|
BY-LAWS
- The Club shall be called British Motoring Club New
Orleans, in these rules referred to as "the Club."
- The objectives of the Club are:
(a) To promote the sport and pastime of motoring in
all its branches, and in particular, to further the
interest of ownership and driving of British motor
vehicles.
(b) To encourage the preservation, ownership, and
operation of British motor vehicles; to act as a
source of technical information; to provide and
regulate events and exhibitions for British motor
vehicles and their owners, and to offer prizes and
awards in respect thereof; and to encourage careful
and skillful driving on the public highways.
(c) To extend to owners and drivers of British motor
vehicles and their friends, and to all persons
interested in motoring sports the hospitality,
privileges and conveniences enjoyed in connection with
the Club.
- ELIGIBILITY
Any person who is or has been the owner of a British
motor vehicle, or who is in sympathy with the
objectives of the Club, shall be eligible for
membership. Membership shall be open to all
irrespective of age, race, sex, creed or national
origin. The classes of membership shall be:
(a) Full Members: membership shall be open to all
persons who own or regularly drive a British motor
vehicle or are interested in British motor vehicles.
(b) Student Members: Student membership shall be open
to persons not yet eighteen (18) years of age. The
written permission of one or both parents or guardians
is required before elected into membership. Student
members shall be entitled to the same benefits and
subject to the same regulations as Full Members.
(c) Life Members: Life membership shall be open to
persons who qualify as Full Members. Life Members
shall be subject to the same regulations and entitled
to the same benefits as full members. Dues for Life
Membership shall be a one-time fee of ten times the
Full Member annual renewal rate.
- CONSTITUTION
Except as expressly authorized, no member of the Club
shall have any power to contract on behalf of, or
pledge the credit of the Club. No member shall have
the right of action against the Club arising out of
relations subsisting between the Club and any member.
- ADMISSION
The election of candidates for membership of the Club
shall be effected in this manner:
(a) The Membership Committee, consisting of the
officers of the Club, shall review membership
applications at the Officer's Meeting and elect or
reject the applicants by majority vote. If rejected,
the applicant's dues will be refunded fully.
(b) By choosing to join the Club, all new members must
sign a statement agreeing to abide by the laws set
forth by the Club in the By-Laws.
- MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION
(a) Membership will automatically lapse for nonpayment
of dues at due date.
(b) Any member may be suspended for infraction of the
Club rules by vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors or for other causes if a majority of the
Board of Directors shall deem such suspension to be in
the best interest of the Club. Upon such suspension,
the member shall be so informed in writing and shall
be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Any
member suspended as provided above may be presented at
the next General Meeting for expulsion and shall be
expelled if a majority of the members present vote to
expel said member. The vote shall be by secret ballot.
(c) Any member may resign by directing a letter of
resignation to the Treasurer. The resignation shall be
effective upon receipt, only provided all indebtedness
to the Club has been paid.
(d) Any and all disciplinary actions for infractions
of the Club rules shall be decided solely by the Board
of Directors.
(e) Dues will not be prorated for termination of
membership, whether voluntary or involuntary.
- DURATION OF MEMBERSHIP
The term of membership shall run from July1 to June 30
and must be renewed before the end of the term. Dues
will be decided by the Board of Directors.
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(a) Authority: All of the corporate powers of this
corporation and the management of its affairs shall be
vested in and controlled by the Board of Directors.
(b) Election and Term: Directors shall be elected
annually by the members at a General Meeting of the
club in the last quarter of each calendar year.
Nominations for officers must be received by the
Secretary four weeks prior to the General Meeting at
which the election is to be held. Such directors shall
assume office at the January officers’ meeting and
shall hold office for one year, with the limitation of
three (3) consecutive terms in any one position. The
exception to the term limitation being that of the
office of Editor. In the event a director's position
becomes vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint a
replacement officer until the next General meeting at
which the club shall elect a replacement director.
(c) Number of Directors: The Board of Directors shall
consist of five members, who shall also serve as the
President, Vice-President, Newsletter Editor,
Secretary, and Treasurer of the Club. Additional
directors (herein referred to as members-at-large)
shall be elected for every thirty (30) members in good
standing. When the average number of members exceeds
thirty per each member-at-large, another
member-at-large shall be added to the Board of
Directors at the next scheduled election of Directors.
(d) Duties
President: The President shall preside at all meetings
of the members and officers and shall perform the
duties usually pertaining to this office. The
President will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of
the Club and as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Special meetings may be called only by the President's
authority.
Vice President: It shall be the duty of the Vice
President to act as Activities Director and Chairman
of all Club Committees. In the absence of the
President, the Vice President shall preside at
meetings of the members and officers.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall, subject to such
conditions and restrictions as may be made by the
officers, have custody of all monies, debts, and
obligations belonging to the Club. All money of the
Club shall be received and deposited into the Club
account by the Treasurer. All debts of the Club shall
be paid by the Treasurer. Any contracts, checking
drafts, notes, or other orders for payment of money
shall be co-signed in the name of the Club by the
President and the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be
prepared to report on the financial status of the Club
at every meeting.
Secretary: The secretary shall keep records of all
minutes and notes. The Secretary shall keep an updated
roll of all Club members. The Secretary shall prepare
the ballot for election of officers and process
absentee ballots.
Newsletter Editor: The Newsletter Editor shall publish
a club newsletter as set forth elsewhere in these
by-laws.
Members-at-Large: It shall be the duty of the
Members-at-Large to represent the general club
membership at all meetings. Members-at-Large may be
assigned certain duties by a majority of the officers.
(e) No obligations, debts, or other liability shall be
incurred on behalf of the Club by any board member
without the specific prior approval of a majority of
the directors.
- MEETINGS
(a) General membership meetings shall be held once a
month. Any changes in the meeting place or time shall
be voted on by the Board and published in the
newsletter the month preceding the change.
(b) Any corporate action or resolution, other than the
amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or the
amendment of the By-Laws, may be taken or passed by
affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
(c) A quorum at a general membership meeting is
required for amendment of the Articles of
Incorporation, amendment of the By-Laws and election
of officers. A quorum at a general membership meeting
will exist when 20% of the membership is present or
represented by properly executed absentee ballots in
possession of the club secretary or his/her designee.
(d) The Board may appoint regional coordinators to
conduct regional meetings for the convenience of
members living outside the New Orleans area. For the
purposes of voting for amendments to the by-laws,
amendments to Articles of Incorporation and election
of officers, members present and voting at a
designated regional meeting shall be considered
present and voting at the General Membership meeting
and shall contribute towards forming a quorum.
Regional meetings at which such a vote will be taken
must be prior to the General Meeting at which the vote
it to be taken. The date and time of any Regional
Meetings at which a vote will be take shall be
published the month before the General meeting at
which the vote will be taken.
(e) The Officer's Meeting shall be held two weeks
before the General Meeting. The date, time and place
will be decided by a simple majority of the officers.
(f) A quorum at the Officer's Meeting will exist with
seventy-five percent (75%) of the officers.
- AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Any member in good standing, by written petition
submitted to the Secretary, may propose an amendment
to the By-Laws. Upon such proposal being made, the
proposed amendment must be published in the next two
newsletters. A copy shall be made available to each
member at the next two general membership meetings and
any regional meetings. Members may vote for or against
said proposal, whether by ballot or by show of hands,
at the general membership meeting and any regional
meetings following the second publication of said
proposal. If a majority of the members present and
voting (including members present and voting at any
regional meetings and properly executed absentee
ballots) decide in favor of the proposal, the
amendment shall be approved and adopted. Upon
approval, notice shall be sent to each member of the
Club and shall immediately become effective and
binding upon all the members of the Club.
- ABSENTEE VOTING
Absentee ballots must be submitted to the Secretary no
later than 48 hours before the General Meeting at
which any election or vote is scheduled to take place.
Valid absentee ballots in possession of the Secretary
or his or her designee at a General Meeting shall
count towards a quorum when voting on amendment of the
Articles of Incorporation, amendment of the By-Laws
and election of officers.
- NEWSLETTER
A newsletter shall be published once a month before
the General Club membership meeting.
- ACTIVITIES
All events are required to follow the recognized rules
and procedures that apply to that event at time of
execution. Any illegal or unsafe act is prohibited.
revised 07/01/09
|