Final By-Laws And Guidelines Of The USS Turner Joy Reunion Group

PREAMBLE

Finalized as of December 16, 2019

The members of the association do recognize the moral, social, intellectual, historical and other benefits to the members and their families from affiliation with the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP.  The members strive to cultivate the friendship of the reunion group preserving loyalty among members and do hereby agree to be reasonably governed by the following by-laws and guidelines.

  • ARTICLE 1 NAME
    • SECTION 1:  The name of the veteran’s organization/social group shall be the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP.

 

  • ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE
    • SECTION 1:  The purpose of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP is to assist former shipmates who have served aboard the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) to meet and communicate in order to encourage the exchange of information about historical events and shipmate actions that made those historical events part of American history.  We enjoy enhancing shipmate’s understanding of those American historical events which we wish to preserve, correct and record an accurate history of the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) for future generations. The USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP also supports the historical correction efforts of those periodical crew members who served during times of political suppression during the Vietnam War. The membership of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP will always support the desire to work towards the accuracy of events in key Governmental agencies within the Department of Defense purview. This historical correction effort may also extend to private institutions and museums for historical accuracy to better understand their honored contribution to United States Naval Service and the United States of America.
    • SECTION 2:  The USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP shall be a non-profit, tax exempt, and non-political organization, i.e., Veterans Social Group and State of Washington 501 ( c ) 7 Charitable Organization. The USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP, which is currently defined under IRS Code section 501 ( c ) 7 as a REGULATED per the IRS letter dated July 23, 2019 is a non-profit tax exempt Veterans Social Group operating under IRS Rule 501 ( a ). Until the members have a quorum vote in the future after proper motions are made to decide whether they wish to continue to operate as a non-profit tax exempt Veterans Social Group and the State of Washington Charitable Organization; USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP will operate in its current 501 ( c ) 7 status.
    • SECTION 3: The USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP shall adopt Standing Rules for governing the affairs of the Reunion Group, providing that nothing shall be in conflict with the by-laws and guidelines.

 

  • ARTICLE 3 MEMBERSHIP
    • Defined
      • Regular Member in Good Standing (Dues are paid up to date
      • Member (A Member with dues that are NOT Paid up to date!
      • Associate Member Refer to section ( 2 )
      • Honorary Member Refer to section ( 3 )
      • Spouses of Members Refer to section ( 4 )
    • SECTION 1: All personnel who served on the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) while the ship was in commission from August 3, 1959 until decommissioning on November 22, 1982 are eligible for membership in the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP.  Reunion Group Regular members in good standing are entitled to rights and privileges that include voting, holding elected office in the Reunion Group, serving on committees, attendance at reunions and other meetings, plus participation in all historical events and other historical Navy functions. We also enjoy participation in all memorial functions sponsored by the Reunion Group.
    • SECTION 2: Associate membership shall consist of those persons who want to be associated with the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP because of personal relationship to shipmates, sister ship associations, or other valid reasons known to them, and who have been nominated by a Regular member, can become an Associate Member. As with Regular members, yearly dues will be required to retain an Associate membership. Associate members are not permitted to attend meetings, not able to vote or to hold elected office or be appointed to positions in the Reunion Group. Widows of Regular members are eligible to be Associate members. All Associate Members are welcome to Reunion activities held once every two years.
    • SECTION 3: Honorary membership shall consist of those persons who want to be associated with the Reunion Group because of personal and/or professional relationships to shipmates, sister ship associations and other valid reasons known to them, or to persons who have directly or indirectly contributed their time, talent and/or assistance to the Reunion Group. Honorary membership may be granted upon recommendation by a member in good standing, and a simple majority vote of the Reunion Group members present who are voting-in every two years at the business meeting. Honorary members may also be voted up by the Reunion Group members in the USS Turner Joy newsletters by a quorum vote.
    • SECTION 4: Spouses of members shall ENJOY all the rights and privileges of members, with the following exceptions: They may not attend meetings, may not vote, may not hold elected office or be appointed to positions in the Reunion Group and are not required to pay annual membership dues.

 

  • ARTICLE 4 DUES AND DONATIONS
    • SECTION 1: The Regular members annual dues of this Association shall be $20.00 per year and is currently $20.00 per year. The Reunion Group membership year is defined as a calendar year, from January 1st to December 31st. The annual dues are payable in the preceding November as routine policy, but the Reunion Group elected officers may delay that, if a member has economic hardship and communicates with the Reunion Group elected officials for adjustment of payment due date. As costs and expenses go up, these payments of annual dues may increase by recommendation of elected Officers to the President of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP. Annual dues payments increases shall not exceed $5.00 per annum and shall be done after financial analysis and voted on at the business meeting at the next Reunion.
    • SECTION 2: Dues will NOT be collected from an Honorary member of this Reunion Group.
    • SECTION 3: A member in good standing is one who has paid, or is not more than 60 days in arrears of payment of dues, or owes other monies to the Reunion Group, shall be identified for payment on a congenial basis.
    • SECTION 4: Any member who is arrears of payment of dues is deemed to be delinquent after 90 days, which shall be notified as February 28th at the 90 days delinquent point of the calendar year in question.
    • SECTION 5: Pursuant to the economic hardship of Reunion Group members, in further amplification of that policy, upon notification of continued economic hardship where members are unable to pay annual dues may be temporarily excused past the aforementioned deadlines, until their situation improves.
    • SECTION 6: Donations. If Regular and Associate members desire to send in donations to the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP to build up funds for the reunions that are held every two years, and cover the past cost complex IRS conversion process, the elected officials encourage such donations and they will be strictly accounted for per IRS guidelines. Informal Compilation Accounting Reviews in lieu of a full-blown formal audit shall pay particular attention to the donations for full accounting under cash basis fund accounting with respect to Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP). In some past years, the reunions had cost overruns, with dues and donations we rebuild those funds for the benefits and ENJOYMENT of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP.

 

  • ARTICLE 5 REUNION GROUP OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • SECTION 1: The Officers of the Association shall comprise of its Board of Directors which consist of; President; Alternate President; Treasurer; Alternate Treasurer; Secretary; a Ship’s Reunion Coordinator and two Associate Reunion Coordinators for each of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP reunions. The immediate Past-President serves PRIMARILY in an advisory, non-voting capacity with respect to the newly IRS regulated guidelines for a non-profit tax-exempt Veterans Social Group status and State of Washington Charitable Organization.
    • SECTION 2: There should be an election of officers at each business meeting every two years by the voting members present if a motion is raised by a regular member. Officers shall be elected for two-year terms with terms staggered so that 50% of the officer positions will expire at the end of each business meeting every two years. In the event of a national emergency, or any other cancellation of the annual business meeting, the officers shall remain in office until the next regularly scheduled business meeting. The slate of proposed officers shall be presented to the members present at the business meetings every two years.
    • SECTION 3: The duties of the President shall be to preside over all meetings of the Association and its Board of Directors, to organize the reunions with the Reunion Coordinator and his two Associate Coordinators and enforce the by-laws and guidelines of the association. The President is a member of all committees. The President shall appoint a Master at Arms as necessary to enforce security at the meetings and resolve any disputes, including eligibility for voting. A Parliamentarian may be appointed by the President to assist the secretary in ensuring the proper conduct of the business meeting every two years according to Robert’s Rules of Order. (Newly Revised) The President also serves as Chairman to other elected and appointed officials.
    • SECTION 4: With respect to IRS Rules and Regulations per Form 1024, an Alternate President and Alternate Treasurer are appointed after their consent and given a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPOA) to act accordingly for any reason of incapacity of the President and Treasurer.
    • SECTION 5: The duties of the Secretary shall be to record proceedings of the Business Meetings, respond to and refer correspondence to the proper Officers and prepare Association correspondence when directed to do so, including assisting in preparation and distribution of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP newsletter, if requested. The Secretary shall also notify Officers and Committees of their election or appointment and shall assist the President in preparation of the Order of Business to be considered at each meeting. Upon direction the Secretary shall send out notices of all meetings of the Reunion Group at least ten (10) days in advance. The Secretary shall work with the President if requested to prepare a brief Annual Report as applicable.
    • SECTION 6: The duties of the Treasurer shall be to receive all monies from dues, donations and interest income to keep an accurate account of all finances in accordance with the IRS Rules and Regulations for Form 990EZ per cash basis fund accounting with respect to General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Treasurer shall submit a yearly Form 990EZ for the prior calendar year to the IRS by May 15th of the following year and later disclose in a newsletter to the membership that this task has been accomplished, as soon as practical after submission to the IRS. The Treasurer shall also prepare yearly financial statements to be included in the Reunion Group newsletter. Financial data may also be presented to the members at the business meeting every two years at the reunions, if such financial data has been properly accounted for by that time.  The Treasurer shall also maintain an interest-bearing checking account and an interest-bearing savings account for the purpose of paying all authorized bills and as an avenue to raise funds for the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP, now a 501  ( c ) 7, tax exempt non-profit Veterans Social Group and State of Washington, Secretary of State 501 ( c ) 7 Charitable Organization.The Treasurer may also be authorized to pay an expense incurred by an Elected Official; Member in good standing, or Associate Member with prior written approval of the President and Elected and/or appointed Officials. A copy of the original receipt of an Elected and/or appointed Officials may be an approved expense with appropriate explanation and documentation and shall be forwarded to the President for approval signature. The President will send copies of the original approved documentation and receipts to the Informal Financial Reviewer Official (currently a volunteer) with a written statement of his assessment concerning USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP financial affairs. Once received, by the President and/or the Treasurer, this assessment will be disclosed to the Reunion Group membership in a newsletter. No expense reimbursement will be made without the President and other applicable officials’ approval in writing with the appropriate documentation.Personal Expenses associated with annual reunion expenses are NOT reimbursable unless such an expense is directly related to the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP responsibility. The President’s expenses related to the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP responsibilities are submitted to applicable officials for review, approval and for eventual reimbursement. Copies of original receipts are necessary to maintain the non-profit, tax-exempt status which shall also be filed with the yearly reports and applicable fees to the State of Washington to maintain the non-profit, tax-exempt status.
    • SECTION 7: The Immediate Past-President may sit on the applicable business meetings as a non-voting advisor to provide experience and guidance of Reunion Group Business as it pertains to the new IRS Regulated 501 ( c ) 7 status for our non-profit, tax exempt status. As of December 20th, 2019, the vast majority of the legal and administrative IRS and State of Washington Rules, Regulations and Guidelines have all been satisfactorily accomplished.
    • SECTION 8: The Ship’s Reunion Coordinators serve as elected officials that represent their membership and the shipmates who served on USS Turner Joy (DD-951). It is the Ship’s Reunion Coordinators responsibility to bring input from fellow shipmates and family members to provide positive enthusiastic leadership to the Reunion Group and its functions. The Ship’s Reunion Coordinators are encouraged to arrange a break-out session for fellow shipmates at each Reunion to listen to ideas and comments for the benefit of the Reunion Group in general.  Each ship’s Reunion Coordinators are responsible to provide information to the Newsletter with timely articles to enhance Reunions for the benefit and enjoyment of the membership. The Reunion Coordinators shall act on a consensus basis with the President for Reunion Development.
    • SECTION 9: The President and elected officials may meet as necessary either in person and/or by telephone conference and email conference to discuss Reunion Group activities. The purpose is to prepare the order of business for the Reunion Groups events and meeting every two years and to handle all business as necessary for the smooth operations for the Reunions. The financial goal is to break even for every reunion.
    • SECTION 10: All officers shall have the right to vote and debate matters the same as any other member except as stated in Section 7 above or in Section 11 below.
    • SECTION 11: The President, or the official who is presiding in his absence, shall avoid taking sides in the debate with other members on questions before the Reunion Group, unless he surrenders the Chair. The President is NOT prevented from entering the discussion. The President, or official presiding in his absence, need NOT surrender the Chair to debate an appeal from his decision of a motion, nor shall he be required to surrender the Chair when debating questions at Reunion Group business meetings.
    • SECTION 12: All Officers shall be requested to follow the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP finalized by-laws and guidelines to the utmost ability as applicable.
    • SECTION 13: Officers shall assume their duties upon being elected or appointed as necessary with their concurrence to enhance the benefit and enjoyment of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP.

 

  • ARTICLE 6 – MEETINGS
    • SECTION 1: Necessary annual meetings of the Reunion Group will be held under the aforementioned guidance to sustain Reunion Group operations. There will be no minimum number of annual meetings for sustainment of the Reunion Group and its stated purposes.
    • SECTION 2: Nomination and election of Officers will be held after all old business is concluded at the Reunion Business Meetings.
    • SECTION 3: A Shipmate who is not a member in good standing is permitted to attend reunions without having voting privileges.

 

  • ARTICLE – 7 ORDER OF BUSINESS
    1. Call to order by the President or official residing in his absence.
    2. Invocation
    3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
    4. President Appointments of Master at Arms and Parliamentarian
    5. Reading of the minutes and their approval
    6. Reading of communications and correspondence
    7. Treasurers and Secretaries Reports
    8. Committee reports
    9. Unfinished Business
    10. The President may schedule individual break-out sessions at the semi-annual reunion business meeting to select ship Reunion Coordinators.
    11. Announcements and Elections
    12. Selection of future reunion city (2 years ahead); due consideration shall be made to cover the entire country over a 4-year span of reunions.
    13. Future Good of the Reunion Group
    14. Adjournment

 

  • ARTICLE – 8 AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS AND GUIDELINES
    • SECTION 1: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (EO) – ALL APPLICABLE EO RULES PER RECENT STATUES: RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGINALTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, protects applicants and employees from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification referral and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religions, sex (including pregnancy), of national origin.  Religious discrimination includes failing to reasonably accommodate an employee’s or members religious practices where the accommodation does not impose undue hardship. The Reunion Group as a normal routine ONLY hires outside help at a fair wage without benefits for development of Reunion Group business. Form 1099 MISC will be issued at the end of the calendar year, as applicable. Furthermore, during reunions every two years no pressure will be put on the membership to not attend religious services for those members that wish to attend. Since the Reunion Group Membership has diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, every effort will be made to always preserve equal opportunity for every individual.DISABILITY: Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, protect qualified individuals from discrimination on the basis of disability in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral and other aspects of employment. The Reunion Group membership has disabled individuals and every attempt will be made by the President and the Reunion Group Coordinators to accommodate those individuals that fall under the American with Disability Act of 1990 for Reunion every two years for member enjoyment.AGE: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, protects applicants and employees 40 years of age or older from discriminations based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment. Virtually all of the membership are over age 40 and every effort will be made to AVOID age discrimination of the members.SEX (WAGES): In addition to sex discrimination prohibited by the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, prohibits sex discrimination in the payment of wages to women and men performing substantial equal work, in jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility, under similar work conditions, in the same establishment. There are currently NO KNOWN issues pertaining to the Sex Discrimination Act per Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as amended by the Equal Pay Act of 1963. If future circumstances arise where the provisions of Title VII come into play; then the provisions of these acts shall be enforced.RETALIATION:All of these Federal laws prohibit covered entities from retaliating against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice. There has been NO KNOWN retaliation of any member since the Reunion Group was formed circa 1991. The President and elected officials shall enforce non-retaliatory issues if they arise in accordance with Federal and State Rules, Regulations and Statues.GUIDELINES TO THE MEMBERSHIP:In future newsletters, the guidance for the US Equal Opportunity Commission shall be disclosed in accordance with Federal Government Information and Guidelines.DISABLED, RECENTLY SEPARATED, OTHER PROTECTED AND ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL VETERANS:The Vietnam Era Veterans= Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended; 38 U.S.C. 4212, prohibits job discrimination and requires Affirmative Action to employ and advance in employment disabled veterans, recently separated veterans (within three years of discharge or release from active duty), plus other protected veterans (veterans who served during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized), and Armed Forces service medal for veterans (veterans who, while on active duty, participated in a U.S. military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded). The Reunion Group will support, all Veterans functions to enhance benefits for all those who have honorably served that are in membership. The President and elected officials of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP shall always remain cognizant of those veterans in the membership that require assistance for their service and help in any way possible.
    • SECTION 2: The President shall have the authority to appoint committees or accept volunteers for committees as he deems necessary for operation of the Reunion Group, to include the following:
      1. Historian: The duties of the Historian shall be to maintain an accurate record of the history of the USS Turner Joy Reunion Group. The Historian shall also provide an American Flag for the Business Meeting every two years, and lead the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the business meeting.  Key members that desire historical correction to the actual record of Naval Operations during the Vietnam conflict and Cold War should coordinate with the President and the Reunion Coordinator.
      2. Chaplain: The Chaplain opens and closes the meeting of the Association with an appropriate prayer. The Chaplain is responsible for all Memorial Services, and participates in Veteran=s affairs of the membership. He may offer the blessing when appropriate at meals and assists members in spiritual needs when requested.
      3. Ship’s Store Manager: Coordinates the purchasing, inventory control, and sales of all USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP items available for purchasing at the Reunions every two years in the hospitality suite or room set aside for that function.
      4. Publicity Coordinator: Coordinates the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP public notices as requested by the President and other elected officials. This is to ensure that as many interested shipmates or interested persons are supplied with information to attend the reunions of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP. Newspapers, magazines, associations, periodicals and other appropriate media should be used to get the word out.
      5. Liaison Officer with the Bremerton Historic Ship’s Association (BHSA): The President of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP shall be the principal liaison officer with BHSA and help coordinate future reunions in Bremerton, WA where the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) located.

 

  • ARTICLE 9 – ENDING OF THE USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP
    • SECTION 1: If the time should come when the members of the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP decide that to continue to exist as an organization is no longer practical, the following rules shall apply:
      1. The decision to disband can be decided at a regular reunion business meeting by a quorum vote of the majority of the members present and voting.
      2. All members of the Reunion Group shall be notified by mail in writing, of the decision to disband, at least 30 days after the regular Reunion Group business meeting that the subject to disband was brought to the floor and approved.
      3. All monies and property belonging to the USS TURNER JOY REUNION GROUP will be donated to the BREMERTON HISTORIC SHIPS ASSOCIATION (BHSA), which is a 501 ( c ) 3 non -profit corporation that maintains and dry docks the USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) and shall specify the remaining Reunion Group Funds shall be used for upkeep, preservation and dry docking. After we have disbanded as a Reunion Group, we desire that the legacy of the USS TURNER JOY (DD-951) will continue for future generations. The monies shall be donated after all outstanding bills have been paid and accounts have been closed.
      4. The final newsletter will have a full financial, administrative and accounting reports stemming from the quorum vote to disband.