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	Complete Constitution (PDF Version) CONSTITUTION AND BY - LAWS WILDLIFE OFFICERS LODGE NO. - 143 OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE OF THE STATE OF OHIO
PREAMBLE WHEREAS: By Association we have the facility of mutual interchange of thought, information, and the opportunity to demonstrate the sincerity of our purpose, and the experience of each becomes common to all, which always results in a higher development of our intellectual, moral and social faculties, and enables us to share in the gains and honors of advancing civilization. THEREFORE: We, the State Game Protectors as defined in the Ohio Revised Code and herein after referred to as Wildlife Officers, convinced that it is to the best interests of our members, do hereby unite under the name of Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 of the Fraternal Order of Police of the State of Ohio, and believing that the intelligence, industry, and normal worth are the true standards of greatness1 do hereby pledge ourselves to the use of all honorable means to promote sociability and fraternity among the members of this lodge. THEREFORE: Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 of the Fraternal Order of Police of the State of Ohio, shall be an organization of Wildlife Officers, and managed by Wildlife Officers actively engaged in law enforcement. THEREFORE: Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 of the Fraternal Order of Police of the State of Ohio, shall not be affiliated with any religious, political or other organizations. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS ARTICLE I: NAME OF LODGE Section I: This lodge shall be known as Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 of the Fraternal Order of Police of the State of Ohio, and shall conform with all the Rules and Regulations of the State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, State of Ohio. ARTICLE II: OBJECTS AND PURPOSES Section I: This Lodge is formed for the purpose of bettering existing conditions as they affect the Wildlife Officers. CHARITABLE UNDERTAKINGS Section 2: For advancing the Social, Charitable and Educational undertakings of the Wildlife Officers. CIVIL SERVICE LAWS Section 3: Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 advocates the rigid enforcing of Civil Service Laws in a uniform manner in their application to the Wildlife Officers. PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE OFFICERS Section 4: It shall be the duty of this Lodge to see that all laws, rules and regulations protecting or affecting Wildlife Officers are upheld. ENFORCING ALL LAWS Section 5: Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143 is a Lodge of Wildlife Officers sworn to obey and enforce all the laws and wildlife orders impartially under all circumstances and shall have no other affiliations, religious, political or otherwise. DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL OF WILDLIFE OFFICERS Section 6: In cases of discipline or dismissal of Wildlife Officers without justification, it shall be the duty of this Lodge to furnish all possible assistance to such Wildlife Officer, if a member of this Lodge. PENSIONS Section 7: This Lodge advocates relief and pensions for Wildlife Officers and shall work for the permanent maintenance thereof. ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Section I: All Wildlife Officers of the Division of Wildlife of the State of Ohio, may be received and are eligible to membership in Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No.143. No person shall be denied membership on account of race, creed or sex. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP Section 2: There shall be two (2) classes of Membership, to wit: Active and Honorary. ACTIVE Section 3: All regular Wildlife Officers in good standing shall be classed as active members of this lodge and shall be entitled to voice and vote. HONORARY Section 4: The honorary membership shall be comprised of retired regularly appointed Wildlife Officers of Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No. 143, who withdrew from active membership after retirement and such other individuals as deemed appropriate by a majority vote of the membership at a regular statewide meeting. Honorary members will not be required to pay dues and will have no voting rights. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP Section 5: Application for membership in this lodge shall be in writing on forms prescribed and prepared by the Lodge. No application shall be received unless it shall be accompanied by twenty-five dollars ($25) in advance which sum shall be held by the Treasurer with the application. Newly commissioned Wildlife Officers shall have 30 days from the end of their probationary period to apply for lodge membership without being assessed the $25.00 application fee. In event the application is rejected, the fee paid in advance shall be returned to the applicant. After the application has been received it shall be presented to the Lodge at the first regular meeting. It shall require a vote of three-fourths of the members present to accept such applicant. In the event the application is rejected, the applicant shall not be privileged to re-petition for membership until after the expiration of at least six (6) months from the date of rejection of his application, he may again apply for membership. All application for membership shall be voted upon separately. DISMISSED FOR CAUSE Section 6: Any member of this lodge, upon being dismissed from state service for the commission and conviction of a felony, shall forfeit all claims on this lodge, and all rights as a member, and shall cease being a member in this lodge. ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS OF LODGE Section 1: The officers of this lodge shall be President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant of Arms, Chaplin, and 10 District Trustees. Section 2: All officers shall be elected every two years at the October Statewide meeting in even years. Section 3: Any member holding an office with Lodge No. 143 shall on retirement from the division, if approval is granted by the Board of Directors, continue to serve in that office until his term expires. ARTICLE V: QUALIFICATION OF NOMINEES Section 1: Any active member of this lodge in good standing for a period of one (1) year or more, shall be eligible to hold office. ARTICLE VI: NOMINATIONS Section 1: All nominations for the election of officers shall be made at the October meeting of each election year. Section 2: All nominees must be present at the meeting when their name is submitted for nomination. If the person nominated is not present at the time his name is submitted, a written statement to the effect that they will accept the nomination must be presented by the member submitting the name. This statement shall be presented to the Secretary. ARTICLE VII: ELECTION OF OFFICERS Section 1: All election of officers except District Trustees shall be at the October Statewide meeting. District Trustees shall be elected in October of even years in their respective districts by United States mail. Section 2: All candidates shall be elected by secret ballot, and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office they were nominated for shall be declared elected. Ballots for District Trustee postmarked by the date specified on the ballot shall be null and void. ARTICLE VIII: NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS Section 1: All newly elected officers shall be installed at the January board meeting following the election, and shall each serve respectfully until their successor is duly elected and installed. INSTALLED BY RETIRING PRESIDENT Section 2: The newly elected officers shall be installed by the retiring President of the lodge, or any President or Past-President of any lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police or any office of the State lodge. NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS ABSENT Section 3: If any of the newly elected officers are not present at the regular January board meeting, they shall be installed at the next regular meeting. If absent at the second successive meeting, the office shall be declared vacant and a successor shall be appointed as hereinafter provided. DEATH, RESIGNATION OR DISMISSAL Section 4: If in the event of death, resignation, dismissal, or the occurrence of vacancy in any office for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by an appointment made by the President, subject to approval of three-fourths of members present at the next regular meeting. ARTICLE IX: CONDUCT OF ELECTION Section 1: The nominating committee shall be composed of a chairman appointed by the president and six District Trustees. Section 2: Following the recommendations of the Trustees, nominations for each office shall be conducted from the floor. The Secretary shall keep a record of nominees. ARTICLE X: ELECTION OF DELEGATES Section 1: Delegates of Lodge to the state and national conventions shall consist of the number permitted by the state lodge, which will be selected at the discretion of the President. Section 2: A majority vote of board members present at a board of directors meeting will be required prior to any delegates attending any convention. ARTICLE XI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS Section 1: PRESIDENT - The president shall have charge of, and shall preside at all meetings of the lodge. It shall be his duty to open and close all regular and special meetings of the lodge. He shall appoint pro-tem officers in cases of absence. He shall communicate the password to all persons entitled to receive same, and to the lodge. He shall enforce order and uphold the constitution, statutes and by-laws of the Fraternal Order of Police, and the constitution and the by-laws of this lodge He shall call a special meeting of the lodge, when requested to do so by twelve (12) members of the lodge in good standing, such request shall be made in writing. If in the opinion of the President, an occasion or circumstance shall warrant calling a special meeting, he shall have authority to call such a meeting and shall notify the recording Secretary of the date, time and place of such special meeting, and the purpose of same. The President shall decide all questions arising in the lodge, subject to appeal to the State and Grand Lodge, and as otherwise herein provided. He shall immediately notify the State and Grand Lodge of any change in the office of the Secretary or Treasurer, either at the time of election or between elections, giving the name and address of the new Secretary or Treasurer, and the signature of such Secretary or Treasurer in his own writing. It shall be his duty, to inspect the ballot and report thereon to the lodge. Any member of the lodge shall have the privilege of inspecting the ballot, upon request, after decision regarding same has been announced. He shall have the custody of, and be responsible for all jewels, rituals and property of the lodge. He shall, at various times, inspect all paraphernalia of the lodge. He shall sign all orders, checks and documents that may be necessary and have been passed upon by the lodge. It shall be his duty, together with the treasurer; to sign all checks drawn against the funds of the lodge in payment of such sums of money as may be voted by the lodge. He shall sign such certificates, cards or other papers as may require his signature to make them valid. The President shall appoint the majority of members of all committees not otherwise provided for. DUTIES OF FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Section 2: The 1st Vice-President shall preside at regular meetings of the lodge and Board of Directors in the absence of the President and shall otherwise generally per-form the duties of the President during his absence. He shall also perform such other duties as shall be ordered by the Board of Directors. He shall, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, appoint the minority of all committees. DUTIES OF SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Section 3: The 2nd Vice-President shall preside at regular meetings of the lodge and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the President and 1st Vice-President. He shall also perform the duties of the president during the president and 1st Vice-Presidents absence. The 2nd Vice-President shall also perform other duties that are ordered by the president or board of directors. DUTIES OF SECRETARY Section 4: The Secretary shall keep a record of all transactions of each meeting of the lodge in a book to be known as the "Book of Records", together with the minutes to be entered therein before the meeting following that of which they are a record, and he shall read some from this book for approval. He shall keep another book and record therein, all amendments to the constitution and by-laws in said book to be known as the "Amendment Book", and it shall be given to the proper committee for reference when revising the constitution and by-laws. He shall read all reports, letters, bills, petitions, appeals, claims and other communications that may be received by the lodge or its officers. He shall reply to, and write, all communications sent or received by the lodge and retain copies thereof. He shall assist in the transactions of the business of the lodge, and shall comply with such other duties of this office, as contained in the constitution and by-laws. He shall fill out all certificates, cards, and other papers that may be necessary, and shall affix the seal of the lodge to all documents that may require same. He shall issue all membership cards to such persons as are entitled to same. The Secretary will preside over meetings in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents. He shall at the expiration of his term of office, deliver to his successor in office all papers, documents, records and other property of the lodge in his custody or possession as Secretary. If the office of the Secretary becomes overburdened, the Secretary with the approval of the President may appoint any member or members in good standing to assist him. The Secretary shall keep an updated membership address list and shall notify the necessary organizations of changes in member’s addresses. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER Section 5: The Treasurer shall keep a complete and accurate record of all financial matters of the lodge in a book or books provided for that purpose by the lodge. He shall draw all checks against the funds of the lodge, for payment as directed by the lodge. Said checks shall be countersigned by the President, and a check for same shall be immediately drawn. Such checks shall remain in his custody at his authority for the expenditure for said money. He shall collect all membership fees, dues and assessments, and shall keep a record of such collections of money. He shall deposit in the name of the lodge, all funds paid to him from any and every source, in such bank or banks as the Trustees may select. It shall be his duty to keep an accurate account of all money received and expended by him, and he shall report at each regular meeting of the lodge, the amount of money on hand, along with the receipts and disbursements. He shall have his accounts ready for auditing or settlement at the expiration of his term of office, deliver to his successor in office, all money, funds, papers, records, documents and other property of the lodge in his custody or possession as Treasurer. He shall attend the meeting of the Board Of Trustees, if so desired or requested. He shall be required to furnish a surety bond before entering office, the amount to be determined by the Trustees, and the cost of the bond shall be paid by the lodge. He shall keep in his possession to meet current expenses of the President or Secretary not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) of the general fund. All money above that amount to be deposited in the bank to the credit of the lodge. He shall keep an itemized and accurate record of all disbursements and/or expenditures of money used for current expenses. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to care for and hold in trust for the lodge, all stocks, securities, and property of the lodge at the direction of the Officers and Trustees. DUTIES OF DISTRICT TRUSTEES Section 6: There shall be two District Trustees for each Wildlife District plus two trustees for the Lake Erie District Unit. The trustees shall be the auditing committee and shall audit the books of the lodge as well as all funds and records annually in November and at any time they deem necessary. They shall report their findings at the January board meeting of directors following the election of officers and at the board of directors meeting following any audit they deem necessary. The trustees shall take charge of all the physical property of the lodge and shall make a complete and itemized yearly inventory of all physical property of the lodge and give a report of their findings at the board meeting in January of each year. The trustees shall attend all board meetings if possible. If unable to attend at least one trustee from each district shall be present or represented at the board meetings. They shall carry out all duties as shall be prescribed by the president or vice-presidents with the approval of the president. The trustees shall be elected every two years by their respective districts by an election held by mail in October of even years. The trustees shall monitor their districts for members being sick, in distress or any other need of the district membership and provide any assistance possible to help with the situation. He or she shall provide this information to the vice-presidents. The trustees shall see that the lodge information is distributed in a timely manner to each district member in the manner prescribed by the president or vice-presidents with the approval of the president. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 8: The Board of Directors shall consist of the following officers: President, First President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplin, Guard and two trustees from each wildlife district including the Lake Erie Enforcement work unit. They shall meet every other month beginning in January of each year at a time and place designated by the president. GUARD Section 9: The Guard shall examine dues cards of Officers, Delegates and other members ascertaining that all present at conferences and meetings are in good standing, take up the password and make report to the President. He shall perform such other duties as the President may require. The Guard shall have charge and control of the Conference hall or meeting place. ARTICLE XII:REMOVAL OF OFFICERS Section 1: Any officer of this lodge, who commits an act of misfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect in the performance of his duties as an officer of this lodge, or any other unfitness, shall be removed from office and expelled from the lodge. Before such removal or expulsion, a written complaint, stating the reason for same, shall be filed with the Secretary of the lodge, after which, notice shall be given to such officer of this lodge whose removal or expulsion is sought. Such complaint shall be taken up at the next regular meeting following the filing of the complaint. It shall require a vote of three fifths (3/5) of the members present at such meeting in favor of such removal or expulsion, before the office can be declared vacant and another officer placed in the vacancy. ARTICLE XIII: COMMITTEES Section 1: All committees shall be appointed as herein provided and the members of such committees shall be wildlife officers. Section 2: The chairman of any committee shall be the first one appointed on any committee. ARTICLE XIV: ASSESSMENTS Section 1: When two thirds (2/3) of the members present at any lodge meeting desire an assessment to be levied, all members shall be notified in writing or otherwise. Such assessment shall be paid to the Treasurer of the lodge within thirty (30) days from the date the assessment falls due. MONEY FROM ASSESSMENTS Section 2: Money collected from such assessments shall be devoted to the purpose for which the assessment was levied, and any surplus shall be turned over to the General Fund. The lodge may make an appropriation to make up any shortage that might occur for any assessment purpose, but due notice shall be given of same. ARTICLE XV: DUES Section 1: The dues of this lodge shall be $22.00 (twenty two) dollars, which shall be paid by pay-roll deduction every other pay period. $19.00 (nineteen) dollars of the $22.00 (twenty two) dollars shall go to the Ohio Labor Council Incorporated; three dollars shall go into the lodge labor account and five dollars into the general lodge treasury. ARTICLE XVI: RESIGNATIONS Section 1: All officers except the Secretary, Treasurer and Trustees shall have privilege of resigning at any time provided no other charges exist against them. Secretary, Treasurer and the Trustees shall present their resignation in writing meeting previous to their being acted upon, and if the Auditing Committee reports their accounts correct, their resignation is accepted provided no charges whatever exist against them. OFFICERS MAY BE IMPEACHED Section 2: Any elective officer or any member of a committee may be impeached for any infringement of the constitution or by-laws and all charges against him may be referred to a committee or five (5). It shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the members present to order a trial of an officer on the charges preferred. ARTICLE XVII: SUSPENDING OR EXPELLING MEMBERS Section 1: Any member of the lodge whose services or personal conduct reflect discredit upon the lodge, or who carries the business of this lodge to outsiders, may be suspended or expelled from the lodge. Before any member can be suspended or expelled from the lodge, charges must be preferred in writing to any elective officer at any regular meeting, at which time such member shall have an opportunity to present their defense, and it shall require a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at such lodge meeting, in favor of such suspension or expulsion, before a member can be suspended or expelled. ARREARS OF DUES AND ASSESSMENTS Section 2: Members, who are thirty (30) days in arrears in the payment of dues or assessments, shall be declared to be not in good standing, and after six (6) months delinquency, shall be automatically suspended. AUTOMATICALLY EXPELLED Section 3: Any member suspended for non-payment of dues or assessments shall be automatically expelled from the lodge, without further action. Should such member fail to make application for re-instatement within six (6) months from the date of such suspension he shall be dropped from the rolls of this lodge. APPEARING FOR TRIAL Section 4: Any member of the lodge who may have charges preferred against him shall appear upon being notified to do so for trial by a jury composed of five (5) members in good standing. He may be allowed to retain a member of the lodge as his counsel and will be allowed a fair and impartial trial on any charges preferred against him. The verdict shall stand unless appealed to and reversed by the State Lodge. Any member preferring charges against another member for the purpose of maliciously or other-wise injuring such member shall be liable to a fine or suspension. The trial committee shall be elected by ballot and all charges shall be made in writing and proper notice be given the accused. ARTICLE XVIII: REINSTATEMENTS Section 1: Any member of this lodge who has been suspended for non-payment of dues, assessments, or other causes, and who shall seek reinstatement, shall accompany with their application a re-instatement fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars and all back dues to date. Before their re-instatement is effective, the application shall be presented to the lodge and lay on the table for a period of thirty (30) days before it shall be balloted upon. Before any re-instatement is ordered, it shall require a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the members present in favor of such action. APPLICATION FOR RE-INSTATEMENT Section 2: Any member of the lodge, who has been suspended or expelled from the lodge for any cause, shall make his application for re-instatement within six (6) months from the date of suspension or expulsion. WITHDRAWAL CARDS Section 3: Any member resigning from the Division of Wildlife or retiring may be granted a withdrawal card providing he/she be in good standing and he/she has no charges against him/her. Any member of the lodge may resign at any time provided there are no charges against him/her. ARTICLE XIX: CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Section 1: When the President is absent, the 1st Vice-President shall preside. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, the 2nd Vice-President shall be the presiding officer and minutes of the meeting shall be recorded. A QUORUM Section 2: A quorum shall be no less than twelve (12) members, which shall constitute a quorum for legal transaction of the business of the lodge. MEETINGS GOVERNED BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER Section 3: The meetings of this lodge shall be governed, in all cases not provided for in this constitution and by-laws, by the provisions for such circumstances and cases as contained in the book known as "Robert's Rules of Order", revised. SPEAKING MORE THAN TWICE ON ONE SUBJECT Section 4: No member shall speak more than twice on the same subject at the same meeting, without the consent of the lodge. MAJORITY VOTE GOVERN Section 5: The majority vote shall govern in all cases, unless otherwise provided. REGULAR LODGE MEETINGS Section 6: Ohio Wildlife Officers Lodge No.143 of the Fraternal Order of Police shall assemble for their regular lodge meetings on the first Sunday in April and October at 2:00 p.m. at a place designated by the president each year. The meetings shall be called to order promptly, provided there is a quorum present. A quorum shall consist of twelve or more members. The president with approval of the board may change meeting dates and time. ARTICLE XX: CONSTRUCTION OF CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Section 1: Should any dispute arise as to time, intent, or meaning of any section of this constitution and by-laws, the question shall be referred to a committee of three (3) ARTICLE XXVI: GRIEVANCE OF INACTIVE MEMBERS Section 1: Members of this lodge who are not active members having any grievance may present same to the grievance committee or the Board of Trustees. ARTICLE XXVII: MEMBERS VOTING Section 1: All members present at any meeting of the lodge shall have a vote on all questions before the house, except the President, who shall vote only in case of a tie, except in the election of officers, when all members shall vote. ARTICLE XXVIII: ORDER OF BUSINESS Section l Order of Business 1. Call to Order 2. Opening of Lodge Eternal and ever-blessed God, we bow down before Thy Devine Majesty, adoring Thee, and Lord of heaven and earth of whom and through who and to whom are all things: unto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 3. Roll Call of Officers 4. Reading of minutes of previous meeting 5. Proposal and balloting for candidates 6. Initiation of candidates 7. Reports of officers and committees 8. Bills and communications 9. Unfinished business 10. New business 11. Good of the order 12. Receipts and disbursements 13. Nomination of candidates and election of officers 14. Installation of officers 15. Closing of Lodge O Lord, our Heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with Thy mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered by Thy governance, may be righteous in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 16. Adjournment QUESTIONS BEFORE THE LODGE Section 2: When a question is before the lodge, no motion shall be in order except: 1. For the previous question 2. To lay on the table 3. To postpone indefinitely 4. To postpone to a certain date 5. To decide 6. To committee 7. To amendments TO RECONSIDER A MOTION Section 3: A motion to reconsider shall not be entertained unless made by a member on the prevailing side in the first instance. MOTION SUBJECT TO DEBATE Section 4: No motion shall be subject to debate until it shall have been seconded and stated from the chair. ARTICLE XXIX: DONATION OF MONEY Section 1: Before any money can be donated or given to a charity, cause, person or for any purpose other than for the good of the lodge or expense of the lodge, it shall be necessary for a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a board of directors meeting or statewide meeting. President may spend up to one hundred fifty dollars for the good of the lodge 'without approval of the board of directors. EXCEPTION Section 2: Any District Trustee may authorize the purchase of flowers, for any deceased lodge member, spouse or immediate family of the lodge member and the Treasurer shall be notified of same. NOT ENTITLED TO HOLD TWO ELECTIVE OFFICES Section 3: No member of this lodge shall hold two (2) elective offices.