HERALD Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolen
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 55 — NO. 41
Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897.
Postmaster: Please Send ;Corm 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, POB 100, TEMPLE, TEX. 76501
OCTOBER 11, 1967
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK ANNUAL MEETINGS & ELECTIONS
THINK IT OVER ...
With the advent of lodge annual meetings, it is appropriate that we address ourselves to some of the more important aspects of these meetings, as outlined in our by-laws. For three years between conventions, these meetings and elections deal with elections of local lodge officers, committees, etc. Every fourth year, however, we have the added task and responsibility of electing delegates to the coming convention. This fall is the time to do this This is the year before the XXth General Convention. For those who may not be too familiar with the procedure, here are the highlights of these elections:
When easy does it, someone usually has to do it all over.
Art. 104b tells us that these annual meetings are to be held in either November or December, "or the first meeting thereafter." In other words, you could hold this meeting in either November or December, or the next meeting after that, but NOT in October or other month prior to that. Art. 102 tells us that "active or fullbenefit members are eligible for election as officers of local lodges, in districts, or as delegates. (As set forth in Art. 6>" Art. 6 tells us that "only that member may be elected delegate or alternate delegate who (either) pays his
The trouble with easy jobs is that they don't last long. • • Thomas Jefferson said, "If you would have a happy family life, remember two things: in matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current." premiums and local lodge dues and assessments regularly and promptly and has them paid at the time of the election, or who has his certificate paid up in due course, a certificate prematurely paid up in an amount of not less than $1,000 at the time of the election . . . has premiums, dues and assessments paid, if any, is present during the election, or is absent due to unavoidable circumstances, who has been a member of his lodge at least 12 months before the election, attended at least one-half of the meetings of his lodge the year before, the election (between the annual meetings preceding the election) " It goes on to say that no one can be a delegate if he sells life insurance in competition with the SPJST, etc. In short, this article tells us the
qualifications of delegates. Note that it requires that the person elected delegate must have attended one-half of the lodge meetings between the annual meetings .Attendance at the annual meeting itself could not be counted toward this. Here's something many people are not aware of: a delegate serves as delegate for four years, or "for the term from one convention to the next convention." (Art. 5). Art. 5c states that "All members present and voting must vote for as many delegates and alternate delegates as the lodge is entitled to." This then does not allow for abstentions. Ballots containing more or fewer nominees must be declared void (not counted). If a lodge is entitled to only one delegate and only one is nominated, no ballot is required. Article 106a states ". . . A member suspended for non-payment loses his right to vote and is not eligible for election. Election of officers is by ballot every time more than one candidate is nominated for the same office. In the event only one candidate is nominated for any office, by-laws may be suspended in connection with such individual cases on assent of twothirds of those present, and the election carried out by raising of hands. A majority of the votes decides. Officers