Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is the approved document governing the Department of Minnesota American Legion Riders.
Purpose
The American Legion Riders is formed to promote the aims and purposes of The American Legion as a family of oriented motorcycling activity for members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, and The Sons of The American Legion. American Legion National Resolutions No. 35 and 32 are the governing documents for members of The American Legion Riders.
Name
The name of this program shall be the Minnesota American Legion Riders (MNALR).
Nature
The American Legion Riders (ALR) is a program for members of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion, collectively, “The American Legion Family” who share an interest in motorcycling.
Members of the ALR shall comply at all times with the motor vehicle safety, licensing, and insurance laws or regulations of the state in which operating.
Organization
The American Legion Riders is a program of each American Legion Post that authorizes such formation. Posts at large are not authorized to form an ALR Chapter; however, individual members become members of an ALR Chapter. Periodically they unite with other American Legion Riders throughout the State of Minnesota to raise funds and facilitate communication between individual chapters.
Board of Representatives
The Board of Representatives of The Minnesota American Legion Riders shall be a Director, an Assistant Director, and a Secretary, to be chosen by the body of the MNALR at a meeting to be held during The American Legion Department Convention, and ten District ALR representatives. In addition, a Department ALR Liaison will be appointed annually by the Department Commander.
The Director, Assistant Director, and Secretary shall be elected at a meeting to be held during The American Legion Department Convention and installed at the annual meeting (MNALR Romp).
The Director of the American Legion Riders is the executive head of the organization with full power to carry out the mandates and policies of The American Legion Riders as dictated by American Legion Resolutions No. 35 and 32. He or she shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office.
The Assistant Director of the American Legion Riders will assist the Director and preside over meetings when the Director is unavailable.
The Secretary of The American Legion Riders has the usual duties of a secretary.
The District area representatives promote communication between chapters within their district. District Representation is to be handled by each District as directed by current Leadership of The American Legion in that District and under the guidelines of the National Organization within Resolutions 35 and 32 and this SOP. The District Representatives will have the primary function of promoting and facilitating communications and awareness of ALR related information between the chapters within their District. District Representation will incur no financial or legal liability to the MNALR nor the Department of Minnesota.
Post (Chapter) representation is to be handled by each Post as directed by current leadership of The American Legion in that Post and under the guidelines of the National Organization within Resolutions 35 and 32, and this SOP. Post (Chapter) representation will incur no financial or legal liability to their District, MNALR nor the Department of Minnesota.
It is recommended that the individual chapters meet together once a year or as needed to promote their functions. It is encouraged that these meetings include an annual meeting held at the Romp. Each District is responsible for the election/appointment of their District Representative.
When the District Representative is unable to attend a meeting, the immediate past District Representative or Past District Director, or an ALR individual appointed by the current Representative will stand-in place, after the secretary has been notified by the current Representative and with the approval of the Board of Representatives.
Membership Eligibility
Eligibility for full membership in The American Legion Riders shall be as prescribed by the national constitutions of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion.
All members of The American Legion Riders must further demonstrate current individual membership in The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, or the Sons of The American Legion.
Each ALR member shall establish and maintain membership owning individually or through family, a motorcycle/trike licensed and insured as required under local laws. Additionally including the amendments of National Resolution 32 (Amendment to 35) which provides: “ALR programs may allow for continued membership for those who have given up motorcycle ownership because of age, illness, injury, or other reasons outside of the member’s control.”
There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership in The American Legion Family.
Wear of American Legion Emblem
The American Legion Riders back patch, as copyrighted and sold by The American Legion’s Emblem Sales Division, is the only authorized back patch for wear by all current members of the ALR. No other back patch or back patch design is authorized for wear as an ALR emblem.
All Chapters organized after August 1, 2016 will wear the large oval back patch purchased from The American Legion Emblem Sales Division. Embroidery consisting of 1 line above the emblem and a maximum of 2 lines below the emblem is allowed. See attached example.
Finance
The American Legion Department of Minnesota shall not be held financially responsible for The American Legion Riders.
Amendments
A proposed amendment to this SOP may be made amended by a majority vote of the ALR Board of Representatives after being presented to each Chapter by the District Representative, after being presented in writing to the ALR Director. For final approval of the proposed amendment, it must first come before the Department Executive Committee and gain a passing vote.
Liability
The American Legion Department of Minnesota assumes no financial or legal responsibility for The American Legion Riders.
