Pursuant to action taken by the Board of Directors of the NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF FIRE RESCUE INSTRUCTORS at a meeting held on September 23, 1998, in establishing a Benevolent Brotherhood within and as a part of the Society, the following rules and by-laws are hereby established:
ARTICLE I:
Name
NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF FIRE RESCUE INSTRUCTORS BENEVOLENT BROTHERHOOD.
ARTICLE II:
Purpose
The purpose of the Benevolent Brotherhood is to render financial aid to the beneficiary of any member who, at the time of his/her death, is in good standing as a member of the Benevolent Brotherhood.
ARTICLE III:
Membership
To qualify for membership in this Brotherhood, the person applying will be a member of NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF FIRE RESCUE INSTRUCTORS and is in good health. Retired persons who are no longer active but have three consecutive years in the NCSFRI will qualify for continued membership and benefits so long as dues are paid as specified in the NCSFSI By-laws.
ARTICLE IV:
Officers
The Board of Directors of the NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF FIRE RESCUE INSTRUCTORS will elect from its Benevolent Brotherhood membership a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Member at Large as specified in Article XI for a total of four officer. The Chairman may call meetings of the Officers whenever deemed necessary.
ARTICLE V:
Duties
The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, will preside at all meetings of the Benevolent Brotherhood. The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping accurate records for all transactions of this brotherhood an make a report of same at any regular meeting. Upon proof that a member of the brotherhood is claimed by death (which may be from any cause, except that no benefits are to be paid in the event of death by suicide unless the deceased has been a member of the Benevolent Brotherhood for two years or longer), the Treasurer will pay as soon as practical the beneficiaries designed by the deceased member, that amount specified in these by-laws.
ARTICLE VI:
Disbursements
The Chairman will require the Treasure to pay to the beneficiary of the deceased member and amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) as soon as possible as specified by these by-laws.
ARTICLE VII:
Delinquents
Any member who has failed to pay his/her dues as specified ion the NCSFRI By-Laws will forfeit his/her membership in the Benevolent Brotherhood.
ARTICLE VIII:
Expulsion
Any member who is expelled from the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors will immediately forfeit his/her membership in the Benevolent Brotherhood.
ARTICLE IX:
Amendments
These rules and By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote at any regular meeting of the Benevolent Brotherhood Officers.
ARTICLE X:
Source of Finance
The source of finance will be provided by the initial grant in the amount of $10,000 form the general fund of the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors and 25% of the annual dues.
ARTICLE XI:
Appointment of Officers
All Officers will be appointed by the NCSFRI Board of Directors yearly for the staggered terms of three (3) years at the fall meeting of the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors (i.e: the first year one officer will be appointed for three (3) years, one officer appointed for two (2) years, and one officer appointed for one (1) year; thereafter one officer will be appointed yearly.) The Treasurer will be a permanent position. Vacancies occurring will be filled by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XII:
Disclaimer
Nothing in these by-laws shall be construed to create an expectation that such benefits payable by this Brotherhood are insurance benefits. Such benefits are not insurance benefits and are not subject to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Insurance. It is a separate entity for the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors and is governed by a separate Board of Directors and is self-supporting.
Amended February 14, 2000