TOGA Bylaws
Bylaws of The Old Guard Association (TOGA) – Download PDF
The bylaws of our association establish our management structure and procedures. It is a legally binding document that serves as an operating manual for TOGA. The bylaws are managed by the Board of Directors (BOD). All changes are approved by a vote of the members.
Proposed Changes
From time to time the BOD will receive requests to amend the bylaws of TOGA. When a proposal that meets the high standards set by the board it is presented to the members for consideration, and in this case the general public, for comment. This amendment will be discussed and voted upon by the members at the 2021 General Annual Meeting of the Association.
Please review these proposed changes and offer any comments below.
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Article III, Section 1, Membership
Fellow Old Guardsmen…
For the past several years our Membership Chairman has been in receipt of an increasing number of applications seeking Associate Membership. In almost all cases the application and membership dues are returned to the applicant because he/she does not meet the very stringent requirements for Associate Membership. Many of these applications have been from members of our military, but who never served in the Regiment. Other applications have been received from family members of former Association members who have since passed. In this case the family is proud of their loved ones service and wants to maintain their relationship with The Old Guard Association. The Proposed Amendment to the Bylaws shown below is intended to be inclusive of these otherwise deserving applicants and has changed one simple sentence in the bylaw to make it possible to more easily achieve Associate Membership. Please review the Proposal and come prepared to the Annual General Meeting to question, discuss and vote on the proposal.
Bill Morris, Secretary
Background
Article III, Section 1, of the Association Bylaws describes the five classes of membership currently offered to those wishing to join the community of our Association. These five categories of membership are: Charter, Regular, Life, Associate and Honorary. For the last several years the Membership Chairman has been receiving applications for Associate membership which do not meet the current criteria for acceptance.
The existing bylaws standard for granting Associate membership requires that the applicant “has contributed significantly to the support of the Association in the accomplishment of its aims and purposes.” This is a high standard which the majority of applicants do not meet.
Objective
To develop and present to the membership a viable and acceptable solution which allows otherwise deserving supporters of the Association an opportunity to apply and be approved for acceptance as an Associate Member.
Proposal
The Outreach Committee, a sub-committee of the Board chaired by Director Dave Book, has proposed, and the Board recommends approval of, the following amendment to the bylaws. If approved by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), this change to Article III, Section 1 would provide a path for non-member supporters of the Association, who do not otherwise meet the current criteria for acceptance, to apply for an expanded Associate membership class.
Revise the definition of Associate membership as stated in the existing Article III, Section 1 as follows:
Associate Member – Associate membership may be granted to any active duty or veteran of the United States military, family member of a current or former Old Guard Soldier or any person not meeting other membership requirements stated herein and who has contributed significantly to the support of the Association in the accomplishment of its aims and purposes. Applications for Associate membership are subject to approval of the Board.
The dues structure for the Associate membership class would be positioned so as to discourage all but the most ardent and enthusiastic applicants. Each individual application would continue to require review and approval by the Board of Directors. If approved, this bylaws change would become effective on January 1, 2021.