Heart of Missouri Balloon Club Bylaws

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this organization shall be Heart of Missouri Balloon Club (HoMBC), hereafter referred to as the "Club".

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to advance the safety, courtesy, and enjoyment of ballooning.

ARTICLE III - Membership and Dues

1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all individuals who are at least 16 years of age, or who hold a student pilot license.
2. Dues shall be $5 per person per twelve months from the month of joining.
3. The right to speak to and vote on an issue shall be held by members in good standing. "Member in good standing" shall be defined as one whose dues are current.
4. Members whose membership lapses shall be so notified by the treasurer, and if payment is not received by the next meeting, voting privileges shall be suspended until the dues are paid.

ARTICLE IV - Meetings

1. Notification of all meetings shall be given to members at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
2. Regular membership meetings shall be held the second Monday of each month at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee.
3. Business meetings will be conducted as needed during the regular meeting, with a minimum of one business meeting per quarter.
4. The quorum necessary for business to be transacted at any membership meeting shall be ten percent (10%) of club membership in good standing, minimum ten (10) members, and at least two members of the executive committee.
5. Special meetings of the voting membership to transact business may be held at any time upon the call of the president, upon written request of three members of the Executive Committee, or upon written request of ten percent (10%) of the members in good standing. Only agenda items stated in the written notice of the special meeting may be discussed or voted upon during the special meeting. The quorum necessary for business to be transacted at a special meeting shall be ten percent (10%) of club membership in good standing, minimum ten (10) members, and at least two members of the executive committee.
6. Additional events open to members in good standing may be scheduled by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V - Nominating Committee

1. The President at the September regular membership meeting shall appoint a nominating committee of three (3) members. At least one member shall be a pilot and at least one member shall be a non-pilot. The Executive Committee shall designate which member shall be the chairperson.
2. The Nominating Committee shall invite and encourage members to seek election as President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Club. Any member willing to serve as an officer shall notify a member of the Nominating Committee.
3. The Nominating Committee shall present a single slate of candidates at the October regular membership meeting. All candidates shall have given consent for their names to be placed in nomination. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the November regular membership meeting, and the person nominating must have written consent in hand from the nominee if the nominee is not present.
4. Nominating Committee shall prepare a written ballot to be used at the election at the general membership meeting in November if there is more than one candidate for a position and shall count the votes immediately following the election. Officers may be elected by acclamation if there is no more than one candidate for a position.

ARTICLE VI - Officers

1. Officers shall be elected for a term of one (1) year. No officer shall be eligible to serve in the same position for more than two (2) consecutive years.
2. Officers shall be elected by members in good standing at the regular membership meeting in November. If inclement weather prevents this meeting from being held, they shall be elected at the next regular membership meeting. Election shall be by a majority of eligible voters present.
3. Newly elected officers shall be installed at the regular membership meeting in January.
4. The officers of the organization shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall be members in good standing at the time of their election and during their term of office.
5. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate past President.
6. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and perform all duties necessary for the purposes of the organization to be fulfilled. The President shall have the authority to sign contracts or other obligations of the organization when so authorized by the Executive Committee.
7. The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President and shall perform other duties assigned by the President or Executive Committee.
8. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the minute book, records and documents of the organization, prepare accurate minutes and record attendance of all meetings of the membership and the Executive Committee, maintain a roster of members, be responsible for official notifications and correspondence and perform other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Committee.
9. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the organization and responsible for all financial transactions of the organization as approved by the membership or Executive Committee, maintain organization bank accounts, provide written monthly financial reports at all regular membership business meetings or Executive Committee meetings, prepare or cause to be prepared all tax and financial statements required by law, provide an annual financial report to be presented at the regular membership meeting in January and perform other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Committee. If it is deemed necessary that the treasurer should be bonded, the Club shall pay all bonding fees.
10. At the expiration of all terms of office, officers shall deliver to the Executive Committee all books, records and property belonging to the Club.
11. Any vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by vote of the membership for the remainder of the unexpired term. The person filling the unexpired term shall be eligible for election of the position at the next regular election.

ARTICLE VII - Committees

1. The President shall appoint such standing or special committees or subcommittees as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Club. All committee chairpersons shall be members in good standing in the organization, and shall be responsible for reporting the activities of their committee at all business meetings and at other regular membership meetings as necessary. Committee members shall be members in good standing in the organization, except in such cases as a non-member may provide expertise and assistance to the committee.
2. Standing committees shall be: Communications (public relations, publicity, and newsletter); Events (flights and social events); Landowner Relations; Crew; and Safety and Education.
3. All standing and special committees should provide to the Executive Committee a written description of committee responsibilities and information essential for the proper functioning of the committee.
4. At the expiration of all terms of committee chairpersons, the chairperson shall deliver to the Executive Committee all books, records, plans of work, and property belonging to the organization.

ARTICLE VIII- Budget

1. The Executive Committee shall propose a yearly budget, which should be published no later than January 31 and submitted to the members for approval at the regular membership meeting in February.

ARTICLE IX - Audit

1. An annual audit of the financial records of the organization shall be made at the conclusion of each fiscal year, or at other times, as the Executive Committee deems necessary. The audit report, when completed, shall be presented to the membership.

ARTICLE X- Order of Business

1. The order of business at all meetings of the Executive Committee and at business meetings of the general membership of the organization shall be:
   1. Call to Order
   2. Reading of the Minutes and Approval of Minutes
   3. Treasurer's Report
   4. Correspondence
   5. Officer and Committee Reports
   6. Old Business
   7. New Business
   8. Announcements
   9. Adjournment

ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Authority

1. All meetings of the organization shall be governed by the rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order (most recent edition) when those rules are not in conflict with these Bylaws. The Secretary shall have a copy of Robert's Rules of Order available at all meetings.

ARTICLE XII - Fiscal Considerations

1. The fiscal year of the organization shall be January 1 to December 31.
2. The organization shall use its funds only to achieve the purposes specified in these Bylaws.
3. Upon dissolution of this organization, any funds remaining shall be distributed to an organization or organizations qualifying as exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code) to be selected by the members in good standing of the organization.

ARTICLE XIII - Amendments

1. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a 2/3 majority vote of the members in good standing, present at any regular membership meeting, providing that the proposed amendments have been provided to the membership seven (7) days prior to the meeting. For the limited purpose of any amendment to these bylaws, a quorum will be defined as no less than twenty (20) members or twenty percent (20%) of the membership, whichever is less.
2. Amendments to these Bylaws shall become effective the day following adoption.

(Adopted at a regular membership business meeting on March 12th, 2001.)