DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
We, the veterans of the 11th Armored Cavalry
Regiment who fought in
the war in Vietnam and Cambodia, who embraced through sacrifice and service to country the
most fundamental and cherished bonds of our democracy, reaffirm that commitment to spirit
and ideals, accepting it as the solemn responsibility of our survival to bear the burden
of what has been, so that tragedy once endured can never be forgotten.
And so do we resolve that the true measure of our worth as citizens, as
veterans, and patriots, be found in our willingness to draw from, and abide
by these strengths and convictions born of heritage and experience.
To honor with dignity the sacred memory of our war dead, and so in
dignity, insure that the lasting legacy of the fallen is responsibility
toward, not exploitation of their sacrifice.
To honor and assist our wounded and disabled brothers who paid the
price
of patriotism in sustaining physical or psychological injury while with the
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment by pursuit of legitimate claims.
To hold that a sacred and binding brotherhood exists between the men of
the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment who risked their lives at the request of
their country, and this bond will hold true till end.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY'S VETERANS
OF VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA
Adopted September 6, 1986
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1
OFFICES
The headquarters of the 11th Armored Cavalry's Veterans of Vietnam and
Cambodia, hereinafter referred to as 11 ACVVC, shall be located in the State
of Texas, vicinity of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. 11 ACVVC may have
other offices either within or without the State of Texas, as the
Officers and Board of Directors may determine.
The 11 ACVVC shall have and continuously maintain an office in the
State
of Texas, and it may be the residence of an Officer or Director. The address
of such office may be changed from time to time by the Officers and Directors.
SECTION 2
PURPOSES
The purposes of the 11 ACVVC are:
A. To help foster, encourage, and promote the improvement of the condition of our brothers
who served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, during the war.
B. To provide assistance to our membership through understanding and
utilizing whatever means are available to add enrichment to their lives.
C. To continue the camaraderie and brotherhood displayed while in Vietnam and Cambodia
through reunions, memorials and through channels of communication between our membership.
SECTION 3
MEMBERSHIP
A. Membership in the 11 ACVVC is open to any veteran who served with or was attached to
the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam and/or the Kingdom of
Cambodia.
B. Membership is also open to the surviving spouse, children, and the parents of our 767
men killed in action or missing in action.
C. The above qualified membership will pay dues set by the Officers and Board of Directors
of 11 ACVVC, in advance, and conforming to, and complying with this Constitution.
The Officers and Board of Directors of 11 ACVVC shall have the right to set rules
for waiver of dues in situations it deems appropriate. Members shall file a Form DD
214 with the 11 ACVVC.
SECTION 4
MEETINGS
A. The separate Officers and Board of Directors and membership of 11 ACVVC shall meet once
annually and more often as deemed appropriate by the Officers and Board of Directors and
members on a date at a time and place for the purpose of electing Officers and Board of
Directors, necessary committees, and for the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
B. Notice of the annual meeting shall be delivered by mail to each member
entitled to vote at such meeting at least two (2) months prior to the meeting
date.
C. The presence of members in person, of the members entitled to vote at any meeting shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.
D. Each individual member shall be entitled to one vote on all business
submitted to the membership for vote. Votes must be cast in person in a
manner designated by the Officers and Board of Directors of the 11 ACVVC, and except as
otherwise provided by this Constitution, or the rules, resolutions, or procedures of the
11 ACVVC, the vote of majority of the individual members present and entitled to vote on a
matter at a meeting at which a quorum for the transaction of any business is present,
shall be necessary for the adoption thereof.
E. A written summary of the annual meeting shall be submitted to membership via mailings,
or by newsletter of the events and goings on of the annual meeting, prepared and submitted
by the Secretary of 11 ACVVC, or his designee, and not later than 90 days after the annual
meeting takes place.
SECTION 5
OFFICERS
A. The Officers of 11 ACVVC shall be the President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Directors, and such other officers or board
members as the Officers and members may, from time to time, deem advisable.
B. The Officers and Board of Directors of 11 ACVVC shall be elected by the
members at the annual membership meeting. The Officers shall hold office for a
term of two years. Each Officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and
has qualified. An Officer may succeed himself no more than two (2) consecutive
terms. A vacancy in any office due to death,
resignation, refusal, or inability to serve shall be filled, by direction of
the remaining officers for the expired term thereof.
C. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of 11 ACVVC and shall, subject
to the direction of the Officers, supervise and control all of the
business affairs and property of 11 ACVVC, and shall see that all orders and
resolutions of the Officers are carried into effect. The President shall
preside at all meetings of the members and shall appoint all chairpersons of
committees. The President shall be a member of all committees.
D. 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, and be
subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice-President shall
perform such other duties as the Officers may from time to time, prescribe.
E. The Secretary shall be responsible for extracting the proper information
to verify eligibility for membership from Form DD 214 or other suitable
documentation, i.e.…. Orders, medals, awards, etc. Documents will be
destroyed after extractions or returned upon request.
F. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the annual meeting and
other meetings in a book kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties
for the 11 ACVVC, when required.
G. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of
the 11 ACVVC, in any way generated, collected, or obtained in connection with any 11 ACVVC
activity, and the Treasurer shall be responsible for such funds and securities and
the receipt and disbursement thereof. He shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to 11 ACVVC, and shall deposit all
monies and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit of 11 ACVVC in such
insured depositories as may be designated by the Officers.
H. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of 11 ACVVC as may be ordered by at least a
majority of the elected Officers and Board of Directors, taking
proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Officers and
the membership, at its annual meeting, or when the Officers may require an
accounting of the transactions as Treasurer and the financial condition of 11
ACVVC, and a full financial report, based on the books and the accounts
audited annually by a certified or other public accountant, or an auditing
committee.
I. The Board of Directors shall consist of at least three (3) and not more
than five (5) members of 11 ACVVC. All Officers are considered Board
members. The Board of Directors will be the governing body of 11 ACVVC and shall be
responsible of the direction of 11 ACVVC and shall enact all
legislation voted on by the membership of 11 ACVVC. The term of office shall be two
(2) years as voted on at each annual meeting. Board members may serve concurrent
yeas as may be voted upon.
SECTION 6
COMMITTEES
A. The President shall appoint the Chairperson of the following standing
committees: Membership, Historical, Reunion and Area Representative
committees and such other committees as the President deems desirable. The members
of such committees shall be individual members of 11 ACVVC, appointed by the Chairperson
of such committee.
i. The Membership committee shall receive and approve applications from
individuals wishing to become members of 11 ACVVC. The Membership committee shall
establish procedures by which a member's status may be authenticated.
ii. The Historical committee shall be responsible for collecting historical
data of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment just prior to, during and the
departure of the unit from the country of Vietnam and Kingdom of Cambodia. The Historical
committee shall be responsible for the determination of authenticity of the data and the
cataloging of such.
iii. The Reunion committee will be composed of members from which the years' reunion will
be held with others as chosen by the members. The purpose of the Reunion committee
is to plan and execute all facets needed to get its membership to the site, conduct
meetings and provide entertainment as decided upon.
iv. The Area Representative committee will be composed of members from their respective
state whose function is to locate and communicate with former members of the 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment, its parents, surviving spouse, and children of our killed -in-action
(KIA) or missing-in-action (MIA) and to promote the good name that we established while in
Vietnam and Cambodia.
B. The members of
the Standing Committees and others shall serve
for a period of two (2) years terminating at the annual meeting of
members when the term of President who appointed the Chairperson
of the respective committee terminates. Any member of any committee may be
re-elected or re-appointed to additional terms. By vote of the majority of its
members, any chairperson may be removed from any committee in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution, and the rules, procedures and directives of 11 ACVVC.
SECTION 7
FINANCE
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, and the rules,
resolutions, and procedures of 11 ACVVC, funds shall be raised as
necessary to operate in such a manner as the organization deems
appropriate.
SECTION 8
FISCAL YEAR
The 11 ACVVC shall operate from January 01 through December 31
of each year.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1
FINANCE
A. The 11 ACVVC shall conform to all applicable federal, state and
Local laws and with this Constitution, the rules and directives of the
organization. 11 ACVVC shall file an annual financial report to be
distributed to the Officers and to the membership via letter or placed in the
next issue of the newsletter. The format is to be specified by the
organization. This report is due to the membership at the end of the first
quarter of each year.
B. 11
ACVVC shall obtain an audit prepared in accordance with
normal accounting practices, by a committee appointed by the Officers
and Board of Directors of 11 ACVVC, not less than annually.
SECTION 2
RULES OF ORDER
The rules of order at any meeting of 11 ACVVC shall be in
accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised.
SECTION 3
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution or provisions thereof, may be altered, amended or
repealed, or new provisions added thereto, by the affirmative vote of
the majority of the members present at the annual meeting.
Compiled on August 08, 1987 by:
/s/
Martin J. Ognibene
Secretary, 11 ACVVC
Accepted on August 08, 1987 by:
/s/
Ollie W. Pickral
President, 11 ACVVC
Officers
& US
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