Buckeye Beemers Bylaws Section

BUCKEYE BEEMERS

ONE: Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of business of this organization.
TWO: The fiscal year of this organization shall be: January 1 through December 31 (Revision 1 Oct 2006)
THREE: Members of this organization are encouraged to join as individuals. Other motorcycling organizations dedicated to the advancement of motorcycling as personal interest may indicate, such as:
A) BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMWMOA)
B) American Motorcyclists Association (AMA)
C) Others.
FOUR: Members may invite non-member BMW owners and/or prospective BMW owners to meetings and activities of this organization. Members who bring guests shall be responsible for the behavior of such guests during the activities. Guests are expected by abide by the same high standards of conduct as members.
FIVE: Minor children of members are welcome participants in activities of this organization if accompanied by the member parent(s). The parent(s) shall be responsible for the behavior of their children during the activities.
SIX: A member who ceases to own a BMW motorcycle may remain a member of this organization until the expiration of his/her membership. At expiration, the membership terminates. After such termination, a person my reapply for membership according to the criteria cited in the constitution, Article III. Should this termination and re-application occur to a Charter Member, that status will be re-instated.
SEVEN: If the cause of ceasing to own a BMW motorcycle is due to extenuating circumstances, eligibility for membership may be continued upon recommendation of the Vice-President, Membership, to the Board.
EIGHT: For initial organizational convenience and necessity, governance of this organization prior to October 01, 1980, will be vested in a Charter Board to be elected at an informal meeting. Candidates for five Charter Board positions shall be nominated from the floor. The five nominees receiving the most votes by secret ballot will be declared members of the Charter Board and will serve the special short term ending September 30, 1980. Charter officers will be elected among the Charter Board members according to the procedure cited in the constitution, Article V. This special short term will not considered a “full term” for eligibility purposed cited in Article V, Sec. 4.
NINE: To establish the pattern of staggered terms, the five members of the Board to be elected in September, 1980, will serve staggered terms as follows:
A) The three highest vote-getters of the five will serve a two-year term: October 01, 1980 through September 30, 1982.
B) The two others will serve serve a one-year term: October 01, 1980 through September 30, 1981.
C) Starting January 2007, elected officers shall serve their respective terms on a January through December basis, staggered in accordance with A) and B) above (Revision 1 October 2006)
TEN: Membership may be revoked by the Board for cause(s) as cited in the constitution, Article X, Sec. 3. An order to revoke membership must be made in writing to the Vice-President, Membership, by a member. The cited member must be given the opportunity for a hearing before the Board. A majority vote for revocation shall constitute revocation of membership. The affected member must surrender all identifying materials associated with this organization. With revocation of membership, there will be no refunding of dues and/or fees.
ELEVEN: A Board member and/or officer of this organization may be removed by a recall petition signed by 10 members – or 10% of the membership, whichever is greater – offered at any duly called membership meeting and passed by a 3/4ths vote of those present, given a quorum.
TWELVE: Membership dues for this organization during the charter period (ending September 30, 1980 shall be:
Solo Membership $6.00
Family Membership 10.00
Association Membership 4.00.
THIRTEEN: The one-time initiation fee shall be: $5.00, to offset the costs of mailing list entry, membership recruitment, membership card, and nameplate.
FOURTEEN: Meetings should be conducted with a view toward effective and efficient use of time; avoiding irrelevant topics, time-wasting, and rambling B.S. Regular Board and/or membership meetings should be tailored to a one-hour time frame.
FIFTEEN: Changes to these By-Laws may be made at any duly called membership meeting by a majority vote of those present, given a quorum.

Buckeye Beemers Constitution Section

CONSTITUTION
BUCKEYE BEEMERS
BMW Motorcyclists of Central Ohio

ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization shall be known as: Buckeye Beemers. It may be sub-titled: BMW Motorcyclists of Central Ohio.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
This organization shall be dedicated to pursuit of these purposes:
Sec. 1 - Sponsoring motorcycling activities of various kinds for the participation of members and their guests: touring, rallying, camping, and other activities.
Sec. 2 - Participating as a group or as individuals in various motorcycling activities sponsored by BMWMOA, other BMW motorcycling organizations, or other motorcycling organizations.
Sec. 3 - Emphasizing the advantages of motorcycling for practicality and enjoyment.
Sec. 4 - Supporting safety and educational programs for members and other motorcyclists.
Sec. 5 - Monitoring and reporting governmental proposals affecting motorcyclists.
Sec. 6 - Promoting pride of ownership of BMW motorcycles.
Sec. 7 - Presenting a positive image of motorcycling, especially on BMWs, to the general public and to the press/media.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1 - Active membership in this organization shall be open to any person who owns a BMW motorcycle and who pays membership dues and fees.
Sec. 2 - The active membership categories shall be:
A) - Solo Membership, for any person owning a BMW motorcycle and operating it as driver.
B) - Family Membership, for two or more persons in a family owning one or more BMW motorcycle(s) and operating it as driver/passenger or driver/driver. Persons in the family under 16 years of age will be non-voting members.
Sec. 3 - Active members may cast one vote on formal business matters and motions pending before this organization. They shall be eligible to hold office, to serve on committees, and to participate in all activities of this organization.
Sec. 4 - The ancillary membership categories shall be:
A) - Associate Membership, for any person owning a “Brand X” motorcycle and wanting to ride it during activities of this organization.
B) - Honorary Membership, for any person(s) this organization wishes to honor by this gratis membership status.
Sec. 5 - Ancillary members may not vote, may not hold office, and may not officially participate in trophy-awarding or award-getting activities of this organization.
Sec. 6 - Persons joining this organization prior to October 01, 1980, will be designated Charter Members.
Sec. 7 - Membership in this organization will be granted by the Vice-President, Membership, in response to a completed membership application.
Sec. 8 - Members will be entitled to identification with this organization by various means, such as:
A) Membership ID card
B) Club nameplate
C) Club patch and pin
D) Receiving the newsletter
E) Reduced or free entry fees to club activities
F) Other benefits as approved by the Board.

ARTICLE IV: DUES AND FEES
Sec. 1 - The amount assessed as annual dues to members shall be set by the Board at the beginning of the fiscal year for this organization.
Sec. 2 - Annual membership dues are payable in advance beginning October 01. Dues will be considered delinquent on November 15. Members not paying dues by December 31 will be suspended.
Sec. 3 - Dues for new members joining this organization at a given point during the year will be proportional to the actual months involved.
Sec. 4 - First year dues of members shall include an additional amount sufficient to offset the one-time costs of membership recruitment, affiliation, identification, mailing list entry, etc. This amount shall be set by the Board.
Sec. 5 - The Board may recommend to, for approval by, the membership other fees as may from time to time be required to assure financial solvency or to fund special activities of this organization.

ARTICLE V: GOVERNANCE
Sec. 1 - The activities of this organization shall be conducted through democratic processes by an elected Board consisting of five members serving staggered two-year terms beginning October 01 or January 01 starting in 2007 (Rev 1 October 2006).
Sec. 2 - Any active member may declare him/herself a candidate for an available position on the Board in the September newsletter. This edition of the newsletter should be mailed so that it will be received by members at least five days prior to the September membership meeting.
Sec. 3 - Voting for candidates for Board positions will be conducted by secret ballot at the September membership meeting. All published candidates will be listed on the ballot. Voting by mail or by proxy will not be permitted. The candidates receiving the most votes will be declared the new Board members. In event of a tie for last position, a run-off election will be held at the same meeting. At the conclusion of this meeting the President will formally install the new Board members in place with their official activity to begin October 01 or January 01 starting in 2007 (Rev 1 October 2006).
Sec. 4 - A Board member may serve two consecutive terms, but no longer without at least one year intervening.
Sec. 5 - The elected Board members shall elect among themselves these officers to serve one-year terms beginning October 01:
A) President
B) Vice-President, Membership
C) Vice-President, Activities
D) Treasurer
E) Secretary
Sec. 6 - Officers may succeed themselves in that or another office.
Sec. 7 - The most recent past President will serve concurrently with the Board for one year beginning October 01 as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Board.
Sec. 8 - Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by appointment of the President with a confirming majority vote of the Board for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF THE BOARD
It shall be the duty of the Board to pursue the purposes of this organization through effective leadership, and to develop appropriate plans and activities on behalf of the members including: planning and conducting Board and membership meetings, approving budgets and reports, monitoring the work of committees, exercising general oversight, and evaluating outcomes.

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
It shall be the specific duty of each officer to administer certain matters of business or other affairs of this organization. Each officer may also perform additional and appropriate duties required by the Board and/or the membership.
Sec. 1 - The President shall:
A) preside at meetings of the Board and the membership,
B) appoint, with a confirming majority vote of the Board, the Chairman and members of standing committees,
C) be the parliamentary authority on all procedures,
D) maintain the master copy of the constitution and the by-laws,
E) be spokesperson for this organization in official or executive capacity.
Sec. 2 - The Vice-President of Membership shall:
A) administer membership recruitment efforts,
B) keep accurate membership records,
C) grant official membership in the organization to new members,
D) in the absence of the President, preside at meetings of the Board and the membership.
Sec. 3 - The Vice-President, Activities, shall:
A) develop a calendar of events,
B) decruit appropriate committees and work teams for staffing and accomplishing these events,
C) collect entry fees at events for deposit to accounts kept by the Treasurer.
Sec. 4 - The Treasurer shall:
A) receive, receipt, record, and report all monies paid or donated to this organization,
B) maintain the bank account(s) of this organization,
C) keep an account of all income and expenses ,
D) prepare and present financial reports.
Sec. 5 The Secretary shall:
A) prepare minutes of meetings of the Board and the membership,
B) file minutes for archival reference,
C) prepare and distribute communications for the Board.

ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS
Sec. 1 - The Board shall meet monthly except if waived by a majority vote taken at the last preceding meeting.
Sec. 2 - Meetings of the Board shall be open to observation by members; however, members may not participate directly in the business pending before the Board. At the conclusion of Board meetings, the President shall recognize any member who wishes to speak to the Board on any matter related to the purposes of this organization.
Sec. 3 - At least one membership meeting shall be held in each quarter of the year. The September meeting for election of Board members may be one of these meetings. A membership meeting may be held in conjunction with any activity.
Sec. 4 - Board and membership meetings shall be announced in advance via the newsletter for notice to members.
Sec. 5 - A quorum must be present for the transaction of business at Board and membership meetings. The quorums required shall be:
A) for the Board, three (of five),
B) for the membership, 10% of the total current membership.
Sec. 6 - A majority vote of those present at meetings with a quorum will be required for passage of normal items of business.
Sec. 7 - Additional or special meetings of the Board and/or the membership may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Board. Notice of such additional or special meetings will be distributed by the Vice-President, Communications, via the newsletter or by another effective means if turnaround time is short.

ARTICLE IX: STANDING AND OTHER COMMITTEES
Sec. 1 The President shall appoint, with a confirming majority vote of the Board, Chairpersons and members for the following standing committees of the Board:
A) audit, in charge of the annual certification of the financial records of this organization,
B) government, in charge of monitoring and reporting to members governmental proposals and policies affecting motorcyclists,
C) newsletter, in charge of gathering and editing information for publishing in the Newsletter of this organization,
D) safety, in charge of any and all considerations for riding safely during activities of this organization and of safety-related matters of general interest to the membership.
Sec. 2 - Standing committees report to and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Chairpersons of standing committees may attend meetings of the Board as non-voting resource persons.
Sec. 3 - Other committees may be established by the Board, officers, or membership for specific tasks or ad-hoc work.

ARTICLE X: PARTICIPATION AND CONDUCT
Sec. 1 - A reasonable level of participation in meetings and activities is expected of members, including: riding in events, working at events, serving on committees and in office, and fulfilling the purposes of this organization.
Sec. 2 - Good conduct, warm friendship, and the open hospitality traditionally associated with the BMW marque should permeate all meetings and activities.
Sec. 3 - Certain activities will not be tolerated at meetings or activities. These behaviors will be considered cause for revocation of membership:
A) disorderly conduct,
B) gross profanity,
C) excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages,
D) drug abuse,
E) wild, unsafe motorcycling habits, especially those which may jeopardize the safety of others,
F) obnoxious behavior detrimental to the positive image of this organization and its members.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1 - This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership. An amendment may be proposed by any active member.
Sec. 2 - Amendments must be offered in writing to the Secretary-Treasurer for review at a meeting of the Board. The President shall present the amendment to the membership at its next meeting. The member offering the amendment shall have the opportunity to speak about it first.
Sec. 3 - If passed, the amendment will be incorporated into the master copy of the constitution kept by the President. As needed, an up-dated version of the constitution will be re-typed for appropriate distribution.






Drafted by the Ad-hoc Constitution and By-Laws Committee
Mike H. Mottler, Chairperson
Ron Guth
Arnie Skurow
John LaFollette
Adopted at an informal meeting of BUCKEYE BEEMERS: April 02, 1980.