HARDline Off-Road Club
By-Laws
Article I
Name
1. This organization shall be known as the HARDline Off-Road Club, to be referred to as “HORC” in the remainder of this document.
Article II
Objectives
1. HORC is organized as a non- profit organization for the purpose of:
a. Providing social, educational, and recreational activities for its membership.
c. To enjoy and protect the natural resources and support the multiple use principle as it applies to public lands.
d. To promote interest in and ownership and driving of four wheel drive vehicles.
e. To promote, organize and hold meetings, trail rides, club outings, and similar events.
f. To offer awards and prizes for various accomplishments of the persons of the club.
Membership Requirements / Dues / Info
1. Owners of all makes and models of four-wheel drive trail vehicles are eligible for membership in HORC. Trail vehicles will be defined as any four-wheel drive vehicle that the owner drives on trails.
2. You must be 18 years old to join HORC.
3. All members must conduct themselves in a respectable and orderly fashion whether in or out of Club activities, subject to decision of the Board of Directors.
4. Prospects for membership must be sponsored by a member who is in good standing.
5. Prospects for membership must attend two HORC meetings prior to consideration for membership.
6. Pending satisfaction of all minimum requirements for membership, the prospect will be voted on at his/her third meeting attendance.
7. Dues for this organization shall be $30 per membership per year, payable in advance by January 31. Members joining after July 1st will pay $20 for their first year’s dues. They will subsequently pay regular $30 dues every following year that they remain members. Any member whose dues are three months in arrears shall be dropped from the rolls of this organization. Nothing herein contained shall prevent reinstatement of a delinquent member upon payment in full of their unpaid dues, together with a reinstatement fee of $10.
8. Members shall immediately notify the Secretary of any change of address, mailing address, telephone number, or e-mail address.
9. Resignation of any member shall be in writing and submitted to the Secretary.
10. All members must sign a copy of HORC By-Laws. The signed By-Laws will be kept on file by the HORC.
Article IV
Founding Members
1. Members who adopt and sign the By-Laws of the Club on or before May, 2008 shall be known as Founding Members of HORC.
Article V
Meetings
1. Meetings of the membership of HORC shall be held monthly at such times and places as designated by the Board of Directors.
Article VI
Administration of Officers
1. The officers of HORC shall consist of a President, Treasurer, Marketing Director, and Trail Ride Coordinator. It shall be their duty to assume the functions of the other Board of Directors in cases of emergency.
2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers and the immediate past president. Each director shall represent the best interests of HORC on the board. Further duties of the Directors shall be to oversee club business, to take such actions as might fulfill the aims of this organization, and to audit the books of the previous administration. Fifty-one percent (51%) constitutes a quorum of Directors, for voting purposes.
3. No officer shall be added to the club except by majority vote.
Article VII
Duties and Powers of Officers
1. The PRESIDENT shall preside over all membership and board meetings and be present at all events when possible. He/She shall be the executive officer and shall have the duty to carry out all the policies and decisions of the Board of Directors. He/She shall sign all checks with the Treasurer.
2. The TREASURER shall keep accurate and complete records of the funds and accounts of this organization, and shall collect all dues and maintain a record thereof. He shall make only such disbursements from the funds of the organization as are directed by the Board of Directors.
3. The MARKETING DIRECTOR shall process and fill all orders for HORC soft goods to include, but not be limited to, T-Shirts, Hats, and Vehicle Decals. He/She will also be in charge of any other promotional items HORC and its Directors deem necessary to include, but not be limited to, banners and signs. He will also be in charge of maintaining the club website, and all online club activities, such as, but not limited to Facebook.
4. The TRAIL RIDE COORDINATOR shall handle all aspects of any HORC trail ride. These include, but are not limited to, bringing potential trail ride locations to HORC for vote, making all lodging arrangements for trail rides if it is an overnight trip, setting a meeting place for trail ride departure, and contacting each member of HORC to inform them of all details of upcoming trail rides.
5. HORC shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who shall serve at any time hereafter as a director or officer of HORC from and against any and all claims and liabilities to which such person shall become subject by reason of his having heretofore or hereafter been a director or officer of the organization, or by reason of any action alleged to have been heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted by him as such director or officer, and shall reimburse each such person for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability. The rights accruing to any person under the foregoing provisions of this section shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the organization to indemnify or reimburse such person in any proper case even though not specifically herein provided for. The organization, its directors, officers, employees, and agents shall be fully protected in taking any action or making any payment, or in refusing so to do, in reliance upon the advice of counsel. The Board of Directors shall, within its sound business judgment and discretion, have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the organization, or is or was serving at the request of the organization as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another organization, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the organization would have the power to indemnify him against such liability.
Article VIII
Expenditures and Finance
1. All monies received from all sources shall immediately be turned over to the Treasurer to be held in safe keeping or deposited in the checking account of HORC.
2. No withdrawal from funds shall be made without the approval of the Board of Directors. Single non-budgeted expenditures in excess of fifty dollars ($50) must have approval of the majority of a voting quorum of the membership.
Article IX
Election of Officers
1. The membership shall meet and elect officers for each fiscal year at the December meeting of HORC. The newly elected officers shall take office in January of the following year. Voting shall be in person, and not by proxy or mail.
2. Nominations for Officers will be made at the November meeting of HORC. Nominations will be made from the floor from attending members. No quorum is needed for nominations.
3. Balloting for each office will be held by secret ballot. All ballots for offices must be counted and checked by three members other than nominees.
4. A majority of votes cast is necessary for election to an office or position on the Board of Directors.
5. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer, an election shall be called to elect a successor. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Board shall elect a successor.
Article X
Recall
1. Any officer or director of HORC may be recalled and relived of duties by a two third majority vote of the entire membership, not just a quorum, but every member of HORC in good standing.
Article XI
Events
1. All HORC events shall be subject to the approval by the Board of Directors.
2. All events must be conducted in an orderly manner and with safety as the prime factor.
3. Anyone determined to be under the influence of alcohol or mind-altering drugs during any club event is subject to immediate dismissal from the club.
4. Any events held on private property must have property owner permission, and will be subject to liability releases.
5. Any member or guest under the age of twenty-one (18) must be accompanied by or have written permission of a parent or guardian to drive in any club event. Members must take full responsibility for their guests.
6. All competitive events shall be under the direct authority, supervision, and control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall determine entrance classifications and regulations for various events and shall approve trophies and awards to be presented. Vehicles may be subject to technical inspection varying according to the type of event and shall be disqualified if found to be mechanically unsafe.
7. All members and guests participating in an event shall abide by the Motor Vehicle Code of the State concerned, and by the laws and regulations of the city, the county, or the circumstances involved.
8. During club sponsored trail rides, members in good standing may invite as many guests as their vehicle will carry, but no more than one guest driving an additional off road vehicle that has passed our technical inspection. Exceptions to this will only be made in unusual circumstances with approval of the Board of Directors. This will assure that no club sponsored trail ride has too many participants, which affects the convenience and safety of those participating. Additionally, members inviting a guest driving his/her vehicle shall notify the Trail Ride Coordinator of this guest prior to the trail ride. When a given trail ride is particularly popular (i.e. Many vehicles are expected) the Trail Ride Coordinator may ask members to refrain from inviting additional guests with their own vehicles. Note: waivers are required for all guests on trail rides.
Article XII
Amendments
1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote at a regular HORC meeting, a quorum being present and voting. Any amendment to the By-Laws must be presented to the membership at the regular membership meeting preceding that in which the vote is taken.
Elected and effective as of this _______ day of ________________ in the year ________
I________________________ do hereby agree to abide by the above By-Laws of HORC and be subject to all of the rules and regulations contained herein.
Member Signature_________________________________ Date__________________
