BY-LAWS
SMOKY MOUNTAIN WHEELMEN BICYCLE CLUB
Revised
Article I
Name
The name of this organization shall be SMOKY MOUNTAIN WHEELMEN BICYCLE CLUB. The
official colors shall be yellow and green.
Article II
Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the general interest of
cycling in all its phases, consistent with the provisions of a corporation, not
for profit, in the State of
These include making available to cyclists of all abilities the opportunity
to participate in appropriate cycling activities; providing bicycle-related
educational services and materials to
club members, the community, and government officials; encouraging, planning,
and facilitating touring and other forms of recreational cycling activities;
representing the interests and rights of local cyclists; encouraging the
allocation of facilities for cycling on public lands; encouraging all cyclists
to observe and obey all traffic regulations; and advocating recognition of the
bicycle as
a vehicle used for recreation, health, and economical transportation.
The club shall be affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists and with the Bicycle
Federation of Tennessee.
Article
Membership
Anyone supporting the purposes of this organization, and in accordance with the
bylaws, is eligible for membership. A person must be 18 years of age to obtain
a single membership status.
Membership may be either a single individual or family; a family consists of persons married and/or with the same permanent mailing address. A Membership may be terminated by a vote of 3/4 of the members attending a regular or special meeting.
Annual Membership renewal for all members will be on the first day of March each year. Fees for the next twelve months will be due and payable at that time. Members joining after the renewal period will be billed a pro-rated amount based on the length of the remaining membership period.
Membership privileges will be suspended on any account that is sixty days or more in arrears.
An Associate Member is defined as a bike related business offering a discount for goods or services to members of the Smoky Mountain Wheelmen. An Associate Member does not pay dues or have voting privileges.
Article IV
Revenues and Expenditures
A checking account in the name of the Smoky Mountain Wheelmen will be
maintained to pay for Club expenses. The
President and Treasurer will each have signature power on the account.
Dues
Club dues shall be set by the Executive Board upon recommendation of the Finance Committee.
Other income
The club may derive income from fees for events, from contributions, from fees
for members' assistance in conducting events held by other organizations, and
other activities consistent
with section 501 (C) (7) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Expenditures
The only revenue expenditures which may be approved by the Executive Board are
for newsletter costs, event insurance, club affiliation with the League of
American Bicyclists, membership
in the
Bicycle Federation of Tennessee, Post Office Box rent, telephone expenses for
the Hot Line, expenses of the Events
Committee purchase and provision of educational services and materials,
and miscellaneous expenses consistent
with purposes of the club and section 501 (C) (7) of the U.S. Internal Revenue
Code. All other expenditures must be voted on by the members.
Article V
Officers
The following officers shall be elected by the membership. These officers,
together with the appointed chairpersons of permanent club committees, shall
constitute the Executive Board.
(1) President, (2) Vice-President, (3) Secretary, (4) Treasurer, (5) Road
Captain.
The term of office shall be January 1st through December 31st.
Officers receive one
year complimentary membership for the year following a year of service.
The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint temporary committees,
appoint chairpersons of permanent committees to serve until the next election
unless replaced, and chair Board meetings.
The Vice-President shall preside in the
absence of the President and assume the President's office if the office is vacated.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of club and executive meetings, maintain the
order of club membership records, and
report minutes of club meetings to the club membership via the first club
newsletter published after the club meeting.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for club finances, maintain a budget,
collect and record dues, pay bills, and prepare reports of receipts and
expenditures. An Annual Treasurer’s
Report shall
be printed in the club newsletter in the second month following the end of the
fiscal year.
Road Captain shall coordinate and appoint leaders for all club rides and
tours. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, the Road Captain
will assume the powers of
their offices.
Article VI
Elections
Election of club officers shall be held annually in November. An ad hoc
nominating committee appointed by the President shall present a list of
candidates for the offices to be filled. A list of
these candidates will be mailed to the members prior to the election
meeting. Additional names may be
placed in nomination from the floor immediately prior to the election. A
plurality vote shall be necessary to elect. Newly elected officers shall assume
their offices immediately after the election.
The President shall only cast a
vote in the event of a tie. Upon
knowledge of an office vacancy, other then the office of President, that office
shall be filled at a regular or special meeting by majority vote of the members
present until standard election guidelines can be followed. The elected shall assume the position for the
remainder of the existing term.
Article
Meetings
Regular meetings shall be held monthly as determined by the President to allow
the best presentation of a particular program or activity. Special meetings may
be called by the President upon a two-week written notice to the entire
membership whenever required. The annual meeting shall be held at some time
during the fourth quarter of the calendar year at the discretion of the
Executive Board. The President may call an Executive Board meeting at any time
by contacting the members of the Executive Board and any other interested persons.
No official business other than that which can be conducted by the Executive
Board may be conducted at the Board meeting.
Article VIII
Order of Business
The order of business at regular meetings shall be:
1. Welcome and introduction of new members and visitors.
2. Approval of minutes of previous regular, special, and/or Board meetings.
3. Reports of officers and committees.
4. Announcement of tours, special
meetings, programs, etc.
5. Unfinished business
6. New Business
7. Adjournment
(The President may change this order of
business to accommodate special circumstances.)
Article IX
Committees
The permanent committees of this organization shall be:
1. Finance (advised by the Treasurer)
2. Membership Services (advised by the
Secretary)
3. Events (advised by the Road Captain)
4. Education (advised by the President)
The Finance Committee shall be chaired by the Vice-President and have as its duties the planning and supervising of fund raising, the annual audit of financial records and the preparation of an annual budget to be presented to the membership by November 31st for the following calendar year.
The duties of the Membership Services Committee shall be
to issue or case to be issued at regular intervals a publication to be sent to
all members carrying news of club activities, recruit new members, to promote the club and its activities in any
practical ways. The editor of the newsletter “Pedal Notes” will be a permanent member of
this committee.
The duties of the Events
Committee shall include to
schedule, plan, publicize, and
conduct the club’s annual
The duties of the Education
Committee shall be to instruct all new members
in the rules for safe riding, and to cooperate with authorities and others in
the promotion of bicycle safely education in the community and to
promote the construction and maintenance of roadways fit for bicycle use and to
represent the interests of bicyclists in local, state, and federal governmental
bodies as appropriate; consistent with section 501 (C) (7) of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code. Permanent members of this committee will be
Article X
Quorum
A quorum of the membership for the purpose of conducting club business shall
consist of those members present at any regular or special meeting announced to
the entire membership. Members may be represented by a written proxy. Proxies and ballots for all scheduled votes such
as elections of officers shall appear in the newsletter prior to the
appropriate monthly meeting. A family membership shall count as two members,
each with a vote.
Article XI
Amendments
Amendments to the Charter and By-Laws may be proposed in writing by any member
at a regular meeting and shall be incorporated into these Bylaws after a
two-week written notice has been sent to the entire membership and if approved
by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the next regular meeting (or
special meeting called by the President with a two-week written notice to the
entire membership) counting all votes cast by mail or by written proxy.