National Catholic Forester

Summer 2017 — www.ncsf.com 25 Below you will find National Catholic Society of Foresters (NCSF) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Articles of incorporation act as a charter to establish the existence of a corporation or society in the United States, and are filed with the Secretary of State. A bylaw is a rule or law established by an organization to regulate itself, as allowed by the state. Bylaws are specific and are meant to control the actions of the Board and members to ensure organization within the Society. The Bylaws of the Board of Trustees specify the composition of the board, including the terms, election, and appointment of members, the election of officers, the appointment of committees; the nature and frequency of meetings; the rules of procedure for meetings and committees; and the provisions for amending and suspending Bylaws. The laws of the State of Illinois require the Board of National Catholic Society of Foresters (NCSF), to maintain a Constitution and Bylaws. These important documents outline who has the authority and responsibility to operate and manage the Society. The Board revises and adopts new Bylaws and presents them to the membership. This is required by law. Also knowing the substance of these important documents encourages and facilitates cooperation among the Board, staff, and members in a mutual effort to strengthen and improve the Society's financial strength, good works, as well as increase membership. The Constitution and Bylaws entrust the coordination and management of the Society to the Board and staff with the understanding that in assigning duties it delegates primary responsibility to various Board members for the management, direction, and leadership of the Society. There are interdependent relationships among the Board, staff, and the member community. Together, we must pursue the goal of excellence in a spirit of mutual trust. New Bylaws 1. The name or title by which such corporation shall be known in law is National Catholic Society of Foresters. 2. The principal business office shall be located in County of Cook, the State of Illinois, or any other county within the State of Illinois determined by the Board of Directors. 3. The name of the incorporators are Rev. David J. Crimmins; John W. Clancy; James D. Kelly; William A. Hoyne; Leo P. Dwyer; Francis W. Fitz-Gerald; Thomas H. Cannon; John C. Schubert; James O'Connor; Patrick J. Cahill. The persons selected as the Board of Directors to control and manage this corporation for the first year are: Elizabeth Rodgers, Catherine Hughes, Christina Hoffman, Margaret O'Connor, Mary Crowley, Annie E. Daley, Celia M. Gilmore, Jennie Clancy, Mary Farrell, Minnie Keefe and Maggie Dugan. 4. This corporation is a fraternal benefit society, without capital stock, organized and carried on for the sole benefit of its members and their beneficiaries and not for profit, having a lodge system with ritualistic form of work and representative form of government. The purposes of the Society are to: promote friendship, unity and true Catholic charity among its members, foster fraternal and benevolent activities, further the progress of the Catholic Church, encourage patriotism and loyalty to the United States of America, and provide death, disability and other benefits, rights and privileges, as authorized by these Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and in accordance with the laws of Illinois. 5. The Board of Directors (the Board) shall be the supreme governing body. The Board will consist of directors elected in a manner prescribed by the Bylaws. 6. Membership in the corporation shall be as provided in the Bylaws. 7. These Articles of Incorporation may be amended or repealed in whole or in part as provided in the Bylaws. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF NATIONAL CAThOLIC SOCIETY OF FORESTERS NEW NCSF BYLAWS CONT. ON PAGE 26

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