American Legion
Frank Wendland Post 253
1505 North Main Street
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
Standing Rules:
Frank Wendland American Legion Post 253 of the 18th District, Department of Michigan hereby adopts the following Standing Rules.
These Standing Rules are meant to be used to further define the Post By-Laws. They may be changed, added to, or deleted at any membership meeting with a 2/3 vote, or if notice has been given, by a simple majority vote.
The most recent edition of Rober’s Rules of Order not in conflict with articles of the National, Department, Post Constitution or Post By-Laws shall govern this Post.
The Fiscal year for the Post will be from 1 July until 30 June of each year.
Membership Meetings:
Members are expected to at least wear the Legion cap at all membership meetings. All Legion officers are expected to be in the proper Legion uniform, set by the current Commander, at all membership meetings. In case of a last-minute situation, no member will be turned away because he/she is not in the proper uniform.
The Post shall hold at least one meeting per month as stated in the Post By-Laws.
This meeting shall be held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. Additional Post meetings may be scheduled in accordance with the Post By-Laws.
All Post business shall only be conducted at a duly convened Executive Board or Membership meeting. Business conducted outside the Executive Board or Membership meetings shall not be recognized as official business.
A quorum shall be necessary for a meeting to be convened. This quorum as recognized by the Department of Michigan is 2% of the most recent roster of members in good standing. An example is, if the membership of 400 members 2% is eight members minimum to be a quorum.
Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall be established in compliance with the Post By-Laws, with the following exception.
Any issue brought before the Executive Committee concerning possible disciplinary action against any member shall require that the Post Judge Advocate sit in at all procedures concerning such actions. The Judge Advocate will have a voice and vote on these procedures, but primary duties will be to make sure that a hearing is done fair and impartially.
Post Dues:
The membership dues shall be $50.00 per year.
If said member has not paid their dues by January 1st, they are no longer a member and will forfeit all membership benefits.
Elections:
Nominations of officers for the following year shall be held at the February and March meetings. If a member wishes to have his/her name placed in nomination, but is unable to attend that meeting, they may submit a letter so stating.
Elections shall be held on the second Thursday of April.
Proxy (Absentee) voting shall be limited to the Election of Post Officers. The Proxy Vote shall be submitted either in person or by U.S. Mail to the Election Committee, if established, or if not established then to the Post Commander.
Proxy Votes shall be submitted in a sealed envelope and are to be opened only by the Election Committee, if established, or by the Post Adjutant when the votes for the election are tabulated. This is meant to keep the concept of Secret Ballot voting in place.
If no election is held because of the office being unopposed, then the proxy vote shall be destroyed, unopened, by the election committee.
Once submitted, a proxy vote cannot be changed.
Proxy voting may be done at any time prior to such election of officers.
The proxy vote submitted to the election committee shall include said members name, date and membership number.
Any Legion member may authorize any other Legion member to cast his or her proxy vote.
Post Officer elections, if required, shall be by Secret Ballot.
Installation of the newly elected officers shall be in May, thereby being in compliance with the Department ruling that installations be held at least 30 days prior to the Department convention.
As soon as possible after taking office, the Commander shall appoint three members in good standing, at least one of which shall be an elected officer of the Post, to serve as a Standing Rules Committee. The Standing Rules Committee shall meet whenever deemed necessary, but at least once a year to review the Post Constitution, Post By-Laws and Standing Rules and shall bring forth to the membership any recommendations or changes they suggest. The membership shall make the final decision on such recommendations and/or changes in accordance with the current Constitution and By-Laws.
Admittance to the Post:
The Post is open to all members in good standing of the American Legion, the Auxiliary, and the Sons of the Legion. Providing they have not been suspended for cause.
Also, members in good standing of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and members of the Canadian Legion are welcome.
All members on Active duty in the military are welcome.
Only the bar staff will buzz people in. If anyone other than a bar staff person buzzes anyone in and such action results in a false alarm being sent to the Royal Oak police department that person shall be responsible for any fines that may be incurred.
Any member or guest(s) may be suspended or expelled for any action(s) inappropriate or unbecoming of a post member or guest(s).
Guests:
If a member signs a guest in, that member is totally responsible for all actions of that guest. If a member leaves the Post so must that guest.
Members are limited to sign in five guests per day.
Because of our limited seating, there shall be no reserving of seats or tables, unless approved by bar management.
Members who have not paid their dues cannot be signed in as guests or sign in a guest. That member must either pay their dues or leave the premises.
A guest that is eligible to be an American Legion member may only be signed in three times before that person must join the Legion.
Key cards may be issued, for an applicable amount, for spouses, life partners or fiancés of post members who are current with their dues and in good standing at the post.
Attire:
Members and their guests must be properly attired at all times.
Shoes, sandals, or other protective foot ware is required.
No shirt, shorts or any other attire that has obscene gestures, profane printing or writing will be allowed and that person will be required to leave the premises immediately.
Any item of clothing that is disrespectful to our National Flag, another person or other National symbols is forbidden to be worn. The person wearing such apparel will be required to leave the premises immediately.
Bartender’s Authority:
The employed bartender on duty may refuse service to anyone that, in their opinion, is intoxicated.
They will be told by the bartender that they are being refused service, offered help in getting transportation and will then leave the premises.
No person that acts or appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will be allowed in or on Post property.
Any person giving alcoholic beverages to a person that has been cut off by the bartender in charge will forfeit their remining drinks and must leave the premises.
Only persons authorized by the bartender or Commander will be allowed in the kitchen or behind the bar.
All members are expected to reasonably clean up after themselves.
The authority of the bartenders and or the bar manager shall immediately cease when their shift has ended, and they consume ANY alcoholic beverage. This applies to after shift alcoholic beverages, since it is understood that no one on the clock should be drinking any alcoholic beverage to begin with.
It will never occur that any Member, Veteran or guest shall be given less than normal service because of a personal conflict or any other unrelated issue, not concerning the Post, with same Member, Veteran and or guest. This includes but is not limited to intentional slow service or intentional serving a drink of lesser quantity than other patrons. Violation of these rules should be immediately reported to a Post officer for further action.
Whether or not any patron leaves a tip shall not affect the service of food and drink to that patron.
Post Flags and Wreaths:
To ensure that our flags and wreaths are present at the Royal Oak Memorial Day ceremony, or any other ceremony requiring such flags or wreaths to be present, it will be the responsibility of the Sergeant At Arms to make sure they are in place for the ceremony and are returned back to the Post at the conclusion of the ceremony.
If he/she will not be available for this duty, he/she will delegate these responsibilities to insure this is done.
Conduct:
Loud, boisterous or profane language is strictly forbidden at this Post. In the judgment of the Bartender, Bar Manager or any Elected Officer of the Post any member or guest using such language, after being warned to cease this conduct, and it continues, will be refused service by the Bartender and be required to leave the premises. This will apply unilaterally across the board to every person in violation, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Harassing or intimidating other members or their guests will not be tolerated and will be considered conduct unbecoming to a Legion member.
Anyone removing, damaging or destroying property of the American Legion shall pay for the damage and may face charges before the Executive Board.
No alcoholic beverages are to be taken from or brought into the Post at any time.
All games and entertainment must stop at last call.
No animals, except service/working animals will be allowed in the Post.
No member or guest may bring any firearm or other weapon into the post at any time.
Smoking will not be allowed in the Post. This includes E-Cigarettes and any type of vape pen.
Minors:
Positively no alcoholic beverages will be served to minors under 21 years of age at any time.
No minors under the age of 18 will be allowed to play any game of chance.
Minors under the age of 18 will not be allowed at the bar, must be seated at the tables and must be supervised at all times.
Revised September 30, 2025
Linda (Kris) Caryl
Commander Post 253 Royal Oak