NATIONAL ORDER OF ALLEY CATS, INC.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATIONFor many years Dorothy Riggs wondered why there could not be a women’s organization that would compare with the National Order of Trench Rats. Many of the wives had to take their husbands to these meetings and kill time waiting for the meeting to close to take husbands home. Her idea was, if we must spend this time, why not either use it in a worth while manner or at least have more fun.
In October 1941 the Rats of Bremerton were entertaining the Rats of Dugout #13 - Seattle. Dorothy had her daughter Betty King draw up a charter and had membership cards printed for an unheard of organization call “THE National Disorder of Alley Cats.”
The wives of the Rats were asked to accompany them to Bremerton for an evening social. They presented their proposition to these women of outlining an auxiliary and they enthusiastically voted to organize. It was then asked of the Rats of Dugout #13, if they could function unofficially as their auxiliary. They granted them permission.
The charter was held open until December 6, 1941. The first officers were as follows:
Golden Cat Olga Wilson
Silver Cat Althea Tropple
Black Cat Patricia Ireland
Hole-y Cat Ellen Magnussen
Tiger Cat Molly Riel
Green Eyed Clawer Dorothy Riggs
On January 3, 1942, the first Constitution and By-Laws were accepted. A password was suggest by Malvina Riel.
On June 12, 1942, Dorothy Riggs reported on her visit to Earl Merifield, Imperial Red Eyed Gnawer. He said that he was very pleased with their reports.
Verna Marlow, Althea Tropple and Dorothy Riggs were appointed to draw up a National Constitution and By-Laws to be resented at the National Convention. A resolution was made to change the names of Golden Ratter and Silver Ratter to Golden Cat and Silver Cat.
There was no National Rendezvous held in 1942, because of WWII.
One of the most outstanding projects that this organization did was to present to the Department of Washington, D.A.V. $92.00 for a State Department Banner.
In October 1943, our program, history and reports were taken to New York City. Four of the Cats were present: Mollie Riel, Mable Walker, Patricia Ireland and Dorothy Riggs. They talked Cats to every Rat that would listen. Late that evening they were notified they had been accepted by the National Order of Trench Rats as their Auxiliary.
After their official recognition in 1943, they decided to change their name to the “National Order of Alley Cats. “ A new charter was drawn up and continues in force today.
Our first National Officers elected at this National Convention were as follows:
Exalted Golden Cat Dorothy Riggs
Exalted Silver Cat Patricia Ireland
Exalted Black Cat Clara Mae Bickford
Exalted Tiger Cat Mildred Kane
Exalted Hole-y Cat Mable Walker
Exalted Green Eyed Clawer Malvina Riel
In 1950 at the San Francisco National Rendezvous the National Constitution and By-Laws were read and a new password was given out.
ORIGINAL CHARTERED NAMES
* Dorothy Riggs ` Esta Dye
* Olga Wilson Camille Clark
Mary Janacek Clemmie Hemill
Iva Star Maude Shields
Blanch Davis Elvera Lippis
* Malvina Riel Dorothy Nelson
Stella Hatfield Ida Stone
Althea Troipple Edna Yaden
Aldia McHaffie * Irene Harris White
Retta Parcel Ida Poole
Ellen Magnussen Alice Jackson
** Viola McDonald Green Frances Rayoire
Patricia Ireland Nancy King
Beulah Johnson Grace Lecair
Josephine McDonald Corrine Johnson
Arlene Warner Ruth Fisher
Mildred Kane Ethel Dyche
Alice Toupin Edna Dyche
Mother Lydia Himes Betty King
Evelyn Joyner Betty King
Verna Marlow
* = Depicts Exalted Cats
** = Depicts National Commander DAVA
LOCAL GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
THE GENERAL INSTUCTIONS IS SPELLED OUT TO YOU IN YOUR BLUE HAND BOOK. PROCEDURED OF THE MEETING, ETC. WILL NOT BE PRINTED IN THIS WEB-SITE. THERE ARE VERY FEW CHANGES IN THIS BOOK, WHICH EACH RATTRAP WILL BE NOTIFIED.
FORMS FOR ELIGIBILITY FORMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE LISTING IN THIS WEB-SITE IS TO BE UTILIZAED.
ELECTED OFFICERS FOR A RATTRAP:
GOLDEN CAT: The Commanding Officer and Chief Executive - you will preside at all Howls and guide the Rattrap in all activities.
SILVER CAT: The First Vice Commander - you are to aid and assist the Golden Cat. In the event of absence of the Golden Cat you will act as presiding officer.
BLACK CAT: The Second Vice Commander - you are to prowl to the Silver Ct position in her absence and will carry out other wishes of the Golden cat.
HOLE-Y CAT: The Chaplain -you are to give the closing prayer at each Howl. You are to send out cards of cheer or sympathy.
BLUE PERSIAN: Mistress of the Third Degree - you are to prepare the hall for the Howls. You are to take up the password and check membership cards of Sister Cats present and report this information to the golden Cat. You are to assist with the Initiation of the third degree.
PINK PERISAN: Mistress of the Third Degree - You are to prepare the hall of the Howls. You are to take up the password and check membership cards of Sister Cats present and report this information to the Golden Cat. You are to assist with the Initiation and the third degree.
TIGER CAT: Sergeant-at-Arms - You are to guard the gate of the Howl. You are to check membership cards of Sister Cats who are entering for the Howl. You are to deliver all messages to the golden Cat. You are to inform the Persian Cats of any visitors. visit
KEEPER OF THE KITTY: Treasurer - You are to keep the purse strings of the Rattrap. You are to keep a complete and accurate record of all monies taken in or paid out. Write a receipt for all monies received. Pay out only monies approved by the Rattrap.
APPOINTED POSITIONS FOR A RATTRAP:
GREEN EYED CLAWER: Secretary - You are to take minutes of all Howls, Executive meetings, etc. You are to read and answer all correspondence under direction of the Golden Cat. You are responsible for properties and paraphernalia of the Rattrap and see that it is in good order and present at the meetings.
FENCE CAT: Judge Advocate: You are to study and interpret the Constitution and By-Laws of the Alley Cats. You are to advise the Golden Cat when the need arises.
HOWLING CAT: Historian - You are to compile the history of the Rattrap. Try to get publicity for the Rattrap into the newspaper and to the Exalted Green Eyed Clawer for the news magazine.
CALICO CAT: Scrapbook Chairman - You are to prepare the Scrapbook for your Rattrap.
FUN CAT: - Entertainment - You are to help promoter fun at the Howls. You are to take up fines and to assist the Golden Cat when the need arises.
HOSTESS CAT: Prepare refreshments for the meetings of the Howl.
CREDENTIAL CATS: You are to inspect the future candidates on becoming a Cat, must meet with lall the eligibilities listed in the Constitution and By-Laws. Check the DAVA/DAV to see if she is a member in good standings and is an active member. All must be check out accordingly before the proposal of the Cheetah is brought to the membership.
COLORS: Our colors are Blue and Yellow. Our banner is blue celanese cloth with a large yellow felt Cat in the center and a small red felt rat in upper left hand corner. The lower right corner has the state of the Rattrap with the Rattrap number right under it.
PINS: The official Cat pin is a small Gold Cat pin with a ruby eye with the name “National Order of Alley Cats” engraved on it. Past Golden Cats may also attach a guard with a gavel depicting the year she serviced to the Cat pin.
CAPS: The official Cat cap is navy blue (pill box) with a gold Cat on it with a blue tassel. The Golden Cat has a navy blue cap with a gold Cat and a Gold tassel . The gold tassel may be put on the cap when a person becomes a Golden Cat. A past strip may be obtained for the past Golden Cats’ cap to be placed on the right side.
Cat caps or Cat uniforms should NEVER be worn at any meeting of local, state, or national of the Disabled American Veterans Aux. Cats should never wear their DAV Aux. Cap at any Cat meeting.
No medals, pins or other insignia shall on any Cat cap.
SECRET WORKS: Is the responsibility of the Golden Cat. It is handed down to her from the past Golden Cat. No part of this Ritual or Secret Work is to be copied or altered.
The Golden Cat distributes the Secret Works to the Silver Cat, Black Cat, Hole-y Cat and Tiger Cat, as they are the ones who have the most lines to read. The Golden Cat is to retrieve all copies of the Secret Works right after the meeting. It is to be in her possession. When new copies are issued of the Secret Works the Golden Cat is to give all the books to the Exalted Green Eyed Clawer who will then destroy them and furnish the Rattrap with new copies.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS These are printed whenever necessary, with all corrections and amendments. They may be obtained from the Exalted Ash Can. .All copies are sent to each Rattrap (free of charge) to the Golden Cat and the Green Eyed Clawer. Others who desire them can purchase them through your Rattrap and the Keeper of the Kitty will mail the monies and order to the Exalted Ash Can.
Rattraps are governed by the Constitution and By-Laws in back of the National Constitution & By-Laws are Local By-Laws, etc. Rattrap cannot have standing rules.
All paraphernalia , regalia, and items for a Rattrap is to be purchase through the Exalted Ash Can only.
DEFINITIONS
EXALTED ASH CAN: Headquarters for the Exalted Green Eyed Clawer.
EXALTED COUNCIL: Elected officers and Exalted Cats. (NATIONAL/HIGHEST OFFICE)
EXALTED CATS: Past Exalted Golden Cats. (Word ‘past‘ is not used.)
EXALTED: Term given to one who has been elected or appointed at National officers of the NOAC.
ALLEY CAT: Any member or member-at-large who has taken all 3 degrees and are in good standings.
CHEETAH: Any member who has not take the three (3) degrees.
RATTAPS: Any approved local chartered unit belonging to the NOAC, are to have same number of their local Dugout.
DELINQUENT: Any member who has not paid dues by August 1st.
FISCAL YEAR: NOAC fiscal year runs from July `1st. To June 30th .
RENDEZVOUS: National meeting for the NOAC
HOWL: Local meeting of the Rattrap
MEMBER-AT-LARGE: An Alley Cat who is not a member of a local Rattrap.
PASSWORD: Word or words given out at the National Rendezvous by the newly elected and installed Exalted Golden Cat.
PER CAPITA: Amount of monies determined by the Exalted Council as a fee each Rattrap must assess each member and sent in to the Exalted Green Eyed Clawer.
PROXIES: Proxies are strictly forbidden.
CONSTITUTION
AND BY - LAWS: The guidelines to help and assist Rattraps in governing their meeting, etc.
SECRET WORKS: Instruction for conducting meetings, the installation of officers, initiations of new members, memorial service and the three (3) degrees.
ELIGIBILITY: Can be found in the Constitution and By-Laws.
CREAM BOWL: Each year the Exalted Silver Cat sends out a letter requesting donations, from the Rattraps and the Exalted Officers, to be presented to the Exalted Golden Cat at our National Rendezvous.
RHAB: Rattraps are asked to send donations into the Rehabilitation Fund to carry on on our programs.
Rehab donations have gone to the following :
DAV = REHAB
DAVA = WOMAN SURVIVAL
INOTR = LOVE GIFT
TRENCH RATS: National Order of Trench Rats. THE NOAC is an Auxiliary of the Trench Rats. The Trench Rats are an Auxiliary to the Disabled America Veterans.
Dolly Hartman,
Exalted Green Eyed Clawer
2006