Article I - Membership

 Section 1.  Any person who is in sympathy with the aims and objects of the Auxiliary, and is at least 16 years old, shall be eligible to membership.  This Auxiliary prohibits discriminating in membership or other activities on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, or physical ability.  Prospective members who are 16 –17 years old must provide written consent from a parent or guardian to become a member of the Auxiliary.

Section 2.  Any person desiring membership in the Auxiliary shall submit his/her application for membership to the Auxiliary Vice President who will recommend to the membership findings as a result of review of the application, at the next Auxiliary meeting.  The active members will vote by ballot to accept or reject the applicant into probationary status for a period of six (6) months from the date of admission by majority vote.  At the end of the probationary period the Auxiliary by the majority vote by ballot, may admit the probationary member to the membership of the Department.  Failure to have a majority vote of members present will constitute denial of membership.

            A.  Probationary members are required to attend all meetings and activities of the Auxiliary and are not entitled to hold any office or to vote on Auxiliary business.

            B.  A member must have belonged to the Auxiliary for one (1) year including his/her six (6) month period before he/she can hold an elected office in the Auxiliary.

Section 3.  Members shall be required to pay dues of $2.00 annually, payable in January, or at first meeting following admission to membership.  Any member who is in arrears for dues for six (6) months will not be entitled to vote on any question or election or hold office in the Auxiliary.

Section 4.  Active and Inactive Membership Status.

            A.  An Active Member is one who:  (1) has attended eight or more meetings during the 12-month period preceding the current meeting; (2) has accepted and completed assignments willingly by earning at least sixty (60) hours of service each year in the area of fund raising, cleaning and maintenance of Station 9's hall and kitchen and/or the Administration house, the grounds and/or administrative duties (sixty hours of service equals thirty (30) points in the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association’s Income Tax Subtraction Modification Program); and (3) has paid dues for the current year.  An active member has the right to vote on all matters that require a vote.

            B.  An Inactive Member is one who:  (1) has been an Active Member for a period of three (3) years; (2) has submitted a letter to the Auxiliary Vice President requesting inactive status and states the reason(s).  At that time, the Auxiliary votes on the Inactive status.  If the Auxiliary rejects the request, the member has the option to remain Active or to resign.  The member can hold inactive status for a period of two (2) years.  At that time, the member must become an Active member, or by a passing vote of the Auxiliary membership be dropped from the membership rolls.

Section 5. The Auxiliary has six types of membership:  Regular (includes active and inactive members); Associate, Charter (all Charter members are deceased); Hyatt Recreation, Inc.; Life; and Senior.  

             A.  Associate Members are active Auxiliary members and are recognized by the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., as an Associate Member of the Fire Department.  An Associate Member of the Fire Department is not eligible to hold office or make motions or vote on Fire Department issues.  

To request a complete copy of our Bylaws, call 301-831-8248, or e-mail: hyattstownfire@yahoo.com.  A copy of an application for membership in the Auxiliary is located at the end of this report.  You may mail the completed application to Auxiliary Vice President, Hyattstown VFD, 25801 Frederick Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871.

 Application for Membership  (pdf file)