CONSTITUTION OF AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS
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 ‘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, ‘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.