Arabia Clown Jewels Unit Bylaws. Revised November 2003

Transcription

1 Arabia Clown Jewels Unit Bylaws Revised November Revised 11/11/03

2 Article I Unit Name The name of the Arabia Shrine Temple Clown Unit is Arabia Clown Jewels. Article II Unit Objectives The Objectives of the Arabia Clown Jewels Unit are: 1. To maintain a functional clown unit as a member or the Arabia Shrine Temple. 2. To support the Shrine Hospitals, the physically and mentally handicapped children, and other such functions as directed by the Illustrious Potentate of Arabia Shrine Temple and/or The Arabia Clown Jewels President. 3. To assist the officers of the Arabia Shrine Temple by promoting public interest and goodwill within the community towards the Arabia Shrine Temple and its objectives. 4. To be an active participating Unit within the Arabia Shrine Temple in order to assist in meeting the Temple s objectives of promoting charity and public welfare. 5. To cooperate with the other Arabia Shrine Temples uniformed units and organized groups to meet the Temple s objectives. 6. To promote and maintain good fellowship and social relations among the Unit s members, 7. To Promote and maintain goodwill within the Masonic Orders toward the Arabia Shrine Temple. Article III Unit Membership Any member of the Arabia Shrine Temple whose membership status is in good standing is eligible for membership in the Arabia Clown Jewels Unit. The Arabia Clown Jewels Unit may consist of the following types of memberships: 1. Clown Membership 2. Life Clown Membership 3. Past Potentate Clown Membership 4. Recorder Emeritus Clown Membership 5. Veteran Clown Membership 6. Apprentice Clown Membership 7. Honorary Clown Membership Article IV Unit Membership Requirements Members of the Arabia Clown Jewels are required to meet specific requirements in their respective membership classification in order to maintain membership status Revised 11/11/03

3 1. Clown Membership Requirements Arabia Clown Jewels A clown member who has completed the Clown Jewels Apprenticeship training and has been approved by the majority vote of the Unit and by secret ballot. 2. Life Clown Membership Requirements To obtain a Life Clown Membership, the following requirements have to be met: A. A life membership may be obtained by completing of minimum of ten (10) years of active participation as a clown in the Clown Jewels Unit. Time served as a Veteran Clown does not apply to the ten (10) years of service. See Article V 4, A for participation for active service. B. Nominated by a member Clown, the nomination will be tabled for one month before approval by majority vote of the Unit and by a secret ballot at the next Stated Meeting. OR C. Any Past Arabia Clown Jewels Unit President will automatically receive the Life Member status after serving ten (10) years of Clown Membership. 3. Past Potentate or Recorder Emeritus Clown Membership Requirements To obtain a Past Potentate or Recorder Emeritus Clown Membership, the following requirements must be met. A. Any Past Potentate or Recorder Emeritus may become members of the Arabia Clown Jewels Unit and receive the Clown Membership status by request and by paying annual Unit dues. B. The Past Potentate or Recorder Emeritus will be exempt of active service requirements, initiation fees and the majority vote approvals process. 4. Veteran Clown Membership Requirements To obtain a Veteran Clown Membership, the following requirements must be met. A. A Veteran Clown is one who has less than 10 years of active clown service and by reason of physical disability is unable to continue meeting the active clown requirements. B. The applicant must make his request known to the Clown Jewels President or First Vice President of his desire to become a Veteran Clown by reason of physical disability Revised 11/11/03

4 C. The request will be granted by the Clown Jewels President and is exempt of the majority vote approval process. The change in the clown status of the member will be announced at a Stated Meeting. D. A Veteran Clown may request reinstatement to Clown Status. See Article VI Membership Reinstatements. 5. Apprentice Clown Membership Requirements To obtain an Apprentice Clown Membership, the following requirements must be met: A. the applicant must complete an application and submit it with the appropriate initiation fee for membership through any member of the Arabia Clown Jewels. See Appendix II Unit Dues, Application Fees and Membership Privileges. B. The applicant must be in good health and agree to commit to the participation requirements of the Unit. C. Membership approval must be obtained by majority vote of the Unit at a Regular Stated Meeting. D. Clown Apprenticeship is a temporary membership within the Clown Jewels for the purpose of training and learning about clowning and of the purpose and objectives of the Unit. Therefore, an Apprentice will serve one year as an Apprentice Clown. See Apprentice Exceptions, (1). E. The Apprentice must select a clown name, develop his make-up and costume that meets the approval of the Unit within the first (6) months of his apprenticeship. Failure to meet this requirement may subject the Apprentice to dismissal by majority vote of the Unit at a Regular Stated Meeting. See Apprentice Exceptions, (2). The requirements for clown name and make-up are as follows: (1) Perform as a White Face Clown for the first six (6) months of Apprenticeship. A time deferral in white face make-up may be granted by request of the Apprentice to the President or the First Vice President. See Apprentice Exception (3). (2) The clown name must be unique and not used by any other clown within the Clown Jewels Unit or be a retired Clown Jewels clown name. See Appendix I Retired Unit Clown Names. F. The Apprentice Clown must be an active member of the Clown Unit. See Article V Unit Dues, Application Fees, Participation Requirements and Membership Privileges, 4.B Participation Requirements for Apprentice Clowns. G. After the completion of the Apprenticeship requirements, the Apprentice must be approved for Clown Membership by the majority vote of the Unit and by secret ballot at a Regular Stated Meeting. If the Apprentice fails to achieve the majority Revised 11/11/03

5 vote of the Unit, he may re-petition for a 90-day extension. A written memo must be submitted to the President prior to a vote on the request for extension. The memo must detail the reason(s) for the extension and what action(s) the Apprentice will take to correct any deficiency. Only one extension may be granted. The extension must be approved by majority vote of the Unit and by secret ballot at a Regular Stated Meeting. See Apprentice Exceptions, (4). H. An Apprentice Clown shall have no vote nor serve as a chairman on any Clown Jewels Unit committees. Apprentice Exceptions apply to clowns who were/are members from another Shrine Temple Unit or professional clowns have the following exceptions: (1) Six (6) months Apprenticeship. (2) Make-up, costume, character and clown name must be approved by the President and First Vice President within the first three (3) months of Apprenticeship. (3) White face make-up is optional unless Apprenticeship tenure is extended by another six (6) months. (4) If not approved for membership, the Apprentice shall be required to comply with the full Apprentice requirements for an additional six (6) months period. Make-up during this extension will include white face. Re-petition and 90- day Apprenticeship extension is not an option. 6. Honorary Clown Membership Requirements Honorary Clown Membership may be awarded to any individual whom the Arabia Clown Jewels wish to honor. The following requirements and restrictions apply to this membership status: A. All members of the Elected Divan will become Honorary members upon being installed in office. B. Candidates for Honorary membership must be nominated at the December Unit Stated Meeting by any member of the Clown Jewels Unit. C. All candidates individually voted upon must be approved by the majority vote of the Unit. D. Only three (3) Honorary memberships per year may be granted (excluding the members of the Elective Divan). If more than three (3) candidates are approved by majority vote by the Unit, then the three (3) candidates who received the most votes will receive the Honorary Membership. E. Honorary members will pay no dues, hold no office and shall not vote. F. The Honoree(s) will receive a framed certificate, be invited to put on make-up at the Shrine Circus, and be invited by the Unit Officers to attend the Unit social events for the year Revised 11/11/03

6 G. Honorary memberships shall be for the current year only. Article V Unit Dues, Application Fees, Participation Requirements and Membership Privileges 1. Clown Jewels Calendar Year The Clown Jewels calendar year in which elections, dues, and participation requirements are based, begin on January 1 and ends on December Unit Dues It is the responsibility of each member to pay his unit dues and pay them in a timely manner. Payment is due and payable on or before the scheduled December Stated Meeting which proceeds the year for which they are being paid. Failure to pay dues by January 1 will result in a loss of all voting privileges and may not make any motion before the Unit until restitution of dues has been made. It will be the duty of the Secretary to read the names of all members whose dues are delinquent at the beginning of January and February Stated Meetings. The Secretary will notify those members, in writing or by phone, before February 15 of their pending suspension for non-payment of dues. Any member who has not paid his dues by the beginning of the April Stated meeting will be automatically suspended for non-payment of dues unless the Unit has granted him a dispensation. It is the responsibility of each member to notify the Secretary of any phone or address change. 3. Unit Fees The only fees that are required to be paid to the Clown Jewels Unit is a one time fee addressed to new applicants. This fee is due upon submitting of the submission of the application for membership. This fee may only be refunded in the event of the applicant being rejected for membership at the first reading of the petition for membership. 4. Participation It is the expectation that everyone who is able to participate should do so by attending the various functions of the Unit. Those functions are Stated Meeting, Called Meetings, Circus, approved Unit fund raisers, approved Shrine activities, and approved Unit community service activity. There are specific participation requirements to obtain Life Memberships and for the Apprentices. These requirements ensure that the Unit will have available resources to maintain the required activities that will sustain the business of the Unit and its goals and objectives Revised 11/11/03

7 Those clowns that are excluded from participation requirements but are still expected to participate in as many activities as possible are: (1) Life Members (2) Past Potentate Clown Members (3) Recorder Emeritus Clown Members (4) Veteran Clown Members A. Active Participation Requirements for Clowns Clowns are required to participate in make-up for at least ten (10) appearances each calendar year. Five (5) of these make-up activities must be activities other than participating in Circus. The clown will also be required to attend at least five (5) other activities, such as Called Meetings or Stated Meetings. Appearances should include several of the following types of activities: (1) Circus (2) Approved Unit fund raisers (3) Shrine activities (parades, blood drives) (4) Approved Unit community service activities (hospital visits) Clown Participation Exception Requirements a. Officers of Masonic Organizations must meet the same requirements with the exception of only making five (5) make-up appearances each calendar year. b. Unit members on the Arabia Temple Potentate s Staff are exempt from participation requirements providing they are required to attend and do attend functions that conflict with Unit functions. If there are no conflicts of activities, these members are expected to participate. Time served on the Potentate s Staff will be counted as an active participant. c. Unit members serving terms in the Grand Lodge of Texas will be exempt from all participation requirements. Time served with the Grand Lodge will be counted as an active participation. B. Participation Requirements for Apprentice Clowns Apprentice Clowns are required to participate in make-up for at least twenty-four (24) appearances each calendar year. Twelve of these make-up activities must be activities other than participating in Circus. The clown will also be required to attend at least six (6) other activities, such as Called Meetings and Stated Meetings. Apprentice Clowns who are serving only a six (6) month apprenticeship are required to participate in make-up for at least twelve (12) appearances. The clown will also be required to attend at least three (3) other activities, such as Called Meetings or Stated Revised 11/11/03

8 Meetings. Those appearances should include several of the following types of activities: (1) Circus (2) Approved Unit fund raisers (3) Shrine activities (parades, blood drives) (4) Approved Unit community service activities (hospital visits) 5. Report of Participation and Attendance Participation of all members will be reviewed annually by the Unit Officers. At the end of each Clown Jewels calendar year, the First Vice President will report to the members the participation status of all participating members at the Regular Stated Meeting in November. This report will be used as a tool to determine qualification for Life Membership, Apprentice of the Year awards, and Clown of the Year awards. 6. Voting Privileges All members shall have full voting rights except for Apprentices, Veteran Clowns and Honorary Clown members. Participation requirements do not apply to voting privileges. See Appendix II for Dues, Application Fees and Membership Privileges. Article VI Membership Reinstatements Members who have been suspended or demitted may be reinstated to full membership by submitting an application to the Arabia Clown Jewels Unit with the current year s dues. The application will be read and held over for a vote for the next Stated Meeting. The applicant must be approved by the majority vote of the Unit and by secret ballot. These Reinstatement requirements apply to the following memberships: A. Clown Membership B. Past Potentate Clown Membership C. Recorder Emeritus Clown Membership D. Veteran Clown Membership Article VII Members Conduct Rules The Imperial Shrine Laws, the Bylaws of the Arabia Temple, and Bylaws of the Clown Jewels govern the Clown Jewels. The following rules of conduct are accepted and approved by the Clown Jewels and apply to all Unit members and without exception: 1. No member of the Arabia Clown Jewels will be offensive to the public nor profane in any manner while participating as a Clown or Shriner, in or out of costume Revised 11/11/03

9 2. No member shall drink intoxicating beverages; smoke; chew tobacco; or display beer, liquor or wine containers while in clown make-up or clown costume. 3. While performing or participating as a professional clown in activities for personal gain, the following rules apply: A. One must be divested of all Shrine identification and make no references to being a representative of the Clown Jewels. B. He may be required to change costume and make-up if the character is deemed clearly identifiable with the Arabia Clown Jewels. C. He will be allowed to use his Clown Jewel name if so desired. Failure to abide by the rules of conduct shall invoke the following actions: A. First Offense A reminder and warning of the rules of conduct. B. Second Offense Will require the violation to be brought before the Unit at a Scheduled Meeting. A vote by secret ballot for expulsion will be taken. Expulsion must be approved by the majority vote of the Unit. Article VIII Clown Names The choice of clown name should be given considerable thought. It might be a tool to help define a clown s character and it will identify one clown from all the others. The name must. Therefore, be unique from all other clown names within the Clown Jewels Unit. Upon a Clown Jewels member s death, his clown name will automatically be retired. After a period of ten years, a retired clown name may be used again after a majority vote of the Unit. Article IX Officers and Their Duties 1. The Elective Officers of the Arabia Clown Jewels shall be: A. PRESIDENT: He shall appoint committees as are necessary to assist him. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian. The President shall preside over all meetings, call special meetings, designate the time and place of the Called Meetings and perform all of the duties usually performed by a President. The President shall not vote unless there is a tie vote, in which case he will cast the deciding ballot. He shall submit to the membership a budget no later than the month of February in the year of his tenure. He shall sign all checks drawn on the bank account of the Arabia Clown Jewels. He will be the official spokesman for the Unit a direct all correspondence from the Unit. B. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: The First Vice President shall perform the duties of the President including signing checks in his absence. He will be responsible for all parade activities. The First Vice President shall assure that all props and equipment items are in their place, and, after use, be responsible for said items. He shall be responsible for Apprentice training Revised 11/11/03

10 C. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT: The Second Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President and the First Vice President. He shall be responsible for all social and entertainment activities, responsible for securing special meeting places when needed, reserve sections for Clowns (where applicable) at all Shrine Functions, and have charge at all social functions at the direction of the President. D. SECRETARY: The Secretary will keep all minutes of all meetings, keep a copy of all correspondence and transactions, make a full report of all matters of business pertaining to his office to the members at each meeting, keep a roster of the membership (with suitable notations as to status such as office held, Unit or Staff, Apprentice, Veteran or Life members), and a record of individual participation. He will notify all members, in writing, at least ten (10) days prior to an election. E. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all monies received and disbursed; he will pay such bills as are approved by the voting membership at a Stated or Called Meeting. These bills will be read and qualified. He shall deposit all funds in such bank, as approved and designated by the membership, in a checking account held in the name ARABIA CLOWN JEWELS. No Arabia Clown Jewels funds shall be disbursed unless voted on by the membership in a Stated or Called Meeting or unless previously budgeted. All checks shall be signed by the President or Vice President s in the absence and countersigned by the Treasurer. The outgoing President shall name an auditing committee, composed of Arabia Clown Jewels members, which will inspect the records and submit a written audit at the first Stated Meeting of the succeeding fiscal year. 1. Election of Officers: Article X Election of Officers A. The officers for the ensuing year shall be nominated at the October Stated Meeting and elected at the November Stated Meeting. B. A minimum of ten (10) days notice must be given in writing before the election meeting. C. Nominations will be made by a nominating committee and also from the floor. D. A nomination committee shall be appointed by the President at least (90) days before the Elections. The committee shall consist of one Past President and two members who are not Past Presidents. E. No officer shall succeed himself except for the Secretary and Treasurer who shall be allowed to serve more than one year in office if elected by the Membership. Except as shown is Section 2, below. F. No member shall be elected President unless he has served the majority of one elected office in the Unit Revised 11/11/03

11 2. Vacancy Within the Elective Officers: A. In the event that a vacancy occurs within the elective offices, they will be filled by the next Officer in the line moving up, with the exception of the Secretary and the Treasurer, who will remain in their elected offices until the end of the term. B. If all officers move up, except Secretary and Treasurer, floor nominations will be open to elect a replacement for the Second Vice President. This election must be held at the first Stated Meeting following the vacancy in the elective office. C. Exception to Article X, Section 1, Subsection E. When a vacancy is filled by officers moving up and the remaining time is six (6) months or less, the officers may succeed themselves. D. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer at any time during the year, the vacancy shall be filled by Presidential appointment, with Unit approval. 3. Special Considerations: The President will be reimbursed for room expenses(lodging only) for attending the T. S. C. A. Mid Winter and T. S. A. Conventions, and either I. S. C. A. or Imperial Conventions presenting the Invoices for payment. Article XI Meetings 1. The regular Stated Meeting of the Arabia Clown Jewels shall be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Arabia Shrine Temple Mosque, Clown Jewels Unit room, or an alternate time and place designated by the President. Any change of place and/or time must be advised by the President, by written notice no later than ten (10) days before the meeting. 2. A quorum will consist of three (3) officers and the voting membership present. 3. All meeting will be governed by Roberts Rules of Order. 4. A Called Meeting or any change in the Regular Stated Meeting will require a five (5) day notification by telephone or ten (10) day written notification to the membership. 5. There will be no Regular Stated Meeting during Arabia Temple s Circus. Any meeting held during the Circus will be limited to Circus business. 6. All actions requiring a vote by the Unit shall be decided by a majority of those voting members present. 7. The Clown Jewels Unit Room, in all meetings and activities, will be designated as a smoke-free area Revised 11/11/03

12 Article XII Clown and Apprentice of the Year 1. Each year the President shall appoint a committee consisting of himself and two past recipients to nominate three (3) Clowns for Clown of the Year and three (3) Apprentices for Apprentice of the Year. 2. Every Clown except for the President is eligible for the Clown of the Year award. Every Apprentice or Clown who was an Apprentice for a period of more than three (3) months is eligible for the Apprentice of the Year award. 3. Elections for Clown of the Year and Apprentice of the Year awards shall be held in December of each year. This will be done by secret ballot with the committee keeping results secret and the ballots intact. 4. Committee will count the ballots, keeping the same for inspection for ten (10) days after presentation, be responsible for acquisition of plaques and present same at the Annual Banquet Article XIII Temple Units The following is a direct quote from the Arabia Shrine Temple Bylaws, which must appear as is in the Clown Jewels Bylaws: Section 1: CONTROL BY POTENTATE: The units are a part of the working corps of the Temple and are under the control of the Potentate and must be composed wholly of Nobles. Control of unit money and property is vested with the Potentate. Section 2: PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS: A. Only Nobles shall participate in Shrine parades. B. No Temple unit is permitted to participate in parade or public exhibition without the express approval of the Potentate. C. Units and their members are prohibited from accepting any reward or compensation for participating in parades and exhibitions. Section 3: GENERAL REGULATIONS: A. Expenditure of funds for uniformed must be made from appropriations made in the adopted Temple budget. B. All funds raised by uniformed units are income to the Temple and expenditures must be consistent with the Temple budget. C. Each uniformed unit or organized group is required to have its accounts audited at the close of each year by an auditor or committee approved by the Potentate. A copy of a balance sheet and income and expense statement must be filed with the Potentate and Recorder by February 1 following the end of each year audited Revised 11/11/03

13 D. Officers of Temple units may be elected and installed prior to an annual meeting, but do not officially assume their office until the Potentate for the ensuing year has be elected and assumed his office. E. Only members of Arabia Temple with current Temple dues cards may be accepted or continue membership in a uniformed unit. F. Members of the Elected Divan are Ex-Officio members of each uniformed unit without payment of unit dues. All other members, except life members, are subject to dues payment. G. The Bylaws of the Unit are to conform in every respect with the laws of the Imperial Council and those of Arabia Temple and must be submitted to the Potentate for approval. H. Any fund raising activity of any nature requires the consent of the Potentate. Article XIV Amendments Amendments, alterations or changes to these Bylaws must be submitted in writing by the proponent at a Regular Stated Meeting. They will be read with no action taken. Copies will be mailed to all members within fifteen days. The proposal will be voted on at the next Regular Stated Meeting, and if approved, will become part of these Bylaws, provided the proposal is approved by the Illustrious Potentate of Arabia Temple. These Bylaws, if approved, will take effect immediately upon approval by the Illustrious Potentate. All persons holding Veterans or Life membership as of that date will continue as such. Approval for Arabia Shrine Temple: (Illustrious Potentate) Date Approval for Clown Jewels: (Clown Jewels President) Date Revised 11/11/03

14 Appendix II Unit Dues, Application Fees, and Membership Privileges The following dues, application fees and membership privileges apply to the Arabia Clown Jewels in the following manner: Member Status Clown Yearly Dues / Application Fees $30/No Participation Requirements 10 Appearances in make-up, 5 of these must be other than Circus. Attend 5 other activities which may be Stated Meetings. Restricted Privileges None Life Clown No/No Expectation is same as Clown requirements. None Past Potentate Clown $30/No Expectation is same as Clown requirements. None Recorder Emeritus Clown $30/No Expectation is same as Clown requirements. None Veteran Clown Apprentice Clown Apprentice Clown (6-Month Period) $30/No $30/$50 $30/$50 Expectation of participation without violation of physical limitations. 24 appearances in make-up, 12 of these must be other than Circus. Attend 6 other activities which may be Stated Meetings. 12 appearances in make-up. Attend 3 other activities which may be Stated Meetings. Honorary Clown No/No No Expectations Hold no office and shall Not Vote. Hold no office, cannot chair committees, shall not vote. Hold no office, cannot chair committees, shall not vote. Has no privileges except attendance of Unit Socials and make-up at Circus Notes: 1. Dues and Application Fees: Apprentice Clown Yearly Dues are prorated on a quarterly basis. The application fee is not refundable. 2. Participation: Participation requirements include attendance at Stated Meetings, Circus participation, fund raising activities, hospital visits and parades. 3. Participation Exception: To obtain a participation exception, one must notify the President or Vice President of the reason for the exception to gain approval. 4. Approved Participation Exceptions: - Unit members on the Arabia Temple Potentate s Staff, provided that they are required to attend any functions that conflict with Unit activities. - Unit members serving terms in the Grand Lodge of Texas. - Unit members serving terms of office in their Blue Lodge which may conflict with Unit activities Revised 11/11/03