ARTICLE VI:

Charters, Assessments, Loss Of Charters, Reports, And Records

SECTION 1. Charters

All charters for GI Forum Chapters, GI Forum Women Chapters and GI Forum Youth Chapters, as well as for all At-Large American GI Forum Organizations, shall be issued nationally by the National Executive Director, and shall be signed by him/her and the National Commander.

Any group of at least eight (8) potentially qualified persons for AGIF membership soliciting a charter shall pay a designated fee to the National Executive Director's office in an amount fixed by the National Board. Any group shall file its application for a charter through an AGIF State office or state Officer from any AGIF state designated by the National Commander, which Office or Officer, as the case may be, shall quickly certify to the National Executive Director whether the applying body appears to be a bonafide group or not, after which the application with all supporting paper shall be forwarded forthwith to the National Executive Director. Should the State AGIF office or Officer certify that the group is not bonafide, the National Executive Director, with the advise and consent of the National Commander, shall appoint an investigative committee of five AGIF members, only two of whom may be from the same state as the applying group. The committee shall investigate with all deliberative speed and by majority vote shall inform the National Executive Director on whether the group is bonafide or not. Its decision shall be final. In case any group applies for an At-Large AGIF charter, it shall file directly with the National Executive Director, who likewise shall determine whether the group is bonafide or not. Should the Director certify that it is not, there shall be an automatic appeal to the National Commander, the National Vice Commander, and the National Recording Secretary. A majority vote of the three shall determine in final form whether the group is bonafide or not. Any group certified as bonafide shall receive a charter forthwith.

Failure To Forward Charter Applications: Any bonafide group denied its right to have its charter application forwarded to the National Executive Director by an AGIF State office, Officer, or At-Large AGIF Organization, may appeal to the National Executive Director, and with the consent of the National Commander, the National Executive Director shall order the AGIF Organization or Officer in question to forward same, failing which in reasonable time the National Executive Director may go ahead and issue a Charter to the soliciting group if the Director is satisfied that the group is bonafide, (the retrieving of the instruments, including charter application, money orders, etc., may be accomplished by whatever legal means later).

Any group applying for a charter shall meet all the qualifications set out in Article II, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, as may be applicable.

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SECTION 2: Charter Renewal Fees

All local GI Forum, GI Forum Women and GI Forum Youth Chapters as well as all At-Large Chapters once duly chartered shall be required to renew their charters during January of each calendar year upon payment of a fee to the National Executive Director's office in an amount established by the National Conference in conformity with the cost of living of the times. Should any AGIF Organization fail to pay its Charter renewal fee, and/or appropriate dues, its charter shall be suspended, but if paid within six months from the end of January, its charter shall be automatically reinstated. If it is not so paid, then the group may apply for a new charter in accordance with the provisions of this Section, and of Article II, Sections 1 thru 5.

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SECTION 3: Other Contributions Or Assessments

With the exception of the Charter fee, the cost of subscription of the official publication of This Organization and dues as provided in Article II, Section 11 in this Constitution, neither the National Board nor the National Conference shall have the power to levy or impose upon a particular State AGIF Organization or any affiliate AGIF Organization thereof or any At-Large AGIF Organization, any additional dues, charter fees, charter renewal fees or other contributions and assessments without the consent of the particular AGIF Organization, provided that any fee or assessment which is connected with and made a part of any contest terminating at the national AGIF level shall not be covered by the provisions of this Section.

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SECTION 4: Reports To National Office

All State AGIF Organizations and their affiliate AGIF Organizations and all At-Large AGIF Organizations for the purpose of reporting to the Internal Revenue Service and other necessary purposes, shall submit such financial, membership and other reports at such time or times as are required or requested by the National Executive Director. Failure to provide such reports and to file the proper information in connection with the Internal Revenue Service and other governmental agencies when it is required to comply with the rules and regulations of such agencies, shall authorize the National Executive Director to suspend the charter of the delinquent AGIF State Organization or AGIF At-Large Organization or local AGIF Organizations.

Any AGIF State or AGIF At-Large, or AGIF local Organization which organizes its own corporation and gains 501(c)(3) status or any other such status under the identity of the American GI Forum, shall comply with this Constitution, shall provide for equal representation on the board of directors of said corporation for the three major components of This Organization, shall provide equal employment opportunity to all persons, and shall so provide as stated above in the corporate charter, constitution, and by-laws of said corporation.

All AGIF State and At-large Organizations applying for corporate status as 501(c)(3) corporation shall first obtain authorization to do so from the National Board.

All AGIF National, State, At-large and local AGIF Organizations holding corporate status as 501(c) (3) corporations (or similar status at law, should the number designation change) shall report to the National Executive Director's office, as requested by same, information as to the state of incorporation, corporate charter number, employer's identification number, and provide copies of the Internal Revenue Service letter granting 501(c) (3) status, the annual I.R.S. Form 990, corporate minutes, the annual treasurer's report, and other requested pertinent information.

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SECTION 5: Loss Of Charter

An AGIF Organization may also lose its charter for group misconduct as set out or outlined in Article V, Section 1, A thru F, as determined by the National Board alone and on its own motion, but suspension may occur only after a full hearing before the National Board whose simple majority ruling shall be final. The accused AGIF Organization shall have the right of representation by Counsel and shall have the right to present all evidence in the way of documentation, witnesses, pictures, videos, etc., and an opportunity for argument not to exceed 30 minutes. The Board shall have equal representation, introduction of evidence and argument rights. Should the AGIF Organization Charter be suspended, it shall so remain until the group purges itself of fault to the satisfaction of a majority of the National Board before it can be eligible to have a new Charter issued to it.

The amount of cost of reinstatement of the Charter shall be fixed by the National Board.

SECTION 6: Retention Of Records

All AGIF Organizations shall retain and properly store their records to comply with the time limits set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and other governmental agencies, as well as by the AGIF-US.

Outgoing officers at all levels shall pass on all records to the succeeding officers.

All AGIF State Organizations must provide a place for safe and proper storage of Organization records.

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