ARTICLE I
OBJECTS AND PURPOSES
The principal object and primary purpose of this corporation is to educate and to train its members, especially young people, in the safe use of sports equipment of all kind, especially, but not limited to, the use of firearms, snow mobiles and other motor driven vehicles and, by example and instruction, to instill in its members and in the minds of the general public a respect for law and order in general and especially, by training and education, to encourage and develop respect for the rights and property of others.
A secondary and incidental purpose of this corporation is to promote and encourage recreational activities of all kinds and to encourage family participation in such activities.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any person may be elected to membership in this corporation by the required vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting thereof.
Section 2. No person under the age of 18 years shall be admitted to membership without the written consent of his or her parents, except that a person under the age of 18 may be included in a family membership.
Section 3. Applications for membership shall be on a form prescribed by Article VIII, Section 1 and shall be voted upon at the first regular or special meeting held after its submission.
Section 4. A two-thirds majority shall be required for the election of any person to membership. If more than one application for membership is presented at any meeting all applications submitted may be presented and voted upon as a group with only one ballot to be cast by each member on the entire list of candidates for membership. Should the number of votes in favor of electing the entire list of candidates to membership be less than the required two-thirds, each application shall be presented and voted upon individually. All votes for the election of members shall be by “a show of hands unless there is less than two-third the majority, and then it shall be by” secret ballot.[1]
Section 5. The memberships may be in the following classifications: resident individual, non-resident individual, resident family and non-resident family. A family membership shall consist of the parents or parent, if only one, and children under eighteen years of age. The dues for membership shall be established by the members at each annual meeting or at a special meeting
called for that purpose. No person shall be entitled to participate in any club activities until his or her annual dues have been paid. Dues shall be paid on or before the Annual Meeting. Dues collected from February 1st shall be written up for the ensuing year.2
Section 6. Any member may be removed from membership by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at any meeting for conduct deemed to be prejudicial to this corporation, provided that such person shall first be served with written notice of the accusations against him or her and shall have been given an opportunity to be heard and to produce witnesses, if he or she so desires before any vote for expulsion may be taken.
Section 7. The conviction of any member in any court of competent jurisdiction for violating any fish and game law relating to the regulation of snow mobiles or any law with respect to unlawful trespass upon the land and premises of another or with respect to the damaging or misuse of land or personal property of another shall be prima facie evidence of prejudicial conduct.
Section 8. Each member, 18 yrs. or over3, in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members.
Section 9. Ten per cent [10%] of the entire registered membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE III
MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 1. An annual meeting of the members shall be held at the principal office of the corporation on the date of the first regular meeting in April of each year for the purpose of electing officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings of the members may be called by the president or by not less than one-tenth of the members entitled to vote.
Section 3. Regular meetings of the members shall be held on the second Monday of each month.
Section 4. Written notices stating the place, day and hour of the annual or any special meeting shall be mailed to each member entitled to vote not less than five [5] days before such meeting. The notice of special meetings shall contain a brief statement as to the purpose of such meeting and no business shall be transacted at a special meeting except as stated in the notice thereof. No notice shall be required of a regular meeting.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and reporter and such other officers as may be elected by the members.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected annually at the annual meeting and shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.
Section 3. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by a vote of the members at the next regular meeting.
Section 4. The president shall be the principal executive officer of the corporation and shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the corporation. He or she shall preside at all meeting of the members.
Section 5. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in his absence and when so acting shall have all the powers of the president.
Section 6. The treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds of the corporation; receive and give receipts for all monies due and payable to the corporation and shall deposit all such monies in the bank designated by the members as the bank of this corporation; and shall keep and maintain accurate records of the financial condition of the corporation and, when called upon to do so, shall submit a financial report at any meeting of the members.
Section 7. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members; see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws; be custodian of the corporate records; keep a register of the name and post office address of each member; and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary.
Section 8. The reporter shall be in charge of all publicity of the corporate activities.
Section 9. If members so vote, a nominating committee of not less than three [3] members shall be elected at the regular meeting next prior to the annual meeting to present a slate of officers to be voted upon at the annual meeting. This provision shall not, however, preclude any member from making a nomination for any officer from the floor.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
Section 1. At any annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose, the members may vote to elect a board of not less than five [5] nor more than nine [9] trustees.
Section 2. If the members should vote to elect a board of trustees, such board shall manage the affairs of the corporation. The trustees, if elected, shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Section 3. If the members vote to elect a board of trustees, the board shall hold its first meeting immediately following the annual meeting of the members without other notice than this by-law. Such trustees, if elected, may by resolution set the dates and times of regular meeting of the trustees.
Section 4. Special meetings of the trustees may be called by the president or by any two trustees. Notice of a special meeting of the trustee shall be given at least two [2] days prior to such meeting. Should the entire board of trustees meet without prior notice, the attendance of all of the trustees at such meeting shall be deemed a waiver of the required notice and any business transacted at such meeting shall be as legal and binding as if the required notice had been given.
Section 5. A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. The act of a majority of the trustees present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board.
Section 7. Any vacancy in the board of trustees shall be filled by the remaining trustees electing a successor who shall serve during the unexpired term.
ARTICLE VI
ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ELECTING OFFICERS
Section 1. If the members should vote at an annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose to elect a board of trustees, they may also vote to authorize the board of trustees to elect all of the officers to be elected under Article IV, with the exception of the secretary, who shall be elected by the members. If the members do not vote to elect a board of trustees or should they vote to elect to vote a board of trustees but should not vote to authorize the trustees to elect officers, then the officers shall be elected by the members as provided in Article IV, Section 2.
ARTICLE VII
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
Section 1. Any contract, deed, mortgage, note or other written instrument binding upon the corporation shall be signed by the president and countersigned by the secretary.
Section 2. All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the treasurer.
Section 3. The president may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution, gifts, bequest, or devise for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The members, or the board of trustees, if elected, may provide for the issuance of certificates evidencing membership in the corporation. Such certificates shall be signed by the secretary. All certificates evidencing membership of any classification shall be consecutively numbered. The name and address of each member and the date of issuance of the certificate shall be entered on the records of the corporation. No certificate shall be issued to any member until his or her annual dues have been paid.
ARTICLE IX
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Section 1. The order of business at the annual meeting and in so far as possible at all other meetings shall be as follows:
1. Calling the roll.
2. Secretary’s proof of due notice of the meeting.
3. Reading and disposal of any unapproved minutes.
4. Reports of officers.
5. Reports of committees, if any.
6. Election of officers to be elected by the members.
7. Election of trustees, if the members vote to have a board of trustees.
8. Unfinished business.
9. New business.
10. Adjournment
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF PROPAGANDA
Section 1. While the officers and members of this corporation shall by all available means, including advertising and publicity in various new media, seek to educate the general public in fundamental principles of safety and to foster and encourage respect for legally constituted authority and respect for the rights and property of others, no officer or member shall at any time, while purporting to act for or represent this corporation, carry on any propaganda designed to influence any legislative body to adopt or fail to adopt any particular legislation nor shall any officer or member, while purporting to act for or represent this corporation, participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for political office.
ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of this corporation all of the assets remaining after the payment of all outstanding bills shall be transferred to the Town of Brandon, Vermont, for exclusively educational recreational purposes or to such other educational, charitable, scientific or recreational corporation as the members may then agree upon whose aims and purposes are the same as or similar to the objects and purposes of this corporation.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended, repealed or altered, in whole or in part, by the majority vote of the members at any annual meeting, or any special meeting where such action has been announced in the call and notice of said special meeting.