East Shore - Post 196

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
DEPARTMENT OF CONNECTICUT
EAST SHORE UNIT 196
25 MERWIN AVENUE
MILFORD, CT 06460
SEPTEMBER 2025
PREAMBLE
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United states of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations during all wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to participate in and contribute to the accomplishments of the aims and purposes of the American Legion; and to consecrate and sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the American Legion Auxiliary, East Shore Unit 196, Department of Connecticut.
ARTICLE II – NATURE
Section 1. The American Legion Auxiliary is a civilian organization.
Section 2. The American Legion Auxiliary shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles, nor for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. No candidate for the nomination or election to, or no incumbent of, and remunerative elective public office shall hold any elective office or any appointive remunerative office in the American Legion Auxiliary or in any Department or Unit thereof, provided that members of the unit or department standing or special committees shall not be affected.
Section 3. Each member shall perform their full duty as a citizen according to their own conscience and understanding.
ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION
Section 1. There shall be but one unit for the Post.
Section 2. This Unit shall function in accordance with National and Department Constitution and Bylaws and such standing rules as shall be prescribed by the District.
ARTICLE IV – ELIGIBILITY
Section 1. Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to parents, spouses, children (both biological and adopted), grandchildren and siblings of members of the American Legion and all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during any of the following periods: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918; December 7, 1941 to Cessation of Hostilities as determined by Congress of the United States. All dates inclusive, or who being citizens of the United States at the time of their entry therein, served in active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during any of said periods, and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge, and those women and men who of their own right are eligible for member in the American Legion.
Section 2. There shall be two classes of membership: Senior and Junior. a). Senior membership shall be composed of members over the age of eighteen (18) years, provided however, that a spouse under the age of eighteen (18) years, who is eligible under Section 1 of this Article, shall be classed as a Senior member. b). Junior membership shall consist of that group under the age of eighteen (18) years, whose activities shall be supervised by the Senior membership. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (18) years, Junior members shall automatically be admitted into active membership with full privileges. c.) Membership dues from both classes shall be paid annually.
Section 3. A member of the American Legion Auxiliary may be expelled or suspended from membership, or disciplined, for actions inimical to the best interest of the American Legion or the American Legion Auxiliary. The procedure for expulsion shall follow that outlined by the national organization in the Unit handbook.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the American Legion Auxiliary, East Shore Unit 196 shall be as follows:
President Senior Vice President Junior Vice President Secretary Treasurer Chaplain Historian
Sergeant-at-Arms Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Three (3) Members at Large
Section 2. A Nomination Committee will consist of a minimum of three (3) members in good standing that will be chosen by the President in April; voting will be at the June meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor by members in good standing.
Section 3. The Obligation of Officers shall take place annually in June, right after the election. The Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed by the newly elected President.
Section 4. The administrative powers of this Unit shall be vested with the Unit Executive Committee, composed of all the Officers, Junior Past President and three (3) members at large.
Section 5. All Officers’ dues for the ensuing year must be paid into the Department before the Unit Installation.
Section 6. Delegates and Alternates shall be elected to the Department Conventions at the June meeting.
ARTICLE VI – FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in good standing present at a regular Unit meeting, provided the proposed amendments shall have been read at the previous regular meeting.
Section 2. Proposed amendments must be in writing and presented to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee at least two (2) weeks before the next regular meeting.
Section 3. This Constitution shall automatically be amended to conform to the National and Department Constitutions and Bylaws and standing rules of the American Legion Auxiliary.
ARTICLE VII – REVENUE
Section 1. The revenue of the Unit shall be derived from the annual membership dues and from such other sources as may be determined by the Unit.
Section 2. The District assessment of the Unit must be paid annually. The present assessment is $29.75.
Section 3. There shall be no salaried Officers of the Unit.
Section 4. Annual dues of this Unit shall be no less than $35 to begin September 1, 2026, paid annually or for life and shall include the Department National per capita. Dues will be increased to coincide with any National or Department increases.
BYLAWS AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY EAST SHORE UNIT 196
September 2025
ARTICLE 1 – OFFICERS (Powers and Duties)
Section 1. President The President shall be the Chief Executive of the Unit, and shall be an ex-officio member on all Unit Committees, and Chairperson of the Unit Executive Committee; shall preside at all meetings of the Unit and the Executive Committee; shall enforce strict observance of the Constitution and Bylaws; appoint chair people thereof as deemed necessary; perform such other duties as custom and Parliamentary usage require; appoint all officers not otherwise provided for; attend monthly District meetings; and shall be an advisory head of all committees.
Section 2. Vice Presidents The Senior and Junior Vice Presidents, in order named, shall, when called upon, assist the President and in their absence perform their duties and shall succeed her/him in Office in case of death, resignation, or removal. a). The Senior Vice President shall also be in charge of the Membership of the Unit. Their duties shall be as specified in the Unit Hand Book. b). The Junior Vice President shall also be in charge of Ways and Means. Their duties shall be to institute and promote methods of fund raising, and shall choose their own committee and shall advise the President and Secretary accordingly.
Section 3. Secretary It shall be the duties of the Secretary to record all proceedings and transactions at all meetings of the Unit; to keep a record of names and addresses of the members showing the sources of their eligibility; to send out such notices as are directed by the President; to conduct the correspondence sent and received; and perform other duties as shall be required by the President. Section 4. Treasurer It shall be the duties of the Unit Treasurer to receive all monies belong to the Unit and to account for the same, and shall be bonded and the amount shall be determined by the Unit Executive Committee. The premium of the afore said bond to be paid by the Unit. The Treasurer shall pay all orders signed by the designated signatories and shall retain these orders in their vouchers and the books having to be made available at all meetings; shall keep account of all receipts and expenditures and making such other reports as may be deemed necessary by the Unit Executive Committee. a). All checks disbursing Unit funds must be signed by either of the designated signatories.
b). The Treasurer’s books shall be audited by three (3) members of the Unit in August and in case of any discrepancy immediate action to be taken. c). For purposes of auditing, all banking records and correspondence will be mailed to the Auxiliary’s home address. Copies of each bank statement are to be included with the treasures monthly report. Section 5. Historian It shall be the duty of the Unit Historian to compile historical records of the Unit and to report as required. Section 6. Sergeant-at-Arms It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to maintain order at the meetings of the Unit and such duties as may be prescribed by the President. Section 7. Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms It shall be the duty of the Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms to assist the Sergeant-at-Arms in the duty of their office and to perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the President. Section 8. Chaplain It shall be the duty of the Chaplain to offer a prayer at the opening and closing of each meeting in accord with rules of American Auxiliary as prescribed in the Manual of Ceremonies and perform such other duties as the President may direct. Section 9. Executive Committee It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to govern and manage the Unit between regular meetings. All proceedings of this Committee are to be reported to the Unit at the next meeting. They shall have general supervision and control of all property belonging to the Unit and shall exercise the power given to it in the Constitution. a). Any vacancy existing in the Executive Committee for any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be filled by a majority vote of the body. A person so elected shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member whom they succeed. b). One third (1/3) of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. c). The Executive Committee shall meet as needed. Special meetings may be called by order of the President or on written request of at least three (3) members of the Executive Committee. Section 10. It shall be the duty of all Executive Committee Officers and all Unit members to turn all permanent records and all monies over to the proper officers. Section 11. Finance Committee Finance Committee will consist of the Junior Past President and two (2) members appointed by the President to comprise a yearly budget that shall be submitted at the September meeting.
ARTICLE II – MEETINGS Section 1. The regular meetings of the Auxiliary Unit 196 shall be the second Tuesday of each month. There will be no meeting in the months of July and August unless the President and/or the
Executive Committee feel a meeting is needed. Section 2. An annual meeting of this Unit shall be held at the meeting in June for the purpose of obligation of our new elected officers. New Officers may be installed at the same time as the Post Installation, when agreed upon by both Post and Unit; the Unit however may choose to be installed separately. An Installation is not necessary once the officers have been duly obligated. Section 3. Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Unit. ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP Section 1. There shall be two (2) classes of membership as specified in the Constitution. a). Senior b). Junior Section 2. Dues of all members shall be paid annually. These dues shall be fixed and demined by the Unit; they shall include Department and National per capita and shall be paid annually. a). A member failing to pay annual dues, including the Unit, Department and National assessments by January 31st, shall be classed as delinquent and shall be suspended from all membership privileges; provided, however, such suspended member shall be notified in writing of such suspension thereto. Payment of back dues, after suspension, shall reinstate such member to active membership. Any member delinquent to December 31st of the year of delinquency shall automatically be dropped from the rolls and may be reinstated only by paying all back dues or by reestablishing eligibility and making application as a new member. b). All elected officers must have their dues paid before installation. Section 3. No person shall be a member of this Unit who is at the same time a member of any other Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary. Section 4. Initiation of candidates is an important function of the Officers of the Unit. Under no circumstances should new members be taken into the American Legion Auxiliary without passing through this ceremony. a). Initiation of new members will take place at the October meeting and if needed May meeting. ARTICLE IV – ELECTIONS Section 1. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President and consist of an odd number, not less than three (3) and no more than five (5) members. Section 2. Election shall be by secret ballot unless there is only one candidate for that office and a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to elect. Members in good standing must be present to vote as there is no proxy voting.
ARTICLE V – DISCIPLINE Section 1. For any violation of the Unit, State or National Constitution or for any conduct improper and prejudicial to the welfare of the Auxiliary of the American Legion, any member may be expelled from membership or any Officer removed from office by two-thirds (2/3) vote of members in good standing that are present at a Unit meeting duly called for that purpose, and expulsion or removal to be binding only in the event that said member or Officer shall have been given at least fifteen (15) days notice, in writing, by the Unit Executive Committee, of the charges and the hearing thereon. Either party may have the right of appeal to the Department Executive Committee or its action thereon shall be final. The expense of said appeal shall be borne by the appellant. Section 2. Neither this Unit in the Department nor any member thereof shall openly campaign for any other Unit member who is running for public office thereof without the consent of a Department Executive Committee. Section 3. Liabilities No member or group or members shall subject this Unit to liability without authorization of the Unit. Section 4. Any Unit officer who misses three (3) consecutive meeting without good cause shall be replaced by a member as determined by a majority vote of the body of members in good standing that are present at the meeting. ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in good standing present at a Unit meeting provided amendments shall have been read at the previous regular meeting. Section 2. Proposed amendments must be in writing and presented to the Bylaws Committee at least two (2) weeks before the next regular meeting. Section 3. These Bylaws shall automatically be amended to conform to the National and Department Constitution and Bylaws and standing rules of the American Legion Auxiliary. ARTICLE VII – POLICY Section 1. The President or the Secretary or a Representative of the Unit may be sent to special occasions as warranted. Others attending dinners, etc. to be paid only on special occasions as deemed necessary and if so approved by the membership. a). The retiring President shall be presented with a gift and/or taken out to dinner if the treasury allows.
Section 2. Monies from the Poppy Fund may be used for the Christmas Gift shop at the V.A. Hospital or any other Veterans programs. These funds are for Veterans projects only. Section 3. When initiated, each new member shall receive a copy of our Constitution and Bylaws. Section 4. Officers will be present at all meetings. If unable to attend, their reports are to be submitted in writing and given to the President or Secretary either by paper, email or fax. Section 5. A member in good standing who cannot pay their dues because of hardship can, upon notifying the Executive Committee, be taken under consideration. The Executive Committee has the power by majority vote to arrange a means of reinstatement. The members must have completed the following to earn this hardship: 1. The member must have attended 60% percent of (6) meetings during the membership year. 2. Member must be in good standing for two (2) years.
Section 6. The Unit shall request an annual “Wish List” from the Post and membership will choose/vote on what to donate to. Section 7. The financial policy of this Unit shall follow the District and Department guidelines with all obligations paid by the Unit. No checks shall be issued or written between meetings or by a telephone or email vote. During the months of July and August when the Unit does not meet only checks in Memorial donation for a member or a member of their family may be written by the Treasurer after obtaining permission of the executive board and finance chairman with the amount not to exceed $50 for a member's passing and $25 for a family member.