ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Associate Members are those who aspire to join the MMRC. They become Members after passing a probationary period.
Section 2: Members are those who have passed their 18th birthday and maintain an active role in the club.
Section 3: Junior Members are those who have passed their 14th birthday but not their 18th, maintain the support of a sponsoring Member and maintain an active role in the club.
Section 4: Inactive Members are those who were previously Members or Junior Members that have been granted this form of membership by the club for reasons such as prolonged illness, service in the armed forces, unemployment or changes in employment which would prevent the member from taking an active role in the club.
Section 5: Honorary Life Members are those who have been granted this form of membership by the club for their many years of service and fellowship and service to the club as a non-member or prior active member of the club.
ARTICLE II - METHOD OF ATTAINING MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Start as Associate Member, paying $5 for each meeting attended. Eligible to be voted in as a Member after attending four meetings in a two-month period. If voted in, the fee paid for the four qualifying meetings ($20) will be accepted as the first year's annual dues. Members, after paying a $125 initiation fee, have full voting rights and share equally the club’s assets.
Section 2: Membership is attained by vote at the next regular business meeting. A 2/3 affirmative vote is required for acceptance. If the applicant is rejected, the initiation fee, if paid, will be returned but none of the dues previously paid will be refunded.
Section 3: Junior Membership is attained in the same manner, as Membership except the applicant must be sponsored by a Member who will be responsible for him in all manners. A Junior Member, upon reaching his 18th birthday, may become a Member automatically by paying an additional initiation fee equal to the difference between the initiation fees for a Member and Junior Member.
Section 4: Members or Junior Members attain inactive Membership by request. The eligible membership will vote on the request and a 2/3 affirmative result is required to approve it.
Section 5: Honorary Life Membership is attained by being nominated at a regular business meeting. If the nomination is seconded, a vote will be taken and a 2/3 affirmative result will elect the member to an Honorary Life Membership.
ARTICLE III - DUTIES OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: All members shall make an effort to know and to abide by the rules and regulations of this Club as specified in the Constitution and By-Laws. All members shall accept any job assigned to him that he is capable of doing and to keep the clubroom and property neat and in good repair.
Section 2: All members shall make an effort to pay their dues regularly and on time.
Section 3: All members shall make an effort to attend meetings regularly. If a member is absent without notice to the Club for 4 consecutive weeks, he will automatically become an Inactive Member.
Section 4: If a member is judged to be a detriment to the Club, the eligible membership may vote and a 2/3 affirmative result will remove said member from the Club.
Section 5: Members are required to notify an officer of the Club at least once each month as to his continuing inability to attend regular meetings and to the possibility of resuming active membership in the future. Failure to do so will result in the member being dropped from membership in the Club. Members must resume their regular class of membership as soon as they start attending meetings regularly.
Section 6: Visitors are welcome at all activities of the MMRC. Visitors will not be required to accept club assignments or responsibility, to pay any fees or dues, and they are not permitted to vote at business meetings.
ARTICLE IV - PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: All members may attend meetings, help build the club’s railroad projects, operate the club railroad and attend all functions of the club, unless expressly denied such privilege in the Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 2: Members and Honorary Life Members are the only members who may vote and/or hold office.
Section 3: In addition to those duties noted previously, it shall be the responsibility of each member to ensure the general orderliness of the Club layout facility. The Club expects that each member clean up after themselves (and/or their guests).
ARTICLE V - INITIATION FEES, DUES AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Section 1: Members will pay an initiation fee of $125.00 and dues of $20.00 per year. They must also pay any special assessments that may be voted on by the Club.
Section 2: Junior Members will pay an initiation fee of $25.00 and dues of $10.00 per year. They must also pay any special assessments that may be voted by the club at the rate of 1/2 of whatever a Member pays.
Section 3: Inactive Members will pay dues for their regular class of membership. They must also pay any assessments that may be voted on by the Club for any activity in which they take part.
Section 4: Honorary Life Members are not required to pay dues or special assessments.
Section 5: Associate Members are not required to pay an initiation fee, but are required to pay $5 per each meeting attended.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1: Unless otherwise specified by the President, the MMRC shall conduct three types of meetings:
A) Regular Business Meetings will be held on the first Saturday of the month starting at 11:00 am and lasting no more than one hour.
B) Special Business Meetings may be called for the purpose of business that cannot wait for a regular business meeting.
C) Work Sessions will be devoted to working on the club layout or operating the layout and will generally be held on Saturdays.
Section 2: Procedure for business meetings.
A) The President shall be the Chairman at all business meetings. If he is absent, the Vice President will be Chairman and, if he is absent, the Secretary will take over.
B) A quorum is required at any meeting to pass any rule, policy, procedure or anything pertaining to the best interest of the Club. A quorum shall consist of a minimum of 50% of the voting membership (Member and Honorary Life Member) and a minimum of 2 executive officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer).
C) The order of business will be as follows:
1. Roll call of officers and members;
2. Secretary’s report
3. Treasure’s report
4. Reports from all other officers and committee chairman;
5. Election of officers (at Annual Business Meeting or as required by Article IV, Section I, C and D;
6. Old business;
7. Installation of new officers (at Regular Business Meeting of January only);
8. New business;
9. Nominations for Club awards;
10.Adjournment
D) Motions are to be made from the active membership (Member and Honorary Life Member) including officers. A motion must receive a second and be open for discussion after which the Chairman will ask for a voice vote.
E) A 50% affirmative vote of the quorum is required to pass a motion.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
Section 1: Elections.
A) Officers will be elected during the December business meeting. Each nomination must receive a second. The nominations must be closed by a motion, a second, and an affirmative vote. The vote to elect the officer will be by secret ballot with the Secretary and President counting the votes. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the office. In case of a tie vote for a winner, the revote will include all nominees (in the case of 3 or more).
B) The installation of new officers will take place during the January business meeting.
C) If the President does not finish his term in office, the Vice President shall assume the duties of President. If an officer other than President does not finish his term of office, a replacement will be elected as soon as possible at a Regular Business Meeting following the normal procedure for electing officers.
D) An officer who becomes an Inactive Member must relinquish his office.
E) Duties of officers:
1. The President shall perform the duties of this office with all his sincerity and resourcefulness, and shall enforce the Constitution and By-Laws to the letter. He shall heed the requests of the membership and try to be fair to all members. He shall be Chairman at all business meetings and maintain order at them. He shall investigate all new candidates for membership. He shall make appointments of committee chairman as required.
2.The Vice President will assume the duties of the President when necessary.
3.The Treasurer shall collect and hold all moneys that are due the Club treasury, and pay bills that the Club owes for authorized expenditures. He shall make a financial report at every Regular Business meeting. The treasurer will also be responsible for keeping intact and protecting from damage all appropriate financial records passed on by his predecessor. Likewise, he will, in turn, be responsible for passing on the accumulated financial records to his successor in a timely manner.
4. The Secretary shall keep all records of the Club, handle all correspondence and take the minutes of all meetings. All minutes and other appropriate records are to be permanently kept and protected from damage. He shall make a report at every Regular Business Meeting that includes reading of the minutes of the previous Regular Business Meeting and all meetings that have occurred since then; reading all correspondence that he has engaged in; and informing the membership of the progress of any projects that he is handling. He shall keep a record of all members and their status and present each candidate for membership with a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws. The Secretary will also be responsible for passing on the accumulated records to his successor in a timely and orderly manner.
F) All offices are 1 year terms.
ARTICLE VIII - DISBANDMENT
Section 1: If disbandment is in order, all materials are to be divided equally among all members in good standing (dues paid up to date) of over 1 year membership. All money in the treasury is to be divided equally among all members of over 6 months membership. Members of less than 6 months membership are to get dues paid during their membership returned to them less their share of Club money spent during their membership.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES
Section 1: All committees shall be formed by the President as deemed necessary.
ARTICLE X - RULES OF ORDER
Section 1: This organization shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENT
Section 1: These by-laws may be amended by simple majority vote at any regular or special meeting.
Date ratified:___________________________________
Date revised:___________________________________
Date revised:___________________________________
Date revised:___________________________________