Knights of Columbus

Ramapo Valley Columbus Council No. 5846

Amended By-Laws

Article I

Section 1.     No changes

Section 2.     Amended as follows:

  1. The initiation fee for all new members shall be ten ($10.00) dollars and shall be paid by the candidate at their First Degree.
  2. The initiation fee shall be waived for all Priests and clergy members.

Section 3.     Amended as follows:

  1. Each member shall pay annual dues.  The current annual dues of members shall be $50.00, except for Honorary Life Members and clergy who shall pay nothing.  Except as stated herein, the dues of associate and insurance members shall be the same.  Annual dues may, from time to time, be increased by a majority vote of the members, as the financial needs of the Council may require.
  2. Honorary Life Members are defined as members who have achieved twenty-five (25) years of continuous service at the age of 70 or fifty (50) years of continuous service regardless of age to the Knights of Columbus.
  3. All members shall receive a notice of dues in January of each year.  Dues are then to be paid by the members within ninety (90) days of the date of the notice in order to maintain their status within the Council as “in good standing” pursuant to section “E” herein.
  4. A member is deemed to be “in good standing” and entitled to all the rights and privileges within the Council as long as his dues are not currently in arrears and he fully complies with all rules and by-laws (including any amendments) of the Knights of Columbus and the Council.
  5. Any member who fails to pay his dues within the aforementioned ninety (90) day period or fails to communicate to the Financial Secretary or any other Council Officer the reason why his dues have not or cannot be paid, will then have his status within the Council changed to “not in good standing” and the member’s rights and privileges within the Council shall be suspended until such time as the member’s status is restored to good standing.  Any such communications to either the Financial Secretary or other Council Officer shall be kept in strict confidence.

Section 4.     Amended as follows:

  1. The Financial Secretary shall receive annual compensation, payable in quarterly installments at the end of each quarter, from the Council an amount equal to no less than eight (8%) percent and no more than ten (10%) percent of the moneys collected on account of dues from both insurance and associate members.
  2. The exact rate that the Financial Secretary shall receive in annual compensation shall be determined by the Council Officers at the first Officers meeting held each Columbian Year.  The annual compensation shall then be communicated to the members at the next Council business meeting.
  3. Any change to the compensation rate payable to the Financial Secretary shall only come after a vote by the full membership on a resolution to amend these by-laws.

Article II – Elections

Section 1.     No amendments.

Section 2.     Amended as follows:

  1. The election of Council Officers (hereinafter “the Officers”) shall be by verbal ballot and a majority vote cast of the members present at the election shall be necessary to elect.  When only one candidate is proposed for a particular office and no further nominations have been made from the floor, the presiding Grand Knight shall declare the candidate elected by acclamation.
  2. All terms of office shall follow the Columbian Calendar (July 1st through June 30th).

Section 3.     Repealed.

Section 4.     No amendments.

Section 5.     Amended as follows:

  1. Should any Officer leave his office prior to the completion of his term, a replacement will be nominated by the Grand Knight and voted on by the full membership of the Council.

1.      This article shall not apply to a Grand Knight who resigns or otherwise vacates his office prior to the end of his term.  In such an event, the Deputy Grand Knight shall assume the role of Grand Knight and shall then nominate a Deputy Grand Knight.  Such nomination will then be voted on by the membership.

  1. The Grand Knight may temporarily relieve an Officer of his duties due to gross malfeasance, illegal or improper activities or complete failure to fulfill his duties as an Officer.
  2. Should an Officer be relieved of his duties pursuant to subsection “B” herein, the aforementioned Officer may appeal the Grand Knight’s decision to a committee composed of the Grand Knight, Trustees and District Deputy (hereinafter “the Officers committee”).  All decisions of this committee are final and require a majority vote from the Officers committee.
  3. Should it become necessary to replace an Officer pursuant to subsection “B” herein, the Officers committee shall nominate a replacement Officer to be voted on by the membership.
  4. Subsections “B”, “C” and “D” herein shall not apply to any appointed Officer.  An appointed Officer may be removed from office by the Grand Knight.

Article III – Officers

Section 1.     No amendments.

Section 2.     Amended as follows:

  1. The elective offices shall be as follows: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard and Board of Trustees.
  2. Two (2) Inside Guards may be elected.
  3. Two (2) Outside Guards may be elected.
  4. The Board of Trustees shall consist of no less than three (3) Past Grand Knights.

Section 3.     Amended as follows:

  1. Appointed Officers shall consist of the following: Financial Secretary, Lecturer and Chaplain.
  2. The Financial Secretary shall be appointed by the Supreme Knight and serve for a term of no less than three (3) years.
  3. The Chaplain shall be selected by the Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight and Trustees in accordance with any rules established by the Bishop of the Diocese and shall serve a term of one (1) year.  The Chaplain may be re-appointed to an additional term at the discretion of the Grand Knight.
  4. The Grand Knight shall appoint the Lecturer and shall serve a term of one (1) year.  The Lecturer may be re-appointed to an additional term at the discretion of the Grand Knight.

Section 4.     No amendments.

Section 5.     No amendments.

Section 6.     No amendments.

Section 7.     No amendments.

Section 8.     No amendments.

Section 9.     No amendments.

Article IV – Meetings

Section 1.     Amended as follows:

  1. The Council shall meet no less than once (1x) per month to conduct business.
  2. The first monthly business meeting of the Council shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month and the second monthly business meeting of the Council shall be held on the third Friday of each month.
  3. A quorum of 50% of the Officers is required for any meeting to be held.  In the absence of such a quorum, the meeting shall be cancelled or postponed until such a time as a quorum is present.
  4. The second monthly business meeting of the Council may be deemed a “Lecturer’s” meeting at the discretion of the Grand Knight.
  5. The procedure for the Lecturer’s meeting is for the Grand Knight to open a business meeting and then ask for and entertain a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the prior meeting and proceed directly to the “Good of Order” portion of the business meeting.  If such a motion is made and approved, the business meeting will be closed and the Lecturer’s meeting can then begin.
  6. Section “C” herein shall not prevent a Lecturer’s meeting from proceeding.  In the absence of a quorum of the Officers present, the Grand Knight may forgo the abbreviated business portion of the meeting and allow the Lecturer’s meeting to be held.  While the Lecturer’s meetings are open to members and non-members, the business portion of said meeting is open to members in good standing only.
  7. All regular business and Lecturer’s meetings shall begin at 7:30 p.m. at one rap of the gavel by the Grand Knight.
  8. All meetings are to be held in the Council Chambers at the Council hall unless otherwise directed by the Grand Knight.
  9. Any Council meeting may be cancelled or re-scheduled at the discretion of the Grand Knight however this subsection shall not supersede or negate subsection “A” herein.
  10. The schedule and time for meetings may be changed by resolution to amend these by-laws and affirmative vote on same by the majority of the members in good standing present at the time the motion is heard.
  11. Should this schedule be permanently amended pursuant to subsection “J” herein, the new schedule shall not take effect for sixty (60) days and all members are to be notified of the new schedule pursuant to Article X herein.
  12. The Grand Knight shall call an “Officers Meeting” no less than four times (4x) per year. Any action taken at said meeting shall be communicated to the membership at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
  13. All members in good standing may attend any meeting with the exception of the “Officers Meeting”.

Section 2.     No amendments.

Section 3.     No amendments.

Section 4.     Amended as follows:

  1. Special business meetings can be convened by any of the following:

1.      A vote of the Council at a preceding regular business meeting.

2.      Direction of the Grand Knight.

3.      Upon the written request of seven (7) Council members in good standing stating the objective of the meeting.

  1. Due notice of special business meetings and their purpose shall be given to each member in good standing pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article X herein.
  2. No business other than that listed in the notice for the special business meeting shall be conducted at any such special business meeting.

Section 5.     No amendments.

Section 6.     No amendments.

Section 7.     No amendments.

Section 8.     No amendments.

Article V – Balloting for Candidates

Replaced by Article II, Section 2.

Article VI – Committees

No amendments.

Article VII – Funds

No amendments.

Article VIII – Funerals, Etc.

No amendments.

Article IX – Miscellaneous

No amendments.

Article X – Publication and Notice

Section 1.     Wherever cited herein, official publication or notice to all members in good standing shall consist of the following:

A.     All publications or notice shall be in writing and signed by the Grand Knight.

B.     All publications or notice shall be mailed to each member in good standing via United State Postal Service.

C.    Any publication or notice of a special business meeting shall be mailed no later than twenty (20) business days prior to said special business meeting.

D.    Any publication or notice of a resolution to amend these by-laws shall be mailed no later than twenty (20) business days prior to the meeting scheduled to vote on such resolution.  Such publication or notice will include a copy of the resolution to amend.

E.     Any publication or notice of any other special or non-regular meeting shall be mailed no later than ten (10) business days prior to said meeting unless specifically enumerated herein.

Section 2.     This article shall not apply to reminders of regularly scheduled business meetings nor shall it apply to the cancellation or postponement of same.

Section 3.     Further publication may be given via email, website listing or other media however such publication or notice shall not replace or negate the requirements of Section 1 herein.

Section 4.     Officers’ meetings scheduled by the Grand Knight can be published via electronic or other media at the sole discretion of the Grand Knight.

Article XI – Council Home and Property

Section 1.     The Council home is currently located at 7 Courthouse Place, Oakland, New Jersey 07486.

Section 2.     By a majority vote of the membership, the Home Association of Ramapo Valley Council No. 5846, Knights of Columbus (hereinafter “the Home Association”) has been established as a holding company that owns and operates the Council home and property.

Section 3.     The Home Association works in conjunction with the Council for the betterment of the members and in furtherance of our stated principles of unity, fraternity, charity and patriotism.

Section 4.     The Home Association is governed by an independent and duly elected board of trustees (hereinafter “the HA board”) made up of members of the Council.

Section 5.     The HA board annually nominates and elects a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer pursuant to the Home Association by-laws (hereinafter “the HA board of officers”).

Section 6.     The Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Advocate and Treasurer (hereinafter “the Council representatives”) are permanent trustees of the Home Association and are automatically appointed by the Council by virtue of their election as Council Officers.

A.     Should any of the Council representatives named herein be unable or unwilling to serve or complete his term as a trustee on the HA board, the Grand Knight shall designate an alternate.

B.     The aforementioned alternate designated by the Grand Knight must be a Council Officer or, if none is available or willing to serve, another Third Degree member in good standing and shall have all rights and responsibilities of any other trustee of the HA Board.

C.    Should any of the Council representatives be replaced as trustee of the HA board by the Grand Knight, such replacement shall have no effect on the Officer’s position and role within the Council unless the Officer resigns his Council office as well or if conditions warrant a removal pursuant to Article II, section “5”, subsection “B” herein.

D.    No Council representative to the HA board shall be removed from his position as a trustee by any rule or by-law other than those enumerated herein or if conditions warrant a removal pursuant to Article II, section “5”, subsection “B” herein.

E.     The Council representatives and the Council Chancellor are not eligible for nomination and election to the HA board of officers nor shall they serve as a Committee Chairman on the HA board.

F.     All Council members in good standing are also members of the Home Association and, by virtue of same, are entitled to vote for candidates for the HA board during the annual election of same.

G.    All Council members in good standing are eligible to be nominated as a trustee to the HA board.

H.     This article shall apply with equal weight to the Home Association or any successor body responsible for the ownership and operation of the Council home.

Article XII - Amendments

Section 1.     These by-laws may be amended by resolution.

Section 2.     Any member in good standing may make a motion for a resolution to amend these by-laws pursuant to Article IV, Section 4 herein.

Section 3.     In the event that a Special Meeting is required and called pursuant to Article IV for the specific purpose of adopting a resolution to amend these by-laws, a notice advising the members of the Special Meeting shall be sent pursuant to Article X, section “1”, subsection “D” herein.  Failure to comply fully with the terms and conditions of Article X, section “1”, subsection “D” herein will result in the aforementioned resolution being dismissed and disregarded by the Grand Knight.

Section 4.     Should these by-laws be amended by vote of the members, such amendment will be published pursuant to Article X, section “1”, subsections “A” and “B” herein within twenty (20) business days from the date the amendment was approved.

Section 5.     Any and all amendments to these by-laws, regardless of Council approval, must be approved by the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus.  Should any amendment to these by-laws fail to be approved by the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, such amendment shall have no weight or effect whatsoever and will be disregarded.

Article XIII – Constitutionality

Section 1.     These amended by-laws shall be applicable in equal weight to all members of the Council.

Section 2.     No other by-laws, rules or regulations shall supersede the articles enumerated herein except for applicable local, state or federal law; the by-laws, rules and regulations of the Bergen Federation of the Knights of Columbus, New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus and Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus; and the Constitution of the Knights of Columbus.

Section 3.     Any dispute concerning the validity or legality of these amended by-laws shall be referred to the Council Advocate for interpretation and any finding resulting from same shall be deemed binding upon all members.

Section 4.     Upon approval and adoption by a majority vote of the members of the Council, the Seal of the Council and the signature of the Grand Knight and the Council Recorder shall be affixed to these amended by-laws signifying that all members have read and agreed to the articles enumerated herein.

Section 5.     These amended by-laws and any amendments contained hereto shall be filed with the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus and are subject to the approval of same pursuant to Article XII, section 5 herein.

Section 6.     A copy of these amended by-laws and any attachments hereto shall be maintained by the Council.

Date Approved: February 1, 2010                                                                            Date Adopted:

Keith Ahearn                                                                                                                Ken J. Gorman

Grand Knight                                                                                                                Recorder

 

Council Seal: