to and including June 15 each year. Not less than two months before the annual election the Grand Knight shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three who shall prepare a slate of candidates for the elective council offices. This slate shall be presented to the council not later than the regular business meeting preceding the meeting at which annual elections are to take place. Other nominations may be made from the floor and nominations may not be closed until the election meeting has convened and the members are ready to ballot. {Sec. 128, 135(2)}
Sec. 2. The elections of officers shall be done by ballot. A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to elect; except that where several of equal degree are to be chosen, a majority shall not be necessary, but all shall be voted for on one ballot and no ballot containing names of more or less candidates than there are offices to be voted shall be counted, and those receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected in the order of number of votes received. {Sec. 93, 128}
Sec. 3. The Grand Knight shall appoint two members to act as Tellers. After all who are entitled to do so have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots. The Recorder shall tally the same and the result thereof shall be announced by the presiding officer.
Sec. 4. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month of July succeeding his election, unless excused by vote of the council, and must present himself for installation at the time specified in the notice issued by the State Deputy or District Deputy, unless excused by such officer. Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant. {Sec. 129}
Sec. 5. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to members, by election at the regular business meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the vacancy was created. {Sec. 131}
Article 3 – Officers
Sec. 1 Only members who are in good standing and who have been initiated in the first three degrees of the order shall be eligible to hold office in this council. No member shall hold more than one office at the same time. {Sec. 92(a)}
Sec. 2. The elective officers shall be as follows: Grand Knight, ----Deputy Grand Knight, -----Chancellor, --- Recorder, Treasurer, ---- Advocate,--- Warden, -- Inside Guard –Outside Guard, ---and Board of Trustees. {Sec. 126, 128}
Sec.3. The appointive officers shall be as follows: --Financial Secretary, ---Lecturer, --- Chaplain. { Sec. 126, 128}
Article 7 ---Funds
Sec.1. All moneys obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name of the Council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered Council funds and shall be forthwith delivered to the Financial Secretary, who shall give his official receipt therefore and who shall report at the close of each meeting the amounts so received and from what source and shall deliver the same to the Council Treasurer and take his receipt therefor. {Sec. 122(a)}
Sec. 2. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys received from his Financial Secretary in a bank to the credit of this council. Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check signed by the Grand Knight and Treasurer. The depository bank shall be furnished with a copy of this section. {Sec. 140(2)}
Sec. 3. No money in excess of $200.00 shall be paid or transferred from the Treasury of this Council, except such moneys as the council is called upon to regularly pay for its current expenses and as provided by the Laws of the Order or for purposes approved by the Supreme Council or board of Directors, unless by a two- thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at which notice in writing of a resolution of intention to pay or transfer such money and the purpose and amount to be paid or transferred shall have been given and regularly read. {Sec. 122(b)}
Sec. 4. All bills shall be present to the Recorder and by him to read to the Council before being referred to the Board of Trustees. In case the bill is not approved by the board of Trustees, it shall be referred back to the Council for Action
Sec.5. The Grand Knight has the discretion to expend up to $100.00 without prior approval to cover unexpected expenses.. Such expenses shall be reported at the next regularly scheduled business meeting.
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Relief Fund
Sec. 5. The sum of $300.00 shall be paid from the General Fund to the Financial Secretary and shall be known as the Relief Fund. The Grand Knight, financial Secretary and Treasurer shall constitute a Relief Committee. They shall investigate the case of any brother who is reported to be in distress or in need of relief and if in their judgment the case is one deserving of assistance, they shall have the power to draw from this relief fund such reasonable sum of money to afford assistance as the circumstances of this case may require, provided that in no single case shall more than $100.00 be paid out without reference to and approval of the Council. {Sec. 122(b), 248}
Article 8 ---Funerals
Sec.1 On the death of a member in good standing the Memorial Committee shall give notice to the members and, if time permits, shall request them to assemble and pay their respects to the memory of the deceased at a time and place to be indicated in such notice.
Article 9 --- Miscellaneous
Sec. 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular business meeting held subsequent to a regular business meeting at which a resolution in writing providing for such amendment shall have been read and notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the members in writing or in the council publication at least ten (10) days prior to the second meeting. Amendments to these By-Laws are subject to the approval of the Supreme Advocate. {Sec. 250}
Sec.2. Procedure and debate shall be in accordance with the Laws and Rules of the Supreme Council, the Board of Directors, These By-Laws and the Rules of parliamentary Law know as “Roberts Rules of Order.”
{Sec.xxx} Bracketed texts found at the end of paragraphs refer to relevant sections found in the Charter, Constitution, and Laws of the Order, Knights of Columbus
These By-Laws adopted by vote of the Council, on
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John Chandonnet Grand Knight
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Robert Carr Recorder
Date of Institution___________________________
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Supreme Advocate