ARTICLE 1 - NAME
Section 1: This Organization shall be known as the Memphis and Shelby County Optimist Respect for Law Committee, Inc.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
Section 1: The purpose of this Committee is to publicly recognize citizen involvement in law enforcement activities; to publicly recognize extraordinary or unusual acts by professional law enforcement officers while in the performance of their assigned duties; to promote, foster and encourage recognition and participation by citizens of Shelby County, Tennessee, and the Mid-South Area in respect for law and law enforcement officials; and to serve in such other capacity as the member Optimist Clubs may deem as being in the best interest of Optimism.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The membership of this Committee, being a collective effort of all the Optimist Clubs of Shelby County, Tennessee, shall be made up of an official delegate from each Optimist Club in Shelby County. The delegate shall be appointed by the President of each club,and approved by the Board of Directors of said Club. Clubs may also designate an alternate. If the Club does not appoint an alternate, the duly appointed delegate may designate an alternate to act in his/her behalf in his/her absence. If the Club does not appoint a delegate, any member of that club may act in behalf of the Club on the Committee.

Section 2: The term of office of the officers and members of the Committee shall be from October 1st of each year to September 30th next following.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of this Committee shall be a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. A Secretary-Treasurer or a Secretary and a Treasurer shall be appointed by the Chairman with majority approval of the Committee. All officers shall hold office for one year or until their successors are duly elected or appointed as provided herein. In the event that any office becomes vacant, it may be filled by action of the Committee as herein provided.

Section 2: The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the membership, exercise general supervision over the affairs of the Committee, and perform such duties as are ordinarily incumbent upon a chairman and shall also be responsible for keeping member clubs informed of the actions of the Committee.

Section 3: The Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairman, or by the Committee.

Section 4: The Secretary shall keep the roll, maintain the minutes of all meetings of the committee, and shall also keep records pertaining to recommendations for awards, and such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairman.

Section 5: The Treasurer shall keep records of all monies collected and disbursed, file reports as required by law, make regular and annual financial statements, all in the form and manner directed by the Committee.

Section 6: The term of office of the officers of the Committee shall be from October 1 of each year to September 30 next following.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section 1; The regular monthly meeting shall be held at such time and place as directed by the Chairman. Club Presidents and/or delegates shall be informed of any change in time or place of Committee meetings at least two weeks in advance.

Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the Chairman with notice as stated above.

Section 3: Representatives of three (3) clubs, not including officers of the Committee, shall constitute a quorum. Each club is allowed one vote in any business to come before the Committee.

Section 4: Dementer's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure shall govern all deliberations of this Committee except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION PROCEDURE
Section 1: The Chairman shall appoint a nominating sub-committee of no less than three members with the approval of the Committee not later than the July meeting. The nominating sub-committee shall select at least one nominee for Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Such nominations shall be presented to the Committee at the August meeting of the Committee.

Section 2: The Secretary shall mail a list of nominees along with an announcement of the election to each Club President at least two weeks prior to the September meeting of the Committee at which time the election shall be held. A majority of votes cast shall be required to elect.

Section 3: Nothing in this article shall be construed as precluding nominations from the floor.

Section 4: Voting shall be by members and officers and no member or officer may cast more than one vote. Proxies will not be recognized.

Section 5: All officers shall assume the responsibilities of their respective offices on October 1st next following the election.

ARTICLE VII - REVENUE
Section 1: Revenue for operation of the committee shall be by voluntary contribution of member clubs, by fund raising projects approved by the committee, or by contributions from other persons interested in promoting the purposes of the committee.

Section 2: All funds received by the Committee shall be for the purpose of furthering the purposes of the committee as set forth in these By-Laws.

Section 3: The fiscal year of the Committee shall be from October 1 each year to September 30th next following.

Section 4: The Committee shall provide for the bonding of the Treasurer at its discretion and shall arrange for the annual audit.

ARTICLE VIII - AWARDS
Section 1: One method of accomplishing the purposes of this Committee is the public presentation of awards. Guidelines for the presentation of awards are to be set forth in the official policy of the Committee.

ARTICLE IX - NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Section 1: This Committee is organized and shall operate as a not-for-profit organization for the purpose of promoting respect for law and similar purposes. Any income received shall be applied and used only for the purposes and objectives of the committee, and no part of the income shall inure to the benefit of any officer or member.

ARTICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1: Any person who is proposed for and duly appointed to membership in this Committee shall be deemed to be governed by these By-Laws and the Constitution and By-Laws of Optimist International, and shall be bound by them in all respects as if said person had been a member at the time of their adoption.

ARTICLE XI - ADMENDMENTS
Section 1: Any amendments to these By-Laws may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at any meeting, provided written notice of the proposed amendment and date of such meeting be given the Club Presidents and delegates at least two (2) weeks prior thereto.

OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE MEMPHIS and SHELBY COUNTY
OPTIMIST RESPECT FOR LAW COMMITTEE, INC.
I. "Certificate of Commendation" (Respect for the Law Award) shall be awarded to a citizen or citizens who have given an outstanding contribution to aiding the enforcement of laws.

II. "Commendation for Heroic Action" shall be awarded to citizens who, at some great personal risk has taken some positive action in a life or death situation.

III. "Certificate of Appreciation" shall be awarded to citizens who have made an outstanding contribution in aiding the community and their fellow man.

IV. "Citizen of the Year" shall be awarded to a citizen who has risen above all others in aid to law enforcement or to the community either in a single act or an accumulation of acts.

V. Outstanding Graduates of the Memphis Police Department Academy and The Shelby County Sheriff's Department including all Reserve Classes and Regional Graduation Classes shall be awarded an appropriate plaque by a member of this committee at graduation ceremony.

VI. Chairman's Award will be awarded at the discretion of the Chairman.

VII. "Officer of the Year" shall be awarded to an Officer of each Law Enforcement Agency wishing to participate within the jurisdiction of this Committee.

VIII. "Volunteer of the Month" Certificate of Appreciation shall be awarded to a citizen monthly at participating Optimist club's regular meeting. A Resume must be submitted to this Committee prior to presentation.

IX. The Edward M. King "Volunteer of the Year" shall be awarded to a citizen who has exemplified him or herself in volunteerism. Optimist members shall not be excluded.

X. "Fireman of the Year" shall be awarded to an Officer of each Fire Department wishing to participate within the jurisdiction of this Committee.

XI. "Circle of Excellence" shall be presented to citizens which have led a lifestyle so as to provide a Positive Role Model for the Youth of this community. Resumes must be submitted to and approved by this Committee.

MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY OPTIMIST RESPECT FOR LAW COMMITTEE, INCORPORATED.

(Revised 10/22/92)

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