VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS VCSOAT

ARTICLE I

(NAME)

SECTION I This Association shall be known as and use the name of;

VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

SECTION I This Association is formed for the following purpose, goals and objectives:

TO imbue Veterans County Service Officers with a deeper understanding of their responsibilities to veterans and their dependents;

TO maintain and improve standards of training and proficiency for Veterans County Service Officers;

TO promote and improve the conduct of Veterans County Service Officers’ training and conferences;

TO serve as a clearing house for information on legislation, regulations and procedures proven to be successful in the prosecution of veterans’ claims;

TO instill into every Veterans County Service Officer a sense of pride in their work;

TO develop a spirit of close cooperation between Veterans County Service Officers;

TO disseminate information of interest to veterans and their dependents regarding benefits to which they may be entitled;

TO prepare informational press and radio releases for the use by all Veterans County Service Officers;

TO use all facilities to inform the public, legislators and Commissioners Courts regarding problems of the veterans and of the need to foster and support legislation in the best interest of veterans and their dependents;

TO develop mutual understanding and closer cooperation between Veterans County Service Officers and the Department of Veterans Affairs;

TO understand and cooperate with all other agencies having an interest in the affairs of veterans and other veterans’ organizations;

AND to develop greater security and remuneration for the profession of Veterans County Service Officers.

SECTION II It shall at all times be the goal of this Association to uphold the principles of the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of Texas and to perform other duties and further acts as may be beneficial to veterans, their dependents, Veterans County Service Officers, our communities, our state and our nation.

ARTICLE III

(JURISDICTION)

SECTION I The jurisdiction of this Association shall be coextensive with the territorial boundaries of the State of Texas.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY

SECTION I Each active Veterans County Service Officer and/or Assistant Veterans County Service Officer appointed in such a capacity by any county within the jurisdiction of this Association and recognized as a certified Veterans County Service Officer by the Texas Veterans Commission; IAW Texas Veteran Laws for Veterans, Dependents & Survivors, Subchapter B. Sec. 434.033 (Officers), shall, upon payment of dues ($20.00) as prescribed in the Bylaws, be eligible for active membership in this Association and as such member, shall be entitled to hold office in the Association and vote on all questions requiring a vote of the membership. Any member of this Association in good standing at the time of retirement as an active Veterans County Service Officer, may continue to be a member of this Association by paying the annual dues as prescribed in the Bylaws and will be entitled to all of the privileges and benefits thereof, as provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws.

SECTION II Upon the recommendation of an active member of the Association, Associate Membership may be extended to persons who actively support veterans and active duty service members in veterans’ benefits and who are not members of any anti-government group or subversive group. Annual dues for associate members shall be $25.00. Associate members shall have no voting rights or other benefits afforded to full members.

SECTION III Active or retired members of the Association who have been continuous members for ten (10) years and attained the age of seventy-five (75) or have been a recipient of the Dan Garcia Memorial Award, shall be granted paid-up-for-life membership status.

ARTICLE V

(RESTRICTIONS)

SECTION I It shall be the duty of each member of this Association to assume their duties and responsibilities as citizens of the United States of America in accordance with their personal knowledge and beliefs; however, this Association shall remain at all times strictly non-partisan and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles nor for the furtherance of the candidacy of any person or group of persons seeking public office or preferment.

ARTICLE VI

(AMENDMENTS)

SECTION I Amendments to this Constitution shall be approved only at the bi-annual meeting of this Association by a two-thirds vote of the active members present and in good standing at such meeting. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed at any Executive Committee meeting, provided a quorum is present.