USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC.

The USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC. was developed and established during the 2005 Trumpetfish Reunion planning stage by the Reunion Planning Committee. 

Application for incorporation was made with the state of South Carolina, and signed by the SC Secretary of State on October 17, 2005. 

We now have our Federal ID # and  we are certified Tax Exempt by the IRS.  All donations, dues, and Lifetime Memberships can now be included in your 1040  Schedule "A" Contributions as a deduction.

The logo for the USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC. was designed by Ron Melton, and we are proud to be able to use it.  Thanks to Ron for all his work and efforts for our Association.

USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC.
                                           BY-LAWS (Amended Nov 3, 2007)

The official name of this organization for all legal, financial, accounting, correspondence and other operational requirements shall be: USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC.

The Association is chartered as non-profit, veterans, fraternal organization whose purpose shall be to maintain an awareness and camaraderie among the former crew members, both officer and enlisted, who honorably served on board the United States Ship Trumpetfish SS425.
To this end the Association will plan, schedule, and execute reunions, for all living shipmates, spouses, widows, family members, and friends of those who served on the USS TRUMPETFISH SS425, in order to provide the opportunity to renew old acquaintances and pay devotional respects to the memories of former shipmates who are on eternal patrol.

The following terms and conditions shall apply to membership in the USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION, INC.

REGULAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS (RAM)
Any former crewmember of the USS TRUMPETFISH SS425, officer or enlisted, is eligible to apply to the Board of Officers for REGULAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP in this Association. Only Regular Association Members in good standing will have membership privileges with payment of annual dues of ten dollars ($10) based upon the calendar year.

LIFETIME MEMBERS (LM)
Any Regular Association Member has the privilege of joining the association as a LIFETIME MEMBER. Lifetime Membership in the Association for the rest of his life shall become effective by contributing a one time fee of one hundred dollars ($100). LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP shall include the member’s spouse in this honor as A LIFETIME ASSOCIATE MEMBER, but she shall not have the priviledge to vote on Association Business issues.
LIFETIME MEMBERS and Lifetime Associate Members will enjoy continuous good standing, and will have all membership privileges except voting priviledge for the Lifetime Associate Members.

HONORARY MEMBERS
Any member of a former crew member's family is eligible to apply to the Board of Officers for Honorary Membership in this Association. Honorary Members have no voting privileges, nor may they hold office in the Association.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Any individual, who is sponsored by a former crew member, is eligible to apply to the Board of Officers for Associate Membership in this Association. Associate Members have no voting privileges, nor may they hold office in the Association.

MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGE
Membership privileges are only available to Members in Good Standing (dues paid). Membership privilege entitles the member to: one (1) vote at the stated and called general meetings; to hold office; and to have the privilege of the floor at Association stated and called general meetings.

MEMBERSHIP DUES
Annual dues will be established by the Board of Officers and will be due and payable on January 1st of each year with a three (3) month grace period allowed before membership benefits are terminated. Members, who join during the course of the year, will have their dues pro-rated, by month, for the remainder of the year. Non-payment of dues for regular members will be grounds for loss of good standing, the loss of membership privileges, and loss of membership benefits. Non-payment of dues by the other classes of membership will result in loss of membership benefits including, but not limited to, Association communications and invitations to the reunion.

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
By a simple majority vote, the Board of Officers may terminate any membership for the Good of the Order, at any time, and shall have full discretionary powers in

The governing body of the Association shall be the Board of Officers. All members of the Board of Officers must be Regular Members in Good Standing.

GENERAL
The Officers will be elected by a majority vote of the regular members at the Association's stated general meeting, held in conjunction with a reunion, every other year (biennially). All officers serve on a voluntary, non-recompense basis

OFFICES
The offices of the Association shall consist of: President; 1st Vice President;
2nd Vice President; Secretary; and Treasurer. All officers are charged with the exercise of good judgment and fiduciary responsibility in managing the affairs of the Association. Their principal duties for each office are listed below, but this list is not intended to be all inclusive. Each member who accepts an office will be expected to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office to the best of his ability and in a manner satisfactory to the Association as a whole.

PRESIDENT
Shall call meetings of the Board of Officers as deemed necessary for the Good of the Order of the Association. Call for financial reports as prescribed herein, or as deemed necessary and proper. Keep the membership advised of all items of interest or impact upon the Association. Appoint Committees as deemed necessary for the Good of the Association, and serves as an ex-officio member of all committees. (All committee members serve at the pleasure and discretion of the President). Be responsible for the contents of all communications to the Association.

1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Shall advise and assist the President of any matters of interest to the Association and on any matters requiring action by the Board of Officers. Serve as the head of all committees. Carry out any additional duties as may be assigned by the President. Assume all the duties of the President in his absence. Stand ready to relieve the President should the need ever arise.

2nd VICE PRESIDENT
Shall assist the 1st Vice President in performing all of his duties. Serve as a member of all committees. Carry out any additional duties as may be assigned by the President. Function in place of the 1st Vice President in his absence. Stand ready to assume the duties of the 1st Vice President should the need ever arise.

SECRETARY
Shall maintain an up to date “crew list" of the membership to include full name, address, telephone number, email address, rank/rate, dates on board the Trumpetfish and other information deemed pertinent. Provide the Board, and any current member, with an updated "crew list" when requested. Prepare and issue membership cards (if used) and any other official forms and documents. Prepare replies to all correspondence from the membership and other sources as required with the Presidents knowledge and approval.

TREASURER
Shall establish and maintain a record of all Association financial transactions. Ensure dues/payments are recorded. Establish a checking account under the name of the Association, with signature authorization for the President, 1st Vice President, and Treasurer. Make all deposits and pay all debts that have been determined to be just and authorized, in a timely manner. Provide the president with a copy of the monthly reconciled bank statement and check register reports. Provide the membership with an annual financial statement. Provide the President with a reconciled financial statement for each reunion and provide any other information that may be requested by him for any reason, or which is required by any of the officers for governmental filing purposes. Make available all books, bank statements, and check book register at all Board of Officers meetings for auditing purpose.
Reimbursement shall not be made to any member, serving in an official capacity, representing the Association for personal time, travel, local phone calls, and the preparation of written correspondence or record keeping. Reimbursement will be paid for actual cost of correspondence supplies, official long distance telephone expense, postage, and other items of a similar nature, required to conduct the business of the Association. Receipts will be required by the Treasurer before reimbursement can be made. The expenditure of Association funds must have the advance approval of the President and 1st or 2 Vice President. No assets of the Association may be used to reimburse any member of the Association for travel or other expenses in connection with a reunion or meeting.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE/STOREKEEPER
Represents the membership as a whole at the Board of Officer meetings. At the direction of the President, makes various items available for purchase by the membership and perform other such duties as may be assigned by the President. The Storekeeper may also be an Officer on the Associations' Board of Officers.

TERMS OF OFFICE
All terms of office will be for two (2) years. Officers may be elected to succeeding terms of office.

CONTINGENCIES
Should any elected officer vacate his office, for whatever reason, the President will appoint an acting officer from the Regular Membership to serve until the next scheduled election. This is not to be construed to be a prohibition against one member holding two offices on a temporary basis. In the case of the President leaving office, the 1st Vice President will assume the office of President, and the 2nd Vice President will assume the duties of the 1st Vice President until the next regularly scheduled reunion. The new President will appoint from the regular membership an acting 2nd Vice President. An elected officer may be removed from office by a unanimous vote of the Board of Officers (excluding the officer in question)

The business of the Association will be conducted in an open and straightforward manner.

BOARD OF OFFICERS MEETINGS
The Board of Officers shall meet as necessary to conduct the regular business of the Association. These meetings may be held in conjunction with the scheduled reunions of the Association, at an agreed to location, or be conducted via electronic means. A simple majority of the Board of Officers shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business.

STATED GENERAL MEETINGS
The stated general meetings of the Association will be held in conjunction with the Association's regularly scheduled reunions. Election of officers, amendment to the By-Laws, and any other business that requires the participation of the Regular Association Members, will take place at this stated general meeting. Newly elected officers will take office at the close of the stated general meeting during which they were elected.

REUNIONS
The location, frequency and duration of the reunion will be at the discretion of the Board of Officers. However, every effort will be made to have reunions no less than every other year, at a location acceptable to the membership and of sufficient duration to accomplish the stated purpose of this Association.
So long as sufficient funds are available in the General Account, the USS TRUMPETFISH SS425 VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION, INC., shall pay the fees at at all future reunion events for for our Ship’s Plankowners, and all Lifetime Members and Regular Association Members that served on submarines during WWII with the exception of travel and housing. These fees would include the registration fee, all scheduled tours, entertainment, dinner banquets, and any other costs that may be approved by the Board of Officers.

The Board of Officers must determine prior to each Business Meeting that sufficient funds are available, and recomment an amount to annually contribute to a “Submarine Scholarship Fund”. The recipient of the fund and amount, will be determined by vote of the Association Membership at this Business Meeting.