FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER BYLAWS FORMAT
CONSTITUTION CRUISERS, INC. CHAPTER
ARTICLE I - CHAPTER NAME
The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the Constitution Cruisers, Inc.
Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as chapter and
FMCA.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT
1.
PURPOSE: This chapter exists to promote social, recreational, and informational
exchange activities that provide for the enjoyment and pleasurable use of family member coaches.
2. AREA: This chapter shall be authorized to function in the Northeast Area.
3.
SCOPE: This chapter will have members with a mutual interest in camping and drawn from all of New England.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
1.
ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for and to maintain membership in the chapter,
a person must be in good standing with FMCA, and meet the dues requirement and provisions set forth in the bylaws of this
chapter.
Membership in this chapter shall not be denied any person because of race, sex, religion, color, marital or family
status, age, nationality, or disability.
2.
The term “family unit,” is defined as a person; his or her spouse, or partner; dependents of each, regardless
of age; non-dependent grandchildren and great-grandchildren aged 18 and under.
3.
The term “membership,” is defined as either a family unit or an individual or individuals owning a qualifying
motor coach who share a membership number.
4.
The term “member,” is defined as each adult who, jointly or individually, constitutes a membership. The voting rights of each member are defined in the description of each category.
5.
A member must own a qualifying motor coach (motorhome) or at least 1/3 interest in a qualifying motor coach (motorhome)
in order to vote or hold office in this chapter.
6.
The term “qualifying motor coach,” is defined as a self-propelled, completely self-contained vehicle that
contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent sanitary facilities, and in which the
driver’s area is directly accessible in a walking position from the living quarters.
The terms motor coach and motorhome may be used interchangeably.
7. DUES AND FEES:
A. ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment
of chapter and national dues enables persons to become active members and entitled to all rights and privileges of the chapter
and FMCA. The annual dues for membership in the chapter shall be an amount as
the membership shall establish.
B. RENEWAL: Renewal
dues from chapter members become due and payable by 12/31.
C. INITIAL APPLICATION: Application
for new membership shall be accompanied by payment of annual chapter and national dues (unless already an FMCA member). If an initial application is accepted after September 1, the dues shall be regarded
as covering the next membership year.
D. INITIATION FEE: New and
reinstated members may be required to pay an initiation fee in an amount to be established by the chapter membership.
E. ARREARS: Any member
whose dues remain unpaid for more than thirty days after becoming due shall be considered delinquent; after sixty days membership
is canceled.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
1.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS: The duties of elected officers shall be as defined
in the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
2.
TERMS OF OFFICE: The elected officers of this chapter shall serve a two
year term of office, or until their successors are elected.
3. RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS:
A. A member must own a qualifying motor coach (motorhome) or at least 1/3
interest in a qualifying motor coach (motorhome) in order to vote or hold office in this chapter.
B. An individual FMCA member may hold office(s) in only 1 chapter.
C. Individual FMCA members may hold no more than 2 offices in the same chapter.
D. Any member in good standing may be nominated from the floor for any
elective office.
E. Only Full Members, Full Lifetime Members, Life Members, or Honorary
Members who have advanced from one of these classes have the right to hold office in this chapter.
F. No official or member shall become vested of any right, title
to, or interest in any chapter property, except as required by law.
4. EXECUTIVE BOARD:
A. The officers of the chapter shall constitute the Executive Board.
B. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs
of the chapter between its business meetings. The Board shall be subject to the
orders of the chapter, and none of its acts shall be in conflict with the chapter or FMCA.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
1.
APPOINTMENT: Committee members and chairperson (except Nominating Committee)
shall be appointed by the president.
2.
DUTIES: All committees shall function within the policies of the chapter
and (except Nominating Committee) under the direction of the president. Financial
reports, vouchers, and monies due the chapter shall be submitted on a timely basis.
3. QUORUM: A committee quorum shall be a majority.
ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
1.
AUTHORITY: This chapter shall be democratically self-governed, deriving
its existence and authority from the consent of its membership assembled in meeting or, in certain instances, by mail vote
on stated propositions.
2.
ORGANIZATIONAL YEAR: The fiscal and membership year of the chapter shall
commence on January 1st and end on December 31st
3. CHAPTER MEETINGS:
A. TYPES: The term “meeting”
shall include coach rallies, campouts, dinner meetings, and any other gatherings suitable to the function of the chapter.
B. BUSINESS MEETINGS: The
chapter must hold at least 1 business meeting each membership year at which a quorum is present. Said meeting shall be duly announced in advance to the membership.
C. OFFICER ELECTION: The
voting general membership is to elect chapter officers, including a president, one or more vice president(s), a secretary,
a treasurer, a national director, and an alternate national director. A national
director and an alternate national director are not applicable for an associate chapter.
D. QUORUM: A quorum for the
transaction of business at any duly-called chapter meeting is 25% of the chapter family unit memberships or 15 family unit
memberships, whichever is less. A quorum for an associate chapter shall be 25%
of the chapter family unit memberships or 15 family unit memberships, whichever is less, but not less than 4.
E. VOTING: Except as
specified elsewhere in these bylaws, a simple majority vote of F# and L# members in good standing and voting shall be required
to approve or disapprove any matter.
The chapter has established that voting will be one vote for each adult member.
Balloting by mail may be undertaken when a proposed matter is voted to be of such importance or urgency that
a
total membership vote is advisable.
F. PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS: The
rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this chapter's proceedings
to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA, and the bylaws
of this chapter.
4.
MAINTAINING AFFILIATION:
This chapter must maintain a minimum
of 15 family unit memberships.
The chapter secretary shall furnish to the national office of FMCA, no later than December 31st each year,
a membership list, a list of chapter officers, and assurance that a business meeting was held.
5.
ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit
of the chapter’s financial books and records shall be undertaken and reported to the membership.
6.
APPLICATION OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS: This chapter accepts
and agrees that the chapter bylaws shall conform to any mandatory requirements stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaws of
FMCA.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
A. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than 3 chapter members
in good standing, nominated and elected every other year by the chapter membership.
B. Election of an individual to the Nominating Committee shall not
prohibit that person from being nominated for elected office.
2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE DUTIES:
A. To select one of its members as Nominating Committee Chairman.
B. To nominate candidates for the chapter offices of president, one
or more vice president(s), secretary, treasurer, national director, and an alternate national director for the new term to
be presented for voting by the chapter membership. A national director and an
alternate national director are not applicable for an associate chapter.
C. To obtain clear acceptance of the nominees to serve the chapter
should they be elected.
D. To make certain that nominated candidates are members in good standing
and qualified under applicable national and chapter bylaws.
E. To nominate candidates to fill vacancies that occur in elected
chapter offices.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1.
MANDATORY AMENDMENTS: National Bylaw amendments applicable to chapter
operations shall be automatically adopted by the chapter and are not subject to a vote by the chapter membership.
2.
AMENDING PROCEDURE: These bylaws may be amended by a 65% affirmative vote
of the members present and voting at a duly-called meeting, providing that prior notice of at least 30 days has been given
of the proposition(s) to amend.
Any member
of the chapter may propose amendments to the bylaws.
Approved amendments to these bylaws become effective immediately upon their adoption, or at such time as specified
in the amendment.
3.
DISTRIBUTION: Copies of changes, additions, amendments, or revisions to
these bylaws shall be forwarded to the national office and to the National Area Vice President.
ARTICLE IX - LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
This chapter of FMCA may be dissolved by a majority vote of chapter members. All of the remaining assets of the chapter shall be contributed to the purpose(s) for which the chapter
is organized, or to a qualified non-profit charity or charities.
EFFECTIVE: June 5th, 2011
(Date the chapter voted on the bylaws or amendments to the bylaws)
