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Bylaws ARTICLE I - Name and Purpose Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the International Society of Large Scale Model Railroaders (hereinafter referred to as the "Society"). Section 2. The Society defines the definition of "Large Scale" as railroad locomotives and rolling stock which generally operates on 45mm track. Section 3. The purposes of the Society are: to promote Large Scale model railroading. to provide education and information to its members and to the general public regarding Large Scale model railroading. to work in conjunction with Hobby Dealers and Large Scale Model Railroad Manufacturers to promote the hobby to the public and provide a forum for consumer input. to assist other organized Large Scale Model Railroad Clubs, Societies, etc. in promoting the Hobby. ARTICLE II - Membership and Dues Section 1. Membership is available to any person upon payment of annual dues as set and agreed upon by the Executive Committee. Hereinafter the term "member" means a person whose dues are currently paid. Section 2. Prospective recipients of an Honorary Membership may be nominated by any ISLSMR member in good standing, and shall be decided, for or against, by the Executive Committee. Honorary Memberships are granted lifetime membership. Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote or hold elected or appointed office. Any Honorary Member can become a full voting member with full rights to hold elected and/or appointed office by applying and paying the dues of a regular membership at the current fee structure. If said dues are allowed to lapse, that membership shall revert to its former status with regard to voting and/or holding office. ARTICLE III - Meetings Section 1. An annual meeting shall be held once a year; the date to be determined by the Executive Committee. Time and location of the annual meeting shall be announced to the membership 6 months in advance of being held. At this meeting the officers shall report on their activities for the prior twelve months and their plans for the next twelve months. In addition, such old and new business as is necessary or desirable to further the purposes of the Society shall be transacted, provided that at least 10% of the regular members of the Society are present in person or by proxy. Roberts' Rules of Order shall govern the annual meeting of the Society except insofar as they are inconsistent with these bylaws. Section 2. Other meetings can be held, as needed, to further the purposes of the Society. These meetings may include Committee functions, clinics, layout visits, shows, parties, picnics, etc. ARTICLE IV - Officers Section 1. The officers of the Society shall be: President, Vice President 1st, Vice President 2nd, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall constitute the Executive Committee established by Section 1, Article V. Section 2. The term of office for each officer shall be for 2 years beginning on July 1st. The initial term of office for President and Vice President 2nd shall be 3 years and subsequently every 2 years thereafter. Section 3. The President shall have general supervision over all the affairs of the Society, shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Committee, shall appoint all Committees except the Executive Committee, shall fulfill all the functions of the office prescribed elsewhere in these bylaws and with the approval of the Executive Committee shall take action on all matters not covered in these bylaws which will advance the purposes of the Society. Section 4. The officers of the Society shall, in precedence of their office, assume the duties of the president in his or her absence or inability to serve. Section 5. The Executive Committee shall plan and schedule the annual meeting of the Society. Generally, additional meetings shall be scheduled as needed, to discuss plans, activities, etc. that will assist in the promotion of Large Scale railroading. Section 6. The Secretary shall maintain a record of the annual meeting of the Society and any other meetings of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall maintain the Society's mailing list and shall provide mailing labels to the other officers from time to time as may be necessary for the other officers to fulfill their responsibilities. Annually, in January of each year, he or she shall publish a list of members showing each member's name, address and telephone number. However, no information will be published without the consent of the member concerned. Section 7 The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Society and shall submit a statement of cash receipts and disbursements to the Executive Committee Bi-Monthly and to the members annually at the annual meeting of members. ARTICLE V - Committees Section 1. The officers of the Society as defined in Section 1 of Article IV shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for management of the Society. At least three members of the Committee must be present in person, by proxy or by other methods which could include, but not limited to, electronic means as typified by e-mail, internet chat, internet teleconferencing or by conference telephone calls. These meetings will be used to transact business. The Executive Committee meeting dates shall be published in the newsletter. Members may attend these meetings and may participate in them as determined by the Executive Committee. When a vacancy exists in any office between yearly elections, the Executive Committee shall have power to appoint a member to fill said vacancy. Section 2. In January of each year, the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of not less than three members of the Society. The Nominating Committee shall select one or more candidates for each office of the Society and shall report its selections to the President in March of each year. Nominations may be made by members. In the event, that nominations are not received from members, the Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for the office. The report by the Nominations committee shall include a brief biographical sketch for each candidate and shall be published in the 2nd newsletter of the year. Section 3. The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall establish any additional Committees as may be necessary or desirable to advance the purposes of the Society. Section 4. Standing Committees shall consist of, but not be limited to: Membership; Communications. The Communications Committee shall prepare and distribute the newsletter. This Committee shall encourage members to submit articles for publication in the newsletter. The newsletter should be published bi-monthly in hard copy and/or a method such as Internet postings or e-mail. The Membership Committee shall promote membership in the Society and participation in its activities. The Committee shall establish a network of members who will be responsible for welcoming new members to the Society, either personally, by internet, mail or by telephone, and for encouraging participation of assigned members in the Society's activities. ARTICLE VI - Publications Section 1. The Society shall make available a Bi-Monthly newsletter. The name of the newsletter shall be "The Turntable". Section 2. The newsletter shall be available in both electronic and printed form. The electronic form of the newsletter will be available only to members. Section 3. In general, the newsletter shall describe the upcoming activities and report on the most recent events. The newsletter may include such other material as necessary or appropriate to advance the purposes of the Society. ARTICLE VII - Voting Section 1. Only members shall be entitled to vote. Section 2. The yearly election of appropriate officers and any amendment of these bylaws shall be submitted to the regular members for a direct mail vote or such appropriate method as described by the Executive Committee which could include electronic voting methods. Section 3. The Secretary, with the assistance the President and Vice-Presidents, shall prepare, distribute, receive, tabulate and report the results of any direct mail /electronic ballot. The Secretary, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall establish procedures for conducting any direct mail/electronic vote. These procedures shall allow a minimum of 3 weeks between the date a ballot is mailed and /or submitted to a proper electronic voting method and the cut-off date for return of the ballot. Section 4. In the election of officers, right to write in names not otherwise on the ballot, shall be preserved. Section 5. On all matters to be voted upon, whether in person or by mail, a simple majority of the votes cast shall decide the question or the winner in the case of the election of officers. In the event of a tie, a majority of the incumbent Executive Committee shall have the right to cast the deciding vote. ARTICLE VIII - Amendment Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a simple majority of regular members who return ballots in a direct mail / electronic vote. Section 2. Any member may propose amendment of these bylaws. Any proposed amendment shall be reviewed by the Executive Committee and then submitted to the membership together with the Executive Committee's recommendation. If the Executive Committee does not recommend an amendment, the member proposing the amendment shall be afforded an opportunity to withdraw his or her proposal. Any proposed amendment that is to be voted on shall be published in the newsletter a minimum of two months in advance of voting on the amendment. |
