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BYLAW III - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

The Association fully supports the Department of Defense (DOD) policy on equal opportunity and shall not discriminate in membership eligibility on the basis of race, color, sex, religion or national origin. This Association shall not accept invitation from, nor participate in any activity or organization that does not conform to this policy.

SECTION 2. CLASSES OF MEMBERS:

a. The Association shall have only one class of voting member, that of Regular member. Regular membership in the Association shall normally be open to any person who now holds or has ever held an appointment or commission as a Warrant Officer in the Regular, Reserve or National Guard component of the U. S. Army.

b. Associate membership may be extended to persons or organizations not otherwise eligible for regular membership when recommended by a Regular member. Associate members have the same privileges and obligations as Regular members except to vote or hold an elected office. Dues for Associate members shall be the same as those for Regular members on active duty and shall be borne by the person making application for Associate membership, except for corporate memberships which will be set from time to time by the Executive Committee (EXCOM). There shall be no dues rebate for Associate membership.

c. Honorary membership may be bestowed upon persons not eligible for regular membership. Nominees for honorary membership must have contributed significantly to the betterment of the Association and the Warrant Officer Corps. Their actions must have been directed solely to the benefit of the Association, its membership, or the Warrant Officers Corps in general. Nominations may be submitted in writing by any chapter or region of the Association to the National President. Letters of nomination shall contain sufficient information of the contribution and activities of nominees to permit the National BOD to exercise sound judgment on the acceptance or rejection of nominations. Honorary membership will be confirmed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the National BOD. Honorary members shall have the same privileges and obligations as regular members except to vote, hold office or have a voice in matters pertaining to Association business. Honorary membership shall be perpetual. Sponsoring chapters or regions shall pay the life membership dues at the current rate of honorary members on a one-time basis. There shall be no dues rebate for honorary membership.

SECTION 3. SELECTION OF MEMBERS:

a. Eligible Warrant Officers or former Warrant Officers desiring to join the Association may submit application and payment of a minimum of one year's annual dues to the National Headquarters.

b. Except for honorary members, members shall be accepted by the National Executive Director on behalf of the National BOD. All members will be issued an Association membership card. The Executive Director will refer questionable applications to the EXCOM of the National BOD for resolution.

SECTION 4. VOTING RIGHTS:

a. Regular members, current in their membership, shall be entitled to one vote on each issue submitted to a vote of the members.

b. Proxy voting shall be authorized in accordance with the operational directives of the organization. No proxy will be recognized other than which is prescribed in the operational directives of the association and that addressed as an electronic transmission. An electronic transmission shall contain or be accompanied by information from which one can determine that the member, the member’s agent, or the member’s attorney-in-fact authorized the transmission. Any copy, facsimile telecommunications or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this sub-section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunications or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. A proxy will not be used for the election of any officers.

SECTION 5. DUES:

The National Board of Directors shall determine the amount of dues payable to the Association by its members. Members will normally, and are encouraged to, pay their dues directly to the National Headquarters. However, in exceptional cases, they may remit dues to the Region or Chapter where they are located. Chapter and Regions shall remit to the National Headquarters all dues collected from new and renewal memberships in a timely manner and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the operational directives.

SECTION 6. REMOVAL FOR NONPAYMENT OF DUES:

Membership shall be terminated if dues remain unpaid for ninety (90) days from the date when due and payable.

SECTION 7. ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERS TO CHAPTERS:

Upon joining or renewing their membership, members may select one of two alternatives, Chapter Member or Member at Large (no chapter affiliation). All members are encouraged to actively participate in the activities of the nearest chapter. Members are normally assigned to the active chapter in closest geographic proximity to the place where they are assigned or reside. National will automatically reassign members based on their submitted change of address. Members, who wish to be affiliated with a chapter other than the closest chapter, may request to do so by advising the National Headquarters in writing, with appropriate justification, at the time of joining or renewal. For the purpose of computing the number of votes authorized to each region at the Annual Meeting of the Members, Members at Large are counted in the region in which they reside.

SECTION 8. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP:

The National BOD by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all BOD members, may direct the termination of membership in the Association for cause after an appropriate hearing, at which the member may appear or have an attorney or some other individual they have appointed in writing, appear on their behalf. Termination may be for a temporary period, or it may be permanent. The member may appeal the decision of the BOD by providing additional data and requesting a new hearing.

SECTION 9. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP:

Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the National Executive Director, USAWOA. This shall not relieve the member resigning of his obligation to pay any legal dues, assessments or other charges accrued. Dues shall not be reimbursed upon resignation.

SECTION 10. REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP:

Upon written request signed by a former member and filed with the National Executive Director, USAWOA, the National BOD may, by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the National BOD, reinstate such former members, terminated under the provisions of Section 8, BYLAW III, to membership upon such terms as the BOD may deem appropriate.

SECTION 11. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP:

Membership in this Association is not transferable, nor may it be assigned to any other Association, Corporation or Organization.

SECTION 12. NATIONAL EMERGENCY:

In the event of a national emergency, or other military exigency as determined by the BOD, a member shall retain their membership without regard to payment of dues until such time as the emergency is terminated and the member is given the opportunity to pay his obligations. All membership benefits shall continue so long as the Association assets allow.