Article I
Finances and Dues
Section 1
Dues will be assessed according to types of membership as follows:
- Pledge – no charge
- Active/Regular – $75 Annually
- Auxiliary – $35 Annually
- Associate $35 (one time charge)
- Honorary – no charge
- Alumni – no charge
- Scholarship Donations can be given to the Treasurer
Section 2
Certain use of corporation property requires payment of fees. All of these fees are payable upon issuance of the equipment and are refundable upon return of the equipment if it is in good condition. The fees for the following items will be assessed at the current cost to the club.
A. Initial Charge for Patches, Pins and Shirts
1. Small Patch $6.00
2. Large Patch $18.00
3. Star Pin $6.00
4. Name Pin (non-refundable) $20.00
5. Mid-America Patch $6.00
6. T-Shirt $16.00
7. Dress Uniform Shirt $24.95
Article II
Membership Meetings
The club will hold a regular monthly meeting and such other meetings as may be needed as called by the President or the Board of Directors.
Article III
Nominations, Elections and Inauguration of Officers and Directors
Section 1
All members nominated for offices in the Corporation must be in good standing.
Section 2
- If, by the December meeting, a run has been scheduled within the next twelve months, members will be nominated for office at the February meeting the following year.
- If, by the December meeting, no run has been scheduled within the next twelve months, members will be nominated for office at the regularly scheduled meeting in February, elected at the March meeting, and sworn in and assume their offices when the club agenda changes from old business to new business at the April meeting.
Section 3
In all elections, voting shall be by secret ballot.
Section 4
Elections shall be conducted in the following order: President, Road Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President.
Section 5
If a quorum is not reached at the nominating meeting or the election meeting, the officers will continue to hold office until these requirements can be met. Until a successor can be sworn in, any office will continue to be held by the incumbent.
Section 6
The in-coming President will be sworn in by the out-going President after which the new President will swear in the other new officers. In the case of re-election of the President, the out-going Vice-President shall swear in the President.
Article IV
Membership Requirements
Section 1
Active Membership
- An individual expressing a desire to become an Active Member shall first be required to complete all the criteria outlined in the Pledge Handbook.
- Upon completion of the criteria outlined in the Pledge Handbook the individual may submit an application for membership and shall be voted on at the meeting at which the application is submitted. If accepted by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, the applicant enters the Club as an Active Member.
- Committee Chairmen shall be active members.
- An Active Member shall pay their monthly dues and other fees at a regularly scheduled meeting or by mail to the Treasurer unless otherwise excused by the Board of Directors.
- No active Member shall fail or refuse to attend and participate in two (2) consecutive meetings (or club sanctioned functions) unless they have informed the President or a Board Member of the Corporation prior to the meeting (event) together with a justifiable reason.
- Active Members are strongly encouraged to attend two runs or similar club functions per year, one of which may be an in town run of another club.
Section 2
Pledge
- A Pledge shall have the right to take part in closed Corporation activities but they do not have the right to vote.
- A Pledge shall complete, during their pledgeship, the tasks set forth in the Pledge Handbook.
Section 3
Associates
- An Associate shall be a full member of another recognized Club or a former member of this club who resigned in good standing.
- An individual deserving to become an Associate shall submit an application accompanied by a photograph of the applicant and a fee and small patch charge as established in these rules.
- An individual desiring to be an Associate must be sponsored by two (2) Active Members who are in good standing. An officer of the applicant’s club must certify that they are in good standing.
- An applicant may be voted upon at the meeting at which the application has been received. A vote of two—thirds (2/3) of the members present is necessary for acceptance.
- Associate Members have the right to wear the small patch.
- Associate members may attend all meetings and activities of the Corporation unless they are excluded at the direction of the chair. At club meetings, Associates may voice opinions but may not vote.
- An Associate will show a willingness to assist the Corporation in its activities.
Section 4
Honorary Members
- Honorary membership may be bestowed by the Corporation at any meeting of the membership by a one hundred percent (100%) affirmative vote of those present and voting. Honorary membership should only be bestowed on such persons as the membership shall select in recognition of exceptional services performed on behalf of the Corporation. In this instance, abstention shall not be counted in the total vote.
- Honorary members shall have the same rights as active members, with the exception of voting privileges.
- Honorary members shall have the right to wear the large and small patch.
Section 6
Alumni Membership
- After 10 years of Active Membership, Alumni membership may be bestowed by the Corporation by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote. The request for status change shall be initiated by the Active member.
- Alumni members shall have the same rights as Active members, with the exception of voting privileges.
- Alumni members shall have the right to wear the large and small patch.
Section 7
Auxiliary Membership
- An Auxiliary shall be anyone unable to perform the responsibilities of a full member.
- An individual desiring to become an Auxiliary member shall submit an application accompanied by a fee as established in these rules.
- An individual desiring an Auxiliary member must be sponsored by two (2) Active Members who are in good standing.
- An applicant may be voted upon at the meeting at which the application has been received. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present is necessary for acceptance.
- Auxiliary members have the right to wear a small Blue Max patch.Auxiliary members will have the right to wear Blue Max dog tags
- Auxiliary Members may attend all meetings and activities of the Corporation unless they are excluded at the direction of the chair. At club meetings, Auxiliary members may voice opinions but may not vote.
- An Auxiliary will show a willingness to assist the Corporation in its activities by participating in a minimum of two (2) club events, at the discretion of the Road Captain, and two (2) regularly scheduled meetings yearly. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action to be decided upon by the Board of Directors.
Article V
Changes in Membership Status
Section 1
If an Associate applies for active membership, they must follow the pledge process as defined in the Pledge Handbook.
Section 2
An Active Member may choose to become an Associate due to relocation, etc. They shall return all club property except for the small patch. This patch will have to be transferred to the right side of their overlay.
Section 3
A member may be granted temporary inactive status by the Corporation due to sick leave or any other personal reason, during which time they will not count towards any quorum requirements.
Section 4
If an Auxiliary member applies for active membership, they must follow the pledge process as defined in the Pledge Handbook.
Article VI
Disciplinary Action
Section 1
Any member in good standing can bring charges, which shall be submitted to the Board by means of a signed document.
Section 2
The Board of Directors shall then call a meeting of the Board within thirty (30) days of the bringing of this charge.
Section 3
The accused member and the person bringing the charges shall be notified no less than 7 days before the board scheduled meeting. The board will make every attempt to schedule a time convenient for all parties. The meeting time is at the board’s discretion.
Section 4
At the time of the meeting, both parties involved have an opportunity to present their case. If a party does not attend the meeting, the charges will be considered based upon evidence presented and the party present. The Board of Directors shall determine the validity of the charges and shall assess disciplinary action, the Board agreeing by two-thirds (2/3) vote,
Section 5
If found guilty, the accused member has the right to appeal to the Corporation membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting, at which the accused is required to attend. If they cannot attend for any other than a reasonable excuse or refuses to attend, the action of the Board stands.
Section 6
The President of the Corporation shall inform the membership of the findings of the Board at the meeting in which the appeal is being made and the accused shall be granted reasonable time to address the membership on their own behalf or may name some other Corporation member in good standing to address the membership issue for him. In either case, their presence is mandatory.
Section 7
Upon a vote of a majority of the membership, the findings and penalty assessed by the Board may be either set aside or reduced, but not increased. Neither the accused nor the accuser may vote on the question
Section 8
In the event a majority of the members present and voting shall fail to agree, the findings and penalty of the Board shall stand.
Section 9
No officer who is either accused or the accusing party shall sit as a member of the Board of Directors for the purpose of hearing the charges brought by or against him.
Section 10
Officers may be removed from office for any offense which would warrant disciplinary action against the said officer as provided for in these Rules, or for the refusal to perform their duties as stated in Article VII of the By-laws.
- Any three active members in good standing can bring charges against an officer, providing that one of the three is a member of the Board of Directors. Outside of this, six members are needed to bring charges.
- The Vice-President may not make a motion for the removal of the President.
- In the event the removal of the President is sought, the Road Captain shall preside at the meetings unless the Road Captain shall have made or seconded the motion to remove, in which case, the Treasurer shall preside.
- Upon bringing charges, the normal course of disciplinary action is taken. (cf. Article VI, 1-8 of the “Standing Rules of order of Blue Max C.C, Inc.”)
- If the charges or the bringing of charges involves three (3) members of the Board, the case is taken to the full membership, where two-thirds (2/3) of the membership is required to take or not to take action, and if necessary, determine what action is to be taken. In this instance, the decision is final.
Section 11
A member found guilty of any of the following charges may be penalized by, among other things, expulsion:
- Failure or refusal to dues for a period of three (3) consecutive months (three (3) consecutive meetings) unless otherwise excused by the Board
- In the case of Active members, failure or refusal to attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the Corporation, unless otherwise excused by the Board.
- For conduct of such a nature as to endanger the health, or safety, or reputation of other members of the Corporation, the Corporation itself or another person, or conduct disruptive or damaging to the purpose of the Corporation.
- In the case of Active Members, for becoming an Active Member of any other club, though nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any Active Member from becoming an Associate or Honorary Member of any other club.
Section 12
Any other charges may be brought within the stated guidelines and procedures (cf. “Standing Rules, Article VI”)
Article VII
Corporation Colors
Section 1
- Informal Uniform (Shall be worn at any club event except in a member’s home.)
- Overlay shall consist of a black leather or denim sleeveless vest with the following:
- Small patch on the left side, either one inch above the pocket or two inches below the shoulder of the leather vest.
- Name badge under the small patch. (Officer pin to be worn above the name badge.)
- If applicable, silver “flying tire: on the left side below the name badge (this is for all members prior to Fall 2012, after that point it will apply to the member voted as Person of the Year in January of each year, unless there is a run that year in which case it will be presented at the run. Any member already with this symbol will be allowed to maintain it.).
- Small blue and gold “star pin” on right collar tab (upper right side on leather vest).
- Large patch shall be worn on the back of the overlay approximately one (1) inch below the seam.
- Any Associate patches shall be worn on the right side of the front.
- Mid-America patch shall be worn on the lower front right side.
- If a t-shirt is worn it should be black or white. This shirt may bear the corporate logo but is not required. A plain colored shirt for flagging purposes will also be allowed.
- A harness or other similar leather item may be worn instead of a t-shirt.
- Levi, leather pants, kilts, or shorts
- Black leather boots or black shoes including black leather sneakers.
- Accessories on the overlay:
- The only accessories that can be worn on the overlay are buttons pertaining to clubs, runs, and motorcycle pins and patches.
- Non-club related patches, pins, and other items may not be worn on the overlay. Costume jewelry and partisan political pins are not permitted.
- Formal Uniform (Shall be worn at formal run banquets or prior announced events.)
- Black dress slacks or plain black leather pants (no piping, lacing, etc.), or black kilt.
- Black socks, if visible.
- Black boots (high shine) or dress shoes.
- Black belt with silver buckle.
- Official Formal Shirt
- Overlay shall consist of a black leather or denim sleeveless vest with the following:
Section 2
With all uniforms, a black motorcycle cap may be worn, but is not required.
Section 3
Only authorized name badges are to be worn. Individual name pins will be ordered by the Corporation at the member’s expense
Section 4
Title pins (officer pins, etc.) will be purchased by the Club and will remain the property of the Corporation. These will be transferable concurrent with the installation of officers.
Section 5
Club members wishing to get extra patches will be assessed at the cost to the Corporation of these patches.
Section 6
Club colors shall not be worn while engaging in any activity which would bring discredit to the club. Including but not limited to lewd behavior, sexual acts, nude photography, and similar scenes, as determined by the Board of Directors.