Bylaws
AMERICAN COACH ASSOCIATION
WESTERN REGIONAL CHAPTER
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
A. This non-profit unincorporated Association, hereinafter referred to as "ACA-WRC" shall be known as AMERICAN COACH ASSOCIATION- WESTERN REGIONAL CHAPTER.
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
The ACA-WRC is a chapter of its parent organization, American Coach Association, hereinafter referred to as the "ACA". The ACA-WRC provides all members of the parent organization a regional organization for carrying out in this area the aims and purposes of its parent organization as expressed in the By-Laws of its parent organization.
Upon creation, the ACA-WRC shall incorporate the members of the Southern California, NorCal/Northwest and Southwest Chapters of the American Coach Association. Those Chapters will cease their individual Chapter operations under their respective By-Laws, upon the ACA-WRC's commencing operations under the ACA.
The ACA-WRC shall consist of the geographical areas of California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, but, shall accept membership from all eligible members of the American Coach Association upon proper application.
The ACA-WRC shall provide for all members of the ACA, a regional organization for carrying out the aims and purposes of its parent organization as expressed in the by-laws of ACA. The purpose of the ACA-WRC shall be to encourage, foster and promote the interest of motorhoming among the owners of American Heritage, American Eagle, American Dream, American Tradition, American Allegiance, American Revolution, American Patriot and American Limited models, as well as any other product branded into the American Coach motorhome line by the parent company of American Coach. All references to American Coach Models, collectively, will hereinafter be referred to as "Eligible Coaches". The primary activity of the ACA-WRC is to provide an organization encouraging camaraderie, motorhome rallies and trips, information exchange among Eligible Coach owners/operators, as well as information exchange with the manufacturer of the American Coach models through the ACA.
ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP
There shall be four classes of membership in the ACA-WRC, to wit: Regular, Commercial and Honorary and Emeritus.
Regular members shall be those persons over the age of 18 years who own a legal interest in an Eligible Coach, as defined herein. They shall possess an active ACA member number or have applied for one. Only one vote per each such motor home shall be counted in connection with organization decisions. Only one membership fee or dues shall be paid or assessed against the owners the Eligible Coach.
Commercial members shall be those companies or individuals who operate as distributors, dealers, agents, service centers, campgrounds or organizations providing service to the recreational vehicle Industry. These Commercial members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office in this organization, but shall be entitled to participate in all other activities and rallies and meetings of the ACA-WRC Chapter.
Honorary members shall be those persons whom ACA, or ACA-WRC especially desires to honor. They shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall hold such honorary membership for the year selected. Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office in this organization, but shall be entitled to participate in all other activities and rallies and meetings of the ACA-WRC Chapter.
Emeritus members shall be those persons who had a prior relationship with the ACA, ACA-WRC, Southern California, NorCal/Northwest or Southwest Chapters, but no longer own an Eligible Coach. The former member's application for Emeritus status shall be submitted to the ACA after approval by the ACA-WRC Board of Directors. Once approved by ACA, the applicant will be subject to the payment of yearly dues, as set by the ACA and ACA-WRC Boards of Directors for so long the Emeritus member shall desire to continue hold such memberships. Emeritus members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office in the ACA-WRC organization, but shall be entitled to participate in all other activities and rallies and meetings of the ACA-WRC.
Application for membership in the ACA-WRC shall be made in writing and addressed to the President or Membership Chairperson of the ACA-WRC, accompanied by payment of such fees and dues as determined by the Board of Directors.
No person shall be disqualified from membership on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation or the presence of any handicap.
Membership is deemed a personal privilege and shall not be subject to sale, transfer, assignment or bequest.
Overseeing the membership functions and duties shall be the Membership Chairperson appointed by the President and confirmed by a majority of the Board of Directors. Once appointed, the position will hold a non-voting position on the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 4 - DUES
A. The annual dues for membership in the ACA-WRC shall be Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per year or such amount as the Board of Directors shall establish. Dues from applicants shall be the full amount required for the fiscal year beginning July first or prorated by the month in which the applicant joins/renews the ACA-WRC at the rate of One Dollar Twenty-five Cents ($1.25) per month, plus initiation fee and/or renewal fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00). Renewal dues from members of the ACA-WRC shall become due and payable in full July 1st of each fiscal year with a 60 day grace period for payment. Any members whose dues remain unpaid sixty (60) days after they become due will be suspended and dropped from active membership. In the event of reinstatement, dues are retroactive to the beginning of the then current fiscal year along with the renewal fee.
ARTICLE 5 - TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP
All resignations shall be made in writing, addressed to the President of the ACA-WRC. A member who has resigned shall not be entitled to a return of refund of any dues actually paid. A member may be either suspended or expelled by the Board of Directors for conduct injurious to the welfare of the ACA-WRC or the ACA, or for failure to pay any dues or indebtedness to this Chapter within sixty (60) days of notification by this Chapter for such dues or indebtedness. The Board of Directors may reinstate a terminated member upon such conditions as the Board deems appropriate. A member who has been suspended or expelled shall not be entitled to a return or refund of any dues paid.
Membership may be continued during a period of time that a member's Eligible Coach is being replaced and qualifying ownership described hereinabove is temporarily interrupted. Such membership continuation will not extend beyond the current fiscal year for which dues have been paid, except upon approval of the ACA-WRC Board.
Membership in the ACA-WRC Chapter of the ACA is automatically terminated at the time a person no longer owns an Eligible Coach.
ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
It shall be the policy of the ACA-WRC to conduct a meeting of the membership at all ACA-WRC rallies and at ACA Regional or National Rallies.
The ACA-WRC shall hold such membership meetings in conjunction with its scheduled rallies, the date, time and place of the meeting to be determined by the Wagon Master of that rally in conjunction with the President or his/her designee.
If a vote is presented for confirmation by the Regular Members of the ACA-WRC, a majority of those members present at the meeting, in good standing shall be eligible to cast a vote. A simple majority of the members present shall be deemed a quorum. Although there may be two or more owners of an Eligible Coach, only one vote from the owners of each Eligible Coach shall be counted in all matters involving a vote or Election of Officers or By Laws in the ACA-WRC. However, nothing shall prevent two or more owners of such an Eligible Coach from serving in any capacity as officers or Directors of the ACA-WRC.
The ACA-WRC shall hold an annual meeting at the last rally prior to the end of every fiscal year for the purpose of proposing and/or electing officers. Other meetings may be called by the President during the year for the organizing and carrying on of activities of the ACA-WRC.
Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the regular membership, except as otherwise provided by these By-Laws.
ARTICLE 7 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD MEETINGS
The government of the ACA-WRC shall be vested in the Board of Directors, composed of five (5) Officers, to wit: President, two (2) Co-Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. The immediate past President of the ACA-WRC shall also be considered a member of the Board. All members of the Board shall have a right to vote on issues presented to the Board for confirmation.
Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be held as directed by the President. Such meetings may be conducted at any annual or regular meetings of the membership, in person or by telephone, or at scheduled ACA-WRC or ACA National rallies.
A President may call for a meeting of the Board of Directors by giving each member of the Board fifteen (15) days advance notice of the date and time for the meetings. The notice shall contain the nature of the business to be transacted, including any motions to be transacted at such meeting. Notice of the meetings may be given electronically by the Secretary to the board members. Board meetings may be conducted by electronic means, i.e. face time, conference calls, etc., in addition to actual personal appearance.
Additional Board meetings may be held upon call by the Board of Directors. Upon petition in writing of three or more voting Board members, received by the Secretary, at least thirty (30) days before any such membership meeting, stating specifically the exact business including any motions to be transacted at such meeting. The special meeting of the Board shall be noticed by the Secretary to be conducted at a time, date and place selected by said Board or by the President.
A Board quorum shall consist of at least three (3) voting members of the Board of Directors. If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may appoint a qualified successor to serve until such appointee or successor is elected at the next meeting of the regular membership, or any subsequent meeting thereafter.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to make such organization rules and to designate such committees as it deems advisable to carry out the purposes of the ACA-WRC. The President shall also have the power to designate and appoint other committees as the President deems advisable to carry out the purposes of the ACA-WRC.
Except as otherwise provided by law or by these By-Laws, all contested Board issues shall be decided by majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE 8 - OFFICERS
The Officers of the ACA-WRC shall consist of a President, two (2) Co Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall hold office for two years and shall terminate upon the election of a qualified successor. Officers may be re-elected to a new term. An Officer may hold the same position of Officer for multiple terms. The Board by a majority vote has the power to place limitations on the number of consecutive terms an individual may serve in one Office.
The duty of the President shall be to preside at all meetings, both of the membership and the Board of Directors, and with the Secretary to sign the record of the proceedings of all such meetings; to sign and execute all the By-Laws and Rules of this Chapter; to appoint a current member of the ACA WRC to be responsible for the ACA-WRC Newsletter; to carry out the will of the Board of Directors; to appoint such committees as the President may deem appropriate; and to perform such other duties appropriate to that office. The President will also have the duty of being a representative on the ACA Board of Directors and participating in all ACA Board Meetings.
It shall by the duty of the each of the Co-Vice Presidents to assist the President in the discharge of his or her duties, and in the event of the President's absence or disability, to officiate in his or her stead. Each Co Vice president shall be chosen to represent a portion of the geographical area covered by the ACA-WRC, primarily according to their respective residential areas not including the residential area of the President, if possible. Each of the Co-Vice Presidents shall also have the obligation and duty of acting as members of the ACA Board of Directors and participating in all ACA Board Meetings.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of the proceedings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the membership; to receive and conduct, in a timely fashion, all correspondence for, and on behalf of the Board of Directors; to keep and maintain the ACA-WRC's files, to notify the members of the Board of Directors of upcoming meetings; and to perform such other duties as pertains to the office of Secretary.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and collect all funds owing to the ACA-WRC; to be the custodian of the funds collected and to keep at all times an account of the funds and disbursements of the ACA-WRC in proper books provided for that purpose; to render a report at all meetings of the ACA-WRC Board of Directors; to pay all bills subject to the approval of the Board of Directors; to sign all checks for and on behalf of the ACA-WRC; to render a financial report whenever called for by the Board of Directors or by the President at all regular membership meetings; to keep and maintain at all times a roll of the members of the ACA-WRC; and to perform such other duties as pertain to the office of the Treasurer, including but not limited to annual filing the appropriate State and Federal Income tax forms in conjunction with the ACA. The Treasurer shall never co-mingle the funds of this Chapter with his or her own personal funds.
No Officer nor Director of the ACA-WRC shall obligate the ACA-WRC to an indebtedness exceeding $300 without express written approval of the ACA-WRC's Board of Directors.
Membership Chairperson is not a designated Officer and not a voting Board member of the ACA-WRC, but, shall have the duty to solicit new members for the ACA-WRC and to work closely with the President and Treasurer to ensure that membership dues notices are sent to each ACA WRC member prior to each member's renewal date; to make an attempt to collect membership dues for multiple years for each member, and to make multiple follow-up attempts to contact and collect dues from members that do not respond to membership renewal notices. In addition, the duties of the Membership Chairperson shall include maintaining an up-to-date membership roster, including contact information, for all ACA-WRC members in good standing and providing access to the same for all current members. The Membership Chairperson shall be invited to all meetings.
Wagon Masters are not designated as Officers nor voting Board members of the ACA-WRC, but, shall be solicited and designated by the ACA-WRC President and shall plan and conduct their rallies with the assistance of other members as they see fit. The responsible Wagon Masters shall provide rally information to the Chapter Secretary for dissemination to all members on a timely basis so they will have ample time to plan for their attendance. A reconciliation of all funds collected and disbursed for the rally will be submitted to the Treasurer. The Wagon Masters shall be invited to all meetings wherein their rallies are being discussed.
ARTICLE 9 - ELECTIONS
The Officers of the ACA-WRC consisting of a President, two (2) Co-Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer, shall each hold office for two years and shall terminate upon the election of a qualified successor.
At the President's discretion, he/she may, at least sixty (60) days before a membership meeting wherein an election of Officers' vacancy is to be decided, select a Nominating Committee composed of three (3) Regular members who shall nominate eligible Regular members for the vacancies caused by the scheduled expiration of the terms of any Officer at the time of the next ACA-WRC meeting. In such event, the Chairman of the Nominating Committee or his representative shall report its recommendations at the next membership meeting.
Eligible members may also be nominated from the floor at the meeting of the membership, provided they are present to accept such nominations.
No absentee voting or voting by proxy shall be permitted at such elections. The Board of Directors is, however, empowered to conduct the elections of Officers and Directors by oral or mail ballot, upon such conditions and safeguards as the Board deems appropriate.
ARTICLE 10 - PRINCIPAL OFFICE
A. The principal office of the ACA-WRC shall be the residential or business address of the President of the ACA-WRC. The principal office of the ACA WRC shall be determined and may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors, recognizing that the residences of the Officers may in the future be spread widely among different cities and states.
ARTICLE 11 - FISCAL YEAR
A. The fiscal year of this Chapter shall be July 1st to the following June 30th.
ARTICLE 12 - ADOPTION OR AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
A. A member may submit any proposed By-law changes and amendments to the President of the ACA-WRC in writing. The President shall immediately present the proposed Amendment to the ACA-WRC Board of Directors for their consideration. These By-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the regular members in attendance at a properly noticed meeting. All regular members must be notified of the date, time and place of said meeting along with the proposed Amendment/By-Law change at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE 13 - CEASING OPERATIONS
A. Upon agreement of a majority of the members of the ACA-WRC, and Concurrence of the Officers and Board of Directors of the ACA-WRC, The ACA-WRC may elect to cease operations. It shall be the responsibility of the President to contact the ACA to provide notice of ceasing operations. The President in conjunction with the Treasurer shall insure that the necessary forms are filed with the Federal and State taxing authorities to complete all steps required to terminate the operations of the ACA-WRC.
ARTICLE 14 - INITIAL OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following listed individuals shall be the initial Officers and Board of Directors for the ACA-WRC holding the positions as designated.
Confirmation of the initial Officers by the Board will take place at the initial meeting of the ACA-WRC.
President: Robert Clapper
Vice President: John Carr
Vice President: Doug Anderson
Secretary: Patricia Adams
Membership Chairperson and Treasurer: Debbie Darby
Past President: