IOBGA Bylaws

    ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF THE BLUE GAVEL AUXILIARY (hereinafter referred to as the IOBGA).

     ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purposes of the organization are:

1.       To support the activities of the International Order of the Blue Gavel.

2.       To promote fellowship among the members of the Auxiliary and to stimulate interest in ceremonies, customs and etiquette
        of the IOBGA in Districts and International.

3.       To serve as a support group in time of need.

4.       To work for the benefit of the yachting communities preserving local traditions, ceremonies, customs, ethics and etiquette
       of good fellowship.

     ARTICLE III

AUTHORITY

These By-laws, as approved by the IOBG, shall serve as authority to function as an International Auxiliary and to use the name “Blue Gavel” and an appropriate logo.

     ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

1.       Membership in the IOBGA will be limited to spouses or domestic partners of approved members of IOBG (IOBG members
       in good standing), or spouses/domestic partners of deceased IOBG members.

2.       An IOBGA member in good standing shall be defined as meeting the above membership criteria with international dues
       current and paid for the current fiscal year or having been granted lifetime membership. Annual membership cards will be
       issued to members in good standing only.

3.       Membership-At-Large shall be limited to a member in good standing whose District is not IOBGA-chartered, or who is or
       whose spouse is active military without a permanent residence. A member of an IOBGA chartered District shall be known
       as a chartered member. A chartered member may not belong to the District auxiliary organization without being a member
       in good standing with the International.

4.       All International Past Presidents of the IOBGA shall automatically become life members and shall no longer pay
       International dues as required by Article V.

     ARTICLE V

DUES

1.       The dues of the IOBGA shall be established by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of members present at
       the Annual meeting.

2.       Dues shall be payable at the IOBGA Annual meeting in October/November and shall be delinquent February 1 of the
       following year.

     ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

1.       The Executive Committee shall consist of: President, President Elect, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President (optional),
       Secretary, Treasurer, the Immediate Past President and the Senior Past President.

2.       The term of the elected officers shall be for a period of one year.

3.       The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, the Immediate Past President, the Senior Past President and the
       Regional Directors.

4.       The duties of the President shall be:

  • to administer the affairs of the IOBGA and preside over all meetings;

  • to serve as the liaison to the International Order of the Blue Gavel
  • to appoint such committees as are deemed necessary
  • The President shall have the authority to authorize expenditures not to exceed $150.00 in excess of the approved budget. Any expenditure exceeding the $150.00 must be approved by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee acting in their stead.

5.       The duties of the President Elect shall be:

  •  to assist the President; and

  •  to preside over all meetings in the absence of the President.
  • The President Elect shall automatically become President at the expiration of the President’s term. The President Elect and  the Treasurer shall present a Budget for the ensuing year.

6.       The duties of the Vice Presidents shall be:

  •  1st Vice President shall act as a liaison to the Regional Directors-East of the Mississippi (if only one Vice President both
      East and West).

  •  2nd Vice President shall act as a liaison to the Regional Directors west of the Mississippi.
  •  One or both Vice Presidents shall act as a liaison to the IOBG Supply Officer.

7.       The duties of the Secretary shall be:

  •  to record the minutes of the meetings;

  •  to keep the records of the IOBGA;
  •  to communicate with the District Authorities and/or the membership; and
  •  to conduct all necessary correspondence.

8.       The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

  •  to send out Annual dues statements to the District Auxiliaries;

  •  to keep complete financial and membership records;
  •  to receive all monies;
  •  to make all disbursements as authorized;
  •  to submit a written financial report to the membership at the annual meeting;
  •  to make all required reports to the Internal Revenue Service;
  •  to distribute membership cards;  and
  •  to assist the President Elect with the budget.

9.       The duties of the Immediate Past President shall be:

  •  to serve as the Parliamentarian at all meetings;

  •  to serve as the Chair of the Nominating Committee;
  •  to submit a slate of Officers for the Annual Meeting;
  •  to chair the Audit Committee; and
  •  to submit a written audit report at the Annual Meeting.

10.    The duties of the Senior Past President shall be to serve at the will of the President.

     ARTICLE VII

COMMITTEES

1.       Standing Committees of the IOBGA shall be the Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee and the Historian Committee.

2.       The Nominating Committee shall consist of the President, the Immediate Past President and the President Elect. The
       Chairperson shall be the Immediate Past President.

3.       The Audit Committee shall review the Treasury books annually and report its findings at the Annual Convention in writing.

4.       The Historian Committee shall keep the history of the organization. It shall prepare a brief written report on the history of
       the current year. This report shall be presented at the Annual meeting.

     ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

1.       Annual Meetings of the IOBGA shall be held annually in conjunction with the IOBG Annual Meetings.

2.       Regional Meetings may be called in conjunction with the IOBG Regional Meetings.

3.       Special Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the IOBGA President or by a majority of the Board of
       Directors.

4.       Elections shall be held annually and shall coincide with the terms of IOBG.

5.       Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable.

6.       Each Past President shall be allowed to vote at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors provided he/she is
       in attendance.

     ARTICLE IX

EMBLEM

The Official Emblem of the IOBGA is a rectangular red flag upon which is superimposed in the left upper quadrant a ship’s wheel of white, and upon that is superimposed a blue gavel, in addition, superimposed in the right lower quadrant is a white letter “A.”

     ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

These By-laws may be amended at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors when published at least 30 days prior to such meeting and approved by 2/3 of the voting members present.

STANDING RULES

1.       The standing rules shall be added as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. They shall be approved by a simple
       majority of the members in attendance at the annual meeting.

2.       Any spouse or domestic partner may be a member of the IOBGA whether or not he or she is affiliated with an active
       District Auxiliary.

3.       The annual International dues for each member of the organization shall be set, received or raised by the Executive Board
       each year. Said dues shall become due the 1st day of November of each year, and shall become delinquent the 1st day of
       February of the following year. The Districts may set dues as they see need for their organization and chapters.

4.       All IOBGA members in good standing in attendance at the Annual meeting may vote.

5.       Spouses or domestic partners of IOBG members wishing to form an Auxiliary should make application through their local
       IOBG District Director, and then notify the IOBGA President who will present the application for approval to the IOBG
       Executive Committee Liaison.

6.       The IOBGA President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may appoint committee chair persons as deemed
       necessary to further the operation of the organization.

 

Latest Revision Date: October 2006