Convention Info

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Convention Registration, Meals, and Credentials

The 33rd SPJST Convention is set for Friday, August 13 to Sunday, August 15, 2021, at Killeen Civic and Conference Center, located at 3601 South W.S. Young Drive in Killeen, Texas 76543.

Friday, August 13 2 to 7:30 p.m. Delegate Registration 6 to 9 p.m. Howdy Party

Saturday, August 14 7 to 8:30 a.m. Late Registration 7:30 a.m. Coffee and Water 8:30 a.m. Assembly of Delegates Opening Ceremony 9:30 a.m. Morning Snacks and Beverages 9 to 10:15 a.m. Business Session 10:15 to 10:30 a.m.Break 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Business Session 12 to 1 p.m. Lunch 1 to 4:30 p.m. Business Session 4:30 to 5 p.m. Delegates’ Photo 6 to 6:30 p.m. Catholic Mass 6:30 to 10 p.m. Banquet Reception

Sunday, August 15 7:30 a.m. Coffee and Water 8 to 8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Service 9:30 a.m. Morning Snacks and Beverages 8:30 to 9 a.m. Hotel Check-Out 9 to 10:15 a.m. Business Session 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Business Session 12 to 1 p.m. Lunch 1 p.m. Conclude Business Session followed by Break and Caucus Breakouts Convention Meals

Saturday lunch selections are chicken and beef fajitas with charro beans and Spanish rice or chicken and beef fajita salad with avocado ranch dressing. Both selections include banana pudding.

The menu for Saturday’s banquet dinner is ribeye steak, salad, potatoes with cheese, green beans, and dessert.

Sunday lunch selections are barbecue pulled pork sandwich served on a kaiser roll with southern style potato salad or grilled chicken Caesar salad. Both selections include peach cobbler.

Lunch and dinner meals will be provided for delegates and official committee members; however, they must be reserved in advance. Costs for guests will be $8 for lunch and $20 for dinner. Delegates will receive more information and RSVP details soon.

Delegate Credentials Forms

Delegates are asked to bring their credentials form to the registration at the Convention. The registration table will be located in the lobby of the Killeen Civic and Conference Center between 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 13 and 7 and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 14. If you have lost or misplaced your credentials form, please send an email to Linda Hill at lindah@spjst.com or call 254-773-1575, ext. 162 as soon as possible. It is very important that you contact the Home Office soon so your credentials form can be replaced prior to the Convention.

Convention Registration and Hotel Information

Dear SPJST Convention Delegate,

Congratulations on your election as a delegate to the 33rd SPJST Convention to be held in Killeen, Texas, on August 13 to 15, 2021.

Registration

Registration will begin in the lobby of the Killeen Civic and Conference Center on Friday, August 13 at 2 p.m. The Killeen Civic and Conference Center is located at 3601 South WS Young Drive in Killeen. The Howdy Party is scheduled for Friday evening, August 13. Late registration will continue on Saturday morning, August 14.

Hotel information for the 33rd SPJST Convention Howdy Party - Friday, August 13 Convention - Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15

Here is a list of hotels in the Killeen area at which we have blocked rooms at a special rate. These rooms are only available at these special rates until July 12, 2021, on a first come, first served basis. To guarantee the reservation, you will need to provide the hotel with your credit card number or prepay for one night’s lodging. (If you had a prior reservation, we urge you to call the hotel to confirm.)

When making room reservations, please call the hotel directly and be sure to give them the Special Rate Code which is “SPJST”.

Again, please note that the rooms at the listed rates will not be guaranteed after July 12, 2021. All room rates are subject to applicable tax, and prices are based on double occupancy.

Shilo Inn Suites Hotel 3701 South WS Young Dr Killeen, TX 76542 254-247-3133 254-699-0999 Rate: $120 Special Rate Code: SPJST 105 rooms available Best Western Plus 2709 Cunningham Rd Killeen, TX 76542 254-634-5560 Rate: $95 Special Rate Code: SPJST 40 rooms available

Hampton Inn Killeen 2702 O.W. Curry Dr. Killeen, TX 76542 254-554-7110, dial 0 when you hear hotel greeting message Rate: $94 Special Rate Code: SPJST 25 rooms available

Courtyard Killeen 1721 E Central Texas Expy Killeen, TX 76541 254-616-2000 Rate: $120 Special Rate Code: SPJST 100 rooms available

Please note: If you had a reservation at Hilton Garden Inn, this hotel is temporarily closed due to a fire and will not be available for the Convention.

The address for the Killeen Civic and Conference Center is 3601 South WS Young Dr, Killeen, TX 76542.

Please call Linda at the SPJST Home Office if you have any questions or need assistance in making your hotel reservations. Linda can be reached by email lindah@spjst.com or by telephone 254-773-1575, ext. 162.

We look forward to seeing you in August in Killeen! Fraternally, Leonard Mikeska Chief Financial Officer —SPJST—

Attention, Delegates! SPJST Convention App is now available. Please check your email for details or call Melanie at the Home Office.

Member submits recommendations to By-Law Committee

Editor’s Note: Page numbers correspond with the By-Law Committee’s proposed recommendations document (06-122021) that appears on the spjst.org website and in the Convention app that is available for SPJST Delegates to the 33rd Convention. Sister Durham’s recommended changed are in red. (page 3) Article V – Membership Section 8. Local Lodge Membership. The local lodge has the right to determine whether it will accept an applicant for membership into the lodge. Upon receipt of notification of a new candidate for membership, the local lodge must shall vote to accept or to reject the candidate no later than the second regularly scheduled meeting after application is accepted notification is received by the local lodge. The candidate for membership must receive a majority vote of those present and voting to be accepted as a member. The local lodge secretary notifies the candidate whether he/she is accepted or rejected. If rejected, the member may begin application to another lodge. No one may hold membership in more than one SPJST lodge.

(page 8) (d) Act on all reports filed by the Board of Directors and the Governance Committee. Reports by Governance Committee and Executive Committee.

(f) Governance Committee’s report.

(page 9) Section 20. Discussions. All Executive Committee members and Governance Committee members may participate in the discussions at the Convention, but they do not have the right to make motions, vote, or nominate unless they are delegates.

(a) No concern can be discussed in the Convention unless it was first presented to the Governance Committee and acted upon by that committee.

(b) Any delegate may reserve the right to appeal the Governance Committee’s action to the delegation. (page 11) Section 22. Minutes. The Convention minutes should accurately summarize what was discussed and actions taken by the Convention. The minutes should be accurate, concise, objective, and to the point, but written in such a way that they do not leave out critical information and are easily understood and usable in the future. Minutes may include brief summaries of the discussions but should reflect a record of the exact wording of motions, amendments, and resolutions as well as who made the motions, who seconded them, and the outcome of any votes taken. The minutes shall be kept and approved in the English language. A copy of the Convention minutes shall be sent to each local lodge secretary, all Convention delegates, Governance Committee members, and/or all members, upon request.

(page 12) Section 23. Composition. The Governance Committee shall be comprised of seven elected members (one from each of the seven districts). The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy occurring in the Governance Committee temporarily by appointing an Adult Member to serve from the same district as the vacancy until the district delegation holds a special election to fill the vacancy no later than 90 days from the occurrence of the vacancy.

(page 14) Section 33. Delegate Election Requirements. (a) Qualifies as an adult member.

(b) Is present during the election or is absent due to unavoidable circumstances.

(c) Attended at least 50 percent of the regular meetings of the lodge during one year preceding the election of delegates for the Convention. Lodges meeting monthly, 50 percent is six meetings; lodges meeting bi-monthly, 50 percent is three meetings; and lodges meeting quarterly, 50 percent is two meetings. (When there is a conflict with the date of their local lodge meeting, Executive Committee members, district fraternal activities coordinators, on official business, may count as attending a regular meeting for this purpose. The state fraternal director, district youth counselors and their assistants, on official business, may count as attending youth club meetings. Notification must be given to the local lodge secretary prior to the event with written confirmation made by the party within two weeks following the event.) Newly transferred members’ attendance record of the previous lodge shall be accepted.

(page 16) Section 36. Composition of Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the seven elected District Directors (one from each of the seven districts). The Board of Directors shall have the authority to provide rules and regulations for the extension and development of SPJST and shall have all other necessary and incidental powers to carry out the objectives of SPJST and such other duties as prescribed by these bylaws. (a) The President/CEO is shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The President/CEO shall only vote in the event of a tie vote of the Board of Directors. However, the President/CEO shall abstain from voting on any item of business relating to his/her personal compensation and/or employee benefits.

(page 20) Section 39. Duties. (z) Ratify hiring and compensation of all Executive Officers.

(page 21) Section 41. Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly during the third week or weekend in January, April, July, and October. In case of necessity, the President/CEO, in conference with the Chair of the Board of Directors, has the right to change the date of the meeting. Meetings are open to SPJST members except during executive sessions concerning personnel, disciplinary matters, litigation, or threatened litigation.

Section 42. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President/CEO or the Chair of the Board of Directors, in case of necessity. In the event that five members of the Board of Directors determine a necessity for a special meeting, and the President/CEO refuses to call such a meeting, the five members may, by written notice, call all members of the Board of Directors to such a special meeting and hold the meeting. Five members of the Board of Directors will constitute a quorum at special meetings. (page 22) Section 48. Committee Establishment. The Board of Directors may appoint committees to have such authority as the Board of Directors may delegate. Each committee shall consist of three or more Executive Committee members and two or more Governance Committee members. Additional committee members may be appointed by the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of each committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all committee business.

(page 23) Section 51. Vacancy. (c) In the event of a vacancy by an Alternate District Director who succeeded the District Director, the District President shall call a meeting of the delegates of the previous regular Convention to a place centrally located for the purpose of electing a new District Director and Alternate District Director for the term to the next Convention. This election shall be carried out within 30 days. The results of the election shall be announced to the Executive Committee without delay.

(page 24) Section 52. Removal of President/CEO or District Director. A determination of cause shall be made within the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors in consultation with the District President. The President/CEO or District Director, upon termination of his/her tenure, must deliver to their successors all property belonging to SPJST.

(page 25) Section 53. Officer Requirements. (f)No Executive Officer can hold more than one office at a time, and no Executive Officer can receive more than one compensation at one time.

Section 55. President/CEO. The President/CEO shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The President/CEO shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Society, shall have general supervision and direction of the day-to-day business and affairs of the Society, and shall perform all duties incumbent to the position and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. The President/CEO is the official head of SPJST and oversees