Fraternity-Testvériség, 1997 (75. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1997-04-01 / 2. szám
Fratemity-Tesrvériség during the first quarter of the Convention year. b) Following the announcement of the meeting date of the Convention by the President, as directed by the Board of Directors, in the official publication, delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected by the branches at a special meeting to be held during the months of April or May. Election of delegates and alternate delegates shall be by plurality vote on separate ballots. The names of those elected shall be certified to the President of the Federation by the branch president and secretary, and an official observer designated by the Executive Committee within two (2) weeks after the election. Each certification shall be accompanied by a copy of the minutes of the said meeting, the names and certificate numbers of the members present at the meetings, and their signatures. In case of a tie vote in a delegate election of a grouping of branches, the Board of Directors shall decide by lot. c) Alternate delegates elected shall fill vacancies of elected delegates in the order of the number of votes received. d) Branches formed within one (1) year prior to the Convention shall not be entitled to representation, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. e) In case of life family plans, only the certificate holder who is the basic insured member shall have the right to vote at delegate election meetings, branch meetings, or to hold office in the said branch. Qualifications of Delegates 15. The insured membership eligible to vote in the delegate elections shall be determined by the Executive Committee as of December 31 of the year prior to the Convention. A list of said eligible voting members shall be mailed to the Branch Manager and Branch President by February 15 of the Convention year. Any candidate for delegate or alternate delegate to the Convention must be an insurance member of the duly established grouping to which his branch is assigned. Qualifications are as follows: a) Attained age eighteen (18) and has been an insurance member of the branch for at least one full calendar year prior to his election as a delegate or alternate delegate. All membership obligations must be current. b) Must not be an employee of the Federation or an individual appointed by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that nothing in this subparagraph (b) shall prevent the National Officers or the Vice Presidents from serving as ex-officio members, if they are otherwise qualified. ELECTION IRREGULARITIES 16. Complaints of any alleged irregularity in the method of convening any meeting for the election of delegates and alternate delegates or in the mode of election of said delegates or alternate delegates must be received, in writing, by the President within fifteen (15) days after the election meeting. Upon receipt of a complaint, the President shall forthwith request full detailed and notarized written reports from the officers of the branch and the person or persons filing the complaints. Said reports shall be forwarded to the President by certified mail within two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of the request for same. Upon receipt of the said reports, the President shall convene the Executive Committee to consider the complaint. The Executive Committee shall report said matter to the Board of Directors along with its recommendation. The Board shall either approve or reject the recommendation, and within ten (10) days shall notify the branch of its decision and/or directive for corrective action. Should said branch refuse or neglect to take such corrective action, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to declare the election null and void. The action of the Board shall be reported to the Convention and may be appealed to the Convention. All expenses incurred in attending the Convention by complainant(s) and/or witnesses shall be the sole responsibility of the complainant(s) or the person calling the witnesses and shall not be paid by the Federation. The Credentials Committee of the Convention shall meet the day immediately before the commencement of the Convention to consider all material and legally competent testimony presented to it and render a decision. This decision may be appealed to the Plenary Session of the Convention, whose decision shall be final. Convention Chairman - Convention Secretaries - Expenses - Reports 17. Plenary Sessions of the Convention shall be chaired by the President or one of the Vice Presidents of the Federation. Prior to the election of the National Officers and the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint a temporary chairman from the members of the Convention. 18. The Convention Secretary shall be appointed from among the members of the Federation by the Executive Committee. The minutes of the previous day shall be read at the beginning of each morning session, and these minutes shall be approved by the Convention and attested as correct by three (3) members appointed by the President the day before. The minutes of the last day shall be read and approved by a committee of five (5) members, including two (2) National Officers. 19. The travel expenses and the per diem of all persons authorized to attend the Convention shall be determined on the first day by the Convention. 20. The President shall send the prepared quadrennial reports of each National Officer to the members of the Convention 20 days prior to the Convention. Convention Order of Procedure 21. The Convention's order of procedure is as follows: a) The opening of the Convention with Divine Worship Services. b) The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. c) Report of the Credentials Committee and official recognition of the Convention members. d) Greetings of the President. e) Adoption of the agenda. f) Report on travel expenses and the per diem. g) Reports of the National Officers and Board of Directors. h) Reports of the Advisors to the Board of Directors. I) Announcement of the Committees appointed by the President. j) Committee meetings. k) Report of the Committees. l) Release of the National Officers and members of the Board of Directors from their responsibilities. m) Election of temporary chairman. n) Report of the Nominating Committee. o) Election of National Officers: President, Secretary, and Treasurer. p) Election of three (3) Vice Presidents. q) Election of the members of the Board of Directors and their alternates. r) Oath of elected National Officers and members of the Board of Directors. s) Adjournment. (Every session shall begin and be closed with devotions.) Convention Elections - Installation 22. The National officers are elected by majority vote. The Vice 2
