Suncoast
Masters and Wardens
THE SUNCOAST MASTERS & WARDENS ASSOCIATION
UNIFORM CODE OF BY-LAWS
- NAME AND LOCATION
- 1.01 Name
- AUTHORITY
- 2.01 Authority
- 2.02 Supreme Authority of the Grand Lodge
- 2.03 Limitation of Actions
- 2.04 Gambling and Intoxicating Liquors
- MEMBERSHIP
- 3.01 Membership
- 3.01.1 Classes of Membership
- 3.01.1.1 Definition
- 3.01.1.2 Associate Member
- 3.01.1.3 Active Member
- 3.01.1.4 Life Member
- 3.02 Application for Membership and
Proceedings Thereon
- 3.03 (Officers shall examine the petition)
- DUES
- 4.01 Annual Association Dues
- 4.01.1 (Dues for Active Members)
- 4.01.2 (Dues for Associate Members)
- 4.01.3 (Dues for Life Members)
- 4.02 Suspensions for Non-Payment of
Association Dues
- 4.03 Reinstatement
- 4.04 Evidence of Good Standing
- OFFICERS
- 5.01 Officers
- 5.02 Election of Officers
- 5.03.1 (The first election)
- 5.03.2 (Ensuing elections)
- 5.03.3 (Vacancies)
- 5.04 Duties of Officers (and President's
Duties)
- 5.04.1 (Vice President)
- 5.04.2 (Secretary)
- 5.04.3 (Treasurer)
- 5.05 Eligibility of Officers
- 5.05.1 President
- 5.05.2 Vice President
- 5.05.3 Secretary
- 5.05.4 Treasurer
- 5.06 Term of Office
- 5.06.1 President
- 5.06.2 Vice President
- 5.06.3 Secretary
- 5.06.4 Treasurer
- VOTING
- 5.50 Eligibility to Vote
- DUES
- 6.01 Custody of Funds
- 6.02 Disbursement of Funds
- MEETINGS
- General Membership Meetings
- 7.01.1 Quorum for General Membership Meeting
- 7.03 Repealed (1984)
- 7.04 Opening and Closing Meetings
- 7.05 Special Meetings
- PURPOSES
- Purpose
- SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
- Scholarship Committee
1.01 Name: The Name of this Association is the Suncoast Masters
and Wardens Association hereinafter referred to as The Association. The
Association is comprised of the 20th and 21st Masonic Districts and is located
in Pinellas and
2.01 Authority: This Association exists and operates under the
authority of and permission from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of Florida, hereinafter referred to as The Grand
Lodge, as evidenced by letter of approval of date of 19th of December A.L.
5978, A.D. 1978, and is subject to all the Laws, Rules, Regulations and Edicts of
said Grand Lodge, or its authority.
2.02 Supreme
Authority of the Grand Lodge: All
the Laws, Rules, Regulations and Edicts of the Grand Lodge as the same now are
or which hereafter may be enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued shall be the supreme
law of this Association and are hereby incorporated in these By-Laws by
reference the same as if set forth herein.
2.03 Limitation of
Actions: This Association shall
conduct its meetings with the same decorum as required by a Lodge of Masons,
and shall not serve as a forum for debate of partisan and controversial
questions nor be an agency for dissemination of propaganda, nor endorse or
oppose any candidate for political office, or propose or support any program or
project or proposal in the Grand Lodge, nor in any other Association, provided,
however, this shall not be construed to prohibit support of and participation
in programs and projects sponsored or approved by the Grand Lodge.
2.04 Gambling and
Intoxicating Liquors: This
Association shall not sponsor or participate in any program or project
involving gambling, or games of chance, and no beer, wine, liquor or other
alcoholic or intoxicating beverage shall be served or the use thereof permitted
in connection with any activity, occasion or meeting of this Association.
3.01 Membership: Any Master Mason in good standing in a Particular
Lodge in the State of Florida or in any other Grand Jurisdiction recognized by
the Grand Lodge of Florida shall be eligible for membership in this Association,
subject to the Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Florida and
the provisions of these By-Laws, (Reg. 4.07) upon payment of the appropriate
fees and dues as set forth herein.
3.01.1 Classes of
Membership: There shall be three
classes of membership in this Association; Associate Membership, Active
Membership and Life Membership.
3.01.1.1
Definition: For Purposes of voting
and holding elective office in this Association, Life Membership shall be
synonymous with Active Membership. Life Members are Active Members who have met
all additional requirements for Life Membership.
3.01.1.2 Associate
Member: Any Master Mason who meets
the general requirements for membership as set forth herein is eligible to
become an Associate Member of this Association.
3.01.1.3 Active
Member: The Past Worshipful Masters
and the five currently elected officers of the Particulars Lodges of the 20th
and 21st Masonic District, who otherwise meet the general requirements for
membership as set forth herein, are eligible to become active members of this
Association.
3.01.1.4 Life
Member: Any Past Worshipful Master,
or currently sitting Worshipful Master, of a Particular Lodge of the 20th and
21st Masonic District, who otherwise meets the general requirements for membership
as set forth herein is eligible to become a Life Member of this Association.
3.02 Application
for Membership and Proceedings Thereon: Any Master Mason eligible for membership in this Association shall be
admitted to membership upon petition therefore in writing and furnishing
satisfactory evidence of eligibility and payment of petition fee of $0.00,
which payment shall accompany the petition for membership.
3.03 The Officers of
the Association shall examine the petition for membership and make such inquiry
as to eligibility as shall be appropriate within thirty (30) days after receipt
thereof and notify the applicant forthwith in regard thereto. If the petitioner
shall be eligible and has paid the petition fee his name shall be added to the
role of members. The petition fee shall include annual Association dues for the
year the applicant is admitted to membership.
4.01 Annual
Association Dues: The annual
Association dues for membership in this Association, as hereinafter set forth, shall
be due and payable on or before January I of each year. The annual Association
dues period shall be from January 1 through December 31 of each year.
4.01.1 The dues for
Active Member shall be $5.00 per annum.
4.01.2 The dues for
Associate Member shall be $5.00 per annum.
4.01.3 The dues for
Life Membership shall be $25.00 single payment. Those Life Members of this
Association who are Life Members prior to amendment of these By-Laws shall
continue to be Life Members.
4.02 Suspensions
for Non-Payment of Association Dues:
If the annual Association dues are not paid on or before January 1, the
Secretary shall give written notice of such non-payment to the delinquent
member at his last known address and if such Association dues are not paid
within thirty (30) days after giving such notice the delinquent member may be
suspended by majority vote of the Membership. Written notice of such suspension
shall be given the delinquent member forthwith.
4.03
Reinstatement: Any member suspended
from membership for nonpayment of Association dues may be reinstated within
thirty (30) days after such suspension on payment of delinquent Association
dues plus the additional sum of $1.00, and after thirty (30 days may be
reinstated only by making petition for membership and payment of petition fee
as provided in By-Law 3.02 hereof.
4.04 Evidence of
Good Standing: Each member shall at
time of paying annual Association dues furnish satisfactory evidence of
eligibility for membership by showing current card from his Particular Lodge.
If a member is not eligible for membership at time of payment of annual
Association dues such Association dues shall be returned to him. If at any time
during the the annual Association dues period a
member shall cease to be eligible for membership he shall be forthwith
suspended by the Board of Directors and written notice of such suspension sent
to such member at his last known address but any Association dues paid for such
Association dues period shall not be returned to him.
5.01 Officers: The officers of this Association shall be President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer elected for the terms hereinafter
provided. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined upon unanimous
vote of the voting members present and voting. (1991)
5.02 Election of
Officers: The election of Officers
shall be held at the first meeting of this Association in November of each year
in the same manner as officers are elected in Particular Lodges in
5.03.1 At the first
election after approval of these By-Laws all Officers shall be elected in the
manner above prescribed to serve until the annual election above provided for.
At the first annual election all Officers shall be elected for the year
beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
5.03.2 Thereafter all
elections shall proceed as prescribed for the second annual election.
5.03.3 In the event
of vacancy in the office of President during the term aforesaid, the Vice
President shall become President until the next annual election. All other
vacancies shall be filled by majority vote of the Officers or by special
election called by the President.
5.04 Duties of
Officers: The President shall
preside at all meetings of this Association and shall perform all other duties
usually appertaining to the office of President and those duties prescribed
herein.
5.04.1 The Vice
President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President and
shall perform all other duties usually appertaining to the office of Vice
President and the duties prescribed herein.
5.04.2 The Secretary
shall make and preserve full and accurate records of the membership of this
Association, of all proceedings at meetings of this Association, and such other
records as from time to time he shall be directed to make and preserve by this
Association or by the Officers.
5.04.3 The Treasurer
shall make and preserve full and accurate records of all monies received and
disbursed by this Association and such other records and reports as from time
to time he shall be directed to make and preserve by this Association.
5.05 Eligibility
of Officers: The eligibility
requirements for the elected officers shall be as set forth hereinafter.
5.05.1 President: All Past Worshipful Masters, and all currently sitting
Worshipful Masters, of a Particular Lodge of the 20th and 21st Masonic District
who have not served in the office of President of this Association are eligible
to be nominated for the office of president.
5.05.2 Vice
President: All Past Worshipful
Masters, all currently sitting Worshipful Masters and all currently sitting
Senior Wardens of a Particular Lodge of the 20th and 21st Masonic District are
eligible to be nominated for the office of Vice President.
5.05.3 Secretary: All Active Members of this Association are eligible
to be nominated for the office of secretary.
5.05.4 Treasurer: All Active Members of this Association are eligible
to be nominated for the office of treasurer.
5.06 Term of
Office: The term of office for the
officers of this Association shall be as set forth hereinafter.
5.06.1 President: The President shall not serve more than one full
term in this office.
5.06.2 Vice
President: The Vice President shall
not serve more than one consecutive full term in this office.
5.06.3 Secretary: The Secretary may serve more than one term in this
office. The office of Secretary may be combined with that of Treasurer as set
forth in Section 5.01.
5.06.4 Treasurer: The Treasurer may serve more than one term in this office.
The office of Treasurer may be combined with that of Secretary as set forth in
Section 5.01.
5.50 Eligibility
to Vote: All Active Members,
Associate Members and all Life Members shall be eligible to vote in all
elections of this Association.
6.02 Disbursement of Funds: No funds of this Association shall be disbursed or
expended except by check or voucher signed by the Treasurer and countersigned
by the President, or in his absence by the Vice President, and no funds shall
be expended or disbursed except by approval by majority vote of membership in
regular meetings.
7.01 General
Membership Meetings: The regular
meetings of this Association shall be on the third Wednesday of the months of
January, March, May, July, September and November, said meetings to begin at
8:00 PM, except that any regular meeting date or time may be changed at least
fifteen (15) days prior to said regular meeting by the President upon approval
by majority vote of the Officers, and with written notice given to the
membership.
7.01.1 Quorum for
General Membership Meeting: The
Quorum for a general membership meeting shall be composed of at least two of
the four elected officers, one of which shall be either the President or Vice
President.
7.04 Opening and
Closing Meetings: No Ritual or
secret ceremony shall be used in opening or closing the meetings of this
Association. (Reg. 4.07).
7.05 Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called by the President, or in his absence by
the Vice President, by announcement of time, place and purpose thereof at any
regular meeting and any business of this Association may be transacted at a
special meeting except such business as is required by these By-Laws to be
transacted at a regular meeting.
8.01 Purpose: The purpose and objective of this Association is to
foster Masonic fellowship and brotherly love among the members, encourage
active participation in programs and projects sponsored or approved by the
Grand Lodge and or any Particular Lodge or Lodges approved by the Grand Lodge.
(1984) There shall be at least one project
or charity of a Masonic nature and one project or charity of a nonmasonic nature conducted by the Association each year.
9.01 Scholarship
Committee: Recognizing that the
education of our youth is of utmost importance to the future of
There shall be a
Scholarship Committee to administer the Suncoast Masters and Wardens
Association Scholarship. The Committee shall consist of at least three, but not
more than five, members appointed by the President in January of each year. The
duties shall be to (1) solicit applications, (2) evaluate the applications, and
(3) recommend a recipient. The Committee shall complete the selection process
no later than the May meeting.
High school seniors and graduates from Pinellas County and West Pasco County
planning to pursue an education at an accredited two or four-year college,
university, or technical trade school are eligible to apply without regard to
race, color, sex, creed, religious preference, or Masonic affiliation. In the
selection process the committee shall consider, but not limited to, the
following criteria: (1) academics, (2) financial need, (3) extra curricular
activities, and (4) service to the community.
Payment of the
scholarship shall be made directly to the institution upon receipt of
notification from the applicable institution that the recipient is enrolled
therein.
APPROVED
M:.W:. Jacque A. Couture
Grand Master
Grand Lodge of
Copyright
© 2006-2008 Suncoast Masters & Wardens Assn. All Rights
Reserved.