BY LAWS
The name of the club shall be: Capital City Firebirds.
Section
2: Purpose
The general purpose of the club shall be to encourage use, preservation,
and the promotion of the spirit of the Pontiac Firebird family. Family to
include all Firebirds, Formulas, Firehawks, and Trans Ams. We will participate
in planned trips, events and social activities for club members. We will be
supportive of other Firebird clubs and assist with charities. We are here to
serve the interest of all the Pontiac Firebird enthusiasts.
Section
3: Membership
Membership is open to anyone who is the owner of a Firebird, Formula,
Trans Am, or Firehawk including all family members of that household under the
age of 18 and domestic partner. Children over the age of 18 are considered
adults and will be required to pay membership fee as outlined in section 3A. All
new members with exception of charter members must have an active member
sponsor. Active member is defined as 80% attendance in all meetings and
activities.
Section
3A: Dues
All membership dues whether single or family are: $40.00.
Family
members with children age 18 or over shall pay additional associate member fee
of $10 per child so long as they live at home. Member’s children age 18 and
over not living at home shall pay $40.00 annual dues.
Any
member that sponsors five new members that pay club dues to become members in
the same calendar year shall have their upcoming years dues recorded as paid by
club.
Section
4: Payment of Dues
All members must pay said dues on January 1st and no later
than February 1st. The club year will run from January 1st
to December 31st. Anyone that becomes a member on or after January
1st and on or before May 31st shall pay $40.00. Those joining on or after June
1st and on or before December 31st shall pay $20.00.
All
dues are nonrefundable.
The
club may grant honorary membership to individuals upon majority vote.
Section
5: Benefits
Upon joining, you will receive a club decal, copy of club by laws and a
membership card (you will be asked to sign for the above item for proof of
service).
You will be eligible for discounts from club sponsors.
You
will receive a newsletter every other month.
You
will be eligible to buy club hats, jackets, shirts, logos, etc.
You will have access to other club newsletters and information about car shows, new products and general information.
You
will have access to website information and links to other sites concerning
common interests.
Section
6: Suspension or Expulsion
Any member may be suspended or expelled by a majority vote of members
present at a regular or special meeting. Announcement of this procedure must be
preceded by a two (2) week notice to the general membership and have approval of
the Board of Directors, determined by a majority vote of same. If suspension or
expulsion is found to be in order, all Club property must be surrendered at that
time.
Section
7: Dismissal
Any officer may be dismissed from office by a majority vote of members
present at a regular or special Club meeting. This procedure must be preceded by
approval of the Board of Directors, determined by a majority vote of same, and
two (2) week written notice to the general membership. Dismissal from office
does not constitute suspension or expulsion from Club unless specifically so
stated in dismissal proceedings.
Section
8: Resignation
Any member may resign by directing a letter of resignation to the
secretary. The resignation shall be effective on receipt, provided member is
free of all indebtedness to the Club and all Club property has been returned.
Resignation of an officer from his/her post does not constitute resignation from
general membership unless so stated.
Section
9: Meetings
A- Monthly meetings will be held the first Monday of
every month unless the first
Monday of the month falls on a holiday and then the meeting shall fall on
the
second Monday of the month at a predetermined location.
B-
The
president, board member or general membership may request
special
meetings. All suggested meetings must be presented to the club body
for
approval of time, date and necessity.
Section
10: Elections for Officers
A-
Nomination
will be held in October for vote during the same month by mailed absentee
ballot. Results will be declared at November meeting.
B-
Elected
positions shall be the following; President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer.
C- Election of officers nominated during the October annual meeting shall be by numbered absentee ballots, sent to the membership immediately after the October annual meeting by the Club Secretary. Ballots will be included in the mailing for all eligible voting members in each principal member’s household. Return envelopes will be included. Members shall return their ballots in sufficient time to be collected by the Club Secretary at the Club post office box prior to the November monthly meeting. Ballots will be collected at the Club post office box by the Club Secretary and delivered sealed to the President at the beginning of the November monthly meeting. The ballot counting will consist of three (3) voting members not running for office. It will be each eligible voting member’s responsibility to ensure that they receive a ballot, make note of the ballot number and mail it for counting. Duplicate ballots will not be available. A report will be given to the President, recording the numbers of the ballots cast and the overall election results. Members present at the November meeting will be informed of the number of ballots not cast.
D-
Each dues paying principle member, spouse, domestic partner and 18 years of age
or older associate members, shall
have one (1) vote each. Non-paying family members such as children and/ or
extended family members will not be eligible to vote.
E-
Special
Elections
In the event that one or more elected offices are left vacant after the November elections, the newly elected President or other highest elected Officer shall, upon Board and 2/3 membership approval, call for one (1) special election for each vacant office. The election will be conducted in accordance with the By-Laws. Approval for said special election will be conducted at the Board Meeting and at the January General Membership meeting. Voting will take place at the succeeding General Membership meeting or where otherwise approved by the above. All active members for at least six (6) months shall be eligible to run for any elected or non-elected office other than that of President.
F- Write-In’s Definition
A member of the Capital City Firebirds, who wishes to
run for an elected office but is not nominated at the Annual Meeting may run as
a write-in candidate. All “Write-In’s” must meet all requirements for the
office being sought as specified by the By-Laws. All “Write-In’s” must
notify the officers of the Capital City Firebirds of his/her intent to be a
“Write-In” and of which office being sought, before the adjournment of the
Annual Meeting.
Each “Write-In” Candidate shall be allowed an
equal amount of time, as is allowed Candidates nominated at the Annual Meeting,
to justify their office qualifications.
G- The office of President shall be elected from the voting membership and must be an active member (Section 3) for at least one (1) year and must have held a lower office position.
H- The
offices of Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected from the
voting
membership and must be an active
member (Section 3) for at least six (6)
months.
Because of the responsibility and importance of these offices, an
individual
may
hold only one office at a time.
I-
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, Vice-President,
Secretary and Treasurer shall meet as scheduled by the President.
Section
11: Elected Officer Duties
A PRESIDENT
Presides over
regular membership and officer meetings.
Provides
meeting place.
Retains
copies of monthly membership chairperson’s reports.
Selects
persons to be club photographers.
Decides
what officers will maintain club items.
Receives
and distributes the mail.
Acts as the
main contact for other persons trying to reach the club.
Appoints Club
Newsletter Editor, Publisher, Printer and
Website Director.
B VICE-PRESIDENT
Presides over regular membership and officer
meetings in absence of the
President.
Maintains club library, banners, additional newsletters, etc.
Handles
all club correspondence not specifically designated by another
officer’s duties with all other
officers assistance.
Maintains
club photo album.
Registers all new members and mails out membership
packets.
Keeps a current membership list and reports it to other officers.
Mails out membership renewal notices.
Greets new members and introduces them at club events.
Helps the treasurer with dues and renewals.
C
SECRETARY
Responsible for taking event attendance.
Responsible for sending out letters and special notices
to
membership.
Takes accurate notes of meetings and club events for
reporting to the membership and publication in the
Newsletter.
D
TREASURER
Handles all banking and bill paying for the club.
Maintains
a set of books with financial records for
membership to view.
Maintains a checking account with the PRESIDENT as co-signer.
Receives dues and other payments to club and records
their origin.
SECTION
12: CODE OF CONDUCT
A-
OFFICERS
ALL
OFFICERS WILL MAINTAIN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP (Section 3) WITH THE CLUB.
ALL
OFFICERS WILL HAVE A TELEPHONE AND CLUB DIRECTORY.
ALL
OFFICERS WILL CONTRIBUTE REPORTS TO THE MEETINGS AND NEWSLETTER.
ANY
OFFICER MISSING 3 CLUB MEETINGS WITHOUT A VALID EXCUSE SHALL BE DISMISSED.
(Section 7)
ALL
OFFICERS MUST TURN IN CLUB ITEMS WHEN THEIR TERM EXPIRES.
B-
GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT
ALL
MEMBERS WILL CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN AN ORDERLY MANNER TO ENSURE AND RESPECT THE
RIGHTS OF OTHERS AND THEIR PROPERTY.
MEMBERS
WILL OBEY ANY AND ALL RULES OF ANY ESTABLISHMENT WHERE CLUB FUNCTIONS ARE HELD
ACCORDING TO THE PROPRIETER OF THE LOCATION.
MEMBERS
MAY NOT POSE AS A CLUB OFFICER UNLESS OTHERWISE ARRANGED.
EMERGENCY
SPENDING CANNOT EXCEED 2/3 OF NONCOMMITTED FUNDS IN TREASURY.
WHEN
MEMBERS ARE SPEAKING, OTHER ARE REQUIRED TO LISTEN.
ALL
MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR OFFICIAL CLUB SHIRTS AND OR JACKETS TO CLUB
EVENTS.
ALL
MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUY CLUB CLOTHING E.G. HATS, SHIRTS, JACKETS, ETC.
PARTIES
AFTER CLUB FUNCTIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED CLUB FUNCTIONS AND MEMBERS DO SO AT
THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
SECTION
13 CONVOYS
No
passing in convoy unless a reason requires it.
A
member will be designated for each trip as a convoy leader.
The
last car in the line will pull over with anyone who breaks down and the convoy
will continue to the nearest safe stopping point. Only leave for emergencies.
Follow
in convoy at a close but safe distance.
All
firebirds go first in a convoy unless special circumstances apply.
No
horseplay, burnouts, or speeding in convoy. You are a representative of the
Capital City Firebirds.
No
alcoholic beverages ever should be consumed while driving at any time.
Cars
unable to keep up may request the convoy go slower.
Members
are requested and encouraged to have two way radios and use channel 2 for
convoy.
SECTION
14: ANNUAL AWARDS
As
voted on by the Board of Directors, the following awards may be given:
Outstanding
service award
Appreciation
awards
Rookie
of the year award
Participation
awards
Miscellaneous
recognition awards for service throughout the year
There
will also be awards for holding an officer position. The president may make
other awards he feels warranted at any time, with Board of Directors approval.
Annual
awards will be given out at the Christmas dinner.
SECTION
15: AMENDMENT TO THE BY- LAWS
Any
member may propose an amendment to the By- Laws by submitting a written proposal
to the officers. The officers will in turn and after review, propose the
amendment to the general membership. Upon such proposal being made, a copy
thereof shall be included in the notice of the next meeting. Two thirds of the
members present must vote in favor of the proposed amendment in order that the
amendment be approved and adopted.
SECTION
16: PERSONAL LIABILITY