MY LADY’S MANOR DRIVING CLUB, INC., BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I – NAME AND ADDRESS

The name of the corporation is “My Lady’s Manor Driving Club, Incorporated.” The address of the Club shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE II – MISSION STATEMENT

                The objectives of this club shall be to: provide educational resources for all persons interested in carriage driving; promote the owning, training, driving, and exhibiting of all breeds of equines; and do all in its power to protect and advance interests of carriage driving; and to hold such activities as will best contribute to those objectives. Such activities can include, but are not limited to: driving shows, clinics for the education of those interested in the sport of driving, pleasure drives for horse and carriage owners and social gatherings.  No member or guest of My Lady’s Manor Driving Club, Inc. shall be discriminated against based upon race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, religious or political views, or any other class protected under the law.      

 

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

                Section 1:  There will be two types of membership – Individual and Family.   New members shall be admitted to the club throughout the membership year. Anyone wishing to become a member of My Lady’s Manor Driving Club may secure a suitable membership form from the Membership Chairman or the Website   (http://www.mlmdc.org/).  Drivers under the age of 18 must become members as a part of a family membership. 

                Section 2:  In order for a member to be in good standing each adult member must have on file with the Club a signed Release of Liability.

 

                Section 3:  Membership dues shall be assessed annually for each type of membership by the Executive Committee. Membership dues will be due and payable by the last day of December of each year.  A member whose dues shall remain unpaid for sixty (60) days after January 1st shall automatically cease to be a member. Members will be reminded of payment of dues.

 

                Section 4:  Any member in good standing may resign from the Club on giving notice of his or her intention in writing to the Secretary. No member shall be entitled to any money he may have paid to the Club during his membership, or to make any claim thereof against the Club.

 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

                Section 1:  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.  The Executive Officers of the Club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Officers shall be members in good standing who are nominated and elected by the members among their own number at the Annual Meeting, and each such officer shall hold office until the corresponding meeting in the next year, and until his successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until (s)he shall have resigned.  The officers may, from time to time, make and change such rules and regulations relating to the holding and conduct of its meetings and the management of the Club, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, as they may deem proper. Any vacancy in any of the above offices shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Executive Committee.  Terms of all officers shall be two years.

 

                                All Officers, or duly authorized members who shall perform actions at the direction of the Officers and Directors, shall be indemnified and held harmless, and no personal liability shall attach thereto.  The Officers shall insure that the Corporation has, and maintains in full effect, a commercial liability insurance policy that shall state that all Officers are fully indemnified and held harmless for actions taken in the name of the Corporation. 

 

                Section 2:  PRESIDENT.  The President shall be the chief executive of the Club. (S)he shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the membership. (S)he shall have general charge and supervision of the affairs of the Club, including signing of authorized contracts and other obligations, shall perform all duties incident to the office of President of a corporation, and be ex-officio a member of all standing committees. The President may serve no more than 2 consecutive terms. (S)he may be re-elected to said office after an absence one (1) term.  Election for President shall be held in even years.

 

                Section 3:  VICE PRESIDENT.  At the request of the President, or in his/her absence or disability, the Vice President shall perform all of the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him/her by the Executive Committee.  Election of the Vice President shall be held in even years.

 

                Section 4:  SECRETARY.  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members in a written record stored on paper and computer file.  The Secretary shall also handle all correspondence of the Club. (S)he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws. (S)he shall be custodian of the records of the Club, and in general, he/she shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary of a corporation, and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the President.  Election for the Secretary shall be held in odd years.

 

                Section 5:  TREASURER.  The Treasurer shall have charge of, and be responsible for all funds, receipts, and disbursements of the Club. (S)he shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books and computer file belonging to the Corporation. (S)he shall render to the President and to the Executive Committee, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the Club, and in general shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer of a corporation, and any other duties that may be assigned to him/her by the President. Election for the Treasurer shall be held in odd years.

 

               

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

                Section 1:  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE POWERS.  The affairs of the Club, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be conducted by the officers, the committee chairmen and the most recent past president, otherwise known as the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall keep full and fair accounts of its transactions.

 

                Section 2:  MEETINGS.   Meetings may be held in person or electronically if necessary.  Votes may be taken electronically by email.  A quorum shall consist of 5 members.

 

Section 3: VACANCIES.  In case of any vacancy in the Executive Committee through death, resignation, or any other cause, the remaining members of the Executive Committee may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the officer whose place shall be vacant and until his successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified.

 

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

                Section 1:  The Club shall hold annually a regular meeting of its members for the election of officers, and for the transaction of general business during January. Such annual meetings shall be general meetings, that is to say, open for the transaction of any business, without special notice of such business, except in any case in which special notice is required by statute.

 

                Section 2:  General meetings of the Club shall be held when deemed necessary for the transaction of Club business.

 

                Section 3:  Written notice of all meetings shall be mailed or made available to all members via the Club website.

 

                Section 4:  At all general meetings, the presence of either five percent of the membership or ten members, whichever is least, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII - FINANCE

                Section 1:  CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC.  All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall, unless otherwise provided for by the Executive Committee, be signed by the Treasurer or one other member of the Executive Committee.

 

                Section 2:  FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Club shall commence on the first day of January.

 

                Section 3:  In the case of dissolution of the Club, all moneys held by the Corporation will first be used to satisfy any debts outstanding. Any additional moneys will be distributed to qualifying bona fide charities as recommended by the membership.

 

ARTICLE VIII - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Section 1:  Members shall elect the Executive Officers at the annual meeting and shall have the right to present nominations for the said Executive Officers.

 

                Section 2:  Upon request any member of the Club shall receive a copy of the Bylaws.

 

 

ARTICLE IX - SUNDRY PROVISIONS

                Section 1:  AMENDMENTS.  Amendments to the Bylaws shall be proposed by the Executive Officers as they deem necessary. Members will receive notification of the proposed change and the date and time of meeting when the proposal will be voted upon.

 

                Section 2:  All meetings of the Club shall be governed by “Roberts’ Rules of Order.”