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Here are the current By-Laws in force governing our local
Lodge...
Fraternal Order of Police
Jefferson County
Unity Lodge #58
Constitution and By-Laws
Order of Business
1. Call to Order, pick up Pass Word, Salute the Flag, Prayer.
2. Roll Call of Officers
3. Reading of the Minutes or the previous meeting.
4. Proposal and Balloting for Candidates for Membership.
5. Initiation of Candidates.
6. Reports of Officers and Committees.
7. Bills and Communications.
8. Unfinished Business.
9. New Business
10. Good of the Order.
11. Election of Officers or Delegates.
12. Installation of Officers.
13. Closing Prayer by Chaplin.
14. Adjournment.
Preamble
On February 6, 1975, a Charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the
Fraternal Order of Police, incorporated in Pittsburgh, PA., May 14, 1915, and under that
Charter, Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58, Fraternal Order of Police, was on February 6,
1975, called a Subordinate Lodge with full power to work under their own jurisdiction in
the County of Jefferson, Alabama..
The object and purpose of this lodge is to instill and cultivate Spirit of
Loyalty and Unity in all its membership and the Spirit of Cooperation and unity with all
law enforcement organizations throughout the State; and by every legitimate means to try
to improve the standards of work and service of its members and promote pride within law
enforcement.
Through organization we have the freedom of mutual interchange of thought
and information; and the experience of each becomes known to all, which always results in
a higher development of our spiritual, moral, and social faculties; and which enables us
to share the gains and honors of advancing civilization.
Therefore, we, the members of the Lodge, are convinced that it is in the
best interest of all our members to unite under the name of the Jefferson County Unity
Lodge #58 Fraternal Order of Police, believing that intelligence, industry and normal
worth are the standards of greatness, do hereby pledge ourselves to use all honorable
means to promote a fraternal relationship among those of the Lodge.
This Constitution and By-laws have been adopted for the conduct of
business and activities of the Lodge. By strict compliance of the By-Laws, we shall be
able to honorable and efficiently transact the necessary business of the Lodge to the
mutual benefit of all members.
The Constitution and By-laws of the National Organization, and the State
Lodge of Alabama of the Fraternal Order of Police shall take place or over-ride any
features or articles or sections or articles of the constitution and By-laws of the
Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58 of the State of Alabama, if they be inconsistent with any
State or National By-laws.
Name
This organization shall be known as the Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58,
Fraternal Order of Police, of the National and State Organizations and shall be located in
the County of Jefferson, State of Alabama.
By-Laws
Article I
Section 1. The stated regular sessions of the Lodge shall be held in its
appropriate jurisdiction on the second (2nd) Tuesday of each month at 18:30
hours. Said meeting location shall be the F.O.P. Range Inc. office at 91 1st
Street Pleasant Grove, Alabama. Changes in meeting location for the purpose of holding a Adinner meeting@
at a local eating establishment may be made with a majority vote at a regular session at
least two (2) months before the date of the Adinner
meeting@.
The President may call special sessions when requested by 7 members of the
Lodge in good standing, when such request is made in writing and signed by such members
conditioned that a notice of the Special Session must be read at roll-call of officers.
Section 2. No business other than that for which the session has been
called can be transacted at any Special Session; conditioned that no petitions for
membership nor amendments to these By-Laws can be presented at any Special Session.
Section 3. The annual Session of this Lodge shall be the first regular
session of the Month of December of each year at 6:30 PM.
Article II B Officers
Section 1. The officers of this Lodge shall consist of President,
immediate past President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, Second Vice-President,
Chaplin, Sergeant at Arms, Outer Guard, and 3 Trustees.
Nominations and Qualifications
Section 2. Nominations of Candidates to represent Jefferson County Unity
Lodge #58 as delegates to the annual convention of the Grand Lodge of the State shall be
held at least 2 months before the convention date and the number to which the Lodge is
entitled shall be elected at the next regular meeting.
Section 3. The expenses of delegates to the Grand and State Sessions shall
be computed as follows: Expense of $25 per diem, 10 cents per mile, accommodations and
registration fees.
Section 4. All Officers of this lodge shall be elected annually, except
the
trustees who shall serve for a period of three years and one Trustee who
shall be elected each year.
Section 5. The nominations of officers shall be held at the first session
in October. Any one at the time of nomination and election must be in good standing in the
Lodge and be eligible. All members must be in good standing to vote.
Election and Installation
Section 6. The election of the Officers are to be held at the first
session in November, the candidate receiving the highest numbers of votes cast for
respective office, shall be declared the winner.
Section 7. The newly elected officers of the Lodge shall be installed at
the first regular session of the Lodge, in December of each year, and they shall each
respectively serve until their successor is duly elected and qualified.
Article III
Duties of the President
Section 1. The duty of the President shall be to have general supervision
of the Lodge; to preside at all sessions of the Lodge when present; and to open and close
the same.
To appoint all officers Pro-Tem in case of absentees. To preserve order
and insist upon proper decorum when Lodge is in session.
To communicate the Pass-words to all persons entitled to receiving the
same to the Lodge.
To notify the Grand and State Lodge in any change of Secretary, either at
the time of election, or in between, to give the name, address and signature of the
Secretary.
To call Special Sessions of the Lodge as prescribed in Article 1; Sections
1 and 2 of these by-laws.
The
President shall be Aex-officio: chairman of the
Board of Trustees.
It shall be the duty of the President to be the first to inspect the
ballots when voting upon an application for membership and to report the results of same
to the lodge after the Vice-President has inspected the same. The President shall attach
his signature to all orders, vouchers and documents of an official charter issued from the
Lodge; conditioned that it is not necessary for him to sign the general correspondence
transacted by the Secretary.
All committees shall be appointed by the President and Vice-President;
conditioned that on committees of three (3) the Vice-President shall name one (1) member
and committee of five (5) he shall name two (2) members thereof. The President shall be an
Aex-officio@
member of all committees.
By virtue of his office the President and the immediate past President
shall be delegates to the Annual Convention of the Grand and State Lodge of the Fraternal
Order of Police.
Duties of the Immediate Past President
Section 2 The immediate past President shall attend Lodge meetings; shall
advise and assist the President and the Executive Board with their respective duties and
shall execute assignments as may be ordered by them.
Duty of Vice-President
Section 3. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge
of his duties while Lodge is assembled and in the absence of the President assume his
responsibilities and discharge his duties.
Duty of Secretary Treasurer
Section 4. The Secretary and Treasurer shall receive all funds paid into
the Lodge, deposit the same without delay to the credit of the Lodge; in such bank or
Trust Company as the Lodge may direct; keep a true and accurate account thereof; pay all
for which a regular warrant has been drawn and signed by the President upon the order of
the Lodge; also to submit to the Trustees on or before the Annual Session all the books
and vouchers of the Lodge for inspection. He shall render to the Lodge at the Annual
Session and at such other times as the Trustees may direct, a full statement of financial
conditions.
To pay and deliver to his successor, or to such person designated by the
Lodge, within ten (ten) days after expiration of his term of office, all moneys,
securities, evidences of all writings and all other properties of the Lodge under his
control and all papers and all necessary assignments.
It shall further be the duty of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Lodge
to record the Proceedings and minutes of all meetings of the Lodge in permanent books to
be referred to as the Amendment book, which is to be given to the proper persons for
reference when revisiting the Constitution. The above must be provided by the Lodge for
that purpose.
To attend all sessions of the Lodge, with all books, papers, writings of
which are under his control or in his custody necessary for the sessions; also at the
request of the President to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees on any official
business of the Lodge.
To
make and preserve a classified list of all members of the Lodge.
To receive, duly file and safely keep all papers and documents of the
Lodge, and within ten (10) days after the expiration of his term of office to deliver same
to his successor in office.
He shall be the custodian of the official Aseal@ of
the Lodge and shall certify all instruments under seal when the same shall be necessary.
To receive and keep a proper account of all moneys of the Lodge with dates
of their receipt.
To
collect all fees and dues and issue all due cards.
To prepare and read at each business session of the Lodge, a statement of
all financial transactions since the proceeding session.
To make a report in writing to the Lodge at the Annual Session, of all
moneys received by him and the specific source from which they were received, together
with a statement of disbursement and financial statement of resources and liabilities, and
at such other times as the Lodge may direct or the Board of Trustees may request or
require.
To report in writing to the Lodge at the Annual Session stating the record
of the year as to petitions received for membership and disposition of same.
To
conduct the correspondence of the Lodge under the direction of the President.
To execute and file with the Trustees an official surety bond (premium to
be paid by the Lodge) from an acceptable Surety Company, these sureties in an amount not
less than Five Hundred dollars ($500) to be obtained immediately after being duly elected
to office, the same to be approved be the Board of Trustees, at the commencement of each
term of office and be renewed as to amount and surety which is required by the Board of
Trustees; conditioned what he will pay and deliver all funds and property, on demand, to
his successor in office of the Lodge, that comes into his hands as Secretary of the Lodge.
He shall notify the Grand Lodge and State Lodge of the suspension or
expulsion of any member, and obtain, if possible, the membership card of such suspended or
expelled member.
He shall draw all orders on the Treasurer; all such orders to be first
sanctioned by the Lodge; and such order shall bear the signatures of the President and the
Secretary of the Lodge.
Duties of Trustees
Section 5. It shall be the duty on the board of Trustees to manage the
Property and permanent funds of the Lodge and all bonds of Officers required by the Lodge.
All invested funds of the Lodge shall be placed under the management of
said Board of Trustees, whose duties it shall be to take the best measures for their
security and increase of such funds and to invest from time to time such other funds as
directed by the Lodge.
All such funds to be invested only in first class interest bearing
securities approved by the Lodge.
The Trustees shall immediately deposit in the hands if the Treasurer the
securities and vouchers of the said invested funds, and shall not have the power to
appropriate any part of the invested fund without a vote of the Lodge.
A majority of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to transact the Lodge=s business entrusted to their management.
All questions, insofar as the Trustees are concerned, shall be decided by
a majority vote of the Trustees present.
The Board of Trustees shall make reports in writing, of their official
business of the Lodge, whenever requested by the President of the Lodge telling how the
funds are invested and the evidence of where such investments are.
At the close of each member=s
official term he shall make a full report in writing to the President who in turn shall
present said report to the Lodge; and their books and records shall be subject to audit
before the incoming Trustee shall enter upon his duty as such Trustee; conditioned that
each trustee gives bond (premium paid by the Lodge) in such sum as the Lodge may deem
necessary.
The
Trustees shall be custodian of all bonds of officers as required by the Lodge.
Duties of the Second Vice-President
Section 6. The Second Vice-President shall perform such duties as are
prescribed in the ARitualistic@ work of the Lodge. When the Lodge is in session he
shall at the order of the President take up the pass-word from each member present and
perform such other duties as the President may require.
In such absence of the President and Vice-President it shall be his duty
to open the Lodge and preside at the session assuming the same power and prerogative as
the President. It shall be his duty to welcome and attend to visitors.
Duties of the Sergeant at Arms
Section 7. The Sergeant at Arms shall guard the door of the Lodge and
allow none to pass or re-pass except such as are duly qualified, and perform such duties,
while the Lodge is in session, as the President may require.
Duties of the Chaplin
Section 8. To lead the Lodge in prayer and to assist the President of the
Lodge at all Funerals of our Brothers.
Prayer
Almighty God, the Ruler of the Universe, be
Thou with us in all our deliberations, guide us in every word and act, help us we ask
Thee, as we meet the many problems and issues that come before this body, protect us
against the sharp passions of unguarded moments, and finally save us amongst the redeemed;
in Jesus name we ask it, Amen.
Article IV
Petitions and Membership
Section 1. A person may become a member of the Jefferson County Unity
Lodge #58, Fraternal Order of Police, in the following manner; by initiation, by transfer,
by reinstatement, or by Associate membership, and in no other way can membership be
obtained.
Section 2. The Petitioner for regular membership in the Lodge must be a
REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER or engaged in REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES in a
Municipality, City, Town, County, State, or Federal Agency from which he receives his
compensation. Honorary active membership status may be granted in this local lodge on a
case by case basis for those individuals who actively support local law enforcement
agencies and lodge functions. Individuals holding honorary active membership may
participate in all activities and attend meetings, but cannot hold elected office.
Section 3. ALL PETITIONS for membership in this Lodge shall be submitted
in writing, on petition blanks conforming to the regulations of the Grand and State Lodge
of the Fraternal Order of Police and prescribed and furnished by this Lodge; such
petitions must be accompanied with the necessary fee; all questions on all petitions as
proposed to the applicant must be answered and warranted by him to be true; all petitions
for membership must be recommended by an Active member of this Lodge who shall sign such
petition. In order for a perspective new member to become an active member, he / she, or
the sponsor, must submit their application for membership in person.
Section 4. All petitions for membership submitted to this Lodge therein
shall be referred to a Committee on Character consisting of three (3) active members of
the Lodge; it shall be the duty of such committee to investigate the character of the
applicant and report the same at the next regular meeting of the Lodge.
NO PETITION SHALL BE BALLOTED UPON until after the Committee on Character
has submitted their report on the character of the applicant to the Lodge; nor shall any
petition be given the benefit of the ballot at the same session at which the said petition
is received.
Section 5. All petitions for affiliation shall be accompanied with a demit
issued in REGULAR FORM and the said demit must be presented within one year from the date
of the time same was issued.
Section 6. All petitions for membership in this Lodge shall be balloted
upon by simple majority of members in good standing in attendance at the meeting and in
each case of election or rejection of an applicant the Secretary of the Lodge shall notify
the applicant.
Section 7. The President may cause a second ballot to be taken on any
petition at the time such petition is being given the benefit of the ballot and such
action on said petition shall be final.
Section 8. All petitions for membership in the Lodge shall be balloted
separately.
Section 9. The term AActive
Member@ shall be construed to mean a member of
the Lodge who is a Regular Law Enforcement Officer actually engaged in regular law
enforcement duties at the time of his or her initiation into this Lodge. Individuals
holding honorary active membership may participate in all activities and attend meetings,
but cannot hold elected office. All other members shall be known as associate members and
shall not have deciding voice or vote in active Lodge business.
Section 10. In order to obtain a lifetime membership, a member of Lodge 58
must be an active dues paying member for no less than 5 years.
Article V
Fees and Dues
Section 1. The fee for affiliation by demit shall be ten dollars ($10.00).
Section 2. The dues of this Lodge for active, honorary, and associate
members shall be twenty five dollars ($25) a year paid in advance. This amount will
include the cost of the Journal and per-capita tax to the Grand and State Lodge.
Section 3. Any new member coming into the Lodge must pay the full annual
membership fee at the time of application for membership to the Lodge.
Article VI
Benefits
Section 1. The death benefit for death of an Active member shall be one
hundred dollars ($100), less any indebtedness to the Lodge by said members, payable to the
beneficiary, named by the member and recorded with the Secretary of the Lodge. In case the
Treasurer does not have ample funds to pay the above benefit to a deceased member of good
standing, an assessment shall be made and each member requested to pay his or her
proportion of the benefit which is payable following the death of said deceased member.
Section 2. The death benefit paid by the Lodge for death of any active
member shall terminate any and all obligations of this Lodge by virtue of said membership.
Section 3. All Active members of the Lodge will submit to the Secretary
the names of his immediate family and their addresses.
Section 4. In case of death of an active member and no beneficiary is
named then the Lodge reserves the right to pay the death benefit to any member or members
of the deceased member=s immediate family, which
the Lodge shall elect.
Section 5. F.O.P. Lodge #58 Training Fund
A fund shall be created to aid active members in good standing with costs
associated with law enforcement related continuing education with the following
provisions:
A. The fund is limited to a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1000) per
year. Any unused training funds will be carried over into the next fiscal year and only
money appropriated from the general fund to make up the difference between the unused
amount and the one thousand dollar ($1000) limit.
B. The maximum amount to be given to a requesting member shall be two
hundred fifty dollars ($250) per request. Funds awarded are to be used for class fee or
tuition only. Books, ammunition, supplies, food, lodging, etc... are to be the member=s responsibility.
C. The request must be made with a lead time of one Regular Lodge meeting
prior to the school.
D. The school must benefit the member in the purposes of his job; be law
enforcement related.
E. Requesting member must have attended five (5) Regular Sessions of the
Lodge and participated in one major fund raising event in the calender year proceeding the
request for training funds. The member must have been in good standing for twelve months
prior to requesting these funds. In the event that a member is unable to attend five (5)
regular Lodge meetings due to a conflict with their work schedule, an exception to the
five (5) meeting requirement can be made on a case by case basis by a simple majority vote
of the membership. The member must show proof of conflict. Attendance at eight (8) regular
sessions will exempt the attendance of the fund raiser requirement.
F. Upon completion of the training course, the member shall present an
oral summary of the training he received to the Lodge at the next Regular Session
following the training course.
G. The request must be made in writing to the Secretary of the Lodge to
attach to the minutes of that meeting when the request was made. The written request shall
state the training course, date of the school, the costs involved, duration, and how it
will benefit the member and his department.
Article VII
Penalties
Section 1. Any candidate having been notified of his or her election to
membership in this Lodge, and shall fail to present themselves for admittance to
membership within this six (6) months from date of said election through no fault of the
Lodge, shall forfeit all rights under said election together with the petition fee, unless
reason satisfactory to the Lodge are given and the time limit extended by the Lodge.
Section 2. Any member whose personal conduct is such that reflects
discredit upon the Lodge can be suspended or expelled from membership; but before his or
her name is removed from membership in the Lodge, charges must be preferred in writing and
submitted to the Lodge at regular session thereof; and then only upon a three fourths
(3/4) vote of the members at trial and voting on the resolution to suspend or expel such a
member can the member be suspended or expelled; condition that the member charged shall be
given the opportunity to be heard, on the charges preferred at a regular session of the
Lodge and in no case shall this section of the By-laws conflict with sections three (3),
four (4), and seven (7) of Article VII of these By-laws.
Section 3. A person who has lost his or her membership in the Lodge by
reason of conduct unbecoming a member shall not be privileged to again petition the Lodge
until expiration of one (1) year from the date the said member=s membership was discontinued.
Section 4. Any member who has not paid his or her dues to this Lodge
within 30 days and less than 90 days shall be deemed to be delinquent and not in good
standing.
Section 5. Any member of this Lodge who is in arrears for dues Aipso-facto@
suspends themselves from membership in this order; no action of the Lodge is necessary and
the membership in this Lodge at once be discontinued and the Secretary of the Lodge shall
notify such members in writing of this fact: however; the said person may be reinstated if
delinquent for less than one (1) year by payment of delinquent dues and other obligations
due this Lodge. If said person be delinquent in this Lodge for a period of over one (1)
year, they may obtain membership by making the same application and paying the same amount
that they would have to pay as though they have never been a member, providing however
that no charges by the Lodge are pending against the said applicant. Question as to status
of dues shall be referred to the Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 6. No person shall carry a demit, from the order, and shall remain
as an affiliated member of the Fraternal Order of Police, for a period of time in excess
of one (1) year, from date and time as such demit was issued, shall not be allowed to
visit this Lodge nor join in procession with its members.
Section 7. An applicant who has petitioned this Lodge for membership by
initiation and the petition was rejected cannot again petition the Lodge until the
expiration of six (6) months from the date of such rejection; this penalty shall apply to
persons who have been suspended or expelled from the Lodge (see Article VII, Section 3,
providing this section is not in conflict with Article VII, Section 4 of these By-laws).
Section 8. An Active member of this Lodge shall not lose membership
therein because of voluntary retirement or voluntary resignation from active duty or an
honorable discharge by his employing authorities; conditioned that the said member keeps
his or her membership in good and regular standing.
Section 9. No member of this Lodge shall be entitled to vote on any
business of the Lodge if charges have been preferred against such member; nor shall any
member be entitled to vote who is under suspension by the Lodge.
Article VIII
Conduct of Business
Section 1. To hold a regular session or a special session of this Lodge,
there must be present five (5) members of the Lodge in good standing; three (3) of these
said members must be officers of the Lodge.
Section 2. A majority vote shall govern in all matters concerning business
of this Lodge, and amendments to these By-laws.
Section 3. The sessions and business transacted by this Lodge shall be
governed in all cases and circumstances in ARoberts
Rules of Order@; in no case shall anything be
done that conflicts with the Constitution and By-laws of the Grand and State Lodge, of the
Fraternal Order of Police.
Section 4. An amendment to these By-laws may be submitted at any Regular
Session of this Lodge. The said amendment must be in writing and read before the Lodge and
signed by two (2) active members of the Lodge, such amendment shall lay over until the
next Regular Session of the Lodge before being voted upon and the proposed amendment shall
receive two thirds (2/3) vote of all members present before it can be adopted; conditioned
a notice must be sent to all members before such amendment is adopted.
Article IX
Section 1. Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58, Fraternal Order of Police,
favors and sponsors anything from which the Lodge can legally make money without the
assistance or help from any paid promoters or solicitors.
Section 2. That the Burial Ritual as adopted at the 17th Annual
Convention held in Gary, Indiana, August, 1933, be this section of Article IV.
Article X
Section 1. No money may be withdrawn from the general fund of this Lodge
except as otherwise provided in these By-laws without the consent of two thirds (2/3) of
those present after notice has been previously given. Current bills are hereby defined as
stationary, postage, Secretary=s salary, lights,
gas, and necessary paraphernalia for the Lodge and may be paid by the Secretary/ Treasurer
without a vote of the Lodge.
Section 2. No member can be eligible as a candidate for office unless he
is in good standing and has been a member at least one (1) year and has attended Lodge
meetings during the calender year.
Section 3. When any elective officer misses three consecutive active
meetings the office shall be declared vacant.
Section 4. The only excuse acceptable to the Lodge for a violation of
Section 4, Article X, shall be sickness or death in the immediate family of the member
involved or job related activities which prohibit him from attending.
Section 5. A Board of Directors shall consist of all elective officers and
the immediate past President.
Section 6. In the event of death, demit, resignation, or the occurrence of
a vacancy in any office for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of
the Executive Board of Directors.
Article XI
Section 1. Adopt the preamble of the Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58 as
the Preamble of Jefferson County Unity Lodge #58.
This lodge is formed for the purpose of promoting unity among the various
law enforcement personnel and their respective departments.
To promote professional services to be rendered and professional benefits
be received.
To promote personal and efficient cooperation, so that the public may
better by served in the consideration of law enforcement.
For advancing social, charitable and educational undertakings among law
enforcement officers.
To more effectively combat crime through unity and concerted action in all
matters pertaining to law enforcement.
To promote the advancement of crime prevention and detection through an
educational program.
To enforce and work toward the strengthening and improvement of all
Municipal, County, and State Civil Service Laws.
To encourage and strive for the improvement and expansion of the Pension
Laws and Funds for the various City, County, and State Officers of the State of Alabama
within the boundaries of this Lodge.
Article XII
Legal Defense Fund
Section 1. Funding. The Legal Defense Fund of this Lodge will be funded as
follows:
A. The Lodge Legal Defense Fund shall be funded by a 10% monthly
contribution from the F.O.P. Range Inc. monthly lease payment.
Section 2. Committee
A. This Lodge=s Legal Defense
Fund Committee shall consist of a four (4) man group of this Lodge=s active membership.
B. The Chairman of the Legal Defense Fund Committee shall be the State
Trustee. The two committee members shall be appointed by the President of the Lodge, one
shall be appointed by the Vice-President.
C. Meetings of the Legal Defense Fund Committee shall be held as called by
the Chairman upon notice to all committeemen.
Section 3. Scope of the Legal Defense Fund.
A. The Legal Defense Fund shall be available to members in defense matters
arising out of job related activities.
Section 4. Eligibility
A. To be eligible for the funds from this Lodge=s Legal Defense Fund, the requesting member shall
have the Secretary of this Lodge, by written memorandum, notify the Legal Fund Committee
the following:
1. The requesting member was a member in good standing at the time of the
incident occurred.
Section 5. Limits
A. The amount to be furnished for legal defense aid will be no greater
than one-half of the total legal defense funds available, nor one-half of the total funds
available in the Legal Defense Fund at the time of the request, whichever is less.
B. The total of funds available in the Legal Defense Fund shall not exceed
five thousand dollars ($5000). All funds earmarked for the Legal Defense Fund after this
limit is reached shall be placed in the General Fund to be used as this Lodge sees fit. No
transfer of funds from the Legal Defense Fund shall be authorized prior to reaching this
five thousand dollar ($5000) limit.
Section 6. Withdrawals
All withdrawals from the Lodge=s
Legal Defense Fund shall be made by the Secretary Treasurer of this Lodge only upon
authorization from a meeting of this Lodge=s
membership.
Section 7. Request
All requests for funds and all expenditures from the Legal Defense Fund
shall be reported at the regular meeting of this Lodge.
Section 8. How to request Legal Defense Aid.
A. The member seeking aid shall present information to the Committee in
writing stating:
1. The complete details of the incident resulting in the need for legal
defense aid.
2. The complete details of any departmental action.
3. The names of any and all witnesses to the incident.
4. The amount of funds needed.
5. All court dates relating to the defense of the member.
6. The name of the attorney selected by the member to represent the him
7. Any other information which the Legal Defense Fund Committee deems to
be necessary information.
B. If the Committee agrees on legal defense aid, then they will decide on
the amount to be appropriated to the requesting member, said amount not to exceed one-half
of the total legal fees or not more than one-half the total funds available in the fund at
the time of the request whichever is less
C. Any member who receives this benefit will sign an agreement to repay
Lodge #58 if moneys are recovered pursuant to his legal action.
D. In the event that said requesting member shall subsequently file suit
for restitution and there is money collected, the member shall repay the Legal Defense
Fund for any expenses or money appropriated to the member from the fund, after any
financial obligation to the State Lodge=s Legal
Defense Fund has been fulfilled.
E. The requesting member can request additional legal defense if the State
Legal Defense Committee denied any aid. This additional aid cannot exceed one-half of the
total funds available at the time of the request nor more than one-fourth of the total
amount of legal aid requested whichever is less.
F. All requests for funds shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Legal
Defense Fund Committee in writing.
G. The requirements for requesting legal defense aid shall be available on
request from the Legal Defense Committee or the Secretary of the Lodge.
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