ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the organization shall be the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC.

ARTICLE II

NATURE

The ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. is an affiliation of veterans and service organizations and is a civilian (non-profit) organization composed of people who are active members of any veterans organizations chartered by Congress and/or recognized by the Veterans Administration for claim representation. Military rank and titles do not exist and are not used in the organization.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSES

The purposes for which the Coalition is organized are:

A. To represent all of Arkansas’ veterans, their dependents, and survivors in an honorable, thoughtful, compassionate and competent manner on all matters regarding legislation and/or programs that will affect their circumstances and welfare. This shall be accomplished regardless of their membership or non-membership in any participation organization, and notwithstanding their race, creed, color, national origin, or political affiliation;

B. To provide communication, cooperation, and unity among the affiliated organizations in all matters relating to veterans and their dependents and/or survivors;

C. To provide a cooperative and effective relationship among all agencies and organizations (Federal, State, Local, Private, and Public) which provide services to veterans and their dependents and /or survivors;

D. To strengthen the non-partisan political effectiveness of veterans and their dependents and/or survivors in matters relating to the general welfare and specific needs of veterans and their dependents and/or survivors, as well as matters of significant importance to the military defense of the United States of America.

2

ARTICLE IV

ORGANIZATION

The ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. shall be comprised of people who are active members of any veterans’ organization that has been chartered by Congress and/or is recognized by the Veterans Administration for claims. The ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. is also comprised of active members of the Prime Auxiliaries of these chartered and recognized veterans’ organizations. The above mentioned veterans’ organizations and their prime auxiliaries that are members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. are represented by their State/Department Commanders/Presidents or their designated representative for coalition meetings or coalition correspondences. Individual members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. must be affiliated with one of those organizations outlined in Article V.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

Membership and participation in the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. is highly encouraged. There are three types of membership:

A. Veterans’ Organization Membership – veterans’ organizations chartered by Congress and/or recognized by the Veterans Administration for claims and their Prime Auxiliaries. (i.e. American Legion, VFW, MOPH, DAV, MOAA, etc. . . .). It is highly encouraged that all State/Department level Commanders/Presidents sign up their State level organizations as members of the Arkansas Veterans Coalition. Subordinate posts, units, elements may also apply for membership. Dues are to be TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS yearly for each Veterans Organization.

B. Individual Members – Individuals applying for membership must affiliate with one of Veterans organizations or their Prime Auxiliaries (i.e. American Legion, VFW, MOPH, DAV, MOAA, etc. . . .) that are members of the Arkansas Veterans Coalition. Individual members have voting privileges and are eligible to be elected officers in the Arkansas Veterans Coalition. Dues are to be TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS yearly for each individual member.

C. Associate Members – Agencies and organizations (Federal, State, Local, Private, Fraternal, and Public) which provide services to veterans, their dependents and /or their survivors are eligible for membership, however have no voting privileges. Membership is free for qualifying agencies and organizations.

3

ARTICLE VI

VOTING

Individual members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. shall have one vote at any officially called meeting of the Coalition provided the member is present, is in good standing, and has a current membership card or is credentialed by the Secretary/Treasure prior to the start or convening of the meeting. There shall be no proxy voting nor shall there be any absentee voting. All members and organizations shall agree to support only legal issues raised by other members, providing said issues do not conflict with the Constitution of any member organizations. If any measure is passed by the necessary vote of all members of the Coalition then any representative or member organization shall not make any public statement disagreeing with the position taken by the vote of the Coalition. If such happens then such person is subject to being expelled from membership or representation as a voting member of the Coalition. Associate members are not eligible to vote. 4

ARTICLE VII

OFFICERS

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

All meetings of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. shall be called by the President and shall be held quarterly. Other meetings may be called as necessary to accomplish the objectives of the Coalition and shall be at a time and place that shall be convenient as possible for all concerned. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings held. All meetings shall be open to the public and to the media. Special meetings may also be called for the interviewing of persons aspiring to hold public office in order to ascertain their opinions and views on how best to obtain the goals and purposes of the Coalition. Such meetings shall be entirely non-partisan and if one aspirant to hold pubic or private office is invited then all persons aspiring to hold the same office shall be invited to appear. All of these meetings shall also be public and open to the media. Coalition members may request the call of a Special meeting. These requests will be forwarded to the Secretary or President. The elected officers of the Coalition will determine if a special meeting is required or if the issue at hand can be addressed by other means. All meetings will be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX

QUORUM

A quorum shall consist of the members present at any regular or special called meeting. 5

ARTICLE X

DUES

ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. dues are to be TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS for each Veterans Organization and TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS for each individual member. Only members whose dues have been paid may vote at any meeting. All dues paid shall be properly credited by the Treasure and made known to the Secretary who shall report the same to the meeting for the purposes of ascertaining the voting strength. The dues paying year is 1 Jan thru 31 Dec.

ARTICLE XI

EXPENSES

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

The coalition may amend its Constitution and By-Laws by a two-thirds (2/3) ballot vote of the current dues paying members present at any regular or specially called meeting, provided however, that such amendments have been made available and email notification has been made to the members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. ten (10) days prior to a meeting when such amendments are presented for a vote.

ARTICLE XIII

QUALIFICATION OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

The President shall appoint a Membership Committee of not less than three (3) members and not more than seven (7) dues paying members to determine that all organizations and individuals desirous of becoming members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. meet the eligibility requirements for membership as outlined above in Article IV (Organization) and Article V (Membership). 6

ARTICLE XIV

COMMUNICATIONS

The primary and official means of communication for notifying members of the ARKANSAS VETERANS COALITION, INC. will be by email. It is the responsibility of each individual member and organizations to provide their email addresses to the Coalition Secretary and to also keep their email addresses current. Individuals and organizations that do not have email capability should make coordination with friends and other Coalition members in order to receive Coalition announcements and news. It is the intent of the Coalition to use the latest technology in communicating with our members and our targeted audiences. It is not cost effective for this organization to do mail outs. It is also the intent of this organization to consolidate, update and maintain an Arkansas Veterans Coalition Directory that will identify the contact information of our veterans organizations, their subordinate posts/organizations, the number of members that they represent, and to produce and market our Legislative Action Plan.

ARTICLE XV

CONCLUSION

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Arkansas Veterans Coalition, Inc shall become effective immediately after being adopted or amended by the membership