Section 2: Its object shall be the preservation and protection of life and property from and during such fires or emergencies as may occur anywhere in the county of Scott, state of Virginia.

Section 1: The Department shall be composed of volunteer firemen.

Section 1: The Department shall have a Board of Directors, numbering nine. Nine shall be elected the first year: three for three years, three for two years, three for one year. Upon expiration of these terms, new Board Members will be elected. Former Board members will be eligible for re-election.

Section 2: It will be the duties of the Directors to oversee the business operation of the department, to invest funds received toward the improvement of the Department, and to make recommendations to the Department for the Department’s improvement and well being.

Section 3: Any vacancies occuring on the Board of Directors will be filled by an appointee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will be members of the Department or the community.

Section 4: The Board of Directors will elect from their number, a Chairman and Vice-Chairman to chair the meetings and carry on other related business.

Section 5: The Board of Directors shall have an audit of the Department financial records at the end of the fiscal year, December 31.

Section 1: The Officers of the Department shall be a Chief, Assistant Chief, two Captains, one Lieutenant, one Treasurer, a Chaplain, a Supply Officer, Truck Maintenance Officer, Building Maintenance Officer, Training Officer, and one Secretary. Secretary can be combined with Treasurer upon discretion of the majority of the volunteer firemen.

Section 2: The Standing Committees shall consist of a Committee of Membership, an Election Committee, and a Committee on Grievances. Each Committee will consist of three members.

Section 1: Election of officers will be held at the first regular meeting in December.

Section 2: The members of the Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Chief subject to approval of the Board of Directors and shall hold office for one year or until removed.

Section 3: Nominations by the Election Committee will be made at a regular meeting. Those persons not nominated by the Election Committee who also wish to run for office, shall be nominated from the floor, following the Election Committee nominations.

Section 4: Nominations for office will be made at the first regular meeting in the month of November. No nominations will be accepted after that meeting.

Section 1: It shall be the duty of the Chief to call regular and special meetings; to preside at all meetings; to preside order; to decide all points of order that may arise, subject to an appeal from his decision to the Department, but on such an appeal a majority vote of all members present shall be necessary to reverse his decision.

Section 2: To see that each subordinate officer does his duty.

Section 3: To carry out and enforce the Constitution and By-Laws of this Department to the best of his ability.

Section 4: It shall be his duty to be present at all fires if possible, and to plan the attack; to direct action to be taken.

Section 5: He shall make a report at the next regular meeting of all fires, and give as nearly as possible the following facts: location of fire, discovery, date, hour, minute, by whom, alarm by whom, cause of fire, when started, cause of delay (if any), approximate damage, insuror, attendance, and general remarks.

Section 6: It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief to perform the duties of the Chief in his absence.

Section 7: It shall be the duty of the Chief to call special meetings of the Department at the written or oral request of five members. Such request stating the object of the call.

Section 1: It shall be the duty of the member first reaching the engine house to assume command of the company, which he shall retain until the arrival of the proper officer, and shall be subject to the same penalties that such officer would be liable to for any neglect of duty or for any other offense.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Captain to obey all orders from the Chief or senior officer in charge with the assistance of the firemen present.

Section 3: It shall be the duty of the driver of the truck on a fire alarm to take his apparatus by the nearest and best route to the fire. Having arrived at the fire, he will put into operation the fire engine and be ready to receive orders from the Chief or senior officer in charge.

Section 1: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all proceedings of the Department; to call the roll; to record all absences and to keep the books and preserve the records of the Department. They shall collect dues, and all other monies due the Department giving proper receipt therefor. They shall give each member at least one day’s notice of any special meeting. They shall notify each person elected a member of the Department of such election and furnish him a copy of the By-Laws.

Section 1: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all monies collected by the secretary; to give his receipt therefor; to keep a regular account of all monies received, and pay it out on the order of the Board when such orders are properly signed by the Chief and countersigned by the Secretary; to give a monthly account of the Department, to make an annual itemized account of the Department and of the sums received and what sources; of the sums paid out, and the balance on hand or deficiency due the Treasurer, accompanied by the proper voucher thereof. He shall submit his books and official documents to the examination of the Board of Directors to enable them to make a proper report.

Section 2: The Treasurer of the Department shall have a co-signer designated by the board.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Committee of Grievances to examine into such complaints and petitions as may be referred to by the Department and report them to the Department or special meeting.

Section 3: It shall be the duty of the Election Committee to select qualified men for office before each election. The committee shall also insure that each nominee will accept the post if elected.

Section 1: Any officer or member of the Department for the abuse of his authority or misconduct in his office may be impeached therefore and removed from his office or membership by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting after the charges have been made. That the charge against him to be made in writing and filed with the Secretary at least one month before the vote shall be taken upon it, and a copy of said charge shall be served upon him by the Secretary at least 30 days before the vote shall be taken. All charges must be confirmed by the Board of Directors before a member shall be voted on for impeachment.

Section 2: The Chief shall have the authority to suspend any member of the Department that violates Section 1 of this article until the charges can be brought before the Department.

Section 1: Any person of good character and standing who has reached the age of 18, shall be eligible to membership in the Department.

Section 2: Any candidate for membership after approval by the Membership Committee and Board of Directors shall receive a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present at a regular meeting before becoming a member.

Section 1: It shall be the first duty of all members of this Department to obey all commands of their officers while on duty.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of members to be prompt at all meetings; on every alarm or fire to answer as soon as possible.

Section 3: Order of Business:

1. Roll call.

2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting.

3. Treasurer’s report.

4. Report of committees.

5. Presentation of bills and action of same.

6. Nomination of candidates for membership.

7. Election of officers and members.

8. Unfinished, new and miscellaneous business.

9. Second roll call.

10. Adjournment

Section 4: No member shall be excused from attending any regular or special meeting except on the grounds of absence from town, employment, sickness, or upon approval of the Chief.

Section 5: No member shall appear at the meetings of the Department or on duty or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or shall be guilty of using insulting, indecent or improper language, or be guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentleman or lady, or otherwise being a disgrace upon his company, under penalty by agreement of the majority present at the next regular meeting.

Section 1: This department shall not be disbanded except by a three-fourths vote of the entire members of the Department and a published or served notice shall be given of the meeting for that purpose at least one month before said vote shall be taken.

Section 1: No alterations or amendments shall be made to this Constitution unless proposed in writing to the Board of Directors who shall report at the next regular meeting, when it may be acted upon and adopted by a three-fourths vote of the members.

Section 2: Should the Board of Directors fail to report at the proper time, the matter may be considered in committee of the whole, and immediate action taken thereon.

Section 1: But one member shall be entitled to the floor during the same period.

Section 2: Every member desiring the privilege of the floor shall rise and address the Chairman.

Section 3: No member shall be allowed to speak until properly recognized by the chair.

Section 4: No motion can come before the Department unless properly moved and seconded and declared open to discussion by the chair.

Section 5: Any members may call for the yeas and nays of any motion, when each member shall be required to answer his name on the roll unless excused by the chair.

Section 6: All motions, unless otherwise decided by the By-Laws shall be settled by a majority of the votes cast.

Section 7: No member shall speak more than five minutes on any one subject at one time, or more than twice on the same subject, except by permission of the chair.

Section 8: When a point of order is raised by any member, the person having the floor shall take his seat until the point is decided by the chair, when, if proper, he may resume.

Section 9: When a motion is properly before the Department it must be disposed of before another can be entertained nor shall the motion be made subject to more than two amendments.

Section 10: No subject laid on the table shall be taken up again during the same meeting unless it was so undertook when thus disposed of.

Section 11: Any motion to reconsider must come from a member who voted with the majority when the action to consider was taken.

Section 12: Any member may appeal to the company from the decision of the chair when the question shall be stated thus, "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" which shall be decided by a majority of two-thirds of the members voting.

Section 13: All resolutions offered must be given in writing.

Section 14: No member shall leave the room during the meeting unless permission is given by the Chief.

Section 1: Regular meetings of the Department shall be held at the Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department.

Section 1: Associate Membership: the intent of this Amendment is to encourage other Rescue workers who live in our fire district or near our fire district that would be willing to help us run First Responder calls.

Section 2: Associates will be First Responders, Drivers, EMTs, or Firefighters.

Section 3: Associates will be non-voting members. They have no say in operations of this Fire Department or any say in the Board of Directors meetings.

Section 4: Associates cannot be elected to any positions within the Fire Department. However, their expertise may be called on during fire and rescue emergencies.

Section 5: Associates must maintain contact with the Chief, Assistant Chief, or Training Officer throughout the year. They must come to at least one training every three months, either on the First Responder side or the Firefighter side.

Section 6: Associates will be voted on annually by the Board of Directors. This will allow the Department to remove their names for non-attendance/non-interest each year.

Section 7: Associates will be assigned Radio Numbers. These Associates Members will be given a P[Portable] Number for a radio call number. For example, "Fort Blackmore P13" would be assigned to an Associate Member as their radio number.

Section 8: No Radios will be assigned to Associates Members. These Associate Members must have their own way of responding to calls. [2003]