CONSTITUTION OF THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this Society shall be “Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution” as set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation under the laws of the Commonwealth dated February 23, 1923, approved by the State Corporation Commission, filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and duly recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Chancery Court of the City of Richmond.

NOTE: While the official name of this Society is the “Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution” it is appropriate to shorten this to “the Virginia Society.” In even fewer formal situations, the proper name is often again shortened to “VASSAR.”

ARTICLE II – PURPOSES

The purposes of the Virginia Society are declared to be patriotic, historical and educational, and shall include those intended or designed to perpetuate the memory of those patriots who, by their services or sacrifices during the war of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American people; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendants; to inspire them and the community at large with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire and preserve the records of the individual services of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, relics, and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorial; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of the war and of the Revolutionary period; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to carry out the purposes expressed in the preamble of the Constitution of our country and the injunctions of Washington in his farewell address to the American people.

ARTICLE III – SEAL

The seal of this Society shall be a disk two and one-half inches in diameter, with the words “Sons of the American Revolution” around the top of the outer circle, and the words “Virginia Society” at the bottom thereof; with the busts of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington in the inner circle; the words “Vox” (the Voice) “Penna,” (the Pen) “Gladius” (the Sword) being inscribed above said busts in the order named, and beneath said busts in the order named the dates “1765” (when Patrick Henry took his seat in the House of Burgess), “1776” (when Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence), and “1781” (when George Washington led the combined American and French forces to victory at Yorktown); and below these dates, the words “Organized July 7, 1890.”

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Any male shall be eligible for membership in the Virginia Society being a citizen of good repute in the community and the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to, and rendered active service in, the cause of American Independence, either as an officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militia man or minute man, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress or any of the several Colonies or States; as a signer of the Declaration of Independence; as a member of a committee of Safety or Correspondence; as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislature; as a foreign national of, but not limited to, France, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Germany who rendered service in the cause of American Independence; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain; provided, however, that no person advocating the overthrow of the Government of the United States by use of force or violence shall be eligible for membership in the Virginia Society.

Every member of the Virginia Society shall be subject to all the rules and regulations of the National Society.”

ARTICLE V - LOCAL CHAPTERS

Section 1:

 A chapter may be established in any community by ten or more persons eligible for membership and willing to take on the responsibilities of operating a chapter, with power to elect its own officers, to regulate its own business, and to engage in any activity, not inconsistent with this Constitution. Every member of a local chapter shall become at the same time a member of the Virginia Society and of the National Society and shall be subject to all the rules and regulations thereof.

Section 2:

Members wishing to form a new chapter must first coordinate their efforts with the Virginia Society Secretary who will inform the Virginia Society Executive Committee and seek their approval. To conclude the process, the new Chapter membership will complete the Virginia Society Application for Charter and submit it to the Virginia Society Secretary who will verify that the Charter Members are currently members of the Virginia Society and the National Society. Subsequently the Secretary will submit the Application for Charter to the Executive Committee for their approval. Once approved by the Executive Committee the new chapter will be issued a charter and added to the role of active chapters within the Virginia Society and National Society.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND BOARD OF MANAGERS

Section 1:

 OFFICERS OF THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY

The elected officers of the Virginia Society shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second

Vice-President, a Third Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chancellor, a Chaplain, a Historian, a Surgeon, and a Registrar. The first Vice-President shall be the President-Elect.

All officers shall be elected at the annual business meeting of the Virginia Society to serve for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

The order in which the officers of the Virginia Society are listed is the order of rank. Should the office of President become vacant, the next ranking elected officer shall succeed to the presidency. Should any other elected office become vacant, the President shall assign those duties of that office to other members of the Virginia Society until the next annual business meeting of the Virginia Society.

It shall not be necessary to appoint an individual to fill a vacant position other than that of the President. Such vacancies can be filled through the normal nominating process at the following annual business meeting of the Virginia Society. Should there exist a need to fill a vacant elected officer position, it shall be filled by an interim appointment, approved by majority vote of the Executive Committee and affirmed by the General Membership at the next suitable meeting if one occurs prior to the next annual meeting. No such ‘interim appointment’ will automatically assume a position in the normal or traditional sequence to the Presidency of the Virginia Society.

Section 2: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Virginia Society Executive Committee is composed of the; President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chancellor. The President of the Virginia Society shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The affairs of the Corporation and the routine affairs of the Virginia Society shall be conducted by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be the administrative committee of the Virginia Society and shall have the power and authority to manage the affairs of the Virginia Society.

It shall:

a).  Receive reports of the State Chairmen

b).  Review and recommend resolutions to the Board of Managers

c).      Recommend changes to the Constitution and Bylaws for submission to the Board of Managers and subsequent submission for a vote by the General Membership of the Virginia Society

d).  Recommend new and changes to general policy issues to the General Membership

e).  Prepare and present an annual budget to the Board of Managers for review and approval and subsequent submission to the General Membership. A minimum of four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting official business of the Virginia Society.

Section 3: THE BOARD OF MANAGERS

The Board of Managers shall be composed of the elected State Officers of the Virginia Society, the immediate Past State President and the Chapter President or designated representative from each local chapter.

The Board of Managers shall:

a).        Review and approve the budget presented by the Executive Committee with appropriate changes for submission to the General Membership.

b).        Receive and approve the nominating committee’s report of a slate of officers for the upcoming year to be presented to the General Membership.

c).        Approve any changes or amendments to the Constitution or By Laws of the Virginia Society for presentation to the General Membership.

d).        Approve the required trustees for the Knight-Patty Trust Fund, approve the use of funds disbursed by the Howard Hamilton Fund, and receive reports from the Trust Funds as specified.

e).  Approve any resolutions that are to be presented to the General Membership.

. A minimum of one half of the elected Officers of the Society plus one representative from at least one half of the chapters of the Society shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

Section 1:

 The annual business meeting of the Virginia Society shall be held in February of each year to commemorate the birthday of George Washington.

The semi-annual meeting of the Virginia Society shall be held in August or September of each year to commemorate Constitution Week.

Section 2:

 Special meetings to address specified business matters may be held at the call of the President or Board of Managers at any time. Special meetings shall also be called whenever requested, in writing, by fifteen or more individual members of the Virginia Society. Such special meetings may transact only business specified as the reason for requesting a special meeting.

Section 3:

 A minimum of one half of the elected Officers of the Society plus one representative from at least one half of the chapters in the Virginia Society shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any general or special meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - POWERS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:

 Receive the report of the Nominating Committee as submitted by the Board of Managers and elect the officers of the Virginia Society

Section 2:

Approval for establishing the Virginia Society’s budget shall be reserved to the General Membership at the annual business meeting. Revisions to the budget may be