BY-LAWS

Rev. 11/19/99

Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club

ARTICLE I.  Name

 

A. This organization shall be known as the Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club, which may also be known by the initials LCFWDC.

ARTICLE II. Objectives

LCFWDC is organized as a nonprofit Club for the purpose of:

A. Providing social, educational and recreational activities for its membership.

B. Promoting and participating in safe and responsible four wheel drive activities.

C. Keeping members of legislatures informed of the needs of vehicular recreation.

D. Informing members of pending legislation and land use matters.

E. Enjoying and protecting all local, state and national resources.

F. Assisting governmental agencies in the development of off-highway trails and areas.

G. Rendering aid and assistance as needed.

ARTICLE III. Membership

A. There shall be three (3) classes of membership:  Regular, Honorary and Sustaining.

B. Regular Membership shall be limited to members in good standing who are registered owners of a four wheel drive vehicle, are at least eighteen (18) years of age, hold a valid drivers license and meet New Mexico motor vehicle operator financial responsibility requirements.  Good standing is defined as having dues payment current.  Family Regular Membership will be available to members according to the dues schedule specified in the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP).  Family Regular Memberships shall be entitled to a maximum of two votes.

C. Honorary Membership may be bestowed upon a person by vote of the members at a regularly scheduled club meeting, in recognition of service to the club and will be for an indefinite period unless designated otherwise or rescinded by vote of the members.  Honorary members are not entitled to vote.

D. Sustaining Membership shall be available to individuals or business firms who wish to make a donation of money, merchandise, services or equipment to this club.  Sustaining membership shall be conferred by a vote of the members at a regularly scheduled club meeting; and, a plaque or certificate suitable for display will be presented to such sustaining members.  Sustaining members are not entitled to vote.

E.  Application for membership may be submitted to the Board of Directors at any time according to procedures specified in the SOP.

F.  Any membership may be terminated, or not renewed, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors at any Board Meeting.

ARTICLE IV. Dues

A. The dues structure is addressed in the Standing Operating Procedure supplement.

ARTICLE V. Fiscal Year

A. The fiscal year of the LCFWDC shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30 next.

ARTICLE VI. Voting

A. Each Regular Member shall have one (1) vote, with Family Regular Memberships exercising a maximum of two votes by persons at least 18 years of age.

B. There will be no proxy votes.

C. All tie votes shall be broken by the President of the Club.  The President will not vote on motions before the membership except to break a tie.  The President may vote in elections of officers and directors.

D. Those Regular and Family Regular members in good standing present at any regular meeting shall constitute a quorum; and, a majority vote of those members shall be sufficient for any action taken, including election of officers at the Annual Election.

ARTICLE VII.     Officers

A. Officers of LCFWDC shall be:  President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, elected directors and immediate past president as director for one year after term, except when the past president is elected to another office.

ARTICLE VIII.   Election of Officers

A. Nominees for office shall be Regular Members in good standing.

B. All terms of office shall be for one (1) year.

C. No one member may hold more than one (1) office at a time, with the only exception being the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, which may be combined at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

D. The Annual Election shall be the club meeting in May of each year, at which time officers shall be elected for the following fiscal year.  The Board of Directors, acting as a nominating committee, may present a slate of candidates to the membership.  This slate of nominees will be presented to the general membership not later than the issuance of the club newsletter immediately preceding the Annual Election.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor during the Annual Election.  Nominees for office must be present at the Annual Election or have previously filed a letter of intent to accept a nomination for the office nominated for and to serve in that office if elected.  Said letter must be filed with the Secretary prior to the Annual Election.  New officers will take office in July.

ARTICLE IX. Board of Directors

A. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officials identified in Article VII.  The number of elected Directors will be as specified in the Standing Operating Procedure.

B. The Board of Directors shall meet as needed.

C. The functions of the Board of Directors include:

Developing/formulating policy for the operation of the Club.

Approving expenditure of Club funds in amounts not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Investigating alternative options and developing proposals for conduct of the Club's business, to be presented to the general membership for approval.

Planning activities.

Interacting with other agencies and organizations on behalf of the Club.

      Actions proposed by the Board of Directors which entail a financial commitment exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) must be voted on by the regular membership at a regular meeting.

D. Any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled by vote of the members at the first regular meeting after the vacancy occurs.  Should there be no qualified candidates, the office may be left open until such time as there are qualified candidates.  The President of the Club may appoint a member in good standing to perform the duties of the vacant office in the interim.

E.  Members of the Board of Directors may vote at regular meetings, except for the President, who may only vote to break a tie.

ARTICLE X.  Meetings

A. Meetings shall be held once a month, and may be held more often at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

B  All proceedings of this Club will be governed by these By-Laws and the Standing Operating Procedures supplementing them.  All meetings of the Club will be conducted according to Roberts' Rules of Order.

ARTICLE XI. Amendments

A. Amendments to the By-Laws and Standing Operating Procedures will be proposed and recommended by the Board of Directors to the general membership. Such amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of those members present at any club meeting.  Amendments may be proposed from the floor by a majority of members present at any club meeting and presented to the Board of Directors as instructions from the members.  The Board will then consider and prepare the amendments and return them with the Board's recommendation for approval at a regular meeting as described above.

ARTICLE XII.     Recall

A. An elected officer may be recalled by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting provided written notice of the proposed recall is given to the said officer by the Secretary as, directed by the Board of Directors, at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

B. Officers are expected to attend all regular meetings.  Absence from two (2) consecutive meetings without one week prior notification of the President or another officer of the Club shall constitute grounds for immediate removal from office, subject to recommendation by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XIII.   Committees

A. Committees may be established as deemed necessary according to procedures specified in the SOP.

ARTICLE XIV.   Dissolution

A. In the event it shall be found necessary, for any reason, to suspend further operation of this Club, any lawful indebtedness and obligations will be discharged under the guidance of the Board of Directors.  Thereupon, after the satisfaction of such obligations, all residual assets of every kind shall be conveyed by this Club, acting through its proper officers, to such educational, scientific benevolent or charitable organizations as may be selected by the Board of Directors.