ARTICLE I
Name and Purpose
A. The organization's
name is: Ramstein Area Chiefs' Group.
B. The organization's
purpose is to: aid enlisted personnel; enlisted personnel organizations
and programs; and to foster better relations through community
involvement (acting separately or with other private organizations)
to improve the quality of life. The Group aims to create a social
environment which fosters camaraderie and esprit de corps for
all Air Force Chief Master Sergeants.
ARTICLE II
General Provisions
A. This organization
is established pursuant to provisions of AFI 34-223.
B. The organization
operates on Ramstein Air Base only, with the consent of the installation
commander. Operation is contingent on compliance with requirements
and conditions of all applicable Air Force regulations and instructions.
C. Members may be peculiarly
liable for the organization's debts if the organization's assets
are insufficient to meet its financial obligations.
D. Robert's Rules of
Order (Revised Edition), is used to govern all cases where parliamentary
issues are not addressed in the organization's Constitution and/or
Bylaws. A copy of the revised edition will be maintained by the
organization's Secretary.
E. No portion of the
organization's earnings will accrue to personally benefit any
group member.
ARTICLE III
Officers and Governing Body
A. Officers, Powers
and Duties:
A
1. President:
(a) Advocates organization goals to general membership and community
(b) Represents the Ramstein Area Chiefs' Group at Kaiserslautern
Military Community functions and metings, as needed.
(c) Schedules and conducts monthly general membership meeting.
(d) Schedules and conducts executive committee meetings to discuss
pertinent issues and establish the general membership meeting
agenda.
Promotes increasing general membership to maximize potential.
Ensures organization remains a positive influence to the enlisted
community.
2. Vice President:
(a) Assists the President in performance of duties.
(b) Performs duties as President when President is absent.
(c) Acts as President when this chair is prematurely vacated
until a new President can be duly elected by the general membership.
(c) Acts as organization representative to Enlisted Club Advisory
Council.
3. Treasurer:
(a) Acts as organization banker; holding, depositing, and withdrawing
monetary funds from established group bank account(s) as directed
by the general membership.
(b) Pays group bills as directed by the general membership
(c) Gives financial or status of funds report at monthly general
membership meetings. This report will include a beginning balance,
income, expenses, closing balance, and excess of obligated amount
information.
(d) Custodian of group financial records. Financial records will
be maintained for 3 years.
4. Secretary:
(a) Acts as recording officer for the group.
(b) Prepares and distributes monthly general meeting minutes
to the membership.
(c) Custodian of official group records to include: group constitution
and bylaws, meeting minutes, requests for funds, and other official
correspondence.
(d) Maintains an accurate register of group membership including
pertinent information as determined by the membership.
B. Elections:
1. Candidate names for elected offices shall be taken from a
slate submitted by the nominating committee at the October general
business meeting. Floor nominations shall be accepted only during
the October general business meeting and the candidate must be
present, and verbally accepts, or has given previous written
or verbal acceptance to a member of the nominating committee
or general membership.
2. Officer elections
are held during the December business meeting.
3. Voting is by secret
ballot. Absentee ballots are considered if requests are provided
to the Executive Committee before the December meeting. Ballots
are issued to all active members in good standing at the time
of election.
4. A majority vote
is required to elect a candidate.
5. Officers' term of
office is for one year (January through December).
6. When a vacancy occurs
in any office, the President shall call an election within 60
days of the vacancy to elect a replacement.
7. The organization's
Secretary will ensure all active members are given at least 10
days written notice before each election. This notice will contain
the time, date and place of election.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
A. Organizational membership
is voluntary and open to all US Air Force Chief Master Sergeants
(CMSgt), including CMSgt selectees, active duty or retired, assigned
to or within the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Membership
is limited to two categories, active and honorary:
1. Active: Active duty
or retired Chief Master Sergeants (including CMSgt selectees)
whose dues are paid and current.
2. Honorary: Membership
extended to persons selected by the executive committee and approved
by the active membership. Honorary members are not required to
pay dues. However, they will receive every courtesy afforded
dues paying members, except the right to vote and hold elected
offices.
B. The organization
will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color,
creed, religion, sex, age, or national origin.
ARTICLE V
Financing
A. The organization's
primary source of income is through membership dues and participation
in local fund raising events (i.e., food booths, car washes,
et cetera). The funds raised will be used for morale purposes
(e.g., incentive program awards, recreational activities, et
cetera).
B. The organization
will safeguard its financial resources by depositing them in
either of two checking accounts (a US dollar account and a German
Deutsche Mark account) or in petty cash. Only organization officers
have access to all bank accounts and two organization officer
signatures are required on checks. Upon assumption of office,
the newly elected Treasurer will audit all accounts and appropriately
record the audit.
C. The Treasurer will
provide a financial report upon the request of two-thirds (2/3)
of the membership, the installation commander, or as directed
by higher headquarters.
ARTICLE VI
Activities
The organization normally
participates in the following activities:
1. Direct support of
enlisted programs to include support for the Kisling NCO Academy,
Airman Leadership School, Community College of the Air Force
(CCAF) graduations, quarterly and annual recognition programs,
and other enlisted related activities listed in the Bylaws.
2. Maintenance of Kindergraves
in the Kaiserslautern Friedhof and other local community support.
3. Two fund raising
activities per year: 4th of July Freedom Fest and Welfare Bazaar
in September. Also supported is the 86th Airlift Wing's Open
House.
4. Annual Senior NCO
and CMSgt Induction Ceremonies.
5. Other projects and
programs approved by the general membership.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings and Quorums
A. General business
meeting will be held at 0730 the last Friday of each month. The
general membership may approve another date for unusual and unique
opportunities when it benefits the organization as a whole.
B. The executive committee
will meet before all general business meetings and comply with
Article VIII of this Constitution.
C. The President may
call special group meetings when appropriate. Additionally, ten
percent, or more, of the active membership may call a special
group meeting when appropriate. Every effort will be made to
notify the Secretary in writing at least ten days before the
meeting date. The Secretary will, in turn, notify the general
membership and executive committee of the meeting, in writing,
at least seven days before the meeting date.
D. Twenty per cent
(20%) of the active membership must be present to constitute
a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII
Committees
A. There are three
types of committees in the organization: mandatory, permanent,
and ad hoc.
1. Mandatory Committees.
Committees established by the Constitution to carry out broad
responsibilities within the framework of the Constitution and
provide general administration of the organization. The Executive
Committee will be the only mandatory committee established and
consists of elected officers and chairpersons of permanent committees.
Duties include, but are not limited to: establishing meeting
agendas; reviewing requests for funds; approving or disapproving
requests for funds ($100.00 or less when sufficient funds are
available); establishing ad hoc committees to perform one-time
functions; to formulate recommendations on issues to be brought
before the general membership; and carrying out all duties assigned
by this Constitution.
2. Permanent Committees.
Committees established by the membership and are designed to
carry out ongoing duties in a particular area limited in scope,
but not in time, such as recognition, ways and means, or membership.
These committees are contained in the organization's Bylaws.
Once established, the executive committee defines their purpose
and responsibilities, and solicits volunteers to serve as committee
chairperson and members. Permanent committees may be dissolved
by the membership when no longer required.
3. Ad hoc Committees.
Committees established by the executive committee and are designed
to complete a specific activity or project with a limited scope
and time period. When established, the executive committee defines
their purpose and responsibilities and solicits volunteers to
serve as committee chairpersons and members. Ad hoc committees
are dissolved once assigned function is complete.
ARTICLE IX
Adoption and Amendments
A. This Constitution
and its Bylaws are effective upon adoption by an affirmative
vote of a majority of the active membership and is subject to
final review of the installation commander.
B. This Constitution
and its Bylaws may be amended, in whole or in part, subject to
an affirmative vote by twenty percent (20%) of the active membership
and final review of the installation commander. Notice of intent
to amend the Constitution and Bylaws must be given to each member
no later than the meeting prior to the vote on amendment.
C. This Constitution
and its Bylaws will be automatically amended to conform with
higher headquarters directives.
ARTICLE X
Dissolution
In case of dissolution,
organizational funds will be used to satisfy all outstanding
debts, liabilities, or obligations. Remaining funds will be distributed
as determined by the active membership. No organization funds
will be distributed to accrue to the benefit of any member.
ARTICLE XI
Insurance
This organization does
not intend to obtain insurance and will request an insurance
waiver due to the nature of its activities.
THIS CONSTITUTION AND
ITS BYLAWS (paragraphs 1 through 5d) WERE APPROVED BY THE GENERAL
MEMBERSHIP ON 30 January 1998.
JAMES P. RATCHFORD,
CMSgt, USAF
President, Ramstein Area Chiefs' Group
Annual review of this
Constitution is required NLT June 1999.
RAMSTEIN AREA CHIEFS'
GROUP BYLAWS
1. Dues will be paid
at the rate of $5.00 per month for each active member or $60.00
per year. Members who pay annual dues during 1 Jan - 31 Mar time
period are discounted $10.00.
2. The executive committee
is empowered to expend funds, not to exceed $100.00, without
prior approval of the general membership.
3. There will be no
financial requests from the floor during general business meetings.
Financial requests must be submitted, in writing, to the executive
committee for discussion before the monthly general business
meeting. Executive committee meetings are usually held on the
Monday prior to the general business meeting.
4. Funding priorities
are established as follows (from highest to lowest priority):
a. Enlisted Professional
Military Education
b. Annual enlisted
recognition programs
c. Enlisted active-duty
related support, examples are:
(1) Thanksgiving/Christmas
programs, CCAF graduations, et cetera.
(2) Social functions
(Air Force Ball, Dining-Outs, et cetera).
d. Community Relations, examples are:
(1) Kaiserslautern
Military Community (schools, humanitarian requests, NCO VIPs)
(2) Youth Groups (Scouts,
American Youth Association [AYA], etcetera)
(3) Civilian Community
Activities
e. Others requests
outside the KMC Area
f. Requests for additional
support of programs/projects previously approved by the Group.
5. The following permanent
committees are established:
a. Membership: Duties
include recruiting active members, maintaining membership roster,
identifying and preparing welcome letters to in-bound Chief Master
Sergeants, organizing and conducting annual Chief promotion notification
celebrations, and other related duties assigned by the executive
committee.
b. Mentorship: Duties
include organizing and conducting the monthly mentorship program
(in conjunction with Ramstein First Sergeants Council) including
recruiting and training facilitators, recruiting speakers, ensuring
program is current (including administrative duties), and other
related duties assigned by the executive committee.
c. Recognition: Duties
include administering the Sharp Award program, organizing and
conducting the Chief's annual induction ceremony, identifying
and recognizing departing active Chiefs' Group members, and other
related duties assigned by the executive committee. The Sharp
Award program will be administered by majority vote of the active
general membership. The procedures will be in writing and amendments
require a 2/3 majority vote of active membership.
d. Ways and Means:
Responsible for raising funds to meet the budget obligations
of the RACG. General duties included representing the RACG at
organization meetings for fund raising events, identifying personnel
to take part in fund raisers, ensure booth is set up when required,
obtaining supplies, ensuring sites are cleaned up after the event,
scheduling other allowed fund raisers, maintaining adequate stocks
of Chief memorabilia, selling memorabilia at meetings and other
similar duties assigned by the executive committee.
e. Publicity: Promotes
RACG activities and community support through local media (i.e.,
base bulletin, Kaiserslautern-American newspaper, and AFN radio
& television). Responsible for maintenance of RACG Internet
home-page.
Significant Changes:
1. Changed Executive
Council annual nominations from September to October.
Rationale: Corresponds
to when nominations are actually tasken.
2. Changed RACG Executive
Council election from October to December.
Rationale: Corresponds
to when election actually occurs.
3. Established Publicity
as new permanent committee.
Rationale: Recognized
importance of publicity to accomplish the Chiefs' Group objectives
outlined in the Charter.
RETURN
TO CHIEFS GROUP LIST
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page was last updated on February 6, 2008 |
