Granite City Trail Riders ATV Club

Section 1. The name of this club shall be “Granite City Trail Riders ATV Club”, herein called the club.

Section 2. The purposes of this club are:

• to build trails/develop new riding areas
• to organize group trail rides
• to provide activities in a family friendly atmosphere
• to stimulate and advance the general welfare and safety of ATVing
• to provide a medium for the exchange of ATVing information
• to develop a fraternal spirit among local ATVers and other recreational enthusiasts
• to serve the interests of ATVing owners
• to own or lease property for club uses
• to perform all desirable and lawful functions for the successful operation of the club and in the general public interest

Section 1. Membership in the Club shall consist of the following classes

a)      Active Members (Single/Family)

b)      Associate and Honorary Members (optional)

Section 2. To be considered an “active member in good standing” requires that payment of annual dues must be current and the member is in full compliance with Article II, and Sections 1, 3, 4, and 5

Section 3. Active membership is available to all ATV owners and or enthusiasts without regard to sex, race, or religious beliefs. Active membership shall extend to all members of a cohabitating family. Applicant under the age of 18 must be sponsored by a custodial adult.

Section 4.  Applications for membership shall be made in writing addressed to the Secretary of the Club on the appropriate form containing an agreement by the applicant to abide by the required dues and Club purposes as stated in Article 1, Section 2.

Section 5. It is not required that each active member be registered as a member of the A.T.V. Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) but is highly encouraged to join ATVAM either on their own or thru the local ATV club.

Section 6. A member may resign from the Club at any time upon written notice to the Secretary.

Section 7. Membership in the Club may be terminated by majority vote of the Board of Directors in the event of non-payment of dues or other action not consistent with the By-laws of the Club. Termination of any member shall not release said member from obligation to pay all dues and other amounts owed within the period of membership.

Section 8. The Board of Directors may establish the qualifications and rights of Associate and Honorary Members.

Section 1. The amount of dues as well as the time for their payment shall be determined from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.

Section 1. The fiscal year of the club shall commence on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December.

Section 1. The management of the Club is vested in the Board of Directors.

Section 1. The officers of the Club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, ATVAM representative, Immediate past President, and Three at-large members. These nine shall constitute the Club’s Board of Directors.

Section 2. The President shall serve for a term of three years. The Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, ATVAM representative, and three at-large members shall serve for a term of two years. Any officers may succeed themselves in any office if they are duly elected. These terms will be staggered.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected from the membership by plurality vote who are in attendance at the membership meeting held in the month of January. Vacancies occurring between such elections shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Board of Directors at any meeting.

Section 4. All officers shall take office immediately upon election and hold office for a term of as noted in Article VI sec 2  or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the beginning of the 1^st even date year, the club shall hold a election a Secretary, ATVAM Rep., and 1 At Large Rep. for a term of 1 year and the Vice President, Treasurer, and 2 At Large Reps. for 2 years and thereafter 2 years,

Section 5. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of its Board of Directors and shall oversee and coordinate such teams/committees as are authorized by the Club. He or she shall be a member ex-officio of all such teams/committees ands hall carry on those other responsibilities assigned to him or her by these by-laws and the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint all standing teams/committees of the Club.

Section 6. The Vice-President, during the absence or temporary incapacity of the President, shall perform the duties and have powers of the President.

Section 7. The Secretary shall keep all Club records, except financial records, including minutes of meetings, roster of members, list of committees and their members, shall send out notices of meetings, receive applications for membership, and discharge all of the usual secretarial functions of the office required by these by-laws.

Section 8. The Treasurer shall keep all financial records of the Club and have charge of its funds. He or she shall keep all of the funds in a bank approved by the Club and in the name of the Club. He or she shall disburse such funds of the Club under direction of the Club. Withdrawals shall be made by check signed in such a manner as may be approved from time to time by the Club. A Treasurer’s report shall be prepared for each Board Meeting. The Treasurer shall submit a quarterly profit and loss statement to the Board and general membership.

The President shall appoint an Audit Committee, consisting of three members, to review the Club’s financial records and prepare an annual audit report which shall be submitted at the January annual membership meeting. A separate audit of the Club’s financial records shall be conducted whenever there is a change in Treasurers. The Board of Directors may elect to use an independent auditor as they see fit.

Section 9. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the Club except when meeting of the Club are in session. All matters affecting the policies, aims and means of accomplishing the purposes of the Club not specifically provided for in this constitution or by action of the membership at a regular or special meeting shall be decided by the board of directors. The board shall meet at the call of the president or of a majority of the members of the board. A report on all actions taken by the board of directors shall be made to the membership at the next  meeting. A majority of the members of the board of directors shall be required for a quorum.

Section 10. All officers shall have such other powers and duties as are required by law.

Section 11. Specific Board of Director’s duties: The at-large members, the ATVAM representative, Vice-President, and the Immediate Past President shall serve as liaison members to the following standing teams or organizations:

At-large #1 Publicity Team, includes News letter

At-large #2 Activities Team

At-large #3 Trail Team

Immediate Past President Club Resource Team

Vic President Membership Team

ATVAM Representative Liaison to ATVAM, other ATV Clubs and all motorized vehicle organizations.

Article VII – General Membership Meetings

Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the members of the Club shall be held in January, each year, at the time

And place designated by the Board of Directors. The Major business of this meeting shall be the election of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Regular meetings of the members of the Club shall be held monthly at the time and place fixed by resolution at the previous meeting or as designated by the President or by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.  Special meetings of the Club may be called by the Board of Directors, or by the President, or by any group of 15 active members by giving adequate notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meetings.

Section 4. Written notices of the time and place of the Annual and all other meetings of the membership shall be prepared and distributed to the membership by the Secretary.

Section 5. The active members present at any duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum. Any formal action taken at any meeting of the membership shall require a majority vote of these active members present. Each active member age 18 or older shall be entitled to one vote.

Article VIII – Election Procedures

Section 1. A “qualified member” must be 18 years of age or older who is an “active member in good standing’ as defined under Article II, Section 2.

Section 2. A Nominating Committee of at least 3 persons shall be appointed by the President from the qualified members. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed two months prior to the date of the scheduled elections.

Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall place in nomination candidates for election of the Board of Directors for each prospective vacancy from among the names of the qualified members of the Club. The Nominating Committee shall submit their slate of officers one month prior to the date of the scheduled election.

Section 4. Nominations by the Nominating Committee shall be made at the regular or special meeting of the Club held in January of each year. At least fifteen days advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the nomination meeting. A nominating committee may be appointed or elected to make nominations, but whether or not such a nominating committee is used, nominations shall be permitted from the floor at the nomination meeting. All regular elections shall be held at the January meeting.

Section 5. To be eligible for office a member must be a qualified member, as defined under Article VIII, Section 1.

Section 6. Officers and directors shall be elected by secret ballot vote and the balloting shall be so conducted as to afford to all qualified members a reasonable opportunity to vote. At least fifteen days advance notice shall be given the membership prior to the holding of the election.

Section 1. Roberts Rules of Order revised shall be the guide in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.

Section 1. These By-laws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the active members attending the Annual Meeting, or at any meeting of the Club provided 30 days notice of intent to amend is published.

Section 1. If the Club should split, the assets and liabilities shall be distributed in proportion to the continuing and splitting members. The Board of Directors shall determine the value of the current assets and shall determine which assets shall be transferred to the splitting Club.

Article XII – Dissolution

Section 1. In the event that this Club shall disband, all assets shall be disbursed to nonprofit organizations as determined by the Board of Directors.