The North Coast Striders, Inc. Bylaws

(Adopted by the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting on December 15, 2002)

Article I:    Title and Status

  1. The name of this organization shall be The North Coast Striders, Inc., hereafter referred to as the "club". The club is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of California. All dues, entry fees, and other monies received by the club shall be used to carry out the stated objectives of the club. No officer, director, or any club member shall be compensated from club monies except for authorized expenses.

Article II:    Objectives and Mission Statement

  1. The primary objective of the club shall be to promote and encourage running and walking and to educate the public about the benefits of physical fitness.

  2. In furtherance of this objective the club may hold races on the road or track, sponsor lectures, clinics and social events, print and publish newsletters and articles using various media of communication, make awards, engage in community activities, engage in fund raising activities, and do all such things that may encourage running and walking.
Club Mission Statement: An organization to meet like-minded individuals who share an interest in walking and running for fitness.

Article III:    Affiliation

  1. This club shall be a member of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). All rules adopted by the RRCA are obligatory for member clubs, including payment of dues.

Article IV:    Membership

  1. Eligibility: Any person who is interested in running and walking shall be eligible for membership. No person may be denied membership because of race, religion, creed, gender, ethnic origin, age, or sexual orientation.

  2. Classes of Membership:

    1. Individual

    2. Family: A group residing at a single address whether or not related by blood or legal contract. A family membership shall receive one newsletter and a subscription to RRCA's quarterly magazine Foot Notes. An individual and each family member shall be eligible for discounts on race entry fees and club merchandise.

    3. Honorary: A person who has contributed to the club in an extraordinary way whereas the club has benefited from those contributions and is considered worthy of merit and deserve board recognition. An honorary membership has the same rights and privileges as an individual or family member. A list of all honorary members shall be recorded with the club secretary. An honorary membership is considered for life unless that individual who has been bestowed the honor petitions the board to permanently decline the membership for whatever reasons.

    4. Complimentary: A person whose membership is granted and designated on a yearly basis through board action for service appreciated by the Board of Directors. A complimentary membership has the same rights and privileges as an individual or family member. A list of all complimentary memberships shall be recorded with the club secretary and the club's membership committe coordinator.

  3. Privileges of membership: All individual members and all family members age eighteen and over are eligible to vote, to hold office, and to serve on committees. All individual and family members are eligible for discounts on race entry fees and club merchandise.

Article V:    Dues

  1. Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Eligible members have the option to pay dues in increments of 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year. All dues are to be paid in full 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year increments regardless of when the dues are paid. Dues shall not be prorated for any member. Honorary and complimentary members are not required to pay dues.

  2. Delinquent Dues: Any member who fails to pay dues within sixty days of the due date shall be deemed delinquent and forfeit all privileges of membership.

  3. A portion of the club dues shall be paid for the annual subscription to the RRCA's quarterly magazine.

Article VI:    Meetings

  1. Membership Meetings: There shall be an annual membership meeting each year. At a minimum, the time and place of the meeting shall be announced in the club newsletter or other separate mailing at least twenty days prior to the meeting. Announcements may be posted on the telephone message center, the club's official website, and the club's designated bulletin board. Other membership meetings may be called by the President or by any six members in good standing. Time and place of such meetings shall be announced and posted in the newsletter, the club's designated bulletin board, the club's telephone message center, and the club's official website.

  2. Board of Directors Meetings: the Board of Directors shall meet as needed but not fewer than six times a year. Time and place of board meetings are to be announced and made available to the general membership.

  3. Quorum: A quorum at a general membership meeting shall be twice the number of board members plus one. A quorum at a board of directors meetings shall be five.

  4. Parliamentary Authority: All meetings shall be conducted by latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VII:    Officers

  1. The officers of the club shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

  2. Duties

    1.  

    1. President: The President shall preside over all meetings, represent the club to the RRCA, call any special meetings, appoint committee chairpersons, and be a non-voting ex officio member of all committees.

    2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President and perform special assignments as requested by the President.

    3. Secretary: The Secretary shall be custodian of the official records and correspondence of the club, record minutes of all board of director meetings and see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these bylaws. The secretary shall draft all written ballots used for contested positions.

    4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be custodian of all club funds, shall keep accounts according to generally accepted bookkeeping principles, shall receive and disburse funds as directed by the Board of Directors, shall give an accurate account of the status of the club funds at each meeting of the Board of Directors, shall require a full accounting of expenditures of club funds by other club members, and shall prepare a written annual financial report including an income and expense statement.

  2. Vacancies: Vacancy in an elected office shall be filled by appointment by the President with approval of the board. Appointees shall serve until the next election. The Vice-President shall assume the vacancy in the presidency and the Vice-President vacancy shall be assumed by appointment from the Board of Directors.

Article VIII:    Board of Directors

  1. Membership: The Board of Directors shall consist of the four officers and five elected directors from the general membership.

  2. Terms of Office: Directors shall serve for two years unless the director has been appointed and is assuming the term of a vacancy.

  3. Duties: The Board of Directors shall formulate all policies for the betterment of the club, approve the expenditure of funds, approve all presidential appointments, appoint race directors, approve race plans, be responsible for club equipment including making provisions of its safe storage, determine when and how to join with other organizations to stage races, and promote and develop the club.

Article IX:    Resignation and Removal of Officers and Directors

  1. Resignation: Any officers or directors may resign by giving written notice to the Board of Directors.

  1.  

  2. Removal: Removal of any officers or directors requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Board of Directors.

Article X:    Committees

  1. The club may form standing or ad hoc committees. If standing committees are formed, they may be for Publicity, Membership, Policy, Race, and Course.

  2. Duties: If standing committees are formed, they shall have the following responsibilities:

    1. Publicity: All contacts with the news media and publicizing all club activities.

    2. Membership: Keeping the membership records, notifying members when dues are delinquent, recruiting new members and retention of existing members.

    3. Policy: Analyze policy matters for the Board of Directors before such policies are adopted.

    4. Race: Overseeing races and recommending to the Board of Directors changes that need to be made in race guidelines and policies.

    5. Course: Assuring that courses are measured correctly.

    6. Ad hoc: Other issues or challenges that the club may seek to resolute or pursue through a temporary committee, but do not have any of the functions of the other standing committees.

 

Article XI:    Elections

  1. Procedure: Elections shall take place at the annual membership meeting in even-numbered years. The Nominations Committee shall provide a slate of candidates for the offices of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and five Directors. At the meeting, any member may nominate competing candidates for any office or directorship. All qualified members at the meeting are entitled to vote. Absentee and proxy ballots will not be accepted. Written ballots shall be used for contested positions and counted by the Secretary and one Director of the Board. Successful candidates shall take office at the first Board of Directors meeting in the succeeding calendar year, and the outgoing Vice-President shall become President. Incumbent officers and directors do not have term limits and may be re-elected to succeed themselves.

  2. Nominations Committee: The committee shall consist of three club members. One shall be a Director appointed by the President, one shall be a member chosen by the Board from the general membership at-large, and the third shall be chosen by the first two. The members shall serve until resignation or replacement.

Article XII:    Newsletter Editor

  1. Term: The Newsletter Editor shall be a club member appointed by the Board of Directors. The length of the appointment shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

  2. Duties: The duties and responsibilities of the Club News Letter Editor shall be as directed by the Board of Directors per memorandum through the Club Secretary.

Article XIII:    Club Webmaster

  1. Term: Appointment of Club Webmaster shall be made from amongst the general membership by the Board of Directors. The length of the appointment shall be determined by the Board of Directors. If no appointment is made or a vacancy is not filled, the Board of Directors shall have the discretion to contract with a private consultant to maintain the club's website.

  2. Duties: The duties and responsibilities of the Club Webmaster shall be as directed by the Board of Directors per memorandum through the Club Secretary.

Article XIV:    Amendment of Bylaws

  1. These bylaws, or any part of them, may be amended, repealed or replaced by a majority of the Board of Directors present at any regularly scheduled meeting, provided the changes have been announced at least twenty days prior to the meeting in the club newsletter or other separate mailing, and other media. Any member in good standing may request that the changes be submitted to the general membership for approval by notifying the Board of Directors in writing before the changes are adopted.

Article XV:    Dissolution

  1. In the event of dissolution of this organization, the funds in the treasury and other assets, after all creditors have been paid, shall go to the Road Runners Club of America or other 501(c)(3) non-profit organization preferably based in Lake and/or Mendocino County with similar interest in running and walking, or other recreational activity that promotes health and fitness.

The above Bylaws were amended as written and adopted by the Board of Directors on December 15, 2002.

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