Cochnewagan Trailblazer’s Snowmobile Club

Cochnewagan Trailblazers Snowmobile Club
By-Laws
Originally Adopted 1970
Amended June 14,1990
Amended November 25,2003
Amended August 10, 2010

ARTICLE 1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the COCHNEWAGAN TRAILBLAZERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB of Monmouth, Maine referred to as the club.

ARTICLE II. OBJECT

The objective of The Club is to form a body of snowmobile owners and interested parties and to unite its members to bring about and maintain public acceptance and support of the use of snowmobiles in the following categories:

A. Promote safe snowmobiling and a positive public image for The Club and its members through adherence to safety practices and respect for individual and general public safety. To promote and encourage the proper use of snowmobiles, snowmobile equipment and trail landowner property.

B. To assist anyone in any emergency with your snowmobile when your own safety is not impaired. To be of assistance to any public safety agency when the need arises. To promote and encourage laws for protection of the rights of individuals, snowmobilers and trail landowners.

C. Establish, maintain and mark all club-accepted trails. Organize outings.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

A. A member of The Club in good standing is defined as a member who is current with Club dues and shall adhere to all Club By-Laws.

B. Family membership shall include, husband, wife, and or partner and their children under 19 years of age.

C. Any member on active duty status with the armed forces shall enjoy free membership and free assessment for the duration of their enlistment.

D. Businesses may become Club members. To become a Club member the business must submit an application, along with payment of one year’s dues, to any member of The Club in good standing.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

The Club shall be governed by and its works directed through vested powers of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trailmaster hereinafter known as the Club Executive Officers. The Club Board of Directors shall consist of seven members who include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Trailmaster and two elected Club members who do not serve as Executive Club Officers.

A. The Board of Directors, MSA Director(s) and MSA Director Alternate(s) shall be elected annually at the last meeting in March and will take office at the next meeting.

B. All voting for the Board of Directors and MSA Director(s) shall be by paper vote, unless otherwise requested by a majority vote of the participants at the meeting. The nominees for each office receiving the majority of the votes will be declared elected. Members must be present to vote.

C. The President shall appoint a committee of tellers who are not candidates for election to supervise the election until the results are ascertained.

D. If a vacancy occurs in an office other than the President, a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be called. The board shall appoint a willing club member to fill the vacancy until the next election. If the office of President is vacated, the Vice President shall assume the office until the annual election.

ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

The duties of the officers are as follows:

A. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of The Club, judge impartially all transactions and to represent it upon any and all occasions.

B. The Vice President or anyone the President shall appoint will preside and represent The Club in the President’s absence or at his or her request.

C. The Secretary shall keep records of all the proceedings of The Club and receive and answer The Club’s correspondence. At each meeting, all important correspondence shall be read and a full report submitted regarding the previous meeting.

D. The Treasurer shall collect all the money including dues, and properly receipt all monies collected. From such funds, the Treasurer shall pay all bills which have been authorized by The Club or by any committee duly authorized to incur such debt. All of The Club’s financial accounts shall be kept at a financial institution that shall be maintained under The Club’s name. A petty cash fund shall be maintained by the treasurer.

E. The Trailmaster will appoint section chiefs to maintain and report back to the Trailmaster on trails in their respective geographic section of the town. At each meeting the Trailmaster, and or section chiefs will report on the conditions of trails and any work that needs to be done. The Trailmaster will have control and responsibility for all trail equipment owned by The Club, and make assignments for the usage of that equipment.

F. The Board of Directors will be called upon to consider, advise or decide on issues brought before The Club membership in the best interests of The Club.

Any member reported to be damaging The Club’s image shall be brought before the Board of Directors, along with the person who makes the complaint, for a hearing. If found at fault, that person may be subject to an equitable financial charge, suspension or expulsion. If a member fails to appear on any misconduct or misuse charge against The Club, the Board may still consider all evidence offered and render a decision on the matter. All deliberations shall be in public and a decision shall be reached within 30 days of the hearing and recorded in The Club minutes. If any member is convicted in court for the violation of any law pertaining to snowmobiling, it shall be prima facie evidence The Club image has been damaged and the Board will consider the case accordingly.

G. The MSA Director(s) or Alternate(s) will attend, whenever possible, all MSA meetings and report at the next Club meeting.

ARTICLE VI. DUES

A. Annual dues paid by the members shall be fixed by vote of The Club at any meeting, but no more often than once per year. Dues shall be amounts reasonable and necessary to carry out the activities of The Club and shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting at which any change is made.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Meetings shall be the second Tuesday of the month.

ARTICLE VIII. SPECIAL MEETINGS

Special meetings may be called on a five-day notice by the President. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting except that for which the meeting was called. No business shall be carried out on outings, cookouts, or special events as provided in this article.

ARTICLE IX FINES

A. A $1.00 fine will be assessed for any mentioning of any specific make of snowmobile during an open meeting.

B. A $1.00 fine will be assessed for discharge of litter at any Club activity.

ARTICLE X GOVERNMENT

A. Voting rights: Every individual member 16 or over, if they are present shall have one vote. Family membership shall be allowed two votes if two or more family members aged 16 or over are present. Each business membership shall have one vote if present. A person may vote only once although they may represent multiple memberships (for example representing a business and family membership). These voting rights apply to election of the Board of Directors, all Club spending, and all other matters pertaining to the Club. Only members in good standing who have been members of the Club for more than 30 days shall have voting rights.

B. Activities and events may be suggested by any Club member and decided upon by the majority of the members present at the meetings.

C. Policies of The Club shall be decided upon by a majority of members present at the meeting and reflected in the Club minutes.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting following notification of club members by a reasonable means and provided that reading of the proposed by-law changes was made at a previous meeting.

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