shall consist of elected representatives from such councils as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors to be members of the chapter,
but only if each of the said councils shall, by majority vote of the
members present and voting at an announced council meeting follow-
ing written notice to the entire membership, express a willingness to
join said chapter. The State Deputy and the District Deputies of dis-
tricts of which any of said councils are a part and such members of
the Board of Directors as reside within the jurisdiction shall also be
members. Chapters may promulgate such by-laws, rules and regula-
tions for their own government as they may find necessary for the
proper conduct of their affairs, provided that the same shall not con-
flict with or be in opposition to or in any way impair the enforcement
of the constitution, laws, rules or regulations of the Supreme Council
or Board of Directors. Such by-laws, rules and regulations shall not
become operative until approved by the Supreme Advocate, from
whose decision an appeal may be taken to the Board of Directors.
Chapters may levy and collect assessments upon the councils so des-
ignated by the Board of Directors for membership therein as they
may find necessary for the defraying of their legitimate expenses.
Councils failing to pay such assessments within the prescribed time
shall be denied representation in the chapter while said default
exists. A council may withdraw from a chapter by a majority vote of
the members present and voting at the regular May business council
meeting, but only if written notice to the entire membership that this
question will be before the council is given ten days before said meet-
ing. A chapter may be dissolved by the Board of Directors.
All officers shall be elected annually by ballot at regular business
meeting of the chapter held between the fifteenth day of June to and
including the fifteenth day of July each year from the newly elected
representatives, and said officers shall hold their offices until the first
of July of the following year and until their successors are elected and
qualified.
The laws governing subordinate councils and their officers shall, in
the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, be applicable to
chapters.
Council Books To Be Accessible to Officers
SEC. 243. The State Deputy, the District Deputy and the Board of
Trustees and Grand Knights of councils, or their representatives,
shall have access to and possession of the books, records and files of
the councils for the purpose of examination at any time, and the offi-
cers of councils will permit such access to, and make delivery of such
books, records and files upon request to any of the above officers,
and members of councils shall deliver their council account books,
records and files upon request to any of such officers for examina-
tion, provided that all such books, records and files of councils, offi-
cers or members shall not be demanded capriciously, but for legiti-
mate purposes, and be returned with such promptness as will be con-
sistent with the nature of the examinations.
86 LAWS — MISCELLANEOUS
Time When Degrees Conferred
SEC. 244. Only one degree at a time or meeting shall be conferred,
except by special consent in writing of the District Deputy for cause
shown, or on his refusal, by the State Deputy.
Liquors Prohibited at Meetings or Degree Work of Order
SEC. 245. The use of intoxicating liquors of any kind is prohibited
at any meeting or degree work of the Order.
Councils and Officers Not to Exceed Authority
SEC. 246. A council and its officers in performing their duties and
administering the powers provided by the laws of the Order shall be
the agent or agents of the members thereof and not of the Order, and
no act or failure to act by the council or by any officer or member
thereof shall create or be construed to create any liability on the part
of the Order.
No subordinate council, nor any of the subordinate officers or
members of the Order, shall have power or authority to waive any of
the provisions of the laws and constitution of the Order, and there
shall be otherwise no waiver excepting as the constitution and by-
laws of the Supreme Council shall specifically permit, and the consti-
tution and laws shall be binding on the Order, on every member and
certificate holder and on all their beneficiaries.
Help To Distressed Members
SEC. 248. Any Knight of Columbus who finds himself actually in
need of the necessaries of life, or sick and in distress, and who is at
the time at a distance from the city or town in which his own council
is located, may make application for help to any council of the Order
within whose jurisdiction he may be at the time. Upon receipt of such
application, the Financial Secretary of the council receiving it shall
communicate with the Financial Secretary of the council of which the
applicant is a member, and before any help shall be granted, a state-
ment shall be received from the council of the applicant giving the
standing of such applicant as to the propriety of such help, together
with the amount for which said council will become responsible.
No council shall be held responsible to any other council for help
given in violation of this section; but nothing herein contained shall
be so construed as to prohibit any council from helping from its own
funds any Knight of Columbus not one of its members who may be
within its jurisdiction and in distress. These provisions shall be
applicable to cases of death.
Merging of Councils
SEC. 249. 1. Two or more councils may merge and become one
council with such name and number as the Board of Directors shall
determine, upon petition to the Board from each of the councils inter-
ested, showing that all members were notified of the proposed merg-
er and that a majority of each council, by vote or written assent, have
consented thereto.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 87
Dostları ilə paylaş: |