Constitution of The American Legion Riders
American Legion, Post 331 Brownsburg, IN.
Preamble
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To demonstrate the principles of responsible motorcycling as set forth in the Rider’s Response: “We, You’re American Legion Riders, Ride for God and Country, The American Legion Family, and Allied Veterans everywhere, Protect those that protect us. Amen”. To serve as examples of responsible American Patriotism; to uphold and defend the Constitution of The United States of America; to serve our comrades as set forth in the Preamble to The Constitution of The American Legion.
Article I — Name
The name of this organization shall be the American Legion Riders Chapter 331 of Brownsburg, Indiana (hereafter “ALR331”)
Section 1. The location of this Chapter shall be at The American Legion, Post 331, 636 East Main Street, Brownsburg, IN 46112.
Section 2. An off-site administrative center may, from time to time, be established for the convenience of the organization and its elected officers, subject to approval by The American Legion Riders committee established for oversight of the organization.
Article II — Objectives
The aims and purposes of the ALR331 shall be to promote and support the programs and community activities of The American Legion, by participation in parades and other ceremonies in keeping with the Aims and Purposes of The American Legion; to promote motorcycle safety programs; to provide a social atmosphere for American Legion members who share an interest in motorcycling and related activities; and to adhere to and promote the principles set forth in the Preamble to the American Legion Constitution.
Article III — Nature
ALR331 is a program of The American Legion Lincoln Post 331 and subject to the rules, regulations, policies, oversight and control thereof. Also oversight and control shall be exercised through a committee of the Internal Affairs Commission of The Department of Indiana to be known as the American Legion Riders Committee.
Section 1. ALR331is a civilian organization and membership therein does not affect or increase liability for military or police service.
Section 2. ALR331 shall be absolutely politically non-partisan and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment.
Section 3. Rank does not exist in the American Legion Riders; no member shall be addressed by his military or naval title in any meeting or officially sanctioned activity of the ALR331.
Article IV — Membership
There shall be two standard classes of membership: Regular and Special.
Section 1. Regular Membership shall be open to any verified current member of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of The American Legion and must be the registered owner of a street legal motorcycle with an engine displacement of not less than 350 cubic centimeters (cc).
Section 2. Spouses who meet the criteria described in Sec. 1 above may also be members.
Section 3. Special Membership shall be open to current regular members only who have relinquished ownership or ridership of a qualifying motorcycle as a result of disability, injury, or a death.
Para. 1. Qualifying death shall be that of a spouse who was sole or joint owner of the qualifying motorcycle.
Para. 2. Qualifying injury or disability shall be a limitation which prevents proper operation of a motorcycle.
Para. 3. Current members must have held a minimum one year Regular Membership before application for Special Membership.
Para. 4. All other conditions of Regular Membership must be met.
Section 4. Application for membership shall be made in writing under such regulations as, may from time to time, be prescribed by the ALR331 Executive Committee, and shall be accompanied by proof of eligibility.
Section 5. Any member of ALR331 may be expelled for cause by a two-thirds vote of the Chapter Executive Committee after charges are preferred under oath in writing, and a fair trial had upon the same. If an EC member holds more than one office, that person may apply one vote only.
Section 6. A member who has been expelled or suspended from a Chapter for any cause may be reinstated to membership by a two-thirds vote of the membership present in a Chapter meeting, and the payment of current dues for the year in which the reinstatement occurs.
Section 7. No person who has been expelled by any other AL state organization shall be admitted to membership in the ALR331 without the consent of the expelling organization, except that where such consent has been asked for and denied by such organization, the applicant may then appeal to the Executive Committee of the Department of Indiana for permission to apply for membership in the ALR331, and shall be ineligible for membership until such permission is granted.
Article V -- Honorary and Supporting Membership
There are two limited special classes of membership available within the ALR331: Honorary and Supporting. Honorary and Supporting Members who do not meet the requirements for standard eligibility in the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, or the Sons of The American Legion may be accorded Post privileges only to the extent permitted by Indiana law and federal regulation governing access to not-for-profit organizations.
Section 1. Honorary Membership may be granted to a person who goes above and beyond normal expectations in assisting and serving the ALR331. Honorary status shall be assigned after a vote during a regular business meeting of ALR331.
Para. 1. Honorary Membership shall be granted on the recommendation of the Director and concurrence of 2/3 of the members present to vote.
Para 2. Recommendation shall be voted on at the regularly scheduled meeting next following the meeting in which the recommendation was announced.
Para 3. Honorary ALR331 members shall be exempt from payment of dues for life or until proper cause is shown why the member should be expelled in accordance with the rules for same in this Constitution and Bylaws. ALR patch can not be worn.
Section 2. Supporting Membership may be granted to those deemed to be encouraging of the organization and motorcycling in general.
Para. 1. Supporting Membership may be granted by the members vote only.
Para. 2. ALR331 members are the judges of their own supporting members.
Para. 3. Supporting members are members without voice or vote, and may not be included in total membership counts.
Para. 4. Supporting members shall be exempt from payment of dues for life or until proper cause is shown why the member should be expelled in accordance with the rules for same in this Constitution and Bylaws.
Para. 5. Supporting members must wear an “I Support” rocker if an ALR patch is worn.
Article VI – Regalia
The ALR331 may, from time to time, design and designate procedures for the wearing of unique ALR331 regalia including patches and caps by the several classes of members, provided that uniform rules for the wear and display of regalia be included in the By-Laws of this Constitution, and further provided that the ALR331 design and procedures must conform to rules and policies promulgated by the National and Department levels of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.
Article VII — Officers
The administrative affairs of the Chapter shall be under the supervision of an Executive Committee which shall consist of the elected officers of the ALR331 plus the immediate preceding Director. A majority (6) of the Executive Committee must be present at the meeting to constitute a quorum.
Section 1. The elected officers of the ALR331 shall be Director, Assistant Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairman, Sergeant at Arms, Historian, Chaplain, Ride Coordinator, Communications Director, Event Coordinator and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by this organization, whom shall be named by the Director subject to approval by the Executive Committee in its first meeting immediately following the election.
Section 2. Officers shall be nominated from the floor at the regular October meeting immediately preceding the annual November election.
Section 3. All officers shall be elected annually, and they shall hold office until their successors are duly installed or as otherwise provided.
Section 4. Any officer may be removed for cause by the Executive Committee, provided that two-thirds vote of said committee shall be necessary to effect such removal. If an Executive Committee member holds more than one office, that person may apply one vote only. Causes apply to, but are not limited to; misconduct, unavailability or incapacity to perform duties as described in Article IV in the ALR331 Bylaws.
Section 5. Every ALR331 member in good standing shall be eligible to hold office.
Section 6. The duties of officers shall be those usually appertaining to such offices or committees and as further provided in the By-Laws.
Section 7. The Executive Committee may provide for such other appointive officers and standing committees as the business of the ALR331 may require.
Section 8. Members may hold up to two offices simultaneously, except that the Director and Assistant Director may not hold any other elective office at the ALR331 Post 331 level during their term. Director and Assistant Director are able to hold office in District and State levels.
Article VIII — Finance
Section 1. The revenue of this Chapter shall be derived from membership fees, from annual membership dues and from such other sources as may be approved by the ALR331.
Section 2. There shall be no initiation fees assessed.
Section 3. The membership fees for the state ALR shall be established by the American Legion Riders Department of Indiana. ALR331 Annual Membership fees shall be recommended by the chapter Executive Committee. The fee shall be subject to approval by majority vote at a monthly business meeting. The chapter fee includes the fee for the State ALR.
Section 4. ALR331 Chapter finances shall be subject to audit by the American Legion Post 331. The Chapter Treasurer shall provide an annual report of same to the ALR331 Executive Committee, which report is to coincide with the installation of ALR331 Chapter officers.
Section 5. Authority to disburse funds is assigned to the Director, Treasurer and Event Coordinator individually for up to $500. Any expenditure above $500 requires a signature by any 2 of these officers.
Article IX — Charter Members
Members who joined the ALR331 prior to September 26th, 2009, for the permanent authorization to form the ALR331 Post 331 Chapter in Indiana shall be known as ALR331 "Charter Chapter Members".
Article X — Amendments
This Constitution is adopted subject to the provisions of the National Constitution of The American Legion, the Constitution of The American Legion, Department of Indiana, the Constitution of The American Legion Riders of the Department of Indiana, and the Constitution of The American Legion Post 331.
Section 1. Any amendment to said National, Department Constitution or of Indiana Constitution which is in conflict with any provisions hereof shall be regarded as automatically repealing or modifying the provisions of this Constitution to the extent of such conflict.
Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular ALR331 meeting by vote of two thirds of the members attending such regular meeting, providing the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the preceding regular meeting of the ALR331, and providing further, written or electronically transmitted notice shall have been given to all other members (not in attendance during the reading) at least 45 days in advance of the date when such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members that such a meeting for a proposal to amend the Constitution is to be voted upon.
APPROVED AND EFFECTIVE AS OF APRIL 18, 2011 (Department Adjutant)
