Articles of Organization
Article I
The name of this club shall be Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter.
Article II
The objective of this Club shall be to form and perpetuate a group of Vietnam Era Veterans; to so strengthen the bond of comradeship and to unite the members of said Club so closely that only death can sever those ties; to revive the memories and incidents of the Vietnam War Era; to adhere together as a unit in all manners of mutual concern and to uphold the principles and objectives of the United States of America.
Article III
Membership in this Club shall be limited to Vietnam War Era Veterans who served in active duty including training (i.e. Basic, AIT, etc.) in the U.S. Armed Forces between February 28, 1962 and May 7, 1975. The Charter shall be signed beginning at the inaugural meeting of the Club on November 17, 2011. Charter members will be accepted from June 1, 2011 up to and including November 17. 2011. No Charter members shall be accepted after that date. Regular membership in the Club shall be open until the close of the regular annual business meeting of June 2014. Exceptions to the membership time limit can only be amended by a committee consisting of the Charter members appointed by the Commander of the Club, in said year of application.
Article IV
There shall be a one-time fee of twenty dollars ($20.00), payable at the time of application to the Club. After the initial fee, there shall be no further dues or assessments for any member. No qualified member shall lose his/her membership for any reason whatsoever.
Article V
A regular reunion of the membership shall be held once each year on the first Saturday following Flag Day (June 14). The reunion/banquet/business meeting shall be held at the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37, Saint Peter, Minnesota. There will be an organizational meeting of the Club on November 17, 2011 at which time there will be a membership Swearing-in Ceremony, Officers will be elected and the Constitution, Articles of Organization and Bylaws will be accepted.
Article VI
The officers of the Club shall be Club Commander, Vice Club Commander, Clerk, Treasurer, Banquet Chairman, Vice Banquet Chairman, Chaplain, and Sergeant at Arms. These officers shall be duly elected but the Charter members at the first Meeting of the Club.
The Club Commander shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club and shall preside at all meetings and perform such other duties as may properly come within his/her province.
The Vice Commander will take over the duties of the Commander if the Commander is unable to attend a function or perform his/her duties. The Vice Commander will be the keeper of the Bell.
The Clerk shall be the secretary. Said Clerk shall keep a true and accurate record of all the proceedings, shall conduct the correspondence of the Club and keep a record of all members of the Club, their address and necessary data concerning each member as may be directed by the Club Commander. The Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, shall keep accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and pay all bills that are approved by the Club Chairman, and perform such other duties as may be called for the Club Chairman. The Clerk shall be the Chief Custodian of the Roster with a current second roster held by the Commander.
The Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, shall keep an accurate account of all receipts, and disbursements and pay all bills that are approved by the Club Commander, and perform such other duties as may be called for by the Club Commander.
The Banquet Chairman shall have the charge of the banquet at the Annual Reunion of the Club and shall be the official custodian of the bottle of liquor (The Prize) to be obtained prior to the first (1st) Annual Meeting.
The Vice Banquet Chairman will assist the Banquet Chairman in all areas in the arrangement of the Annual Banquet/Business Meeting.
The Chaplain (non-voting position) will offer a prayer/invocation at all Club functions.
The Sergeant at Arms (non-voting position) will preserve order at all Club functions.
The Club Board will consist of the eight (8) officers which will make up the Executive Committee, with the Vice Commander, Banquet Chairman, Vice Banquet Chairman, Treasurer and Clerk each having one vote on matters of the Club except for the Commander, who will only have a vote as a tie breaker.
The Club will elect a full Board of eight (8) at the organizational meeting. In the years following, the Vice Commander and Vice Banquet Chairman will move up to the Commander/Banquet Chairman. The Club membership will elect a Vice Commander, Clerk, Treasurer, Vice Banquet Chairman, Chaplain and Sergeant at Arms at the annual Reunion/Meeting.
The Club Officers shall serve for a term of one year or until the successors have been elected and qualified with he exception of the first election, Officers will be elected to serve until the June, 2013 Banquet/Business Meeting.
The Club Commander shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club and shall preside at all meetings and perform such other duties as may properly come within his/her province.
The Vice Commander will take over the duties of the Commander if the Commander is unable to attend a function or perform his/her duties. The Vice Commander will be the keeper of the Bell.
The Clerk shall be the secretary. Said Clerk shall keep a true and accurate record of all the proceedings, shall conduct the correspondence of the Club and keep a record of all members of the Club, their address and necessary data concerning each member as may be directed by the Club Commander. The Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, shall keep accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and pay all bills that are approved by the Club Chairman, and perform such other duties as may be called for the Club Chairman. The Clerk shall be the Chief Custodian of the Roster with a current second roster held by the Commander.
The Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, shall keep an accurate account of all receipts, and disbursements and pay all bills that are approved by the Club Commander, and perform such other duties as may be called for by the Club Commander.
The Banquet Chairman shall have the charge of the banquet at the Annual Reunion of the Club and shall be the official custodian of the bottle of liquor (The Prize) to be obtained prior to the first (1st) Annual Meeting.
The Vice Banquet Chairman will assist the Banquet Chairman in all areas in the arrangement of the Annual Banquet/Business Meeting.
The Chaplain (non-voting position) will offer a prayer/invocation at all Club functions.
The Sergeant at Arms (non-voting position) will preserve order at all Club functions.
The Club Board will consist of the eight (8) officers which will make up the Executive Committee, with the Vice Commander, Banquet Chairman, Vice Banquet Chairman, Treasurer and Clerk each having one vote on matters of the Club except for the Commander, who will only have a vote as a tie breaker.
The Club will elect a full Board of eight (8) at the organizational meeting. In the years following, the Vice Commander and Vice Banquet Chairman will move up to the Commander/Banquet Chairman. The Club membership will elect a Vice Commander, Clerk, Treasurer, Vice Banquet Chairman, Chaplain and Sergeant at Arms at the annual Reunion/Meeting.
The Club Officers shall serve for a term of one year or until the successors have been elected and qualified with he exception of the first election, Officers will be elected to serve until the June, 2013 Banquet/Business Meeting.
Article VII
The Club shall terminate when all members there have died, with the exception of the last two Veterans, who shall drink a toast (from The Prize) to their comrades of said Club who have passed on before them.
Article VIII
The Articles of Organization concerning this Club may be amended at any Banquet/Business Meeting by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of those present.
Article IX
Should said cease to function, any properties belonging to it shall automatically become the property of Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 10, Mankato, Minnesota for the specific purpose of aiding Veterans in financial need that other Veteran or governmental programs do not address.
Article X
Member Swear-in. The following statement is sworn to or affirmed by each applicant for membership to the Club. I, (state your name), have received and read a copy of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of St. Peter Articles of Organization, and hereby affirm that by my signature on the Club's official documents, that I meet the criteria for membership and I will abide by all that is written herein.
Article XI
Relief Fund. The Club provides emergency assistance to Veterans in need by maintaining an Emergency Relief Fund. Assistance can be provided upon application and approval by the Club.
2022
Resolutions
Resolution 01-2015
Let it be resolved on this 20th day of June, 2015 that the Bylaws of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter be amended. Article III shall be amended to read:
"Membership in this Club shall be limited to Vietnam War Era Veterans who service in active duty including training (i.e. Basic, AIT, etc.) in the United States Armed Forces between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. The Charter shall be signed beginning at the inaugural meeting of the Club on November 17, 2011. Charter Members will be accepted from June 1, 2011 up to an including November 17, 2011. No Charter Member shall be accepted after that date. Membership in the Club shall remain open indefinitely until closed by a 2/3rds vote of the membership at a regular annual business meeting. All members joining after June 21, 2014 (the original membership closing date) will be designated as 'Late Comers.'"
Voted upon and adopted this 20th day of June, 2015.
"Membership in this Club shall be limited to Vietnam War Era Veterans who service in active duty including training (i.e. Basic, AIT, etc.) in the United States Armed Forces between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. The Charter shall be signed beginning at the inaugural meeting of the Club on November 17, 2011. Charter Members will be accepted from June 1, 2011 up to an including November 17, 2011. No Charter Member shall be accepted after that date. Membership in the Club shall remain open indefinitely until closed by a 2/3rds vote of the membership at a regular annual business meeting. All members joining after June 21, 2014 (the original membership closing date) will be designated as 'Late Comers.'"
Voted upon and adopted this 20th day of June, 2015.
Resolution 02-2015
Let it be resolved on this 20th day of June, 2015 that the Bylaws of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter pledge to the Saint Peter Area Veterans Memorial Association a sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to be used in the construction of the Veterans Memorial in Minnesota Square Park, Saint Peter, Minnesota.
Voted upon and adopted this 20th day of June, 2015.
Voted upon and adopted this 20th day of June, 2015.
Resolution 01-2016
Let it be resolved on this 18th day of June, 2016 that the Bylaws of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter be amended. Article VI shall be amended to read:
"The Last Man Club Board shall also include two (2) voting Trustees, one (1) being he immediate Past Commander of the Club and one (1) being a Member at Large. The Member at Large will be elected by the Club membership at the Annual Meeting of the Club."
Voted upon and adopted this 18th day of June, 2016.
"The Last Man Club Board shall also include two (2) voting Trustees, one (1) being he immediate Past Commander of the Club and one (1) being a Member at Large. The Member at Large will be elected by the Club membership at the Annual Meeting of the Club."
Voted upon and adopted this 18th day of June, 2016.
Resolution 02-2019
Let it be resolved on this 15th day of June, 2019 that the Bylaws of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter be amended. Article V shall be amended to read:
"The reunion/banquet/business meeting shall be held at a location determined by the Executive Board." The words, "The reunion/banquet/business meeting shall be held at the William R. Witty American Legion Post #37, Saint Peter, Minnesota" shall be removed from Article V.
Voted upon and adopted this 15th day of June, 2019.
"The reunion/banquet/business meeting shall be held at a location determined by the Executive Board." The words, "The reunion/banquet/business meeting shall be held at the William R. Witty American Legion Post #37, Saint Peter, Minnesota" shall be removed from Article V.
Voted upon and adopted this 15th day of June, 2019.
Resolution 01-2023
Let it be resolved on this 22nd day of July, 2023 that the Bylaws of the Last Man Club of Vietnam War Era of Saint Peter be amended. Article IX shall be amended to read:
Should said club cease to function, or end with two remaining members, fiscal assets of the General Account and fiscal assets of the Veterans Relief Fund Account, be given to Chapter 10, Disabled American Veterans, Mankato, Minnesota for the specific purpose of aiding Veterans in financial need that other Veteran or governmental programs do not address.
The fiscal assets of the Wreath Fund will be directed to the William R. Witty American Legion Post #37, St. Peter, Minnesota, for the specific purpose of placing decorative wreaths at the St. Peter Area Veterans Memorial on Vietnam War Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Christmas Holiday Season.
Voted upon and adopted this 22nd day of July, 2023.
Should said club cease to function, or end with two remaining members, fiscal assets of the General Account and fiscal assets of the Veterans Relief Fund Account, be given to Chapter 10, Disabled American Veterans, Mankato, Minnesota for the specific purpose of aiding Veterans in financial need that other Veteran or governmental programs do not address.
The fiscal assets of the Wreath Fund will be directed to the William R. Witty American Legion Post #37, St. Peter, Minnesota, for the specific purpose of placing decorative wreaths at the St. Peter Area Veterans Memorial on Vietnam War Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Christmas Holiday Season.
Voted upon and adopted this 22nd day of July, 2023.