r3cc Bylaws

ARTICLE I: NAME 

A. The name to be used by this organization is the "Rouge River Revolution”, also known as “R3", and herein referred to as “the Club”. 

ARTICLE II: Mission

The Club shall serve its members with organized recreational bike rides of various distances and speeds. The Club shall promote safe, responsible cycling for sport and transportation and shall work towards the education and awareness of the public with regard to cyclists. 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP 

A. The membership year is from January 1 through December 31.

B. The Club shall maintain a non-discriminatory admissions policy. The Club shall not adopt any practice, policy, or procedure which would result in discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or disability, provided that physically impaired bikers must be able to ride according to the Club biking rules and at speeds and distances of the ride in which they choose to participate. 

C. Membership is available to all persons 18 years of age or older who pay the appropriate dues. Members shall annually pay dues and complete a membership application with the waiver of liability. 

D. Approved annual dues amounts shall be stated on the club website. Current members must pay on or before January 31; after this date delinquent members will be removed from the club. New members may join at any time. Applications are available on the Club’s Facebook page.

E. New members shall be provided with a copy of the Club biking rules.

F. All members shall be required to abide by the Club biking rules. 

G. Non-members shall be required to execute a signed waiver prior to participating in an organized Club ride. Non-Members are allowed to one (1) complimentary ride.  

H. The membership of an individual may be revoked or denied for good cause. This action shall be initiated by a written statement to the Board with reasons for such a recommended action, signed by a ride leader or a member. The member or members in question shall be allowed to make an appeal in self-defense to the Board. Majority vote of the Board shall determine the matter, and the member shall be notified of the decision in writing. 

ARTICLE IV: GOVERNANCE

A. The overall management, administration and operation of the Club shall be conducted by a duly elected Board of Directors (referred to as “the Board”), whose membership shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President and Secretary.  The President shall also act as the club’s Treasurer. The Club will have two (2) additional officers for a total of seven (7) officers. 

B. The terms of office for the officers and the Board shall be Jan 1 to December 31.  

C. A quorum of at least four (4) officers is needed for a Board vote. A majority of officers present at the Board meeting shall determine the outcome of any Board vote.  A Board member may attend via conference call, Skype, etc.

D. The Board shall convene a membership meeting to elect officers, to change the annual dues, to remove an officer, to amend the bylaws, or to dissolve the Club. The Board shall convene a membership meeting to discuss and to vote on any other issue it deems appropriate.

E. General Membership meetings shall be scheduled, at a minimum, in the Spring and in November.  Additional meetings may be held as decided by the Board. All meetings will be announced to the membership in a timely manner. 

F. There is no minimum quorum for the membership to vote. The membership vote shall be determined by a majority of members present, except in the case of amending the bylaws, removing an officer, or dissolving the Club, all of which require a 2/3 vote of members present at the meeting. 

G. Any member may present either orally or in writing to any officer any idea or recommendation for inclusion in the next Board meeting agenda. 

ARTICLE V: ELECTION OF OFFICERS 

A. The only requirement of an officer is to be a member of the Club and be 25 years old, or older. 

B. The officers of the Club shall each serve a one-year term commencing on January 1 of each year. 

C. Individual members can nominate a member to be an officer by submitting a name, or names, (yes, you can nominate yourself)  to the Board by September 1 of each year. The board shall vet the nominated members and present candidates to be voted on at the November meeting.  The candidates for office shall be communicated to the membership thirty (30) days prior to the November meeting. The top five vote getters shall be assume office on January 1 of the next year.  Members can submit an absentee ballot in a sealed envelope to any board member prior to the election. 

D.  The board shall appoint 2 club members in attendance to serve as tellers to tally the membership’s votes. Election to the presented slate of officers requires a majority of members present at the November Meeting. 

E. The President shall become the Immediate Past-President and can attend board meetings in as  ex-officio member with no voting privileges.  

F. Should an officer position become vacant, the Board shall appoint a Club member to those duties or assign those duties to another officer. 

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

A. THE PRESIDENT shall be responsible for the general management of the Club and any duties which that may entail, including but not limited to scheduling Board and membership meetings, coordinating biking activities, conducting public relations, and obtaining legal/legislative representation should the need arise. The President shall appoint various committees, advisors, and ride coordinators as deemed necessary to carry on the activities of the Club. The President shall ensure that the Board meets at least quarterly. 

B. THE VICE-PRESIDENT shall assist the President in performing the President’s duties, or in the event of the President’s inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the President. 

C. THE SECRETARY shall be responsible for taking minutes at all meetings of both the Board and the general membership, and for assisting the president with Club correspondence related to the office. The Secretary shall present minutes of the previous meeting at each club meeting. 

D. THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT shall provide advice and counsel to the Board and shall perform other duties as needed.

F. THE MEMBERS-AT-LARGE  shall represent the interests of the general membership and shall perform other duties as needed.

ARTICLE VII: FINANCES 

A. The dues collected from members, donations, and funds raised by the Club and its members shall be the only income for the Club. This income shall be expended for the benefit of all or a majority of the membership and shall not benefit any individual member. 

B. The Board shall have the authority to disburse funds for appropriate activities and functions, including but not limited to the following: website hosting, maintenance and technical support; advertising; promotional items; social events; membership in national and state bicycling organizations; and routine operating expenditures. Club income and resources shall not be expended on charitable organizations or to raise funds for charitable causes unless the cause is the Club’s own event. 

ARTICLE VIII:  AMENDMENTS 

A. These bylaws may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of the members present at a meeting of the membership for which due notice of said proposed amendment has been given. 

B. The new bylaws shall go into effect the date the membership votes to change them, unless voted a different date by the membership.

ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION 

A. Dissolution of the Club requires a majority vote of the Board; then, after proper notification, a vote of 2/3 of the members present at a meeting called specifically for that purpose.

B. Upon the decision to dissolve the Club, the Treasurer, after paying all liabilities, shall transfer the assets of the Club to local Michigan bicycle non-profit organizations.