Knights of Columbus
Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Council 12376
By-Laws

ARTICLE I

Section 1.  This Council shall be known as Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Council, No. 12376, Knights of Columbus.

Section 2.  An initiation fee will be charged each new member except Priests and religious.  The amount is established by a resolution properly presented, seconded, and voted upon in accordance with Article IX, Section 1 regarding changing the By-Laws herein.  Presently, the initiation fee is $15.00 except that for applicants under 26 years of age it shall be $10.00 and for Priests and religious it shall be nil. One-half of the initia­tion fee shall accompany the application but it shall be refunded if the applicant is rejected.  The initiation fee will be applied to the annual dues of the candidate if the candidate is accepted. If the candidate is not accepted his initiation fee will be refunded.

Section 3.  Membership dues are to be paid in full prior to the commencement of the Council’s fiscal year.  The Council’s fiscal year is from July 1st through the following June 30th.  No member will be admitted to any council meeting if their dues are not paid.  The amount of dues to be paid is set by the membership at a rate sufficient to keep the Council financially sound.  Occasionally, it might be necessary to impose an assessment in lieu of raising the dues.  Both dues and assessments are determined by majority vote of the Council’s membership.  Both associate and insurance members shall pay the same amount of dues.  Students under 26 years of age shall pay one-half of the annual dues amount.  Honorary members shall pay one-third of the annual dues amount.  Honorary Life members, as well as, Priest and religious are exempt from paying dues and assessments.
  The process to set the amount of dues is as follows:

First, a budget must be prepared and presented to the membership showing why dues should be raised and how much it should be raised.

Second, a resolution must be drafted and presented to the membership at least 90 days before the vote on increasing membership dues.

Third, the resolution is to be read at 3 meetings prior to the vote with discussion to follow.
Fourth, the resolution is to be included in 3 Council newsletters prior to the vote.

Fifth, the vote must be by secret ballot.

Each member shall pay annual dues, the same to be payable quarterly in advance at the first regular meeting in January, April, July and October.  Currently, the annual dues of associate and insurance members shall be $30.00, which will include(s) $5.00 for .the state vocation fund, excepting insured members under 26 years of age whose dues shall be one-­half of that sum, honorary members who shall pay $10.00, and honorary life members who shall pay noth­ing. Except as above stated, the dues of associate and insurance members shall be the same.

Section 4. The officers shall receive annual compensation, payable in quarterly installments at the end of each quarter, as follows:

The Financial Secretary: From the Council shall be paid an amount equal to eight per cent of the moneys collected on account of dues from both insurance and associate members.  , payable in quarterly installments at the end of each quarter Such amount is to be paid after to close of the fiscal year and filing of the semi-annual audit of the Council’s financial affairs.

 ARTICLE II - Elections

Section 1. The annual election of officers shall take place at a regular meeting held between May 15 to and including June 15. Not less than two months before the annual election the Grand Knight shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three who shall prepare a slate of candidates for the elective Council offices. This slate shall be presented to the Council not later than the regu­lar business meeting preceding the meeting at which annual elections are to take place. Other nominations may be made from the floor and nominations may not be closed until the election meeting has convened and the members are ready to ballot.

Section 2. The election of officers shall be by ballot. A majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to elect; except that where several of equal degree are to be cho­sen, a majority shall not be necessary, but all shall be voted for on one ballot and no ballot containing names of more or less candidates than there are such offices to be voted for shall be counted, and those receiving the high­est number of votes shall be declared elected in the order of the number of votes received.

Section 3. The Grand Knight shall appoint two members to act as Tellers. After all who are entitled to do so have voted, the ballot shall be declared closed and the Tellers shall then proceed to count the votes in full view of the Council. One of the Tellers shall examine each ballot singly and pass the same to his associate, who shall read aloud the name or names written or printed on all legal ballots. The Recorder shall tally the same and the result thereof shall be announced by the presiding officer.

Section 4. Each officer elected must qualify and fill the office to which he is chosen, with or without installation, at the first regular meeting in the month of July succeed­ing his election, unless excused by a vote of the Council, and must present himself for installation at the time specified in the notice issued by or through the State Deputy or District Deputy, unless excused by such offi­cer. Otherwise such office shall e considered vacant.

Section 5. Vacancies in elective offices shall be filled, after notice to the members, by election at the regular busi­ness meeting next succeeding the regular meeting at which the vacancy was created.

ARTICLE III - Officers

Section 1. Only members who are in good standing and who have been initiated in the first three Degrees of the Order shall be eligible to hold office in this Council.  No member shall hold more than one office at the same time.

Section 2. The elective officers shall be as follows: Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Chancellor, Recorder, Treasurer, Advocate, Warden, Inside Guard, Outside Guard (two Outside Guards may be elected) and Board of Trustees.

Section 3.  The appointive officers shall be as follows: Financial Secretary, Lecturer, and Chaplain.

 
Section 4. At the last regular business meeting in June of each year the Council shall determine the amount of the bond to be given by the Treasurer and Financial Secretary in addition to the bond furnished by the Supreme Council, and the Treasurer and Financial Secretary shall not take office or be installed or receive any money or property of the Council until they have fur­nished such bond and the same has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The premium on said bond shall be paid by the Council.

Section 5. The Council Officers shall perform the duties required of them by the Laws and Rules of the Order and these By-Laws and such other duties as the Council may direct.

Section 6. Except when notice of applications shall be published as provided by Section 110 of the Laws and Rules, it shall be the duty of the Grand Knight, as early as practicable before each regular meeting, to file with the Recorder a list of candidates to be balloted upon at such meeting.

Section 7. At the end of each semiannual period the Board of Trustees shall meet and audit the several books of this Council and shall in each January and July make a full report of their findings, including the receipts and dis­bursements of the moneys of this Council for the previ­ous semiannual period, the balance on hand to the credit of each of the various funds at the end of each semian­nual period, and the assets and liabilities of this Council. The Grand Knight shall issue the call for such meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Section 8. Where a member ipso facto forfeits his mem­bership the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary shall immediately notify the Supreme Secretary of such forfei­ture and shall immediately send notice in writing to the member, including the date and the reason therefore. In those cases relating to ipso facto forfeiture for failure to pay Council dues, such notice shall not be sent to the Supreme Secretary or to the member until an officer or a member of the Conservation Retention Committee shall contact the member and endeavor to have him retain his membership.

Section 9. The Recorder shall file all reports in a filing book or an equivalent book to be provided for that purpose and the same shall be preserved as a part of the records of this the Council.

ARTICLE IV - Meetings

Section 1. Meetings of the Council shall be held in accordance with the consensus of the majority of its membership.  Until changed the meetings of the Council shall be held on the second and third fourth Monday of each month. The first meet­ing of each month shall be an officers meeting and the second meeting each month shall be a regular business meeting. All meetings shall commence at 7:30 P.M.  Twelve members shall constitute a quorum at business meetings.

Section 2. All meetings of the Council shall be presided over by the Grand Knight, who will ascertain from the Warden if all present are in possession possessed of the current membership card.

Section 3. The order of business and procedure at regular business meetings of this Council shall conform to Section 125 of the Laws of the Order. [See inside back cover.]

Section 4. Special business meetings shall be convened as follows:
By vote of the Council at a preceding regular business meeting; by direction of the Grand Knight; by the Grand Knight upon the written request of seven members, which request shall state the object of the meeting. Due notice of special business meetings and their purpose shall be given to each member in the usual way and no other business shall be transacted at any such meeting.

Section 5. The following shall be the order of business and procedure at special business meetings:
                 1.   Call to Order.
                 2.   Warden's Report on Membership Card.
                 3.   Prayer.
                 4.   Roll Call of Officers.
               *5.   Opening Ode.
                 6.   Special Order of Business.
                 7.   Prayer.
               *8.  Closing Ode.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of all officers to attend each meeting of the Council. In case of inability of any officer to attend a meeting, due notice shall be given to the Grand Knight and arrangements made to have all neces­sary books and papers in the possession of such officer at the meeting. If a Chair Officer is absent from a meet­ing, the presiding officer shall designate a member to act for him. If an elected officer, without reasonable excuse approved by the Grand Knight, is absent from three con­secutive regular business meetings, the Grand Knight may report this fact to the District Deputy for such action under Section 92(b) of the Laws of the Order as the District Deputy deems appropriate.

Section 7.  In the absence or inability of the Grand Knight the Deputy Grand Knight shall preside and he shall exe­cute all of the duties of the Grand Knight. In the absence of the Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight the duty of presiding shall devolve on the other officers of the Council in the order in which they are named in Section 126 of the Laws of the Order.

Section 8.  If any meeting shall fall on a legal holiday said meeting shall be held the following day unless the Council, by vote at a previous business meeting, annuls such meeting or fixes a different date for such meeting within the month for which it is scheduled. as soon as possible depending upon the availability of the meeting room facility.   In the event a meeting has to be rescheduled for emergency situations or any other reason, the Grand Knight shall have the authority to reschedule said meeting with the majority approval of his Officers. 

Section 9. The words "born and unborn" shall be added to the end of the Pledge of Allegiance at all meetings and gatherings.

ARTICLE V - Balloting for Candidates

Section 1. The Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight shall privately inspect the ballot box, both before and after the ballot, and the former shall announce the result. Balloting of candidates shall be in charge of the Warden who shall distribute ballots to all members present. He shall place the ballot box on the salutation table and take his place six feet there from. He shall then request that all officers vote and after they have voted, he shall request the members to vote. They shall advance in single file and deposit their ballots, but no member shall pass the Warden until the member preceding him has voted. After all who desire to do so have voted, the Warden shall exhibit the ballot box to the Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight and they shall count the votes. If the num­ber of negative ballots cast does not exceed one-half of the members present, the applicant shall be declared elected,· otherwise rejected. The exact number of nega­tive ballots shall not be stated. If more than one candi­date is to be balloted for at a meeting, the Grand Knight may announce that the first ballot shall be a general one upon all the candidates, and that if not more than one-­half of those present shall cast negative ballots upon such general ballot no other ballots shall· be taken. If such announcement is made, and not more than one-half negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, all can­didates so balloted for shall be declared elected. If more than one-half negative ballots are cast upon said general ballot, then an individual ballot shall be taken on each candidate.

ARTICLE VI - Committees

Section 1. In addition to the Committees provided for in the Laws and Rules of the Order, the following Service Program Directors shall be appointed:

(a) Program Director whose goal will be the direct involvement and personal commitment of the Council and membership in a program that will establish the Knights of Columbus as truly a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization.

(b) Membership Director to have supervision of a com­prehensive program of recruitment and retention for his Council.

(c) Director of Church Activities to promote a program that will enable the membership to respond to the con­stant call for the active participation of the laity in the work of the Church.

(d) Director of Community Activities whose responsi­bility it will be to make the Council aware of its life within the community and to develop programs that will be of service to the community.
 
(e) Director of Council Activities who will be con­cerned with the promotion of brotherhood through ath­letic, cultural and· social programs. Additionally, he will be responsible for the development of public relations in the Council.

(f) Director of Youth Activities to provide the youth in the community with the means and the opportunity to become personally committed and involved in meeting the challenges of our times. He will also be responsible for the promotion of the Order's junior organization, the Columbian Squires.
 
(g) Director of Family Life Activities to promote activ­ities and programs within the Council that would strengthen and support the family life of its members.

(h) Such other Committees as may be required by these By-Laws.

Section 2. Except as herein provided, all Committees shall be appointed by the Grand Knight and the first person named on the Committee shall act as Chairman thereof. Standing Committees shall serve for the current fiscal year or until their successors have been appointed. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VII - Funds

Section 1. All moneys obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name of the Council or under its direction or authority, shall be considered Council Funds and shall be forthwith deliv­ered to the Financial Secretary, who shall give his official receipt therefore and who shall report at the close of each meeting the amounts so received and from what source and shall deliver the same to the Council Treasurer and take his receipt therefore.

Section 2.  The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys received from the Financial Secretary in a bank to the credit of the Council.  Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check signed by the any two of the following Officers: Treasurer, Grand Knight, or Deputy Grand Knight. The depository bank shall be furnished with a copy of this section

Section 3.  No money in excess of $500.00 $200.00 shall be paid or transferred from the Treasury of this Council, except such moneys as the Council is called upon to regularly pay for its current expenses and as provided by the Laws of the Order or for purposes approved by the Supreme Council or Board of Directors, unless by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular busi­ness meeting held subsequent to a regular business meet­ing at which notice in writing of a resolution of intention to pay or transfer such money and the purposes and amount to be paid or transferred shall have been given and regularly read.

Section 4. All bills shall be presented to the Recorder and by him read to the Council before being referred to the Board of Trustees. In case a bill is not approved by the Board of Trustees, it shall be referred back to the Council for action.  All bills shall be presented to the Financial Secretary for proper handling.  The Financial Secretary will prepare and sign, if appropriate, a warrant voucher to be presented to the Grand Knight for his approval.  Upon the Grand Knights approval the warrant voucher is then presented to the Treasurer for his handling.  The Treasurer will prepare a check.  The Treasurer will then sign the check and if less than $500.00 will present it to the Grand Knight for his signature.  Once the check is properly signed, both the check and the carbon copy of the approved warrant voucher is then returned to the Financial Secretary.  The Financial Secretary will then mail the payment and appropriate documentation for the disbursement to the proper party.  If the transaction is over $500.00 and not made payable to either the K of C Supreme or the Florida State Council the warrant voucher is required additional approval by the majority of the membership at a regular business meeting.  The Treasurer is to give a report of all disbursements at each regular business meeting.
 
Section 5.  The membership shall determine by majority vote how the net proceeds of all Council fund raising activities shall be appropriated.  Until changed, the current appropriated activities are (1) Building Fund, (2) Church Fund, (3) Brother in Need Fund, (4) General Operating Fund, and (5) from time to time various Charities.

The current percentages are as follows:

               Building Fund                                                                   10%
               Church Fund                                                                    10%
               Brother in Need Fund                                                      5%        
               General Operating Fund & various Charities                      75%

Brother in Need Fund
Financial assistance shall be provided a Brother in Need in an amount to be determined by the Relief Committee depending upon the Brother’s circumstances, usually not to exceed $500 per situation.  The Brother in Need fund is funded principally with the allocated proceeds of the Council’s fund raising activities at a rate to be determined by the majority of the Council’s membership (the rate is presently 5% of the net profit of the designated fund raising activities).  From time to time additional funds may be appropriated by majority vote of the Council’s membership at a regular business meeting.   The sum of $200.00 shall be paid from the General Fund to the Financial Secretary and shall be known as the Relief Fund. The Grand Knight, Financial Secretary and Treasurer shall constitute a Relief Committee. They shall investigate the case of any brother who is reported to be in distress or in need of relief and if in their judgment the case is one deserving of assistance, they shall have power to draw from this Relief Fund such reasonable sum of money to afford assistance as the circumstances of the case may require.

Building Fund

Section 6. The net proceeds of all Council fund raising activities to be allocated as follows.
Building Council General
Operating Acct.
                          1ST  Year                                      10%90%
                          2ND  Year                                     10%                                       90%
                          3RD  Year                                     15%                                       85%
                          4TH  Year                                     20%80
                         5TH  Year & all thereafter               25%                                       75%

Council fund raising activities do not include State or Account Supreme Council activities, such as the "Handicapped Retarded Citizens Drive."

Section 6.  Council delegates to the State Convention will have the following expenses paid by the Council for each delegate and their guest.

ARTICLE VIII - Funerals, Etc.

Section 1.  On the death of a member in good standing the Memorial Committee shall give notice to the mem­bers and, if time permits, shall request them to assemble and pay their respects to the memory of the deceased at a time and place to be indicated in such notice.
 
Section 2. When notice of the death of a member in good standing is received the Memorial Committee shall forward to the family of the deceased a message of condo­lence on behalf of the Council and the Memorial Committee shall arrange to have five Masses said for the repose of the soul of the deceased.
Section 3. The Memorial Committee shall arrange for the celebration during the month of November of each year of a Mass for the repose of the souls of the deceased members and shall cause five days' notice to be given to the members of the time and place of such Mass. The Mass shall be celebrated by the Chaplain unless he is indisposed.
Section 4. The Council shall receive Holy Communion in a body during the Easter period, at a time and place to be determined by vote of the Council.

ARTICLE IX – Miscellaneous
 
Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-­thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regu­lar business meeting held subsequent to a regular busi­ness meeting at which a resolution in writing providing for such amendment shall have been read and notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given to the members in writing or in the Council publication at least five days prior to the second meeting.

Section 2. Procedure and debate shall be in accordance with the Laws and Rules of the Supreme Council, the Board of Directors, these By-Laws and the Rules of Parliamentary Law known as "Robert's Rules of Order".