CONSTITION NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS

1 2 As approved at the Annual Meeting of September 11, 1996 3 4 CONSTITION NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS 5 6 7 8 ARTICLE I NAME This organization shall be known as the NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS (NCVACC). 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ARTICLE II DECLARATION AND PURPOSE The National Conference for V.A. Catholic Chaplains shall: a) Provide mutual support for members working in the Chaplaincy Service of the V.A. b) Provide a forum for the training, study and development of all phases of V.A. Pastoral care. c) Serve as a corporate body for contact and communication with the National Episcopal Advisor and the Archdiocese for the Military Service, U.S.A. by members of the Conference. d) Make and adopt By-Laws, rules and regulations from the government of the Conference, and all matters pertaining to the effective implementation of its purposes. e) Provide a method of certification by the United States Catholic Conference (USCC). 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ARTICLE III NATURE Section 1. Non-Profit, Religious, Charitable, Educational This conference is formed without capital stock. It shall be operated not for profit, but exclusively for religious, educational and charitable purposes. No part of its income shall inure to the benefit of any individual. No dividend shall ever be declared to, paid to or received by any of its members, officers or Administrative Board. Section 2. Membership (a) Pastoral Membership Shall be open to anyone holding official appointment, such as National Episcopal Advisor, as well as anyone holding an official appointment as V.A. Catholic Chaplain with endorsement. Current Constitution 1 Current Constitution

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 (b) Honorary Membership Shall be open to anyone who has, by their word, deeds and support manifested a desire to further the mission of the work of the V.A. Chaplain Service. Such membership must be nominated and elected by the Administrative Board. Section 3. Dues (a) Dues shall be levied on the membership as the Administrative Board determines annually, subject to the approval and/or review by the voting membership. (b) Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues. 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD Section 1. The Government of the Conference shall be vested in an Administrative Board, which shall consists of the officers of the National Conference of V.A. Catholic Chaplains, as well as those chaplains of the Conference who shall be elected as provided for in Article VI. Section 2. There shall be three (3) Members-at-Large of the Conference, who are not officers, who shall be elected to the Administrative Board by the Conference from among the Chaplain membership. Their term shall be for a period of three (3) years. Section 3. Any vacancy on the Administrative Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Administrative Board at the next meeting of the Board, until the next meeting of the Conference. Section 4. The Administrative Board shall meet during the course of the Annual Meeting of the Conference and at least one other time during the year, to conduct the business of the Conference. Section 5. Special meetings of the Administrative Board may be called by the President at any time. It shall be his duty to call special meetings upon request made upon him by any four (4) members of the Administrative Board, provided a quorum is assured. Notices of such meetings shall be given in the manner provided in the By-Laws. 58 Current Constitution 2 Current Constitution

59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 Section 6. A majority of the Administrative Board shall constitute a quorum at all meetings, regular or special, for the transaction of all business of the Administrative Board. Section 7. The Administrative Board may delegate to an Executive Committee of four (4) of its members, all of its power during the interim between meetings. Section 8. The Administrative Board shall exercise general supervision and control over activities of the regular and special committees of the Conference. 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 ARTICLE V OFFICERS Section 1. The officers of the Conference shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Their terms shall be for a period of three (3) years. Section 2. All officers shall be Chaplains of the Conference (NCVACC) and shall be members of the Administrative Board. Section 3. The principal duties of the President shall be to preside over all General meetings of the Conference, all meetings of the Administrative Board, and to direct the activities of the Conference under the supervision and control of the Administrative Board. Section 4. The principal duties of the Vice-President shall be to perform the duties and functions of the President in case of his absence or inability to preside; to perform such other duties as shall be require by the By-Laws or by the Administrative Board. He shall be given the option to become President-elect. Section 5. The principal duties of the Secretary shall be to correspond, to care for all the books, documents and papers which belong to the Conference, and to perform such other duties which shall be required by the By- Laws and/or the Administrative Board. Current Constitution 3 Current Constitution

88 89 90 91 92 93 94 Section 6. The principal duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive and disburse all monies belonging to the Conference, to keep an accurate record of the money and property on hand, and generally to keep an accurate record of all matters pertaining to said office as shall be required by the By-Laws and/or the Administrative Board. The Treasurer shall furnish an audited statement of the financial condition of the conference annually, and at such other times as the Administrative Board shall require. The Treasurer shall be bonded at the expense of the Conference. 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 ARTICLE VI VOTING AND ELECTIONS Section 1. (a) Voting for the election of officers is limited to the endorsed V.A. Catholic Chaplains on the basis of one vote for each member. (b) Voting on all matters in the Conference is limited to the V.A. Catholic Chaplains on the Conference and shall be on the basis of one vote for each member in attendance, in accordance with the By- Laws. (c) Upon retirement from active ministry as a V.A. Catholic Chaplain, one may be elected to Honorary Membership. (d) Honorary Members may attend all Conference meetings and shall have the right to be recognized from the floor to speak, but will not have the right to vote on any matter, because they are not required to pay dues. Section 2. Voting shall be by voice, ballot or other means as the matter may require. The Conference or Administrative Board shall have the right, as the case may require, to determine the method of voting. Section 3. A majority of those voting members present shall be sufficient for adoption or decision upon any matter before the Conference, except for Amendments to the Constitution of the Conference. Section 4. Each officer and each member of the Administrative Board shall assume office immediately after the official close of the final public session of the annual meeting of the Conference, and shall remain in office Current Constitution 4 Current Constitution

117 118 119 120 121 122 until the end of the third annual meeting of the Conference thereafter, until his successor has been duly elected or duly qualified, or until he submits his resignation to the Administrative Board. Section 5. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President of the Conference and his Administrative Board to present names of candidates for the elected officers and the Members-at-Large, to the members of the Conference by mail prior to the election. 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 ARTICLE VII MEETINGS Section 1. (a) The Conference shall hold an Annual Meeting at a time and place to be determined by a majority of the Administrative Board. (b) If, by reason of government travel restrictions or any other grave cause, the Administrative Board, by a majority vote, shall decide that the Annual Meeting must be postponed, all of the officers and members of the Administrative Board shall retain office until the impediment cause has been removed and an Annual Meeting has been held. Section 2. Special Members shall be authorized only when and if a quorum is assured. Notice of special meetings shall be made thirty (30) days in advance, by U.S. mail or in any other way authorized by the Administrative Board or its Executive Committee. 136 137 138 139 140 ARTICLE VIII CERTIFICATION Under the auspices of the U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC), members of NCVACC can be certified as V.A. Catholic Chaplains after processing the required criteria and satisfactory completion of an interview before the Certification Chairman and members of the Certification Board. 141 142 143 144 145 ARTICLE IX PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE Parliamentary procedure is to be followed in the conduct of meetings as set forth in Roberts Rules of Order, revised edition, except as may be amended by these Articles of the Constitution by Bylaws. The Administrative Board shall designate a member to serve as Parliamentarian. 146 Current Constitution 5 Current Constitution

147 148 149 ARTICLE X - RESIGNATIONS Resignations from the Administrative Board or Conference Officers shall be submitted in writing, either to the President of the Conference or the Vice-President in the event of a vacancy in the Presidency. 150 151 152 153 154 155 ARTICLE XI BY-LAWS By-Laws regulating the activities of the Officers and the Administrative Board of the Conference, as well as the conduct of business at the Annual Meetings of the Conference, shall be adopted by the voting membership of the Conference by simple majority at any Annual Meeting and may be revised from time to time in like manner at any Annual Meeting. 156 157 158 159 ARTICLE XII ADOPTION OF THIS CONSTITUTION This Constitution shall become effective upon its adoption by two-thirds of those present and voting at the meeting at which it shall be presented. 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS A copy of any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be sent to all members of the Administrative Board at least three (3) months prior to a scheduled Annual Meeting of the Conference. If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of the Administrative Board, a copy thereof shall be mailed to all members of the Conference prior to the date of the next scheduled meeting. Such an amendment shall be adopted at an Annual Meeting by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at the Annual Meeting. 168 169 170 Current Constitution 6 Current Constitution

171 172 173 As approved October 21, 2003 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS BY-LAWS 174 175 176 177 178 ARTICLE I OFFICES The corporation shall continuously maintain in the State of Illinois a registered office and a registered agent whose business is identical with such registered office, and may have other offices within or without the state. 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 ARTICLE II MEMBERS SECTION 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERS. The corporation shall have two classes of MEMBERS. The designation of such class and the qualification of the MEBERS of such classes shall be as follows: a. CHAPLAIN MEMBER, who shall: 1. be an ordained Priest of the Catholic Church, including Eastern Catholic Churches in union with Rome, who shall have been appointed by their Ordinary or Religious Superior and endorsed by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A. for duty as Chaplain for the Department of Veteran Affairs 2. have paid dues currently assessed on such member. b. HONORARY MEMBER, who shall: 1. be any person who has, by their word, deeds and support, manifested a desire to further the mission of the work of the Veteran Affairs Chaplain Service, or be retired from active ministry as a Veteran Affairs Catholic Chaplain. 2. be nominated by any member and elected by a majority of the Board of Directors. 3. not be required to pay any dues. SECTION 2. VOTING RIGHTS. Each CHAPLAIN MEMBER shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the MEMBERS. HONORARY MEMBERS shall not be entitled to vote on any matter. Current Bylaws 7 Current Bylaws

199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 SECTION 3. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. The board of directors by affirmative vote of two thirds of all of the MEMBERS of the board may suspend or expel any member, Chaplain or Honorary, for cause after an appropriate hearing, and may, by a majority vote of those present at any regularly constituted meeting, terminate the membership of any member who becomes ineligible for membership, or suspend or expel any member who shall be in default in the payment of dues for the period fixed in Article XII of these by-laws. SECTION 4. RESIGN. Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary, but such resignation shall not relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues, assessments or other charges theretofore accrued and unpaid. SECTION 5. REINSTATEMENT. Upon written request by a former member and filed with the Secretary, the board of Directors may by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the MEMBERS of the board reinstate such former member to membership upon such terms as the board of directors may deem appropriate. SECTION 6. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP. membership in this corporation is not transferable or assignable. SECTION 7. NO MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATES. No membership certificates of the corporation shall be required. 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 ARTICLE III MEETING OF MEMBERS SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the MEMBERS shall be held in the fall of each year at the time of the annual convocation called by the Military Archbishop of the United States or at such time as the board of directors may designate for the purpose of electing directors and officers and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the day fixed for the annual meeting shall be a legal holiday, such meeting shall be on the next succeeding business day. SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the MEMBERS may be called either by the president, by the board of directors or by not less than one-tenth of the MEMBERS having voting rights. SECTION 3. PLACE OF MEETING. The board of directors may designate any place, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the board of directors. If no designation is made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be at the registered office of the corporation in the State of Illinois. Current Bylaws 8 Current Bylaws

229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 SECTION 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written notice stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than 5 nor more than 40 days before the date of the meeting. If mailed, such notices shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. SECTION 5. INFORMAL ACTIONS BY MEMBERS. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the MEMBERS of the corporation, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of MEMBERS, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the MEMBERS entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. SECTION 6. QUORUM. The MEMBERS holding one-tenth of the votes which may be cast at any meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of MEMBERS, a majority of the MEMBERS present may adjourn the meeting at any time without further notice. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting, withdrawal of MEMBERS from any meeting shall not cause failure of a duly constituted quorum at that meeting. SECTION 7. PROXIES. Each shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of MEMBERS or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from its date, unless the proxy proved for a longer period. 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 ARTICLE IV BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECTION I. GENERAL POWERS. The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its board of directors. SECTION 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The number of directors of the corporation shall be seven. Each director shall hold office from the date of his election at an annual meeting of the MEMBERS until the third annual meeting of MEMBERS following such election and until his successors shall have been elected and qualified. Directors need not be residents of Illinois, but shall be CHAPLAIN MEMBERS of the corporation. The directors shall consist of the four officers of the corporation: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, plus three additional MEMBERS who are Current Bylaws 9 Current Bylaws

261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 not officers, but who shall be elected to the Board of Directors by the CHAPLAIN MEMBERS of the Corporation. The number of directors may be decreased to not fewer than 5 or increased to any number from time to time by amendment of this section, unless the articles of incorporation provide that a change in the number of directors shall be made only by amendment of the articles of incorporation. Directors shall serve for three year terms of office, and no director may serve for more than two consecutive terms. SECTION 3. REGULAR MEETINGS. A regular annual meeting of the board of directors shall be held without other notice than these by-laws, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of MEMBERS. The board of directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for holding of additional regular meetings of the board without other notice than such resolution. SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by or at the request of the president or any two directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the board of directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the board of directors called by them. SECTION 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the board of directors shall be given at least two days previous thereto by written notice to each director at his address as shown by the records of the corporation. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If notice be given by telegram, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegram company. Notice of any special meeting of the board of directors may be waived in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice either before or after the time of the meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, unless required by law or by these by-laws. SECTION 6. QUORUM. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the board of directors, provided that if less than a majority of such number of directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice. SECTION 7. MANNER OF ACTING. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by statute, these by-laws, or the articles of incorporation. Current Bylaws 10 Current Bylaws

293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 SECTION 8. VACANCIES. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors or any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by appointment of the of the President. A director so appointed shall be appointed for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. SECTION 9. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. A director may resign at any time upon written notice to the board of directors. A director may be removed with or without cause, by a majority of MEMBERS if the notice of the meeting names the director or directors to be removed at said meeting. A director may also be removed with or without cause, by a majority of DIRECTORS if the notice of the meeting names the director or directors to be removed at said meeting. SECTION 10. INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS. The authority of the board of directors may be exercised without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action taken, is signed by all of the directors entitled to vote. SECTION 11. COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salaries for their services, but by resolution of the board of directors a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for each regular or special meeting of the board, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor. 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 ARTICLE V OFFICERS SECTION 1. NUMBER. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, one or more vice-presidents (the number thereof to be determined by the board of directors), a treasurer, a secretary, and such assistant treasurers, assistant secretaries or other officers as may be elected by the members. All officers shall be CHAPLAIN MEMBERS of the corporation. Officers whose authority and duties are not prescribed in these by-laws shall have the authority and perform the duties, from time to time, by the board of directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of president and secretary. SECTION 2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The officers of the corporation shall be elected at an annual meeting of the MEMBERS and shall serve until his successors shall have been elected and qualified. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled by vote of the members entitled to vote at any meeting of the membership where a quorum shall exist. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Election of an officer shall not of Current Bylaws 11 Current Bylaws

325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 itself create contract rights. Officers shall be elected for a three year term of office, and an officer may only serve two consecutive terms. SECTION 3. REMOVAL. Any officer elected by the members may be removed by the members whenever in its judgment the best interest of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. SECTIO 4. PRESIDENT. The president shall be the principal executive officer of the corporation. Subject to the direction and control of the board of directors, he shall be in charge of the business of the corporation; he shall see that the resolutions and directives of the board of directors are carried into effect except in those instances in which that responsibility is specifically assigned to some other person by the board of directors; and, in general, he shall discharge all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors from time to time. He shall preside at all meetings of the MEMBERS and of the board of directors. Except in those instances in which the authority to execute is expressly delegated to another officer or agent of the corporation or a different mode of execution is expressly prescribed by the board of directors or these by-laws, he may execute for the corporation any contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds, or other instruments which the board of directors has authorized to be executed, and he may accomplish such execution either under or with the seal of the corporation and either individually or with the secretary, any assistant secretary, or any other officer thereunto authorized by the board of directors, according to the requirements of the form of the instrument. He may vote all securities which the corporation is entitled to vote except as and to the extent such authority shall be vested in a different officer or agent of the corporation by the board of directors. SECTION 5. THE VICE-PRESIDENT. The vice-president shall assist the president in the discharge of his duties as the president may direct and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the board of directors. In the absence of the president or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the vice president shall perform the duties of the president, and when so acting shall have the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. Except in those instances in which the authority to execute is expressly delegated to another officer or agent of the corporation or a different mode of execution is expressly prescribed by the board of directors or these by-laws, the vice president may execute for the corporation any contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds or other instruments which the broad of directors has authorized to be executed, and he may accomplish such execution either under or without the seal of the corporation and either individually or with the secretary, any assistant secretary, or any other officer thereunto authorized by the board of directors, according to the requirements of the form of the instrument. Current Bylaws 12 Current Bylaws

357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 SECTION 6. THE TREASURER. The treasurer shall be the principal accounting and financial officer of the corporation. He shall: (a) have charge of and be responsible for the maintenance of adequate books of account for the corporation; (b) have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the corporation, and be responsible therefor and for the receipt and disbursement thereof; and (c) perform all the duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the board of directors. If required by the board of directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the board of directors shall determine. SECTION 7. THE SECRETARY. The secretary shall: (a) record the minutes of the MEMBERS' and of the board of directors' meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporation records and of the seal of the corporation; (d) keep a register of the post-office address of each member which shall be furnished to the secretary by such member; (e) sign with the president, or a vicepresident, or any other officer thereunto authorized by the board of directors, any contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds, or other instruments which the board of directors has authorized to be executed, according to the requirements of the form of the instrument, except when a different mode of execution is expressly prescribed by the board of directors or these by-laws; (f) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the corporation; (g) have authority to certify the by-laws, resolutions of the MEMBERS and board of directors and committees thereof, and other documents of the corporation as true and correct copies thereof, and (h) perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the board of directors. SECTION 9. SALARIES. Officers shall not receive any stated salaries for their services, but by resolution of the board of directors a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for each regular or special meeting of the board. 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES SECTION I. COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors in office, may designate one or more committees, each of which shall consist of two or more directors, which committees, to the extent provided in said resolution and not restricted by law, shall have and exercise the authority of the board of directors in the management of the corporation; but the designation of such committees and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the board of directors, or any individual director, of any responsibility imposed upon it or him by law. Current Bylaws 13 Current Bylaws

390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 SECTION 2. OTHER COMMITTEES. Other committees not having and exercising the authority of the board of directors in the corporation may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided in such resolution, MEMBERS of each such committee shall be CHAPLAIN MEMBERS of the corporation, and the president of the corporation shall appoint the MEMBERS thereof, and designate which among them shall be appointed Chairman of such committee. Any member thereof may be removed by the person or persons authorized to appoint such member wherever in their judgment the best interests of the corporation shall be served by such removal. SECTION 3. TERM OF OFFICE. Each member of a committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting of the MEMBERS of the corporation and until his successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner terminated, or unless such member be removed from such committee, or unless such member shall cease to qualify as a member thereof. SECTION 4. CHAIRMAN. One member of each committee of the directors, and other committees as stated aforesaid, shall be appointed chairman by the PRESIDENT. SECTION 5. VACANCIES. Vacancies in the membership of any committee may be filled by appointments made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointments. SECTION 6. QUORUM. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the board of directors designating a committee, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority of the MEMBERS present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee. SECTION 7. RULES. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these by-laws or with rules adopted by the board of directors. 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 ARTICLE VII CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS SECTION 1. CONTRACTS. The board of directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation, in addition to the officers so authorized by these by-laws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. SECTION 2. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by Current Bylaws 14 Current Bylaws

421 422 423 424 425 426 resolution of the board of directors. In the absence of such determination by the board of directors, such instruments shall be signed by the treasurer or the president of the corporation. SECTION 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as the board of directors may select. SECTION 4. GIFTS. The board of directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution, gift, bequest or, devise for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the corporation. 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 ARTICLE VIII CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP. The board of directors may provide for the issuance of certificates evidencing membership in the corporation which shall be in such form as may be determined by the board. Such certificates shall be signed by the president and the treasurer and shall bear the corporation's seal which may be in facsimile. If any certificate shall be come lost, mutilated, or destroyed, a new certificate may be issued thereof upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors may determine. SECTION 2. ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES. When a member has been elected to membership and has paid any initiation fee and dues that may be required, a certificate of membership shall be issued in his name and delivered to him by the treasurer, if the board of directors shall have provided for the issuance of certificates of membership under the provisions of Section 1 of this article. 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 ARTICLE IX BOOKS AND RECORDS The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its MEMBERS, board of directors, and committees having any of the authority of the board of directors, and shall keep at the registered or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the MEMBES entitled to vote. All books and records of the corporation may be inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney for any proper purpose at any reasonable time. 447 448 449 450 ARTICLE X FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the calendar year. Current Bylaws 15 Current Bylaws

451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 ARTICLE XI DUES SECTION 1. ANNUAL DUES. The board of directors may determine from time to time the amount of the initiation fee, if any, and annual dues payable to the corporation by its MEMBERS of each class. SECTION 2. PAYMENT OF DUES. Dues shall be payable in advance on the first day of the first month of each year. Dues of a new member admitted after the first day of the first month of the year shall be required to pay the full annual dues and no proration shall be made for that part of the year in which the new member was not a member. SECTION 3. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. When any member of any class shall be in default in the payment of dues for a period of three months from the beginning of the period for which such dues became payable, his membership may thereupon be terminated by the board of directors in the manner provided in Article II of these by-laws. 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 ARTICLE XII SEAL The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words Corporate Seal, Illinois. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced, provided that the affixing of the corporate seal to an instrument shall not give additional force or effect, or change the construction thereof, and the use of the corporate seal is not mandatory. 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 ARTICLE XIII WAIVER OF NOTICE Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of these by-laws or under the provisions of the articles of incorporation or under the provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of the State of Illinois, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice thereof unless the person at the meeting objects to the holding of the meeting because proper notice was not given. 480 Current Bylaws 16 Current Bylaws

481 482 483 484 485 486 487 ARTICLE XIV AMENDMENTS The power to make, alter, amend or repeal the by-laws or adopt new by-laws shall be vested in the board of directors unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or the by-laws. Such action may be taken at a regular or special meeting for which written notice of the purpose shall be given. The by-laws may contain any provisions for the regulation and management of the affairs of the corporation not inconsistent with the laws or articles of incorporation. 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 ARTICLE XV INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS SECTION 1. INDEMNIFICATION OF EXPENSES. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment or settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was not unlawful. SECTION 2. INDEMNIFICATION IN DEFENSE. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation, partnership. joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best Current Bylaws 17 Current Bylaws

513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper. SECTION 3. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES WHERE DEFENSE SUCCESSFUL. To the extent that a director, officer, employee, or agent of a corporation has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in sections 1 and 2, or in defense of any action issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against exposes actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. SECTION 4. DETERMINATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Any indemnification under section 1 and 2 shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer. employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in sections 1 and 2. Such determination shall be aide (a) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c) by the MEMBERS. SECTION 5. EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this article. SECTION 6. NONEXCLUSIVE RIGHTS. The indemnification provided by this article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement vote of MEMBERS or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. SECTION 7. INSURANCE. The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person Current Bylaws 18 Current Bylaws

546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 in an such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of these sections. SECTION 8. REPORTING OF INDEMNIFICATION TO MEMBERS. If the corporation has paid indemnity or had advanced expense to a director, officer, employee or agent, the corporation shall report the indemnification or advance in writing to the MEMBERS with or before the notice of the next MEMBERS' meeting. SECTION 9. DEFINITION OF CORPORATION. References to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the surviving corporation, any merging corporation, including any corporation having merged with a merging corporation, absorbed in a merger which otherwise would have lawfully been entitled to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents. 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 ARTICLE XVI PRAYER All MEMBERS, CHAPLAIN MEMBERS or HONARY MEMBERS, are expected to show concern for each other through prayer. Prayers for the welfare of all veterans, and for MEMBERS in particular, and all those involved in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/ Commission on Certification and Accreditation. Current Bylaws 19 Current Bylaws