THE BY-LAWS OF
THE 16TH LOUISIANA INFANTRY REGIMENT
Section 1. Eligibility for membership: Membership is open to all male persons of at least twelve (12) years of age, of good moral character, regardless of race, ethnic background, or ancestral heritage, who exhibit support of the purposes of the corporation, but a member’s particular impression for reenactments and living history events must conform in appearance to general historical accuracy of the period of the American Civil War. A recruit shall be eligible for membership after having attended six (6) roll calls at unit events. For purposes of this article, a unit event is defined as an event lasting for at least two (2) days, at which a battle, bivouac or other engagement is reenacted. A noncombatant recruit shall be eligible for membership after having attended at least six (6) morning assemblies and roll calls at events of any type. The unit does not allow dual membership.
Section 2. Admission to membership: An eligible recruit may be elected to membership in the corporation by a majority vote of the voting members present at any general or special meeting, after having attended the required number of roll calls. Membership may be evidenced by a certificate of enlistment or a membership card issued by the President or such other officer, either elected or appointed, as he may designate.
Section 3. Membership dues: Annual dues for members for each calendar year shall be $20.00, payable immediately after the annual general meeting or admission to membership in the corporation, except if the members are eligible for payment of dues at the family rate. To be eligible for the family rate, an adult member shall pay the normal annual dues, with each additional member of his immediate family and household under the age of eighteen (18) paying annual dues of one-half (1/2) the normal rate. Members paying dues at the family rate shall receive one (1) copy of the unit newsletter for all family members. Each member of the corporation is expected to pay his dues in a timely fashion, and the President, Secretary-Treasurer, or other responsible officer shall strictly enforce the requirements of this section. A late fee of $5.00 shall be assessed to each member not having paid his annual dues by the adjournment of the summer general meeting, except in the case of a member having been elected to membership after the annual general meeting. If a member fails to pay his dues after receiving two (2) written reminders, after the summer general meeting, the responsible officer may institute appropriate disciplinary action. For purposes of this section, a written reminder may include a list of members who have paid or who have not paid their dues, published in the newsletter.
Section 4. Registration assessments: Each member or recruit is responsible for paying his own registration fee for any event requiring a fee per participant. The corporation may advance the registration fee for a member or recruit from the Treasury, not to exceed the sum of $5.00, provided that his annual dues have been paid. If a registration fee per participant exceeds the sum of $5.00, each member or recruit attending shall pay same to the officer handling the registration in a prompt and timely fashion.
Section 1. Annual general meeting of members: An annual general meeting of the membership shall be held each year on a weekend day in January, the date and time to be designated by the President in the notice of the meeting. The purposes of the annual general meeting shall include the election of the Board of Directors and the officers of the corporation and determination of the unit event calendar for the fall and spring campaign.
Section 2. Place of meeting: The annual general meeting of the membership shall be held within the State of Louisiana, at the location designated by the President in the notice of the meeting. All other meetings of the membership or the Board of Directors may be held within or outside the State of Louisiana.
Section 3. Notice of annual general meeting of members: At least thirty (30) days prior to the date selected for the annual general meeting of the membership, written notice of the date, time and location of the meeting shall be mailed to each member. Such notice may be set forth in the newsletter or other periodical mailed to the membership, and in such event no separate notice shall be required.
Section 4. Delayed annual general meeting: If, for any reason, the annual general meeting of the membership shall not be held on the date provided in Section 1 of this article, such meeting shall be called and held as a special meeting as soon as practicable on a weekend day, subject to the same requirement of written notice set forth in Section 3 of this article.
Section 5. Order of business at annual general meeting: The order of business at the annual general meeting of the membership shall be as follows:
a. Roll call, with verification of quorum and members’ voting status;
b. Report of the President;
c. Report of the Secretary-Treasurer;
d. Committee special reports;
e. Election of the Board of Directors;
f. Election of officers;
g. Conclusion of old business;
h. Transaction of new business, including discussion and determination of the annual unit event calendar, and
i. Adjournment;
Provided that, in the absence of any objections, the President or other presiding officer may vary the order of business in his discretion. By majority vote of the members, a separate election of the Board of Directors may be waived, and the Board of Directors shall then consist of the President, Captain and First Sergeant ex officio.
Section 6. Organizational meeting of Board of Directors: Immediately following the annual general meeting of the membership, the Board of Directors as constituted upon adjournment may convene for the purposes of reviewing the unit event calendar, considering the formation of any committees deemed necessary, and transacting any other business properly brought before it. By majority vote of the directors, the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at a different time and location.
Section 7. Summer meeting and special meetings of members: A summer general meeting of the membership may be called by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors, to be held on a weekend day. A written notice of the date, time and location of the summer general meeting shall be sent to each member according to the procedure established for notice of the annual general meeting in Section 3 of this article. A special meeting of the membership may be called at any time by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors, to be held on a weekend day. If the special meeting is held during the weekend of a reenactment event, verbal notice of the special meeting, at least one (1) hour prior to the time of the special meeting, shall suffice. If the special meeting is held on an open weekend day, written notice of the date, time and location shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to each member at least seven (7) days prior to that date.
Section 1. Who is entitled to vote: Each duly admitted voting member who has paid his annual dues and all other assessments and has complied with all other requirements for maintenance of current voting membership shall be entitled to one (1) vote in person. In order to maintain his status, a voting member must be present at two (2) morning musters at a fighting event within a calendar year.
A member who has lost his voting status by reason of not having paid his annual dues and all other assessments may be reinstated to voting membership upon paying the delinquent dues and assessments. A member who has lost his voting status by reason of not having attended the required number of unit events may be reinstated to voting membership for the current calendar year upon attending at least one (1) unit event during a six-month period.
Section 2. Verification of voting status: After the roll call and before any business is conducted at the annual general meeting of the membership, the voting status of member present shall be verified by the Secretary-Treasurer, by reference to the corporation’s financial records and unit muster rolls. At any summer general meeting or special meeting, verification of the voting status of the membership may be undertaken upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors. If verification of the voting status of the membership is not required, it shall be presumed that each member entitled to vote at the last meeting retains voting status, in addition to those members admitted or reinstated to voting membership since the last meeting.
Section 3. Quorum of voting members: A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of a general meeting, and a quorum shall be necessary to conduct the regular business and elections for any general meeting.
Section 4. Elected officers: The elected officers of the corporation shall consist of the following:
a. President
b. Secretary-Treasurer
c. Captain
d. First Sergeant
The elected officers shall be elected by majority vote of the voting membership.
Section 5. Elections and method of voting: Annual elections of the Board of Directors and the elected officers of the corporation shall be held at the annual general meeting of the membership in January. Nominations shall be submitted in writing. After nominations are closed, voting by secret ballot shall take place.
In the election of the elected officers, if no candidate for an office receives a majority vote, a runoff election shall be held between the two candidates receiving the largest plurality votes. The elected officers shall serve for a period of one (1) year or until their successors are elected, and their term of office shall begin at the adjournment of the annual general meeting at which they are elected. The Board of Directors is elected for two (2) year terms on a rotating basis.
ARTICLE IV: QUALIFICATIONS AND
DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1. General qualifications of elected officers: Candidates for the elected offices of the corporation must be voting members, and must also be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Candidates for the elected offices should have a general working knowledge of period battalion and company drill and tactics, and should be generally familiar with the functions, duties, and protocol of the period rank corresponding to their offices.
Section 2. Qualifications and duties of the President: A candidate for President must be a voting member. The administrative duties of the President may include the following:
a. Registering the corporation as a Battalion for reenacting;
b. Corresponding with other units or event hosts regarding events or other corporate business;
c. Presiding over the annual general meeting, any summer general meeting, any special meetings, and any court-martial (disciplinary) hearings;
d. Preparing and filing all documents required by federal and state law pertaining to the corporation’s existence, operations, and tax status; and,
e. Preparing and mailing the newsletter and notices of upcoming events.
In his discretion, the President may delegate some of the foregoing administrative duties to the Secretary-Treasurer or to another officer. He shall mediate any disagreement or dispute between other elected officers. The President should set an example in conduct and authenticity for all other officers, members, and recruits.
Section 3. Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer: The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall include the following:
a. Preparing the minutes of the annual general meeting, summer general meeting, and any formal special meetings:
b. Verifying members’ voting status at the annual general meeting and all other meetings at which such action is required, verifying the quorum;
c. Preparing written resolutions of the Board of Directors and the voting membership and any amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws; and
d. Keeping the financial and tax records of the corporation in order.
Section 4. Duties of the Captain: The duties of the Captain shall include the following:
a. Supervising the Sergeants and Corporals in the performance of their duties;
b. Attending all officers’ meetings at reenactments and living history events;
c. Commanding the corporation in its impression at reenactments and living history events;
d. Making a timely roll of all members and recruits expected to attend an upcoming event;
e. Monitoring each recruit’s training;
f. Supervising weapons and safety inspections at events; and,
g. Submitting a column or article for each issue of the newsletter to the President.
The Captain should set an example in conduct and authenticity for the Sergeants, Corporals, members and recruits.
Section 5. Duties of the First Sergeant: The duties of the First Sergeant shall include the following:
a. Teaching the School of the Soldier to recruits;
b. Instructing each recruit in the use, care, and safety of his weapons and equipment;
c. Ensuring the each recruit is familiar with the rules of the corporation, as set out in these bylaws and elsewhere, and with event rules;
d. Ensuring the firewood and water are kept in good supply for the cooks, if present, or the messes, and securing any available straw for bedding;
e. Ensuring the each member or recruit is assigned sleeping quarters for the night, if tents are used at the event;
f. Preparing a muster roll for morning assembly and roll call.
g. Preparing a duty roster for fatigue or guard duty, if necessary.
ARTICLE V: QUALIFICATIONS AND
DUTIES OF BREVET APPOINTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS
Section 1.: Qualifications and duties of the Corporals: To be eligible for appointment to the position of Corporal by the Captain, a member must be a voting member. He should have distinguished himself in his attendance at events, service to the corporation, and performance in drill, authenticity, and other aspects of his impression. The duties of the Corporal shall include the following:
a. Serving as acting second sergeant in formations and drill, if necessary; and
b. Assisting the First Sergeant with any of his duties.
ARTICLE VI: Specialty impressions
Recruits or members not desirous or capable of portraying infantry soldiers may portray members of special services, such as surgeons, teamsters, signal corpsmen, orderlies, sutlers, or company clerks, with the permission of the President, to be ratified by a majority vote of the voting membership at the next meeting of the corporation following the initial granting of such permission. For purposes of eligibility to membership, such recruits shall be considered as noncombatant recruits. Members may also portray alternate impressions, but only with the permission of the Board of Directors for each event at which they wish to portray such impression.
ARTICLE VII: RULES FOR CAMPING
Section 1. Camp appearance: The Corporation shall have only one camp at a reenactment of living history event, with all members and recruits in the same camp, unless otherwise required by the event sponsor or the nature of the event. The camp shall conform in appearance to a military camp of the American Civil War period, with any anachronisms being left in vehicles or kept out of sight between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., except during arrival and departure. Campfires and fire pits shall be kept at a safe distance from all tents, according to the circumstances of the weather and terrain. Durable articles of trash or refuse, such as empty cans, shall not be disposed of in the campfires or fire pits. Those members or recruits building and using a campfire or fire pit are responsible for extinguishing and covering it at the conclusion of the event.
Section 2. Camp etiquette: Where practicable, period military courtesy and etiquette shall be observed in camp between the hours of 5:00 a.m. or “Reveille” and 6:00 p.m., or until spectators have left the area. No loaded firearms are permitted in camp unless an order has been given to that effect by an officer with authority to do so. No consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted prior to the departure of spectators. Firearms must be unloaded and all weapons of any type secured prior to that time. Modern cigarettes shall not be smoked at any time. When ladies are in camp, hats and caps should be removed or tipped upon their approach, and there should be no swearing or cursing within their hearing. No disrobing, except for the removal of coats or jackets shall be permitted if a lady is present. When coats or jackets are worn, the top button should always be buttoned, unless permission is otherwise given by an officer.
Section 3. Family members or civilians: Family members of members and recruits are welcome to visit the camp at reenactments and living history events, except those events designated as tactical events or other events restricting their presence in camp. However, family members camping with members or recruits or spending more than a few hours in camp shall be required to wear authentic and appropriate period attire. Under no circumstances shall a female family member be allowed to portray a male soldier or musician of any branch of service or to fight in the ranks.
ARTICLE VIII. SAFETY RULES
Section 1. Primary responsibility for safety: Each member or recruit is individually responsible for his own compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances and the safety rules of the corporation, the reenactment or living history event attended, and the event sponsor. This responsibility is primary to any supervision which may be exercised by any elected or appointed officer of the corporation.
Section 2. Weapons inspection: A weapons inspection shall be conducted each day at all reenactments and living history events by the Captain, or, in his absence, the First Sergeant or the senior appointed, acting officers or non-commissioned officers. The inspection shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable drill manuals and the Black Powder Manual (Policy and Procedure Memorandum #27) of the Office of State Parks of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
Section 3. Minimum age requirement for firearms: The minimum age at which a member or recruit may carry a firearm and fight in the ranks at fighting events is sixteen (16) years, subject to the following limited exceptions: A member or recruit at least fourteen (14) years old may be allowed to carry firearms and to fight in the ranks at fighting events with the permission of the Captain and if the rules of the event sponsor allow same, provided the member or recruit has demonstrated a proper working knowledge of firearm safety and individual responsibility.
Section 4. Basic fighting event safety: Under no circumstances are live rounds ever to be carried in the cartridge box or on the person of a member or recruit at a battle reenactment or living history event. Under no circumstances are rammers to be drawn or used during the course of a battle or combat reenactment. Bayonets are never to be fixed during the course of a battle or combat reenactment, unless a specific order to that effect is given by the officer commanding the forces to which the corporation is assigned. No weapon shall be discharged at a distance of less than fifty (50’) from a closed artillery limber chest or at a distance of less than seventy-five (75’) from an open artillery limber chest. The cartridge box must be closed and weapon discharged before a member or recruit feigns death or wounding (“takes a hit”).
ARTICLE IX. DISCIPLINARY
PROCEEDINGS
Section 1. Grounds for institution of disciplinary proceedings: The grounds for which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against a member or recruit include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Violation of any laws, ordinances, or safety rules of the corporation or the sponsor of a reenactment or living history event;
b. Disobedience of the authorized orders of any elected, brevet, or appointed officer directly related to safety;
c. Theft or misappropriate of the funds or equipment of the corporation, another member or recruit, or any other person;
d. Initiating a fight or physical altercation;
e. Failure to pay his annual dues, cooks’ fees, or other monetary assessments in a timely fashion; and,
f. Engaging in any other conduct which could result in the corporation being prevented from participating in any particular reenactment or living history event or which could bring discredit upon the corporation.
Any member of the unit may bring charges against another member or recruit before the Board of Directors, the Board will vote by majority to determine if court martial hearings shall proceed.
Section 2. Notice of proceedings: The hearing shall be conducted, keeping in mind the goals of fairness and rehabilitation of any guilty member or recruit. The accused member or recruit is entitled to representation by another member in good standing of the corporation, appointed by the President or the ranking officer of the corporation. If not satisfied with the member appointed to represent him, the accused member may select any other member in good standing to represent him, provided that such member is not a member of the court or a witness in the proceedings.
Section 3. Form of proceedings: The charges and subsequent defense will be brought before the Board of Directors. The majority vote of the Board will determine the appropriate punishment. If the Board’s recommended punishment is expulsion from the unit, it’s recommendation shall be referred to a decision by a majority of the general voting membership at which a quorum is present. At such general membership vote following the Board’s detailed explanation of their recommendation, both the accuser and the accused shall be allowed a statement of position to the general membership. In the event that the general membership rejects the recommendation of expulsion, the general membership shall determine the appropriate punishment.