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ELKS LODGE # 997 BULLETIN
17 SPRING ST., FLORENCE, MA 01062
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
September 2007 Vol. CI No. 6
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Final Report for 2007 of the By-Law Review Committee
Of Northampton Elks Lodge 997
“Committee recommended changes are indicated by a change in font which is underlined and bold.”
ARTICLE III: LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Recommendation #1
Section 1. The Lodge, by an affirmative secret ballot of two-thirds of those present at a regular Lodge meeting, may elect a member in
good standing to Life Membership upon the payment in advance of 25 times the yearly cost of membership.
Summary of Change
The committee felt that a multiplier for the Life membership dues would change as dues change over time. Currently the fixed amount
has to be adjusted at any dues adjustment.
Recommendation #2
Sec. 3. The Lodge may, by an affirmative secret ballot of two-thirds of those present at a regular Lodge meeting, elect a member in good
standing to Honorary Life Membership for distinguished services to the Lodge or to the Order. Mere services as a Lodge Officer or
Committeeman shall not be considered as sufficient distinguished service. Honorary Life Membership shall bestow all rights and
privileges of Life Membership on recipients.
Summary of Change
Identifies the benefits of an Honorary Life Member to be consistent with a Life Member.
Recommendation #3
ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS
Sec. 2. The regular hour of meeting shall be 7:30 o'clock p.m.; but at any time, however, when convenience requires, the regular
meeting may be held at an hour to be determined by vote of the Lodge to that effect at the previous meeting; provided that written notice
of such change of meeting hour shall be given to all the Members.
Summary of Change
This was a written request to the committee. The consensus of the committee was that this may increase attendance at meetings for
members with a conflict of their work schedule.
Recommendation #4
ARTICLE V: ELECTIVE OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1. The elective Officers of this Lodge shall be an Exalted Ruler, an Esteemed Leading Knight, an Esteemed Loyal Knight, an
Esteemed Lecturing Knight, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Board of Trustees consisting of five members, and a Tiler; and no member can
simultaneously hold more than one office in the Lodge, elective or appointive. No Lodge Officer shall simultaneously occupy another
position in the Lodge, whether as a paid employee or otherwise, when the relationship between the Lodge Office held and the other
position occupied is such as to give rise to an apparent, potential or actual conflict of interest. Expenses incurred by participation in
State Association conventions by those authorized, shall be reimbursed 100% of convention package for the ER, and 50%
of convention package for other authorized attendees.
Summary of Change
This has been a standard practice of reimbursement of the Lodge and allows for more accurate budgeting.
Recommendation #5
OF THE EXALTED RULER
Sec. 2. The Exalted Ruler shall be the Executive Officer of the Lodge and ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees without vote.
Except as otherwise provided by Statute, it shall be the duty of the Exalted Ruler to preside at all meetings of the Lodge, call special
meetings when necessary, appoint all committees as provided in Section 13.020 of the Grand Lodge Statutes, or by vote of the Lodge,
designating the Chairman thereof and have general supervision over all matters appertaining to the Lodge; he shall attend all officially
called District Deputy Clinics for his Lodge unless excused for good cause shown to the District Deputy with jurisdiction and see that
harmony is preserved and the Laws of the Order enforced; he shall act as the representative of this Lodge to the Grand Lodge and
perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Laws of the Order and the By-Laws of this Lodge. It shall be the duty of the
representative to the Grand Lodge to attend the Annual Session thereof and to submit a report to his Subordinate Lodge not later than
the first regular meeting in October.
The Lodge shall pay such representative not less than the amount provided for transportation and per diem while necessarily engaged
in travel and for each day actually spent in attendance at the Session, as provided in Section 4.240 of the Statutes of the Order. This
payment will be for ER and spouse, air package plus $200.00 per diem, (ER only), and convention package.
Summary of Change
Our present By-laws require the Exalted Ruler to attend the National Convention, and for it to be reimbursed. Adding the formula for
reimbursement allows better budgeting as in Section 1 above. This has been a standard practice of reimbursement of the Lodge.
Recommendation #6
OF THE TREASURER
Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all the Lodge moneys from the Secretary, giving him a receipt therefore; and,
except as otherwise provided by By-Laws, he shall be the Treasurer of all Committees of the Lodge, and shall handle all funds of all
Committees and of every activity of the Lodge; pay all bills against the Lodge as ordered thereby on vouchers signed by the Exalted
Ruler and Secretary; keeping a correct account, under their proper dates, of the amounts and sources of receipts and the amounts and
purposes of disbursements, taking proper vouchers for the various items thereof. He shall, at such times as the Lodge may direct or the
Exalted Ruler require, present for examination all books, papers, vouchers, etc., that may be necessary to a proper auditing of his
accounts. He shall also perform such other duties as are required by the Lodge, and are compatible with his office. Whenever the
amount of unappropriated cash in his possession shall exceed $20,000.00 dollars, he shall notify the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees. He shall present a report at each regular meeting showing the condition of the funds of the Lodge. He shall be required to give
bond to the Lodge in the sum of $20,000.00 dollars for the faithful performance of his duties, and shall receive as compensation for his
services the sum of $4,200.00 dollars per annum, payable monthly.
Summary of Change
This change increases the salary of the Treasurer $200 and brings it into line with the salary of the Secretary.
Recommendation #7
ARTICLE X: FEES AND DUES
Sec. 2. On or before April 1st of each year, all Members, including Life Members, shall pay the Grand Lodge per capita fee, Grand
Lodge per capita insurance assessment, and State Association dues, in addition to the appropriate regular or Life Member dues as
specified in the remainder of this Section.
All Lodge dues hereafter specified shall be payable, annually, in advance, on or before April 1st of each year. The regular Lodge dues
shall be $75.00 per year. In addition to the amounts set forth in the first paragraph of this section, each Life Member or Honorary Life
Member shall pay $35.00 towards Lodge administration expense.
Summary of Change
This change establishes our present dues into the By-laws as well as now is inclusive of the Honorary Life Member. It also establishes
the $35.00 fee of a Life Member or Honorary Life Member to offset the Lodge administration expense.
Recommendation #8
Sec. 4. Upon application for reinstatement, a member whose name has been stricken from the rolls of this Lodge for nonpayment of dues
or debt may have his name restored to the rolls of the membership of the Lodge upon a secret ballot at a regular meeting of the Lodge
taken upon such application. If the applicant receives a number of white balls at least equal to two-thirds of the votes cast, he shall be
declared reinstated; but if he receives a number of white balls less than an amount equal to two-thirds of the votes cast, he shall be
declared to be rejected, without prejudice to a future application after a lapse of six months thereafter. Before such reinstatement, the
applicant shall pay to the Lodge a reinstatement fee of $50.00 dollars, and in addition thereto, a proportionate share of the current dues,
prorated in the same manner as the dues of a new member, together with any indebtedness owing to the Lodge or Club.
During the months of September and October of each year, the fee for reinstatement in this Lodge of a Member stricken
from the rolls of this Lodge for non-payment of dues shall be one (1) dollar.
If application is made within thirty (30) days of the date on which he is dropped from the rolls, he may be reinstated as a member in good
standing upon majority vote thereof at the next regular meeting and payment of the delinquent and current dues together with any
indebtedness owing to the Lodge or club without loss of continuous and consecutive membership standing.
If the balloting shall result in rejection of the application, reinstatement shall be refused, without prejudice to a future application after a
lapse of six months thereafter.
Summary of Change
This change is common to many Lodges to allow the reinstatement of Members without a substantial penalty.
Recommendation #9
This is to certify that the amended and substituted By-Laws of _Northampton Lodge, No. 997, submitted herewith to the designated
member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Judiciary for approval, were proposed at a regular meeting of the Lodge, in writing, held on
July 17, 2007, read before the Lodge, and laid over until the regular meeting held on August 21, 2007, and at that regular meeting said
amended and substituted By-Laws were adopted by a majority vote of all the members present. Notice, in writing, setting forth the changes
in the proposed revision, was sent by the Secretary to all members of the Lodge at least ten days before the regular meeting at which said
revision was voted upon.
Douglas Luce, Exalted Ruler
John E. Cotton, PER, Secretary Lodge No. 997
Summary of Change
Required update
Recommendation #10
Northampton Lodge #997
House Rules
Adopted August 21, 2007
Summary of Change
Update of Date from last revision.
Revision of House Rules
Recommendation #11
Lounge will be closed, and service shall cease during all regular and special meetings of the Lodge.
Summary of Change
This new House Rule brings our House Rules into line with Grand Lodge Statutes of 2006, Section 16.090.
Recommendation #12
Beverages may not be carried from the members lounge into the function hall during a private function.
Summary of Change
This new House Rule was voted the House Committee in the 2006-2007 year. It allows for a closer monitoring by the bartenders in charge,
as well as preventing the service of non-members in a private function at the members’ prices. This only impacts private functions, and
does not prevent a member from transporting a beverage into the members’ area.
Lodge #997 102nd Birthday Party:
All Members are invited to attend our Lodge’s
102nd Birthday Party. The celebration will be held
at the Lodge on Friday September 7th at 7:00 pm
Come and enjoy the food and the music.
Proposed By-Laws Changes and The “Smoking Vote”:
The proposed changes to the by-laws are shown above. These will be voted on at
the September 18th meeting. At this same meeting, the attending members will also
vote on whether the Members Lounge area will remain a smoking area or become
non-smoking. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Buck-A-Week:
The biannual Buck-A-Week dinner and drawing will be held on Friday October 5, 2007 at the Lodge. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.
Due to the popularity of this function and in order to accommodate as many people as possible, only ticket holders may participate.
Unfortunately, guests can no longer be invited. Also, it is mandatory that if you plan to attend, you make a reservation prior to the cut-off
date of Monday October 1, at 5pm. Because of the limited seating capacity, no more than 200 can be served. So, call early and hope to
see you there for a fun evening.
Mike O’Brien, BAW Chairman
**Current Member Elk Sick List**
Michael Pessolano
Charlie Paquette
Robert O’Dea
Proposition for Membership
Proposed: Proposed By:
John Lopez Ed Cooper
Michael Cooper Ed Cooper
September 2007 Calendar of Events
Tuesday September 4th 2007~Regular Meeting 7:00pm
Thursday September 6th 2007~Cruise Night 5:30 pm
Friday September 7th 2007~#997 102nd Birthday Party 7pm
Tuesday September 11th 2007~Farmer’s Night 6:00pm
Thursday September 13th 2007~Cruise Night 5:30pm
Tuesday September 18th 2007~Meeting 7:00pm~Vote on
Proposed By-Law Changes & Smoking in Lounge Area
Thursday September 20th 2007~Cruise Night 5:30pm
Thursday September 27th 2007~Season’s Final Cruise Night
5:30 pm
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4th ANNUAL ELKS CRAWL
October 20 & 21, 2007
Destination: Massachusetts Elks Lodges
Price: $130 per person (includes bus and hotel room based
On double occupancy, refreshments on bus)
$50 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit due at time of signing up.
Contact: Barbara Franklin at 586-7121
Limited to 26 people on a first come basis.
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