THE
GREEN VALLEY RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB, INC.
BYLAWS
Approved
by the membership, October 14, 2008
Article
I
Name
and Purpose
The
name of the corporation shall be The Green Valley Rifle & Pistol
Club, Inc., referred to in these bylaws as "the Club." The
object of the Club shall be the encouragement of organized shooting
sports. This will include instilling in its members and all who use
its facilities a better knowledge of and respect for the safe
handling and proper use of firearms.
Article
II
Membership
- Eligibility.
Any person who is 18 years of age or older and who is eligible under
applicable State and Federal law to purchase or possess firearms may
become a member of the Club upon approval by the Board of Directors,
payment of the required initiation fee and dues, and submission of
proof of membership in the National Rifle Association. Any
applicant under the age of 21 years shall demonstrate such evidence
of gun safety knowledge as the Board of Directors may require. The
Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, verify the
eligibility of any applicant through an appropriate criminal records
or similar background check. A member or applicant who is not
eligible to purchase or possess firearms solely by reason of not
being a citizen of the United States shall be required to satisfy
the standards applicable to purchasing or possessing firearms (other
than citizenship). The determination of whether such person
satisfies those standards shall be solely in the discretion of the
Board of Directors, but shall be subject to appeal to the membership
as provided in Article II D. The results of any background check
shall remain confidential, and any person in attendance at a meeting
of the Board of Directors who fails to agree to keep such
information confidential shall be excluded from the meeting during
any discussion of the information.
- Family
Membership.
Only one membership is required for any one family. A "family"
shall mean the member, the member's spouse, and the member's
children and stepchildren who are under 18 years of age. Family
members shall be entitled to use of Club facilities when accompanied
by the member.
- Complaint
Against Member.
Any member can, for cause shown, seek the termination of membership
of any other member. The member seeking such removal shall set
forth in writing the basis for terminating the membership and shall
submit such writing, including any supporting affidavits or
exhibits, to the Secretary, who shall immediately notify the
President. The President shall call a meeting of the Board of
Directors to hear the complaint. As a result of the hearing, the
Board may, upon two-thirds vote, take such action as it deems
appropriate under the circumstances, including ordering payment of
actual damages or termination of the membership interest of the
member against whom the complaint is made. If there is less than a
two-thirds vote in favor of any action against the member complained
of, the complaint shall be dismissed. All rights and privileges of
membership cease upon termination.
- Appeal
to Members.
Any member against whom action is taken by the Board of Directors
under Article II C. may appeal such action to the full membership of
the Club by filing a notice of appeal in writing with the Secretary
within 30 days after the vote by the Board of Directors. The
President will thereupon call a special meeting of the Club to
convene within 30 days for the purpose of acting on the appeal. If
there is not a quorum present at the meeting, the President shall
continue to call special meetings every 30 days until a quorum can
be achieved. For this purpose the annual meeting can be substituted
for a special meeting. At the meeting of the Club, the Secretary
shall read the original complaint, supporting affidavits and
exhibits, and the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors
at which the complaint was heard and acted upon. A full hearing
will be given to both the accuser and the accused. A vote will then
be taken by secret ballot on whether to overturn the action of the
Board of Directors, with a majority vote required for such action.
Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. No member whose membership
interest is terminated will be entitled to refund of any dues or
initiation fees. A member whose membership is reinstated by the
members shall receive a pro rata refund of dues for the period of
time the member was terminated from membership. No complaint can be
re-alleged against a member if the complaint is dismissed by the
Board of Directors or their decision is overturned by the members if
the complaint arises from the same facts, circumstances, or incident
as the original complaint.
- Automatic
Termination.
Any member of the Club who is suspended or expelled by the National
Rifle Association shall automatically be suspended or expelled from
the Club. For this purpose, a lapse of annual membership in the
National Rifle Association not exceeding three months shall not
beconsidered a suspension. In addition, any applicant or member who
knowingly gives false information concerning his or her eligibility
to be or to remain a member shall automatically be expelled from the
Club.
Article
III
Dues
and Fees
- Initiation
Fee and Regular Dues.
The initiation fee for new members and annual dues for regular
members shall be established by the members at the annual meeting.
Any member who is 65 years of age or older and who has been a member
for the preceding five years shall pay dues equal to one-third of
the normal annual dues. Dues shall be payable January 1st
of each year for the coming calendar year. Any member who has not
paid annual dues by January 31st
shall be suspended from membership until dues are paid. The
membership of a member who is still in arrears the following January
31st
shall be terminated. A member who is terminated for nonpayment of
dues and who renews membership within one year from the date of
termination shall pay the initiation fee for a new member in
addition to any prorated annual dues. New members shall have their
dues prorated from the month of acceptance of their membership
through the end of the year. The Board of Directors shall have the
authority to waive any or all of a member's dues.
- Life
Members.
The Board of Directors may establish life memberships upon such
terms and conditions as it deems appropriate. In no event can the
cost of a life membership be less than eight times the annual dues
for the year in which a life membership is offered.
- Other
Categories.
The Board of Directors may establish such other membership
categories as it deems appropriate in its discretion. As used in
these bylaws, however, the term "member" shall refer only
to a regular member or life member as defined in Article III A. or
B. Membership categories established under this Article III C.
shall only entitle the person or persons holding such membership to
the use of Club facilities under the terms and conditions governing
the particular membership category. The Board of Directors may also
rent range facilities to individuals or groups. Responsibility for
rental of Club facilities may be delegated by the Board of Directors
to the Director of Operations or any other appropriate person under
guidelines established by the Board of Directors.
- Shares
as Evidence of Membership.
Regular and life members shall be issued one share of stock in the
club as evidence of their membership. All shares of stock shall be
retained by the Secretary. Shares of stock shall not be
transferable or inheritable. The certificate of any member who
ceases to be a member shall be canceled. No member shall be
entitled to any payment with respect to any share of stock, except
that any regular member who resigns from the club during a year
shall be entitled to a pro rata refund of dues for that year. A
life member who resigns within five years of acquiring the life
membership shall also be entitled to a pro rata refund of the life
membership dues. Upon dissolution of the Club, its assets shall be
distributed pro rata among its members in good standing as of the
date of adoption of a plan of liquidation by the Board of Directors,
provided, however, that a member who has not been a member in good
standing for at least five consecutive years preceding the year of
adoption of the plan of liquidation shall have his or her
distribution reduced by 20 percent for each year or portion thereof
that the member lacks in having five years of consecutive
membership. Solely for purpose of distributions of assets under
this Article III D., a member in good standing shall mean one whose
membership has not lapsed in a manner requiring the member to pay
any form of initiation fee for reinstatement.
Article
IV
Membership
Meetings
- Annual
Meeting.
The annual meeting of the members of the Club shall be held in
September or October. The date, time, and place of the meeting
shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
- Special
Meetings.
Special meetings of the members may be held upon the call of the
President or the Board of Directors. Not less than 15 percent of the
members may call a special meeting of the members by delivering a
written demand to the Board of Directors or to any officer stating
the object of the special meeting, which written demand shall be
accompanied by signatures of the necessary number of members.
- Notice
of Meetings.
The secretary shall give notice of any annual or special meeting of
the members no less than 15 days prior to the meeting. Notices of
meetings shall be sent by electronic means or via first-class mail
to the members' address as reflected in the Club records maintained
by the Secretary.
- Quorum
and Voting.
Fifteen percent of the members shall constitute a quorum for any
meeting of the members. Any matter to be decided by vote of the
members shall be decided upon majority vote except as may be
required otherwise in these bylaws. Voting may be in person or by
proxy. Proxies shall be counted for purposes of determining whether
there is a quorum. Voting shall be by voice or show of hands. Any
member, however, can demand a vote on any matter by show of hand or
secret written ballot.
- Procedure.
All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the most current
version of Roberts Rules of Order.
Article V
Board of Directors
- Number
and Selection of Directors.
There shall be nine Directors, who shall serve for terms of two
years. Terms of directors shall commence January 1st
following their election. The President, Vice President, Secretary,
and Treasurer shall serve as Directors during such time as they hold
office. Five other directors shall be elected at large from the
membership. The Directors shall be elected by the members at the
annual meeting. Should any Director cease being a Director prior to
the end of his or her term, the remaining Directors shall choose a
replacement, who shall serve out the remainder of the term. No
Director holding office at the time these bylaws are approved shall
have his or her term shortened, but shall serve until a replacement
is elected who will take office January 1st
of the year following the end of the current Director's term.
Thereafter, two at-large Directors of shall be elected in
even-numbered years and the other three at-large directors elected
in odd-numbered years.
- Duties.
The Board of Directors shall be responsible for management and safe
operation of the Club and its facilities. The Board shall appoint
such committees and shall create such positions within the Club and
shall adopt such rules as it determines in its discretion are
necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Club and for range
safety. The Board shall have no authority to lease real estate from
others or purchase, sell, or mortgage real estate without first
obtaining the consent of a majority of the members at a regular
meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. The Board of
Directors shall have no authority to amend the articles of
incorporation or the bylaws.
- Regular
Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held the second
Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at such time and place
as shall be fixed by the Board. Meetings of the Board of Directors
may be attended by any member. Any Director who fails to attend may
be removed as a Director by the remaining Directors unless such
absences are excused by a majority of the other Board members for
reasonable cause shown.
- Special
Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time
at the call of the President or upon written demand, delivered to
the Secretary, by two members of the Board. Notice of special
meetings shall be given no less than seven days prior to the date
fixed for the meeting. If a special meeting is declared by the
President to be an emergency meeting, 24-hour notice shall be
required. Notice of special meetings may be given in any manner
that is reasonably intended under the circumstances to provide
adequate notice to a Director.
- Quorum
and Voting.
A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum. All matters
shall be decided by majority vote of the quorum. Voting by
Directors shall be open and the votes of Directors on any matter
shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting in which such vote
occurred. All votes concerning membership applications, however,
shall be by secret written ballot, and only the count shall be
recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
- Conduct
of Meetings.
All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in
accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. In the absence of
procedures adopted by the Board, the latest version of Roberts Rules
of Order shall govern.
- Written
Consent Minutes.
Any action that can be taken by Directors at any duly called
meeting can, instead, be taken upon written consent if such consent
minutes are signed by all the Directors. Written consent minutes
shall be effective when signed by the last Director unless a
different effective date is specified. Separate consents can be
used for each Director so long as all Directors consent to the same
action. Written consent minutes shall have the same effect as if
the actions stated therein were passed unanimously at a meeting for
which proper notice had been given.
- Removal
from Office.
A Director may be removed from office by vote of two-thirds of the
members present or acting through proxy at the annual meeting or at
any special meeting called for that purpose. Any Director
threatened with removal from office shall be given at least 15 days
prior notice of the basis for his or her removal and of the time and
place of the meeting for voting upon removal. The Director shall be
permitted to appear at such meeting and to defend against removal.
- Intentionally
left blank.
- Executive
Committee.
The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve
as an Executive Committee, which shall meet on the second Tuesday of
every month that the Board of Directors does not meet. The
executive committee shall monitor the management and operations of
the Club on behalf of the Board of Directors, shall vote on the
admission of new members, and shall have such powers as the Board
may grant to it. The Executive Committee shall report regularly to
the Board concerning its actions and recommendations and shall
notify the Board promptly of anything requiring the immediate
attention of the Board. Any Executive Committee member who fails to
attend at least 75 percent of the regular monthly meetings in any
twelve month period may be removed as an officer of the Club unless
such absences are excused by the Board members for reasonable cause
shown.
Article
VI
Officers
- Officers.
There shall be four officers: a President, a Vice President, a
Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may appoint such
assistants to the Secretary and Treasurer as the Board deems
necessary in its discretion. Officers shall be members in good
standing at all times.
- President.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Club.
The President shall be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day
operations of the Club.
- Vice
President.
The Vice President shall serve as chief executive officer in the
absence of the President. The Vice President shall also serve as an
ex officio non-voting member of all Club committees and shall advise
the President and the Board of Directors concerning the activities
of the various committees.
- Secretary.
The Secretary shall maintain all official records and
correspondence of the Club. The Board of Directors may designate
where records and correspondence are to be maintained, and all
records and correspondence thereby designated shall be maintained
there at all times except when removed for purposes of official
business, following which they shall be returned as soon as such
business need has ended. The Secretary shall be responsible for the
proper preparation and forwarding of all reports required of the
Club by the National Rifle Association or any other organization.
The Secretary shall give notice of all meetings and shall keep
proper minutes thereof. All records other than those designated
confidential in these bylaws or by action of the Board of Directors
shall be open to inspection by members of the Club at such
reasonable hours and place as may be convenient to the Secretary.
The Secretary shall be responsible for publication of the Club
newsletter. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, assign
other duties to the Secretary at its discretion.
- Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Club.
The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Club and shall
keep them in such bank or banks or other institutions as may be
approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall
designate those persons who shall have authority to sign checks or
other instruments drawn on Club funds. The Treasurer shall present
current financial reports to the Board of Directors at their regular
meetings. The Treasurer shall present a copy of an annual financial
report to the members at the annual meeting. Such report shall be
prepared on a fiscal year basis through the end of the month
preceding the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may, from time
to time, assign other duties to the Treasurer at its discretion.
- Terms.
All officers elected by the members shall serve two-year terms.
The President and Secretary shall be elected in even-numbered years.
The Vice President and Treasurer shall be elected in odd-numbered
years. Terms of office shall commence January 1st
following election. If any officer fails to complete his or her
term, the Board of Directors shall elect a replacement to serve out
the remainder of the term. No officer holding office when these
bylaws are adopted shall have his or her term shortened, but shall
serve until a replacement is elected who will take office January
1st
of the year following the end of the current officer's term.
- Financial
Accountability.
A certified public accountant shall perform a noncertified audit of
the Club's financial records at least once each calendar year and
shall present such report to the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may request a certified audit at any time. The Board of
Directors shall provide a bond in a suitable amount as surety for
any Club officer, member, employee, or other person charged with
handling Club monies (other than small amounts) as determined in the
discretion of the Board. The Board of Directors shall determine who
shall be permitted to sign checks. No expenditure in excess of $500
shall be made without prior approval of the Board of Directors,
provided that the Board may authorize the payment of regularly
recurring expenses or other items without prior approval. All
expenditures for the prior month of any Club funds shall be reported
to the Treasurer within 15 days after the end of a month by the
person who makes such expenditure, and shall include delivery of
appropriate receipts or other documents associated with the
expenditure.
Article
VII
Administrative
- Club
Records.
Any persons in possession of Club official records by virtue of any
position or responsibility entitling them to possess such records
shall possess the records only so long as necessary for Club
business. When such need no longer exists or the persons cease to
hold the position or responsibility entitling them to possession of
the records, the records shall be returned within 30 days to any
current officer or Director of the Club or to any person designated
by the Board of Directors as the physical custodian of official Club
records. Failure of an individual to return Club records as
required by this Article may be grounds for appropriate disciplinary
action by the Board of Directors.
- Seal.
The Club shall have no corporate seal. Whenever the use of a seal
is required, the words "No Seal" shall be written in place
of the seal.
- Amendment.
Amendments to the bylaws may be introduced by any member at the
annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
Amendments may also be proposed by the Board of Directors. A copy
of the proposed amendments must be sent to each member as part of
the notice for the meeting at least 15 days prior to the meeting at
which the amendments will be voted upon. The affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the members present at the meeting is necessary for
passage of amendments.