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BYLAWS OF
THE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS BOOSTER CLUB, INC.
October 17, 2006
ARTICLE
I
NAME, PURPOSE AND INCORPORATION
Section 1.
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Name.
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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.
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Section 2.
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Purpose
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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
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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.
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Section 3.
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Rules.
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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.
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ARTICLE
II
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1.
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General.
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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.
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Section 2.
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Types of Membership.
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There shall
be four types of membership: Individual, Family, Lifetime, and
Honorary. All Club events are "Members Only’ except for the
Silent Auction.
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A. Individual Membership.
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Individual
Membership in good standing shall include full voting privileges and shall be
extended to any individual.
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B. Family Membership.
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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.
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C. Lifetime Membership
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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.
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D. Honorary Membership.
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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.
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Section 3.
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Dues.
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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.
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ARTICLE
III
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1.
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Executive Board.
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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:
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President
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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.
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Vice-President
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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.
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Treasurer
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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.
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Secretary
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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.
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Section 2.
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Attendance at Meetings.
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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.
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Section 3
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Committees.
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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.
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Section 4.
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American Hockey League and Hockey
Booster Clubs of
America
Convention(s).
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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.
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Section 5.
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Appointed Officials.
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Member-at-Large
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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.
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Sergeant-at-Arms
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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.
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Section 6.
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Authorized Signatories.
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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.
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Section 7.
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Purchases.
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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.
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Section 8
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Club Business.
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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.
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ARTICLE
IV
COMMITTEES
Committees shall be established by the
Board of Directors to satisfy the various needs of the Club. These shall
consist of two (2) types: Standing and Temporary. Committees must turn in
all moneys due the Club to the Treasurer as collected, with final closing
action no later than seven (7) days after the event. All
Chairpersons shall turn in a monthly report, either orally or written, to their
designated
Executive Board member no later than the 5th of the following month.
Section 1.
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Standing Committees.
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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:
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Banquets / Events
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will be
responsible for the organization of all social events with Booster Club
members and anything connected with the event
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Bylaws
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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).
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Fundraising
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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.
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Historian
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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.
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Membership
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Will staff
the Club table during membership renewals or drives, keep the
membership rolls, and submit the membership money to the Treasurer.
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Newsletter
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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.
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Nomination / Election
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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).
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Road Trip
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Until
further notice, this committee is temporarily suspended.
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Section 2.
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Temporary Committees
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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.
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ARTICLE
V
MEETINGS
Section 1.
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General Meetings.
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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.
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Section 2.
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Executive Board Meetings.
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Executive
Board meetings may be held on a monthly basis, or as deemed necessary, and a
majority quorum must exist.
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ARTICLE
VI
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1.
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Nominations.
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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.
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Section 2.
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Elections
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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.
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Section 3.
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Ballots.
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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.
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Section 4
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Candidate Qualifications
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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.
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ARTICLE
VII
AMENDMENTS
Any member may propose an amendment to
the Bylaws. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Bylaws
Committee in writing. If said proposed amendment is approved by a ¾ vote
of the Executive Board present at a duly convened meeting, it shall be
submitted for publication in the next issue of the Newsletter. Discussion
on the proposed amendment(s) shall take place at the next regular meeting of
the Club following publication, and voting on said proposed amendment(s) shall
take place at said meeting. An amendment must receive a ¾ vote of members
present at a duly convened meeting to be passed.
ARTICLE
VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1.
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Inurement of Income.
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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.
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Section 2
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Legislative or Political Activities.
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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.
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Section 3.
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Limitations.
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Notwithstanding
any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Club shall not carry on any other
activities not permitted to be carried on
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(a) by a corporation exempt from
federal income tax under Section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (or
the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue
Law); or
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(b) By a
corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c) (2)
of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future
United States Internal Revenue Law).
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Section 4.
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Dissolution.
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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 Section 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.
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LEGEND:
Approved: 01/29/1997
Revised: 01/23/1998
Revised: 03/21/2000
Revised: 09/18/2001
Revised: 09/24/2002
Revised: 09/23/2003
Revised: 10/17/2006
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