By-Laws Governing the Crusaders Rover Crew

2. The crew will abide by the by-law policies and procedures of Scouts Canada and the province of Nova Scotia.

3. The crew will operate under the knighthood theme.

4. Membership:

Membership is open to all men and women between the ages of 18 to 26. Membership will also be considered at the age of 17 with crew approval. To become a member of the crew potential members must:

4.1. Accept the knighthood theme.

4.2. Accept the Rover motto of 'service'.

4.3. Accept the Rover promise: On my honour I promise to do my best, To do my duty to God and the queen, To help other people at all times, And to carry out the spirit of the Scout law.

4.4. Register with Scouts Canada.

4.5. Attend at least four business meetings

4.6. Serve as a squire and complete a quest to the crew's satisfaction and undergo a Vigil and Investiture at their earliest convenience unless completed previously with another crew

4.7. Be accepted by a majority vote of present 'active' members.

4.8. Pay annual dues of $20 by 31 October of the active Scout year, or make arrangements with the Keeper of the Purse.

4.9. If joining after 1 March dues shall be $10 to be paid by 1 May.

5. Meetings and Events:

Meetings shall be called to order by the Mate of the crew and be held in accordance with Robertson's Rules and Orders and the crew shall comply with the following:

5.1. Hold business meetings no less than once a month.

5.2. Time and place of the next meeting shall be decided at the end of all meetings.

5.3. All members are required to wear their Canadian Scout uniform from the waist up. If a uniform is not worn to the meeting the member shall not have voting or speaking privileges during the course of the meeting unless the crew g rants a feasible excuse. There shall be no reason why a business meeting should take place without uniforms. An effort should also be made to wear uniforms to events whenever possible.

5.4. All members are welcome to participate in crew discussion concerning any crew matters. All members are also welcome to attend all meetings and events.

5.5. Only 'active' invested members shall carry a vote unless the number of the invested Rovers is low enough not to represent a majority in the crew.

5.6. A quorum will be 51% of active members in the crew. No decisions governing the crew will be made without a majority vote.

5.7. Only the Mate can call for a vote and can only vote in the case of a tie or on financial matters.

5.8. The Advisor only votes on financial matters and also carries a veto vote on matters that go outside the rules of Scouting and these by-laws on any part

6. Definition of an Active Member:

The term 'Active Member' shall be defined here for further and previous reference as either:

6.1.1. One who attends crew meetings and events, pays annual dues and meets all membership requirement previously stated.

6.1.2. One who acts for the crew's intentions outside crew times, pays annual dues and meets all membership requirements previously stated.

7. The crew shall be made from different entities with Mate and Keeper of the Purse necessary to maintain existence:

7.1. Advisor:

There shall be an advisor who is required to attend a majority of meetings and events. In case of resignation or removal it will be the crew\rquote s responsibility to fill the advisor's position as soon as possible

7.2. Mate:

The Mate of the crew will prepare all agendas and char all meetings. The Mate must be an active member and he/she is responsible to ensure the crew is adequately represented in a good light.

7.3. Vice Mate:

The Vice Mate will assist the Mate when and wherever possible. He/She will assume the responsibilities of the Mate in the Mate\rquote s absence. If an execute position is not held because of resignation or removal the Vice Mate shall take over the responsibilities of that posit ion if there are no volunteers to take on the vacant position. The Vice Mate shall also be responsible to coordinate the business of any committee within the crew and give reports of these committees to the executive at any executive meetings. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\fs20\lang1033\cgrid \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0

7.4. Scribe:

It will be the responsibility of the Scribe to keep accurate minutes of each meeting, handle all correspondence with other crews and organisations and will establish himself/herself as a contact person for the crew. The Scribe will also contact members of t he crew and give them necessary information concerning meetings and events.

7.5.Keeper of the Purse:

The Keeper of the Purse will be responsible for the finances of the crew. This responsibility includes: transactions both within and outside the crew, preparin g financial reports for the crew and group committee, maintain a $50 petty cash float in the crew strong box and disseminate these moneys when necessary, writing cheques for purchases and expenditures the crew votes on and passes, changing the names on ch eques within 30 days of elections. At years end the Keeper of the Purse shall have a copy of the years financial report for the minutes and for his/her own records.

7.5.1. Funds of the crew will only be used as determined by a majority vote of the crew. Exempt ion to this rule is: executive members can make purchases up to $25 with petty cash without crew approval but bearing in mind that the crew approval will come at a later date providing the purchase is deemed necessary.

7.6. Quartermaster:

The Quartermaster is r esponsible for the equipment the crew owns and maintaining it. The Quartermaster will maintain a list of the equipment and keep track of where it is located and who is in possession of any equipment at all times. He/She shall do an annual inventory with a copy for the crew minutes and the Quartermaster records.

7.6.1. Borrowing Policy: All of the crew\rquote s equipment may be borrowed by an active crew member who is in good standing financially with the crew. Provided the member has the skills needed to operate the equipment they wish to borrow. The equipment borrows must be signed in and out with the presence of a witness.

7.6.1.1. All equipment will be signed out on a first come first serve basises provided there are no crew events that require the equipment. All Scouting events crew related or not are to take precedence over all personal use.

7.6.2. Liability Clause: The crew will pay for any damage of equipment incurred under crew use. The member who signed out the equipment will be pay for any damage of equipment incurred und er personal use. Any damage of equipment incurred at a Scouting event that does not involve the crew shall be the responsibility of the member who signed out the equipment to get compensation. The crew shall pay regular wear and tear on equipment.

8. General Executive Guidelines:

8.1. The executive may be called to meet on items of the agenda or matters dealing with the crew.

8.2. It is up to the discretion of the executive as to who may be invited to an executive meeting.

8.3. Decisions of the executive should reflect but cannot overrule the decisions of the crew.

8.4. Items which could result in the removal of an executive member are:

8.4.1. Loss of crew confidence in his/her ability to adequately fulfill the office.

8.4.2. Violation of the crew by-laws in any or all parts.

8.4.3. Misrepresentation of the crew at any event.

8.4.4. Not in good standing financially with the crew.

8.5. The executive will be responsible for the dispensing of crew den keys with the acceptance of the Advisor.

8.6. The Keeper of the Purse, Mate, and Advisor are to have signing authority on cheques that require two signatures.

9. Elections:

Elections will be held annually on the first meeting in September of each year.

9.1. Each executive position will be elected separately by nominations on a vote for each office.

9.2. In the event that crew numbers ar e low enough the position of Mate, Scribe, and Keeper of the Purse are essential but dual roles are acceptable. The Vice Mate role can be filled by another executive member as per requirement.

9.3. Elections are not valid unless presence or proxy represents two-thirds of the active crew members.

9.4. Members must be active to hold a vote.

9.5. Nominated candidates will be asked to leave the room for a brief discussion and then elected by secret ballot.

9.6. Only then victor will be told and the ballots destroyed.

9.7. In case of resignation or removal of an executive position elections will be held as soon as possible. Volunteers may take on the position until elections can be held.

10. The Den: The Rover Den is a place for use by Rovers for crew functions and Rover events.

10.1. The den is to be left as clean as it was found if not cleaner.

10.2. Always inform Reid Saunders prior to use outside the normal.

10.3. Smoking in the den during the meetings is permitted, however a unanimous vote of all members present must determine this. If one person is not in compliance with smoking during the course of the meeting then breaks during the meeting will be allotted.

11. Amendment Procedures:

An annual review of the constitution will be done during the month of March of each year.

11.1. Items 1, 2, and 3 are constitutional matters and require two separate votes at two separate meetings.

11.2. All other items are by-laws and are subject to amendments, written proposal being presented at a meeting and after debate they can be voted on at the next meeting.

11.3. A two-thirds majority vote of the crew\rquote s active members is required to change any part of the constitutional matters or by-laws.

11.4. No amendment will be recognised without these procedures being strictly adhered to. Once the amendments are accepted they come into effect immediately.