Article I: Name and Purpose

A. This organization shall be known as the "Linden Volunteer Fire Department"

B. The Purpose of the "Linden Volunteer Fire Department" shall be to provide a well trained and disciplined fire department for the protection of lives and property located within the city limits of Linden and the surrounding areas of the fire departments coverage area.

Article II: Officers

A. The Officers of the department shall consist of the following.

1. Chief
2. Assistant Chief
3. Drill Captain
4. Assistant Drill Captain
5. Secretary/Treasurer
6. Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Article III: Duties and Responsibilities of the Officers

I.
A. The Fire Chief will be the senior officer and will have absolute command when present.
B. The Assistant Chief will be the next highest ranking officer of the department, and will give guidance and technical assistance to the department officers. The Assistant Chief will perform the duties of the Chief in His/Her absence.
C. The Drill Captain is responsible for preparing drills, and directing members of thier respective duties in the department.
D. The Assistant Drill Captain, shall in the absence or disablity of the Drill Captain be responsible for conducting drills,and doing the duties of the Drill Captain
under the supervision of the next highest ranking officer.
E. The Secretary/Treasurer, will be responsible for recording and administrative duties. He/She is responsible for keeping an accurate account of checks and balances held with the department. The Secretary/Treasurer, Chief, or Assistant Chief shall sign checks which require two signatures.
F. The Assistant Secretary/Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Secretary/Treasurer shall perform the duties thereof, subject only to the orders, directives, and supervision of the Fire Chief.

II. In the event an officer or officers are not present or call for a meeting. Thje Next ranking officer or eligible person will have absolute control of the meeting due to the needs of the department.

Article IV: Eligibilty of Officers

A. Officers must be capable leaders, prefferably experienced for the job to which they are being considered, not as a popularity process.
B. To be eligible for an office in the department, a member must have demonstrated that he or she is interested in the advancement of the department, make him/herself available to attend State firefighter schools ( if at all possible ) or to take self help courses from department, libraries, or local classes when available. He/She must have been a member of the department for at least 12 months and have attended at least 75% of all meetings and drills, or had equivalent experiences in another regularly constituted fire department.

Article V: Election of Officers

A. Each Officer shall hold the term for two years. The Term shall begin on November 1st of each odd year.
B. Thirty days before the ending of such Terms, there shall be called an election for the puropse of filling such offices
being vacated by this article, and the officers then serving shall continue to serve till his/her successor is elected and qualified.
C.The election of officers, one or two shall be nominated for each office, from the floor. They will then be voted on by secret ballot.

Article VI: Vacancies

A. Vacancies among Officers caused by death, resignation, or dismissal shall be filled by the department and voted on at the next conventional meeting.

Article VII: New Members

A. A prospective member will be investigated by the officers of the executive committee. They will be considered on having good moral character, be in good physical condition, attitude, etc. prior to the nomination and election to the department.
B. New Members will serve a probationary period of three months, and at the end of that probationary period, the executive committee will meet and report to the department its findings. Then the department will evaluate members and take appropriate actions.