Sec. 1. 

Name.

The name of the club is The Grand Rapids Griffins Booster Club, Inc.  The Club shall be incorporated so that all liabilities rest only on the Club itself.        

Sec. 2.

Purpose 

The purpose of the Club is to promote the Grand Rapids Griffins (the “Team”), the American Hockey League and/or Hockey Booster Clubs of America , and to support hockey in general.  The Club will also help to promote the image and general welfare of the sport of ice hockey, specifically the interests and prosperity of the Team, and to stimulate public sentiment in the Team’s favor.  The Club also intends to hold social events and activities.  The Club, in its efforts, will be nonpartisan and nonsectarian.  The Grand Rapids Griffins Booster Club is meant to be an extension of the team.

Sec. 3.

  Rules. 

The rules contained in these Bylaws shall take precedence over any other rules which govern organizations.  The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the Club in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Club.

Sec. 1. 

General.

Membership in the Club shall be extended to any person regardless of age, sex, race, national origin, or religion, and who otherwise meets eligibility requirements.  Membership will be contingent upon complying with the requirements set forth in these Bylaws, including, without limitation, payment of dues.  Members may be removed from the membership rolls at the discretion of the Executive Board for conduct detrimental to the Grand Rapids Griffins Booster Club.

Sec. 2.

Types of Membership. 

There shall be four types of membership:  Individual, Family, Lifetime, and Honorary.  All Club events are "Members Only’ except for the Silent Auction.

  A. 

Individual Membership.

Individual Membership in good standing shall include full voting privileges and shall be extended to any individual. 

  B.

  Family Membership.

Family Membership in good standing shall include all individuals sharing the same mailing address for Club purposes and shall be limited to two votes. The names of all persons who are to be included in said Family Membership dues must be submitted at the time application is made for membership.  Additional family members may be added thereafter to said membership only upon consent from a majority of the Executive Board.

  C.

  Lifetime Membership

Any individual in good standing may be nominated for Lifetime Membership by any member of the Club.  This membership shall be the same type of membership (Individual or Family) the individual has at the time of nomination.  Said nomination shall be in a written setting of the candidate's qualifications and shall be submitted at any general meeting of the Club members.  The nomination shall then be published in the Club's newsletter and shall be voted on at the next regular meeting of the Club.  The nominee must receive a vote of acceptance from a ¾ majority of members present at a duly convened meeting in order to be elected to Lifetime status. Lifetime members shall have all the rights and privileges of membership (including voting privileges), but shall not be required to pay dues.  A maximum of two (2) Individual Memberships or two (2) Family Memberships per year may be    admitted to Lifetime Membership.

  D. 

Honorary Membership.

Honorary members in good standing shall include the current management, current and former players of the Team and individuals who also help to promote the image and general welfare of the sport of ice hockey and who have received Executive Board approval.  Such membership shall include no voting privileges nor shall they be required to pay annual membership.

Sec. 3.

Dues.

Annual membership dues shall be determined by a ¾ majority of the Executive Board present at a duly convened meeting, which shall not become effective until the following fiscal year.  There shall be a dues amount established by the Executive Board for the categories of individual and family memberships.  Dues shall be for the period of one year, starting October 1 and terminating the following September 30. 

Memberships received after the Awards Banquet shall run from date received
through September 30 of the following year.

Sec. 1.

 Executive Board.

Any and all Executive Board members shall serve as an "ex-officio" member of all other committees except for Nominations/Elections.  The Executive Board shall consist of four officers and one member-at-large, as follows: 

President

The President shall preside over all membership and Board meetings, shall appoint the Chairpersons of the standing committees, and temporary committees as deemed necessary, and shall serve as an "ex-officio" member of all committees.

Vice-President

In the Absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all of the duties of the President and shall fill the President's office should it be deemed necessary.  The Vice-President may also be the "Annual" Silent Auction Chairperson.  The Vice-President shall also be the Nomination/Election Chairperson for all elections.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep complete and accurate accounting records of all receipts and disbursements of the Club according to generally accepted principles of accounting and shall include records and accounting of all assets and inventory owned by the Club.  The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other funds in the name of and to the credit of the Club in such depositories as may be designated by the Executive Board.  The Treasurer shall render to the President and the Executive Board a financial report of receipts and disbursements for the current period and shall have available the complete set of financial records accounting for the financial condition of the Club at all meetings of the Club, and said records shall be available for an audit every two years or more if deemed necessary by the President or the Executive Board.  In the event of dissolution of the Club, a final audit shall be performed.

The Treasurer shall be charged with filing any and all federal and state tax reports or any other documents required to be filed by law with any governmental agency or otherwise, and shall do so in a timely manner. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the formulation, design, preparation, maintenance, and issuance of general operating procedures and financial operating procedures, forms and reports for all activities that are related to the receipt and/or disbursement of the Club's moneys or funds, which procedures shall be subject to approval by the Executive Board.

The Treasurer will be responsible for the preparation and execution of the Club's   general operating budget and any sub-budgets of authorized committees in adherence with the procedures established by the Club. The Treasurer, in the absence of the President and Vice-President, shall perform the duties of these offices.

Secretary

The Secretary will be responsible for keeping all minutes of the meetings, both membership and Executive Board, provide copies to the Executive Board    and keep a copy for the files, keeping the attendance records, and shall also be    responsible for keeping copies of all Club correspondence.

Sec. 2.

Attendance at Meetings.

All Executive Board members are expected to attend general membership meetings.  A majority quorum at an Executive Board meeting equals three (3) of the five (5) officers.  Members of the Club holding an elected position that are absent from a combination of five (5) regular membership and Executive Board meetings during a fiscal year will forfeit their right to hold office.  They may seek reinstatement by an approved motion at the following general membership meeting after the fifth offense.

Sec. 3

Committees.

Executive Board members shall be assigned committees by the President to oversee and advise when necessary.  They will be responsible to report back to the Executive Board.  Committee chairpersons may be invited to attend Executive Board meetings; this is not mandatory and if not in attendance, they do not forfeit their positions.  In the event a committee loses its chairperson, the Executive Board may act as temporary committee chairperson.

Sec. 4.

American Hockey League and Hockey Booster Clubs of America Convention(s).

The delegates to a Booster Club Convention shall be selected from the Executive Board when possible.  A stipend (to be determined for each convention) is paid    to these delegates with the value voted upon prior to said convention by the    Executive Board.

Sec. 5.

Appointed Officials.

Member-at-Large

The Member-at-Large is to be appointed by the Executive Board, will attend Executive Board meetings giving any input he feels is pertinent and is a voting member of the Executive Board.  The Member-at-Large term shall be no more than one year, from appointment to the following election.

Sergeant-at-Arms

The Sergeant-at-Arms as appointed by the Executive Board shall maintain order at the meetings, tally hand votes at the meetings, and have such other duties as are assigned by the President.

Sec. 6.

Authorized Signatories.

There shall be two authorized signatures on any accounts of the Grand Rapids Griffins Booster Club, those signatures being the President's and the Treasurer's.  No other signatures will be authorized without ratification and                                      approval by the Executive Board.  This is for the sole purpose of having someone able to carry on the financial business of the Club in the event that the current        Treasurer would be unavailable due to circumstances beyond his/her control.    Two signatures are not required on checks issued.

Sec. 7.

 Purchases. 

Purchasing by a general member, an executive board member, a committee chairperson or other needs prior approval for expenditures over $100. These proposed expenditures will be first approved by the Executive Board and then they must come before the general membership meeting, if possible; otherwise, a telephone and/or electronic mail vote will be taken.  Chairpersons will not have budgets but will be given bulk prices of spending for certain articles;   anything over that bulk amount will need prior approval from the Executive Board.

Sec. 8

Club Business.

At no time shall a member conduct business on behalf of the Club or use the Club's name without prior approval of the Executive Board.  All business that is       conducted by the Club must be approved by the Executive Board prior to any public announcement or actual business being conducted.  This statement is not limited to sale of merchandise, raffles and tickets to events.         

No member, acting for the Club, may solicit donations or gifts of any kind without    a vote of prior approval of the Board.  Acceptance and disposition of any contributions must have prior approval of the Board.

Sec. 1.

Standing Committees

Standing Committees shall serve the regular and continuing requirements of the Club for the duration of any current membership year.  A committee chairperson shall be appointed by the President.  Standing Committees are:

Banquets / Events

will be responsible for the organization of all social events with Booster Club members and anything connected with the event

Bylaws

Will be the responsibility of the Executive Board with General Membership approval of any and all changes.  Revision dates must be added to the "Legend"
(located on last page).

Fundraising

Will staff the Club table and will be responsible for fundraising events with Executive Board approval; all moneys collected from fundraising events will be turned over to the Treasurer.

Only items authorized by the Grand Rapids Griffins Booster Club Executive            Board may be sold, displayed and/or handed out at the Club table/booth.  Persons or organizations wishing to display, hand out or sell non-club merchandise, handouts, raffles or other items should send their written request to the Executive Board for approval.

Historian

Will be responsible to maintain, gather pertinent information for the Booster Club history book(s).  This includes invitations to events, thank you notes, and letters    and pictures of special events.  Other duties the historian is responsible for will constitute assigning and working with Booster Club members doing scrapbooks   for team players and others as determined.  The Historian is not responsible for doing a scrapbook for a player, coach or other, but may choose to do so.

Membership

Will staff the Club table during membership renewals or drives, keep the
membership rolls, and submit the membership money to the Treasurer.

Newsletter

Will be responsible for the printing and distributing the Club's newsletter on a monthly, timely, basis.  Any money collected for the sale of ads will be submitted to the Treasurer.  Articles are due by the Executive Board Meeting date, to be mailed by the month's end.

Nomination / Election

Shall gather the platforms for newsletter publication and act as clearing house for information of those nominated, and run the election.  The Vice-President shall be the Chairperson of this Committee (at least two (2) other Booster Club members should be on this committee at election time).

Road Trip

Until further notice, this committee is temporarily suspended.

Sec. 2.

Temporary Committees

A Temporary Committee may be established from time to time by the Executive Board for satisfying the temporary or special needs of the Club that are   not met by the Standing Committees.

Sec. 1. 

General Meetings

The Club shall conduct a general meeting once a month during the time
period between September of one year and May of the following year.

Sec. 2.

 Executive Board Meetings

Executive Board meetings may be held on a monthly basis, or as deemed necessary, and a majority quorum must exist.

Sec. 1.

Nominations

Candidates interested in running for an office should contact the Nomination/Election Committee prior to the April meeting.  In addition, preliminary nominations will be taken from the floor at the March and April meetings by the Nomination/Election Committee.  At the April meeting, final nominations will be made.  All candidates will introduce themselves, read their platforms at the meeting and then submit them for publication in the May newsletter.  No further nominations will be accepted after the April meeting.

Sec. 2.

Elections

Elections shall be held during the last General Membership meeting before
the summer break.  The Nomination/Election Committee will be responsible for printing and handing out ballots.  The Chairperson shall read the results as soon   as they are tallied.  Whenever a vacancy exists in an elected position, a special   election shall be held at the next general membership meeting to fill the vacancy.

Sec. 3.

  Ballots

Eligible voters shall be issued ballots at the last General Membership meeting before the summer break.  Any member may request an absentee ballot from the   Nomination/Election Committee.  The Committee will mail all absentee ballots, which must be returned postmarked at least two (2) days prior to the general election.  Said ballots shall remain sealed until the day of the election, then opened and validated by the election judges.

Sec. 4

Candidate Qualifications

Candidates for office must have attended five meetings during the fiscal year through the March meeting.  Executive Board candidates must be 21 years of age or older by the date of elections.  All offices shall be for a two- (2-) year term beginning immediately after they are elected and ending two years later immediately after the election date.  All officers, upon the expiration of their term of office, shall turn over all property of the Club in their possession to their successors in office.

Sec. 1. 

Inurement of Income

No part of the net earnings of the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Club shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

Sec. 2

Legislative or Political Activities

No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Club shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Sec. 3.

Limitations

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Club shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on

(a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Sec. 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law); or   

(b) By a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Sec. 170(c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Sec. 4.

Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the Club, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or
making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Club, dispose of all the assets of the Club exclusively for the purposes of the Club in such manner, or   to such organization or organizations, organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Sec. 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Board shall determine.  Any such assets not so disposed of by the Circuit Court of Kent County, Michigan, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization, as said Court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.