L Company 109th Infantry Regiment 28th Infantry Division (Recreated)

BYLAWS

                                                                                                                                                            Adopted, October 4, 2001

The name of the organization shall be L Company, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division (Recreated).  The organization shall also be known as the recreated 109^th Infantry.

The objectives of the organization are:

1. To recognize and honor the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the US Armed Forces in World War II.

2. To honor and preserve their memory.

3. To acquaint contemporary Americans about them.

4. To carry on a fraternal organization among members sharing common interests.

5. To promote participation by families in the fraternal organization.

6. To participate in living history and battle re-enactment events of the World War II era, demonstrating drill, tactics, and living conditions of that period.

7. To achieve and maintain a high degree of professionalism in depicting the lives of military men and women.

8. To encourage the preservation of all relics, memorabilia, historical sites, and the history of the participation of the United States in World War II.

9. To promote and encourage the exchange of knowledge about the historical period of 1939 to 1946 among members of the organization.

Section 1: Qualifications:

1. Any person, male or female, 18 years of age or older may apply for Membership within the organization.

2. Any person less than 18 years of age may apply for an Associate Membership.

3. Any Member or Associate Member with less than one year of experience shall be known as a Probationary Member.

4. The probationary period will begin with the date on the membership application submitted to the Recruiting Officer.

Section 2: Requirements

Candidates for Membership and Associate Membership shall be granted membership status after meeting the following requirements:

1. Submission of a completed application to the Recruiting Officer.

2. An interview with the Recruiting Officer.

3. Recommendation of the Recruiting Officer and final approval of the President.

4. Payment of all dues and fees to the Treasurer.

5. Successful completion of the probationary period.

Section 3: Safety Instruction

No member may, under any circumstances, participate in any tactical re-enactment or firing demonstration until s/he has completed a course of instruction in the safety procedures of the unit and the weapon to be fired at that event.

Knowledge of a firearm shall include its safe use and proper care.

Section 4: Conduct

The conduct of the Members of this unit will be governed by these bylaws and all other written regulations of the organization. Members shall obey all lawful orders of superior officers and noncommissioned officers. Members shall also be governed by common sense and decency, as well as military courtesy.

Members who violate any of the codes, written and unwritten, of the organization shall be subject to summary reprimand by the President and/or disciplinary action as set forth in Article V.

Section 5: Dues

The dues of the organization are established at $20.00 per year, due and payable by January 30 of each year. Any member failing to remit his dues by February 28^th of each year shall be removed from the roster of membership and barred from participation in any unit functions. To regain membership, a former member must pay the required dues, as well as a late fee of $10.00.

A Member's family may join the organization at an additional cost of $10.00 per year.  Family members desiring the privileges of membership must join as Members or Associate Members.

Membership applicants must pay a $5.00 initiation fee to cover the costs of the membership manual. During the first six months of the year, the dues for an applicant shall be the standard annual dues. Applicants enrolling in the last six months of the year shall pay dues at a reduced fee of $10.00 or 1/2 the annual membership dues.

Dues may be changed at the discretion of the President as required by the needs of the organization.

Section One: The officers shall include the following:

Officers selected by the founding members shall serve indefinitely. An officer shall be deemed to have relinquished his or her position if s/he fails to renew his or her membership. An officer may voluntarily relinquish his or her position at any time. Replacements for officers shall be appointed by the President with the advice of the remaining officers.

Should the organization adopt a system of elections, all officers will voluntarily relinquish their positions in favor of officers elected by the membership. When elections for officers or other matters of concern to the organization are established, such elections must be conducted by three members of the organization who are not candidates for positions as officers.

Noncommissioned officers shall be appointed by the Field Commander and shall serve terms of service that shall be deemed appropriate for the needs of the organization as s/he sees fit.

1. To establish and maintain disciplinary policy.

2. To enforce all safety rules and regulations while at any event or function.

3. To preside over all functions of the unit.

4. To set the time and place for all meetings, musters, and assemblies and to inform the Adjutant in a timely manner to permit informing the membership with two weeks advance notice.

5. To select and preside over any board of inquiry for disciplinary action against any member.

6. To give final approval for the Recruiting Officer’s recommendations for membership applicants.

7. To direct and assist all officers and NCOs in the performance of their duties.

Section Three: The Field Commander has the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To maintain order and discipline at all events

2. To command all members of the unit at all events.

3. To attend organizational and unit commander’s meetings for all events and to ensure that all orders and directives are passed down the chain of the command.

4. To issue all orders pertaining to participation at all events and to ensure that all orders are carried out.

5. To assign field duties and responsibilities to NCOs and assist them in the performance of their duties.

6. To enforce all safety rules and regulations at all events.

7. To direct and assist NCOs in the performance of their duties.

8. To establish and maintain rosters for all events.

1. To insure that all members are in correct uniform and have correct equipment for all events.

2. To decide the appropriate uniform and equipment for all events.

3. To provide prescriptive action for deficiencies in any member’s uniform or equipment and to set time limits for such corrections.

4. To assist new members in their acclimatization into the recreated 109^th Infantry, including establishing priorities for acquisition of equipment, providing sources of same, and assisting in their procurement.

5. To assign a mentor for each membership applicant.

Decisions of the Authenticity Officer are final and are not subject to appeal to higher levels of command.

1. To publish and distribute the newsletter at regular intervals or as required for the maintenance of good order, education of the membership, and informing the membership about coming events.

2. To register the Recreated 109^th Infantry for all events.

3. To act as primary point of contact with the membership.

4. To receive all communications addressed to the unit and inform the members of their contents.

5. To maintain a roster of the Recreated 109^th Infantry and other records as needed.

6. To publish and distribute updates to the membership manuals.

1. To collect, administer, and disburse all funds in a correct and proper manner and to maintain fiscal records.

2. To prepare a quarterly statement of the financial standing for publication by the Adjutant in the Newsletter.

3. To keep accurate records of all property purchased by and for the recreated 109th Infantry.

The actions of the Treasurer are subject to the approval of the President. Members must be informed of all actions by the Treasurer approved by the President through the Adjutant in the Newsletter.

1. To act as the primary point of contact with persons seeking membership.

2. To interview all prospective candidates for membership and determine their suitability for membership.

3. To provide information packets to all candidates for membership, including an application for membership.

4. To receive all completed applications and recommend action by the President.

5. To notify all candidates for membership of the action taken on their application and to forward all successful applications to the Adjutant for reporting in the Newsletter.

1. To receive orders from all officers and to ensure that those orders are carried out in an efficient manner.

2. To assign duties and tasks to members of the French Resistance and to direct and assist them in the performance of their duties.

3. To enforce all safety rules and regulations at all events.

4. To maintain order and discipline at all events.

5. To assist in the training of all personnel.

In the event of misconduct on the part of any member, the following actions will be taken:

The President will review the circumstances and determine whether the case warrants further action. The commander may assign Company Punishment for misconduct if s/he determines that limited corrective action should be taken. In the case of serious misconduct, the President shall convene and preside over a Board of Inquiry.

Company punishment may consist of assignment to fatigue details or suspension of further participation in an event.

A Board of Inquiry shall consist of four members who shall review all relevant facts and information to determine whether disciplinary action should be taken. The Board will determine the appropriate action to be taken in the event of a finding of misconduct. Any disciplinary action must be approved by a ¾ vote of the Board and is not subject to appeal.

The Recruiting Officer shall serve as counsel to any member accused of misconduct to assist in the preparation of a response to accusations.

The Board of Inquiry may recommend any punishment deemed warranted by the nature of the misconduct, including permanent dismissal from the recreated 109th Infantry.

The bylaws may be amended at a meeting consisting of at least 50% of the total membership, excluding probationary members and associate members.

Proposed amendments to these articles shall be provide to all voting members at least two weeks prior to a meeting at which a vote to change them shall be taken. The proposed changes and a mail ballot may be mailed to members who must be absent from the meeting at which a vote to amend these articles is to be taken.

All votes shall be counted by the President and the Adjutant.

This organization shall not be responsible for any personal losses, damages, or injuries that may occur at any function of the 109^th Infantry, including events sponsored by the 109^th Infantry or other organizations.

Funds held by the Treasurer at the time of dissolution shall be donated to the Friends of the Pennsylvania Military Museum for their use at the 28th Division Museum and Memorial.