Club Bylaws
BYLAWS OF THE Desert Marksmen Rile and Pistol Club Lancaster, California
As Amended: Dec. 2000
Approved: Feb. 2001
AFFILIATED With the NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
ARTICLE I
The name of this organization shall be:
THE DESERT MARKSMEN RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB, INC.
which will function as a shooting club under these Bylaws and the accompanying Club Rules and Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE II
OBJECT
The object of this organization shall be the encouragement of organized rifle and pistol shooting among citizens of the United States resident in our community, with a view toward a better knowledge on the part of such citizens of the safe handling and proper care of firearms, as well as improved marksmenship. It shall be our further object and purpose to forward the development of those charteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmenship and the foundation of true patroitism.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Any citizen of the United States, old enough to leagally own and operate firearms in the State of California, may become a member of this on vote of the Executive Committee, after paying the initiation fee and dues specified in the standing Club Rules, subscribing to the NRA pledge.
The Desert Marksmen and its members and employees shall not discriminate by segregation, refusing membership, curtailing participation, or otherwise against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or sexual prefererence.
All club members must be current, individual NRA members.
BYLAWS OF THE Desert Marksmen Rile and Pistol Club Lancaster, California
The NRA Pledge: I CERTIFY that I am a citizen of good repute of the United States of Amererica; that I am not a member of any organization or group which has any part of its program the attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States or any of its political subdivisions by force or violence; that I have never been convicted of a crime of violence; and that, if admitted to membership, I will faithfully fulfill the obligations of good sportsmenship and good citizenship. _____________________________
ARTICLE IV
DUES & INITIATION FEES
(a) The initiation fees and dues shall be specified in the Club Rules.
(b) No member of the club in arrears shall be eligible to vote or to enjoy any other of the privileges or benefits by this club.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
(a) Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the club shall be held on the third Tuesday of February in each year, at which time the newly elected officers will be inaugurated. If the annual meeting shall not take place at the time fixed it shall be held within a reasonable time thereafter, and the officers shall hold over until their successors have been inaugurated.
(b) Regular Meetings. The regular business meeting of the club for the transaction or ordinary business shall be held on the third Tuesday of each month, at which time and place as may be specified in the Club Rules.
(c) Special Meeting. A special meeting of the club may be held at any time upon the call of the President, or upon the call of the Executive Committee, or upon demand in writing, stating the object of the proposed meeting, and signed by not less than 10% of the club members. Notice of the time, place, and object of any special meeting shall be given all officers and members in good standing in writing by United States mail not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for holding the meeting. The place of special meetings shall be fixed by the Executive Committee. “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall govern this club in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws or the Club Rules.
(d) Quorum. Three percent of the members of the club shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, with the exception that ten percent of the members shall constitute a quorum for matters pertaining to suspension or expulsion of club members under Article IX.
ARTICLE VI
SHOOTING DISCIPLINES
(a) Definition and Purpose. A group of club members, united for the purpose of fostering a particular style or type of rifle or pistol competition, may petition the general membership to establish a club recognized Shooting Discipline.
(b) Group Leaders. Each Shooting Discipline may select a club member as Group Leader to represent their interests in club affairs.
(c) A list of the active Shooting Disciplines will be maintained as part of the Club Rules. Changes to this list must be made in accordance with Article XI.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
(a) The elected Officers of this club shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
(a.1) The officers shall be elected by a plurality vote by ballot through the United States mail of the club members in good standing. The election shall be held in January each year.
(a.2) All candidates for office must have been members of the club for at least one year at the time of their election. Any candidates for office must inform the EXCOM no later than December club meeting.
(a.3) The term of office for all officers except the Treasurer shall be one year, the Term of office for the Treasurer shall be two years. The term for the combined office of Sec/Treas will also be two years.
(a.4) A member cannot stand for election for more than two consecutive terms in any one office, or not more that four consecutive terms as any elected officer.
(a.5) If there are no candidates for an elected office, the EXCOM may allow the current past officer to remain in office until the next election, or they may appoint a member of their choise to fill that office until the next election.
(b) The Elected Officers, acting together with the Shooting Discipline Group Leaders, shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision and control of all the activities of the club. The Executive Committee may make agreements with other organizations and individuals to carry out objectives of the club.
(b.1) The officers of the Secretary and and/or Treasurer may be replaced by a paid employee or may be contracted out as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
(b.2) A paid Treasurer shall remain a member of the Executive Committee and shall be authrozied to sign on the Club Checking / Savings accouts and Credit Cards.
(c) Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at such time and place as the Committee may determine. Special meetings may be held at any time on the call of the President or on demand, in writing to the Secretary, by three members of the Committee.
(d) Two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
(e) Resignation of any officer may be accepted by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.
(f) A vacancy in the Elected Officers positions of the Executive Committee may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee. However, if more than one vacancy exists, a special meeting of the club shall be called and new officers shall be elected to fill the vacancies until the date of the next annual election.
ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
(a) President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and of the Executive Committee. He shall be a member ex-officio of all regular and special committees, and shall perform all such duties as usually pertain to his office.
(b) Vice-President. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his absence or at his request.
(c) Secretary. The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the proper preparation and forwarding of all reports required of the club by the National Rifle Association and by the Director of Civilian Marksmenship. He shall be responsible for making all arrangements required for preparing and counting ballots in club elections. He shall notify the members of the Executive Committee of all meetings and shall notify all members of special and annual meetings, as required in Article V. He shall keep a true record of all meetings of the Executive Committee and of the club, and have the custody of the books and papers of the club, except the Treasurer’s book of account. All applications for membership in the club shall be made to the Secretary. He shall be responsible for the collection of all fee and dues and shall remit the same to the Treasurer, taking his proper receipt therefor. He shall be responsible for reaffiliating the club annually with the National Rifle Association.
(d) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the club and place the same in such bank or banks as may be approved bt the Executive Committee.
(d.1) Expenditures. Moneys in amounts less than a limit specified in the Club Rules may be withdrawn by check signed by any one of the authorzied Executive Committee Officers, and used only for payment of such bills as has been approved by the Executive Committee. Moneys in excess of the amount specified in the Club Rules, shall be withdrawn by check signed by two authorzied Executive Committee Officers, and used only for payment of such bills as shall have been approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all his transactions and render a detailed report with vouchers at any meeting of the Executive Committee when requested, and an annual report to the organization at its annual meeting.
ARTICLE IX
SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION
(a) Any Elected Officer or Group Leader may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members in good standing present at any special meeting called for this purpose. No vote on suspension or removal may be taken unless at least fifteen days notice in writing shall be have given to the officer of the reasons for his removal and the time and place of the special meeting at which such ballot on his removal is to be taken. At such special meeting the officer shall be given a full hearing.
(b) Any member may be suspended or expelled from the club for any cause deemed sufficient by the Executive Committee by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members of the Committee present at any regular or special meeting. No vote on suspension or expulsion may be taken unless at least fifteen days notice in writing shall be have given to the member of the charges preferred and of the time and place of the meeting of the Executive Committee at which such charges will be considered. At such meeting the member will be accorded a full hearing.
(c) Charges against any officer or member may be preferred by any member in good standing. They shall be in writing clearly stating the facts relied upon and accompanied by all affidavits or exhibits which are to be used in their support. Such charges shall be filled with the Secretary, who will immediately notify the President. The President will call a meeting of the Executive Committee to hear the charges. The Secretary will give at least fifteen days notice of the meeting to each member of the Executive Committee, and to the accuser and to the accused, which notice shall be in writing and will include a true copy of the charges and the supporting affidavits and exhibits.
(d) Any member suspended or expelled by the Executive Committee may appeal to th full membership of the club. Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Secretary who notify the President. The President will call a special meeting of the club for the purpose of acting on the appeal. The Secretary shall give at least fifteen days notice in writing to all members of the club in good standing stating the date, time, place, and reason for such special meeting. At the meeting of the full club the Secretary will read the original charges, the supporting affidavits, and will read or display the accompanying exhibits, and will read the minutes of the special meeting of the Executive Committee at which the charges were heard and action taken. A full hearing will be given the accuser and accused. A vote will be taken by ballot of the members in good standing present and a two-thirds vote shall be required to reverse the action of the Executive Committee.
(e) Any officer or member of the club who has been suspended or expelled by the National Rifle Association of America shall automatically stand suspended or expelled from this club immediately upon receipt of official notice by the Secretary of this club from the Secretary of the National Rifle Association of America.
(f) The National Rifle Association shall be given a coplete report whenever a member of the club is suspended or expelled, showing charges and actions taken.
ARTICLE X
MATCH RULES
All rifle and pistol competitions held by the club will be governed by the rules and regulations laid down by the National Rifle Association of America, other governing bodies of the Shooting Disciplines involved (if appropriate), and shall be consistent with the rules of the Desert Marksmen.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
(a) Bylaws. Any proposed amendments to theses Bylaws may be introduced by any member of the club at any regular or special meeting. If approved by a majority, a ballot including a copy of the proposed amendments will be forwarded to each club members by United States mail. Amendments approved by a two-thirds vote of the returned ballots will be forwarded to the NRA for approval. Upon approval by the NRA, the amendment will become retroactive as of the date it was ratified by the membership.
(b) Club Rules. Any proposed amendments to the Club Rules may be introduced by any member of the club at any regular or special meeting. If approved by a majority, a ballot including a copy of the proposed amendments will be forwarded to each club members by United States mail at least ten days prior to the next regular or special meeting called for the purpose. If approved by a two-thirds vote, including certified absentee ballots, the amendment will be adopted immediately.
“I hereby certifiy that these Bylaws have been adopted by this club.”
Carol Harville (copy of Signature on file)
Secretary / Treasurer for Desert Marksmen Rifle & Pistol Club.
(recertified 02/1998); (recertified 02/1999); (recertified 02/2000); (recertified 02/2001); (recertified 02/2002); (recertified 02/2003)
ARTICLE X MATCH RULES All rifle and pistol competitions held by the club will be governed by the rules and regulations laid down by the National Rifle Association of America, other governing bodies of the Shooting Disciplines involved (if appropriate), and shall be consistent with the rules of the Desert Marksmen.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
(a) Bylaws. Any proposed amendments to theses Bylaws may be introduced by any member of the club at any regular or special meeting. If approved by a majority, a ballot including a copy of the proposed amendments will be forwarded to each club members by United States mail. Amendments approved by a two-thirds vote of the returned ballots will be forwarded to the NRA for approval. Upon approval by the NRA, the amendment will become retroactive as of the date it was ratified by the membership.
(b) Club Rules. Any proposed amendments to the Club Rules may be introduced by any member of the club at any regular or special meeting. If approved by a majority, a ballot including a copy of the proposed amendments will be forwarded to each club members by United States mail at least ten days prior to the next regular or special meeting called for the purpose. If approved by a two-thirds vote, including certified absentee ballots, the amendment will be adopted immediately.
“I hereby certifiy that these Bylaws have been adopted by this club.”
Carol Harville (copy of Signature on file)
Secretary / Treasurer for Desert Marksmen Rifle & Pistol Club.
(recertified 02/1998); (recertified 02/1999); (recertified 02/2000); (recertified 02/2001); (recertified 02/2002); (recertified 02/2003)