National Guard Association of Michigan

NGAM By-Laws

Article I – Name

The name shall be “The National Guard Association of Michigan”. The official abbreviation shall be “NGAM.”

Article II – Mission

The mission of the NGAM shall be to:

Promote legislation on behalf of our members and to improve the readiness, training and equipment of the Army and Air National Guard.
Provide benefits to all members.
Communicate information to all members.
Promote association, friendship, understanding, cooperation and the common welfare of all members and families of this Association.

Article III – Membership

The membership of NGAM shall be composed of the following:

Active Annual. Any current member of the Michigan National Guard shall be eligible for active annual membership.
Life Member. Dues for Life Membership shall be reviewed annually just prior to the annual business meeting by the Executive Board and any proposed increases shall be reviewed and voted on during the NGAM annual conference.
Associate Membership. Active Duty Army and Air Force personnel attached and/or assigned to the Michigan National Guard as Advisors and any other person interested in and dedicated to the purposes of the Association may be nominated for Association Membership by an active annual member. Membership shall be granted when approved by the Executive Board and upon payment of dues applicable at the time of the granting of membership.
Honorary Membership. Any person interested in and dedicated to the purposes of the Association and who has rendered conspicuous service to the National Guard or to the Association shall be eligible for Honorary Membership. Honorary Membership shall be granted when approved by the Executive Board. Honorary members shall not be assessed dues, will not be eligible to hold office or vote, nor will they be eligible to benefit from the NGAM insurance or scholarship program or any other programs developed in the future.
Partners in Patriotism. Any company, firm, organization, or corporation may, upon approval by the NGAM Executive Board and payment of an annual corporate membership fee, shall be considered for a partner in patriotism of NGAM. The corporate membership fees shall be determined by the Executive Board on an annual basis. Corporate Partners in Patriotism shall be eligible for benefits as determined by the Executive Board. Corporate Partners membership fees may be used for the benefits of NGAM as determined by the Executive Board. Membership in the NGAM may be refused or terminated by the Executive Board when:
1. Admission to membership would be detrimental to the NGAM.
2. Conduct of a member brings discredit to the NGAM provided that the member is offered the opportunity of proper hearing before the Executive Board.
Dues. NGAM membership is based upon eligibility and the payment of dues. NGAM dues structure is based upon the pay grade or status of the eligible applicant. The NGAM membership year begins 1 May and ends 30 April. The Executive Board may propose a change in dues to the general membership during an official business meeting. Proposed changes, either an increase or decrease, in NGAM dues must be approved by a 75% majority of voting members attending an official business meeting.

Article IV – Officials

NGAM shall be governed by an Executive Board with the day to day operations administered by an Executive Director.

Executive Board. The Executive Board shall consist of the NGAM officers, the representatives from Army and Air National Guard organizations, the retired representatives, and the Executive Director. To serve on the Executive Board and to hold an officer position for the Association, the person must be an active or retired Michigan National Guard member who is also a member in good standing of the Association.

Executive Board Composition.
1. NGAM Officers: The Officers of the NGAM shall be the President, Immediate Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers normally shall serve a two (2) year term for each office elected to or which s/he is appointed. The Vice-President will be elected every two years at the Business Meeting during the annual NGAM Conference. Following the term as Vice-President, s/he will progress automatically to serve a term as President. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be selected and appointed by the Executive Board from current representatives serving on the Board.
2. Air Guard Representatives: Appoint Board members who, as a minimum, represent each Wing, the CRTC, and HQs. The appointment goal will be an equal number of Officer and Enlisted members. The Executive Board will work with the Air Guard’s senior leadership to ensure correct representation.
3. Army Guard Representatives: Appoint Board members who, as a minimum, represent each Army major command (brigade or higher level) Training Centers, and HQs. The appointment goal will be an equal number of Officer and Enlisted members. The Executive Board will work with the Army Guard’s senior leadership to ensure correct representation.
4. Retired Representatives: One retired member from the Army and Air National Guard each will represent the retired force of the MI National Guard. The retired Executive Board members will be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Executive Board.
5. Executive Director: The Executive Director of the Association serves as a full voting member of the Executive Board.
Executive Board Appointment Duration: Duration of appointments to the Executive Board will be determined by consent of the members and the represented Air or Army Guard organization.
Executive Board meeting attendance: Executive Board members will attend all scheduled Executive Board meetings. In the event of a schedule conflict, the Executive Board member will designate an appropriate substitute who will attend.
Vacancies: Should, for any reason, a NGAM Officer position be vacated, the Executive Board shall appoint a member from the Executive Board to fill such vacancy. The term for this appointee shall be the remainder of the normal term held by the previous NGAM Officer before vacating the position. In the case of a vacancy for the Vice-President position, the appointee shall serve the unexpired term of office and then the following term as NGAM President. Due to the nature of the National Guard, the temporary deployment of an officer during his/her term is always possible. When this occurs, the Executive Board shall study the circumstances and carefully consider options that will allow for the smooth transition and continued operations of the Association. The Executive Board has a degree of latitude in making the decision on how to proceed. In the event that the Vice-President is unable to progress to the position of President, the Executive Board shall appoint a current member of the Executive Board or a past President of the Association to fill in during the deployment of the Vice President until s/he has returned and is able to resume the normal duties of President. In no case will a member be allowed to serve more than four total years in any separate officer position.
Removal from Office: Any Executive Board member or Officer of NGAM may be removed from the Board by Executive Board vote of 75% of appointed members.
Duties: The duties of the Officers and Executive Board shall be set forth in position descriptions developed by the Executive Director and approved by vote of 75% of the Executive Board.
Executive Director: The Executive Director shall be a salaried employee of the Association. A candidate for hiring as the Executive Director will be recommended by the President and confirmed by the Executive Board following a normal employment search process. The Executive Director shall be responsible to the Executive Board and shall serve under a contract as determined by the Executive Board. Removal for cause will be determined by the Executive Board.

Article V – Committees

Committees. Committees shall be determined based upon need as determined by the Executive Board. Committee leaders shall be appointed by The President and will work with the Executive Director to accomplish tasks and requirements as determined by the Executive Board.

Article VI – Quorum

Annual NGAM Business Meeting. Thirty (30) members shall constitute a quorum for the annual NGAM Business Meeting or other specially called general membership meetings.
Executive Board. At least 50% of the Executive Board members and NGAM officers shall constitute a quorum at any scheduled or called meeting of the Executive Board.
Committees. A majority of the members of the Association Committee shall constitute a quorum for Committee meetings.

Article VII- Meetings

General Membership.
1. An annual business meeting of the NGAM shall be scheduled each year. Should circumstances preclude the holding of such annual meeting, the Executive Board shall determine when and how required elections, results of elections and all other aspects of the NGAM activity and business are to be accomplished.
2. Special meetings of the general membership shall be held as may be determined by the Executive Board.
3. The Executive Director shall make written or email notice of each scheduled or special called meeting no later than ten days prior to such meeting (if such time is available for any special called meeting).
Executive Board. The Executive Board shall meet no less than quarterly and more frequently as directed by the President. Additionally, the Board may be called to special meeting when a written request is submitted to the President by a minimum of ten Executive Board members.

Article VIII – Emergency Executive Board

Should full mobilization of the Michigan National Guard occur to the extent that normal election of officers and/or appointment of Executive Board members is prevented, then Article IV, Para 4 of these By-Laws shall be the authority for filling vacancies created. The President shall not be filled by the Executive Director nor The Adjutant General.

Article IX – Parliamentary Procedures

The authority in Parliamentary Law for all NGAM meetings shall be Roberts Rules of Order, unless otherwise provided herein.

Article X – Definitions

For purposes herein the following definitions are applicable to the By-laws:

“may” is used in a permissive sense;
“shall” is used in an imperative sense;
“may not” is used in a prohibitive sense;
“shall not” is used in a prohibitive sense;
“majority vote” means and includes a majority vote of the legal votes cast;
75% means and includes 75% of the legal votes cast.

Article XI – By- Laws Review and Amendments

The By-Laws shall be reviewed by each incoming President and no later than six months into his/her term of office. Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by any active member of the NGAM to the Executive Board. A vote for adoption of the amendment will be held at the annual NGAM business meeting. A majority vote of the members present and voting is required for approval of the amendment. In the event of an unforeseen circumstance or event that causes the inability of the Association to function normally between annual business meetings, the Executive Board, on a vote of at least 75% of its members, shall temporarily amend these By-Laws for the good of the Association. Any such changes must be ratified at the next annual meeting for permanent inclusion in the By-Laws. Any such temporary changes to the By-Laws will be made available to the NGAM membership within 30 days of adoption.

Effective date: 10 December 2009
Ratified by General membership on 15 May 2010 during General Business meeting