Cochnewagan Trailblazer’s Snowmobile Club

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

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 object 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 good 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

Membership in the club shall consist of owners of snowmobiles and interested parties.

A. Any person 16 years of age or over may become a member of the club by submitting an application, along with one year's dues to any member ofthe club in good standing.

B. Family membership shall include wife or partner and their children under 18 years of age.

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

D. Businesses may become club members. To become a club member the business must submit an application, along with payment ofone year's dues, to any member ofthe 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 officers. The club Board of Directors shall consist of seven members vho include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Trailmaster and hvo elected at-large club members who do not serve as 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.

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 of all transactions and to represent it upon any and all occasions. In the President's absence or at their request, the Vice President or anyone the President shall appoint will preside and represent the club.

B. The Secretary shall keep all 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 on the previous meeting.

C. The Treasurer shall collect all the money, including dues, and properly receipt all moneys 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 club funds may be kept in checking and savings accounts that shall be maintained under the club's name. A pocket change collection at each meeting shall serve as a petty cash fund. At each meeting the Treasurer shall submit a detailed report showing the balance brought forward from the previous meeting. The Treasurer shall also report in detail on all moneys received and disbursed since the previous meeting.

D. The Board of Directors will be called upon to consider, advise or decide on issues brought before them by 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 guilty, that person shall be subject to fine, punishment, 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. Members vill be responsible for the conduct of their family.

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

F. The Trailmaster will appoint regional assistants to maintain and report back to the Trailmaster on trails in their respective geographic section of the toW'll. As each meeting the Trailmaster, and/or regional assistants, 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.

ARTICLE VI. DUES

A. Annual dues paid by the members shall be fixed from time to time 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 ofthe meeting at which any change is made.

B. All dues shall include, as part of the dues, membership in the MSA, unless said applicant is already a member ofthe MSA for the membership period.

C. Membership periods shall run concurrently with MSA membership periods.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Meetings shall be the second and fourth Tuesday of the month beginning in September and ending in May. Meetings shall also be the fourth Tuesday of the month during the months of June, July and August. Five members shall represent a quarum, to hold vote on any issue,

ARTICLE VIII. 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 with paid up dues 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 meeting.

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 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 during any club activity.

ARTICLE X. 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 other special events as provided in this article.

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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