An Oregon Corporation
A Chapter of Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA)
Adopted August 14, 1992 ~ Revised June 25, 1993 ~ Revised July 3, 1995
Revised June 28, 1996 ~ Revised January 24, 1999 ~ Revised August 6, 2004
ARTICLE I - CHAPTER NAME
The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the Country Coach
International Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, Inc.,
hereinafter referred to as Chapter and FMCA.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT
- PURPOSE: This Chapter exists to promote social, recreational and
informational exchange activities that provide for the enjoyment and
pleasurable use of family member coaches. Also, assist in formation of
regional groups of Country Coach owners into satellite clubs.
- AREA/SCOPE: This Chapter shall be authorized to function in the International Area.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
- ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for and to maintain membership
in the Chapter, a person must own at least 1/3 of a Country
Coach/Country Camper Motorhome, be in good standing with FMCA, and meet
dues requirement and provisions set forth in the Bylaws of this
Chapter.
- Membership in this Chapter shall not be denied
any person because of race, sex, religion, color, marital or family
status, age, nationality, or disability.
- The term "Family Unit," is defined as a person; his or her
spouse, or partner; dependents of each, regardless of age;
non-dependent grandchildren and great-grandchildren aged 18 and under.
- The term "Membership," is defined as a family unit owning a Qualifying Motor Coach who share a membership number.
- The
term "Member," is defined as each adult who, jointly or individually,
constitutes a membership. The voting rights of each member as defined
in the description of each category.
- The term "Qualifying Motor Coach," is defined as
self-propelled, completely self-contained vehicle that contains all the
conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent
sanitary facilities, and in which the driver's area is directly
accessible in a walking position from the living quarters. The terms
motor coach and motorhome may be used interchangeably.
- FULL MEMBERSHIP: Any persons who meet the provisions of
Article III, Paragraph 1 and complies with the "Purposes" of this Club,
subscribes to the Code of Ethics, and adheres to the other rules of
FMCA is entitled to Full Membership.
- HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Any widow or widower, having been
a Full Member, with or without a qualifying motorcoach may become an
Honorary Member. An Honorary Member will have voting rights and may
hold a Club office provided they advance from Full Membership in good
standing.
- CHARTER MEMBERS: Charters members are those who joined
on or before July 25, 1985. Should a member become inactive their
charter classification will be held in abeyance and may be reclaimed
should they qualify again as a member in good standing.
- DUES AND FEES:
- ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment of Chapter and National dues enables persons to become
active members and entitled to all rights and privileges of the Chapter
and FMCA. The annual dues for membership in the Chapter shall be an
amount, as the membership shall establish.
- RENEWAL: Renewal dues from Chapter members become due and payable on member's anniversary date.
- INITIAL APPLICATION: Application for new membership shall be accompanied by payment of
annual Chapter dues and initiation fee (U.S. funds), and be in good
standing with FMCA.
- INITIATION FEE: New members may be required to pay an initiation fee in an amount to be established by the Chapter membership.
- ARREARS: Any member whose Chapter dues remain unpaid for more than 90 days after
becoming due shall be considered delinquent. At that time, members will
be notified by mail of their disqualification and allowed 30 days
without penalty for remedial action. This also applies to members whom
FMCA has notified the Chapter of nonpayment of FMCA dues.
- REFUNDS: No member shall be entitled to a refund of dues upon becoming disqualified for membership
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
- DUTIES OF OFFICERS: Duties of elected officers shall be as defined in FMCA Member and Volunteer Handbook
- TERMS OF OFFICE: The elected officers of this Chapter shall serve a two (2) year term of office.
- RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS:
- An individual FMCA member may hold office(s) in only 1 Chapter.
- Individual FMCA member may hold no more than 2 offices in the same Chapter.
- Any member in good standing may be nominated from the floor for any elective office.
- Only Full Members or Honorary Members who have advanced from Full Membership have the right to hold office in this Chapter.
- No
official or member shall become vested of any right, title to, or
interest in any Chapter property, except as required by law.
- EXECUTIVE BOARD:
- The Elected
Officers and the immediate Past President of the Chapter shall
constitute the Executive Board. The Club Manager and Liaison
representative from Country Coach shall be non-voting members of the
Executive Board.
- The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the
affairs of the Chapter. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the
Chapter, and none of its acts shall be in conflict with the Chapter or
FMCA.
- Vacancies occurring on the Executive Board shall be
filled by Presidential appointment, subject to approval of the
Executive Board, for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
- APPOINTMENT: Committee members and Chairpersons (except Nominating Committee) shall be appointed by the President.
- DUTIES: All committees shall function within the
policies of the Chapter and (except Nominating Committee) under the
direction of the President. Financial reports, vouchers, and monies due
the Chapter shall be submitted on a timely basis.
- QUORUM: A Committee quorum shall be a majority.
ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
- AUTHORITY: This Chapter shall be democratically
self-governed, deriving its existence and authority from the consent of
its membership assembled in meeting or, in certain instances, by mail
vote on stated propositions.
- ORGANIZATIONAL YEAR: The fiscal year of the Chapter shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31.
- CHAPTER MEETINGS:
- TYPES: The
term "meeting" shall include coach rallies, campouts, dinner meetings,
and any other gatherings suitable to the function of the Chapter.
- BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Chapter must hold at least 2
business meetings each fiscal year at which a quorum is present. Said
meetings must be at least 14 days apart and be duly announced in
advance to the membership.
- ELECTION: One of the business meetings shall be an
Annual Meeting at which an election is held if required by a 2-year
term option. The voting general membership is to elect Chapter
officers, including a President, 1 or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, a National Director, and an Alternate National
Director. The Executive Board, at their discretion, may create an
office of Senior Vice President, which shall be filled by the current
Officers from among themselves. Additionally, if regional vice
president candidates are not available and it is determined to be in
the best interest of the Chapter, regions may be combined.
- QUORUM: A quorum for the transaction of business at
any duly-called Chapter meeting is 25% of the Chapter family unit
membership or 15 family unit members, whichever is less.
- VOTING: Except as specified elsewhere in these
Bylaws, a simple majority vote of members in good standing and voting
shall be required to approve or disapprove any matter. The Chapter has
established that voting will be 1 vote per family unit. Balloting by
mail may be undertaken when a proposed matter is voted to be of such
importance or urgency that a total membership vote is advisable.
- NOTIFICATION TO MEMBERS: Any official notices
will be published within the "On the Road Again" section of the Country
Coach, Inc. magazine "Destinations". All notices published either at
the direction of the President or the Executive Board when acting
within the powers of their jurisdiction, shall be deemed to be the
official notice to the membership.
- PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS: The rules contained in the
current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern
this Chapter's proceedings to which they are applicable and in which
they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA, and
the Bylaws of this Chapter.
- MAINTAINING AFFILIATION: This Chapter must maintain a
minimum of 15 family unit members. The Chapter Secretary shall furnish
to the National Office of FMCA, no later then the last week in
December, a membership list, a list of Chapter Officers, and assurance
that 2 business meetings were held.
- ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit of the Chapter's financial books and records shall be undertaken and reported to the membership.
- APPLICATION OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS: This
Chapter accepts and agrees the Chapter Bylaws shall conform to any
mandatory requirements stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaws of
FMCA.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
- NOMINATING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
- The
Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than 3 Chapter members
in good standing and shall be selected from the general membership by
the Board.
- Election of an individual to the Nominating Committee shall not prohibit that person from being nominated for elected office.
- NOMINATING COMMITTEE DUTIES:
- To select one of its members as Nominating Committee Chairman.
- To
nominate candidates for the Chapter Offices of President, 1 or more
Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and an
Alternate National Director for the new term to be presented for voting
by the Chapter membership.
- To obtain clear acceptance of the nominees to serve the Chapter should they be elected.
- To make certain nominated candidates are members in good standing and qualified under applicable National and Chapter Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
- MANDATORY AMENDMENTS: National Bylaw Amendments applicable
to Chapter operations shall be automatically adopted by the Chapter and
are not subject to a vote by the Chapter membership.
- AMENDING PROCEDURE: These Bylaws may be amended by a
majority affirmative vote of the members present and voting at a duly
called meeting, providing that prior notice of at least 90 days has
been given of the proposition(s) to amend. All proposed amendments
shall be published in the nearest issue of the Official Publication
prior to the Annual Meeting, or in the event of a special meeting, the
issue as closely approximating 90 days as practical. Any member of the
Chapter may propose amendments to the Bylaws. Approved amendments to
these Bylaws become effective immediately upon their adoption, or at
such time as specified in the amendment.
- DISTRIBUTION: Copies of changes, additions,
amendments, or revisions to these Bylaws shall be forwarded to the
National Office and to the National Area Vice President.
ARTICLE IX - LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTIONIn the event of
dissolution of this Chapter of FMCA, by majority vote of the Chapter,
all of the remaining assets of the Chapter shall be contributed to the
purpose(s) for which the Chapter is organized, or to a qualified
non-profit charity or charities.
EFFECTIVE August 6, 2004