of BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN, U.S.A.
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NORTHSIDE
SNOWMOBILE CLUB of BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN, U.S.A. |
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Of
NORTHSIDE SNOWMOBILE CLUB
19 April 2008
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1. The name of this non-profit organization, organized under the laws of
the state of Michigan, shall be the Northside Snowmobile Club, Inc., Post Office
Box 147 , Bedford , Michigan 49020 .
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Section 1. To promote the sport of snowmobiling, safety standards and
legislation.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all persons interested in the sport of
family and recreational snowmobiling.
Section 2. Membership shall be free to retired landowners whose land is leased
by Northside Snowmobile Club.
Section 3. Non-Incumbent board members elected March 2007 or later will be
granted a free membership for that term if they successfully fulfill their
duties. Arrangements for such free membership will be based upon a policy to be
created and recorded by the Board of Directors in accordance with Article IX,
Rules and Regulations.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of twelve (12) members who are
elected by club members at the Spring General Membership Meeting. Terms of
office shall be of two (2) years duration. The six (6) incumbent Directors will
continue to serve for one (1) year. Six Directors will be elected at the Spring
General Membership Meeting for a two-year term. The six candidates receiving the
highest number of votes at this election as well as in future elections for this
purpose will be considered elected. Nominations, in addition to those presented
by the Nomination Committee, shall be called for and accepted from the floor at
the time the election is held. Candidates shall have attained the age of 18 to
be eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors. No person shall be eligible
for election to the Board of Directors or to vote for same unless he/she is a
member in good standing.
Section la. In the event twelve (12) positions on the Board of Directors cannot
be satisfied, by the close of the Spring General Membership Meeting, the Board
of Directors will operate with not less than ten (10) Directors. In the event
ten (10) positions on the Board of Directors are not satisfied, by the close of
the Spring General Membership Meeting, the President may appoint a member, or
members, in good standing to the Board of Directors to bring its number to a
total of at least 10 but not more than 12. This should be done with the advice
and approval of the new Board of Directors and subsequent to electing officers
under Section 3 below.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall also consist of the immediate past
President, who will serve at least a one-year term for continuity and advisement
with a vote.
Section 3. Officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors from among their own number at a meeting to be held within thirty (3O)
days after the Spring General Membership Meeting. They shall hold their offices
for a term of one year and until their successors are elected, at which time all
money, official records, documents, and all property belonging to this club
shall be turned over to such successors.
Section 4. Any officer or director accumulating three (3) consecutive unexcused
absences from any duly called meeting of this body will be automatically
terminated as an officer or director.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President - the President shall preside at all meetings of the club
and preserve order and shall decide all questions of order using as a guide
Roberts Rules of Order. The President shall have the right to vote at all
elections of officers, and when the members and/or Board of Directors are
equally divided on other questions, shall have the deciding vote. The President
shall enforce the provisions of the constitution and bylaws, shall appoint
committee chairpersons from members of the Board of Directors, and shall be
responsible for the general administration of the club. In the event a vacancy
occurs in any of the elected Board members, the President shall appoint a club
member to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. Such appointment
shall be with the advice and approval of a majority of the Directors present
when the appointment is made. The President will conduct Board meetings through
the use of a written agenda. All Board Members shall contribute materials they
wish to have considered for the agenda prepared by the President.
Section 2. Vice-President -the Vice-President shall assist the President in the
discharge of his/her duties and during his/her absence performs the duties of
the President. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the
Vice-President shall succeed to the Presidency and serve the remainder of the
term. The Vice-President is responsible for the completion and submission of the
annual incorporation papers for the club. The Vice-President will notify Board
members one week in advance of scheduled meetings and collect agenda topics for
inclusion by the President.
Section 3. Secretary -the Secretary shall record the minutes of all general
membership and Board of Directors meetings and report same as required by the
President, read all communications, maintain a file on all incoming and outgoing
correspondence. The Secretary will maintain a current file of all members as
provided by the Membership Chairperson.
Section 4. Treasurer -the Treasurer shall receive all money due the club. The
Treasurer shall keep accurate accounts and have the books ready for inspection
by the Board of Directors at all times. The Treasurer shall issue receipts for
all money received. All disbursements shall be supported by pertinent due bills.
The Treasurer shall sign all checks and have them countersigned by either the
President or Secretary. The Treasurer shall make a financial report at all
general membership and Board of Directors meetings. Bills totaling not more than
$75.00 may be honored by the Treasurer between Board of Directors meetings
without approval by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Board of Directors - Members shall attend meetings as scheduled by
the President. They shall, in conjunction with the other officers, conduct the
business of the club throughout the year. They shall provide direction and
policy guidance for the President. They will act on bills of expense not already
delegated by this document for payments by the Treasurer. They will serve as
liaison representatives with club members as assigned to them by the President
and act as their spokesperson at the Board of Directors meeting. They or their
representatives will serve as telephone calling representatives to inform
members assigned to them of club events, last minute changes, etc. Three
members, not on the Board of Directors, as assigned by the President, will
perform an annual audit of the Treasurer's accounts and make a verbal report of
their findings to the President at the Spring General Membership Meeting.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS/MEMBERSHIP/FINANCES
Section 1. The club will hold a minimum of two (2) general membership meetings
annually, one in the spring and one in the fall. The Spring General Membership
Meeting will be held not earlier than the first Saturday in March and not later
than the next to last Saturday in April. The second such meeting will be held
during the fall as determined by the President and approved by the Board of
Directors. The matters of membership in snowmobiling organizations will be
brought before the general membership for consideration at the fall meeting. The
matter of any continued leasing of appropriate meeting facilities will be
brought before the general membership for consideration at the spring meeting.
The Board of Directors will meet at least monthly during the fall and winter
months. Other meetings will be as scheduled by the President. A quorum shall
exist when 5 or more Directors are present at any official meeting of the club.
Section 2. No applicant for membership shall be regarded as being in good
standing until the full amount of his/her dues has been paid. Dues are payable
by December 1 each year. The Board of Directors shall recommend, and a majority
of the members present at the Spring General Membership Meeting shall vote on
the membership fees for the following year. A family membership shall consist of
husband, wife, and their dependents. Dependants are those that are living in the
same home and are under 21 years of age or are attending school full time. All
members as defined above, over age 12, shall have one vote.
Section 3. Each member is allowed two guests at a time. If the same guest has
ridden twice, that guest must join the club to continue using the club trails.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing committees shall be Nomination, Membership, Land
Acquisition, Trail Clearance and Maintenance Committee, Trail Patrol, Social,
Public Relations and Publicity, Education and Training, and delegates to
designated snowmobiling organizations.
Section 2. Committee members shall be appointed by committee chairpersons and
shall serve one year or until a new committee is appointed for the following
year.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEE DUTIES
Section 1. Committee chairpersons shall make plans and submit written progress
reports at the General Membership Meeting and written newsletter/web items
concerning their assigned area of responsibility at Board meetings. They shall
keep accurate records of their expenditures and submit bills to the Treasurer
and/or Board for payments.
Section 2. The Nominations Committee shall present to the Spring General
Membership Meeting a slate of candidates for the Board of Directors. Placing of
names on the ballot shall be by drawing names at random.
Section 3. The Membership Committee shall collect dues money from persons
qualified to join this club. The chairperson shall turn into the treasurer at
least twice monthly all monies collected from the sale of memberships. Likewise
they shall provide the Secretary with a current list of members at the Spring
General Membership Meeting. The chairperson shall order and distribute decals.
The committee shall also distribute trail maps, provided by the Trail Clearance
and Maintenance Committee, as prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The Land Acquisition Committee shall contact pertinent property
owners and make lease arrangements for snowmobile trails. Committee Chair shall
maintain a list of the property owners. A current list shall be submitted to the
President at the Spring General Membership Meeting.
Section 5. The Trail Clearance and Maintenance Committee shall upon being
notified of completed lease arrangements, proceed to clear and mark trails on
the land under lease. This committee shall install gates, stop signs, trail
markers, and in general keep the trails free of limbs and debris in order to
make them safe for riding. They shall make and maintain trail maps. At the end
of each season, they shall remove signs and markers and lock all gates. Trail
markers will be picked up by March 31st annually.
Section 6. The Trail Patrol Committee shall encourage members to obey laws
pertaining to snowmobiles. They shall also enforce rules regarding conduct and
safety practices of club members as set forth by the club officers. They shall
also enforce policies established by club officers concerning the use of trails
by non-members.
Section 7. The Social Committee shall plan for and sponsor all social activities
for the year, including those held in conjunction with the two general meetings.
Section 8. The Public Relations and Publicity Committee will establish relations
with the local news media and publications devoted to snowmobiling. This
committee shall provide items of interest to those sources about snowmobiling
and the people involved therewith. This committee shall also compile and publish
a newsletter covering items of interest to club members. The President shall
determine frequency of publication.
Section 9. The Education and Training Committee shall plan for and sponsor such
education and training covering snowmobile activities as is necessary to the
safety and welfare of club members and their families. Such education and
training will include courses to qualify children 12 to 16 years of age in our
area to obtain snowmobiling permits.
ARTICLE IX
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 1. The Board of Directors, by majority vote of its members, may set
policy, adopt, abolish or modify rules and regulations necessary for the proper
functioning of this organization so long as they are not to conflict with any
provision of this constitution and bylaws.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Written notice of any proposed amendment to this constitution and
bylaws must be given to members at least two (2) weeks prior to such action
being taken. The amendment must be approved by a majority vote of the members
present at the meeting where such action is taken.
ARTICLE XI
ASSUMPTION OF RISK
Section 1. Each Northside Snowmobile Club user, member, member's offspring, and
member guests using the Northside Snowmobile Club's trails, by their use, accept
the risks identified in Sections 2 and 3 of this Article.
Section 2. Each person who participates in the sport of snowmobiling accepts
risks as defined by the State of Michigan in NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION ACT - Act 451 of 1994 324.82126 "assumption of risk - Sec. 82126.(6)"
and all its subsequent revisions. Should the State of Michigan delete this
provision, the following words in Section 3 of this Article stand alone and are
still in force.
Section 3. Each person who participates in the sport of snowmobiling accepts the
risks associated with that sport insofar as the dangers are obvious and
inherent. Those risks include, but are not limited to, injuries to persons or
property that can result from variations in terrain; surface or subsurface snow
or ice conditions; bare spots; rocks, trees, and other forms of natural growth
or debris; or collisions with signs, fences, or other snowmobiles or
snow-grooming equipment. Those risks do not include injuries to persons or
property that can result from the use of a snowmobile by another person in a
careless or negligent manner likely to endanger person or property. When a
snowmobile is operated in the vicinity of a railroad right-of-way, each person
who participates in the sport of snowmobiling additionally assumes risks
including, but not limited to, entanglement with tracks, switches, and ties and
collisions with trains and other equipment and facilities.
Section 4. Any user of the Northside Snowmobile Club's trails who increase their
risks to themselves, leaseholders and landowners by not following the club's
rules and policies or by trespassing off the marked trails, will be asked to
conform or to leave the trails. Those that choose not to conform can be escorted
off the trail by those on the Trail Patrol, club Officers or Directors of the
club. Members that disregard the club's by-laws, rules and policy, more than
once, especially trespassers, will be referred for removal from the club by a
majority vote of the board of directors. Verifiable trespass or malicious damage
of property by anyone on a snowmobile will be referred to authorities for
prosecution.
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