FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER BYLAWS

COVERED WAGONS CHAPTER

 ARTICLE I -CHAPTER NAME

The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the Covered Wagons Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the 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/SCOPE: This Chapter shall be authorized to function in the Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri Areas.  The Chapter is a member of the FMCA South Central area.

 

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 requirements 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.      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.

 

 

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS (CONTINUED)

6. DUES AND FEES:

  1. ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment of Chapter and National dues enables persons to become/remain active members, 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 members shall establish.
  2. RENEWAL: Renewal dues from Chapter members become due and payable each year by the September meeting.
  3. 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 the July meeting, the dues shall be regarded as covering the next membership year.
  4. INITIATION FEE: New and reinstated members may be required to pay an initiation fee in an amount to be established by the Chapter membership.
  5. ARREARS: Any member whose dues remain unpaid by November 30th shall be considered delinquent; after December 15th, 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.  An elected officer may serve no more than 2 two-year terms, or any combination of one-year and two-year terms, not to exceed a total of four years, in each of the positions without taking a break for at least two years.  A term of service of less than one year in any officer position shall not be counted as part of the term or year limit requirement.

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 hold office in this Chapter.

B.     An individual FMCA member may hold office(s) in only one chapter.

C.     Individual FMCA members may hold no more than two offices in the same chapter.

D.     Any member in good standing may be nominated from the floor for any elective office.

 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS (CONTINUED)

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 officer 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 Chairpersons (except Nominating Committee and Immediate Past-President) shall be appointed by the President.  Committee Chairpersons (except Nominating Committee and Immediate Past-President) shall appoint their committee members.

2.      DUTIES: All committees shall function within the policies of the Chapter and (except Nominating Committee and Immediate Past-President) 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 of the committee members.

4.      Committee Chairpersons and Committee members must be members in good standing of the Chapter and FMCA.

5.      IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT AND DUTIES: The Immediate Past-President of the chapter shall serve as an advisor to the Executive Board and shall automatically be replaced when another Chapter President retires and takes over the position.

 

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.

 

 

ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION (CONTINUED)

2.      ORGANIZATONAL YEAR: The fiscal, elected office and membership year of the Chapter shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31.

3.      CHAPTER MEETINGS:

A.     TYPES: The term "meeting" shall include rallies, campouts, dinner meetings, and any other gatherings suitable to the function of the Chapter.

B.     BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Chapter must hold at least 2 business meetings each membership year at which a quorum is present. Said meetings must be at least 14 days apart and be duly announced in advance to the membership.

C.     ANNUAL ELECTION: One of the business meetings shall be an Annual Meeting at which an election is held if required. The voting members are to elect by mail ballot Chapter officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and Alternate National Director. The Nominating Committee shall present its slate of officers at the August meeting.  Nominations shall be taken from the floor at this time and included on the mail-in ballot.  There will be room provided on the ballot for write-in candidates. Results will be announced at the October meeting.

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.

E.      VOTING: Except as specified elsewhere in these Bylaws, a simple majority vote of F# and L# Members in good standing shall be required to approve or disapprove any matter.

1)      Voting will be 1 vote for each adult member. The election of officers shall be balloting by mail.  Other 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 the last week in December, a membership list, a list of chapter officers, and assurance that 2 business meetings were held.

5.      ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit of the Chapter's financial books and records shall be undertaken and reported to the membership.

 

 

ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION (CONTINUED)

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 by the Chapter membership. The Nominating Committee term of duty is two years. 

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, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and Alternate National Director as required by Article IV 2.

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 FMCA and Chapter bylaws.

E.      To present the proposed slate of officers to the Chapter members for a vote.

F.      To nominate candidates to fill vacancies that occur in elected Chapter offices.  In the event of a permanent vacancy in any office, the President, subject to the advice and consent of the Executive Board, shall fill the vacancy from a slate of nominees presented by the Nominating Committee.  Such appointments shall remain in effect until the next regular election of officers.

 

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.

 

ARTICLE VIII- AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS (CONTINUED)

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, the National Area Vice President and to the Chapter membership.

 

ARTICLE IX -LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution of this Chapter of FMCA, by majority vote of the chapter, 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:            __May 26, 2007

                                  After Chapter approval of FMCA amendments

                         Amended January 26, 2008