STA Bylaws

Shrine Treasurers Association
Bylaws

Article I – NAME

Sec. 1. Name. The name of this body shall be “SHRINE TREASURERS ASSOCIATION.”

Sec. 2. Seal. The seal of this body consists of 2 concentric circles between the circumferences of which are the words “Shrine Treasurers Association” Within the innermost circle are two crossed keys superimposed upon a pyramid.

Article II – OBJECT

Sec. 1. Objectives of the Association. The objectives of this body shall be:

  • To promote and maintain a spirit of good fellowship and understanding among the Treasurers of all Shrine Centers.
  • To compile and circulate among its members such information that may be helpful in creating greater efficiency in the office of the individual Treasurers.
  • To compile and circulate among its membership, as occasion demands, constructive statistical information particularly as it regards the financial matters of the member Shrine Centers.
  • To encourage the attendance of all Treasurers at the Annual Sessions of the Imperial Council in order that a more perfect understanding may be had covering matters of interest to the Shrine Centers, and to encourage a proper application and interpretation of the legislation, policies, etc., acted upon or established at the Annual Session of Imperial Council relating to any financial matter(s) that are required to be followed by the Shrine Centers.
  • To provide a forum that fosters education and encourages the sharing of knowledge, information, and best practices that may facilitate efficient and effective operations of the Member Shrine Centers and the individual Treasurers.
  • To advise, suggest, and recommend changes in existing laws and new legislation to proper Shriners International committees and officers, that, after investigation by this Association, seems advisable for the welfare of Shriners International at large.
  • To keep interpretations, suggestions, and recommendations only to financial matters as it pertains to existing laws, new legislation, and/or recommended practices.

Article III – OFFICERS

Sec. 1. The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, four (4) Vice Presidents, and a Secretary/Treasurer who shall be elected annually by ballot. A majority of all votes cast by members present and voting shall be necessary for an election.

Sec. 2. Qualifications of Office and Succession. The qualifications of Office and process of Succession shall be as follows:

2.01 Qualification for Office of Vice President. Any Regular Delegate may be elected to the office of any of the four Vice President positions.

2.02 Qualification for Office of President. Any Noble of Shriners International may be elected to the office of President after serving at least one full term as a Vice President of the Association

2.03 Qualification for Office of Secretary/Treasurer. Any Noble of Shriners International may be elected to the office of Secretary/Treasurer so long as he is recognized as holding an Emeritus status in the Association or from his Shrine Center

2.04 Line Continuation. A Treasurer, once elected to the office of Vice-President of the Association and subsequently is not elected Treasurer of his Shrine Center, may remain an Officer, may advance through the line of Officers, and may serve as President of the Association while not being the current Treasurer of his Shrine Center.

2.05 Line Officer Succession. If for any cause the President or a Vice-President should resign or otherwise vacate his position in the Association, the line shall automatically advance to the next highest office with lowest office(s) remaining vacant.

2.06 Secretary/Treasurer Succession. Should the office of Secretary/Treasurer become vacant, the President shall appoint any Noble of Shriners International to the position, and such temporary appointment shall not be required to hold Emeritus status as otherwise required by this Article. Such appointment shall end upon the opening of the next Meeting.

2.07 Vacant Offices. All vacancies shall be filled by qualified individuals by election at the next meeting and such election shall be the first order of business at said meeting unless the next meeting is a Mid-Year meeting, in which case the position would be filled by scheduled elections.

Sec. 3. Employee Crime Policy. The Secretary-Treasurer of this Association shall furnish an employee crime policy; cost to be paid by this Association. Said employee crime policy shall be executed immediately and filed with the President of this Association. The amount of the employee crime policy for the ensuing fiscal year shall be recommend by the Executive Committee and voted at the Annual Meeting.

Sec. 4. The Secretary/Treasurer of this Association shall receive an expense allowance as may be recommended by the Executive Committee and voted on at the annual meeting.

Article IV – MEETINGS

Sec. 1. The Annual meeting of the Association shall be held annually at the place designated for the meeting of the Shriners International on the day of the public opening of the session at a time and place designed by the President and sent to the membership in writing (which may be by notice on the Shrine Treasurers Association webpage) at least 30 days prior to the meeting. 

Sec. 2. The Mid-Year meeting shall be held prior to the Annual meeting for the election of officers and educational opportunities. The time and place designed by the President and sent to the membership in writing (which may be by notice on the Shrine Treasurers Association webpage) at least 30 days prior to the meeting. 

Sec. 3. A special meeting may be called by the President at his discretion and shall be called by the President when requested in writing by three (3) officers of the Association. Ten (10) days written notice (which may be by notice on the Shrine Treasurers Association webpage) must be given to all members prior to the special meeting.

Sec. 4. A legal meeting of this Association will exist when a quorum of fifteen (15) Association Members or Delegates, including at least four (4) elected and installed officers, are present and due notice has been given.

Sec. 5. The fiscal year of the Association shall end on July 31 of each year.

Article V – MEMBERSHIP

Sec. 1. Regular Membership and Delegate. Every Chartered Shrine Center as listed in Part IV of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Annotations and Official Forms of Shriners International, as amended from time to time, is a Member of this Association. The elected and duly installed Treasurer of each chartered Shrine Centers of Shriners International as vouched for by the Imperial Recorder shall be the “Regular Delegate” of his respective member Shrine Center. A chartered Shrine Center may not assign its Regular Delegate to any noble other than its elected and duly installed Treasurer.

Sec. 1.01 Privileges, Duties, and Responsibilities of Regular Delegates. Each Regular Delegate shall be entitled to request items to be added to any meeting agenda subject to agreement of the President or Meeting Chairman, to participate in discussion of any topic, to make motions or amendments to motions on the floor according the bylaws of Shriners International or Roberts Rules of Order, to cast a vote on any matter brought before the Association, to hold elected or appointed office in the Association, to request an inspection of the books and minutes of the Association, to address the Association at the proper time and forum, and any other rights afforded to Nobles by Shriners International. 

Sec. 2. Membership and Delegate by Dispensation. Every Shrine Center under Dispensation by Shriners International shall be a Member of this Association by Dispensation. The appointed Treasurer of each Shrine Center under dispensation shall be a “Delegate by Dispensation” of his respective Shrine Center under dispensation, as vouched for by the Imperial Recorder. A Shrine Center under Dispensation may not assign its Delegate by Dispensation to any Noble other than its registered Treasurer. A Delegate by Dispensation may not hold office, but shall be entitled to all other privileges, duties, and responsibilities of a Regular Delegate.

Sec. 3. Member by Office.  Any officer of this Association shall be a member of this Association by office and shall be entitled to all Privileges, Duties and Responsibilities of a Regular Delegate.

Sec. 4. Emeritus Members. An Emeritus Member shall have all rights and privileges of those of a Regular Delegate without the requirement of serving as a Treasurer of a Chartered Shrine Center of Shriners International and holds individual membership in the Association separate from any individual Shrine Cetner. An Emeritus Member, regardless of whether he holds an office in a Chartered Shrine Center, must be a noble in good standing under Shriners International to exercise the privileges, duties, and responsibilities of a Regular Delegate.

  • The Association may elect any current or past Regular Delegate or Delegate by Dispensation of the Association as an “Emeritus Member.” Such a nomination may be made because of his meritorious service to the association or Shriners International, regardless of the number of his terms in office as Treasurer of a Shrine Center of Shriners International.
  • A Regular Delegate or Delegate by Dispensation of this Association shall automatically become an “Emeritus Member” upon completion of his tenth (10th) year of office as Treasurer of a Shrine Center of Shriners International and his attendance at no less than seven (7) Mid-Year Meetings; or for having served the association as a Regular Delegate or Delegate by Dispensation for no less than ten (10) years, and who has also attended no less than seven (7) the Mid-Year meetings.
  • A President of this Association, upon leaving office, shall automatically become an “Emeritus Member” of this Association.

Sec. 5. Association Delegates. Any Treasurer (or Chief Financial Officer equivalent) of a chartered Shrine Association of Shriners International, by virtue of his position, shall be an “Association Delegate” of this Association. Association Delegates may not hold office, but shall be entitled to all other privileges, duties and responsibilities of a Regular Delegate and such privileges, duties, and responsibilities in the Association shall be separate from any individual Shrine Cetner.

Sec. 6. Honorary Members. Past Imperial Treasurers and Past Imperial Potentates, upon the completion of their term in office as Imperial Treasurer or Imperial Potentate, shall automatically become “Honorary Members” of this Association and hold individual membership in the Association separate from any individual Shrine Cetner. Any Noble who has served at least one term as Treasurer of any Shrine Center may also be elected an Honorary Member upon the vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the members present at a business meeting of this Association. Any Honorary Member may have his membership rescinded by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the representatives present at a subsequent business meeting of this Association.

Sec. 7. Ex Officio Representative. The Imperial Treasurer, Imperial Potentate and Director of Shrine Center Accounting of Shriners International, shall all be ex officio representatives of this Association. Ex Officio Representatives may not vote or hold office but shall be invited and included in all meetings of this Association.

Sec. 8. Voting Rights. Individual Nobles of Shriners International may qualify for voting rights under one or more of the sections in this Article. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a Noble shall not have more than one vote on any matter.

Article VI – FEES AND DUES

Sec. 1. The annual dues shall be established by the Executive Committee and presented for approval at the Annual Meeting, by a majority vote of the membership present.

Sec. 2. Dues are payable in U.S. currency (Checks drawn on banks not part of U.S. Federal Reserve System must make arrangements to fully pay dues without additional cost to STA) by each Shrine Center or member prior to January 31st of each year.

 

Sec. 3. No dues shall be charged or collected for the fiscal year in which a Shrine Center is under dispensation or to any chartered Shrine Association.

Article VII – FUNDS

Sec. 1. The funds of the Association shall be deposited in a federally insured financial institution in the home City of the Secretary – Treasurer, the account carried in the name of the Shrine Treasurers Association and checks drawn against the account to be signed by the Secretary-Treasurer, or the President.

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to render a written monthly statement to the President of all receipts and disbursements and render Treasurers Association reports as may be required by the Imperial Council.

 

Sec. 3. Every member of the Shrine Treasurers Association shall be entitled to examine the books and records of the Association upon proper request.

Article VIII – COMMITTEES

Sec. 1. The affairs of the Association shall be governed by an Executive Committee composed of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary/Treasurer between annual sessions of Shriners International.

Sec. 2. The President may appoint a committee on membership and a committee on publicity, and such other special committees as, in his judgment, the necessities of the organization may require.

Sec. 3. There shall be a Nominating Committee composed of the immediate Past President and four (4) members of the Association. The duties of this committee shall be to submit at the Mid-Year Meeting of the Association, a candidate, or candidates for the offices of the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, 3rd Vice-President, 4th Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer. Nominating may be from the floor for any office or offices. Voting shall take place at the Mid-Year Meeting of the Association. The immediate Past President shall be the Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the ensuing year.

Sec. 4. The President shall appoint a committee to review present any proposed legislation affecting the financial affairs of any Shrine Center or the Association. The findings of this committee are to be reported to all Treasurers of the Association at the next regular meeting of the Association or by other means between meetings as approved by the Executive Committee.

Article IX – ORDER OF BUSINESS (Example)

  1. Annual Address of the President
  2. Annual Report of the Secretary – Treasurer
  3. Reports of the Committees
  4. Comments from Imperial Officers
  5. Comments from General Council and Chairman of Jurisprudence and Laws Committee
  6. Comments from Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
  7. Unfinished Business
  8. Adjournment

Article X – AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1 Amendments may be made at any business meeting of the Shrine
Treasurers Association. An affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the members
present and voting at such a meeting shall be required to amend or altar these
By-Laws.

APPROVED: September 13, 1985

Revised at the Fourth Annual Business Meeting, July 3, 1989

Revised at the Fifth Annual Business Meeting, July 2, 1990

Revised at the Thirteenth Annual Business Meeting, June 28, 1998

Revised at the Fourteenth Annual Business Meeting, July 4, 1999

Revised at the Fifteenth Annual Business Meeting, July 2, 2000

Revised at the Sixteenth Annual Business Meeting, July 9, 2001

Revised at the Eighteenth Annual Business Meeting, July 6, 2003

Revised at the Nineteenth Annual Business Meeting, July 4, 2004

Revised at the Twenty-Seventh Annual Business Meeting, July 1, 2012

Revised at the Thirty-Third Annual Business Meeting, July 15, 2018

Revised at Mid-Year Meeting, March 5, 2020

Revised at the Thirty-Ninth Annual Business Meeting, June 30, 2024

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