BY-LAWS
GRAND PUP TENT
OF
MILITARY ORDER OF THE COOTIES
OF THE UNITED STATES
2008
INDEX
ARTICLE
I
INFORMATION AND
NAME.....................................................................................
1
ARTICLE
II
GOVERNING BODY.................................................................................................. 1
ARTICLE
III
COMPOSITION OF THE
GRAND PUP TENT........................................................... 2
ARTICLE
IV
MEETINGS................................................................................................................. 3
ARTICLE
V
QUORUM................................................................................................................... 3
ARTICLE
VI
OFFICERS.................................................................................................................. 4
ARTICLE
VII
ELECTION AND TERM
OF GRAND OFFICERS....................................................... 5
ARTICLE
VIII
DUTIES OF GRAND
SHAVETAILS........................................................................... 5
ARTICLE
IX
VACANCIES............................................................................................................... 5
ARTICLE
X
VOTING 5
ARTICLE
XI
MEMBERSHIP............................................................................................................ 6
ARTICLE
XII
COMMITTEES............................................................................................................ 6
ARTICLE
XIII
TAX ..................................................................................................................... 6
ARTICLE
XIV
AMENDMENTS.......................................................................................................... 7
ARTICLE
XV
PROPERTY................................................................................................................. 8
ARTICLE
XVI
COOTIE POLICE
FORCE........................................................................................... 8
ARTICLE
XVII
AREAS 9
BY-LAWS
SUBMITTED........................................................................................... 10
BY-LAW
14 - AREA DESIGNATIONS..................................................................... 10
BY-LAW
15 - GRAND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE..................................................... 11
BY‑LAWS OF THE GRAND PUP
TENT OF
MILITARY ORDER OF THE
COOTIE OF THE
as amended to and adopted ______________,
2008,
By‑Laws, Rules, and Regulations
Governing the Military Order of the Cootie.
GRAND OF
ARTICLE I
INFORMATION
AND NAME
Section
1. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 401, By‑Laws of the Supreme
Pup Tent, Military Order of the Cootie of the
Section
2. This State Organization of the Grand of California shall at all
times remain under the jurisdiction of and be governed according to the
Constitution and By‑Laws of the Supreme Pup Tent, Military Order of the
Cootie of the United States.
Section
3. The Motto shall be:
"COMRADESHIP and INDUSTRY".
Section
4. The Slogan shall be:
"CLOSER THAN A BROTHER AND BUSIER THAN A BEE."
ARTICLE II
GOVERNING BODY
Section
1. For the purpose of government and for ceremonial purposes this
Grand Pup Tent shall be governed by a Grand Scratch subordinate to the Supreme
Scratch.
Section
2. For the purpose of administration to and for the Grand of
California during the interim between Grand Scratches, a body to be known as
the Grand Council of Administration will be set up and administer all business
pertaining to the Grand Pup Tent.
Section
3. The Grand Council of Administration shall consist of the
following:
A.
Supreme Commander, Past Supreme Commanders who are members of Pup Tents
within the jurisdiction of the Grand Pup Tent of California.
B. The
Grand Commander, all Past Grand Commanders of California, all Past Provisional
Grand Commanders (these include all the different Grands we have had in
C. The Grand Council of
Administration shall consist of the Commander, all Past Grand Commanders in
good standing (unless otherwise provided for by Grand Pup Tent By-Laws), Senior
Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Adjutant, Quartermaster, Judge Advocate,
Chief of Staff, Inspector, Shirt Reader, Provost Marshal, Surgeon, Jimmy Legs,
Hospital Chairman, Chaplain, Historian, VAVSR, and all Pup Tent Seam Squirrels
under the jurisdiction of the Grand of California.
ARTICLE
III
COMPOSITION OF THE
GRAND PUP TENT
Section
1. Is amended to read: The
Grand Scratch shall consist of:
A. The
Supreme Commander, provided the Supreme Commander is within the Grand of
California, a member in good standing in the Supreme Commander=s own Pup Tent.
B. The
Grand Commander and all Past Grand Commanders of California, who have served a
full term of one year or who have been elected to fill a vacancy and have
served to the end of the term, so long as they remain in good standing in a Pup
Tent of the Grand of California. All
elected Grand Shavetails of the Grand Pup Tent, Grand Adjutant, Grand Chief‑of‑Staff,
Grand Inspector, Grand Shirt Reader, Grand Provost Marshal, Grand Jimmy Legs,
and Grand Hospital Chairman.
C. All
Pup Tent Seam Squirrels within the jurisdiction of the Grand Pup Tent. In the absence of the Seam Squirrel, the
Senior Vice Commander and in the absence of the Senior Vice Commander, the
Junior Vice Commander.
D.
Delegates as elected by their respective Pup Tents.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS
Section
1. GRAND SCRATCH: A Grand Scratch may be held on a date or dates,
prior to or after the regular State Convention, Veterans of Foreign Wars, as
may be selected by the Grand Council of Administration, Military Order of the
Cootie and such dates to be approved by the State Commander, Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
Section
2. GRAND COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION:
Shall meet in session not less than twice a year and at such times as
directed by the Grand Commander or by the Grand Council of Administration or as
the By‑Laws provide. Place of
meeting of Council of Administration shall be at the direction of the Grand
Commander unless otherwise specified by the Grand Council of
Administration.
ARTICLE V
QUORUM
Section
1. The minimum of delegates required at a Grand Scratch to constitute
a quorum shall not be less than one (1) delegate from the majority of the Pup
Tents present. The majority of the Grand
Council of Administration shall constitute a quorum, provided however, that
there shall be at least seven (7) members present consisting of four (4)
elected Shavetails of Grand.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section
1. All active third degree members, of the Military Order of the
Cootie, in good standing in a Pup Tent, provided however, that no member shall
hold two (2) elective offices at one time.
A Grand Pup Tent Shavetail, elected or appointed, and installed in
office, shall continue to hold office for the period for which elected, or
during the pleasure of the appointing power, provided the Shavetail remains in
good standing in the Pup Tent of which the Shavetail is a member.
Section
2. Is amended to read: The
officers of the Grand Pup Tent shall remain the same.
A.
Officers as compose the Local Pup Tent, with the addition of: A Chief‑of‑Staff,
an Inspector, Aide‑de‑Camps and six (6) each of Deputy Chief‑of‑Staff
and Deputy Inspectors. Grand Commander
may increase these appointments if the Grand Commander deems it necessary. All of these Shavetails shall affix the word
"Grand" to their title.
B.
Elective Shavetails: of the Grand Pup Tent shall be: a Commander, Senior
Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Quartermaster, Judge Advocate, Surgeon,
Chaplain, Historian .
C.
Appointive Shavetails: The Grand
Commander shall appoint the following Shavetails: Adjutant, Chief‑of‑Staff,
Inspector, Shirt Reader, Provost Marshal, Jimmy Legs, Hospital Chairman, VFW
Booster Chairman, Visitation Chairman and Deputy Chiefs‑of‑Staff
and Deputy Inspectors .
D. The
Grand Commander may appoint other such officers if the Grand Commander deems it
necessary.
Section
3. Election and Installation:
Pup Tent Shavetails shall be elected and installed between the 15th day
of January and the last day of March, other dates only by recommendation of the
Grand Commander for special dispensation to be granted by the Supreme
Commander. (Article III, Section 304‑B).
ARTICLE VII
ELECTION AND TERM OF
GRAND OFFICERS
Section
1. The election and term of all Grand Shavetails are provided for in
Article IV, Section 408 and 409 of the Supreme By‑Laws.
ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF GRAND
SHAVETAILS
Section
1. The duties of the Grand Pup Tent Shavetails shall be as provided
and prescribed in Article IV, Section 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417,
418, 419, 420, 421, 422, and 423 of the Supreme By‑Laws. Section 2. The duties of the Grand Council of Administration
shall be as prescribed in Article IV, Section 424 of the Supreme By‑Laws,
as amended.
ARTICLE
IX
VACANCIES
Section
1. All vacancies in elective offices of the Grand Pup Tent shall be
filled by the Grand Council of Administration, provided however, than in the
vacancy of the Grand Commander, the Grand Senior Vice Commander shall assume
the duties of the Grand Commander and the Grand Junior Vice Commander shall
assume the duties of the Grand Senior Vice Commander. The Grand Council of Administration shall
then convene to elect a Grand Junior Vice Commander.
ARTICLE X
VOTING
Section
1. Voting within the Grand Pup Tent shall be as prescribed in Article
IV, Section 427 of the Supreme By‑Laws as Amended.
Section
2. Pup Tents, in order, to have representation at the Grand Scratch,
must pay a
delegates fee of Five ($5.00) dollars for each delegate to which the Pup Tent
is entitled, whether or not the delegate attends the Grand Scratch.
Said
fee is to be sent to the Grand Quartermaster together with a list of delegates
and alternates. The Seam Squirrels and
alternates do not pay a fee.
Section
3. If the delegate fees from a local Pup Tent have not been paid, the
delegates from said local Pup Tent shall not be entitled to representation at
any Grand Scratch until said delinquent fees have been paid.
ARTICLE XI
MEMBERSHIP
Section
1. Membership in a Pup Tent under the jurisdiction of the Grand Pup
Tent of California shall be in accordance with Article I. Section 101 of the
Supreme By‑Laws. Membership‑at‑Large
by residence within the jurisdiction of the Grand Pup Tent of California shall
be in accordance with Article 1, Section 102 of the Supreme By‑Laws.
ARTICLE XII
COMMITTEES
Section
1. All chairpersons of their committees shall render within sixty
(60) days, prior to June 1st, a complete written report of their activities and
actions. Would there be no regular or
special business meeting of the Grand Pup Tent or the Grand Council of
Administration, at the end of the sixty (60) day period said written report
shall be forwarded to the Grand Commander.
ARTICLE XIII
TAX
Section 1. The Grand Pup Tent shall
assess each Pup Tent under its jurisdiction a per capita tax
Of the
amount decided on the convention floor by Two thirds majority present
for each member, except Life Members, in good standing in
the Pup Tent plus any additional amount the Supreme Pup Tent, by amendment to
Supreme By‑Laws, may require.
Section
2. Any Pup Tent in arrears for per capita tax payments, audit
reports, delegate dues, supply monies due, or any other financial obligations,
shall be deprived of a vote at any scratch of the Grand Pup Tent until such
arrears have been paid or corrected.
Section
3. Per Capita Tax for new Pup Tents for the full year will be due on
the date of institution, except those Pup Tents instituted after 30 September,
when such per capita tax will be paid for the following year.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENTS
Section
1. These By‑Laws may be amended or altered by the Grand Scratch
by a two‑thirds 2/3 vote of the delegates present at the Grand Scratch,
provided however, that such amendments or alterations have been approved or are
presented by a Pup Tent, an elective Grand Pup Tent Shavetail or a Past Grand
Commander and/or a Provisional Past Grand Commander, an elective Supreme Pup
Tent Shavetail residing in good standing in any one of the Pup Tents under the
jurisdiction of the Grand Pup Tent of California.
Section
2. All proposed amendments to these By‑Laws, as provided for
under Section 1 of this article, shall be presented in writing to the Grand
Adjutant at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the Grand Scratch
or in time to be printed in the official publication of the Grand Pup Tent of
California whichever period is the longer, and said amendment shall thereafter
be forwarded to the Grand Commander, and to the Chairperson of a By‑Laws
Committee, appointed by the Grand Commander, and a report thereon be made
during the Grand Scratch.
Section
3. All Amendments to these By‑Laws, as adopted by a two thirds
(2/3) vote of the delegates present at the Grand Scratch in regular session,
shall take effect immediately upon ratification by the Supreme Pup Tent.
Section
4. The Grand Quartermaster shall purchase a Past Grand Commander's
Hat with the proper tassels or a Past Grand Commander's Lapel Pin or a suitable
gift not to exceed the cost of the hat or pin as quoted in the current Supreme
Catalog. Selection of gift may be as
requested by the out‑going Grand Commander or an out‑going
Provisional Grand Commander.
Section
5. The Grand Scratch Chairperson shall submit a detailed report and
accounting of all monies received from the Grand Quartermaster, the Grand
Scratch Fund, sale of raffle tickets, donations, sale of banquet tickets, sale
of souvenirs, programs and any other fund‑raising activity, in and/or in
behalf and in the interest of the Grand Scratch.
A. A
list of all expenditures such as hall rentals, printing, badges, telephone
calls, stamps, cost of banquet, luncheons, entertainment and any other expense
that may be contracted or accrue in the operation of the Grand Scratch.
B. This
report will be in writing, and will be mailed to the Grand Commander and a copy
mailed to the Grand Quartermaster within thirty (30) days following the Grand
Scratch. If additional time is needed an
extension of time may be granted by the Grand Commander, but in NO CASE shall
the time exceed sixty (60) days from the close of the Grand Scratch, and all
remaining monies must be transmitted to the Grand Quartermaster with said
report.
Section
6. Monies collected for Scholarship are a restricted fund to be
exempt from depletion, except for Scholarship Grant and necessary expenses such
as postage and fund‑raising devices.
ARTICLE XV
PROPERTY
It shall be legal to steal property (which
includes the POT and SHOES) property of the Grand Pup Tent or of any other Pup
Tent in the Grand of California except the GAVEL which may not be snatched or
forcibly taken from the Commander, the Seam Squirrel or another cootie who is
in legal possession.
ARTICLE
XVI
COOTIE
POLICE FORCE
Section 1. A.
The Military Order of the Cootie forbids its members the use of explosive fireworks, that
may cause damage or injury to persons or property, at any Grand Scratch, local
Pup Tent Scratches or any
parade in which the Military Order of the
Cootie has any participation.
B. The
Provost Marshal and deputized cooties shall be instructed to prohibit and
prevent the explosion of fire‑crackers at scratches, parades and
membership gatherings.
Section
2. A Cootie Police Force shall be appointed by the Grand Commander at
the start of his term of office to be in effect, during his term, to act at all
Grand Scratches and Grand Council Meetings to maintain peace and decorum.
Section
3. Said Cootie Police Force shall be endowed with sufficient power to
carry out their instructions and duties, and shall be provided with an official
badge.