Way-Whitehouse MemorialAMVETSAmerican VeteransPost 35, Inc.105 John King RoadCrestview, Florida 32539-8307(850) 682-8435
CONSTITUTION
PreambleWe, the American Veterans who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of the UnitedStates during and since World War II, fully realizing our responsibility to our community, to ourstate, and to our nation, associate ourselves for the following purposes: to uphold and defend theConstitution of the United States; to safeguard the principles of freedom, liberty and justice forall; to promote the cause of peace and goodwill among nations; to maintain inviolate the freedomof our country; to preserve the fundamentals of democracy; to perpetuate the friendship andassociations of these veterans; and to dedicate ourselves to the cause of mutual assistance, this bythe grace of God.
Article I: NameThe name of this organization shall be the Way-Whitehouse Memorial AMVETS (AmericanVeterans) Post 35, Inc., in the City of Crestview, Okaloosa County, Florida, and it shall behereinafter referred to as the Post.
Article II: AimsThe aims and purposes of this organization are as follows:
(1) To serve our country in peace as in war; to build and maintain the welfare of the UnitedStates of America toward lasting prosperity and peace for all its inhabitants.
(2) To encourage, in keeping with policies of our government, the establishment of aconcrete plan to secure permanent international peace and to assist in the maintenance ofinternational peace.
(3) To inspire in our membership a sense of responsibility and to develop leadership for thepreservation of our American democratic way of life.
(4) To help unify divergent groups in the overall interest of American democracy.
(5) To train our youth to become purposeful citizens in a democracy with full knowledge ofthe responsibilities as well as the privileges of citizenship.
(6) То соорerate with all duly recognized existing Veterans organizations in the furtheranceof the aims of the veterans who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of theUnited States during and since World War II.
(7) To ensure the orderly return of the veteran to civilian life by protecting the rights ofindividuals while the service member is still in uniform.
(8) To expedite and assist in the rehabilitation of veterans by maintaining employmentservices; sponsoring educational opportunities; providing counsel on insurance, housing,recreation, personal problems, hospitalization and veterans benefits.
(9) To act as a liaison agent between the veteran and the government.
(10) To provide an organization to encourage fellowship among all American veteranswho have served or are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during andsince World War II.
(11) To keep the public forever reminded that the American veterans who have servedor are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during and since World War IIfought and served to preserve peace, liberty, and democracy for their nation.
Article III. MembershipSection 1. Any person who served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces at any time afterSeptember 15, 1940, is eligible for regular membership in AMVETS provided such service,when terminated by discharge, or release from active duty, is by honorable discharge, honorableseparation or general discharge under honorable conditions.
Section 2. Any American citizen, as an American citizen, who served in the Armed Forces of anallied nation of the United States at any time after September 15, 1940, and before May 8, 1975,is eligible for regular membership in AMVETS provided such service when terminated bydischarge or release from active duty is by honorable discharge or separation.
Section 3. No person who is a member of, or who advocates the principles of any organizationbelieving in, or working for the overthrow ofthe United States Government by force, and noAmerican citizen or permanent resident alien in the United States, one of its territories,possessions, or the District of Columbia who refuses to uphold and defend the Constitution oftheUnited States, shall be privileged to become, or continue to be a member of this organization.
Section 4. All United States Reservist and National Guardsmen who are serving, or have beenhonorably discharged since September 15, 1940, are eligible for regular membership inAMVETS, provided such service when terminated by discharge or release from active duty is by honorable discharge or honorable separation.
Section 5. Honorary membership shall not be granted.
Section 6. This Post shall be the judge of its own membership, subject to the provisions oftheConstitution and By-Laws of the National and Department organizations.
Section 7. Membership shall be on a fiscal year basis and shall run from September 1 throughAugust 31.
Section 8. Applications for membership shall be made on a form provided by the NationalHeadquarters or this Post, and shall be submitted for processing and action by the MembershipProcessor after proof of eligibility, i.e., retired ID card, DD Form 214, Active Duty ID or otheracceptable proof of honorable service, is shown.
Section 9. Eligibility for membership and the rights and privileges of members shall be asprovided in the Constitution and By-Laws and the terms of membership and requirement forholding office within AMVETS shall not be discriminatory on the bases of race, color, religion,sex, or national origin.
Section 10. No person expelled from one Post shall be eligible for membership in any other Postwithout the consent of the expelling Post, or consent of the State Executive Committee (SEC)after hearing an appeal.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1. Elected Officers of this Post shall consist of a Commander, 1st Vice Commander forMembership, 2nd Vice Commander for Programs, Chair of the Board of Trustees, FinanceOfficer, Provost Marshal, and Judge Advocate. Also, each year, there will an election of at leastthree (3) two (2) year members of the Board of Trustees as prescribed by the National By-Laws.
Section 2. The Commander shall represent this Post at all District, State, and National Meetings,if this Post can financially afford for the Commander to be there. If the Commander cannotattend these meetings he shall appoint a representative, to replace him to attend the meetings.
Section 3. Nomination and election of officers shall be held annually at the date fixed by the ByLaws. Nominations shall be made from the floor at a General or Annual Meeting.
Article V: Executive CommitteeSection 1. The elected and appointed officers of the Post, the immediate Past Post Commander,shall constitute the Executive Committee which is charged with the administrative affairs andproperty of the Post. The Executive Committee shall formulate the policy of the organization forapproval by the members.
Section 2. The Executive Committee will meet at the call of the Commander, who is the chair.However, they can meet when three (3) voting members of the Committee feel the need for anunscheduled meeting.
Section 3. The voting members of the Executive Committee are the Immediate Past PostCommander, 1st Vice Commander for Membership, 2nd Vice Commander for Programs, Judge
Advocate, Provost Marshal, Finance Officer, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the Adjutant.The Commander can only vote in the case of a tie. Section 4. Non-voting members of the Executive Committee are the Chaplain, Historian, PublicRelations Officer, and Quartermaster. Article VI: Post OrganizationSection 1. This Post shall be governed by the officers chosen in accordance with theConstitution and By-Laws and will annually revalidate its charter before June 1st. Suchrevalidation shall be evidenced by the issuance of a Revalidation Certificate issued by theNational Department upon satisfactory completion of all requirements. Aside from any otherrequirements imposed in the Department or National Constitution and By-Laws, this Post shall:a) Furnish National and this Department Headquarters with a certified list of current PostOfficers (AMVETS Officer Form) no later than June 1st;b) File IRS Form 990 for the Post fiscal1 year with the Internal Revenue Service, if required;c) Furnish National Headquarters, through the office of the Department Judge Advocate,with a copy of the Post's current Constitution and By-Laws or certify on the OfficersForm that the copy on file has not been altered, changed, or amended.d) Be fully paid up in all accounts with National Headquarters.e) Comply with an applicable liability insurance and bonding mandates; andf) Have a minimum of ten (10) members in good standing. Section 2. Within thirty (30) days of notice to surrender its charter resulting from disciplinary orvoluntary action, the Post will close all bank accounts and deliver to the State Department allPost records, property, and assets. Article VII: Subordinate OrganizationsSection 1.a) A subordinate organization of this Post may be established only by a provision ofthisConstitution.b) Subordinate organizations' membership qualifications must be consistent with the aimsand purposes of AMVETS. Section 2. All Post subordinate organizations shall follow the same membership year and paymembership dues in concert with the National Constitution and By-Laws of that organization. Section 3. All subordinate organizations shall be under the jurisdiction of this Post whose nameit bears and shall carry the corresponding number of this Post. Section 4.a) A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AMVETS members present at a stated meeting is requiredto approve and form a subordinate organization.b) AMVETS Post members must be given written notice of such meeting a minimum offifteen (15) days prior to a proposed formation. Section 5. The Post Executive Committee must approve all fund-raising activities bysubordinate organizations, in advance. If proceeds are expected to exceed $10,000, a copy of theproposed fund-raising programs must be transmitted to National Headquarters, through theDepartment Judge Advocate, at least forty-five (45) days before the programs becomes effective,to be incompliance with the National By-Laws, Article VII, Section 3(a) Article VIII: Ladies AuxiliarySection 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as the AMVETS LadiesAuxiliary to Post 35. Section 2. Membership eligibility in the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary shall comply with theAMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National Constitution and By-Laws. Article IX: Sons of AMVETSSection 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as Sons of AMVETS. Section 2. Membership eligibility for Sons of AMVETS shall be prescribed in the National Sonsof AMVETS Constitution and By-Laws. Section 3. The Post Commander shall appoint a Sons of AMVETS Coordinator to work with theSons of AMVETS. Article X: AMVETS Riders Section 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as AMVETS Riders. Section 2. Membership eligibility for the AMVETS Riders shall be prescribed in the NationalAMVETS Riders Constitution and By-Laws. Article XI; AmendmentsThis Constitution may be amended upon recommendations of the Executive Committee or byresolution at any General Membership Meeting in the following manner,
1. The proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee forits recommendations and study and shall be presented to the membership at any regularlyscheduled General Membership or Annual Meeting.2. Copies of the proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be posted for all membersof the Post to review at least ten (10) days before the date of voting.3. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present shall be required to amend this Constitution.4. Two (2) copies of all amendments shall be forwarded to the Florida AMVETS JudgeAdvocate before the next General Membership Meeting.5. Amendments to this Constitution shall take effect immediately upon adoption unlessotherwise specified by the adopted resolution. Approved at the General Membership Meeting on 16 April 2024. Virgil L. Talbott betCommander Ceary Aacucsen Craig SarrasinJudge Advocate
Advocate, Provost Marshal, Finance Officer, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and the Adjutant.The Commander can only vote in the case of a tie. Section 4. Non-voting members of the Executive Committee are the Chaplain, Historian, PublicRelations Officer, and Quartermaster. Article VI: Post OrganizationSection 1. This Post shall be governed by the officers chosen in accordance with theConstitution and By-Laws and will annually revalidate its charter before June 1st. Suchrevalidation shall be evidenced by the issuance of a Revalidation Certificate issued by theNational Department upon satisfactory completion of all requirements. Aside from any otherrequirements imposed in the Department or National Constitution and By-Laws, this Post shall:a) Furnish National and this Department Headquarters with a certified list of current PostOfficers (AMVETS Officer Form) no later than June 1st;b) File IRS Form 990 for the Post fiscal1 year with the Internal Revenue Service, if required;c) Furnish National Headquarters, through the office of the Department Judge Advocate,with a copy of the Post's current Constitution and By-Laws or certify on the OfficersForm that the copy on file has not been altered, changed, or amended.d) Be fully paid up in all accounts with National Headquarters.e) Comply with an applicable liability insurance and bonding mandates; andf) Have a minimum of ten (10) members in good standing. Section 2. Within thirty (30) days of notice to surrender its charter resulting from disciplinary orvoluntary action, the Post will close all bank accounts and deliver to the State Department allPost records, property, and assets. Article VII: Subordinate OrganizationsSection 1.a) A subordinate organization of this Post may be established only by a provision ofthisConstitution.b) Subordinate organizations' membership qualifications must be consistent with the aimsand purposes of AMVETS. Section 2. All Post subordinate organizations shall follow the same membership year and paymembership dues in concert with the National Constitution and By-Laws of that organization. Section 3. All subordinate organizations shall be under the jurisdiction of this Post whose nameit bears and shall carry the corresponding number of this Post. Section 4.a) A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the AMVETS members present at a stated meeting is requiredto approve and form a subordinate organization.b) AMVETS Post members must be given written notice of such meeting a minimum offifteen (15) days prior to a proposed formation. Section 5. The Post Executive Committee must approve all fund-raising activities bysubordinate organizations, in advance. If proceeds are expected to exceed $10,000, a copy of theproposed fund-raising programs must be transmitted to National Headquarters, through theDepartment Judge Advocate, at least forty-five (45) days before the programs becomes effective,to be incompliance with the National By-Laws, Article VII, Section 3(a) Article VIII: Ladies AuxiliarySection 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as the AMVETS LadiesAuxiliary to Post 35. Section 2. Membership eligibility in the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary shall comply with theAMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National Constitution and By-Laws. Article IX: Sons of AMVETSSection 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as Sons of AMVETS. Section 2. Membership eligibility for Sons of AMVETS shall be prescribed in the National Sonsof AMVETS Constitution and By-Laws. Section 3. The Post Commander shall appoint a Sons of AMVETS Coordinator to work with theSons of AMVETS. Article X: AMVETS Riders Section 1. This Post recognizes a subordinate organization known as AMVETS Riders. Section 2. Membership eligibility for the AMVETS Riders shall be prescribed in the NationalAMVETS Riders Constitution and By-Laws. Article XI; AmendmentsThis Constitution may be amended upon recommendations of the Executive Committee or byresolution at any General Membership Meeting in the following manner,
1. The proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee forits recommendations and study and shall be presented to the membership at any regularlyscheduled General Membership or Annual Meeting.2. Copies of the proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be posted for all membersof the Post to review at least ten (10) days before the date of voting.3. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present shall be required to amend this Constitution.4. Two (2) copies of all amendments shall be forwarded to the Florida AMVETS JudgeAdvocate before the next General Membership Meeting.5. Amendments to this Constitution shall take effect immediately upon adoption unlessotherwise specified by the adopted resolution. Approved at the General Membership Meeting on 16 April 2024. Virgil L. Talbott betCommander Ceary Aacucsen Craig SarrasinJudge Advocate