By-Laws of the Strand Brewers' Club |
Revised October 2002
Article 1: Organization
The name of the organization shall be the Strand Brewers' Club
(hereinafter referred to as "SBC").
Article II: Vision
To brew and drink the best damn beer.
Article III: Objectives and Policies
The objectives of the organization are to brew beer; to disseminate among the
members information pertaining to the brewing, consuming, presentation, judging,
and history of beer; to promote home brewing of the freshest and highest quality beer;
to promote and encourage homebrewing competition; and to foster general goodwill throughout
this great nation of ours for the making and consuming of beer.
It is the policy of the SBC to brew and consume beer strictly for fun. Under no
circumstances does the SBC support or condone in any manner the sale or barter of
homebrewed beer, the operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol by a
member or by any participant in any club event, or the provision of alcoholic beverages
to minors.
Article IV: Membership
1. Membership Qualifications
Any person who is interested in the brewing of beer and who is at least 21 years of
age may become a member contingent
upon meeting the requirements of "membership in good standing."
2. Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year shall be the Calendar Year unless otherwise changed by the SBC
officers by a majority vote of the Membership.
3. Dues
- Annual dues for members shall be $25.00 per Member and $10.00 per Member-Spouse or Significant-Other. The amount
of annual membership dues may be adjusted by the SBC officers from time to time, but must be submitted to the membership
for approval at a regular club meeting. A majority vote of those members present at such time a vote is taken shall
be deemed approval. Dues will be paid by all members prior to the start of each fiscal year (the "Due Date").
Members not having paid their annual dues within three months of the Due Date, and who fail to remit them when
duly notified, will be dropped from the membership roster for non-payment, unless an extension is authorized by
the SBC officers prior to the Due Date.
- Dues for New Members will be prorated at a monthly rate, rounded to the next whole dollar beginning at 6 months
after the Due Date.
4. New Members
New members may be accepted at any time, subject to meeting the requirements
of members in good standing.
5. Members In Good Standing
To be a member in good standing, a member must:
- Pay annual dues.
- Demonstrate basic understanding of the homebrewing process and various beer styles.
- Participate in a minimum of at least two club meetings or events per year.
6. Resignations
Resignations may be requested by action of the Officers when, in their majority opinion, the actions or
conduct of a Member brings discredit to the SBC organization. The SBC executive officers shall have the
right to immediately terminate membership to a member by a majority vote, only if it is determined that a
member has brought discredit to the SBC.
Article V: Expenditures
1. Not-for Profit Status
The SBC has been organized and functions as a not-for-profit organization. All monies
received by dues, raffle sales or by any other means shall be used for sustaining the
club and its major objectives.
2. Expenditures
Any expenditure, other than the normal monthly operating expenses, must be approved by
the Officers at a regular or special meeting.
3. Extraordinary Expenditures
Any expenditure over One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) must be approved by the General Membership.
Article VI: Club Officers
1. Composition
The Club Officers shall be composed of five (5) elected officers. The Officers shall meet at
the request of the President or any three (3) Officers.
2. Meetings
The Officers shall meet as required.
3. Attendance
Any Officer who fails to attend three meetings during his or her term, without valid reason,
may be replaced by the Officers without any further action.
4. Motions
Amendments to these By-laws must be presented to the Officers for evaluation. The Officers
will then discuss and evaluate the proposal before passing their recommendations on the
general membership. An amendment must be presented to the general membership and be passed
by a majority vote.
5. Quorum Requirements
A quorum shall consist of three (3) of the Officers.
Article VII: Offices and Duties
1. President
- The President shall preside at regular and special meetings. The President has the authority to
appoint chairpersons to committees and designate the duties of said chair.
- The President must have been a Club Member In Good Standing for the previous 12 months.
- The President may not hold any office within any other brew club.
2. Vice President
- The Vice President shall be responsible for assisting the President as required
with any club
activities and shall also perform the duties of the President during his absence or
temporary disability.
- The Vice President shall be responsible for the administration of the By-laws.
3. Secretary
- The Secretary shall take the minutes at each regular and special meeting. Minutes of each
meeting shall be filed in the club files.
- The Secretary shall maintain the club files. The Secretary is responsible for
the preparation and distribution of the monthly "Dribbles from the Glass" news
brief and for the publication and distribution of the infrequent newsletter,
"Dregs from the Keg." The Secretary may appoint a general editor, if desired,
to meet the latter responsibility.
4. Treasurer
- The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the club and shall maintain a full and
accurate account of all monies.
- The Treasurer shall deposit all monies within seven (7) days of receipt, in the
account of the SBC. All cash receipts shall be verified by the Treasurer and one other
officer at the conclusion of all meetings, events, etc.
- The Treasurer shall file a detailed report quarterly in the club files.
- A detailed account of monies and expenditures shall be made available within
seven (7) days to any member in good standing when requested by the Officers.
- At the commencement of the new Fiscal Year and new officers, bank forms shall be
filled in with the names of the new officers. Checks for business of the club shall
have two (2) signatures: the Treasurer and either the President or Vice-President.
These three signatures shall be on file at the bank.
- All financial records will be submitted annually to an Audit Committee no later
than the second month of the subsequent Fiscal Year. This committee shall be appointed
by the President and shall consist of one (1) officer and two (2) persons from the
general membership, all three of whom shall not be signatories to the account for
the current year not the immediate past year. Auditing records and accounts shall be
open to the President at any time.
5. Activities Director
The Activities Director shall be responsible for developing and organizing all club events.
6. Order of Officers
- If for any reason the President and Vice President shall both be absent from a meeting,
the above order of officers shall be followed in numerical sequence to take the place of the
President and Vice President.
- That officer shall be responsible for seeing that his regular
position is filled in such an event.
7. Qualifications
Anyone who seeks or accepts the responsibility of an Officer or a Committee chairperson
must be willing to assume all the responsibilities set forth in these by-laws and shall
currently be a member in good standing.
8. Terms of Office
- The Electoral Year shall match the Fiscal Year.
- The terms of all elected officers shall be for one (1) year, commencing at the
installation at the beginning of the Electoral Year and continuing to installation
of following year.
- All elected officers have a term limit of two consecutive years in a given office.
9. Nominating Committee
- The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee Chairperson at the general
meeting four months prior to the start of the new Electoral Year.
- The Nominating Committee Chairperson will select two (2) members, at least one
of whom is not an Officer to assist in obtaining candidates for election of the
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Activities Director.
- The list of candidates shall be presented at the general meeting that is three
months prior to the Electoral Year at which time nominations will also be accepted from
the floor.
- All nominations must have had prior approval of the nominee prior to nomination.
- Absentee balloting shall be done by mail and must be received prior to the meeting
that the elections are held during. Other ballots may be handed to the Committee
Chairperson at that same general meeting.
- Installation of new officers shall be held at the general meeting that commences
the electoral and Fiscal Year.
- Election of executive officers shall take place annually, at every the regular
monthly meeting two (2) months prior to the Electoral Year start. Nominations for
officers commence at four (4) months prior to the Electoral Year start. Majority vote
of those members present at that meeting shall constitute appointment for office.
10. Succession of Officers
- In the event an Officer is unable to complete their term of service causing a
vacancy, succession of that Officer shall be according to a predetermined plan:
- The Vice President shall succeed the President.
- For all other Officers, the succession shall be determined by a special election.
- The President shall appoint a special Nominating Committee Chairperson who will
prepare a list of candidates to fill the vacancy. Nominating process will be in general
agreement with Article VII, Section 9 (Nominating Committee) except that the list of
candidates shall be presented within one (1) month.
- The special election shall be held within two (2) months of the creation of the
vacancy.
- The term of service shall be until the end of the current term. This shall not be
counted as a term for the purposes of term limits.
Article VIII: Meetings
Regular meetings shall be held monthly at a day and time agreed to by
the club.
Article IX: Liability
No individual general member nor any member of the Board, nor any authorized
representative of SBC shall be personally liable for any debt or obligation of the
association.
Any business, corporation or any other entity contracted with, or otherwise
having any claim against the club may look only to the current funds and property of
the association for payment of any claim, debt, damages, judgment or decree, or any
money that may become otherwise due and payable to them.
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