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F & AM of Washington
The name of this Lodge shall be Washington Lodge, No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.
The Worshipful Master is empowered to draw on the Treasurer for sums not to exceed $300.00 (three hundred dollars) for each draft, for the immediate relief of distressed Brother Masons or their families, and shall report the same to the Lodge at the next Stated Communication.
Amendments to these By-Laws shall be proposed in writing at a Stated Communication, mailed to each member of the Lodge at least ten (10) days before the voting is scheduled, and if adopted by a two thirds (2/3) vote of all members present at a subsequent Stated Communication, shall be immediately effective when approved by the Grand Master, whose action shall be conclusive.
The Lodge shall have at least five Standing Committees; Cemetery Committee, School Awards Committee, Relief Committee, Audit Committee, and Executive & Finance Committee. The Worshipful Master should, with the exception of the Audit Committee and the Relief Committee, announce his committee appointments at the first Stated Communication in each term (year).
The Cemetery Committee shall consist of three members, one of which shall be the Secretary of the Lodge. The duties of this Committee shall be to exercise a general supervision over the Lodge cemetery property in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Lodge.
The Youth Assistance Committee consist of three to five members. The duties of this Committee will be to advise the Executive and Finance Committee on operating procedures of the Youth Assistance Fund, which in turn, will be presented to the Lodge for approval. The Chairman of this Committee should have served previously in Lodge Scholarship duties.
The Relief Committee shall consist of the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden. These two officers shall represent the Lodge on the Vancouver Masonic Board of Relief. The duties of this Board are to arrange for funerals and relief of Sojourning Master Masons.
An Audit Committee consisting of four members, including at least two members of the Executive & Finance Committee and at least one member who is not an elected officer of the Lodge, shall be appointed by the Worshipful Master at the last Stated Communication before the election of officers, or at the meeting during which officers are elected. The Audit Committee shall:
The Executive & Finance Committee shall be responsible for preparing a budget for the current year, and presenting it to the Lodge for its consideration no later than the February Stated Communication.
The members of each of these Committees shall hold their respective offices until the end of the term (year) in which they have been appointed, and until their successors have been named.
The Trustees to the Vancouver Masonic Temple, Inc., from Washington Lodge No. 4, shall number four (4). Three of the Trustees shall be elected from membership in good standing for terms of three (3) years each. The fourth shall be the Senior Warden who shall normally serve as a Trustee for a one (1) year term while he is occupying his station in the West.
Because of the overlapping of Trustee terms of office, only one Trustee will normally be elected each year. Election shall be held on the same day as the election of Lodge officers.
A Nominating Committee consisting of the four (4) Lodge Trustees on the Temple Board shall place at least two (2) names in nomination before the Lodge on election night. Nominations shall then be opened on the floor for the nomination of not more than two (2) additional candidates.
The Master of the Lodge shall appoint a member in good standing to fill the unexpired term of any member who is unable to complete his term as Trustee. The appointment shall last until the next annual election of officers, at which time members shall be elected to fill any unexpired terms.
No non-budgeted proposal for the expenditure of funds in excess of Three Hundred ($300.00) dollars shall be approved by the Lodge until referred to the Executive & Finance Committee for recommendation. The Committee´s recommendation shall be returned to the Lodge at the next Stated Communication for its approval.
Any Lodge funds transferred or invested shall first have the recommendation of the Executive & Finance Committee. All transactions involving the transfer or reinvesting of Lodge funds shall be reported to the Lodge at the next Stated Communication for its approval.
All Lodge financial transactions, including checks drawn on Lodge accounts, shall bear two (2) signatures. Authorized signatures shall be those of either the Secretary, Treasurer, or Worshipful Master.
The Secretary shall be allowed a petty cash fund of One Hundred & Fifty ($150.00) dollars to be known as Petty Cash Fund/Secretary, which is to be used exclusively for the purchase of Lodge secretarial supplies. The Junior Warden shall be allowed a petty cash fund of Two Hundred ($200.00) dollars to be known as Petty Cash Fund/Junior Warden, which is to be used exclusively for Lodge refreshments.
Receipts for cash expended from each of these petty cash funds shall be presented to the Treasurer for replenishment of either fund.
A special Lodge fund, to be known as the "Youth Assistance Fund," will be established beginning in 2002. The principal and at least 10% of the earnings from the Fund shall be, and will remain, a permanent fund. Annually, the Executive and Finance Committee will prepare a budget for disbursement of the previous years earnings from the Fund. This budget will be submitted to the Lodge for approval at the same time as the regular Lodge budget.
The major use of this Fund shall be to provide annual financial support for educational-type activities such as, but not limited to, scholarship awards, the Vancouver Valley Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinic, and Operation Outreach USA. Eligibility for a student scholarship award shall be given to either a High School Senior or one who is already registered and enrolled as a student in an institute for higher learning and who is an immediate family member of a Master Mason that has been a member of Washington Lodge #4, F. & A.M. for at least five years. Repeat awards to a specific student will not be allowed.
After above expenditures are satisfied, including the 10% retained for growth of the fund, any left over funds from the previous years interest/dividend earnings will be used for Lodge functions as recommended by the Executive and Finance Committee and presented to the Lodge for approval.
Prior to January 1, 1969, Washington Lodge #4, F. & A.M. granted free Senior Life Memberships to those members in good standing having both reached the age of 65 years and paid dues for at least 25 years. This practice was discontinued on January 1, 1969, except for those Washington Lodge members in good standing on December 31, 1968, who will still qualify for Senior Life Membership once they have both reached the age of 65 years and have paid dues for at least 25 years.
Effective with the year 1986, the Immediate Past Master shall be awarded the sum of Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) dollars toward the purchase of a non-transferable Life Membership in Washington Lodge No. 4, in addition to a Past Master´s Apron and Case.
Amendments to these Standing Resolutions shall be proposed in writing at a Stated Communication, published in the Lodge newsletter, and if approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a subsequent Lodge Stated Communication, become immediately effective.
End of Standing Resolutions