Bylaws

Article I   Name and Purpose

1.1       Name.   The name of the Club is "Northwest Paragliding Club".

1.2       Purpose.   The Club is incorporated in the State of Washington as a non-profit corporation for the purpose of encouraging the sport of paragliding.

 

Article II:   Membership

2.1       Interest.   Membership in the Club shall be open to those persons who express an interest in the sport of paragliding.  

2.2       Membership fee.   Members shall pay an annual membership fee, in advance. The membership fee, terms and conditions shall be determined by the members at the Annual Meeting and may be set no lower than an amount which will yield enough income to pay for recurring Club expenses. A family membership shall be available for two or more members of the Club in the same family at 150% of the individual membership fee.

2.3       Disciplinary Action.   A member who is found to have violated the Club Bylaws, policies or rules may be censured, suspended or expelled from the Club.  A member or members accused of a violation shall be notified in writing of the alleged violation, and shall have an opportunity to defend him/herself before the members at a Club meeting prior to a Club vote as set forth in Section 6.9.

2.4       Membership Meetings.   Membership meetings shall be held as follows:

a)      Monthly Club meetings shall be held at a place and time set by the Board.  Notice of Monthly Meetings shall be posted on the Club website. Cancellation of a Monthly Meeting or changes in the time and location shall be posted on the Club website with notices sent to members by email at least two weeks in advance of the meeting date.

b)      The Annual Meeting shall be the November Club meeting. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be provided to members as set forth in Article II, Section 2.4 (d).

c)      Special Meetings may be called at any time by the Club President, Vice-President, or 15% of the members. Notice of Special Meetings shall be provided to members as set forth in Section 2.4 (d).

d)      Notice of Annual Meetings and Special Meetings shall be provided to members via the Club website and email. Notice of Annual Meetings and Special Meetings shall be at least two weeks (but not more than four weeks) prior to the meeting and shall state the time and place of the meeting. If it is a Special Meeting, the purpose shall be stated.


Article III:   Board of Directors

3.1       Board Members.   Members of the Board shall consist of the elected officers and directors of the Club as set forth in Article IV.

3.2       Board Meetings.   The Board shall meet monthly or as otherwise determined by the Club President.

3.3       Authorization of Board.   The Board shall be authorized to:

a)      Confirm the creation of Committees and Committee chairperson appointments made by the President.

b)      Approve the Club budget

c)      Establish policies and procedures for the Club.

3.4       Board Action.   Actions taken by the Board require an absolute majority. Directors absent from Board of Director meetings may vote by email.

3.5       Minutes.    The Secretary or, in the absence of the Secretary, another board member appointed by the President shall keep minutes of board meetings including resolutions adopted or other board actions taken. The minutes shall be distributed to Board members for review and approval. Minutes shall be made available to Club members on the Club website and at the next Monthly Meeting.

3.6       Treasurers Report.   The bi-annual Treasurer’s report shall be distributed to board members for review and approval. The Treasurer’s report shall be made available to Club members on the Club website and at the next Monthly Meeting.

 

Article IV   Officers and Elected Board Members

4.1       Elected Officers.   The elected officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The elected officers shall serve on the Board.

a)      President.    The President shall preside at all Club membership and Board of Director meetings; appoint committees and committee chairpersons with confirmation of the Board; sign and execute contracts on behalf of the Club subject to the spending limits set forth in the bylaws; and shall have supervision over the management of all affairs of the Club.  The Club President shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office of President.

b)      Vice-President.   The Vice-President shall assist the President; conduct meetings in the absence of the President; and serve the remainder of the term should the office of President be vacated. The Vice-President shall perform other duties as may be incident to the office.

c)      Secretary.   The Secretary shall record the minutes for Board of Director meetings, Monthly Meetings and Special Meetings. The Secretary shall keep files of Club correspondence. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office.

d)      Treasurer.   The Treasurer shall keep the membership records; receive and deposit all funds; execute all authorized expenditures; and account for all receipts, disbursements and balances on hand each month. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office.

4.2       Elected Board Members.   The elected Board members of the Club shall include the Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Events Coordinator and three Directors-at-Large. The elected board members shall serve on the Board.

a)      Directors-at-Large. The three Directors-at-Large shall serve on the Board and may be asked to perform additional duties as requested by the President.

b)      Newsletter Editor.   The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for editing content for the Club newsletter and website. The Newsletter Editor shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office.

4.3       Replacement of Officers or Elected Board Members.   Club officers or Directors who miss three consecutive Board meetings or otherwise fail to fulfill the obligations of their office in a prompt and diligent manner may be replaced by an absolute majority vote of the Board.

 

Article V   Committees

5.1       Standing Committees.   Standing Committees shall include the following:  

a)         Election Committee.   The Election Committee shall be responsible for administering Club elections. The Election Committee shall have a minimum of two members. Members of the Election Committee may not be candidates for Club office.

b)         Budget and Finance Committee.   The Budget and Finance Committee shall be responsible for assisting the Treasurer in preparing an annual budget and shall review financial reports prepared by the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee. The Budget and Finance Committee shall have a minimum of one member in addition to the Treasurer that is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Board.

c)         Events Committee.   The Events Committee shall be responsible for planning Club events and activities throughout the year. The Events Coordinator shall be chairperson of the Events Committee.

5.3       Other Committees.   Other committees may be formed from time to time to conduct Club business.

 

Article VI   Voting and Elections

6.1       Voting Method.   Members shall vote for Club Officers and Directors-at-Large; spending initiatives requiring a vote of the membership and amendments to the Bylaws by electronic ballot.

6.2       Standing.   Only members in good standing may vote.

6.3       Election of Officers and Term.   Club Officers and Directors shall be elected by a simple majority of the members within a one-week period following the Annual Meeting. The term of office shall be from January 1st to December 31st. 

6.4       Election of Directors-at-Large.   Directors-at-Large shall be the three candidates receiving the most votes.

6.5       Run-off Election for Officers.   In the event a candidate for a Club Officer does not achieve a simple majority, a run-off election shall be conducted between the top two candidates receiving the most votes. Notice of a run-off election shall be promptly given, with voting to occur within a one-week period following the next Monthly Meeting.

 6.6      Run-off Election for Directors-at-Large.   In the event there is a tie vote for the Director-at-Large position(s), a run-off election shall be conducted between those tied. Notice of a run-off election shall be promptly given, with voting to occur within a one-week period following the next Monthly Meeting.

6.7       Approval of Expenditures.   Club expenditures shall be authorized by the President, Board, or a vote of the membership as follows:

a)      The President may authorize expenditures up to $500 for a single event or purpose.

b)      An absolute majority of the Board may authorize expenditures up to $1,000 for a single event or purpose.

c)      A simple majority of the members voting at a Monthly Meeting, Annual Meeting or Special Meeting or voting by electronic ballot within one week of such meeting may authorize expenditures up to $2,500 for a single event or purpose. Notice of the spending proposal shall be announced to club members at least one week prior to the meeting.

d)      A simple majority of the members voting at a Monthly Meeting, Annual Meeting or Special Meeting or voting by electronic ballot within one week of such meeting may authorize expenditures in excess of $2,500 for a single event or purpose. Such spending proposals shall be discussed at not less than one monthly meeting prior to the vote and notice of the spending proposal shall be announced to club members at least one week prior to each meeting.

6.8       Amendment of Bylaws.   Amendments to the Bylaws require an absolute majority of the members voting at a Monthly Meeting, Annual Meeting or Special Meeting or voting by electronic ballot within a one-week period thereafter. Proposed amendments shall be discussed at not less than one monthly meeting prior to voting. Notices of Bylaw amendments shall either include the proposed text of the amendment or shall direct members to the Club website where proposed amendments shall be posted.

6.9       Special Votes.   The membership may, at an Annual or Special Meeting, overturn any Board action or discipline a member by a simple majority vote.

6.10     Definitions of Simple and Absolute Majority.

a)      Passage of a vote by a simple majority requires more than half of the votes cast. Abstentions and non-participants in the election have no affect.

b)      An absolute majority requires more than half of all members to vote in favor of passage.

 

Article VII   Miscellaneous

7.1       Fiscal Year.   The Club fiscal year shall be from April 1st through March 31st of each year.

7.2       Representation.   Use of Club letterhead or the Club name shall be restricted to the Elected Officers, Elected Board Members, and committee chairpersons.  Members may use letterhead and/or Club name when acting on delegated special projects with permission of the Club President or Board.  

7.3       Notices.   Notices to Club members of meetings, election of club officers, spending proposals and amendments to the Bylaws shall be posted on the Club website and sent to members by email at least one week prior to the meeting unless specified otherwise in these bylaws.

7.4       Responsibility.   It is the responsibility of each member to adhere to current USHGA regulations and Federal Aviation Administration Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 103 and other paragliding-related CFR's).

 

Certificate of Adoption                                                                   

The undersigned, being the Secretary of Northwest Paragliding Club, hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Bylaws adopted by resolution of the Board on November 14, 2006. These amended and restated Bylaws supersede and replace the Bylaws of November, 1992 as modified by resolutions approved by the Club on November 18, 1996, and March 11, 2003.

Northwest Paragliding Club
a Washington State Non-Profit Corporation


By:                                                                                  Date:                             


Name:                                                                           


Title: