Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
Created /Adopted:
Revised /Approved:
I. Name:
This organization shall be known as “Back Country
4 Wheelers, Incorporated”. Also may be
known as “Back Country 4 Wheelers Inc” and “BC4WI”.
II. Objectives:
Back Country 4 Wheelers
Inc is organized as a nonprofit organization for the purpose of:
1.
Providing
social, educational, and recreational activities for its membership.
2.
Participating
in and supporting civic activities for the betterment of the community.
3.
Participating
in and supporting activities for the betterment, constitution, expansion, and
explanation of the 4x4’ing sport.
III. Membership
and Dues:
1.
Members
must either own or have primary access to a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in order to
be eligible for membership in Back Country 4 Wheelers Inc.
2.
Each
membership includes the immediate family living in the same household, as the
voted in member. However, voting power
is restricted only to those members actually voted in.
3.
All
members must conduct themselves in a respectable and orderly fashion, whether
in or out of club activities. Any member
disgracing
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
themselves in the public eye will be immediately
subject to expulsion from the club, subject to decision by the Board of
Directors.
4.
Applicants
for membership must hold a valid driver’s license and must show a minimum of
Personal Liability and Property Damage insurance coverage on their vehicle.
5.
Applicants
for membership must complete an Application for Membership Form into Back
Country 4 Wheelers Inc. When an
application is received, the applicant will be known as a “Pending Member”. All applications will be turned in to the
club Secretary /Treasurer.
6.
Pending
Members must attend one club meeting and one club sponsored event before they
can be voted in as a regular /active member.
If a club sponsored event is not scheduled within the next three months,
then the Pending Member can be voted in after attending three consecutive
meetings.
7.
Pending
Members will be voted in at regular club meetings by a motion from a current
member in good club standings, and the majority of members at the meeting that
support the motion. If the motion is rejected,
the Pending Member may be considered again at the next club meeting.
Anyone in the Pending Member status who either is
not interested in becoming a member at the current time, has missed too many
meetings without good reason, or is not a good fit in the club may be asked by
the elected officials to come back after they have made up their minds about
membership, and are serious about becoming a member.
8.
Pending
Members voted in as regular /active members must pay a one time $60.00 joining fee
within their first year of membership, the current membership year in the year
they are voted in. This $60.00 joining
fee includes their membership for the current membership year.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
Once the $60.00 joining fee is paid new members
become full members with full membership privileges. Joining fees are nonrefundable.
9.
Dues
for this organization will be $4.00 per month /per membership or $40.00 total
before, or at, the October meeting. Yearly dues are nonrefundable.
10.
Members
shall immediately notify the Secretary /Treasurer upon any changes of home
address, mailing /e-mail address, telephone numbers, emergency contact
information or health issues the club should know about.
11.
The
Board of Directors may terminate the membership of any member who has:
·
Missed
3 or more consecutive monthly membership meetings. This is of course in the absence of a valid
reason, such as medical and /or family related issues.
·
Fallen
6 or more months behind in dues. Before
terminating membership, current club members may elect to pay their behind dues
so the member can maintain their current membership.
·
Disposes
of, and no longer possesses, a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle with no intentions of
obtaining another.
Note:
Members terminated for any of the above reasons
may be reinstated at a later time, providing they meet all the requirements for
membership. Any outstanding dues must be
paid in full and must have attended 3 consecutive meetings. They must also either have ownership or
primary access to a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle.
The board and /or elected officers may authorize reinstatement of a
terminated member back into the Back Country 4 Wheelers Inc 4x4 Club.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
12.
Resignation
of any member shall be in writing and submitted to the Secretary /Treasurer.
IV. CHARTER
MEMBERS:
Members who adopt and sign the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc, on or before
V. MEETINGS:
·
Back
Country 4 Wheelers, Inc club meetings shall be held once a month, which normally
will fall on the 4th Saturday of the month, at
·
Fifth-one
percent (51%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum for membership
meetings, and all membership meetings must have two of the elected officers
attending.
VI. ADMINISTRATION
AND OFFICERS:
·
Back
Country 4 Wheelers, Incorporated officers shall consist of a President, Vice
President, and Secretary/Treasurer and shall be known as the Executive
Committee. It shall be their duty to
draw up agenda for all board membership meetings and it shall be their further
duty to assume the functions of the Board of Directors in cases of emergency.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
·
The
Board of Directors shall consist of the members of the Executive Committee, the
immediate past President, and 3 directors elected by the membership. Each director shall be assigned one or more
committees and is shall be their duty to represent such committees on the
Board. Further duties of the directors
shall be to conduct the day-to-day business; to take such actions as might best
fulfill the aims of this organization and to audit the books of the previous
administration. The Board of Directors
shall meet as necessary and may be called into session by any member of the
Board of Directors. Five members shall
constitute a quorum of that body.
·
No
officer shall be added to the club except by the vote of the majority of the
entire membership of the club.
VII. DUTIES
AND POWERS OF OFFICERS:
·
The
president shall preside over all membership and board meetings, and be present
at all events when possible. The
president shall be the executive officer and shall have the duty to carry out
the policies and decisions of the Board of Directors except in the event of a
tie.
·
The
Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, serve in that
capacity. The Vice President shall also
serve as a parliamentarian and perform such other duties as may be assigned by
the Board of Directors. If the President
resigns, the Vice President shall finish their term of office.
·
The
Secretary /Treasurer shall keep and preserve all records and minutes of regular
membership meetings, and the Board of Directors meetings. They shall assume responsibility of ledger
roll call and determine the number of voting members present so it may be known
if a quorum is in attendance. They shall
keep a general correspondence pertaining to the organization, and keep accurate and complete records
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
of the funds and accounts of this organization. They shall collect all dues and maintain a
record therefore, and be the keeper of membership applications. The Secretary /Treasurer shall make only
disbursements as required up to $25.00
VIII. EXPENDITURES
AND FINANCE:
·
All
monies received from all sources shall immediately be turned over to the
Secretary /Treasurer to be deposited in the checking account of the Back
Country 4 Wheelers, Inc Club. All
expenditures shall be made by check and signed by either the
Secretary/Treasurer, the President or the Vice President.
·
Single
expenditures in excess of $25.00 must have approval of the majority of the
voting quorum of the membership.
IX. COMMITTEES:
·
The
President shall assign each committee to a Director. The Director shall be responsible for the
committee activities and, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall
appoint a Committee Chairman.
X. ELECTIONS:
1.
The
membership shall meet and elect officers and directors for each fiscal year at
the regular September meeting. The newly
elected officer shall take office on October 1st. Voting shall be in person and not by proxy or
mail.
2.
A
nominating committee consisting of a chairman and 2 members in good standing
shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to nominate one or
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
more candidates for President, Vice President, and
Secretary/Treasurer for a term of 1 year.
The candidates for 2 of the 3 Directors shall be nominated for a term of
2 years. One of the Directors shall be
elected each year. The candidates for
the office must be regular members in good standing, at least 1 month prior to
the general election. At all elections,
nominations for each and every office of this organization may be made from the
floor.
3.
Balloting
for each office shall be held by secret ballot.
All ballots for office must be counted and checked by 3 members other
than the nominees
4.
A
majority of votes cast is necessary for election to an office or position on
the Board of Directors.
5.
In
the event of a vacancy on the office of Vice President or Secretary/Treasurer,
an election shall be called to elect a successor. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of
Directors, a successor shall be elected by the Board of Directors.
XI. RECALL:
Any officer or director of the Back Country 4 Wheelers,
Inc club may be recalled by a 2/3 majority vote of the entire membership.
XII. EVENTS:
·
Events
are activities in which all or some of BC4WI members participate in. This includes everything from club work-days
to trips, off-road runs to community services and benefits.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
·
Events
shall be defined and recognized by one of the following descriptions:
1.
BC4WI
Sponsored and /or Hosted. This is where either
the club hosts the actual event on club owned property /assets, or where the
club has sole or joint responsibility in the coordination, organization,
planning, running and /or staffing of the event.
2.
BC4WI Non-Sponsored and /or Non-Hosted: This is where the club has no responsibility
or ties to the event, other than club members participating in the event. Club property or assets are not used in the
event, and club members represent themselves and are not representatives of the
club.
3.
BC4WI
Members Only. This is where only club
members will be allowed to attend and participate in the event activities. The club has sole ownership and
responsibility for the event, and only current members can attend and
participate in the activities.
·
All
BC4WI Club sponsored and /or hosted events, and Members Only events shall be
subject to approval by the Board of Directors and /or elected officers.
·
Events
under the direction of a Trip Master. All
members (including the President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer) are
responsible to the direction of the appointed Trip Master and his appointed
assistants from the set time of the beginning of an event to the termination of
an event. At no time has any member or
officer the right to demand an unscheduled shop or a change of route or
plan. Provisions to permit any member to
join an event at any location or time other than the location and said time
decided upon for the event if such provision causes and change of time, any
stop, any delay, or any change of route must be approved by the Trip Master.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
·
All
competitive events shall be under the direct authority, supervision and control
of the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors shall determine entrance classifications and regulations for various
events and shall approve trophies and awards to be presented. Anyone determined to be physically or
mentally disturbed at the time of any event shall be disqualified. Vehicles may be subject to technical
inspection, varying according to type of event and shall be disqualified if
found mechanically unsafe.
·
All
members and guests participating in an event shall abide by the Motor Vehicle
Code of the State concerned and the laws and regulations of the city, the
county, state and federal authorities.
We are not irresponsible drivers.
Any flagrant violation of the code is sufficient cause for the removal
of membership privilege, subject to decision by the Board of Directors.
·
All
events must be conducted in an orderly manner and with safety as the prime
factor. Any event held on private
property will be subject to liability releases.
·
All
guests of BC4WI Sponsored / Hosted Events shall sign a waiver of liability
before being allowed to participate in that event.
·
No
member or guest under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be permitted to
participate in any club event.
XIII. RULES
AND PROCEDURE:
Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws,
Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern parliamentary procedure.
Back Country 4 Wheelers, Inc.
Constitution
and By-Laws
XIV. AMENDMENTS:
·
These
bylaws may be amended by a 2/3’rds majority of the voted cast at a regular
membership meeting, a quorum being present and voting. Any amendment to the bylaws must be presented
to the membership at the regular membership meeting preceding that in which the
vote is taken.
·
All
members will return anything acquired with the club name and /or logo if
he /she should quit or be terminated.