Constitution of the Universal Ship Cancellation Society
 (Revised February 2000)

responsible for all funds of the Society. Funds shall be deposited, as received, in a bank insured by an agency of the federal government or in government-issued or insured financial instruments; all disbursements shall be made by check signed by the Treasurer. He shall expend no funds except on order or voucher signed by the President. He shall make regular financial reports in such form and at such frequencies as may be prescribed by the Board. The President and/or a director shall also be authorized to sign checks on the Society's account, such authority to be exercised only in the event that the Treasurer is incapacitated for any reason.

c. The Treasurer shall obtain a position bond, and the cost of the bond shall be paid by the Society. 		13. Financial. No member shall create a debt against the Society without having first obtained written authorization from the President or Treasurer. In no case shall such authorization exceed $100 unless approved by the Board of Directors. No additional expenditure shall be authorized for any office or committee, unless further approved by the Board of Directors.

a. The fiscal year of the Society shall be from April 1 to March 31 of the following year.

b. The President, within thirty days after receipt of the end of the year financial statement, shall submit a proposed budget to the Board. When the budget has been approved by the Board, this will constitute authority for the Treasurer to make the budgeted disbursements from Society funds.
d. The records of the Treasurer shall be audited as soon as possible after April 1st for the previous fiscal year. The audit shall be conducted by a qualified accountant approved by the Board of Directors. c. The Board of Directors may authorize officers other than the Treasurer to hold bank accounts in the name of the Society.

11. The Board of Directors. The government of this Society shall be vested in a Board of Directors for the purpose of promulgating by-Laws, policies and practices. The Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and nine Directors. The purpose of the Society is to promote the study of the history of the United States Navy and its ships; to promote and develop the collection and study of the postal markings of the United States Navy and other maritime organizations of the world; to disseminate knowledge relative to such material; and to foster a spirit of fellowship and cooperation among collectors.

 14. Log. The official bulletin of the Society shall be known as the USCS Log and shall be mailed to each subscribing member in good standing. The official bulletin will be published once a month. The Log Editor shall be responsible that the expenditures for the Log are kept within the budget and that the contents of the Log do not conflict with the Constitution, By-Laws or any written order of the President or Board of Directors.
a. Advertising space in the Log may be sold at rates set by the Board; all funds received for advertising shall be forwarded to the Treasurer. 		 
a. The President shall be Chairman of the Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Board; however, in his absence, the Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer, in that order, shall preside.

b. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the officers. Each officer shall be entitled to cast one vote, a majority being necessary to carry the vote of the Board. All ties shall be decided by the President. When it is not possible for a quorum to meet together, the President shall submit all questions for vote to the officers in writing.

c. Any officer may submit a proposed policy or instruction for the President to all other officers by mail; the other officers will send their votes to the President, with a copy to the originator of the proposal.

d. It is the intent of this Constitution to invest the President with powers and discretion in the performance of his duties, but to retain final control in the Board of Directors.

12. Succession to Office. In the event of the absence, death, incapacity or removal of an officer of the Society, succession to office until the next regular election shall be as follows:

a. President: Vice President.

b. Vice President: Director with the highest number of votes in the last election.

c. Secretary or Treasurer: As determined by the Board of Directors.

d. Director: Nominee for Director who received the highest number of votes in the last election but who was not elected.
15. Convention. The Convention of the Society, shall be held at such time and place as the President may direct upon the approval of the Board of Directors.


16. Elections. The election of officers shall take place on February 15 of each odd year in accordance with the following procedures:

a. The President shall notify the membership in the August issue ofthe Log that nominations for the coming election will be open September 1 of the year prior to the election. Applicants shall make their availability known to the Chairman of the Nominating committee and shall certify that he or she will serve if elected. The nominee shall submit a short biographical sketch to the Secretary of the Nominating Committee by November 1.

b. Candidates for all offices must have been members in good standing of the USCS for a minimum of two years. Candidates for President must have been at one time elected national office holders in the USCS.

c. The Secretary of the Nominating Committee shall forward the list of nominees to the Log Editor for publication in the December Log.

d. On or before November 1, the President shall appoint a Ballot Committee composed of three members who are not candidates for office and who reside in a proximate geographical area. One member of the Committee shall be designated as Chairman by the President.

e. During the first week in December of the election year, the Secretary shall mail to each Subscribing, Life and Youth member in good standing a ballot listing all nominees. Ballots shall be sent first class mail to members in the United States 		 
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