Blair County Allied

ARTICLE I

Name

    Section A. This organization shall be called the Allied Volunteer Firemen's Association of Blair County, Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE II

Object

    Section A. The object of this organization shall be to promote the interest and general improvement of the volunteer fire fighting servicethroughout Blair County, and in some extent promote the organization of volunteer fire companies in communities of Blair County now without such protection: to advancce and promote by honorable means the passage of legislative enactments that will afford protection to disabled firemen and those dependent upon them; to encourage and participate in worthy endeavors of civic enterprise, and to foster and encourage a closer fraternal friendship among its members by providing unto them instructions, entertainment, and refreshments.

ARTICLE III

Officers

    Section A. The elective officers shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, 4 elected Trustees, and 3 Fire School Directors.

ARTICLE IV

Meetings

    Section A. The business meetings of the Association shall be heldon the third (3rd) Monday of each month, at such place which has been scheduled by the officers of the Association.

                      Orders shall be drawn, only, at these meetings.

ARTICLE V

Delegates

    Section A. Seven Delegates in good standing shall constitute a gourum to do business.

ARTICLE VI

Duties of Officers

    Section A. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of the organization and maintain order therein. He shall take the opinion on all motions, when seconded and decide the question when a tie vote is cast.

                      He may, at any time, and shall, at a written request of delegates from five (5) different companies, call a special meeting.

                      He shall sign all orders drawn on the treasury.

                      It shall be his duty to have the chair of all absent officers filled at the beginning of the meeting.

                      He shall have the power to appoint all committees.

    Section B. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the Presidentin his absence and conduct the meeting and perform all the duties which would fall upon the President.

    Section C. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all business transacted by the Association.

                     The Assistant Secretary shall asume the duties of the Secretary in his absence and keep all records up to date.

                     In the absence of the President and Vice President, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to call the meeting to order and proceed to appoint a temporary President, who shall perform all the duties of the President. 

    Section D. The Treasurer shall pay all bills only by orders signed by the Secretary and President.

                     He shall have charge of all money and have same deposited with a safe  banking house in the name of the Association, when there is more money in the treasury than the fine limit in force at that particular time.

                     He shall pay all bills by check, when the bank balance exceeds the fine limit which may be in force at any particular time.

                     When the bank balance does not exceed the fine limit, he may pay in cash, by having the payee sign the order as having received same.

    Section E. The Auditing Committee shall consist of three (3) members appointed by the President annually. They shall audit all accountsof the Association and give a report at the first meeting after the time set for the audit.

    Section F. The Board of Fire School Directors will work with the host company who wishes to hold the yearly fire school and was approved by the Allied Association to do so. The directors are elected to a three year term with one new director elected each year.

ARTICLE VII

Membership

    Section A. Any organized Fire Company, Relief Association, or emergency service in Blair County or surrounding counties is entitled to membership upon payment of ($10.00) ten dollars membership fee to the Secretary.

    Section B. Each Fire Company and Relief Association is entitled to three (3) delegates to represent them at the meetings of the Association.

    Section C. The election for membership shall be by acclamtion, majority ruling.

    Section D. Each Fire Company and Relief Association shall annually furnish the Association with a list of their delegates.

    Section E. Dues shall be ($10.00) ten dollars per year for each Fire Company and Relief Association or emergency service. Dues for Past Delegates shall be ($2.00) two dollars per year.

    Section F. Any Fire Company, Relief Association or Past Delegate who shall be delinquent two (2) years shall be automatically suspended, by notice from the Secretary.

ARTICLE VIII

Nomination and Election of Officers

    Section A. Nomination of officers shall be at the November meeting of each year. The election shall be held at the December meeting one month later.

    Section B. When more than one candidate is nominated for any office, the election shall be by ballot. The one receiving the second highest number of votes, shall be vice or assistant.

    Section C. The term of office shall be one year.

    Section D. The officers shall be installed by a past president, at the regular meeting the third Monday in January.

ARTICLE IX

Installation

    Section A. At the installation of each officer, by a Past President, he shall be required to make the following affirmation: "I (name) DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY PROMISE THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF MY OFFICE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY, WHILE IN OFFICE, UNTIL THE INSTALLATION OF MY SUCCESSOR."

ARTICLE X

Annual Convention

    Section A. Any paid up fire company can request to host the annual convention for the coming year by submitting the request in writing on company letterhead to the Secretary before the date of the November meeting of the preceeding year.

    Section B. Fire Companies wishing to host conventions many years latter to coincide with city celebrations should do so by letter in writing to the secrtary as soon as possible.

    Section C. If more than one fire company requests to host the convention for the same year it will be put to a vote at the next Allied meeting and the final approval given to one company.

    Section D. The host company will assume all costs for the convention, firefighters contests and parade. Central District rules must be used for all contests. If host company wishes not to hold a parade, this should be discussed at Allied meeting for approval.

ARTICLE XI

Annual Queen Contest

    Section A. The host company of the annual convention should hold a county queen contest to select a queen to represent Blair County at the Central District Convention held in August of each year. Central District rules should be used for the contest.

    Section B. Host Company is responsible to send out all materials relating to the contest.

    Section C. Allied Association will pay host company ($125.00) one hundred twenty-five dollars to hold the contest.

    Section D. If host of annual convention does not want to hold the queen contest as part of the convention, they should inform the Allied so that a committee can be set to hold the contest.

ARTICLE XII

Insurance Fund

    Section A. Any Allied member in good standing may join the Allied Association Relief by paying an annual fee of ($3.00) three dollars to the treasurer.

    Section B. Membership in the Insurance Fund is optional.

    Section C. Insurance Fund members are mailed a dues notice each November and must have dues paid within (60) sixty days to retain death befefits. Failure to pay on time will result in loss of benefits for a period of (90) ninety days. Failure to pay by the end of the year will result in termination of membership in the insurance fund.

    Section D. Any member paid up for (10) ten years will become a life member and no longer pay any dues to the insurance fund.

    Section E. The insurance fund will be audited each December and the death benefits fixed for the coming year based upon the findings of that audit.

    Section F. In the event of death of a member, the family must send a death certificate to the Treasurer and the death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary of record.

ARTICLE XIII

Amendments

    Section A. No alterations or amendments can be made to these By-Laws unless said alterations or amendments are first submitted in writing and read at two (2) regular meetings prior to the vote thereon.

                     No amendments can be made without a two thirds (2/3) vote of members present.

Order of Business

1. Call meeting to order.

2. Roll Call of Members.

3. Reading of Minutes of previous meeting

4. Installation of Officers elected for ensuing year. (January)

5. Proposition for membership.

6. Election of members.

7. Unfinished Business.

8. Collection of Dues.

9. Reports of Committees.

10. Bills and Communications.

11. Receipts of the Evening.

12. Treasurer's Report.

13. New Business

14. Good of Association.

15. Motion for Adjournment.

    The foregoing By-Laws were revised and updated from the 1937 book and were approved and adopted at the meeting of the Allied Association held May 20, 1996 at the Sinking Valley Firehall and will take effect June 1, 1996.

Committee on By-Law revision:

Gerald Hoover, Martinsburg

Glenn Bonebreak, Martinsburg

George Troxell, Bellwood

Henry Saussol, Hollidaysburg