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Questions on Members and Officers

Doug Oldmixon, State Advocate

Q – Can an officer of the council be removed from office for missing three consecutive meetings?

A - A council officer may only be removed from office for three reasons:  death, resignation or if the office is declared vacant by the District Deputy “...where the officer fails or refuses to perform the duties of his office.” See Section 92b of the Bylaws.  The District Deputy will not do this lightly, but only after serious consultation with the Grand Knight, Trustees and other officers of a council, and as a last resort.  Has the officer refused to perform his duties?  Why has he missed three meetings?  Work conflict; loss of a job; serious illness himself or in his household; another rational cause?  Has the Grand Knight or other council officer called him or reached out to discover the reasons?  As Brothers, we owe him that fraternal courtesy.  Even if the reasons are debatable, every officer should be offered the option of a voluntary resignation before being subjected to removal.  Stress the necessity of honoring the time commitment he made at his installation to the office.  If he cannot honor that commitment, he should consider resigning so that another can be found who is able to devote the time to contribute to the success of the council.

Q – One of our council Trustees recently moved away from the local area.  Is there any requirement to live near your council or something specific we need to do to have him removed from his office?

A – There is nothing in the Charter, Constitution and Bylaws of the Order that requires a Brother Knight to live in the “immediate” area in which his Council is located.  The only exception is that a State Deputy must approve a member who lives in Texas, for example, joining a Council located in Louisiana.  So long as the Trustee (or any other officer) continues to perform the duties of his office, there is no reason for him to be removed from that office because of his new home location.
   
Q – May a man who belongs to one parish join, or transfer to, a council at another parish? What happens if he is rejected for membership at one of the councils?  What about if he is rejected for a transfer?

A - The Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Order, Sec 111 provides that “where there are two or more councils within the same city or town, application may be made to either of such councils.” However, the members of the council must ballot to accept a new member and for such votes, they are to be secret and results are determined by majority vote (see Sec. 112). Each candidate must be balloted separately (see Sec. 113). Sec. 114 deals with the rejection by ballot of an applicant for membership.  It provides that an applicant rejected by ballot may reapply for admission after six months have passed since the date of the rejection.  The same procedure applies for transfers of an existing member from one council to another (see Sec. 224-225).  Once a man is a member in good standing, as evidenced by a current membership card, he is welcome (as non-voting participant) to the meetings and events of any of our councils. A Brother who is rejected as a transfer may also avail himself of this courtesy and visit at the desired council as a prelude to a future transfer application six months later.


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