Bylaws

                               McMahan Volunteer Fire Department
                                                     Constitution and Bylaws
                                                 (Amendments included in bold)

Article One-Name
     1.1 This Organization shall be known as the McMahan Volunteer Fire Department and shall consist of one or more companies located in McMahan, Texas

Article Two-Purpose
     2.1 This organization shall consist of volunteer fire fighter organization prevent the destruction of life and property by fire, to assist in the prevention of fire, and render aid in any emergency.

Article Three-Membership
     3.1 Active fire fighters shall be composed of persons, 18 years of age or older, free from any serious disabilities which may prevent them from doing active service-and of good moral charter and good standing in the community.
     3.2 Active members shall be male or female persons physically willing and able toattend drills, recieve training, and participate in active fire fighting and prevention activities, rescue or other such duties as he may be called upon to perform
     3.3 All applications for membership must be made in wrighting. Amended (3/1988)-
That article 3.3 be deleted altogether since we have never required written application for membership.
    3.4 All members shall be assessed a fee determined by the membership.
     3.5 All active members shall attend at least on half the meetings and drills heldand shall participate in all functions of the department. Those not participating will be put on the inactive membership list.

Article Four- Officers
     4.1 The officers of the McMahn Volunteer Fire Department shall be president,vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and fire chief. Amended(3/1988)- That Article 4.1 be amended to read: The officers of McMahan VolunteerFire Department shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and FireChief.

     4.2 The Executive Board shall consist of the above officers.
     4.3 The Executive Board shall appoint the assistant fire chiefs. Amended (3/1988)- That Article 4.3 be amended to read: The Fire Chief shall appoint the assistant fire chiefs, one form each station area.
     4.4 The term of office for each officer shall be for one year.
     4.5 The term "year" in this constitution shall mean calendar year.
Amended ( 3/1988)- That Article 4.6 be added which reads: The officers will be nominated at a regular business meeting by an elected nominating committe ofthree to four persons, and by nominations from the floor.

Article Fire-Duties of Officers
      5.1 It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the
department; maintain order and appoint all committees, unless otherwise ordered by the department; and he may call a special meeting when deemed necesary, or by request of five members.
     5.2 It shall be the duty of the vice-president, in the absence of the president, to
perform his duties, and he shall be respected the same by the members; and he shall
perform other administrative duties assigned by the president.
     5.3 If both president and vice-president are absent, a temporary chairman shall be elected from the floor.
     5.4 It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a record of all departmental
proceedings, to maintain a current roll of members and officers and to call roll of officers at each meeting, noting the officeers present and the number of members assembled he shall perform such other duties as the president shall direct in the performance of his position.
     5.5 It shall be the duty of the treasurer to keep financial account inclusive of all departmental business; to recieve all money due the department and to issue receipts'; to deposit all funds in an insured account in the name of the McMahan Volunteer Fire Department; to draw and sign all orders of the account. He shall keep a fair and regular account of all receipts and disbursements of funds in a book provided for that purpose and shall make a report of all recipts, disbursements and current balance at each regular meeting. The treasurer shall be bonded for a munimum of $1000. The secretary-treasurer shall sign all checks, and each check counter-signed by either the president or the fire chief. Amended (5/1988)
That article 5.5 be amended to delete the sentence " The treasurer shall be bonded for munimum of $1000". Amend the wording "secretary-treasurer" to simply "treasurer. Add the sentence, "The treasurer books shall be audited annually".
     5.6 The fire chief's duties shall be to supervise all personnel and equipment of the department under direction of the Executive Board; shall be responsible for a technical training program for all active members of the department; shall determine a line of succession of responsibility; and report the condition of fire fighting equipment at each regularly scheduled meeting.
     5.7 The fire chief, or his assistant fire chiefs shall be in direct charge of fire fighting equipment; aid in the training of active fire fighters; direct the active fire fighters and other volunteers during a fire and the control of such fire.
Amended ( 3/1988) - That Article 5.8 be added which reads: The assistant fire chief for each substation shall be responsible for the maintenance and care of that station and the trucks therein.

Article Six-Meetings
     6.1 Meetings will be held at such time and place as designated by the membership.Appropriate notice shall be made of meetings.
      6.2 The regular business meeting date shall be the 3rd Thursday of each month.
      6.3 Five members shall consitute a quorum at any meeting.
      6.4 All meetings shall be presided over by the ranking officeer and shall be conduced according to Roberts' Rules of order.
       6.5 Special meetings may be called by the president, when necessary or when requested by any five members in good standing, provided said request is made and submitted to the president or other officer of the department.
       6.6 A meeting or drill can be called at ay time so designated by the fire chief for any reason.

Article Seven-Amendments
       7.1 Amendments to this constitution may be made at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, notice of such amendments having be presented at a previous meeting.

Article Eight-Constitution and By-Laws
       8.1 Each member shall be furnishedd a copy of this constitution and by-laws upon request and shall abide by its articles.

Article Nine-Restrictions
       9.1 This department shall not be responsible for any acciedents or damages to any fireman or property.

This Constitution is hereby approved and adopted this 21st day of April, 1975, at McMahan, Texas, as evidenced by the certifications of the undersigned.

We, the undersigned citizens of McMahan, Texas, hewith subscribe our names to this Constitution, as this day was adopted at the meetin of the citizenship, organizing ourselves into the McMahan Volunteer Fire Diepartment.

Curtis K. Owen                                            Rt1. Box 297, Dale, Texas
A.D. White                                                  Rt1. Box 262, Dale, Texas
Winnie Hicks                                               Rt1. Box 261, Dale, Texas

Amendments to Constitution and By-Laws

March 1988
The Officers of the executive board propose to the membership the following changes to our orginal by-laws:
That Article 3.3 be deleted altogether since we have never required written application for membership.
That Article 4.1 be amended to read: The Officers of McMahan Volunteer Fire Department shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Ssecretary and Fire Chief.
That Article 4.3 be amended to read: The Fire Chief shall appoint the assistant fire chiefs,one from each station area.
That Article 4.6 be added which reads: The officers will be nominated at a regular business meeting by an elected nominating committee of three to four persons, and by nominations from the floor.
That Article 5.8 be added which reads: The assistant fire chief for each substation shall be responsible of the maintenance care of that station and the trucks therein..

May 1988
That article 5.5 be amended to delete the sentence "The treasurer shall be bonded for a minimum $1000". Amend the wording 'secretary-treasurer' to simply "treasurer. Add the sentence, "The treasurers books shall be audited annually".