BLUE
STAR AVIATION ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
This Association shall be known as the "Blue Star
Aviation Association", hereafter referred to as the "Association".
It is an organizational association for military personnel who were assigned to
the 48th Assault Helicopter Company, a supporting unit of the 48th
Assault Helicopter Company or
military personnel assigned to a successor unit of the 48th Assault
Helicopter Company carrying the name "Blue Star".
The Association is dedicated to the fulfillment of the
following purposes:
a.
To
enhance and accredit the cohesiveness, esprit de corps, and traditions
b.
To seek
out, using whatever means available, individuals who served in Southeast Asia
during the Vietnam Era and those who have served and/or continue to serve in a
successor unit of the 48th Assault Helicopter Company under the
insignia of "Blue Star" and inform them of the existence of the
Association and encourage all eligible individuals to become members.
c. To document and perpetuate the history of the
48th Assault Helicopter Company and the successor unit(s) proudly
carrying on the traditions of the "Blue Stars".
d.
To
perpetuate and preserve the memory and heroic deeds of those who proudly served
as a "Blue Star" and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Section I.
The
Association shall operate on a calendar year basis and shall maintain its
headquarters at Monrovia, California.
Section
II.
The Association shall operate as a not for
profit organization.
Section
III. An annual audit shall be conducted either by
individuals or a recognized
agency
Section
I.
Meetings shall be held at least at least
annually.
Section II. Meeting
locations shall rotate and shall be held at a place and time selected by
the Association Council. The meeting will normally be held during the period of
the annual reunion sponsored by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA)
and may or may not be held in the same location.
Section III. The
Association Council shall announce the preliminary or final date and place of
the next meeting during the current meeting, and shall follow up that
announcement by any combination of written, telephonic, or e-mail notification.
In addition the Association Newsletter and web site shall advise of meeting
information.
Section IV. In
the event the next meeting location or schedule must be changed, all members
shall be advised by any combination of written, telephonic, or e-mail
notification. In addition the Association Newsletter and web site shall advise
of meeting information.
Section I.
General
Membership is open to all personnel who served in Southeast Asia during the
Vietnam era, (1961 1975) who were assigned to the 48th Assault
Helicopter Company or a supporting unit. General Membership is also open to
personnel who have been assigned to or are assigned to a successor unit of the
48th Assault Helicopter Company. A successor unit shall be one who
has carried the colors and insignia of the 48th Assault Helicopter
Company, Blue Star. Any individual applying for General Membership may be
required to provide documentation of assignment to the 48th, a
supporting unit, or a successor unit.
Section II.
Members
shall be classified as, General, Associate and Honorary. To be recognized as an
active member in the General classification, the member must be in good standing
and current in his dues.
Section
III.
Membership classification definitions are as
follows:
a.
General
membership shall be conferred upon an individual eligible for
b.
Associate
membership shall be conferred to those persons, not otherwise eligible for
General membership who may be related by blood, birth, or marriage, to an
individual who qualified for membership as a General Member, but passed away and
who pays a specified amount of dues, annually, as directed by the Association
Council. Associated memberships shall be approved by the Association Council.
c.
Honorary
membership shall be conferred to distinguished persons, such as
Section
I.
The officers of the Blue Star Aviation Association shall be:
a. President.
b. Vice
President (who shall be President-elect and shall succeed the President).
c. Three
Members at Large
d. The
Immediate Past President
e.
Secretary
f.
Treasurer
Section
II.
The Association Council shall consist of:
a.
President
b.
Vice President
c.
Three Members at
Large
d.
The Immediate
Past President
e.
Secretary
f.
Treasurer
Section III.
Holding office or other positions of influence and
trust shall be limited to eligible General members, as defined in this
Constitution.
Section
IV.
Responsibility and Authority of the Association Council
a.
The
Association Council shall be the governing body of the Association. It shall be
responsible for the management of the affairs of the Association, including
funds, programs and regulations. It shall have the authority to approve budgets,
authorize expenditures, seek and accept contributions and approve meeting sites
and program arrangements.
b.
A
majority vote of the Association Council shall prevail in all matters pertaining
to the Association. At its discretion, with the exception of specific matters
stated herein, some matters may be submitted to the General membership for
approval.
c.
The
Secretary or Treasurer shall have a vote only as a tiebreaker. The Secretary
shall have priority for the tie-breaker vote.
d.
In
addition to business conducted at the scheduled Association meetings, the
Association may make conference calls, as needed, for the purpose of conducting
Association business. The President shall have the authority to authorize such
conference calls as deemed necessary. Prior to authorization, the President
shall coordinate with the Treasurer to ensure operational funds are available to
cover the costs.
e.
The
Association Council shall delegate authority and functions to the Secretary or
Treasurer or specific members of the Association.
f.
The
Association Council shall perform such other duties as prescribed by the
Constitution and Bylaws.
Section V.
Committees
a.
The
Association shall have the following standing committees whose duties and
responsibilities are outlined in the job descriptions and policy statements
approved by the Association Council:
1.
Historical
2.
Membership
3.
Annual Program/Planning
b.
Vacancies
for the chairmanship of all committees shall be filled by appointment by the
President.
c.
All
appointments to a chairmanship of a committee shall be ratified by the
Association Council.
Section I.
All General
members are entitled to vote. Voting may be accomplished
by one of the following methods:
a.
By ballot
or acclamation at any scheduled meeting for which the General Membership has
received notification.
b.
Electronically by email. The General membership shall receive email
notification of pending matters or issues to be decided. The matters or issues
pending approval or action shall be prepared by the Association Council and
forwarded to the Secretary/Treasurer. The secretary/Treasurer shall send email
notification to all current members in good standing at their email address of
record outlining the pending matters or issues to be decided. The General
Membership shall respond within five (5) calendar days of the date of email
notification from the Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/treasurer shall verify
that all votes were cast by members in good standing, tabulate the votes and
forward the results to the Association Council. The Secretary/Treasurer shall
then notify the membership, by email, of the results.
It shall be the responsibility
of each General member to notify the Secretary/Treasurer of any email address
change.
Section II.
General
Members in good standing are eligible to vote and shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business at all scheduled meetings of the Association or by
electronic email vote.