Monsignor Patrick R. Dunigan Assm #510
Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus

Bylaws

BYLAWS & BYLAW POLICIES

Knights of Columbus

Fourth Degree

MSGR PATRICK R DUNIGAN

ASSEMBLY NO. 510

FLINT, MI

Initial Bylaws Adopted July 1, 2012 Combined Bylaws and Policies Adopted Dec. 2014 Last Revised March 2, 2017

This document represents Knights of Columbus Monsignor Patrick R. Dunigan

Assembly 510 adoption of Resolutions 339 through 341 adopted by the Knights of Columbus in August 2014 at their Orlando, Florida meeting.  These have been adopted as policy amendments to the Assembly’s Bylaws to clarify existing bylaw provisions and to qualify for State of Michigan permits for local fund raising events.

BY-LAWS

Pursuant to Article VII, Section 21, of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, the following By-Laws are adopted by the MSGR PATRICK R DUNIGAN ASSEMBLY NO. 510, Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus. (Policies are inserted in red typeset.)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The official name of this body shall be “MSGR PATRICK R. DUNIGAN ASSEMBLY NO.510, Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus.”

ARTICLE II – Elections

Section 1. All officers shall be elected at the first regular meeting in May of each year.  The officers shall hold office for a term of one year, beginning July 1, and until their successors are elected and qualified.  Trustees shall hold office for a three year staggered term, as provided in Article VIII, Section 24(i) of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus.

Section 2.The election of officers shall be by ballot.  A majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to elect.  When only one candidate is proposed for a particular office and no further nominations have been made from the floor, the presiding Faithful Navigator shall declare the individual elected by acclamation.  Voting by proxy or absentee ballot is prohibited.

Section 3. The Faithful Navigator shall appoint two members who shall not be candidates in the election 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. 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 Scribe 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 Assembly, and must present himself for installation at a time specified in the notice issued by or through the District Master, unless excused by such officer.  Otherwise such office shall be considered vacant.

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

ARTICLE III – Officers

Section 1. Each Assembly shall elect a Faithful Navigator, a Faithful Captain, a Faithful Pilot, a Faithful Comptroller, a Faithful Scribe, a Faithful Purser, Faithfull Inner and Outer Sentinels, a Faithful Admiral, and three Trustees. The Faithful Navigator, Faithfull Captain, Faithfull Admiral, and Faithful Pilot shall annually appoint a priest to act as Faithful Friar or Chaplain but such selection must be made in accordance with any rules established by the bishop of the diocese in which the Assembly is located. The Faithfull Admiral shall be chosen from the Past Faithfull Navigators of the Assembly, if any.

Section 2. The Faithful Navigator shall act as the presiding officer with all powers and duties incident to such office.  In his absence, or inability to perform such duties of office, the Faithfull Captain shall perform such duties and exercise such powers.

Section 3. The Faithfull Captain shall, in the absence of the Faithful Navigator, perform the duties and exercise the powers of that office.  He shall also, to assure good attendance at meetings and other functions, have charge of social and other activities under the Good of the Order.

Section 4. The Faithfull Admiral shall preside in case of the absence of both the Faithful Navigator and the Faithfull Captain, and may have such other powers and perform such other duties as herein prescribed.

Section 5. The Faithful Pilot shall have charge of all properties of the Assembly except moneys, accounts and record books of the officers but including ceremonials, shall be responsible for arrangement of the Assembly chamber and shall direct and be responsible for the duties of the Sentinels.

Section 6. The Faithful Comptroller shall collect and receive all moneys due the Assembly and all funds obtained from any source.  He shall transfer any proceeds received to the Faithful Purser and obtain a receipt from that officer.  He shall also: (1) keep accounts of the charges and receipts of each member; (2) keep a roll of the members, their ages, residences and occupations, with the date of their initiation in the Fourth Degree; (3) upon request by a member transferring to another Assembly, issue a transfer card, signed by the Faithful Navigator and attested to by the Faithful Comptroller; (4) issue to each member not indebted to the Assembly for dues a Fourth Degree membership card, duly signed and attested as above, which card shall entitle a member to admittance to any meeting of the Fourth Degree within the period specified on said crd and upon further compliance with the rule requiring that a member produce a Third Degree membership card; (5) keep such necessary official records and forms as will be furnished by the Supreme Secretary; (6) notify quarterly the Supreme Secretary of all suspensions, withdrawals, deaths, reinstatements and transfers to or from other assemblies occurring during the period; (7) perform all other duties as directed by the members of the Assembly or by the Faithful Navigator; and (8) perform all duties incident to his office as required by the Order’s laws, the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree and of the Board of Directors.

Section 7. The Faithful Scribe shall keep a record of the minutes of all regular and special meetings in a bound book furnished for that purpose by the Assembly.

Section 8. The Faithfull Purser shall act as a treasurer of the Assembly, keeping necessary records in a bound book furnished for that purpose by the Assembly.  He shall give a receipt to the Faithful Comptroller for all monies given to him by said Faithfull Comptroller.  He shall pay all orders drawn on him which are signed by the Faithful Comptroller and countersigned by Faithfull Navigator.  All such orders shall have the approval of the Board of Trustees, except demands of the Supreme Council, initiation fees due the District Master, the regular and usual stated payments of the Assembly and payments authorized by the Assembly.

Section 9. The Faithfull Inner and Outer Sentinels shall be responsible to see that all in attendance at meetings are in possession of appropriate valid Third and Fourth Degree membership cards and shall perform such duties as directed by the Faithful Pilot.

Section 10. The Faithful Comptroller and Faithfull Purser shall each give a bond for the faithful performance of the duties of his office in such amount as may be from time to time determined by the Board of Trustees.

Section 11. The Trustees shall before each meeting carefully examine all bills and present same to the Assembly with their recommendation.  The approval of at least two members of the Board of Trustees shall be required for the payment of any bills or statements.  The Trustees shall annually during the first ten days of July make an audit of the books of the Faithful Comptroller and Faithful Purser, as of each June 30, and report their findings to the Assembly and file the same with the Assembly not later than the next regular meeting of the Assembly following such audit.  The Faithful Navigator shall be the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IV – Delegates to District Assembly

Delegates and their respective alternates to the District Assembly shall be elected at the February meeting in the year in which such District Assembly is convened; prior notice of holding such election having been given to all members of the Assembly.

ARTICLE V – Committees

The Faithful Navigator shall be ex-officio a members of all committees and of the Board of Trustees of the Assembly, and shall be empowered to appoint, in addition to the permanent committees herein listed, any such committee or committees as he may deem proper and as shall be directed by the Assembly.

The standing committees of the Assembly shall be:

  • Admission Committee: consists of seven (7) members of the Assembly including the Faithful Admiral who shall be the Chairman. Its duty shall be to pass on all applications for membership in conformity with the provisions of Article IX, Section 28 of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree.
  • Welfare Committee: to visit the sick of the Assembly.
  • Membership Committee: to encourage increase of membership and to encourage worthy Third Degree members of the Knights of Columbus to apply for advancement to the Fourth Degree.

ARTICLE VI – Meetings

The regular monthly meetings of the Assembly shall be held at a date, time and location as established by the Assembly.  Special meetings may be called as provided in Article VII, Section 20, of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree. Eight members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting, except that at a meeting where a change in these ByLaws is to be voted upon, or other resolution, then eight shall constitute a quorum.

The order of business shall be such as is provided in Article VII, Section 22 of the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree and in all matters not expressly covered by the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree, the procedure shall be the same as that provided by the Constitution and Laws of the Knights of Columbus and Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VII – DUES

Dues payable by each member shall be levied annually on a calendar year basis in advance in an amount as fixed by the council by a majority vote of members present at a regular Assembly meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. Until amended by the Assembly or Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree the annual dues of Regular Members shall be $20.00; except for Honorary Members who shall pay $10.00; and except for Honorary Life, Disabled Members, members with temporary hardship relief granted by their Councils or the Assembly, Students, Deacons, and Active Military Members who shall pay nothing.  Retired military members shall pay the regular dues associated with their member class.

A Mandatory Special Assessment and Voluntary Special Assessments may be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting.  Mandatory Special Assessments may be applied to all regular and Honorary Members.  Voluntary Special Assessments may be applied to Honorary Life Members, Disabled Members, members with temporary hardship relief granted by their Councils or the Assembly, Students, Deacons, and Active Military Members.

New members shall pay no dues or mandatory assessments during the balance of the calendar year following their Exemplification.

ARTICLE VIII – FUNDS

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

Section 2. The Purser shall deposit all moneys received from the Comptroller in a bank to the credit of the Assembly.  Disbursements from this fund shall be made only by check signed by the Faithful Navigator and Purser.  The depository shall be furnished with a copy of this section.

Section 3. No money in excess of $500.00 shall be paid or transferred from the treasury of any Assembly (except such moneys as the Assembly is called upon to regularly pay for its current expenses, demands of the Supreme Council, purposes approved by the Supreme Council or Board of Directors, or initiation fees due the District Master) unless by a two-thirds vote of its members present and voting at a regular meeting held subsequent to a regular 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 Scribe and then referred to the Board of Trustees.  In the case a bill is not approved by the Board of Trustees, it shall be referred back to the Assembly for action.

Section 5. No officer shall receive any compensation for services rendered the

Assembly, except the Faithful Comptroller, who shall be entitled to a fee of 8 percent on all collections of dues from the members; and the Faithfull Purser, who shall receive a salary of $50.00 per annum; such amounts being payable semi-annually at the meeting at which he Trustees shall file their reports.

Sections 6 to 11 Reserved

Section 12. The Assembly may be suspended, dissolved or may otherwise no longer exist. Prior to such suspension or dissolution, any residual funds or property of the Assembly shall be distributed to a charitable organization designated under Section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, or the equivalent designation in a non-United States jurisdiction, the mission and identity of which is not inconsistent with the mission and identity of Knights of Columbus and the teachings of the Catholic Church, with preference given to: a local parish church or school; the Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.; Knights of Columbus Charities USA, Inc.; the Knights of Columbus Canada Charities, Inc.; the John Paul II Shrine and Institute, Inc.; or the Michigan State Council Charitable Corporation.  Any such disposition shall be made in accordance with the Laws of the Knights of Columbus.

Section 13. The Assembly shall adopt an annual budget to guide its planning, activities, expenditures, and to establish fees and assessments.

  1. The Budget may include an allowance for Emergency Funds which may be expended by the Faithful Navigator when pre-approval of the expenditure by the Trustees or membership is not possible due to time constraints. Such emergency fund shall be limited to a maximum amount of $500 per year.  If the emergency expenditure is subsequently approved by the Trustees, the expenditure shall be charged against the appropriate budget line item, and shall not be charged against the annual emergency fund line item.
  2. Budgets and amendments exceeding $500 shall be introduced at a regular or special Assembly meeting. Budgets may be approved at a subsequent Assembly meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Amendments of less than $500 may be introduced and voted upon at the same meeting. Amendments of less than $500 shall only require a majority vote of the members present.
  3. Expenses for specifically identified expenditures where adequate funds have been budgeted shall be considered pre-authorized. No further approval of the Trustees or membership shall be required for the Faithful Comptroller to issue a Voucher, or for the Faithful Purser and Faithful Navigator (or alternate check signer) to issue a check for payment of the expense.  Any unbudgeted expense or expense not adequately funded by the budget must be recommended by the Trustees and approved by the membership prior to issuance of a Voucher or payment: except that any payment demands of the Knights of Columbus, the Michigan State Council or District Master shall be payable on demand.

ARTICLE X – Death of Member

Section 1. Upon the death of a member in good standing, notice shall be given to the members and, if time permits, 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, a message of condolence shall be forwarded to the family of the deceased on behalf of the Assembly. One Mass shall be offered for the repose of his soul.  Notice of the time and place of such Mass shall be given to the family of the deceased.  All arrangements for such Masses shall be made by the Faithful Navigator. A gift of a chalice or other religious memorial shall be made by the Assembly to a church or Priest as selected by the deceased member’s family or the Assembly in memory of the deceased member.

Section 3. When notice of the death of a member in good standing is received after the funeral, and it appears that the deceased member has no family or executor who would have made arrangements for a Chalice Service, the Assembly may vote to include the deceased member on an annual Communal Chalice. (Amended: First Reading Jan. 5, 2017, Second Reading March 2, 2017)

ARTICLE XI – Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws shall be presented in writing at a regular meeting of the Assembly, but shall not be voted upon until the next succeeding regular meeting. Notice in writing of such proposed amendments shall be mailed to all members at least five (5) days before the meeting at which such resolution is to be voted upon, and a two-thirds vote of those present shall be necessary for adoption of any such amendment.

ARTICLE XII – Additional Laws Governing

In all matters not expressly covered by these By-Laws, the Laws and Rules of the Fourth Degree and the Constitution and Laws of the Knights of Columbus will control.

ARTICLE XIII – Effective Date

These By-Laws and any subsequent amendments shall take effect immediately upon their adoption by the Assembly and their approval by the Supreme Advocate, and when effective shall supersede all By-Laws which may heretofore have been passed by the Assembly.

These By-Laws passed and approved by vote of the Assembly, July 1, 2012, and the By-Laws and the Policies were introduced at the October 2, 2014 meeting; the First Reading occurred at the November 6, 2014 meeting; with the Second Reading and Adoption occurring at the December 4, 2014 meeting.

Approved: July 1, 2012, and December 4, 2014

 

Certified:_________________________           ______________________________

Leonard Accardo, FN                                                       James R. Rabine, FC

 

John A. Marrella

Supreme Advocate

 

Additional Amendments:

Art. X, Section 3 added March 2, 2017