RULES AND REGULATIONS

2011

1. Kosair Shriners will not be responsible for the payment of any supplies or other type of merchandise ordered unless an approved temple purchase order form is used and the activity officially approved in advance. Purchase order forms can be obtained at the Recorder’s Office. Our office staff will assist you in completing the form and obtaining the necessary approvals. A copy must be left in the office.

2. Nobles borrowing a fez, for a meeting night, must obtain it from the Recorder’s Office. A deposit of $5.00 must be made at that time. The deposit will be refunded upon return of the borrowed fez. A fez and a dues card are required for admission to all stated or called meetings. Please help the dignity of our fraternity by dressing appropriately for such meetings. Nobles are expected to be seated during all meetings.

3. Please respect the fact that the Recorder’s Office is a full time work place. You should endeavor to limit your visits to the business at hand.

4. Please conduct all office business through the service window. The office is for office personnel and the Recorder. Only office personnel are to operate office equipment.

5. Notices to be prepared, mailed, or sent out by the office should be presented to the staff at least one week in advance. Please DO NOT expect them to send out a notice without ample time for preparation and official approval as necessary. Announcements or mail for other Units and Clubs or Divan members should be dropped in office door mail slot or through the window. Office staff will distribute as necessary.

6. Smoking, obscene or offensive language, cursing, illegal substances, animals unless a certified service animal, and deadly weapons are not permitted in the Temple or Circus buildings.

7. Please remember our Temple is a workplace for our employees. Creating a “hostile work environment” through language or conduct may be considered sexual harassment.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

SUBJECT: PROHIBITED PRACTICES - OBLIGATING TEMPLE - SOLICITING MONEY

It is necessary each year to remind everyone of a Temple policy that has been sent each year in written form to Unit and Club Directors and officers regarding soliciting money and obligating the Temple without getting the proper permission. What follows is merely a copy of past directives that are being given to you to reinforce the requirements of Kosair Shriners:

1. No Unit, Club, group or any Noble of Kosair Shriners shall obligate the Temple in any way, nor incur any obligation in the name of Kosair Shriners, nor purchase any merchandise on credit in the name of Kosair Shriners, without first obtaining the permission of the Potentate or the Recorder.

2. No Unit, Club, group, or any Noble of Kosair Shriners shall sell anything of value or solicit money from the Nobility of Kosair Shriners for the purpose of raising money for such Unit, Club, or group or any charitable purpose unless such solicitation is a recognized and official project of the Kosair Shriners and approved by the Potentate.

3. All raffles and solicitation tickets must contain Imperial Council approved disclaimer (Proceeds from this activity are for the benefit of ____unit or _____Shrine club activities. Payments are not deductible as charitable contributions) and must obtain prior approval of Potentate. Copy of all such tickets will be placed on file with correspondence requesting approval for solicitation (fundraiser) in the office of the Recorder.

4. All gaming rules MUST be followed in order to protect our gaming license.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

Please inform the Director of the Provost Unit, at least one week in advance, when your Club, Unit or group has a social activity in the ballroom or elsewhere in the building. The Provost Unit will provide one uniformed member to insure order. Additional members will be provided if deemed necessary by the Provost Director. It is the duty and responsibility of the Provost Guard and every noble to assure the by-laws, rules and regulations of the Temple are observed.

Provost Guard including their ladies in attendance will be given complimentary tickets to the event. If dinner is provided in the ticket price the assigned Provost Guard and their lady will be provided complementary tickets.

PARKING LOT SECURITY will be provided at your social events to ensure your safety and that of your vehicle parked on the lot. The security will be assigned automatically by the Recorder’s Office.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

PROPER DISPLAY OF FOUR NATIONAL FLAGS: Each Temple of the Order is instructed to provide and display at all Shrine functions the four National flags under which Shrine Temples, chartered by the Imperial Council operate, i.e., United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama. These four national flags should also be properly displayed at all Shrine meetings. NONE OF THE NATIONAL FLAGS SHOULD EVER BE DIPPED AT ANY TIME.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR COLOR SQUADS: It is noted that some Color Squads dip the Canadian and Mexican flags in salute at the reviewing stand. THIS IS NOT PROPER. NO NATIONAL FLAG IS TO BE DIPPED at the reviewing stand. Please inform your flag bearers so this disrespect to national flags will be eliminated. All flags, other than national flags, may be dipped.

SHRINE PROTOCOL: All Temples are urged to use the provisions of this section of Shrine Law, which will be found in the forward eight pages of the Imperial Council Directory. This is a guide which should be used at all times. It will help bring order out of chaos in setting up any Shrine activity, be it parade, meeting, banquet, seating arrangement, or program of any kind. It explains the rank and proper position of officers, organizations, dignitaries, visitors, etc. Please use it and eliminate confusion, embarrassment, and hesitation. You can be positive if you study, understand and use this system of protocol adopted by the Imperial Council. If you have any questions contact the Recorder’s office.

CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS: 1. The Temples, its Shrine Clubs, Units and membership shall not solicit charitable gifts and bequests for any purposes, organizations, or charities other than Kosair Charities Committee, Inc. (Kosair Charities) or Shriners Hospitals for Children. 2. All receipts, disbursements, funds and assets related to charitable activities shall be clearly designated and classified as such in the books of account of the Temples, Temple affiliated corporations, Shrine Clubs, supervision or control of the Temple; and such books of accounts shall be audited annually in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 337.8 of the by-laws of the Imperial Council, and Section 34.5 of the by-laws of Kosair Shriners, AAONMS. 3. The custody and administration of all charitable funds and assets under the control of the Temple, Temple-affiliated corporations, Shrine Clubs, Uniformed Units, Committees, boards and other entities subject to the supervision or control of any Temple, shall be the responsibility of Kosair Charities Committee, Inc. 4. No Unit, Club, Temple-affiliated corporation or member may engage in any charitable fundraising event benefitting Kosair Charities or the Shriners Hospitals for Children without first obtaining written approval of the President of Kosair Charities Committee, Inc.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

The official calendar will be kept in the Recorder’s Office under the direct supervision of the Recorder. Units and Clubs or General Nobility requesting use of the Temple and/or Club facilities in addition to regularly scheduled meeting nights must check with the Recorder. In the absence of the Recorder, the office staff will assist you and will confirm availability of dates for meetings. All dates will be tentative until confirmed by the Potentate. All efforts will be made to assist you in obtaining the desired dates for your meeting or outing. We must reserve the right however, to coordinate your request with other uses at the Temple and its activities. Please make your request in writing.

IT IS CONTRARY TO IMPERIAL COUNCIL LAW FOR UNITS AND CLUBS OF THIS TEMPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PARADES, FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL EVENTS, ETC IN THE JURISDICTION OF ANOTHER SHRINE TEMPLE. Permission to appear outside our jurisdiction can only be given by the Potentate(s) of the Temple(s) in whose jurisdiction the event is held. You must first have the approval of the Potentate of Kosair Shriners before such request(s) may be initiated to other Temples. All requests to appear in events outside of Kosair’s jurisdiction will be obtained in WRITING from your Potentate after he has obtained the permission of Potentate(s) affected regarding a visit to his jurisdiction.

Kosair’s jurisdiction is statewide in Kentucky, except in Hopkins County (Rizpah); Fayette (Oleika) and Boyd (El Hasa); and for membership purposes only, a 25-mile radius in Southern Indiana from the door of the Temple. Kosair has exclusive jurisdiction in Jefferson County. In addition, all Kentucky Temples have concurrent jurisdiction in Kenton, Boone and Campbell counties with Syrian Shriners in Cincinnati. For membership purposes only, Kosair’s territorial jurisdiction extends throughout Kentucky.

Additional information can be obtained from the Recorder or Potentate.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

TO: ALL NOBLES, BUT ESPECIALLY UNIT DIRECTORS AND CLUB CHAIRMEN

SUBJECT: ADVERTISING IN THE TEMPLE HALLWAYS

1. No posters or notices will be scotch-taped or tacked onto any permanent part of the Temple.

2. An easel will be provided for a 28” x 44” sign. The Unit or Club with the next most important or nearest date will be allowed, with permission of Recorder, to put a 28” x 44” poster on that easel. This may not always be possible since Temple events take precedence over Unit and Club activities. No easels are to be set up in the lounge.

3. If you desire the Divan members to attend an event, please provide an invitation or ticket.

Your Divan wants Unit and Club activities to be well advertised. The most common question heard in the Recorder’s Office is where to obtain tickets and what the dress will be; also, whether guests are invited. Please try to cover these items in your poster advertising. In many cases the Recorder’s Office is asked to supply tickets for a Unit activity, so it would be beneficial to all Units and Clubs for the success of their activities if they would provide the necessary information such as name of band, time, dress, dinner, etc to the Recorder’s Office.

NEWSPAPER AND OTHER ADVERTISING:

The Potentate of this Temple is the only person authorized to place advertising or classified advertising in any local newspaper, magazine, television or radio. No advertising about any function or event, of any kind, may occur without his permission.

January 2011

1. THE SECOND FLOOR LOUNGE AREA WILL BE CASUAL EXCEPT FOR DINNERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. “DRESSY CASUAL” IS EXPECTED FOR DINNERS IN THE LOUNGE AREA AND ALL DINING AREAS. TEE SHIRTS, TATTERED JEANS, AND OTHER VERY CASUAL ATTIRE IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DINNERS WHETHER A MEMBER OR HIS GUEST IS IN THE LOUNGE OR DINING AREAS.

2. THE DRESS CODE FOR LOUNGE, DINING AREAS AND BALLROOM AT SOCIAL EVENTS WILL BE APPROPRIATE ATTIRE TO COMPLY WITH THE THEME FOR THE EVENING.

3. NOBLES AND GUESTS ARE EXPECTED TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF OUR FRATERNITY AND OUR BUSINESS ENTERPRISE. STATED AND CALLED MEETING ARE OFFICIAL BUSINESS MEETINGS; THE DRESS CODE IS FEZ AND “DRESSY CASUAL;” NO SWEATSUITS, TEE SHIRTS, SHORTS OR THE LIKE; SPORT COAT IS RECOMMENDED.

ALL SPECIAL EVENTS SHOULD HAVE THE DRESS CODE PRINTED ON TICKETS, POSTERS, AND SIGNS.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

Members of the Divan, with the cooperation of the Club manager, will establish prices for alcoholic beverages to be purchased at social functions held at the Temple. Alcoholic beverages will be made available at the most reasonable rates possible.

Absolutely no alcoholic beverages will be brought into the Temple for consumption at a social event. The Temple has a “Private Club” license. Our license could be jeopardized if an investigator of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department of the City, County or State discovers alcoholic beverages, other than those purchased on the premises.

Our club license is a privilege enjoyed by all. We cannot allow anyone to jeopardize an asset valuable to the operation of our Shrine Club. No Noble, Unit or Club will bring alcoholic beverages purchased outside into Kosair Shriners. Any Unit or Club found in violation could forfeit their alcohol privileges in their Unit or Club room.

On regularly scheduled Unit or Club business meeting nights, alcoholic beverages and setups will be sold to Units and Clubs through the Club Manager at cost plus 18% (beer and cokes sold in 12 packs or by the case only). Alcoholic beverages are to be consumed within the confines of the Unit or Club room only. All beverages consumed in the lounge and dining room must be purchased from our Club.

Nobles shall not drink alcoholic beverages during public exhibitions such as ceremonials, the circus and parades. Drinking such beverages at a public exhibition is contrary to Imperial Council law and policy and the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Violations of this strict rule cannot be permitted for the sake of our fraternity.

The Club manager will be happy to discuss preparing snacks for your meetings at reasonable rates. These arrangements should be made well in advance of your activity for proper planning. This is matter of public health. Outside catering or food will not be allowed to be brought into the temple by anyone.

If you plan to use the Temple facilities for meetings, dinners and other activities, check the availability of space with the Recorder. Plans for all dinner meetings should be made at least a week in advance with the Club manager.

Alcoholic beverages shall not be served by the Temple, Shrine Club, Lounge, Unit, Club, or by any Noble; to any Noble, or his guest, who is or appears to be intoxicated. If anyone needs a ride, please let a taxi or other transportation be called for that person.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

THE FOLLOWING ARE RULES AND DIRECTIVES THAT ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD OR NOT KNOWN BY THE AVERAGE NOBLE. THEY ARE THE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

1. A Noble who is indebted to his Temple and expelled or under sentence of expulsion is not eligible for demit.

2. Any member of the Temple is entitled to examine an audit of the Temple’s accounts, which should be made available routinely to the members at the annual or budget meeting. He may likewise examine audit reports concerning the accounts of our Temple-affiliated corporations.

3. Expenditure of funds for uniformed Units must be from appropriations made in the Temple budget.

4. A Temple may not earmark a specified percentage of its annual dues for use by its uniformed Units, and the Potentate may not be empowered to make expenditures of funds not appropriated under Section 334.4.

5. Use of the word “Noble” or photographs with fezzes in commercial advertising is prohibited.

6. Duties of the Recorder as specified in the by-laws may not be assigned to a business manager.

7. Uniformed Units are prohibited from making a charge for the appearance of the Unit. Reimbursement of direct expenses of a parade for public exhibition is allowed.

8. Candidates for Temple office may not be endorsed in any written or printed form. Advertising a candidate’s nomination is prohibited.

9. All Units and Clubs are under the direct control of the Potentate per Imperial Council Shrine Law. This includes all bylaws, procedures and rules, membership, activities and assets of each Unit and Club.

10. INFORMATIONAL TAX RETURNS MUST BE FILED AND RETURNED TO THE RECORDER’S OFFICE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2011. THE FILING OF THIS RETURN IS FEDERAL LAW AND WE MUST COMPLY EVEN IF YOUR GROUP HAS HAD NO TRANSACTIONS DURING THE YEAR. (YOUR GROUP WAS MAILED A FORM BY THE RECORDER’S OFFICE IN DECEMBER. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ONE OR NEED ANOTHER ONE STOP BY THE OFFICE AND PICK ONE UP.)

11. The following are prohibited practices: drinking intoxicants at a public exhibition or in public while as a Shriner; use of firecrackers, explosive devices, electrifying devices; possession of a concealed weapon within the Temple; public appearance in dress or other attire that may bring reproach upon the Shrine; females or female impersonators in Shrine parades; use of sirens or flashing lights, excess noise in hospital zones, driving vehicles on sidewalks or through stores or hotel lobbies; appearing in black face or Nubian slave costumes; actions and language that may be sexual harassment and create a “hostile workplace;” and bringing animals inside the Temple or Circus buildings unless as a certified guide animal for the disabled.

12. No ladies or children are allowed in Unit or Club rooms without permission from the Potentate or a Divan member.

13. It is assumed that all Nobles will act in compliance with the Code of Ethics of the Imperial Shrine By-Laws and as a Mason. To treat with respect other Nobles especially those that are acting within their official capacity. This is especially true during Called and Stated Meetings. It is required that all Nobles must produce their dues card, sign in, and give the correct passwords to both the Inner and Outer Guard. Failure to do so will result in exclusion to the meeting.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

It is natural to associate the fez with Shriners Hospitals for Children. Because of this, meticulous attention must be given to all fund-raising activities, including circuses, to make certain that a contributor is not led to believe that his money will be used for the Hospitals when all or a portion thereof will be used otherwise. The integrity of our charity and of our fraternity must remain above reproach.

%335.3 USE OF NAMES “SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN.” The use of the name “Shriners Hospitals for Children” or reference to the Hospitals in connection with any fund-raising activity by a temple or noble without the written consent of the Imperial Council Potentate and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hospitals in prohibited.

%503.6 The use of the name “Shriners Hospitals for Children” or reference to the hospitals in connection with any commercial product or business enterprise is prohibited unless the written consent of the Board of Directors and Trustees has been first obtained.

(a) No noble (in his capacity as a Shriner), club, unit, organization of nobles or affiliated or appendant corporations, shall engage in any fund-raising activity without the consent of the Potentate of the Temple having jurisdiction thereof.

(b) There can be no representation, express or implied, that the proceeds will be for the benefit of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

(c) The temple Potentate shall carefully examine all phases of the advertising, promotion and solicitation to determine that it complies with %%335.3 and 503.6 of the fraternal and charitable by-laws.

(d) The temple Potentate must approve the terms and provisions of any contract for a fund-raising activity after receiving the advice of the temple attorney, and, additionally as may be required by the temple by-laws.

(e) A copy of the temple Potentate’s written consent shall be mailed to the Imperial Council Recorder. Further, such written material pertaining to the fund-raising activity, as requested by the Imperial Council Recorder, shall be promptly mailed to him.

(a) No noble (in his capacity as a Shriner), club, unit, organization of nobles or affiliated or appendant corporations shall engage in any charitable fund-raising activity other than for Shriners Hospitals for Children or Kosair Charities Committee, Inc. Permission therefore must be first obtained in writing from the President of Kosair Charities.

(b) 100% of the net proceeds from charitable fund-raising must be given to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Kosair Charities except for such portion thereof as may be permitted to be retained for the Temple Shrine Hospital Patient Transportation fund pursuant to the special purpose funds provisions of any existing General order.

(c) The temple shall report the result of each fund-raising activity within sixty (60) days of the activity to Shriners Hospitals for Children on forms provided to the temple.

(d) This section shall not apply to activities exempt under %335.4 (b) of the by-laws of The Imperial Council.

(e) Each independent corporation or entity that receives the permission of the Imperial Council Potentate and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children, and which does not have its financial accounts audited pursuant to %%334.5 and 337.8 of the by-laws of the Imperial Council, shall have its financial accounts audited by a certified, chartered or licensed public accountant and shall submit such audit report to the Imperial Council within 120 days of the activity.

(a) Every fund-raising activity must contain factual information on its solicitation material, tickets, programs and documents regarding the use of the proceeds.

Examples: “Proceeds are for the benefit of (______Shriners)
(______shrine club) activities.”
“Proceeds are for the benefit of Shriners Hospitals for Children.”

(b) Every fund-raising activity which is not entirely for the benefit of Shriners Hospitals for Children or Kosair Charities shall prominently state on the solicitation material, tickets and documents that “payments are not deductible as charitable contributions.”

(c) There must be compliance with the Revenue Act of 1987 provision of any existing general order.

It is the responsibility of the temple Potentate, after receiving the advice of the temple attorney, to determine that there is compliance with all applicable laws in its jurisdiction for the temple’s fund-raising activities.

(a) The temple shall maintain detailed financial records pertaining to all fund raising activities involving nobles, clubs, units, organizations of nobles or affiliated or appendant corporations. Details of all revenues and disbursements shall be maintained in such financial records.

(b) The temple must retain such detailed financial records for a period of seven (7) years.

(c) There must be compliance with Financial Reporting of Charitable Funds and Activities provision of any existing general order.

A copy of this section on “fund-raising activities” shall be printed in the temple publication at least once every calendar year. If there is no temple publication, then a copy shall be mailed to each noble in the temple not later than the last day in March of each calendar year.

Any officer, noble or temple, which violates a provision of this section, is subject to discipline pursuant to the by-laws of the Imperial Council.

The financial results of a Shrine charitable fund-raiser must be reported on the Shrine Charity Activity form and submitted to the General Offices in Tampa within 60 days of the activity. Also, gross receipts of $100,000.00 or more must be audited by an independent public accountant.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

In accordance with Imperial Council and Kosair Temple bylaws, any Unit or Hobby Club that wishes to hold functions or events at locations other than Kosair Shriners property must first obtain written permission to do so.

This is required to ensure that there are no conflicts with the Temple insurance coverage policies. This also helps ensure that proper permission has been requested and granted from the Potentate of other Temples, if said events or functions might be held in another temples jurisdiction.

This applies to all events, functions, parades or picnics other than official Temple functions.

All such request should be submitted in duplicate, for the Potentate’s approval at least two weeks prior to such events. Failure to obtain proper approval may require the cancellation of such events.

The Units and Clubs cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE THAT STATES IMPERIAL COUNCIL SHRINE OR KOSAIR SHRINERS RULES, REGULATIONS, BY-LAWS, QUOTES AND/OR DECISIONS MADE BY THE POTENTATE OR ELECTED DIVAN.

This regulation is not intended to prohibit any Noble, Unit or Club from all necessary correspondence that is for the general operation of a Unit or Club. It is to avoid any misunderstanding that may occur from misquote, incorrect statement, or determination of Shrine Rules, Regulations or Bylaws.

Any and all correspondence that would specifically state IMPERIAL COUNCIL, SHRINE, OR KOSAIR SHRINERS RULES, REGULATIONS, BY-LAWS, QUOTES AND/OR DECISIONS MADE BY THE POTENTATE OR DIVAN must be submitted to the Recorder’s Office for approval of the POTENTATE prior to the mailing of said correspondence.

KOSAIR SHRINERS REGULATIONS

Any Noble of Kosair Shriners that attends the Shrine circus, a parade or other public exhibition under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant, or consumes alcoholic beverages or intoxicants during such an event, shall be subject to disciplinary action. Discipline may include, but not be limited to the following:

• A formal complaint for conduct unbecoming a Noble of the Mystic Shrine
• Barred from public exhibition participation the remainder of the year
• Forfeiture of any awards or commissions due for the year
• Barred from the Temple property and activities, though still a member of Kosair
• Removal from membership in Units and Clubs

Any Unit or Club of Kosair Shriners dispersing or allowing the use of alcoholic beverages or intoxicants by a member at a public exhibition shall be subject to disciplinary action. These penalties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• The Unit or Club may be suspended for the remainder of the year
• Unit officers and the Director being removed from their positions
• Any commissions due forfeited
• Barred from public exhibition participation for the remainder of the year
• Forfeiture of all assets
• Loss of Charter

No individual is to operate a vehicle Owned/Insured by Kosair Shriners at any time while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant or illegal substance.

Appropriate attire is required when wearing the Fez. A dress code cannot address every item of clothing that may or may not be worn. We ask that you use good judgment in deciding what is appropriate. Collared shirts are preferred but other shirts may be acceptable if a sports coat or sweater or the like compliment the shirt. Only under special circumstances, and approved by the Potentate, is anything less than full-length trousers acceptable. The Sand Bug Unit members have permission to wear dress black shorts during public parades. It is acceptable to wear dress shorts with the Fez while doing Roadblocks

All disbursements for raffle expenses must be made by check; out of Temple Charitable Gaming Account; to the company who you purchase supplies, prizes or printing of tickets from, not to an individual person.

All deposits for each individual raffle must be turned into Office and deposited in Temple Charitable Gaming Account.

RECORD KEEPING – ALL RECORDS MUST BE TURNED IN TO TEMPLE OFFICE

If roll tickets are used the beginning and ending serial number or ticket number for each roll of tickets sold must be recorded.

Article 10 – Imperial Council Bylaws (2006)

The Shriners Creed

We are patriots, each willing to serve his country with fidelity and courage.  We cherish independence under law and freedom with responsibility.  We Honor family.  We respect our parents, wives and children.  We should instill in our children the tenets of this creed and the heritage from which it emanates.  

As individuals we pledge ourselves to integrity, virtue and nobility of character.  Our intentions will be honorable, our relations will be trustworthy and our spirits forgiving of each other. As brothers we offer each other fraternal affection and respect. Together we will support each other in adherence to this creed, so that we and our communities will be the better because of our fraternity and its principles.  

As Shriners we look beyond ourselves to serve the needs of others, especially children who cannot help themselves.  We believe Shriners Hospitals to be the world's greatest philanthropy, and we covenant with each other to support its "temples of mercy" with spirit, time, talent and means.

            (a)                   The Shrine is a distinctly private organization.

(b)                   Its members cherish their right to privacy, freedom of expressive association and freedom of intimate association.

(c)                    Its members have control over the internal governance of the Order.

(d)                   Membership in the Order may not be used to further business, political or sectarian ends.

            (a)       Obey the law of the land and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Order, adhering to the spirit as well as the letter thereof.

            (b)       Demonstrate the higher standards of personal integrity, truthfulness and honest in all their fraternal activities; administer the Order’s affairs with impartiality, efficiency and effectiveness and in a manner that enhances its good name and mission.

            (c)        Be certain that their information is accurate when speaking on behalf of the Order; disclose when they are stating their personal opinions; and be scrupulous in the representation of their authority and avoid misleading those with whom they deal.

            (d)       Approach their organizational and operational duties with a positive attitude and constructively support open communication, creativity, dedication and compassion; bring credit to the Order by their public demeanor; accept as a personal duty the responsibility to remain informed on important and critical issues affecting the Order; and avoid accepting an assignment if they cannot effectively, competently and timely discharge the responsibilities of the assignment.

            (e)       Exercise their independent judgment in the best interest of the Order, and free of compromising influences of loyalties; and act responsibly and in good faith, and in a manner not designed or intended to bring them personal gain from the discharge of their fraternal duties.

            (f)        Give notice, in a manner consistent with the corporation’s bylaws, of any duality of interest or possible conflict of interest and make it a matter of record; give notice of any direct or indirect interest in an individual or organization which is proposing or is involved in a transaction with the Order; and, thereafter, refrain from voting on the matter or transaction.

            (g)       Refrain from using funds or assets of the Order for personal gain; refrain from receiving anything of value for influencing their actions; and refrain from granting or accepting favors for personal gain.

            (h)       Report the unethical or in appropriate behavior of directors or officers to the board of directors, when informed resolution is not effective.

            (i)         Refrain from using their official positions or influence either for or against any candidate for public office.

            (j)         Serve with respect, concern, courtesy and responsiveness, recognizing that service to the Order is beyond service to themselves.