This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu SUMMARY Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia The Corporation shall exist for so long as its purposes remain unfulfilled -- as long as men are missing or captured in Southeast Asia. The Purposes of the League are to assist all Americans who are captured or believed to be captured in Southeast Asia and their families by: 1. Securing humane treatment in accordance with the requirements of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and as recognized by general humanitarian standards for those Amer- icans captured in Southeast Asia, 2. By obtaining identification of all those who are being held cap- tive by the North Vietnamese, the Viet Cong, the Pathet Lao and other hostile forces, 3. By obtaining proper medical care for all, 4. By making the American people and the people of the world aware of the unconscionable plight of those Americans who are missing or captured in Southeast Asia and their families, 5. By facilitating and promoting communication of information of mutual interest among all families of missing and captured Americans, 6. By facilitating and developing activities with other private or public groups or organizations and governmental agencies which are working to achieve the same humanitarian objectives, 7. By maintaining and supporting the morale of all captured and missing Americans and their families; and above all, 8. By obtaining at the earliest possible time the release of and a complete accounting for all captured or missing Americans in Southeast Asia. The League shall not engage in any activities that are inconsistent with the qualification of the League as a charitable, humanitarian, non-profit, non-partisan corporation exempt from federal income taxa- tion in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any successor thereto, and no part of the net earnings of the League shall inure to the benefit of any private person. The affairs of the League shall be managed by a Board of Directors, who shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified in accordance with the By-Laws -- and listed as follows: Mrs. Donald C. Rander Mrs. Kenneth North Mrs. Iris R. Powers Mrs. Arthur S. Mearns Mrs. Stephen Hanson Mrs. Jeremiah Denton Mrs. James B. Stockdale Mrs. Arthur Cormier Mrs. Bobby Vinson Col. Edwin L. Brinckmann Mrs. Gordon M. Perisho Mrs. Samuel Johnson Mrs. Robert C. Davis Mrs. James F. Egan Mrs. Bruce Johnson The League shall be composed solely of family members of missing or captured Americans in Southeast Asia. "Family member" shall be given 1 s-leg_475_007_004_A1b.pdf Page 1 of 3 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu the broadest, possible interpretation and include, among other cat- agories recognized by the Board of Directors, a blood or lawful rela- tive of the American who is now or has been a prisoner or missing in Southeast Asia and his or her spouse. Members may participate, facilitate and develop activitites with other private or public groups or organizations and governmental agencies which are working to acheive the same humanitarian objectives as the League, but the League's endorsement of these activities or organ- izations shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Any person related to a prisoner or person believed to be a prisoner in Southeast Asia is eligible for membership in the National League of Families. Any member may resign from the League by delivering a written resig- nation to the Board of Directors at the League's office. There shall be an annual meeting of members at such time and place as shall be designated by the Board, and special meetings of members may be called at the request of the chairman, vice-chairman, or any six directors. Members shall be given notice of the time and place of an annual meeting at least thirty days in advance and of special meetings at least one week in advance. The presence of 100 members or 50 per cent of the total membership, whichever is less, shall con- stitute a quorum at any meeting. Every member of the League shall be entitled to vote on any matter that may be submitted to the membership for a vote. The governing body of the League shall consist of fifteen members who shall be elected at the annual meeting of members to serve until their successors are elected at the next annual meeting. The Board shall appoint a nominating committee which will propose a slate of directors which shall be representative of the membership as a whole to the greatest extent practical. The Boand shall elect a chairman and vice- chairman, and will meet at regular intervals. Any member shall be entitled to submit a proposal to the Board at its regular meeting pro- vided the proposal is sent in writing to the Chairman, National Coor- dinator or Assistant National Coordinator at least one week in advance of the meeting. The League shall have a National Coordinator (President) and Assistant National Coordinator, Secretary Treasurer and may appoint such other officers as it may consider necessary or desireable. The National Coordinator shall be the chief executive officer of the League. The Assistant National Coordinator shall, in the absence or disability of the National Coordinator, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the National Coordinator. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds and securities of the League and shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the League. The Board may designate committees whose members shall include at least one director. 2 s-leg_475_007_004_A1b.pdf Page 2 of 3 This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu The Board of Directors shall issue invitations to serve on an advisory council. These invitations will be offered to citizens whose know- ledge, influence, interest and experience would be of the greatest assistance in achieving the purposes of the League. Members may pro- pose the names of suggested advisors to the Board of Directors. Every advisor will serve in a non-voting capacity without financial compensation. Every advisor will be sent the agenda for all regularly scheduled Board meetings one week in advance of such meetings and at the discretion of the Board will be invited to attend. Advisors also may be invited by the Board to serve on League committees under the aforementioned terms and conditions. To the extent permitted by law, every person who is or was a director, officer, committee member or employee of the League shall have the right to be indemnified by the League against all reasonable expenses for acting in its behalf. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the League shall be distri- buted to a tax-exempt, charitable, non-profit organization or organi- zations as provided in the Articles of Incorporation. The By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation may be amended in whole or in part by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes of the members present or their proxies. Any member may propose one or more amendments in writing. Any amendment so proposed shall be submitted by the Board to a vote of the members at a regular or special meeting. The Board of Directors may make such recommendations or comments to the membership concerning any proposed amendment as it deems approp- riate. No vote on a proposed amendment shall be taken at any meeting held less than ten or more than fifty days after such proposed amendment has been submitted to the members. s-leg_475_007_004_A1b.pdf Page 3 of 3