Veterans Day National Committee Bylaws

OBJECTIVES, ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES
OF THE
VETERANS DAY NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Revised: September 2007

PREAMBLE

Consistent with the Act of Congress (Public Law 380, of the 83rd Congress), and pursuant to the Proclamation by the President of the United States (Presidential Proclamation No. 3071, dated October 8, 1954) designating the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs to lead in the organization of appropriate observance of Veterans Day (November 11 of each year), there is hereby created by mutual agreement a Veterans Day National Committee.

I.  OBJECTIVES

A.  To promote public interest in the military service of veterans to the United States during peacetime or time of war or armed conflict.

B.  To honor those who served, to encourage the maintenance of an honorable peace while maintaining military readiness to deter aggression.

C.  To stimulate the participation of the American public in such objectives.

II.  ORGANIZATION

The Veterans Day National Committee shall be composed of a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Director, Finance Officer, Honorary Members, Members and Associate Members.

A.  The Chairperson of the Veterans Day National Committee shall be the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, who shall have the authority to designate a Vice Chair. The Vice Chair will nominate a Secretary-Treasurer subject to confirmation by the Veterans Day National Committee Members.  The Chairperson's approval shall be requisite to all decisions of the Members. Meetings will be held on call by the Chairperson, or may be held by petition of three (3) Members.

B.  The Vice Chair shall act as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson, as required.

C.  The Secretary-Treasurer, nominated by the Vice Chair and confirmed by the Members, shall call meetings as directed by the Chairperson or upon the request of three (3) Members of the Veterans Day National Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer will keep a record of the actions of the National Committee and inform members of the National Committee accordingly. The Secretary-Treasurer will appoint a Finance Officer who will maintain the accounts for the Committee and provide the Committee with fiscal statements at least three (3) times annually.

D.  The Veterans Day National Committee will consist of two classes of membership: Members and Associate Members.

1. The Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC) Members will consist of the current Executive Committee membership as of July 12, 1993.  The VDNC Members will be made up of non-profit Veterans organizations that are national in scope.  Such organizations should be of good reputation, in existence and involved with veterans for a minimum of 10 years and dedicated to a wide range of veterans issues.

2. The VDNC Members is limited to 25.  When a vacancy occurs, current Associate Members meeting the qualifications outlined in paragraph 1, may apply for membership by submitting an application to the Veterans Day National Committee, which will be referred to the Selection Committee.

3. A Selection Committee will consist of the current year host organization Member, plus two other Members appointed by the Chairperson.  The Selection Committee’s sole task is to review all applications for membership.  If the applying organization meets the requirements stated in paragraph 1 and is approved by at least a two-thirds vote of the Selection Committee, the application will be referred to the Veterans Day National Committee Members.

4. A four-fifths vote by the Members, as well as approval by the Chairperson of the Veterans Day National Committee is necessary for membership.

5. The Associate Members shall consist of:

a. Current Veterans Service Organizations and other Organizations included in the Members, Members Emeritus and Committee Advisors hierarchy as of July 12, 1993.  Non Profit organizations that are national in scope, of good reputation, in existence and involved with veterans for a minimum of five years, and dedicated to a wide range of veteran’s issues may apply for membership as Associate Members.

b. Organizations desiring membership as Associate Members should submit an application to the Veterans Day National Committee, which will refer the application to the Selection Committee. If the applying organization meets the requirements stated in this paragraph, and is approved by at least a two thirds vote of the Selection Committee, the application will be referred to the Veterans Day National Committee Members which must approve the application by a four-fifths vote.  Final approval will rest with the Chairperson of the Veterans Day National Committee.

c. Upon approval by the Chairperson, new Associate Member organizations will be added to all Veterans Day National Committee membership listings and afforded all the rights and privileges of Associate Membership.

d. Organizations that are auxiliary, subordinate or otherwise affiliated with current VDNC Member organizations are considered represented on the Veterans Day National Committee and will not be considered for a separate Associate Membership.

E.  Honorary Members shall be prominent persons, approved by the Chairperson, who have an interest in Veterans Day or veterans.

F.  The Chairperson will select an Executive Director who will be responsible for the administration of the Veterans Day National Committee and perform such other duties as directed by the Chairperson.

III.   PROCEDURES

A. The Veterans Day National Committee shall:

1. Direct the planning, promotion, scope and operations for the observance of Veterans Day on the national and regional levels, and afford advisory cooperation with local committees or member organizations throughout the Nation in arranging and conducting Veterans Day ceremonies.

2. Observe Robert's Rules of Order in the conduct of business. A majority of the representatives of the members shall constitute a quorum.

3. Confirm, by a majority vote, the nominee by the Chairman for the position of Secretary-Treasurer.

4. Maintain a fund to cover the cost of the national program.

5. Decide on discontinuance, for cause, of any membership.

B.  Veterans organizations on the Veterans Day National Committee will be urged to participate in local and regional ceremonies each year when they are not the host organization for the national observance.

C.  Committee members must contribute a yearly assessment prior to the deadline date as established by the Veterans Day National Committee.

1. Veterans Day National Committee Members are assessed an annual fee of $200.00, payable to VDNC by September 1 of each year.

These members are:

- Marine Corps League
- Military Chaplains Association of the USA
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Legion of Valor
- Military Order of the World Wars
- The Retired Enlisted Association
- Congressional Medal of Honor Society
- Disabled American Veterans
- Military Officers Association of America
- Polish Legion of American Veterans
- Korean War Veterans Association
- American G.I. Forum
- Jewish War Veterans of the USA
- American Ex-Prisoners of War
- Catholic War Veterans, USA
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
- AMVETS
- Blinded Veterans Association
- Army Navy Union, USA
- Non Commissioned Officers Association
- The American Legion
- Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc.
- Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
- Fleet Reserve Association

2. Veterans Day National Committee Associate Members are assessed annual dues of $100.00, payable to VDNC by
September 1 of each year.

These members are:

- American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
- Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.
- Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc. & The Veterans Coalition
- Blue Star Mothers of America
- Air Force Association
- Navy Seabee Veterans of America
- Air Force Sergeants Association
- State Directors of Veterans Affairs (see III.C.3, below)
- Veterans of World War I (emeritus status, see III.D, below)
- United Spanish War Veterans (emeritus status, see III.D, below)
- Women's Army Corps Veterans Association (emeritus status, see III.D, below)
- The American Red Cross
- American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, INC.
- Help Hospitalized Veterans
- National Association of State Veterans Homes
- Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge
- National Association for Uniformed Services
- Japanese American Veterans Association
- Bowlers to Veterans Link

3.  The State Directors of Veterans Affairs are exempt from dues as they are a state government entity.

4.  Failure to comply with the dues requirement may be cause for action by the National Committee.

D.  At such time as conditions preclude the active participation of any Member organization of the Veterans Day National Committee in the national program they may upon application to the Chairperson and subject to a resolution by the Members apply for Emeritus status.  If their petition is granted the organization will be carried on the Associate Member roster and be exempt from dues. 

E.  The following is the rotation of veteran’s organizations hosting the national ceremony. If new members are added they will be placed at the bottom of the list in order of acceptance. If there are National Committee withdrawals, the Committee shall determine the order of rotation.