BY-LAWS OF THE BERGALL ASSOCIATION
(created in 2000, last amended 2004)

Article I    -    MEMBERSHIP

1.    Membership is open to all men who served on the United States Submarine Bergall and have worn the Dolphins of the Submarine Service while serving in the United States Navy. The applicant must not have been disqualified for administrative or judicial reasons nor have caused discredit to the submarine community. This is not meant to limit persons who served in temporary status nor does it preclude membership by persons who shifted status to other services or who performed duties on a submarine from other services or organizations.

2.    Associate membership will be accepted for those persons who have significantly contributed to submarine services.    The Associate member shall have the same rights and privileges as a regular member except that the Associate member may not hold office.    For a person to be eligible for Associate Membership, he must have had a long term involvement in submarine activities and have made a significant contribution to the field, be a direct family member or close friend of a submariner eligible for full membership.  Associate members must be voted in by a majority vote of the Association.

3.    Honorary membership is conferred at the discretion of the membership by the President and Treasurer/Secretary of the Association. Nomination for Honorary Membership must be submitted in writing to the officers of the association and must pass a vote of the membership in good standing by at least two-thirds majority. Honorary membership shall be reserved for those individuals, not otherwise qualified for membership, who have been responsible for the furtherance of the associations goals or have been active in the submarine community.    Honorary members will be provided a lapel pin, membership card, and a certificate of membership without fee.    Honorary members shall not be allowed to vote in Bergall Association elections or hold any office.

4.    Life memberships shall be open to any individual member upon payment of the prescribed lifetime membership dues.

5.    Allied membership shall be open to any allied country counterpart of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force serving on an ex-Bergall Submarine. . Allied membership shall have all benefits of an individual member with the exception of voting privileges and holding office.

6.    Application for membership shall be made in writing to the secretary by proper execution of a membership application and payment of required dues.  All applicants will be screened by the membership committee prior to acceptance.

7.    Requests for membership termination of an individual in the association may be submitted by written petition signed by at least twenty members.    The petition must include a detailed statement as to the reason considered cause for termination.    This matter will be voted on only after the member identified in the petition has been notified and allowed thirty days to submit reason for non-termination. The matter must then be decided by a majority vote of the members of the association.

8.    Meetings

    a.    Annual

            Annual meetings will be held in conjunction with the Annual Submarine Veterans of WW-II and Submarine Veterans, Incorporated, alternatively, with the USSVWWII Convention starting in 2001.    Six months prior to the convention date as established by a majority vote of the National Chapter Officers, the President will assign a committee to nominate a site. After consensus approval by a majority of members, the committee will make detailed arrangements for executing the annual meeting and convention.    The annual meeting will be the forum for establishing goals and objectives and election of national officers for the following year.    The site for the annual meeting for the following year will also be determined.

    b.    Quorum

           Those members present in body shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

    c.     Proxy Voting

            Members may vote by proxy only if a properly executed and a signed request is received by an officer of the association prior to the appointed time of a meeting.

 Article II     OBJECTIVES

1.    To promote an awareness within the Department of the Navy of the need for excellence within the submarine force. 

2.    To provide to the Department of the Navy (Submarine Community) a source of views and perceptions which are available upon request for examination of requirements and needs pertaining to submarine operations.

3.    To promote professionalism within the ranks of active submariners, make recommendations to the Submarine Force Commanders in the areas of operability and training, and to provide a volunteer core of specialist to the Navy for specific tasking.

Article III.    Officers

1.    An election will be held annually to elect officers of the Bergall Association.    Special elections may be conducted when an office is vacated prior to a scheduled election.

2.    President     -    The President will:

        a. administer the affairs of the association subject to the policy guidance of the by-laws and votes of the membership.

        b. formulate and execute procedures, programs and directives to carry out the policies of the association.

        c. recommend new policies to the membership.

        d. disburse the funds of the association and contract for services and supplies as are necessary for proper operation of the association subject to the supervision of the other officers.

3.    Vice President     -    The Vice-President serves in the Presidents temporary absence and assists him when required.    The Vice-President shall have all the authority and responsibility of the President when temporarily providing this service.

4.    Secretary    -    The Secretary will:

        a. keep or cause to be kept, the minutes of all meetings of the association.

        b. keep or cause to be kept, the roster of all members of the association and status of dues paid.

        c. act as keeper of official records and the seal of the association.

5.    Treasurer    -    The Treasurer will:

        a. collect the funds of the association and cause them to be deposited to the prescribed account.

        b. act as the comptroller of all financial matters for the association and shall monitor the expenditures of the president and make recommendations to the president and membership on budgetary matters.

Article IV    -    INSIGNIA

1.     The association's insignia is as shown
:
 

Article V    -    AMENDMENTS

1.    Resolutions for amendments to these articles shall be adopted by a quorum of the membership when submitted, voted upon, and approved.

Article VI    -    DUES

1.    Annual dues will be set at the annual meeting each year.

2.    Dues to be paid initially with application submitted to the secretary and annually prior to August 31st to the treasurer. (date amended 10/1/2004)

(item 3 added 10/1/2004)

3.    Life Membership fees are based on applicants age at time of application.

Article VII    -    EFFECTIVE DATE

1.    The effective date for these by-laws shall be May 15, 2000 as voted on by the Charter Members of the association and signed by the first elected officers of the association.

We, the undersigned, being the duly elected officials of the Bergall Association, do hereby certify that the foregoing by-laws of this association have been adopted by a quorum vote of the membership and set our signatures to this document the 27th day of May, 2000..

________________________
Donald Basham, President

 ________________________
Norman Ferland, Secretary / Treasurer