Constitution

The Psychological Operations Veterans' Association Constitution and By-Laws Article I: General Provisions
1.1	This organization is formally known as the Psychological Operations Veterans' Association, and will hereinafter be referred to as the "Association." The formal name will be utilized for the conduct of any and all legitimate business and affairs by and on behalf of the Association.
1.2	Because this is a voluntary non-chartered Association, the principal offices shall be the home residences of the Members elected or appointed to hold office in the Association.
1.3	The Association exists for the purpose of providing a reunion and fellowship mechanism for persons who have served in or provided support to military psychological operations. Membership in the Association is accessible to any individual who has served in either a civilian or military capacity in the military psychological operations profession or who has provided leadership or support to military psychological operations. Members elected or appointed to hold office in the Association.
Article II: Membership
2.1	This Association encourages all individuals who meet membership requirements to join and participate in the affairs of the Association. Any person who satisfies the criteria for membership will be eligible for the benefits of Membership without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, marital status, handicapped status or other reason protected by any State or Federal rule, law, or regulation.
2.2	Membership in the Association is open to persons who were engaged directly or indirectly in the performance or support of military psychological operations' activities. This may include:
	a.	retired and active duty military personnel who served in a psychological operations organization
	b.	former military personnel who served in special operations or other commands which included direct or indirect psychological operations activities
	c.	employees and officials of civilian governmental agencies engaged directly or indirectly in psychological operations
	d.	such other persons as, in the opinion of the Association, have sufficient relationship to military psychological operations as to be beneficial to the Association and its members.
2.3	The following are the categories of membership in this Association:
	a.	A "Charter Member" is a former member of the 4th Psychological Operations Group who served in the Republic of Viet-Nam.
	b.	A "Regular Member" is anyone who has served with or in support of psychological operations activities, either in a military or civilian capacity.
	c.	Life Membership 1 1. An "Honorary Life Member" is anyone who has been recognized by the Association as demonstrating superior commitment and/or leadership to the Association, and who has been voted a Life Member by the membership during a biennial reunion. 2. A "Paid Life Member" is any member in good standing who has paid a one-time life membership fee , the amount of which is set my the membership. 2
	d.	An "Associate Member" is any other person who seeks and is accepted into membership of the Association. Associate members are entitled to all benefits of membership, but are ineligible to vote on Association business matters.
2.4	Any Member who has paid in-full all required dues, and who complies with the provisions of these Bylaws will be deemed to be in "good-standing." Only those Members in good-standing are entitled to participate in the Association's activities, run for elective office, vote, or hold any office within the Association.
2.5	Any Member who is an officer or who holds any appointive position in the Association who resigns or whose Membership lapses must immediately return any Association documents, funds, equipment, and/or supplies to one of the other duly-elected officers.
2.6	Any Member whose membership lapses will be entitled to resume Membership at any time in the future.
Article III: Officers
3.1	Any Member in good-standing may stand for election to any office provided herein, or as may subsequently be provided by the Association. Any officer who loses good-standing will no longer be eligible to hold office unless or until good-standing status is restored.
3.2	The officers of this Association will be as follows:
	a.	President: The President is the chief executive and administrative officer of the Association, and is responsible to the general Membership for the leadership and direction of the Association. In addition, the President serves as the chairperson of the Board of Directors, and is responsible for assuring that no action is taken by the Board which is detrimental to the interest of the Association. The President will also: 1.    Represent the Association at all meetings with other civic, political, and/or veterans or other organizations where representation of the Association is requested or desired; 2.    Represent the Association at all regular and special meetings of the Association and its Board of Directors; 3.   Provide such reports to the Membership as may be directed by the Membership; 4. Perform such other tasks as directed by the Membership.
	b.	Vice Presidents: There will be sufficient Vice Presidents elected by the Membership to allow the full and proper performance of all Association goals and objectives. Sufficient vice-presidencies will be maintained to allow the elected involvement of several Members, so as to assure broad-scale participation in the affairs of the Association. In the period between Reunions, the President may appoint additional Vice Presidents, subject to approval of the Board of Directors at the next Reunion.
	c.	Secretary : The Secretary will be responsible for recording and maintaining any and all minutes,, transcripts, and correspondence of the Association, and shall prepare such correspondence as may be required to effectuate the purposes of the Association at the direction of the President and/or the Board of Directors.
	d.	Treasurer : The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining accurate and timely financial records of the Association, including a roster of membership dues paid by each Member, preparing and submitting periodic financial statements as may be required, and preparing all Association records for review by the President, the Board of Directors, or appropriate agencies of government. Where required by law, the Treasurer will also file timely and accurate financial reports as well as those documents needed to maintain the Association's tax-exempt status as defined by law.
	e.	Vice President/Trustee: There will be two Vice President/Trustees of the Association, whose purpose will be to serve as general members of the Board of Directors. These officers have no specific duties assigned, but are responsible for observing the general operation of the Association on behalf of all Members and noting to the Members any information which they believe, either individually or jointly, the Members may have an interest in knowing. The VP/Trustees are full voting members of the Board of Directors.
3.3	Board of Directors: The elected officers as described in section 3.2 above will serve as the Association's Board of Directors. In addition, the Association's Chaplain will serve as a member of the Board of Directors.The officers of this Association will be as follows:
	a.	The Board of Directors serves as the general secretariat and primary policy-making body of the Association. All policy decisions of the Board of Directors will be communicated to the Membership in the periodic newsletter, and will be subject to ratification at the periodic reunions to be held by the Association.
	b.	In the event emergency action must be taken by the Association, the Board of Directors is empowered to take such action, subject to notice to the Membership. Under no circumstances does any officer or the Board of Directors have authority to suspend, modify, ignore, or fail to honor the provisions of this Constitution and Bylaws. Any and all deliberations of the Board of Directors will be recorded and maintained by the President.
3.4	No Member or officer will ever himself/herself as a representative of this Association for purpose of personal benefit, gain, or profit. Any representations by any officer or Member of this Association will be for the express purpose of gaining lawful and/or proper benefit for this Association exclusively.
3.5	All officers are elected at a general Membership meeting or reunion and hold office for a period of not less than two (2) calendar years, or until a call for elections is made by a majority of the Members. In the event no periodic meeting or reunion is held for a period in excess of two (2) years, officers will retain their offices until such time as another meeting or reunion is held.
3.6	In the event any officer vacates his/her position during the term of his/her office, the vacancy may be left unfilled, or upon approval of a majority of the officers polled by the President, a replacement may be named. The replacement will serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
Article IV: Meetings and Reunions
4.1	The Association will meet as often as the Membership desires, and will attempt to conduct a general Membership reunion at least biennially. Specific meeting dates, times, and places will be determined by the Board of Directors and will be published in writing in the periodic newsletter as far in advance as possible.
4.2	To the maximum extent possible, reunions will be held in places convenient and accessible to as many Members as is possible. Periodic meetings as may be held by the Board of Directors will be held as determined by the Board.
4.3	All meetings and reunions will be scheduled and conducted by the Board of Directors , and will be preceded by a written agenda which will establish the Association's business to be conducted. At a minimum, the following "Order of Business" will be observed: a. Pledge of Allegiance and Chaplain's Invocation b. One minute of silence for the POW/MIA's of the Indochina War c. Financial report by the Treasurer d. Secretary's report of minutes of the past reunion and any interim business of the Association e. "Old Business" from the preceding biennium f. Election of officers for the next Biennium g. "New Business" to include the introduction of guests and new Members in attendance; discussion of Board of Directors meeting activities; and such other business as is raised by the Membership. Each item or issue requiring approval by the Membership will be voted separately by either voice vote or a showing of hands. h. "Good of the Order" to include additional items of interest by any Member. i. Chaplain's Benediction j. Adjournment
4.4	Meetings and reunion general business meetings will be generally governed by the Roberts' Rules of Parliamentary Procedure; questions as to procedure will be resolved by the President.
4.5	All meetings will be conducted with dignity and respect for all in attendance. There will be no alcoholic beverages served or consumed during the business meetings, and there will be no foul, vulgar, obscene, or abusive language used in any meeting by any Member, officer, or guest. Violation of provisions of this paragraph will be grounds for expulsion from the meeting.
Article V: Membership Dues
5.1	Annual membership dues are payable each January 1 of odd numbered years for two years.  Members may pay advance dues for a six year period.  The amount of the annual, six year and Lifetime dues are set by the membership. Should someone apply for membership in an even numbered year they will only have to pay for one year or five years membership.  Current members who are on a multi-year or Lifetime plan will not be required to pay additional dues .
5.2	Although the Association will gratefully accept any contributions and donations, there will be no special assessments, levies, or other financial collections imposed on Members over and above the cost of Membership dues. Any contributions made by a Member in excess of annual dues may be designated by the Member as a credit against future Membership dues.
Article VI: Amendments and Conclusions
6.1	Provisions of this Constitution and Bylaws, once approved by the Membership, can only be amended by the Membership at a periodic Membership meeting or reunion. No officer or Member has any authority to amend, modify, or suspend the provisions of these Bylaws unless such action constitutes an amendment as provided herein.
6.2	Amends to this Constitution and Bylaws must be made in written form, and must receive support from a majority of Members voting in a periodic meeting or reunion. Any approved amendment will take effect immediately upon voted approval by the Membership.
6.3	In the event this Association is dissolved or ceases to function, and any assets remain, said assets will be liquidated and any proceeds used to discharge any financial obligations of the Association.
	a.	If there are any remaining funds upon discharge of all financial obligations, such funds will be donated in the name of this Association to the Viet-Nam Veterans' Memorial in Washington, D.C., for its continued maintenance and upkeep.
	b.	As used in this section, "assets" includes any cash, equipment, supplies, property, or any other thing of value which is owned by the Association; but does not include any property loaned to or used by the Association which has not been purchased by the Association or which has not been donated to the Association. Further, "assets" will not be defined to include any personal property of any Member which is being used to support the activities or administration of the Association.
WHEREFORE, the provisions hereinabove are ratified and approved by a majority of Members voting in Annual Reunion in the City of Buena Vista in the State of California, on the 8th day of the month of July, 1998,. an d as amended at the Reunion meeting held in Fayetteville North Carolina on July 17, 2004.