FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER BYLAWS
COASTAL TARHEELS CHAPTER
ARTICLE I – CHAPTER NAME
The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the Coastal Tarheels Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Chapter and FMCA.
ARTICLE II – OBJECT
1. PURPOSE: This Chapter exists to promote social, recreational, and informational exchange activities, which provide for the enjoyment and pleasurable use of the family member coaches.
2. AREA/SCOPE: This Chapter shall be authorized to function as a regional group covering, although not necessarily limited to, the geographical area of Eastern North Carolina.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERS
1. ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for and to maintain membership in the Chapter, a person must own at least 1/3 of an FMCA approved coach, be in good standing with FMCA, and meet the dues requirements and provisions set forth in the Bylaws of this Chapter.
Membership in this Chapter shall not be denied any person because of race, sex, religion, color, marital or family status, age, nationality, or disability.
The applicant agrees to abide by the chapter Bylaws when applying for membership. Applicant agrees to attend at least one Rally/meeting per year to maintain full chapter membership.
The term "Family Unit" is defined as a person; his or her spouse, or partner; dependents of each, regardless of age; non-dependent grandchildren and great-grandchildren aged 18 and under.
The term "Membership" is defined as either a family unit or an individual or individuals owning a Qualifying Motor Coach who share a membership number.
The term "Member" is defined as each adult who, jointly or individually, constitutes a membership. The voting rights of each member are defined in the description of each category.
The term "Qualifying Motor Coach" is defined as a self-propelled, completely self-contained vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent sanitary facilities, and in which the driver’s area is directly accessible in a walking position from the living quarters. The terms "motor coach" and "motor home" may be used interchangeably.
2. DUES AND FEES:
A. ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment of Chapter and National dues enables persons to become active members and entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Chapter and FMCA. The annual dues for membership in this Chapter shall be an amount as the membership shall establish. This amount will be then posted in the Special Rules and Regulations section of this Chapter Handbook.
B. RENEWAL: Renewal dues from the Chapter members become due and payable on January 1st.
C. INITIAL APPLICATION: Application for new membership shall be accompanied by payment of annual Chapter and National dues (unless already an FMCA member), in accordance with the Special Rules and Regulation section of this Chapter Handbook. If an initial application is accepted after January, the dues will be prorated monthly, or credited towards the next year membership dues.
D. INITIATION FEE: New and reinstalled members will be required to pay an initiation fee in the amount to be established by the Chapter membership. This fee will be posted in the Special Rules and Regulations section of this Chapter Handbook.
E. ARREARS: Any member whose dues remain unpaid for more than 2 months after becoming due shall be considered delinquent; after 6 months membership is cancelled.
F. SPECIAL FEES: A standard Rally fee will be charged for each Rally, which may be payable in advance. Since nametags are required, those who are found not wearing a nametag will contribute a small penalty fee to the Chapter treasury. Standard Rally, penalty, and other fees adopted by the membership are to be posted in the Special Rules and Regulations section of this Chapter Handbook.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
1. DUTIES OF OFFICERS: The duties of elected officers shall be as defined in the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
2. TERMS OF OFFICE: The elected officers of this Chapter shall serve a 1 year term of office, or until their successors are elected.
3. RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS:
A. An individual FMCA member may hold office(s) in only 1 chapter.
B. Individual FMCA members may hold no more than 2 offices in the same chapter.C. Any member in good standing may be nominated from the floor for any elective office.
D. Only Full Members, Full Lifetime Members, Life Members, or Honorary Members, who have advanced from one of these classes, have the right to hold office in this Chapter.
E. No official or member shall become vested of any right, title to, or interest in any Chapter property, except as required by law.
4. EXECUTIVE BOARD:
A. The officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Board.
B. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between its business meetings. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Chapter, and none of its acts shall be in conflict with the Chapter or FMCA.
ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES
1. APPOINTMENT: Committee members and Chairperson (except Nominating Committee) shall be appointed by the President.
2. DUTIES: All committees shall function within the policies of the Chapter and (except Nominating Committee) under the direction of the President. Financial reports, vouchers, and monies due the Chapter shall be submitted on a timely basis.
3. QUORUM: A committee quorum shall be a majority.
ARTICLE VI – CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
1. AUTHORITY: This Chapter shall be democratically self-governed, deriving its existence and authority from the consent of its membership assembled in meeting or, in certain instances, by mail vote on stated propositions.
2. ORGANIZATIONAL YEAR: The fiscal and membership year of the Chapter shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31.
3. CHAPTER MEETINGS:
A. TYPES: The term "meeting" shall include coach Rallies, campouts, dinner meetings, and any other gathering suitable to the function of the Chapter.
B. BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Chapter must hold at least 2 business meetings each membership year at which a quorum is present. Said meetings must be at least 14 days apart and be duly announced in advance to the membership.
C. ANNUAL ELECTION: One of the business meetings shall be an Annual Meeting at which an election is held if required by a 1-year term option. The voting general membership is to elect Chapter officers, including a President, First and Second Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a National Director, and an Alternate National Director.
D. QUORUM: A quorum for the transaction of business at any duly-called Chapter meeting is 25% of the Chapter family unit membership or 15 family unit members, whichever is less.
E. VOTING: Except as specified elsewhere in these Bylaws, a simple majority vote of members in good standing and voting shall be required to approve or disapprove any matter.
The Chapter has established that voting will be 1 vote for each adult member.
Balloting by mail may be undertaken when a proposed matter is voted to be of such importance or urgency that a total membership vote is advisable.
F. PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS: The rules contained in the current edition of ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern this Chapter’s proceedings to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA and the Bylaws of this Chapter.
4. MAINTAINING AFFILIATION: This Chapter must maintain a minimum of 15 family unit members.
The Chapter Secretary shall furnish to the National Office of FMCA, no later than the last week in December, a membership list, a list of Chapter officers, and assurance that 2 business meetings were held.
5. ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit of the Chapter’s financial books and records shall be undertaken and reported to the membership by a two-person committee of non-Chapter officers during December.
6. APPLICATION OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS: This Chapter accepts and agrees that the Chapter Bylaws shall conform to any mandatory requirements stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA.
7. RALLIES:
A. Chapter Rallies will normally be held every month (except July) on the first full weekend of each month, with Friday being the first official day of the Rally. The month of July is the "No Rally" month. For the month during which the Great Eastern Area Rally is held, the Area Rally takes the place of the Chapter’s normal Rally.
B. "Early Birds" are members arriving a day or two before the official Friday Rally start day. Rally host is under absolutely no obligation to attend or arrange any "Early Bird" activities (it is totally voluntary). All Rally rules, such as the "Missing Nametag" fine, shall not be in effect until Friday morning, the first day of the official Rally starting day.
C. Nametags will be worn at all Chapter functions (exception: displaying nametags is still encouraged but optional in public locations away from the campground Rally area, such as restaurants, tours, stores, etc).
D. To maintain a high standard of conduct, profanity or public activities and behavior that reflect unfavorably upon the group is highly discouraged. Alcoholic beverages will not be consumed at Chapter business meetings and any alcoholic consumption must comply with all the campground rules and policies.
ARTICLE VII – ELECTIONS
1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
A. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than 3 Chapter members in good standing, nominated, and elected yearly by the Chapter membership.
B. Election of an individual to the Nominating Committee shall not prohibit that person from being nominated for elected office.
2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE DUTIES:
A. To select one of its members as Nominating Committee Chairman.
B. To nominate candidates for the Chapter Offices of President, First and Second Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and Alternate National Director for the new year to be presented for voting by the Chapter membership.
C. To obtain clear acceptance of the nominees to serve the Chapter should they be elected.
D. To make certain that nominated candidates are members in good standing and qualified under applicable National and Chapter Bylaws.
E. To nominate candidates to fill vacancies that occur in elected Chapter offices.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1. MANDATORY AMENDMENTS: National Bylaw Amendments applicable to Chapter operations shall be automatically adopted by the Chapter and are not subject to a vote by the Chapter membership.
2. AMENDING PROCEDURES: These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the members present and voting at a duly-called meeting, providing that prior notice of at least 30 days has been given of the proposition(s) to amend.
Any member of the Chapter may propose changes in the Bylaws.
Approved amendments to these Bylaws become effective immediately upon their adoption, or at such time as specified in the amendment.
3. DISTRIBUTION: Copies of changes, additions, amendments, or revisions to these Bylaws shall be forwarded to the National Office and to the National Area Vice President.
ARTICLE IX – LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of this Chapter of FMCA, by majority vote of the Chapter, all of the remaining assets of the Chapter shall be contributed to the purpose(s) for which the Chapter is organized, or to a qualified non-profit charity or charities.
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2003 (Rescinds/replaces Feb 1997 Bylaws & all prior amendments)