Bylaws of the

Nathaniel Ames Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

Evansville, Wisconsin

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this chapter shall be the Nathaniel Ames Chapter, Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

ARTICLE II - Objects

The objects of the chapter shall be to perpetuate the memory of the men who by their services or sacrifices during the War of the Revolution achieved the Independence of the American People; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire them and the community at large with a profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to preserve the records of the individual services of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the war; to foster patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; and to carry out the purposes expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution of our nation and the injunctions of Washington in his Farewell Address to the American people.

ARTICLE III - Officers

Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer. At its annual meeting the members may choose to combine the positions of secretary and treasurer into one position as secretary/treasurer.

Section 2. Duties of the Officers: President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter. He shall appoint all standing committees and perform such other duties as shall pertain to his office. The president may also appoint a chapter chaplain. The chaplain shall open and close meetings of the chapter with a non-sectarian prayer.

Vice president. The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president.

Secretary. The secretary shall notify all members of their election and of such other matters as may be directed by the chapter or the president. He shall give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the chapter. He shall keep a fair and accurate record of all proceedings and orders of the chapter. The secretary will keep a correct list of the members and their addresses, the date of their admission to the chapter, their resignation or death.

Treasurer. The treasurer shall have custody of all monies of the chapter. He shall pay out money from the treasury of the chapter only upon approval of the president, or by vote of the chapter. He shall send bills for dues to the membership and keep a record of receipts and disbursements.

Section 3. The officers shall pass upon the applications of the candidates for membership in the chapter and have the full power to elect the same.

Section 4. The officers shall carry out the plans for promoting the purposes and growth of the chapter and generally superintend its interests.

ARTICLE IV - Membership

Any man over the age of 18 years shall be eligible for membership who is a member in good standing of the Wisconsin state Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

ARTICLE V- Meetings

Section 1. The chapter shall hold its annual meeting on the third Thursday of November, or at such time as the chapter shall decide.

Section 2. The chapter shall meet at least five times in each year. Unless otherwise determined, meetings shall be on the third Thursday of the month. The location of the meetings shall be at the discretion of the president.

Section 3. Special meetings of the chapter may be called at the request of five members, or at the direction of the president.

ARTICLE VI - Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the chapter by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided that notice of such intended alteration or amendment be given at a previous meeting.

ARTICLE VII - Membership and Dues

Section 1. Members of the Wisconsin SAR, living in Rock and Dane County automatically become members of the Nathaniel Ames chapter unless they express a wish to be members of another chapter or the state society only. The privilege of membership in this chapter may be extended to residents of other adjacent counties, or dual members, subject to the approval of the State Society and this Chapter.

Section 2. The annual dues shall be due and payable the first day of January in each year.

A portion is to be paid to the state society on or before January of each year in payment of state and national society dues. Persons. The chapter shall have the authority to use its discretion in the matter of remission of individual dues. When the chapter does not exercise its discretion, the policy of the state society may be followed.

Section 3. Failure to pay dues for the period of sixty days after notice is sent, shall work a forfeiture of membership when so declared by the chapter.

Section 4. A member may resign if his dues are all paid and by notifying the secretary in writing.

ARTICLE VIII - Election of Officers

The officers shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting and shall hold office for one year or until their successor shall be elected. An auditor or auditing committee shall be appointed at the annual meeting to audit the records of the treasurer, or secretary/treasurer. Vacancies occurring during the year shall be filled by vote of the chapter. At least two weeks before the annual meeting the president shall appoint a committee of three to nominate a slate of officers for the ensuing year. The term of office shall be for the calendar year.

ARTICLE IX - Standing Committees

The following standing committees shall be appointed by the president:

Membership Committee: The membership committee shall actively seek out new members to the chapter. This effort should include, but not be limited to, regular contacts with area DAR chapters, state historical and genealogical societies, and other lineal descendant organizations.

The committee shall provide membership brochures and pamphlets and membership forms to prospective members, monitor and encourage their progress in completing membership applications, and reviewing and approving completed applications prior to submission of same for consideration by the state society.

Program Committee: The program committee shall develop programs and secure speakers for the chapter’s several meetings. The majority of these programs ought to pertain to aspects of the American Revolution, the Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence, or the functions of the various units of contemporary government. The chapter president may serve in lieu of this committee.

Publicity Committee: The publicity committee shall be responsible for informing the general public and others of the activities and programs of this chapter. This may be done via media releases, articles submitted to the Badger Patriot and other print media as well as contacts with other lineal descendant organizations, including its counterpart, or regents at the area Daughters of the American Revolution chapters.

Knight Essay Committee: This committee shall review all Knight essays submitted to the chapter. From these essays, the committee shall select a winner and, if time permits, recommend same to the chapter as a whole. In any event, the winning essay shall be submitted, who in true shall submit it to the state society’s Knight essay chair for consideration. The president shall inform the winner of the completion.

Law Enforcement/Fire Fighter Award Committee: This committee shall receive names of proposed candidates for the WISSAR/NSSAR Law Enforcement and Fire Fighter Awards. The criteria for choosing a winner shall comport to those applicable for a particular award as set forth by the National Society which is, the individual shall have accomplished or contributed to his/her job above and beyond that which is done in the everyday line of duty.

Eagle Scout Committee: The Eagle Scout Committee shall promote the SAR Eagle Scout contest and award among the area Scout Councils. It shall receive and judge all entries to this contest and select a winner from among them. The criteria for judging entries shall be based on that established by NSSAR and its Eagle Scout recognition and scholarship program. The name of the winner shall be submitted to the Ames chapter for ratification and submission to the state society for consideration for the state and national awards. Scouts shall have six to eighteen months after earning Eagle to complete the award application process. Closing date for competition entries is December 31 of each year.

JROTC Reserve Officer Training Corps Committee (JROTC): This committee, in consultation with area high school JROTC instructors and in accord with the selection criteria established by the NSSAR, shall select an outstanding JROTC cadet. It shall recommend the name of that cadet to the Ames Chapter for ratification and submission to the State Society’s Outstanding JROTC Cadet program. The Chapter winner shall receive the SAR JROTC (bronze) Medal. The committee may also select a ROTC cadet from areas colleges for consideration by the state society for its award.

The president may appoint such additional special committees as he deems necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the chapter or as shall be directed by the chapter.

ARTICLE X - Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of 5 members.

ARTICLE XI - Amendments

These bylaws may be amended or altered at any meeting of the chapter by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, provided that notice of such amendment or alteration be given at a previous meeting.

Date revised and adopted April 20, 2000.