Association By-Laws

Association By-Laws
Adopted: March 25th, 2023, 5th Association Reunion, Port Hueneme, California

1. Mission Statement:

This Association seeks to provide the highest quality support and information in re-connecting shipmates, shipmates’ families, and all Detachments of the USS Paul F. Foster DD-964 / Self Defense Test Ship. To promote camaraderie among those who served or are currently working on board, encourage membership through a website and other means and maintain a database of shipmates, whether or not they are members. The Association shall schedule activities such as (but not limited to) reunions.

2. Membership:

Membership levels and eligibility criteria:

Contributing Shipmate: Any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments, any current /former S.D.T.S. crew, or any adult family members of Vice Admiral Paul F. Foster, must be current on dues.

Shipmate: Any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments, any current /former S.D.T.S. crew, or any adult family members of Vice Admiral Paul F. Foster.

Contributing Associate: Any adult family member of any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments, or any adult family member of any current /former S.D.T.S. crew, or any crew members of any other Spruance class ships who supports the associations mission statement, must be current on dues.

Associate: Any adult family member of any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments, or any adult family member of any current /former S.D.T.S. crew, or any crew members of any other Spruance class ships who supports the associations mission statement.

Honorary: Any Widow/widower of any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments.

Lifetime: Any former USS Paul F. Foster crew or embarked detachments, any current /former S.D.T.S. crew, or any adult family members of Vice Admiral Paul F. Foster, that has paid the Lifetime membership.

The suggested annual contribution is twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each former crewmember or Associate Member, or thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per married couple if both spouses are former crewmembers. An annual contribution drive for membership conducted by the officeholders or their assigned committee shall begin on or about January 1 each year. Recommended contribution amounts for membership in the Association shall be set at the membership meetings during the reunions.

Annual membership term is January 1st to December 31st each year.

Lifetime Membership will be granted to any Shipmate member making a ONE-TIME contribution equal to or greater than 20 times the current suggested annual contribution for individuals and married couples, as applicable. Can not be transferred.

3. Nomination of Officers:

Any contributing Shipmate, contributing Associate member, or Lifetime member is eligible for office in the Association. Nomination of Officers will only be accepted from the floor during the general membership meeting.

Only USS Paul F. Foster contributing Shipmates or Lifetime member can hold the offices of President and Vice-President.

Contributing Shipmates, or contributing Associate Members may hold the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Directors (3) or any appointed position.

4. Officers:

Officers shall be elected at reunions to serve a term of approximately three (3) years to coincide with the general membership reunions. There are no term limits for any officers. Officers to be elected shall follow Roberts Rules of Order for small boards and elections shall be by simple majority of those contributing members present and voting.

Should the President be unable to fill his/her term, the Vice President shall serve out the term.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice-President during a board term, the remaining board members shall elect by simple majority vote from among the Directors who served aboard the USS Paul F Foster a Vice-President to serve until the next association reunion. The vote of the prospective replacement Vice-President shall not count towards the majority vote. If there are no current Directors who served aboard the USS Paul F Foster, the remaining board members shall elect by two-thirds majority vote from among the contributing Association members at large who served aboard the USS Paul F Foster a Vice-President to serve until the next association reunion.

In the event of a vacancy during a board term in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, the remaining board members shall elect by simple majority vote from among the Directors a Secretary or Treasurer to serve until the next association reunion. The vote of the prospective replacement Secretary or Treasurer shall not count towards the majority vote.

In the event of a vacancy during a board term in the office of a Director, the remaining board members shall elect by two-thirds majority vote from among the contributing Association members at large a replacement Director to serve until the next association reunion.

An effort should be made to elect Directors of Membership from the Early (Precom-1986), Mid (1987-1995) and Late (1996-2003, plus SDTS) eras of the USS Paul F. Foster.

An officer may be removed from office by two-thirds vote of the board.

5. Officers’ Duties:

The President shall act as the Chief Operating Officer of the Association. The President shall call an annual meeting of elected and appointed officers, at a reunion if scheduled, for the purpose of reviewing the Association’s business and financial records. If a reunion is not scheduled during the year, the meeting may be conducted by telephone or internet-enabled conferencing. A meeting of the membership shall be called by the President at each reunion with an agenda published thirty (30) days in advance. A Treasurer’s Report shall be made at all membership meetings.

The Vice-President in the absence of the President shall act in his place. The Vice-President shall share duties with the President as appropriate.

The Treasurer shall maintain financial transaction records of the Association and make an annual report to the Officers. The Treasurer shall also maintain banking and checking accounts as required to serve the needs of the Association. All records shall be maintained and reported with a common personal financial manager or small business software application. A spreadsheet may be used if the format is approved by a two-thirds vote of the officers.

The Secretary will record minutes of all meetings of the Officers and the membership. The Secretary will maintain a membership list (in the absence of a database manager) and write correspondence as the need dictates. All membership applications or renewals shall be submitted to the Secretary who in turn will send monies to the Treasurer. The Secretary shall retain any and all legal documents pertaining to the Association.

6. Finances:

All elected officers and/or appointed committee chairpersons or committee members shall serve without compensation. All reimbursements for expenses incurred must have received prior approval in the form of E-Mail, FAX, or electronic means. All checks drawn on Association’s account(s) shall be signed by the Treasurer with written (E-mail or hard copy) concurrence of the President or Vice-President.

7. Appointed Positions:

Members serving in appointed positions serve at the “Pleasure of the President”. Such positions may include but not limited to: Reunion Committee Chair, Membership Committee Chair, Historian, Database manager, Web Master, Chaplain, Newsletter Editor, and Ship’s Store Manager.

8. Reunions:

General Reunions shall be held approximately every three (3) years. When possible, the reunion schedule will coincide with the SDTS Paul F. Foster’s availability.

9. Amending By-Laws:

These by-laws may be amended only at reunions and will require a two-thirds majority of those members present and voting.

10. Dissolution:

A two-thirds vote of members at a membership meeting is required to pass any resolution of dissolution of the Association. Any action of dissolution must conform to all prevailing laws. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Association shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified tax-exempt charitable organizations.

Louis M. Prevost
Secretary