AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS
MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
IOWA CHAPTER
Adopted 12/July/2008 at the Summer Convention in Waterloo, IA.
Constitution
Preamble
To participate in parades and other ceremonies that are within the aims and purpose of the American Legion. To provide a
Social atmosphere for American Legion Members and their family who share an interest in Motorcycling. To promote
motorcycle safety and support for other motorcycling organizations. To use our Association to promote and support
programs of the American Legion and our communities.
Article 1
Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the American Legion Riders of Iowa, attached to the Department of Iowa
and sponsoring Post.
Section 2. Des Moines Post 731 shall be referred to as the Charter chapter
Section 3. The State Advisory Board shall be the governing body of the American Legion Riders of Iowa. The State
Advisory Board will consist of a State Director, and an advisor from each recognized local Chapter. The State Advisors
shall be elected from within their respective local Chapter. The State Advisors will elect the State Director from within the
ranks of the Advisory Board. The term of the State director will be 1 year beginning at the Mid Winter Conference.
Article II
Nature
Section 1. The American Legion Riders, attached to the American Legion, Department of Iowa, is a social organization for
its members and their families who share an interest in motorcycling.
Section 2. Each member shall perform his/her duty as a citizen according to his/her own conscience and understanding, in
accord with the law.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Each local Chapter is organized as a social body of American Legion Riders, Iowa Chapter and under the
sponsorship and jurisdiction of the, Iowa American Legion.
Section 2. The state chapter shall be governed by such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the National
American Legion Riders (Michigan is recognized as National chapter), the state American Legion Riders Officers, as
described in Article 1 section 3.
ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY
Section 1. Any current member of the American Legion, Auxiliary of the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion,
shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. The member or their eligible spouse must own a street legal motorcycle (no ATV’s) of at least 350cc in size.
Section 3. The members of The Legion Posts which do not sponsor American Legion Rider Chapters are permitted to join
any ALR local Chapter, provided they met that Chapters membership requirements.
Section 4. A current member in good standing who can no longer ride due to age, health, or other physical considerations,
may continue to be eligible for local Chapter membership even if their situation requires them to sell their motorcycle.
This will require the member to apply for status as a Special Class Member and a vote of approval at a regular ALR local
Chapter level monthly meeting.
Special class Members will be issued a Legacy Member patch which will signify their long and faithful service to the
Chapter. Current rules pertaining to spouses of members in good standing will apply to Legacy Members as well.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the local Chapter shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms,
Road Captain, Historian, Membership Chairperson, chaplain and State Advisory Board Representative, all of whom shall
be elected at a regular meeting of the local Chapter. The office of Historian and Membership Chairperson are optional.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Between local Chapter meetings, the administrative power of the local Chapter shall be vested in the local
Chapter Executive Committee, which shall consist of all elective officers for the current year and in addition the immediate
Past President.
Section 2. All Past Local Chapter Presidents shall be members of the Executive Committee without a vote.
ARTICLE VII
DUTIES
Section 1. The annual membership dues shall be set by the local Chapter.
Section 2. Members of other American Legion Posts may join an ALR local Chapter at the discretion of the said local
Chapter.
ARTICLE VIII
APPAREL
Section 1. Members shall be authorized to wear the American Legion Riders Shoulder Patch and back Patch on a black
leather vest or black leather jacket. The Shoulder Patch should be worn on the right shoulder of a jacket, or on the front of
a baseball cap. However, if wearing both the back patch and a shoulder patch on the same garment, the Shoulder Patch
should be on the left breast.
Section 2. A rocker patch may be worn under the Riders Back Patch, indicating the Post’s City and Post No.
Example: Des Moines Post 731. Both patches must touch. If using the Riders Back Patch that accommodates three lines
of additional stitching, the Post’s City and Post Number may be stitched on the patch immediately below the words â
€˜Iowa Chapter’. The Post’s City and Number shall be stitched in gold lettering.
Section 3. All patches ordered from National Emblem Sales should read IOWA CHAPTER per Department of Iowa
Resolution. Iowa Chapter shall be stitched in gold lettering.
Section 4. A rocker patch may be worn over the Riders Back Patch, indicating State Charter Member. Only State
Chapter Charter Members may wear this patch. Charter members of all other local Chapters may wear a top rocker
indicating ‘Charter Member’. If using the Riders Back Patch that accommodates three lines of additional stitching, â
€˜Charter Member’ may be stitched on the top line of the patch.
‘Charter Member’ shall be stitched in gold lettering.
Section 5. A rocker patch may be worn over the Riders Back Patch, indicating Honorary Member. Only Honorary
Members who have been bestowed this honor may wear this patch.
Section 6. The black Legion Riders Beret shall be the hat of choice for all member of the association.
Section 7. Other pins and patches may be worn. Please DO NOT wear offensive Patches. Use discretion! If the
American Flag is worn by itself it should be the highest pin/patch on the left shoulder or front left side.
Section 8. The only American Legion Rider Back Patches, Shoulder Patches, and Beret Patches, authorized for wear are
those sold by and purchased from Emblem Sales. No modifications or additions shall be made to these patches except for
those already stated in Article VIII of the Constitution.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution is adopted, subject to the provision of the National Constitution and the Department
Constitution of which this Chapter is a subordinate member. Any amendment to the National Constitution or Department
Constitution which is in conflict with any provision hereof shall be regarded as automatically repealing or modifying the
provisions of this Constitution, to the extend of such conflict.
Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular State Advisory Board meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the
membership attending such meeting: provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing, and read
at the Summer State Advisory Board meeting, and provided further, that written notice shall have been given to all members
at least 5 days in advanced of the date which such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members at such meeting
a proposal to amend the Constitution is to be voted upon. In the absence of a regular State Advisory Board Representative,
a local Chapter may be represented by an alternate designee, so long as advanced notice is given to the State Advisory
Board.
BY-LAWS
BY-LAWS OF IOWA AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS, ATTACHED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION,
DEPARTMENT OF IOWA.
Section 1. Applications for membership shall be made in writing on forms prescribed by the National Legion Riders
Organization.
Section 2. A rider must provide proof of insurance and a Motorcycle Endorsement at the time of application.
Section 3. Any member may be expelled or suspended from the Association by a majority vote of the general membership
at a regular local Chapter meeting.
ARTICLE II
NOMINATIN AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The local Chapter will nominate members for office in the month of November.
Section 2. The membership will vote for those members nominated by secret ballot, in the month of December. Those
officers shall be declared elected who have by secret ballot received a majority of votes of local Chapter members in good
standing.
Section 3. The newly elected officers will take office in January of the new year.
ARTICLE III
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President: Will serve as Chief Administrative Officer of the Association and will preside over all meetings.
He/She shall have general supervision over the affairs of the Association. He/She shall perform such other duties as
directed by the general membership.
Section 2. Vice President: Will assume the duties of the President in his/her absence, will assist the President in the
performance of his/her duties when called on to do so by the President.
Section 3. Secretary: To keep a full and correct record of all proceedings at the meetings. Keep membership records as
may be required by the general membership.
Section 4. Treasurer: To have charge of all finances of the Association. To have charge of disbursing funds as directed by
the general membership. To give detailed financial reports at each regular meeting. (Copies will be furnished to the Post if
requested).
Section 5. Sergeant-at-Arms: Will also help maintain order during local Chapter meetings according to Roberts rules of
Order. He/she will be responsible for placing the colors at all meetings. He/she will monitor the persons entering and
leaving the meeting while in session.
Section 6. Road Captain: Will be the logistics person in charge of organized runs of the Association. He/she may, at
his/her discretion, appoint assistant road captain or take any other measures he/she may feel necessary to help insure the
safety of the group during a run.
Section 7. Chaplain: The Chaplain shall perform such divine and non-sectarian service as may be necessary; adhering to
such ceremonial rituals as may be prescribed by the Nation, Membership, and the local Chapter.
Section 8. Historian: The Historian shall collect from year to year all records and data of value and interest to the
American Legion Riders and the American Legion, and shall compile during his/her term of office a complete history of the
year’s activities.
Section 9: Membership Chairperson: Shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate listing of the membership. They shall
also keep all documents pertaining to the membership.
Section 10: State Advisory Board Representative: Shall represent their individual local Chapter at all State Advisory Board
meetings and vote in accordance with the wishes of the general membership.
ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The local Chapter Executive Committee shall fill any vacancy in the membership of the committee occurring
between annual elections of the local Chapter for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 2. Any officer or executive committee person may be removed for inefficiency by the Executive Committee. Any
officer or executive committee person who is absent three or more consecutive local Chapter meetings, can on due
investigation, be removed by two-thirds vote of said Executive Committee member.
ARTICLE V
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Upon nomination of the President, The Executive Committee shall annually appoint such standing committees as
it shall deem advisable for the benefit of the membership of the local Chapter as a whole.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
Section 1. American Legion Rider local Chapter level meetings shall be held on monthly basis.
Section 2. Each local Chapter will be responsible for setting the date of their monthly meeting...
Section 3. Special meetings shall be called upon a majority vote of the Executive Committee or upon written request of ten
local Chapter members.
Section 4. Notice of special meetings of the local Chapter shall be e-mailed at least 72 hours in advanced. Members not
having e-mail will be notified by phone.
ARTICLE VII
QUORUM
Section 1. Seven members, beside a qualified presiding officer, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the local
Chapter.
Section 2. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the legal transaction of business.
ARTICLE VIII
FINANCES
Section 1. All funds of the local Chapter shall be deposited in a bank by the Treasurer. Withdrawals shall only be made
upon check signed by the Treasurer and/or the President.
Section 2. Dues will be set by each local Chapter.
ARTICLE IX
RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. The procedure at all local Chapter meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rule of Order.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Local Chapter By-Laws may be amended at any regular local Chapter meeting by vote of two-thirds of the
members attending such regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and
read at the immediate preceding local Chapter meeting, and provided further, that written notice shall have been given to all
members at least five days in advanced of the date when such amendments is to be voted upon, notifying said members that
at such a meeting a proposal to amend the By-Laws is to be voted upon.
