SIR BRANCH 146 REGULATIONS
Updated in RED 06/08/2024
A. MEMBERSHIP
B.R. 1 Requirements (Amended 02-09-23)
a) A Member must pay his annual dues for the current year.
(i) A Member who elects, at the beginning of each year, to pay for 8 meals in advance shall be referred to as an Annual Luncheon Payer.
b) A Member may attend any luncheon ("Regular" or "Ladies Day") during the year. The Member (including Annual Luncheon Payers) must make a reservation each month (i.e., "opt-in") to receive a meal at the luncheon by notifying the Luncheon Chair no later than noon on the Thursday prior to the scheduled meeting. The mechanism for making this reservation shall be announced each month to all members via email and the Branch newsletter, the Sir Call.
(i) A Member who does not make a reservation as described above, will not be guaranteed a meal, but may participate in the meeting.
(c) A Member who makes a reservation and then fails to attend or does not subsequently opt-out of meeting attendance by the specified deadline, is responsible for the cost of his missed meal and will be invoiced for that cost. The Little Sir will send the invoice to the errant member by email and may follow up with phone calls if the invoice is not paid. If the member does not reimburse the Branch for the missed meal the BEC may take further action as appropriate. The Little Sir has sole discretion to waive the fee where extenuating circumstances are determined to exist (e.g., an acute illness or injury; acting as a caregiver for a family member with a sudden illness or injury; a chronic condition that places the member at high-risk during a pandemic). (Formerly B.B. 29 - Modified Amended 08-08-19 - Amended 08-11-22)
B.R. 2 Name Badges
a) All members will be provided with an approved name badge and encouraged to wear it at all Branch Luncheon Meetings. (Formerly B.R. 5 - Amended 07-14-08)
b) The approved name badges are yellow paper stickpin for members of less than 6 months, white paper stickpin for members of more than 6 months, and metallic magnet for members who are current Honorary Life Members, Sr Honorary Life Members, or Past Big Sirs. (Formerly B.R. 11 - Amended 01-08-09)
B.R. 3 Credit for Luncheon Attendance
a) SIR members who participate in BEC approved Branch 146 activities that occur on a Regular Luncheon date will be given credit for Luncheon attendance. (Formerly B.R. 26 - Amended 03-11-10)
B.R. 4 Dues
a) All members will be assessed annual dues in an amount approved by the BEC after it has established the budget for the coming year. The dues will be payable during October through December of the year preceding the year to which they apply.
b) A member joining the Branch in January through June will be assessed the full annual amount for that year. A member joining the Branch from July through October will be assessed an amount equal to one half of the full annual amount. A member joining the Branch in December or December will not be assessed an amount for that year.
c) A member who fails to pay the required dues by December 31 will be reminded in writing by the Membership Chairman of his obligations to the Branch and his options. If the dues remain unpaid by the date of the January BEC meeting, the Big Sir will follow up with phone calls and letters to determine appropriate action to be taken by the BEC, including further delaying the dues payment, termination, or other appropriate remedies.
d) Future membership dues are waived for any SIR member who reaches ninety (90) years of age by the start of the year, January 1st, and any Honorary Life Member (HLM).
B.R. 5 Membership Status Tracking
a) A new member will be recorded on the Membership Roster when he is approved by the BEC and attends his first Luncheon.
b) A member who has died will be deleted from the Membership Roster on the last day of the month of death and be subsequently reported on Form 27, Branch Membership Report, among the following month's losses.
c) A member who resigns or has been terminated by the BEC will also be reported similarly on Form 27 on the last day of that month. (Formerly B.R. 27 - Amended 11-14-2019)
B.R. 6 Liability Waiver
a) A member releases from liability and waives their right to sue SIR, Inc. and/or SIR Branch 146 from any and all claims, including claims of negligence, resulting in any illness (including death) or economic loss they may suffer, or which may results from their participation in any third-party meal, or any events incidetal to such activity. (Amended 06-08-2024)
B. MEETINGS
B.R. 21 Regular Luncheons, Ladies Day Luncheons, & BEC Meetings (Amended 02-09-23)
a) "Regular" Luncheon Meetings will be held at the selected venue on the second Thursday of January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, and December.
b) "Ladies Day" Luncheon Meetings will be held at the selected venue on the second Thursday of May and December.
c) The Branch Executive Committee, BEC, will meet in person or by teleconferencing monthly at the selected venue on the same day, and prior to, all Regular Luncheons.
d) If the Big Sir determines that a BEC meeting is necessary during May or December or that the BEC cannot meet in its regular venue during the affected month or by teleconferencing for any reason, he will select an alternative date during the month that will ensure the attendance of a quorum and notify the attendees of the meeting format.
e) BEC meetings are open to all Branch members except for BEC Executive Sessions that are open only to BEC members.
B.R. 22 Luncheon Speakers
a) The Little Sir will be Chairman of the Program Committee and will appoint willing members to serve with him. The Program Committee will plan and engage Luncheon speakers and other entertainment appropriate for a SIR member and guests audience. (Formerly B.R. 46 - Amended 08-08-19)
B.R. 23 Occupancy Rating
a) Attendance at Luncheon Meetings shall not exceed the posted Occupancy Rating. (Formerly B.R. 30 - Amended 01-08- 09)
B.R. 24 Charter Day Anniversary
a) Branch 146 was chartered on December 19, 1989. The BEC will annually determine the date and the means of celebrating that anniversary. (Formerly B.R. 44 - Amended 03-11-10)
B.R. 25 Luncheon Speakers
a) A gift certificate valued at $50 will be given to each Regular Luncheon Meeting speaker. (Formerly B.R. 23 - Amended 08-08-19)
B.R. 26 Ladies Day Luncheon
a) Selection and compensation for Ladies Day Luncheon speakers or entertainers will be negotiated by the Little Sir in coordination with the Ladies Day Luncheon Chairman and approved by the BEC. (New)
B.R. 27 Birthday Drawing Prizes
a) When 30 or more birthdays occur in the same month, two free prizes will be awarded for that month. (Formerly B.R.25 - Amended 08-08-19)
C. ADMINISTRATIVE
B.R. 41 Newsletter (SIR CALL)
a) Information published in the Branch newsletter, Sir Call, is limited to information and news of interest to the membership about the State organization, the Branch, Branch officers, and the Branch's Administrative Committees and Activity Committees. The Sir Call may not contain advertisements or publicize any outside organizations. (Formerly B.R. 51 - Amended 06-09-94)
b) All members will receive an email notice when the current Sir Call becomes available. Members may then access the Branch 146 web site and download the Sir Call or read it online.
c) Members who do not have a computer or internet access may still receive the Sir Call providing they request the Sir Call editor assign a "buddy" to them. The "buddy" will print a copy of each Sir Call edition as it comes out and mail it, or deliver it in person, to the requesting member.
d) Members who have a computer and internet access but prefer to receive a hard copy of Sir Call may do so providing they request this service by notifying the Sir Call editor and the Branch Treasurer and paying the annual mailing costs in advance. (Formerly B.R. 53 - Amended 08-08-19)
B.R. 42 Past Big Sir Members Recognition & Special Pin
a) The outgoing Big Sir will be presented with a Past Big Sir Pin. The Secretary will complete and submit Form 23 by the end September to assure receipt of the pin by December. (Formerly B.R.42 - Amended 06-10-93)
b) Past Big Sirs will annually be recognized for their service to the Branch at a Regular Luncheon meeting. (Formerly B.R.40 - Amended 08-10-2000)
B.R. 43 Listing of Approved Activities
a) Activities listed on the Branch Website satisfy the State SIR requirement of BEC approval of all Branch activities. The RAMP Activity chair is responsible for keeping this list up to date and accurate. (Formerly B.R. 45 - Amended 11-12-98) Changed with release of this document
B.R. 44 Approval of Administrative or Activity Committee Appointments
a) The BEC may delegate to the Big Sir approval of the appointment of any member of the Branch at large as chairman of any Administrative or Activity committee apart from the chairmen of the Audit, Honorees, Nominating and RAMP Committees. Chairmen of these committees must have specific qualifications. The Nominating Committee consists of the three immediate past Big Sirs with the most recent Past Big Sir serving as Chairman. The Honorees Committee consists of 3 Past Big Sirs and its Chairman must be a Past Big Sir. The Audit Committee consists of 2 or more willing members, all of whom should have financial experience and the Chairman must have financial audit experience. The Chairmen of each RAMP Committee, Recruiting, Activities, Member Relations, and Publicity, are appointed by the Big Sir.