Fraternity-Testvériség, 1997 (75. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1997-04-01 / 2. szám

BY-LAWS of the HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA

1996 EDITION

As amended and revised by the Convention held in Trenton - New Brunswick, New Jersey from September 15 to 19, 1996.

ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION

Name - Date of Organization - Incorporation - Home Office

1. The name of this organization is: “Hungarian Reformed Federation of America.” It was organized July 5, 1896, at Trenton, New Jersey, and incorporated by an Act of Congress of the United States of America in the District of Columbia, on March 1, 1907. The Home Office is in Washington, D.C.

Purpose and Objectives

2. The purpose and objectives of the Federation are the following: to furnish its members with life and accident insurance; to support a home for the aged, known as the Bethlen Home of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America (HRFA) in Ligonier, Pennsylvania; and to promote social, fraternal and cultural activities among its members, among Americans of Hungarian descent and all others who are willing to conform with the fraternal objectives of the Federation.

Language - Seal - Motto - Official Publication

3. The official language of the Federation is English. The Hungarian language may be used by choice. The seal is encircled with the inscription bearing the name of the Federation. In the center is an angel with outstretched wings, holding the Gospel in one hand and a trumpet in the other. The motto of the Federation is: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos?) (Romans 8:31)

The official publication of the Federation is the Fraternity-Testvériség.

ARTICLE II - GOVERNMENT

Legislation - Administration

4. The highest legislative body of the Federation is the Convention, which meets quadrennially.

5. The Federation is governed between Conventions by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall not have the power to amend the By-Laws of the Federation.

Administration and Referendum of the Branches

6. The Federation is composed of branches. There may be two classes of members in each branch - Regular or Insurance members and Social or Non-insurance members. Each branch shall elect its own officers and conduct its local affairs.

7. Between Conventions, the branches may originate legislation in the following manner: if the majority of the adult members of the branch present and voting accept the matter proposed for legislation, the same shall be forwarded to the President, who shall bring it before the Board of Directors. If the majority of the members of the Board of Directors agree to refer the motion to the branches, the President shall forward a copy of the motion to each branch for its vote. Any such motion shall include the date upon which the proposed legislation is to become effective. Each branch shall hold a meeting to vote on the motion within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing of the copy of the motion by the President. The vote of each branch is determined by the majority of the adult voting members present and voting at the meeting. The vote of each branch may be only “yes” or “no," because the branch does not have the right to change the motion. The branches shall send the results of the vote taken to the President within sixty (60)

days after the meeting. The President shall acknowledge the receipt thereof and immediately report the results to the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the branches.

MEETINGS

Procedure - Discussion - Quorum

8. There are two kinds of meetings of the Federation: regular and special. Regular meetings are those prescribed in these By-Laws: Conventions, meetings of the Board of Directors, meetings of the Executive Committee, and branch meetings. Special meetings are called pursuant to the appropriate provisions of these By-Laws.

9. The presiding officer shall be the President of the body meeting. The President shall vote only in the case of a tie. It is the duty of the President to order a secret ballot if ten percent (10%) of the members present request it. A member may speak only once on a question. The President may grant him the right to speak a second time only if he has been personally challenged. The maker of the motion shall have the right of the closing remarks in the discussion.

10. The Convention, meetings of the Board of Directors, meetings of the Executive Committee or branch meetings have the right to make decisions only if the following quorum of the respective meetings is present:

a) Fifty percent (50%) of the members of the Convention;

b) Sixty-five percent (65%) of the members of the Board of Directors;

c) All three (3) members of the Executive Committee;

d) At least (5) voting members at the annual and regular meetings of the branch;

e) Five percent (5%) of the voting membership at any special meeting.

If the quorum is not present at the first meeting of a branch for the election of delegates to the Convention, a second meeting shall automatically be called one week later at the same location and time. Those present, regardless of number, shall constitute a quorum.

THE CONVENTION

Time - Place - Aim - Membership

11. The Federation shall hold a Convention every four (4) years in September following the second regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The time and place shall be designated by the Board of Directors. The Convention shall receive reports of the preceding four (4) years, shall decide upon actions for the future, and shall encourage and foster ftatemalism. In order to postpone a Convention, the consent of sixty-five percent (65%) of the members of the Convention is required.

12. The membership of the Convention is constituted of the regular members of the Board of Directors and the elected delegates of the branches. The elected delegates shall constitute no less than two-thirds of the voting members of the Convention. Each member of the Convention is entitled to one vote.

13. The Board of Directors shall determine and designate the number of guests and other persons to attend the Convention.

Election of Delegates

14. Each branch having a minimum adult insurance membership of 250 shall send one delegate to the Convention. Branches having more than 250 members shall send one additional delegate for each multiple of 250 members. Branches having less than 250 members will be grouped in units of not less than 250 and not more than 325 members, and may jointly send one delegate.

a) The grouping of these units shall be arranged by the President of the Federation, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee and in onsultation with the Board of Directors. Priority in grouping shall be given to geographical location. The groupings shall be published in the

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