BYLAWS OF THE RAINIER PARAGLIDING CLUB
Article I. Name and Purpose
Section 1. The name of the club shall be Rainier Paragliding Club, hereafter referred to as the “club.” The club shall be a non-profit club dedicated to the development of paragliding as a safe and enjoyable sport for its members.
Section 2. The primary purpose of the club shall be to promote paragliding fun, safety, and education. The club shall provide information to, and facilitate requests by, landowners and public agencies to obtain and preserve flying sites. The club shall promote a positive public image for the sport of paragliding.
Article II. Membership
Section 1. Membership in this club shall be open to those persons who express an interest in the sport of paragliding and are willing to abide by the clubs by-laws stated herein.
Section 2. All members shall pay a membership fee annually, in advance. That fee schedule, terms and conditions shall be determined by the members at the annual election, and may be set no lower than an amount which will yield enough income to pay for newsletter publication costs and other recurring club expenses. For one or more members of the club in the same family, 1.5 of the same annual dues shall be charged as a family membership.
Section 3. Membership meeting.
a. An annual meeting of the members of this club shall be held at its regular meeting in November, which is on the third Tuesday of the month, at a location determined at the previous meeting, or on an alternate day and/or place and/or time published and sent to all members at least seven days in advance and set by the President.
b. Special meetings of the members of this club may be called at any time by means of a written request made by the Club President, Vice-President, or 15% of the members.
c. Written notice of all members’ meetings shall be emailed to each member, stated in the newsletter or via a special mailing not less than 5 days and not more than 20 days before the meeting. This notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, and if it is a special meeting, the purpose.
d. Members of this club may enter their vote for club officers by voice, ballot, mail, written proxy, email or other electronic means as they become available.
Section 4. Any member who is found to have violated any of these by-laws or any of the club’s policies or regulations may be censured, suspended or expelled from the club. Any member or members accused of a violation shall be notified in writing of the
alleged violation, and shall have an opportunity to defend him/herself before the members at a general or special meeting. The membership, by 2/3-majority vote, shall have the power to censure, suspend or expel a member; that member may appeal the censure, suspension or expulsion at an annual or special meeting of the members. Only those members actually present and hearing the evidence and defense shall vote. A member who has been suspended shall not vote on any matter during the suspension.
Article III. Officers
Section 1. The officers of this club shall be elected from the general membership by majority vote of the members voting at the annual meeting. Each officer shall hold office for twelve months or until his or her successor is elected, and shall receive no compensation. The officers of this club shall be called the Board of Directors and shall consist of the following: 1) President, 2) Vice-President, 3) Secretary/Treasurer, 4) Director, Safety, and 5) Director, Newsletter Editor. The Board of Directors by majority vote shall establish policies and regulations of the club and shall, at the written request of 15% of the members, submit those policies and regulations to a vote of the membership.
Section 2. The Club President shall preside at all meetings, appoint and supervise all Committee Chairpersons with the approval of the board of directors; sign and execute all contracts in the name of the club when authorized to do so by unanimous approval of the board of directors or 2/3 majority of the voting membership at a special or annual meeting, or without prior authorization in an emergency; and shall have general supervision over the management of all affairs of the club. The club President shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office of President or are deemed necessary by the general membership.
Section 3. The Vice-President shall be vested with all powers and shall perform the duties of the President in case of the absence or disability of the President, and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated by the President by mutual consent.
Section 4. The Secretary shall record the minutes of board and general membership meetings and send a copy of the minutes to the Newsletter Editor in a timely manner. In addition, the Secretary maintains the club roster and all club correspondence, send Holiday cards and thank you cards to landowners and public agencies and others who have assisted the club during the year and shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office or delegated by the general membership. The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all funds; receive the membership applications; execute all authorized expenditures; account for all receipts, disbursements; and balance on hand each month; and submit a monthly treasurer’s report to the newsletter editor in a timely manner; pay insurance on club-sponsored sites; and shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office or delegated by the general membership.
Section 5. Directors-at-Large perform duties as may be delegated by the President or general membership by mutual consent.
Section 6. A member of the Board of Directors who misses three consecutive Board of Directors meetings may be dismissed and replaced from the membership by majority vote of the other Board of Directors members.
Article IV. Appointments
Section 1. Persons or committees may be appointed by the President as he/she deems necessary for landowner liaison, special events, site maintenance or other club business. The general club membership may also, with newsletter announcement prior to any regular, annual or special meeting and 2/3 majority of those voting, appoint persons or committees. These persons/committee members shall be responsible for executing policy as set by the board in Article III Section 1.
Article V. Miscellaneous
Section 1. The fiscal year of this club shall be from July 1 through June 30 of each year.
a. Use of RPC letterhead or club name shall be restricted to the club President, Committee Chairpersons, and members of the RPC Board of Directors. Rank and File club members may also use letterhead and/or club name when acting on delegated special projects with permission of the club President or Board of Directors.
Section 2. Amendments to these by-laws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the members present at an annual or special meeting. If the meeting is a special meeting all proposed amendments must be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 3. It is the responsibility of each member to adhere to current USHPA Regulations and Federal Aviation Agency regulations. (FAR 103 and other paragliding related FARS).
Section 4. Expenditures and loans are authorized only as follows.
a. More than $500 for any single purpose after being published as a spending proposal in a previous newsletter by a two-thirds vote at meetings with a minimum of 20 percent of the full membership voting in favor of the expenditure.
b. Less than $500 only as follows.
- By club Treasurer for normal operating expenses.
- By a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
- If a proposal receives a 51% vote at a meeting, it will then be submitted to the Board of Directors; with a majority vote of the Board of Directors, the expenditure will be authorized.
Section 5. The general membership may, at an annual or special meeting and with 2/3 majority of those voting, overturn any board action including appointments.