CONSTITUTION
THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION
OF PENNSYLVANIA
(last updated 26 April 2003)

Click here for this document in easy to print pdf format.

ARTICLE I
This Association shall be know as "The National Guard Association of Pennsylvania." It is established as a non-profit organization for educational and fraternal purposes to accomplish the following:
a) To further the military spirit which is necessary to perpetuate the efficient functioning and operation of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
b) To promote recognition of the military profession and to advocate policies that will advance the well being of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
c) To foster and improve the Pennsylvania National Guard as a state militia and as a component of the Armed Forces of the United States.

ARTICLE II
The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, three Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Army Warrant Officer Representative and a company Grade Representative from both the Air and Army National Guard of Pennsylvania. All officers shall be elected for a two-year term by the delegates at the annual Association Conference held during the even-numbered calendar year beginning in 1996. A majority of all votes cast shall constitute an election.

All said officers shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected and installed.
Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of President of the Association, the First Vice President shall succeed to the presidency. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of First Vice President, the Second Vice President shall assume the office of First Vice President and the Third Vice President shall assume the office of Second Vice President.

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Second Vice President, the Third Vice President shall assume the office of Second Vice President. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Third Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, the President shall appoint a regular member of the Association to serve in said office until the next Annual Conference Meeting of the Association, at which time the office will be filled by election of the delegates. If the election to fill a vacancy takes place in an odd-numbered calendar year, the officer shall be elected for a one-year term.

ARTICLE III

Section 1. There shall be a Board of Directors, which shall be responsible for the conduct of the Association's business and which shall be vested with the full powers of the Association in all matters wherein the Association my not have otherwise ordered and directed.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the following persons:
The Officers of the Association.
The immediate Past President of the Association.
Two (2) retired/life members of the Association appointed by the President.(one Army, one Air).
Two (2) regular members of the Association appointed by the President to serve at large.(one Army, one Air).
The Chairpersons of the Association's standing committees.
No more than 15 additional regular members of the Association appointed by the President. It is the intent of the Association that each major command of the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard be represented on the Board of Directors. The President will appoint Directors under this provision to provide major commands not otherwise represented on the Board with representation. In addition to the normal 06 Command representatives, there will be representatives from HQ STARC and HQ State Air Command.

Section 2. The following Standing Committees shall be constituted to assist the Board of Directors in the function of the Association.(Reletter subparagraphs as needed)
a) Committee on Constitution and By-Laws
b) Committee on Resolutions
c) Committee on NGAPA Awards
d) Committee on Army Affairs
e) Committee on Air Affairs
f) Committee on Audit/ Finance & Budget
g) Committee on Membership
h) Parliamentarian
The Chairperson and members of the foregoing Committees shall be appointed by the President of the Association to serve at his pleasure.

Section 3. Such other Special Committees of the Association may be created by the President as the situation may demand. The Chairperson and members thereof shall be appointed by the President to serve at his pleasure.

Section 4. The President may convene an Executive Committee of the Board of Directors consisting of the Officers of the Association, the immediate Past President and such Standing Committee members as may be required to conduct the business of the Association and perform such functions as the Board of Directors may direct.

Section 5. Any member desiring to propose a resolution to be acted upon by the Association shall transmit 15 copies thereof to the President not later than 30 days prior to the Annual Conference. The President, in turn, shall transmit the proposed resolution to the Resolutions Committee. No proposed resolutions shall be debated or acted upon by the Association, except by unanimous consent, unless the same shall have been previously submitted to the Resolutions Committee, except, that during the first session of the Annual Conference, any delegate may submit in writing to the Chairperson of the Resolutions Committee a proposed resolution which shall be reviewed by the Resolutions Committee and presented to the Conference delegation before adjournment provided a majority of the delegates present desire such Resolution to be considered by the Conference.

ARTICLE IV
The membership of the Association shall be made up of the following:

Section 1.

a) REGULAR MEMBERS. Those Officers and warrant officers active in commission in the Pennsylvania National Guard shall be eligible for Active Membership.

b) LIFE MEMBERS. All retired, or formerly Federally recognized, officers or warrant officers who have served at least ten (10) years with the Pennsylvania National Guard.

c) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. Those active force and reserve component officers on duty within the confines of the Commonwealth who have an affiliation with or whose duties involve contact with the Pennsylvania National Guard. Associate Members shall not be eligible to hold office or serve on committees.

d) HONORARY MEMBERS. Upon recommendation by a regular member of the Association and approval by the Board of Directors, an individual may become an Honorary Member. An Honorary Member shall not pay dues and shall not have the right to vote.

Section 2. All members of the Association shall have the right to admission and to the privileges of the floor and of debate at the meetings of the Association, but the privilege of voting upon any question before such meeting or for the election of officers, or for any purpose whatsoever, shall be confined to delegates duly accredited and in attendance.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall determine the total number of delegates to attend the meetings of the Association and shall allocate the number of delegates. All such delegates shall be Regular, Life, or Associate Members of the Association.

Section 4. The appointment of delegates to any meeting of the Association shall hold good only for the meeting next following the date of such appointment, or adjournments thereof, but the same delegate may be reappointed to any subsequent meeting by the officer entitled to make the appointment.

ARTICLE V
The Association shall meet once a year in annual conference at such time and place, as the Board of Directors shall fix. The Association may also meet at such other times and places and for such other purposes as the Board of Directors may determine
Section 1. Annual Dues. Regular and Associate Members shall pay annual dues as follows:
Grade Dues
General Officers  $34.00
Colonels/Lt Colonels  $22.50
Majors/CW5  $16.50
CW4  $12.50
Captains/CW3  $10.00
Lieutenants/WO1/CW2  $7.00

Section 2. The dues for Retired Life Members shall be paid as follows:
Type Dues
Annually      $7.00
Life (One-time payment of)   $50.00

Section 3. The annual dues shall become payable on the first day of January each year and shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Association. No money shall be owing by Officers or Warrant Officers newly appointed in active commission after 1 July or prior to 1 January of any particular dues year. Honorary Members shall have the privilege of making contributions on a voluntary basis.

ARTICLE VI
The Constitution of this Association may be amended at any Annual Conference Meeting by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present thereat. Proposed amendments thereto shall be submitted in writing to the President at least 60 days prior to the next Annual Conference Meeting at which meeting the Committee on Constitution and By-Laws shall submit a report thereon to the Association.

Editors Note: This is a scanned version of the Constitution and By-laws of NGAPA. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy and currency. However, the official text is maintained by the Association.

BY-LAWS
THE NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION
OF PENNSYLVANIA

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors. He shall call a meeting of the latter whenever he deems it necessary, or at the request of any three members thereof. He shall perform the usual duties of a President. The Vice Presidents, in order of succession, shall in the absence of the President, perform his duties. In case the President and Vice President are absent, a President pro temp shall be chosen.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a roll of the organizations belonging to the Association, and to report the same as may be required to notify the membership of the Association of the Annual Conference Meeting at least 30 days before the same is held, and of any other meetings as soon as they may be called; to perform such other duties as may pertain to his office.

Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to take charge of the funds of the Association, to collect yearly dues, to keep an accurate account thereof, to report to the Association at its meetings, and to pay all bills approved by the President. The books shall always be open to the inspection of any officer of, or delegate to, the Association. The Assistant Treasurer shall in the absence of the Treasurer perform his or her duties.

Section 4. The rules of procedure and debate generally recognized in all deliberate bodies, except as modified herein, shall govern the meetings of this Association. The ayes and nays shall be taken and recorded on the demand of any member.

Section 5. The actual and necessary expenses of the officers, the Board of Directors and the other Standing and Special Committees. while performing their official duties, may be paid by the Association. The President may determine normal, usual, and customary amounts of money to be spent up to $500 without board approval. The board with a majority vote must approve any requests for money over $500. The board by majority vote may also disapprove expenditures under $500.

Section 6. The By-Laws of the Association may be amended at any Annual Conference Meeting by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates present thereat. Proposed Amendments thereto shall be submitted in writing to the President at least 60 days prior to the next Annual Conference Meeting at which meeting the committee on Constitution & By-Laws shall submit a report thereon to the Association.