CONSTITUTION
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be San Antonio HIGH TWELVE CLUB, No. 656, of San Antonio, Texas.
Section 1. The purposes of SAN ANTONIO HIGH TWELVE CLUB are:
- To meet the need
and afford the men of Masonry an opportunity to organize for the purpose
of promoting a greater alliance of Masons in fraternal intercourse,
intellectual development, in honoring the Great Creator, in serving
our fellow men, in upholding the principles of good government, in the
advancement of education, and upbuilding of its members in honorable
living, free from all political entanglements and religious controversies.
- In declaring the
foregoing purposes, we proclaim that this Club does not pretend to,
attempt to, or shall give any impression that it speaks for the institution
of Masonry. Our voice shall be only that of individual Masons.
- This High Twelve
Club acknowledges the supreme authority of the Grand Lodge of Texas
in all matters of Masonic law, tradition and ethics. It pledges never
to interfere with or meddle in the affairs of any Masonic Lodge; nor
to engage in or sponsor, any activity prohibited by said Grand Lodge;
nor to permit its members to engage in unseemly conduct which might
reflect adversely upon the institution' of Masonry.
- To wholeheartedly endorse and support our international project, the Wolcott Foundation.
Section 1. The objects of this Club are: To support and maintain the objects of High Twelve International as set forth in the Constitution of High Twelve International, the whole of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Section 1. Kinds - There may be two kinds of membership, namely:
- Regular.
- Honorary.
Section 2. Qualifications as follows:
- REGULAR - Master
Masons in good standing as provided in the By-Laws are eligible to membership.
- HONORARY - An adult Master Mason who has distinguished himself by meritorious service in the furtherance of Masonic ideals or community service may be elected to honorary membership. Honorary members shall be exempt from payment of all fees and dues; shall have no vote; shall not be eligible to hold any office in the club; shall have no interest in any property of the club; BUT shall be entitled to attend all meetings and enjoy all other privileges of the club. The number of Honorary members shall not exceed four (4) at any one time.
Section 3. Duration of membership.
- Period - Regular
membership shall continue during existence of the club unless terminated
as hereinafter provided, or by death of the member. Honorary membership
shall continue for the period commencing with election and ending the
first day of February next after the date of the election unless otherwise
extended by the Board of Directors.
- How terminated
- Membership is automatically terminated by failure to maintain membership
in good standing in the Blue Lodge.
- Each member
shall exhibit a current card in his Blue Lodge at the time he pays
his annual High Twelve Club dues in January of each year.
- The member
fails to pay his dues or charges due to the club after 30 days'
written notice of the delinquency.
- The member
is convicted of a felony of other criminal charge which would
bring disgrace or disrepute to Masonic principles.
- The member
fails to pay his dues or charges due to the club after 30 days'
written notice of the delinquency.
- Honorary membership
shall terminate automatically on the first day of February next
after the date of the election, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Board
of Directors in its discretion may, by resolution, continue such
honorary membership from year to year thereafter. Such honorary
memberships may be continued by the Board of Directors although
the person so elected changes his residence.
- Each member
shall exhibit a current card in his Blue Lodge at the time he pays
his annual High Twelve Club dues in January of each year.
- Reinstatement - Regular membership - Such former member, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, may be reinstated to the membership upon his petition, and upon the payment of all his indebtedness to the club.
ARTICLE
V
Administrative Body
Board of Directors
Section 1. How constituted - The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, Immediate Past President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Chaplain, Masonic Representative, and three (3) members to be elected by the club. (Initially: One (1) for one year; one (1) for two years, and one (1) for three years, and thereafter one (1) for a three-year term. For duties of the various officers, refer to the International Manual.
Section 2. Powers - The Board of Directors shall have supervision and charge of the financial and business affairs, and shall authorize such appropriations of its funds as it, by majority vote of the members present, may deem necessary and proper. Such Board shall have authority to pass upon and determine any and all other questions pertaining to this Club.
Section 3. Budget - The Board of Directors shall adopt and approve a proposed budget for the next year's annual expenses and submit the same to the membership for their information.
Section 4. Quorum - The majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a Quorum.
Section 5. Meetings - The Board shall meet at stated intervals as provided in the ByLaws, and as called by the President.
Section 1. Title - The officers of this Club shall consist of the following: President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Masonic Representative. The Chaplain, Sergeant-at-arms shall be appointed by the President for a one year term.
Section 2. Nominations - Nominations shall be made by a Nominations Committee appointed by the President. This Committee shall offer its nominees to the membership at the second meeting in November and elections will be held at the first meeting in December. The officers elected will take office in January of the following year. Nominations may be offered from the floor at any time up until the actual election.
Section 3. Election of officers - The officers named shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership present and voting.
Section 4. Eligibility for Office - Nominees shall come from the regular membership in good standing. The President may not succeed himself, and no other officer may hold the same office for more than three (3) successive years. The Secretary and Treasurer are excluded from this provision.
Section 1. Dues - Dues shall be those prescribed in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE
VIII
Membership Title and Insignia
Section 1. Authority to use - Every member in good standing during the continuance of his membership in High Twelve shall be known as a High Twelvian, and shall be entitled to wear the emblem, badge, or other insignia of this Club.
Section 1. Emblem - The emblem of this Club shall be the emblem now copyrighted or used by High Twelve International.
Section 2. Charter - The form and style of the Charter of this Club shall be the Charter granted by the High Twelve International.
Section 1. Adoption and amendment - This Club shall adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of High Twelve International (or of the state association where applicable) and this Constitution, embodying additional provisions for the government of this Club, which adoption shall be by a majority vote of the members present and voting, and may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions therein contained.
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be within the hands of the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting, which shall be the first meeting in December. Notice and content of such proposed amendments shall be included in notices sent to the membership for the second November meeting. Two-thirds vote of members present and voting is necessary to amend. General Counsel of the State Association (where applicable) and the General Counsel of High Twelve International must approve all proposed amendments before they can take effect.
Section 1. In the event the Club shall fail to function or shall dissolve, it shall return immediately its charter, the funds in its treasury and all other property obtained from High Twelve International, to the Secretary of the High Twelve International.
ADOPTED JuIy 16, 1987
President
Secretary
BY-LAWS
SECTION 1. Meetings of the Club shall be held the third Thursday of every month.
ARTICLE
II
Membership in the Club
Section 1. Active Master Masons in good standing in constituent lodges, whose Grand Lodge is recognized by the local Grand Lodge, are eligible to membership.
Section 2. Honorary members - Honorary members are those Master Masons elected by the Board of Directors for special reasons for a stated period.
Section 3. Non-Resident Members - A former active member of this Club, who has moved such a distance that he can no longer attend may be a Non-Resident member subject to his remaining in good Masonic standing and fulfilling all of the applicable requirements of an active member.
Section 4. Reinstatement - A member may be reinstated by proposal and election of said member in accordance with the method of procedure for electing new members, upon the payment of all indebtedness.
Section 5. Nominees - Membership may be proposed by any active member submitting the name of the nominee on an application provided for that purpose, on which application the sponsoring member shall certify that he has determined that the proposed member has a current paid-up dues card of a recognized lodge. The sponsor shall turn over said application, together with the necessary fees, to the Secretary. The Secretary shall read out, at the next ensuing two (2) regular meetings of the Club, the name of the proposed new member as such.
Any member may submit to the Secretary any objection to such proposed member, such objection shall be in writing and signed by the objecting member. Upon receipt of such objection, the Secretary shall refer the application and the written objection or objections to the Membership Committee, who will investigate the same and report to the Board of Directors. If the Committee reports that the objection or objections are not proper, the proposed member will be admitted at the next regular meeting. If the Committee reports that the objection or objections are proper, the application and the accompanying funds will be returned to the sponsor. If no objections are filed as aforesaid, the proposed member will be admitted at the third meeting next after the application has been properly submitted as aforesaid.
Section 1. The dues shall be Twelve and No/100 Dollars ($ 12.00) per annum. The dues may be prorated over the year for new members being admitted.
Section 1. The revenue shall be composed of an initiation fee of Twelve and No/100 Dollars ($ 12.00) and the annual dues of Twelve and No/100 Dollars ($12.00).
ARTICLE
V
Termination of Membership
Section 1. Membership may be terminated by action of the Club for non-payment of dues for a period of three (3) months, and after two (2) weeks' notice by the Secretary.
Section 2. Membership may be terminated by resignation.
Section 3. Membership may be terminated by action of the Board of Directors when in its opinion a member has been guilty of un-Masonic conduct following a hearing by the Board or its appointees. The accused may appeal from such decision to the entire membership of the Club, who may by two-thirds vote of members present and voting, reach a final decision.
Section 1. The Board of Directors will meet at the call of the President or at the call of two Members of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Duties - The Board of Directors shall be charged with the duties of doing whatever may be necessary for the furtherance of the purposes of this Club, the attainment of its objects, the studies and teaching of its fundamentals, the preservation of its ideals, its ethics, and its unique feature of organization and its extension through the world.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall constitute the administrative body of this Club and its actions shall be final.
Section 1. There shall be a Committee on the Constitution and By-Laws, a Membership Committee, an Expansion & Retention Committee, a Program Committee, a Greeting Committee, and any other committees as the President, with the approval of the Board, may propose.
Section 1. The books and accounts of the Club and of the Trustees shall be audited once a year by a committee or member selected by the President. The report of such a committee or member shall be read at a January meeting.
Section 1. The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern all meetings of this club, its Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and all Committees, in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of the High Twelve International or of this Club.
ADOPTED July 16, 1987
President
Secretary