Sample Bylaws

[StickyFingers]

Here is a sample set of bylaws.
We need to get our tax stuff in order but we need bylaws and Articles of Association. I am not sure yet what that requires but at least we can get started on the bylaws.
I had posted them before and had done some editing. Unfortunately due to the website problem the edits were lost. No problem lets just do it again. I know lots of you are just looking for something to post about so here is your opportunity.
Please read throught them and give me your input. Maybe you can remember what I have forgotten.

BY LAWS
Southern California Powerstrokes

ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Southern California Powerstrokes, hereinafter known as SoCAPS.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
The purpose of the SoCAPS shall be to develop, foster and promote enjoying Ford Powerstrokes.
ARTICLE III: Membership
SECTION 1. Any reputable person owning or planning to buy a Ford Diesel may become a member upon completing the membership questionnaire on www.socaps.com Hereafter known as “the website”.
SECTION 2. No dues will be charged.
SECTION 3. Any member may be suspended By a majority vote of the executive committee, for:
Willfully violating the official rules of the website after one warning.
ARTICLE IV: Executive Council
SECTION 1. Members
The Executive Council shall be made up of the officers of SoCAPS.
SECTION 2. Authority
a. The Executive Council shall have full power to conduct the business of the SoCAPS between meetings provided such business is not contrary to the bylaws of the SoCAPS.
b. The Executive Council shall define and interpret these bylaws and its rulings shall be official unless overturned by the delegates assembled at a meeting by a two-thirds vote.
SECTION 3. Meetings
a. The Executive Council shall meet at the Call of the President or any two (2) members of the Council.
b. A quorum for any meeting of the Exec Council shall be Four (4) members.
c. The Executive Council may conduct business by mail or telephone when necessary.
d. Official decisions made by the Executive Council that affect the general membership shall be
published on the SoCAPS website.
ARTICLE V: Officers
SECTION 1. The officers of the SoCAPS shall be
a. A President.
b. Activities & Events Chairman.
c. A Secretary-Treasurer.
d. Chef
e. Photo Administrator
f. Moderator 1
g. Moderator 2
SECTION 2. Duties of officers
a. The President shall:
1. be the chief executive officer of the SoCAPS
2. Develop revise and maintain SoCAPS contracts.

b. The Activities Chairman:
1. In their order, assume the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President
2. Supervise the planning and execution of all meetings and activities.
3. Assist the President, when requested and assume any duties their offices may imply.
c. The Secretary-Treasurer shall:
1.Be custodian of all funds, property. Records and other SoCAPS owned assets.
2. Keep records of all monies received disbursed; provide a monthly written statement of same to the Executive Council.
3.pay all bills for routine supplies and all special purchases that have been approved by the Executive Council
d. The Chef shall:
1. Supervise the planning and cooking of all foods at meetings and gatherings.
e. The Photo Administrator Shall:
1. Administer and monitor the photo albums to ensure website rules are followed.
2. Shall have the authority to suspend any Photos deemed to be offensive or obscene until a decision can be made by the executive committee.

f.&g. The Moderators Shall:
1. Oversee the website to ensure that the website rules are followed.
2. Suspend or censor posts until and executive committee decision can be made.

SECTION 6. Eligibility of officers
a. All officers shall be SoCAPS members in good standing.

SECTION 7. Candidates for SoCAPS office must announce their candidacy in writing to be Posted on the website no later than March 15.
SECTION 8. & Terms of office
a. All officers shall serve a two-year term.
b. The first election to be held March 31,2004
SECTION 9. Removal from office
a. Any officer may be removed from office upon failure to perform the duties of the office or for any reason that brings discredit to the SoCAPS.
b. Removal from office shall be by majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Council.
SECTION 10. Vacancies in office
Any vacancies in office except that of President shall be filled within thirty days by the President with the approval of the Executive Council.
SECTION 11. Records and property held by officers. During the last thirty days of their term, all outgoing officers and committee chairs shall deliver to their successors in office all records and property of the SoCAPS in their possession.
ARTICLE VI: Website Rules
SECTION 1. The website rules shall be;
a. Obscene or offensive posts, words or pictures are not allowed. Posts will either be suspended or censored to bring them into compliance.
b. Members shall attempt to stay on topic, Posts deemed to be off topic shall be suspended or moved at the moderator’s discretion.
c. Members can be suspended only be a majority vote of the executive committee.
d. Members who feel they have been treated unfairly can appeal by sending a “Private Message” to the secretary who can poll the executive committee for a ruling.
e. Blatant advertising will only be allowed in the for sale section, and in the group buy section providing that post is reguarding a group buy. Providing testimonials to another's products is not considered advertising.


ARTICLE VII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceeding of the SoCAPS in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII: Amendments
SECTION 1. These bylaws may be amended as follows:
a. At any Meeting held, by a two-thirds vote provided previous notice was given on the website.


Edits shown in italics

[Drakon]

Very straight forward and to the point. I think we have a very good beginning with these bylaws. By the way Sheryl, are you sure you aren't a lawyer in disguise?

Jeff

[RwL]

Good work Sheryl.

Been trying to post this between site glitches.
Looked through some bylaws of organizations i've belonged to, tailored some suggestions to fit your example.

Some notes/suggestions:

Two-thirds vote of membership will become unreasonably hard to make constructive changes for club when membership level gets high.

Website rules or Club rules should not be explicitly stated in bylaws largely due to bylaw changes with a large membership can be troublesome. Should be separate document that can be tailored as time/experience progresses.

suggestion:
ARTICLE VI: Club & Website Rules
a. The "Club & Website Rules" are modified by majority vote of the council at any regular meeting, changes to be effective within ___ after posting on website
b. The Executive Council is responsible for enforcement of the rules.
c. Members can be suspended only be a majority vote of the EC.
d. Members who feel they have been treated unfairly can appeal by sending a “Private Message” to the secretary who can poll the executive committee (council) for a ruling

SECTION 8. & Terms of office
add
Terms of office shall be limited to two consecutive terms (Of course, with the exception of Chef)

SECTION 9. Removal from office
"Removal from office shall be by majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Council."
Should be by some percentage of general membership, reason- membership unanimously puts someone in office, then as few as 3 or 4 persons (BOD/EC) could remove him, countering a progressive "changing of the guard" by membership or even allowing the creation of a "good ol' boys club" by those in office. no offense Sheryl.

Do the membership get prior notice of the Executive Council meetings & what will be discussed? Are they open to membership?

Possibly a Meeting Section;

Article ? Meetings
Section 1 Regular Meetings
Regular meetings will be announced on the website, which will include place & time at least thirty days prior to the date. If changes of date or time occur less than thirty days, efforts to communicate those changes to the membership may include website banners, popups, flashing type or emails.

Section 2 Annual Meeting
The Annual meeting shall be held in March of every year. Notice of every Annual Meeting of the club shall be posted/emailed by the Secretary to every member of the club at least _______ before the date of such meeting.

At the Annual Meeting, the order of Business shall be:
1. Minutes of the previous meeting.
2. Reports of Officers.
3. Accomplishments/progress reports.
4. Annual election results.
5. Vote on proposed bylaws changes.
6. Vote on additional published agenda items

Section 3: Special Meetings
A special meeting of the club may be called by the Board of Directors (Executive Council) or whenever a majority of the voting members of the club shall make a written or email request or website poll to the President for the same, specifying the object of the meeting.

Section 4: Conduct of Meetings
All meetings shall be conducted according to parliamentary laws, and open discussion from the floor on all measures shall be permitted and encouraged.

Section 5: Board Meetings
The Executive Council shall meet at the Call of the President or any two (2) members of the Council.


Some possible tweaking/additions:
Annual Membership Meeting- Quorum, since Bylaw changes require membership vote, maybe a quorum would constitute all that are in attendance
Dissolution- usually item to cover how, who & disposition of any assets

Since the site is still having problems, I'll stop for now before I break it good this time

RwL

[StickyFingers]

Ok guys I know I do not remember all the fine comments you all made last time so please repost your comments (made before the crash).
Thanks, Sheryl

[Swanee]

Yeah! Like I can even remember what I had for breakfast!
I think you already incorporated a lot of it anyway, didn't you Sheryl?
RwL has brought up some very good points, but it's gonna be hard to hash them out here. Maybe if we could get someone who is good at saving stuff to print it out and bring it to the next meeting, we could go over all of it there. I think we would get more participation that way. But if someone has an idea, they still need to post it...it would be a real bummer not to have the info because they thought "Oh, I'll be there, I can bring it up then." and then have them not able to make it.
I would also think that we could get a whole lot more of this stuff done at a picinic type meeting than one with a whole lot of other stuff going on.