By Laws of the Greek Orthodox Retired Clergy Association of America
Document Actions
PREAMBLE
When it became evident that the number of the retired clergy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was growing, two far-seeing retired brothers, the late Fr. John Zanetos, of blessed memory, and Fr. George L. Papadeas, suggested to other retired brothers that it would be a good idea to create a not for profit corporation (Association) of the retired clergy. This was done on February 16, 1989, under the laws of the state of Florida by document N30728.
ARTICLE 1 - NAME - ADDRESS - EMBLEM
1. Name: The name of the Association shall be, "Retired Greek Orthodox Clergy of America, Inc." It will also be known by the acronym R.C.A. (Retired Clergy Association), and the name appearing on its official emblem, "Greek Orthodox Retired Clergy". .
2. Address: The address of the Association will be that of its current President.
3. Emblem: The Association shall have an Emblem which shall incorporate the following words: In Greek: "ΙΕΡΕΥΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΝ ΑΙΩΝΑ". In English: "GREEK ORTHODOX RETIRED CLERGY", and be in the following form:
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
The purposes of the Association are:
1. To promote fellowship among the retired clergy and their families and to assist each other in any problems and emergencies, personal, emotional or financial they may have to face alone.
2. To promote cooperation and mutual respect with the active clergy by helping, supporting, guiding, sharing their experiences with them and aiding them in their ministry, when requested to, and to help prepare them for retirement.
3. To support all the activities, growth and progress of the Church through close cooperation between the Board of Trustees of the Retired Clergy Association and the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council by having occasional meetings together.
4. To work closely with both the clergy and lay for the promotion of the welfare and progress of the Church. "
5. To take a proactive role in the administration of the Church by speaking out at Clergy-Laity Congresses.
6. To advise the Archbishop on all matters vital to the Church, including the nomination and election of Bishops, and the appointment of a representative of the Retired Clergy Association on all National Church Committees.
7. To guard and protect the Orthodox Faith and Orthodox way of life by speaking out fearlessly against any excess or wrongdoing in the governance of the Church.
8. To engage in projects that benefit the Church and her faithful.
9. To guard and improve any and all benefits, to which the Retired Clergy are entitled.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Association, with the right to vote, shall automatically be all the retired priests of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, upon the payment of the minimum established stewardship.
Membership, without the right to vote; is also extended to any clergyman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America upon the payment of the minimum established stewardship.
Associate membership; without the right to vote, is extended to all Orthodox laity, male and female upon the payment of the minimum established stewardship.
Honorary membership is extended to all Presvyteres of the living retired clergy and the widowed Presvyteres.
ARTICLE IV -- MEETINGS
Section 1. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Association shall hold a regular General Assembly at the Biennial Clergy Laity Congress, with 25 members in good standing comprising quorum. When deemed necessary the Board of Trustees of the Organization or 10% of the members in good standing (who have paid their minimum established stewardship) may call a special general assembly by notifying the members by first Class mail at least 30 days before the date of such assembly of the time and place of the assembly, and stating the matters to be discussed at the assembly. The assembly shall be held in any large city in Illinois.
Section 2. BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
The Board of Trustees of the Association shall meet at least once a year at a time and place set by the President to discuss the business of the Association according to an agenda prepared by the President, and at such times when the President and/or Officers of the Association shall deem it necessary to call a special Board of Trustees meeting. The quorum shall be at least five.
Section 3. ORDER OF BUSINESS
All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
All decisions will be made, after due deliberation, by majority voice vote or secret ballot if requested by any member attending. All decisions will be communicated to His Eminence the Archbishop and all Metropolitans and ruling Bishops for their information.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. NUMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, three Trustees, the Publisher of the Epistle and the immediate past President. A total of nine.
Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE.
The Board of Trustees shall be elected at the Biennial Clergy Laity Congress for a two year period, and they may serve two consecutive terms, if reelected.
Section 3. DUTIES
The Board of Trustees shall be in total charge and have complete supervision of the affairs of the Association, policies, finances, direction and activities within the framework of the Articles of its Incorporation and its by-laws.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS / DUTIES
Section 1. NUMBER OF OFFICERS
The Officers of the Organization shall be four: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be elected at the Clergy-Laity Congress from among the newly elected Board of Trustees.
Section 3. The PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the Association, except the General Assembly, when the Presiding Officer shall be elected from the floor.
He shall prepare the agenda for all meetings. and direct the discussions, without the right of vote, except in the case of tie.
He shall. appoint as many permanent or temporary committees as he deems necessary to insure the efficient operation .of the Association.
He, along with the Treasurer of the Organization, shall sign all checks, vouchers or drafts of the Organization, .
He shall have the right to expend, without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Association or the Members of the Association, the sum of up to $250.00 for any reason which he deems beneficial to the Association, limited to the total amount of $l,000.00 per calendar year.
Section 4. The VICE-PRESIDENT will assume all the duties of the President whenever the President is absent. In the event of the resignation orthe total incapacity of the President as determined by a majority of the Board of Trustees, he will become the President of the Association for the balance of the President's term of office.
Section 5. The SECRETARY shall keep all books and reports and the official' seal of the Association; he will take and record the minutes at all meetings and distribute copies thereof to all authorized to receive them orrequest them; he will handle and sign all correspondence along with the President; he will issue necessary certificates, safe keep corporate papers and records and all other documents of the Association.
Section 6. The TREASURER shall have complete control of all the moneys of the Association and present a written financial report at all meetings; he shall receive and deposit all funds received from the members or any other source, including all projects and activities of the Association, and issue official receipts for same;
. he shall disperse funds by check, signed by him and the President of the Association, for legitimate bills received, and he shall reimburse the Officers, Trustees and any other member of the Association for any reasonable expenses incurred by them in the exercise of their duties or assignments, after the approval and authorization by the President; he will create and promote money-making activities for the Association; he will invest part of the funds in secure investments with the approval of the Board of Trustees; he will receive the financial obligation of each member which is a stewardship of a minimum of $40.00 per year. This amount can be increased, if necessary, at a General Assembly.
The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
Section 7. The THREE TRUSTEES shall participate in all meetings of the Board, and assume any duties or responsibilities the President may assign to them.
Section 8. RETIRED CLERGY DIOCESAN REPRESENTATIVES. In addition to the nine members of the Board of Trustees, the President shall appoint a representative of the Association in each of the nine Dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Church of America who shall be responsible for locating, being in constant touch with, and serving the retired clergy and their families in their respective Dioceses, and conveying their needs to the Board of Trustees, and their news to the EPISTLE.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
The election of the Board of Trustees shall be conducted as follows: Two months before the Clergy Laity Congress all the members of the Organization in good standing shall receive, through the EPISTLE, a letter asking them whether they are interested in being a candidate for the seven elected Members of the Board of Trustees. The letter will have a form at the bottom which they will complete and return to a three men elections committee appointed by the President.
The names of those responding will be placed on a ballot to be mailed to all members of the Association in good standing in a special mailing by the Elections Committee, asking them to vote for only seven, or fewer, of the names appearing on the ballot. The completed ballot must be in the hands of the Elections Committee at least two weeks prior to the Clergy-Laity Congress.
The Elections Committee will count the votes at the Associations General Assembly at the Clergy Laity Congress and announce the names of the seven winners who will constitute the new Board of Trustees, along with the two ex-officio members, the immediate past President and the Editor of the Epistle.
Shortly after the election of the Board of Trustees, whilestill at the Clergy-Laity Congress, at a time and place announced by the Elections Committee the nine members of the Board of Trustees will meet and elect their officers under the supervision of the Elections Committee. ,
Then the entire Board can take the oath of office before His Eminence the Archbishop or any other Hierarch..
ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
The President, in consultation with his Board of Trustees shall appoint the following Committees.
1. Membership. To bring into the Organization new members in accordance with Article III of these By-laws.
2. Presvyteres. A five member committee from the body of Presvyteres which will bring to the attention of the Board of Trustees all the problems and needs of the Presvyteres. The Presvyteres may recommend to the President which five will constitute the Presvyteres Committee.
3. Benefits, Charity and Philanthropy. To actively pursue the betterment of our health, and financial, benefits; to establish guidelines. of remuneration when serving. as substitutes or assistants at various parishes; and to help financially those who need help but cannot obtain it from any: other source; also, to sponsor the presence of members of the Retired Clergy Association' at HC/HCwho will speak on various facets of their professional experiences with the Senior Class at the Holy Cross School of Theology.
4. Special Projects. Such as translations of liturgical and religious books; the works of the Fathers of the Church and other books which do not exist in the English language, yet are very useful to our theological students and priests; and the publication of religious, educational and cultural articles in the Observer, the Epistle and other publications.
5, Missions both Home and Foreign. To establish mission parishes in this country, in Consultation with the Metropolitans and Ruling Bishops, develop them for two years and turn them over to an assigned priest. To engage in foreign mission work.
6. Historian. A committee of three shall be appointed to gather all documents dealing with the creation and establishment of the Association and to write the history of the life and works of the Association, and keep it current.
7. Audit Committee. A three member Audit Committee which will audit the financial books of the Association and report to the General Assembly.
8. Elections Committee. A three member Elections Committee that will conduct the Elections.
9. Any other Committee that the President and his Board will consider useful in the promotion of the work of the Association.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by a two thirds majority of those present and voting, provided they constitute a quorum, at any General Assembly, after circulation among the members of the proposed amendments at least one month before such assembly.
