Northeast Shrine association bylaws

                                                                ARTICLE I 

SECTION I This Association shall be known as The Northeast Shrine Association. 

                                                                ARTICLE II

                                                                 OBJECTS

SECTION I. The objects of this association shall be to cooperate in the exchange of information and policies pertaining to increased Shriner membership: to harmonize territorial and jurisdictional disputes: to actively cooperate in the support of local Shrine Hospitals in the area: to promote conventions of the Temples, especially for the purposes of creating desire for Shrine Membership among eligible Masonic brethren: to promote cordiality and friendship among the Shrine temples of the Northeastern section of North America: and in general to promote the welfare and continued growth of the ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 

                                                                 ARTICLE III

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I. Membership in this Association shall be composed of the following temples located in the Northeastern section of North America. Mount Sinai, Pyramid, Aleppo, Rhode Island, Kora, Sphinx, Melha, Karnak, Luxor, Cairo, Bektash, Philae, Anah, Tunis, Mazol, Oriental. 

SECTION II. Any Temple may withdraw from this Association at any time by a vote of such Temple. Written notice of which action shall be taken be mailed to the secretary of the Association. 

                                                                ARTICLE IV

                                                ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES

SECTION I. Representatives shall be composed of the Potentates, Chief Rabbans, Assistant Rabbans, High Priest and Prophets, Oriental Guides, Treasurers, Recorders, Assistant Recorders, and Past Potentates of the member Temples, together with the current year Representatives to the Imperial Council and all Past Imperial Officers holding membership in said Temples. 

SECTION II. A certified list of the eligible Representatives from each member Temple shall be filed with the Secretary of this Association following each Temple promptly following each annual election. 

                                                                  ARTICLE V

                                                                  MEETINGS

SECTION I. The Association shall meet in annual business session at such time and place as shall have been determined by the President preferably on a date within the first four months of each year. Special meetings may be held at the call of the President.

SECTION II. The Annual Fall Convention or Field Day of the Association shall be held at such time and place as shall have been determined by the President, preferably on a weekend date in September or October.

SECTION III. Notice of meetings of the Association shall be mailed to the Recorders of each member Temple at least ten days prior to the date set for a meeting.

SECTION IV, All unit Associations within the NSA will not be permitted to hold any “competitions” other than the NSA September Field Days without the written approval of the President of the Northeast Shrine Association. 

                                                                 ARTICLE VI 

                                                                  OFFICERS

SECTION I. The Officers of the Association shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, each elected by the Association Representatives at the Annual Convention or Field Day held in September or October to serve until the next Annu- al Convention or Field Day or until his successor shall be elected.

SECTION II. A President when elected shall be Chief Rabban of his Temple, the First Vice President when elected shall be Assistant Rabban of his Temple, and the Second Vice Presi- dent when elected shall be High Priest and Prophet of his Temple.

SECTION III. The position of Secretary-Treasurer may be held by either a Recorder or a Past Potentate, and the presiding President may appoint an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.

SECTION IV. The President is the executive officer and shall preside at all meetings. He shall have the power to name the

time and place of the Annual Business Meeting and the Annual Convention or Field Day. He shall have the power to appoint Committees other than the Executive Committee. He shall be “Chairman of the Executive Committee”.

SECTION V. In the event of the death or disability of the President, his duties and powers shall be assumed by the First Vice President if available, otherwise by the Second Vice President.

SECTION VI. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the

Association and all meetings of the Executive committee keeping a true record of all delibera- tions and transactions. As Treasurer he shall bill and collect all revenues, depositing the same in a National Bank or State Bank or Trust company in the name of and subject to the order of The Northeastern Shrine Association. He shall pay all bills of the Association by checks signed by him and countersigned by the President, on presentation of proper vouchers approved by at least two members of the Executive Committee. At each regular meeting he shall render a writ- ten account of all receipts and disbursements. On expiration of his term of office he shall promptly deliver to his successor all monies, books and other property in his possession or under his control belonging to the Association.

                                                                ARTICLE VII

                                                       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION I. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the four elected officers of the Association and all Potentates of member Temples of the Northeastern Shrine Association.

SECTION II. The Executive Committee shall meet in February or March of each year and at any other times upon call of the President after due notice. .

                                                              ARTICLE VIII 

                                                                    FEES

SECTION I. Each Temple shall pay an annual fee of $400.00 U.S. Funds payable at or before

the Annual Business Meeting each year, such funds being appropriate to defray such operat- ing expenses of the Association as meetings, printing, notices, stenographic, telephones, etc., payment of which shall be authorized by written vouchers signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee.

SECTION II. All Member Temples in attendance at any annual Convention/Field Days of the Association shall pay to the Host Temple a registration fee of $10.00 for each Noble in attend- ance.

SECTION III. The registration fee of $10.00 per Noble, referred to in Section II, is payable by the member Temple immediately following the mid-Winter meeting, based on the anticipated number of Nobles that will participate in the Field Days Parade. The registration fee is non- refundable.

                                                            ARTICLE IX 

                                                             HOUSING

SECTION I. All Temples attending the Mid-Winter business meeting of the Northeast Shrine

Association must go through the Host Temple Housing Chairman for all accommodations. All Temples attending the Field Days will be responsible for their own housing arrangements. The Host Temple shall appoint a Housing Chairman to assist Temples in making accommodation arrangements and provide information on local accommodations. The Host Temple's Housing Chairman shall also be kept informed by attending Temples as to where their accommodations are, and the number of members that will be in attendance for the Field Days.

                                                         AMENDMENTS

SECTION I. Proposed amendments to the By-laws must be submitted in writing to the Execu- tive Committee addressed to the Secretary at least sixty days prior to the Annual Business Meeting of the Association and notice of such proposed amendments shall be inserted at the call of such meeting.

                                                              ARTICLE X 

                                                                VOTING

SECTION I. At every meeting all questions shall be determined by a majority vote of represent-

atives present and voting, except that adoption of By-law amendments shall require a two- thirds vote of those present and voting. Each accredited representative present from a Temple as certified by the Recorder of his Temple as provided in ARTICLE IV, SECTION II, is entitled to vote

                   AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE NORTHEAST SHRINE ASSOCIATION

Section I: Article IV: Voted September 29, 1973, Boston,

Massachusetts. This to add High Priest and Prophet and Oriental Guide to be included as repre- sentatives from their Temples.

Section I: Article VII: Voted September 29,1973, Boston,

Massachusetts. This to read: And ALL POTENTATES OF MEMBER TEMPLES OF THE NORTH- EAST SHRINE ASSOCIATION.

Section III: Article VI: Voted October 15, 1977, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This to read: The position of Secretary-Treasurer may be held by either a Recorder or a Past Potentate. And the presiding President may appoint an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of his choice.

Section II: Article VI: Voted October 2,1982, Boston,

Massachusetts. This to read: A President when elected shall be Chief Rabban of his Temple. 1st Vice President when elected shall be the Assistant Rabban of his Temple, 2nd Vice President shall be the High Priest and Prophet of his Temple. And if any Office is vacated for any reason it shall be filled by a vote at the next Fall Business Meeting. If the Office is left vacant as the result of a death or a resignation in a Temple line, that Temple shall have the first option of placing a succeeding Officer's name for nomination to fill the Northeast Office.

Section II: Article VIII: Voted March 10, 1990, Hartford, VT. All Member Temples in attendance at any annual Convention/Field Days of the Association shall pay to the Host Temple a registration fee of $10.00 U.S. Funds for each Noble in attendance.

Section III: Article VIII: Voted March 10, 1990, Hartford, CT. The registration fee of $10.00 per Noble, referred to in Section II, is payable by the member Temple immediately following the Mid- Winter meeting, based on the anticipated number of Nobles that will participate in the Field Days Parade. The registration fee is non-refundable.

Section I: Article IX: Housing. Voted March 10, 1990, Hartford, CT. All Temples attending a Northeast Shrine Convention must go through the Host Temple Housing Chairman for all accommodations. Failure to do so will result in the Temple being disqualified from active participation in the Field Days Parade and all Association competitions.

Section II: Article IX: Voted March 10, 1990, Hartford, CT. All member Temples shall pay a "binder fee" of $10.00 per room requested at time of "booking" rooms for a convention. The binder fee will remain in the possession of the Host Temple until two (2) weeks following the convention at which time the fees will be returned, without interest to the respective Temples. However, the fee is non- refundable on any portion of rooms reduced (not used) from the original request at time of "bookingection IV: Article V: Voted March 10, 1990, Hartford, CT. All unit Associations within the NSA will not be permitted to hold any "competitions," other than the NSA Field Days.

Section I: Article IX: Voted September 14,1991 at Portland, ME. All Temples attending the Spring Meeting, Fall Convention, and the Critique must go through the Host Temple Housing Chairman.

Section I Article VIII: Voted September 14,1991 at Portland, ME. Each Temple shall pay an annual fee of $300. U.S. Funds.

Section I Article XI: Voted September 19, 1997 at Bangor, ME. Future hosts of the N.SA have been established up to the year 2025. In the event that a particular temple does not wish to host in their slated year they may trade with another temple so long as it is with a temple in the same country, and with the approval of the N.SA in writing. However, in the event that a temple reneges from hosting in their slated year, their name will be placed at the bottom of the list and only get the opportunity fifteen (15) years later. (Time and place on page 48)

Section I Article VIII: Voted on September 17, 2010 at Halifax, NS to change the annual fee each Temple pays from $300 (US) to $400 (US).

Section IV Article VIII: Voted on September 17, 2010 at Halifax, NS to delete Section IV in its entirety.

Section I Article IX: Voted on September 17, 2010 at Halifax, NS to delete Section I in its entirety.

Section II Article IX: Voted on September 17, 2010 at Halifax, NS to delete Section II in its entirety.

Section I Article IX: Voted on September 17, 2010 at Halifax, NS: All Temples attending the Mid- Winter business meeting of the NSA must go through the Host Temple Housing Chairman for all accommodations. All Temples attending the Field Days will be responsible for their own housing arrangements. The Host Temple shall appoint a Housing Chairman to assist Temples in making accommodation arrangements and provide information on local accommodations. The Host Temple's Housing Chairman shall also be kept informed by attending Temples as to where their accommodations are, and the number of members that will be in attendance for the Field Days.

Section 1 Article III Voted on August 19, 2017, Ottawa, Ont. Admission of Oriental Shrine Temple, Troy NY into the NSA.

Section II Article VI Voted on September 20, 2024, Kingston, Ont. A President when elected shall be Chief Rabban of his Temple The First Vice President when elected shall be the Assistant Rabban of his Temple and the second Vice President when elected shall be the High Priest and Prophet of his Templed. 

Should any Temple be unable to have such an Officer/Divan Member available to fill that role, theTemple may put forward a name of a Past Potentate for the Office.