General Roy S. Geiger Detachment #1047, By-Laws Revised June 2011 I. Name The name of this Detachment will be 'General Roy S. Geiger Detachment #1047, Marine Corps League.' II. Membership - A. Regular Membership This will be granted only to persons who are serving or who have served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, "ON ACTIVE DUTY", for not less than ninety (90) days and persons who are serving or who have served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. They must have earned no less than ninety (90) Reserve Retirement Credit Points. U.S. Navy Corpsmen who have trained with Marine FMF Units in excess of ninety (90) days and who have earned the Marine Corps Device (clasp) worn on the Service Ribbon, and those who earn the Warfare Device authorized for FMF Corpsmen, shall be eligible for regular membership in the Marine Corps League. Additionally, some Korean War Era Marines who were ordered to active duty prior to completion of Recruit Training or Officers Training and subsequently received an Honorable Discharge prior to completion of ninety (90) days active or Reserve Duty, shall be deemed eligible for regular membership. All applications are subject to final approval by the Detachment, including verification by the Commandant's review of the applicants last DD-214. (Article Six, Section 605(a)) B. Associate Membership Associate Members will be limited to those individuals not qualified for regular membership in the Marine Corps League who espouse the principles and purposes of the Marine Corps League as contained in its Congressional Charter. They may, upon application to a detachment, or to the National Headquarters, be accepted for Associate Membership in the Marine Corps League. Individuals who are serving or have served in other branches of the Armed Forces must have served honorably. (Article Six, Section 600 (b) (1) C. The detachment shall not accept for membership anyone not complying with Article Five, Section 540(a), in that a detachment may not accept any person who is currently incarcerated; has committed a crime where the victim is a child; whose name has been stricken from the rolls of the Marine Corps League; or who is on supervised probation from a felony conviction. III. Dues The Detachment shall fix its dues. This amount is currently set at $36.00 for the first year and $30.00 per year thereafter. Dues are payable annually in the anniversary month of the member's original induction into the Marine Corps League. Lifetime membership is available. A. Member in Good Standing A member will be in good standing as long as their dues for the current anniversary year are paid; they are not indebted to the Detachment for any reason; and they are not under suspension as punishment upon the adjudication of guilt as is provided in Chapter Nine, of the administrative procedures in the National By-Laws. B. Delinquent Member Any member who has not paid their dues for the current year by the anniversary date shall be considered a delinquent member. They shall be reminded of this delinquency status by the Detachment Paymaster. A delinquent member who has not paid their dues within 12 months shall be dropped from the rolls of the Detachment. They may reapply for acceptance as a new member and pay dues accordingly. The application must be approved by the Junior Vice Commandant and must comply with National By Laws, (Article Six, Section 610). IV. Rights of Members Once accepted as a member in good standing by the detachment membership, that member may not be removed from the detachment's roll except for cause, (National By Laws and Administrative Procedures, Chapter Nine) or by that member requesting transfer (Administrative Procedures, Chapter Seven, Section 710). A member shall be deprived
of their rights as a member for non-payment of their annual dues. They may also be deprived of their rights and privileges should they ever be charged, tried, and convicted in accordance with the provisions of the National By Laws in dealing with offenses and punishments. A member has the right to appeal any decision rendered. V. Members at Large The National By-Laws provide that a member-at-large may attend any Detachment, District, or Department meeting. They cannot vote, but may voice an opinion or comment at a meeting with the unanimous consent of the Detachment. VI. Resolutions Any resolution originated within the Detachment for presentation to the Department of Florida or National must comply with the Administrative Procedures, Section 1010. Any member in good standing may submit a resolution. The member does not need approval as long as it complies with the requirements as noted in Section 1010. VII. Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following officers: the Commandant, the Senior Vice Commandant, the Junior Vice Commandant, the Judge Advocate, and the Junior Past Commandant. The Junior Past Commandant shall be appointed by the present Commandant and may be either the immediate past Commandant or any other past Commandant. (National By Laws, Section 510, and Administrative Procedures, Chapter Six, Section 610). A. Elected Officers The following posts within the Detachment will be elected positions: Commandant; Sr. Vice Commandant; Jr. Vice Commandant; Judge Advocate; Adjutant and Paymaster. If the Detachment has a shortage of qualified personnel, it will be permissible to combine the posts of Adjutant and Paymaster. B. Appointed Officers The Detachment Commandant will appoint a Chaplain and Sergeant-at- Arms. A Logistics/Supply Officer, a Service Officer, Public Relations Officer and other such officers may be appointed if deemed necessary. C. Quorum Shall consist of a simple majority of elected officers four (4) during the Officers meeting and shall carry any measure or decide any issue under authority of the Board of Trustees, unless otherwise provided in these by-laws. D. Term of Office The term of office will be for one (1) year commencing in the month of March. E. Duties of Individual Officers: 1. Commandant The Commandant will preside at all Detachment meetings, make and promulgate such orders as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Detachment and the League. The Commandant will approve or disapprove all requisitions made to the Paymaster for the disbursement of funds. They will call any special meeting deemed necessary in performing Detachment business, and will perform any other such duties as the Detachment, Department or National By-Laws may impose. a) The Commandant and the Paymaster shall have custody of all funds and other property of the Detachment with the Senior Vice Commandant as alternate when directed by the Commandant. The Commandant and the Paymaster jointly shall be empowered to execute such instructions and to take such action regarding such property and funds as may be necessary to carry on the functions of the Detachment, and to preserve and safeguard the funds and property that the Detachment may now have or hereafter acquire. b) The Commandant shall have the power to appoint, by and with the approval of majority consent of the Detachment members, such standing committees, as is deemed necessary to carry out Detachment business.
2. Senior Vice Commandant This duly elected officer shall provide assistance and support to the Commandant, chair committees as required by the Commandant. The Senior Vice Commandant shall also be one of three signatures on file for disbursement of funds as an alternate in the event the Commandant is unavailable. The Senior Vice shall perform such duties as are assigned to him by the Detachment Commandant and in the event that the Commandant's office becomes vacant he shall assume the duties of that office. 3. Junior Vice Commandant The Jr. Vice Commandant shall be responsible for recruitment and retention of members within the Detachment. This Marine will work or preside over committees as designated by the Commandant and will assume the duties of the Sr. Vice Commandant in the event there is a vacancy in that office. The Junior Vice will initiate programs and support activities of the Detachment and will perform any other duties as directed by the Commandant for the good of the Detachment. 4. Adjutant The Adjutant shall be responsible for the keeping of all records for the Detachment meetings and maintain a file of all correspondence received by the Detachment. 5. Paymaster The Paymaster shall maintain all the fiduciary records and books of the Detachment. This individual shall collect and account for all dues and other monies due the Detachment, Department and National. The Paymaster will be bonded in accordance with National By-Laws. (CH 11-5, Section 815). This Marine shall forward whatever monies are due to the Department and National and keep a record of these transactions. 6. Judge Advocate The Judge Advocate shall act as legal counsel for the Detachment and will construe and render options and advice on all questions of law pertinent to the Detachment, based upon Department and National regulations. The Judge Advocate's decisions shall not be binding except as they are accepted and approved by the Detachment Commandant. They will assure the Detachment abides by the by-laws of the Detachment, Department, and National. This Marine shall also perform audits of procedures, signatures, and finances as directed by the Commandant or the Board of Trustees. 7. Chaplain The Chaplain shall notify the Department of Florida Chaplain of any death within the Detachment. They shall prepare and present a memorial service to departed Marines when required. This individual shall also be familiar with the ritual of the League. 8. Sergeant-at-Arms The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be responsible for training a uniformed Detachment Color Guard, supervise the advancing, posting and retiring of the Colors at Detachment meetings or functions. This Marine shall assist in maintaining order at all Detachment meetings, and shall perform other duties as may be required. VIII. Policy This detachment shall be non-sectarian, non-partisan, non-political and will not engage or take part in any labor or management dispute or issue. The Detachment will not be used for the advancement of any group or individual political ambitions. Preference will not be afforded to any individual because of their former civilian or military standing; all members have equal status within the Detachment. A) Death of a Member The Detachment Chaplain has the responsibility to notify the Department of Florida Chaplain upon the death of any Detachment member. The Chaplain will include the date, the circumstances and address of the next of kin. The Detachment Commandant or designate and the Chaplin will call upon the family of the deceased and offer condolences and assistance. It shall be the duty of all members of the Marine Corps League who are not prevented by distance or unavoidable cause to attend funeral services of a deceased Detachment member. B) Politics It must be noted that although the members may participate in politics as individuals, the wearing of any part of the Marine Corps League uniform at political gatherings is seen as a support for an individual or party and is strictly prohibited. The wearing of the Marine Corps League cover is considered to be in uniform and therefore also prohibited at political gatherings (Administrative Procedures, Section 110-Policy).
C) Young Marines The Detachment is authorized to sponsor a Young Marine Unit, in accordance with the National By-Laws, (see Part I The Young Marine Program - National By-Laws). D) Devil Dogs The Detachment recognizes the Military Order of Devil Dogs in accordance with the National By-Laws. E) Uniforms & Badges The official uniform and cap for all officers and members of the Detachment shall be that as outlined in Department and National By-Laws. Badges, buttons, decorations, campaign ribbons or other unofficial adornment will not be worn on the official Marine Corps League garrison cover. F) Complaints and Grievances Please refer to National By Laws and Administrative Procedures, Chapter Nine. Although the detachment is encouraged to mediate and work out problems between members or issues, nothing shall prohibit a member from filing a grievance. In addition, the detachment shall not and can not punish any member. G) By-Laws All By-Law Amendments or Additions will be written up by the Detachment Judge Advocate and presented to the membership at the next regular meeting. The vote on this same By-Law Amendment or Addition will then be conducted at the following regular meeting and then submitted for approval to the Department of Florida Judge Advocate prior to application. Each amendment or addition will be handled as a separate issue. H) Standing Committees Standing committees will consist of Toys 4 Tots, a Budget Committee, and an Awards Committee. The Commandant will appoint committee members and/or any sub-committees that may be deemed necessary to ensure that these annual events are handled in accordance with detachment guidelines. VIX. Detachment meetings Shall be held monthly at a determined location. The detachment quorum shall consist of a simple majority of four (4) elected officers, and three (3) regular members in good standing during any business session. These selected individuals shall carry any measure or decide any issue, unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws. * * * NOTE * * * These By-Laws have been issued in accordance with the instructions contained in the Department of Florida and National By-Laws. Any interpretation presented that is in conflict with the Department or National By-Laws is automatically rescinded until a correction can be made.
By-Laws Approval Certification I, Ernest Brown, Commandant, General Roy S. Geiger Detachment, Department of Florida, Marine Corps League, do hereby certify that a clear majority of the members present and voting have approved the forgoing By-Laws during a regular Detachment meeting on July 18, 2011. Ernest Brown, Commandant By-Laws Committee: Gayward Hendry, Judge Advocate Pasquale A. Wojciechowski, Detachment Member Art Yeaman, Detachment Member Randy Case, Chaplain Attest: Lee W. Hart, Adjutant
General Roy S. Geiger Detachment #1047 By-Laws Revised July 2011