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Unit By-Laws

[1] Revised by vote Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the GWA Fall Tactical Event.


I. Name of the Organization

  1. The unit is officially called 3te Kompagnie/4. Oberschlesiches Infanterieregiment Nr. 63 (3./JR63).

II. Purpose

  1. 3.K./JR63 is a chartered unit within the Great War Association (GWA) and is primarily a means for individuals to explore the life and times of the common infantryman in the Imperial German Army.

III. Political Statement

  1. The membership of 3./JR63 is not affiliated with any racist, radical or right wing political organization, especially and including the Neo-Nazi movement. 3./JR63 does not adhere to any political agenda, nor will it allow any extremist political views to be expressed by its members while acting as a representative of the unit.

IV. Membership

  1. There are three distinct types of membership in the 3./JR63. These are Recruit, Reservist, and Full Member. All members will use the impression of a member of JR63 of the Imperial German Army, circa 1914-1918. Any other impression used at unit-sanctioned events must be approved in advance by the Kompagnieführer and must be historically correct for the unit.
  2. A recruit is a male at least 18 years of age who is applying for membership in JR63. The recruit must have filled out a membership application, been assigned a sponsor and paid unit and GWA dues. He can participate in all unit activities but cannot hold rank or vote. To apply for full member status, the recruit will have his basic kit and attend three unit-sanctioned events; one of them must be a combat event. At the next event after his third, he will be voted on for full membership. A 75% affirmative vote of all members present will admit him to the unit.
  3. A reservist is a full member of JR63 who must request to become a reservist. He will pay associate dues of 60% of current membership dues and will receive the 3./JR63 newsletter. He can voice his opinions but cannot vote in unit business. He can participate in all unit-sanctioned events other than the GWA National combat events and he cannot hold rank.
  4. A full member is a member who has been voted into the unit and is current with his unit and GWA dues. He can participate in all unit-sanctioned events, vote, hold rank and sponsor a recruit.
  5. A full member may lose his membership for serious violations of unit and GWA safety or authenticity rules or not paying dues.

V. Voting

  1. A quorum for official, scheduled meetings will consist of the Kompagnieführer, or his appointed designee [1], and at least 40% of the unit's full member status.
  2. Votes will take place on one-time extra-ordinary treasury disbursements, recruit membership, membership fees, major site improvements, elections and bylaws changes or violations.
  3. An affirmative vote of 75% is necessary for any motion to pass.

VI. Officers and Responsibilities

  1. The position of Kompagnieführer is nominated and elected by the membership. Nominations and elections will take place at the Spring GWA event. The Kompagnieführer will serve a two-year term, which begins immediately after the Spring GWA event. He may serve for more than one term but he cannot serve more than two terms consecutively.
  2. The structure of the unit will be dictated by the size and effectiveness (i.e. unit minus GWA staff) of the unit and will emulate the organizational and command structure that was used by the Imperial German Army.
  3. All junior and senior NCOs and specialists (company cook, grenadier, etc.) are appointed by the Kompagnieführer with the consent of the full membership. If required, officers may be appointed on an acting basis.
  4. If there is an JR63 member with a higher rank than the Kompagnieführer serving on the Central Powers GWA staff, he may only act as the "Ceremonial" head of the unit on occasions such as parades, living history demonstrations, etc.
  5. Members of JR63 may be on the Central Powers GWA staff or perform duties outside the ordinary unit structure and still be voting members of the unit.
  6. A unit treasurer will be appointed by the Kompagnieführer and the senior NCOs. He will be in charge of all money transactions that occur for the unit. All transactions must be documented and any payment transactions that occur with parties outside of the unit must include a receipt, which will be kept by the treasurer. Any member wishing to be reimbursed for common unit expenses (unit food, revetting materials, etc.) must present a receipt to the treasurer before monies will be disbursed. The treasurer will also have a full financial report at all major events where an official unit meeting will take place.
  7. The safety officer for the unit will be the member whose rank is considered to be the second in command.
  8. In the case that the Kompagnieführer is not able to complete his term, the position will be given to the highest-ranking member in the command structure. He will hold the Kompagnieführer position until the next unit sanctioned event, which provides for an official meeting to take place at which time a new Kompagnieführer will be elected by the membership.

VII. General

  1. Authenticity and safety guidelines will be approved by a vote of the NCOs. Any member may propose a change in the guidelines. He must provide printed documentation, which supports the change.
  2. Members of JR63 will wear no awards or decorations on their uniform except those formally given to them by the unit.
  3. Payment of unit dues must be done before the National GWA Spring Event.



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