Article I

Name and Headquarters

The name of the Association shall be the "Finance Corps Association" (FCA) with its headquarters and principal offices at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. 

Article II

Objectives and Purposes

The Association shall devote its efforts and activities to the aims and purposes generally set forth in the Bylaws, and to such other supplemental and derivative activities, objectives, and purposes as may be approved by the Executive Council, including but not limited to: 

  1. Fostering a spirit of goodwill and cooperative endeavor among its members and perpetuating friendships and traditions growing out of their membership in the US Army Finance Corps. This would also include the establishment of an educational program to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the history of the Finance Corps and the Finance Regiment. 
  2. Sponsoring new methods, techniques, and developments designed to increase the efficiency of financial management in the Armed Forces, and to promote high standards of proficiency in finance and accounting operations.
  3. Providing a medium for the mutual exchange and discussion of ideas and information of interest to members of the Association.
  4. Promoting esprit de corps among all members of the Association and the Finance Corps.
  5. Promoting mutual understanding and effecting cooperation with enterprises in parallel fields of endeavor.
  6. Encouraging programs for financial research and development in the fields of receipts and disbursements of appropriated funds, budget and fiscal activities, accounting, auditing, and allied fields of financial management.
  7. Assist the Finance Regiment in identifying and naming Distinguished Members of the Regiment and awardees of the Major General Towson Medallion. 

Article III

Policy of Operations

  1. The Association shall be operated on a nonprofit basis. No net earnings of the Association shall accrue to the benefit of any of its officers or members, but shall be devoted exclusively to literary and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 in order to further the objectives and purposes for which the Association is created. 
  2. The Association will conduct its affairs in a nonpartisan political manner and in accordance with Army Regulation 210-1, Private Organizations on Department of the Army Installations. Its name or influence will not be used directly or indirectly in the interest of any national, state, or municipal political activity. 
  3. The existence of this Association shall continue perpetually until the same be lawfully dissolved, and upon dissolution, all assets of the Association shall be paid over and transferred to a tax-exempt organization, either charitable, religious, educational or scientific, or with purposes similar to these as determined by the Executive Board. Should liabilities exceed assets, the members may be held liable for the difference. 

Article IV

General Form of Organization

  1. The general control and management of the property and affairs of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Council, which shall decide all policy matters involving conduct of the Association.
  2. The Executive Council may appoint such committees as may be necessary to the proper conduct of the affairs of the Association, and may delegate to such committees or to the officers of the Association the performance of such duties as may be deemed desirable and necessary subject to the provisions of the Bylaws of the Association. Members of the Executive Council are encouraged to serve on each standing committee. 
  3. Selecting the Executive Council. A nominating committee, comprised of members selected by the President, will submit names of Finance Corps officers, noncommissioned officers, and civilians to the general membership to vote upon.  The number of Executive Council members will be determined by the nominating committee.  Six persons from the membership at large will be elected by the membership to serve as the remaining members on the Executive Council.  The term of office for Executive Council members will be two years.  The president and Vice President are ex officio members of the Executive Council.  Elections will be held at a designated General Membership meeting.  The Executive Council will endeavor to schedule said meeting to coincide with Association functions or gatherings at Fort Jackson or other locations in order to promote and facilitate maximum attendance.  The elected members to the Executive Council will be elected by a vote of a majority of the members of the Association present at the designated General Membership meeting and so voting.  Such election will be scheduled at the discretion of the Executive Council to avoid expiration of elected council members' terms of office. 
  4. In the event of a vacancy in the elective membership of the Executive Council between elections, the said Executive Council may fill the same by the appointment of a member of the Association for a term not to exceed the unexpired term of the member whose vacancy is being filled. In the event that a term of any At-Large Executive Council member expires because an election has not yet been held, the expired term of the incumbent may be extended or a new person may be appointed on a temporary basis (pending execution of procedures in para. 3 above) at the discretion of the Executive Council. Extension or temporary appointments will be for renewable periods not to exceed six months. 

Article V

Interim Management

At all times when the Executive Council is not in session, the affairs of the Association shall be conducted and managed by the active officers of the Association, acting under the discretion of the President, who shall have full powers to do all acts and things necessary for the conduct of the Association, subject to such restrictions and authority as the Executive Council and Bylaws of the Association may direct. 

Article VI

Officers

  1. The active officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer. The President and the Vice President will be nominated and selected from the at-large Association Members.  The Executive Council will review nominations and properly accept nominations for a vote by the general membership.  The President and Vice President shall will be selected by a majority vote from the active members of the Association.  The President and Vice President shall appoint a selection committee to nominate at-large FCA members for the officer positions (i.e. Secretary/Adjutant and Treasurer).  All officers will be elected by the Executive Council.  A necessary qualification for (only) the Secretary and the Treasure positions will be that they abide near the Fort Jackson in the geographical area.  The term of office for the President, Vice President and officers is two years.
  2. In the event of a vacancy in an active officer position of the Association, the Executive Council may fill the same by the appointment of a member of the Association for a term not to exceed the unexpired term of the member whose vacancy is being filled.

Article VII

Membership

  1. Any person interested in the aims, objectives, and purposes of the Association, as set forth in the Bylaws, is eligible to apply for membership in the Association, subject to the conditions prescribed from time to time in the Bylaws of the Association, unless application for such membership shall be disapproved by the Executive Council. Offices, organizations, and libraries are not entitled to membership as are individuals.  Membership shall be of such classes, types, or kinds as prescribed from time to time in the Bylaws of the Association. 
  2. Prospective members will read the Bylaws prior to accepting membership in the organization.
  3. Membership in the Association shall be of three types:
    1. Annual membership. Regular membership status.  Annual membership shall be granted to those persons who are interested in the aims and objectives of the Association.  Dues are paid for yearly periods. Charter members are annual members, but have the distinction of being founding patron members of the Association. 
    2. Gold membership.  Gold membership is granted to those members who pay the prescribed three-year fees in lieu of the yearly membership dues.
    3. Life membership. Life membership is granted to those members who pay the prescribed life membership fees in lieu of yearly membership dues. Life membership is also conferred upon the Honorary Colonel of the Corps and the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Corps when they complete their term of service at no cost.   
    4. Honorary Membership. The President may confer honorary membership at his/her discretion to include the membership term.  Honorary members are not selected based on their position.
    5. All members shall have the right to receive the official publications of the Association, be entitle to vote in connection with any election or with reference to any other matter authorized by the Bylaws of the Association, and to hold office.
  4. The Executive Council is empowered to drop from membership any member who by 2/3 majority vote of the total membership of the Executive Council is considered to be a discredit to the Association.

Article VIII

Duties of Active Officers

  1. The President of the Association shall be the chief executive officer of the Association in carrying on, or causing to be carried on, the day-to-day operations of the Association per the policies established by the Executive Council. He/She shall preside at the meetings of the Executive Council.
  2. During the absence, disability, or in case of the death of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the President.
  3. Duties of the Secretary and Treasurer:
    1. The Secretary shall be in charge of the principal office of the Association, and of its official records under the direction of the President. He/She shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Council.  He/She shall also keep a record of the membership of the Association and conduct and keep complete records of correspondence and other official records of the Association.  He/She shall perform other such duties as the Executive Council may from time to time direct. 
    2. The Treasurer shall receive, expend, and account for such funds of the Association as may come into his/her hands for the use and benefit of the Association under the general authority of the President and the Executive Council. He/She shall perform other such duties as the Executive Council may from time to time direct.  The Treasurer will provide the annual budget to the Executive Council for approval prior to the beginning of the calendar year. 
  4. The Executive Council shall require an annual audit of the financial affairs of the Association and shall publish report of such audit and other activities of the Association.

Article IX

Meetings

The regular meetings of the Executive Council of the Association shall be held semiannually, the exact place to be fixed by the President, and due notice given by the Secretary of the Association to the members of the said Executive Council. Special meetings of the Executive Council may be called at any time by the presiding officer thereof after due notice. To conduct business under these Bylaws, a quorum of six members of the Executive Council must be present or able to participate through an interactive communications device. 

Meetings of the general membership of the Association will be scheduled at a date, time, and location specified by the Executive Council.  If possible, the general membership will meet at least once annually.  The date and time shall be as such that the membership has as a minimum thirty days’ notice. The Secretary shall inform each member of the Association of said meeting. Notification in the Association Newsletter is acceptable and must comply with the thirty day minimum notice requirement. The Executive Council will endeavor to schedule General Membership meetings to coincide with Association functions or official military duty gatherings in order to promote and facilitate maximum attendance. 

Article X

Dues and Contributions

  1. Membership fees or dues may be charged by the Association as determined by the Executive Council, except as otherwise stated within these Bylaws.
  2. The Executive Council is authorized to accept contributions, to include corporate sponsorships, donations, and bequests to the Association, from appropriate sources. The Executive Council is authorized to sell such items as appropriate to promote Association activities and esprit de corps.  Moneys so received shall be placed in such fund or funds as prescribed by the Executive Council. 
  3. Offices, organizations, and libraries are not entitled to membership as are individuals; however, they may subscribe to official publications of the Association under conditions prescribed by the Executive Council.

Article XI

Amendments

The Executive Council may amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws by two-thirds vote of the Executive Council subject to the approval of the majority of the membership present at the next general membership meeting.  Any member in good standing may present a motion to amend, alter, or repeal these Bylaws at any general membership meeting. 

Article XII

Chapters

  1. Within the Association, individual regional chapters may be formed to further promote and support the objectives and purposes of the Association. In order to activate a chapter, a request for chapter activation must be submitted and approved.  The request must include, at a minimum, a Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  All proposed Chapter Officers must be members of the Association.  The request must also include a petition of at least 25 members in good standing who favor, by signature, Chapter organization. 
  2. The proposed Chapter will officially be activated after approval by a two thirds majority of the Executive Council. Within six months of activation, the Chapter must forward a copy of its governing Bylaws to the Association Secretary. 
    1. Upon Chapter approval, a Chapter shall receive a one-time grant of $200 from the Association for initial start-up costs.
    2. Chapters will receive $2 for each new member brought into the Association and $1 for all others members in good standing as of 1 April. Chapters must certify as accurate to the Membership Chairman their 1 April chapter roster NLT 1 May. The General Membership or Executive Council may also authorize an additional amount based on chapter renewal rate, quantity of membership, and other factors which contribute to the success and promotion of the Finance Corps.
    3. The Association will also provide other administrative support and/or guidance, as requested as necessary.
    4. If the organization is dissolved, all funds in the treasury at the time will be used to meet any outstanding debts, liabilities, or obligations. The balance of these assets will be disposed of as determined by the membership. 

As amended on 30 July 2017.