Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association
Ritual


1938


Applicants for membership who have complied with all requirements of this Constitution and whose applications have been accepted shall be obligated by the president or presiding officer of the local union either at local union meeting or meeting of the local union executive board. Applicants for membership awaiting initiation shall remain in the ante-room. At the appointed time for initiation, the president or presiding officer shall rap once with his gavel and shall announce: Applicants for membership who have complied with all requirements of our Constitution are awaiting for initiation.
The president or presiding officer will then instruct the conductor to escort the applicants to the rostrum and shall instruct all members to rise and remain standing during the initiation ceremonies.
The president or presiding officer shall then address the applicants for membership as follows:
Your official form of application for membership in this local union chartered by and affiliated with the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association with the signature of yourself and vouchers properly affixed thereto has been accepted by this local union, with the distinct understanding that the answers submitted by you over your signature to questions contained in official form of application are true and accurate in every respect. In accordance with the requirements of our laws and conditions specified on official form of application signed and filed by you and accepted by this local union, you have already been furnished with a copy of the Constitution and Ritual of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association with instructions to read same so that you might become familiar with all provisions and requirements thereof before taking the obligation of membership. If you have complied with said requirements we will then proceed to administer to you verbally the obligation of membership after which you will be required to sign this same obligation as a matter of record, your signature thereto to be certified by myself as presiding officer and by the financial secretary of this local union as attesting witnesses. You will kindly repeat the following obligation of membership, mentioning your name where I mention mine.
I, …, hereby certify that I have been furnished with a copy of the Constitution and Ritual of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, that I have read same and that I am familiar with and willingly subscribe to all of the provisions and requirements thereof, and in consideration of the acceptance of my application and being obligated as a member thereof, I hereby agree to remain loyal and true to the principles and policies and to be governed by the Constitution and Ritual of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association in any and all matters now or hereafter included therein. I further agree to be governed by such local rules and regulations as may be now effective or which may be hereafter adopted and made operative by chartered and affiliated local unions which do not conflict with the Constitution and Ritual of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
After the obligation of membership has thus been administered orally to the applicant, the
president shall rap twice with his gavel and request all members to be seated. The applicant shall then affix his signature to the obligation of membership and the presiding officer and financial secretary shall affix their signatures thereto as attesting witnesses, after which the president or presiding officer shall address the applicant as follows:
I now declare you duly obligated and a member of this local union chartered by and affiliated with the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association. You are already familiar with your duties, obligations, rights and privileges specified in our Constitution and Ritual. You will therefore be governed accordingly. I now desire to give you the following instructions:
Your official due receipt recording actual payment of dues in advance in accordance with our Constitution will establish your identity to the conductor prior to the opening of meetings. Should you desire to gain admission to the hall after the meeting has started, you will give three raps on the door, present your official due receipt to the warden and if you are in good standing he will admit you. Should you be without official due receipt, the warden will report your-name and membership number to the financial secretary and if you are in good standing and entitled to admission, he will so inform the president who shall instruct the warden to admit you. On entering the meeting, salute the president and be seated. Should you desire to retire while the meeting is in session, rise and ask permission of the president and if granted, salute him and then retire. The usual voting sign is made by the elevation of the right hand, and is used in voting in favor of or against all questions.
The president or presiding officer shall then introduce the newly obligated member and declare a short recess to provide opportunity for proper introduction and greeting, after which the president or presiding officer will rap once with his gavel for order, when the members will be seated, and the newly obligated member escorted to the financial secretary’s
desk to receive instructions regarding his financial obligations.


Home