St. Joseph Catholic Church - Neptune at 28172 Nature Avenue, Hinton, IA 51024-8553 US - NEPTUNE ALTAR SOCIETY CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS

ALTAR SOCIETY CONSTITUTION Article I--Name The name of this organization is St. Joseph Church-Neptune Altar Society Article II--Nature Section 1—This constitution is subject to all the regulations of the Code of Canon Law and other particular law and regulations from the Pope and Bishop governing such organizations. Section 2—The Society, its officers, acts, and funds are subject to the authority of the Ordinary and the Pastor from whom the officers receive their delegation. Article III--Purpose The purpose of this Society is: Section 1—To cultivate and promote a greater devotion and appreciation to our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist and Most Blessed Sacrament and to Mary his mother. Section 2—To enhance parish liturgical celebrations through the beautification of the church. Section 3—To carry on expenditures (e.g. liturgical, church hall, and rectory needs) when deemed necessary and with a majority vote of its members and/or with the expressed request and/or permission of the Pastor. Section 4—To promote the activities of the parish. Article IV—Membership Section 1—All women of the parish, at least eighteen years of age, are automatically members of the Society. Section 2—Membership includes rights, duties, and responsibilities to the Society. Section 3—Only members in good standing with ecclesiastical law may hold office. Article V—Officers Section 1—Under the supervision of the Pastor the officers are be: the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. Section 2—The officers and chairpersons of any standing committees constitute the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Section 3—The President is the lay executive of the Society. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, shall call special meetings when necessary (e.g. called for by the Executive Committee and/or the pastor), shall perform all other duties that are usually attached to the office of the President. Section 4—The Vice-President shall have all powers and perform all the duties of the President in her absence. The Vice-President shall become President when the President's term expires. Section 5—The Secretary shall keep record of the proceedings and all the acts and transactions of the Society. She shall keep up-to-date list of all members. Section 6—The Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the Society, shall deposit all money in its bank account(s), shall submit a financial report whenever requested by the President. The bank account(s) must be held in the name of St. Joseph Church-Neptune Altar Society and with signing privileges for the President and Treasurer. Article VI—Meetings Section 1—Regular meetings shall be held at least four times a year to conduct regular business. Section 2—Special meetings may be called by the President and/or the Pastor as circumstances require. Section 3—Executive Committee meetings may be called by the President and/or the Pastor as circumstances require. Article VII—Elections Section 1—The annual election for the office of Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall take place in accord to the procedure established by the bylaws. Section 2—The term of office shall be one year. The Secretary and/or Treasurer may be re-elected to only one consecutive term in the same office. Where advisable the Pastor may designate two years as the term of office. Section 3—In the event of a vacancy the Pastor and the Executive Committee may name a member to fill such a vacancy until the next regular meeting. Section 4—A former officer shall not be re-elected for at least five years to another office. Article VIII—Committees Section 1—Committees shall help conduct regular and special duties of the Society. Section 2—The President shall appoint or reappoint the chairpersons and members of each committee. Section 3—The Chairperson of each committee shall call its meetings as necessary. Section 4—All members of the Society must accept appointments for committee work. Section 5—Committees include: Monthly Circles and Funeral Committee. Section 6—The President and/or the Pastor may establish other committees as necessary. Article IX—Dues The dues of the Society shall be established by a majority vote of the membership. Article X—Benefits Section 1—Mass shall be offered for the living and deceased members of the Society on a regular basis. Section 2—Upon the death of a member, the members shall assemble at the wake of the deceased member to pray the Rosary unless otherwise arranged. Section 3—For the repose of the soul of each deceased member a Mass shall be offered by arrangement with the Pastor by the Treasurer. Section 4—Other benefits may be determined by the membership. Article XI—Amendments For an amendment of the Constitution there is required a two-thirds vote of those present. ALTAR SOCIETY ARTICLE XII—Bylaws BAKE SALE 1. A bake sale should accompany a Fall and Spring meal fundraiser. 2. All the women of the parish donating about $10 worth of baked goods. 3. Women not providing baked goods are to donate $15 cash. CIRCLES 1. The president is responsible for updating the list of circles each May. 2. Members wishing to make changes in the circles shall contact the president by April 30. 3. Members who have reached the age of 65 or due to health reasons may be placed on the Honorary Circle. 4. Revision of the circles includes dropping the names of the chairs and co-chairs. On even numbered circles, reverse the two names. June circle becomes July and January as the general cleaning is done in June with everyone helping. 5. The new list starts in July. 6. Each member shall receive a list of the circles. 7. Chairperson is in charge of the activities of their circle. 8. Co-chairperson is to offer help to the chairperson. 9. All members are asked to donate a dessert or a salad for funeral dinners. 10. Chairpersons of each circle shall attend meetings of the Altar Society to represent their Circle. If they are unable to attend the meeting, they are to send the co-chairperson or another member of their Circle for proper representation. COFFEE/JUICE/ROLLS 1. The Altar Society shall provide coffee, juice, and rolls after the Sunday Mass each second Sunday of the month. 2. Coffee/Juice/Rolls are not provided during the summer months of June, July, August; the months the Altar Society holds its fundraisers (i.e. November and March suppers); and/or after the approval of the Executive Officers and the pastor. 3. Each member of the month’s Circle serving the coffee, juice, and rolls is to provide two dozen rolls that month. DUTIES-Circles 1. Clean church twice a month (2nd and 4th week). 2. Care of Sanctuary unless someone has volunteered to do it. 3. Serve coffee, juice, and rolls after Mass on the second Sunday of the month. 4. Take trash home for disposal. 5. Take towels that are used home for cleaning and then return them. 6. To be in charge of any extra activities that arise unless a special committee is appointed for the activity. DUTIES-Cleaning 1. In the basement: -Clean the bathrooms. -Clean the steps—check all please. -Sweep the kitchen. -Vacuum the carpeting. -Take home the trash for disposal. 2. In the church: -Clean the windows in the vestibule. -Dust pews, kneelers, shelves in the sacristy, etc. -Sweep under the pews and the choir loft. -Remove gum from floors, pews, and kneelers. -Vacuum the carpet. -Fill the Holy Water fonts. -Empty waste basket in the sacristy. 3. Members are asked to bring their own dust rags, mops, window cleaner, dust spray, etc. 4. A vacuum cleaner is available. Yet members may bring their own. DUTIES-President 1. As specified in the Constitution. 2. Shall preside at meetings. 3. Shall give announcements to the person in charge of preparing the parish bulletin when announcements are necessary. 4. Shall be available to pray the rosary at a wake for a deceased member. 5. Shall contact the chairperson of the circle for the current month and remind her of her duties. 6. Shall organize the spring cleaning, usually done in June, of the church, church basement, and the parish house if needed. 7. Revise list of circles each May. DUTIES-Treasurer 1. As specified in the Constitution. 2. Shall notify the pastor after the death of a member to have a Mass Offering made for the deceased member. 3. Purchase supplies for the hall. DUTIES-Secretary 1. As specified in the Constitution. DUTIES-Vice-President 1. As specified in the Constitution. 2. Shall preside at meetings when the president is unavailable. 3. Shall be available to pray the rosary at a wake for a deceased member. ELECTION OF OFFICERS 1. Nominations for Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall take place the first weekend of August. 2. The top three nominees shall be placed on the ballot for Vice-President. 3. The second top three nominees shall be placed on the ballot for Secretary. 4. The third top three nominees shall be placed on the ballot for Treasurer. 5. The names of the nominees shall be made public the second week of August 6. Elections of new officers shall take place the third weekend of August. 7. Newly elected officers shall assume their roles at the next Society meeting after Old Business is completed. EXPENSES-Normal 1. The Altar Society shall cover the cost of the purchase of candles, altar bread, altar wine, decorations for the liturgical environment, and other expenses related to the celebration of the Sacraments in the parish. 2. The Altar Society shall cover the cost of the purchase of gifts. 3. The Altar Society shall cover the cost of items for the church building and parish hall related to cleaning and dining (i.e. cleaning expenses, paper towels, garbage bags, napkins, plates, cups, food). 4. Receipts shall be saved for proper reimbursement of members for expenses members incur on behalf of the Society and presented to the Treasurer or the pastor for reimbursement. EXPENSES-Extraordinary 1. The Altar Society shall cover the cost of other expenses not directly related to worship, gifts, cleaning, and dining with the approval of the Executive Officers and the pastor. 2. Receipts shall be saved for proper reimbursement of members for expenses members incur on behalf of the Society and presented to the Treasurer for approval at the next meeting. FORMER MEMBERS 1. The Altar Society shall purchase and present a rosary to a member who has moved out of the parish. 2. The presentation of rosaries to all women who have been a member for at least a year and who have moved out of the parish will be done in May, the month of Mary. 3. The Altar Society shall be available to pray a rosary at the wake of a deceased member. FUNDRAISERS 1. The Fall meal fundraiser shall be planned by the November Circle with the October, November, and December Circles working at the meal. 2. The Spring meal fundraiser shall be planned by the March Circle with the January, February, and March Circles working at the meal. 3. The phase “all you can eat” is not to be used for the promotion of meal fundraisers to avoid gluttony and overeating. FUNERAL COMMITTEE 1. Shall organize dinners for funerals held at the parish. GIFTS 1. The Altar Society shall purchase and present a gift to the children of the parish celebrating their First Eucharist. 2. The Altar Society shall purchase and present a gift to the children of the parish celebrating their Confirmation. 3. The Altar Society shall purchase and present a gift to the children of the parish celebrating their graduation from high school. 4. The Altar Society shall donate up to $50 per year divided among the schools making requests for After Prom Parties with no more than $20 going to any school. 5. The Altar Society shall donate up to $75 for the Diocesan youth summer camp, Camp CAYOCA. PRAYER CHAIN 1. The Altar Society shall maintain a Prayer Chain for which requests for prayers can be made by any member of the parish. 2. The Altar Society shall designate one member as Prayer Chain Coordinator to whom prayer requests are made. 3. The Prayer Chain Coordinator shall notify the Chairs of each Prayer Chain group and the pastor when prayer requests are made. 4. Each member of each Prayer Chain group shall notify the next member on their list of the prayer request. 5. The last person on each Prayer Chain shall notify the coordinator when a request is received to verify that the request was received by all members of the Chain. Bylaws reviewed and some amended at 6 February 2002 meeting of the Altar Society.

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