North-South Skirmish Association
Western Region
By-Laws
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1:
The name of this organization shall be the Western Region. It is aSubdivision of the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc., (N-SSA) and As such is subject to its By-Laws and such rules and regulations that the Association may enact.
SECTION 2:
These By-Laws are written under the authority granted by the By-Laws of The North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. (Article VI, Section 6)
SECTION 3:
Purpose:
To provide member organizations of the Western Region with a voice in Determining Association affairs by representation on the National Board of Directors;
To further the objectives and orderly growth of the Association by administration at the regional level;
To provide the logical working groups for the conducting of National Skirmishes;
and
To conduct skirmishes at a regional level so that all member organizations of the N-SSA may participate in official skirmishes.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1:
Membership in the Region shall be limited to member organizations of the Association, assigned thereto by the Association’s Board of Directors. Only member organizations in good standing shall have the right to vote.
SECTION 2:
A probationary organization is one that has been assigned to the Region before attaining full membership in the Association, and has the privilege of participating at all Regional functions, but shall have no vote.
SECTION 3:
A Regional member organization shall cease to be a member of the Region upon being suspended, expelled, or otherwise dropped from the membership in the Association.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
SECTION 1:
Officers and their duties:
COMMANDER shall:
Represent the Region as a Director on the National Board of Directors;
Preside at all meetings of the Region and at Regional Team Commanders’ meetings;
Act as authority in all matters of interpretation and application of the Association or Regional By-Laws except where such responsibility is specifically designated to the Skirmish Director or other Regional Officer;
Perform all duties usually pertaining to the office of president;
Act as member ex-officio of all regular and special committees, and appoint committees as necessary;
Hold major responsibility for overall policy planning needs, organizational structure needs, the internal relationships of member organizations and external relationships of the Region.
Maintain responsibility for seeking the advice and counsel of other Regional Officers in matters concerning the general welfare of the Region;
Assure that all Regional Skirmishes meet N-SSA rules as to targets, awards and procedures; and
Propose Regional objectives.
DEPUTY COMMANDER shall:
Perform the duties of the Commander in the Commander’s absence or at his request;
Co-ordinate information and initiate campaigns designed to assist the membership in retaining its right to bear arms; and
Perform all other duties as may be requested by the Commander
• ADJUTANT shall:
• Act as secretary at Regional organization meetings;
Maintain all records of Regional business, except as delegated to other officers;
Conduct all correspondence at the direction of the Commander;
Maintain a roster of Regional Officers, committees, Regional organization commanders and members of their organizations;
Maintain regional duplicating equipment;
Act as Regional Historian; and
Perform other duties as may be requested by the Commander.
(D) INSPECTOR GENERAL shall:
Inspect, with the aid of the Skirmish Direcotr, to determine that all participating organizations at a Regional Skirmish comply with National Skirmish Rules;
Inspect probationary teams before they may compete in Regional Skirmishes;
At his/her discretion, appoint assistants from the membership as necessary to assist him/her in the performance of his/her duties;
Maintain a file of N-SSA approved skirmish arms; and
Perform other duties as may be requested by the Commander.
Assist National Inspector General.
(E) PAYMASTER shall:
Perform normal duties of treasurer, collecting funds paid into the Region, and assuming full responsibility for the accounting and banking of all Regional funds, except those used in the operation of skirmishes;
Maintain records of all Regional funds, submitting financial reports at the Spring and Fall Regional organizational meetings;
Issue checks in a manner prescribed by the membership;
All financial records shall be audited to the end of the calendar year, and presented at the Spring Regional Meeting;
Furnish copies of all disbursements to the Adjutant for Regional files;
Serve as financial advisor to the Regional officers; and
Perform other duties as may be required by the Commander.
SECTION 2: Vacancies by resignation, expulsion, or death of any Officer shall be filled by appointment by the Commander for the remainder of that term, with the exception of his office. If the office of Commander becomes vacant, the Deputy Commander shall assume the office of the Acting Commander, and call for a special election to fill the office of Commander not sooner than thirty (30) days notice and not longer than sixty (60) days. If both the Commander and the Deputy Commander positions become the vacant, the Adjutant shall call a special meeting for elections to fill those offices.
ARTICLE IV – ELECTIONS
SECTION 1: Regional election of officers shall be conducted by the annual fall meeting in accordance with the Association By-Laws, Article VI, Section 7.
SECTION 2: The election for the office of Commander and Paymaster will be held in the even years; the election of the Deputy Commander, Adjutant and Inspector General in the odd years.
SECTION 3: Officers shall be elected from members in good standing of member organizations in the Western Territory for the terms of two (2) years, by affirmative vote of a majority of the member organizations of the Region present and voting in person or by proxy.
SECTION 4: Nominations for office will be made by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Commander. Additional nominations may be made from the floor and will be asked for. The Nominating Committee shall report its recommendations to the Adjutant, who will notify the member organizations of the nominees at least (30) days prior to the election date.
SECTION 5: Voting by proxy will be allowed at all regular and special meetings (but not at skirmish meetings, Article VIII, Section 3). The member organization wishing to give the proxy vote shall notify the Commander or Adjutant of this, and shall the name the organization and member authorized to vote its proxy. This written notice must be in the hands of the presiding officer at the meeting, prior to the meeting. A proxy will be good for one meeting only and may be voted by only another member organization.
SECTION 6: Rules and procedures for the nomination of candidates and the electio0n of officers shall be published in the By-Laws as adopted by the member organization.
SECTION 7: Regional officers will assume their offices on January 1st after the election meeting.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
SECTION 1: Regular meetings of the Western Region organization commanders will be held each spring and fall. Thirty (30) days notice will be given to organizations stating time, place, and date.
SECTION 2: Special meetings may be called by the Regional Commander or by a call of the majority of the member organization commanders whenever necessary. Thirty (30) days notice will be given to organization commanders, stating time, place, and date.
SECTION 3: Meetings of the member organizations may be called at skirmishes whenever such meetings are justified. These may be called at any time it is in the best interests of the Region and its members. These meetings may be called by the Regional Commander or Regional Officers, or a majority of the member organizations.
SECTION 4: A quorum shall be fifty-one (51%) percent of the member organizations of the Region, represented in person or by proxy except as stated for election of Regional Officers.
SECTION 5: Each member organization shall have one vote to cast in all regional elections and other regional matters.
ARTICLE VI – REGIONAL OPERATIONS
SECTION 1: Regional organizations shall inspect all competitive arms of unit members for compliance to the N-SSA Skirmish Rules.
SECTION 2: Member organizations shall inspect all competitive arms of unit members for compliance to the N-SSA Skirmish Rules.
SECTION 3: Dues of $10.00 per person for each unit member is payable each calendar year in advance and due at the same time as Association dues. New members shall pay all dues for the calendar year at the time of enlistment.
SECTION 4: Expense allowance for the Regional Commander attending the National Board of Directors meetings, other than skirmish meetings, will be 10 cents a mile if driving, or the most economical air fare plus ground transportation, plus room and board, unless reimbursed by the North- South Skirmish Association.
SECTION 5: All Regional Officers shall provide a voucher to the Paymaster for reimbursement for Regional expenses within sixty (60) days of the occurrence.
SECTION 6: Officers will not be reimbursed for personal expenses for Regional meetings.
SECTION 7: Additional copies of the Regional By-Laws and rules and procedures may be obtained from the Regional Adjutant for $3.00 payable to the Western Region.
ARTICLE VII –AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1: Amendment to these By-Laws must be initiated by any member organization or a Regional Officer, and must be submitted in writing to a member organization meeting, and if approved, by Regional Officers before being brought to a vote of the member organizations. In the event of rejection by the member organization meeting, the proposed amendment may be submitted to a vote upon petition of fifty (50 %) percent of the member organizations.
SECTION 2: Voting shall take place at a special or regular meeting, the method of which to be determined at the member organization meeting. The Adjutant must notify the member organizations of the proposed amendment(s) at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the member organizations in attendance is required for an amendment to be added. Voting by mail or proxy shall be permitted.
ARTICLE VIII – PROCEDURE
SECTION 1: The rules of procedure contained in ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER latest addition, shall govern all meetings when not in conflict with these Regional or National By-Laws.
ARTICLE IX – RULES AND PROCEDURES
SECTION 1: Rules and procedures may be adopted by the Western Region to govern the conduct of Regional Skirmishes, the awarding of various Regional trophies and awards, and for other matters not strictly related to Regional By-Laws.
SECTION 2: Rules and procedures may be amended by an affirmative vote of a majority of the member organizations of the Region present and voting in person or by proxy at either the spring or fall Regional meeting, or at special meetings called in accordance with Regional By-Laws.
SECTION 3: Proposed changes to Rules and Procedures may be noted in the formal meeting notice, or proposed directly from the floor by Western Region units.
SECTION 4: Rules and procedures adopted or amended by the member units of the Western Region will become effective immediately.