Proposed Constitution of the
Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association
Article I-Name
The name of this association shall be “Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association” (DBA “Marine Distinguished Shooters Association”). This organization will operate as a not-for-profit organization.
Article II-Membership
The following categories of membership are established, of which the first 250 will be charter members.
a) Regular Membership: Open to active duty Marines, Reserve Marines, retired Marines, former Marines, Navy Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsmen (Doc’s) and/or their, dependents who have been awarded Distinguished Badges.
b) Associate Membership: Open to active duty Marines, Reserve Marines, retired Marines, former Marines and Navy Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsmen (Doc’s), who were members of the Marine Corps Shooting Teams or the Marine Corps Reserve Shooting Teams, as well as those who served a minimum of one full summer shooting season in direct support of the United States Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program. Associate Membership is also open to those Marines and former Marines who have earned points toward the Distinguished badge.
c) Honorary Membership: The Board of Governors, upon written recommendation from the membership may award Honorary Life membership status upon a person who is held in high esteem and has made a contribution to Marine Corps Marksmanship.
d) Auxiliary Membership: Open to family members of Regular, Associate and Honorary Members.
e) Voting rights will be extended to Regular and Associate members only.
Article III-Objectives
The objectives of the Association are to:
a) Provide a means to further the camaraderie established among those who have
distinguished themselves in the Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program, as well as
those Marines who have tirelessly supported the United States Marine Corps Shooting
Teams as Armorers and Ammunition Technicians, in addition to those Marines who have
earned points towards the Distinguished Badge.
b) Foster the preservation and promotion of Marine Corps Marksmanship and the Marine
Corps Competition-in-Arms Program history.
c) Act as a vehicle by which Distinguished Marine shooters, those non-Distinguished
Marines who have earned points towards the Distinguished Badge and those dedicated
Marines who supported the USMC Shooting Teams as Armorers and Ammunition
Technicians can maintain continued contact with one another.
d) To hold an annual social gathering for the membership.
Article IV-Officers
a) The Association’s Officers will make up a nine (9) member Board of Governors elected by a majority count of those votes cast by the voting Membership (i.e. Regular and Associate Members in good standing).
b) Elections will be held every three (3) years, with Board of Governor members serving a three (3) year term.
c) If a vacancy should occur, the Board of Governors will appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term of such Board member until the next regular election.
d) If at least one of the top nine candidates is not elected from the opposite coast of the United States, the candidate with the highest number of votes from the opposite coast will become the ninth member of the Board of Governors regardless of the number of votes received.
e) The dividing line between East and West coast will be the Mississippi River.
f) The new Board of Governors will elect a President and Two (2) Vice Presidents from within the Board’s membership.
g) An Executive Secretary/Treasurer will be appointed by the Board of Governors from the Regular membership. The Secretary/Treasurer will not have a vote on the Board of Governors deliberations unless holding a dual position as a Board member.
h) When possible, a representative of the Marine Corps Shooting Teams is to hold an advisory position on the Board of Governors and as such will also act as a liaison to ensure a good line of communication between the MCDSA and the Marine Corps Teams. The Marine serving in this capacity will not have a vote on the Board of Governors deliberations unless holding a dual position as a Board member.
Article V-Duties of Officers
Board of Governors: The Board of Governors will govern the Association activities using the majority rule when voting on its deliberations. Proxy voting is authorized. Proxies must be in writing and are limited to the Board meeting at which they are presented. The Board is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer.
President of the Board: The President of the Board will serve at Board meetings as the Presiding Officer/Chair, thereby facilitating the Board meetings.* The President will annually appoint a three (3) member audit team from the regular membership to audit the Secretary/Treasurer account books each fiscal year. The President may appoint other committees as required. *In the absence of the President, if neither of the Vice Presidents are in attendance, the Secretary will call the meeting to order and conduct an election for a Chairman Pro Tem (a presiding office for that meeting only).
Vice Presidents of the Board: The Vice Presidents of the Board will assist the President in the performance of his/her duties. One Vice President will preside over Board meetings and regular meetings in the absence of the President. One Vice President will be elected from the West coast and one Vice President will be elected from the East coast. These Vice Presidents will also serve as representatives for their respective coasts.
Executive Secretary/Treasurer: The Executive Secretary/Treasurer will attend the meetings of the Board of Governors and the Association and keep minutes of their proceedings. In the absence of the Executive Secretary, the Presiding Chair will appoint someone to take the minutes so there is a record of the board’s actions. The minutes of all meetings will be provided to the Board of Governors within thirty (30) days of the adjournment of said meeting. The Executive Secretary/Treasurer will maintain the funds of the Association and make disbursements as authorized by the Board of Governors within the bounds of the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws. In order to maintain the Association’s EIN (Tax ID Number), the Executive Secretary/Treasurer will file the necessary tax form(s) not later than 1 November each year for the fiscal year ending on 30 June of the same calendar year.
Article VI-Meetings
There shall be at least one meeting of the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association each year. The Board of Governors will meet by the call of the President. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. Before any business can be conducted, there must be a quorum present (or via telephone/video call). At said meetings, there will be a Call to Order, with a Pledge of Allegiance, a Roll Call, an Approval of the Minutes of the last meeting and at a minimum a/an: 1) President’s Report; 2) Treasurer’s Report; 3) Membership Report; 4) Website Report; 5) Fraternal Items Report; 6) Old Business; 7) New Business. At the
conclusion of all business of the Board of Governors meeting, the Board will establish the time, date and location of the next Board of Governors meeting, and there will be a motion to adjourn.
Article VII-Amendments and By-Laws
Amendments to this constitution will be made by a two-thirds vote of regular members whose ballots are received. The proposed amendment(s) will be either posted on the Association’s website, or mailed to voting members. A request for a written reply from voting members will be issued, with all votes needing to be received within thirty (30) days of the posted request for written reply so that a tally of votes can be timely accomplished. The Board of Governors will have the votes tabulated and the results announced on the MCDSA website and in the next newsletter. A By-Law will be adopted or repealed in the same manner as an amendment to the Association’s Constitution.
Article VIII-Dissolution
In the event of the Association’s Dissolution, all real property on hand will be sold and all funds from the sale and monies from all accounts will then be donated to the Marine Military Academy, Harlingen, Texas.
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Proposed By-laws of the
Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association
Section I – Membership Fees
The initial membership fee will be $15.00 for the first two-year period. Subsequent annual fees will be determined by the Board of Governors and will be kept at a minimum to cover the Association’s operating expenses. Life membership is offered to all members as follows: Age 17 to 49, $150.00, age 50 and up $100.00. Life membership can be made in payments, but must be paid in full within one calendar year. All annual membership dues will be payable on January 1st of the calendar year. Honorary and Auxiliary members are exempt from membership fees.
Section II – Disbursement of Funds
The Executive Secretary/Treasurer may expend association funds not to exceed $50.00 for Association operation expenses. Disbursements over $50.00 and up to $100.00 require approval from the President or a Vice President of the Board of Governors. Disbursements over $100.00 require approval of a majority of the Board of Governors. No member of the Board of Governors or the Executive Secretary/Treasurer shall be reimbursed for services or travel.
Section III – Board of Governors’ Membership
Members of the Board of Governors serve at the pleasure of the regular membership. A Board member may be removed from office by two-thirds vote of the regular membership at a regular meeting. The Executive Secretary/Treasurer may be removed from office by two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors.
Section IV– Newsletter
The Board of Governors will cause “ the Badge” (Journal of the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association) to be published annually and distributed to all members. Periodic newsletters may be published at the direction of the Board of Governors. An updated roster (Directory) of the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association shall be made available to the membership on a bi-annual basis.