S.O.L.A.R. CLUB BYLAWS

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1.1: Name

The organization shall be known as the School for Outdoor Leadership, Adventure, and Recreation (S.O.L.A.R.).

Section 1.2: Purpose

The particular business and purpose of S.O.L.A.R. shall be as follows:

  1. To promote and advance interest in the outdoors through information and participation in activities related to the S.O.L.A.R. program.
  2. To provide a medium and a format for the exchange of ideas, information, skills, equipment, etc. related to the planning and conducting of outdoor activities, expeditions, etc., by and with people who are interested and involved in supporting and promoting these purposes as stated.

ARTICLE II: GOVERNING BODY

Section 2.1: Governing Body

The governing body of S.O.L.A.R. shall be the Steering Committee.

Section 2.2: How the Steering Committee Votes on Business Transactions

To vote: a quorum of Steering Committee members must be present (a quorum is a majority of the currently elected Steering Committee membership). Then the decision of the majority of the Steering Committee members present is required for the vote to be effective.

Section 2.3: Parliamentary Authority

Parliamentary authority for all meetings shall be Roberts Rules of Order as amended..

Section 2.4: Meetings of the Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall hold such meetings as required by action of the president, in order to perform its duties, usually the Tuesday before the general membership meeting. Such meetings may be open or closed to the general membership. All members of the Steering Committee must receive notice of such meetings at least three days in advance.

Article III: STEERING COMMITTEE

Section 3.1: Members

The Steering Committee shall be composed of all elected officers, all standing committee chairpersons, and the honorary past presidents of the S.O.L.A.R (Members at Large).

Section 3.2 Duties

It shall be the duties of the Steering Committee to perform such tasks as:

  1. To establish the agenda and program for all meetings of S.O.L.A.R.
  2. To regulate and govern the affairs of S.O.L.A.R.

Section 3.3: Officers

The Officers of S.O.L.A.R. shall consist of president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Section 3.4: Election and Term of Office

The election of officers and committee chairpersons shall be held during the May General Membership meeting of S.OL.A.R. Elections shall be by written ballot. The officers and chairpersons shall be elected for a term of one year or until their successors are named. Term of office shall begin at the May Steering Committee meeting following the election.

Section 3.5: Vacancies

A vacancy in the position of any office or chair shall be filled by action of the remaining members of the Steering Committee.

Section 3.6: Officer Duties

  1. President: It shall be the duty of the president to preside at General Membership and Steering Committee meetings and to perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to his/her office and such others as stated in the Bylaws.
  2. Vice President: It shall be the duty of the vice president to preside at General Membership and Steering Committee meetings in the absence of the president and to perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to the office.
  3. Secretary: It shall be the duty of the secretary to inform membership of General Membership and Steering Committee meetings, record the minutes of Steering Committee meetings, make required reports, carry on necessary correspondence, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to the office.
  4. Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the treasurer to have custody of all funds: accounting for the same at the Steering Committee regular meetings in a written report, (including assets and liabilities, and current month's income and expenditures), and any other time demanded by the Steering Committee; to maintain an inventory record and to perform such other duties as pertinent to the office; and serve as chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee. Upon retirement from office the treasurer shall turn over to the successor or to the president, all funds, books of accounts or any S.O.L.A.R property in his/her possession.

Section 3.7 Committee Chairpersons:

It shall be the duty of the committee chairpersons to ensure the transaction of committee business as directed by the Steering Committee, to render committee reports of all transactions at all regular Steering Committee and General Membership meetings; and to perform such other duties as pertain to the office.

Article IV: COMMITTEES

Section 4.1: Standing Committees

The president, subject to the approval of the Steering Committee, may appoint members to the following Standing Committees:

  • Activities Committee
  • *Budget and Finance Committee
  • Bylaws Committee
  • Communication Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Equipment Committee
  • Historian Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Programs Committee
  • Public Relations Committee
  • Website Committee
 

*Note: A temporary committee with no voting power.

Section 4.2: Additional Committees

The Steering Committee may establish such other committees or offices as it deems necessary.

Section 4.3: Membership

The president and vice president shall be ex officio members of all committees, and, as such, shall have all the privileges of membership thereon. The membership of the various committees shall include such committee members as the committee chairperson and Steering Committee agree upon to carry on the duties of said committee.

Section 4.4: Duties

Each committee (consisting of one or more persons) shall transact such business as is delegated to it by the Bylaws and such additional business as may be referred to it by the president or Steering Committee. Committee chairpersons shall report to the Steering Committee.

  1. Activities Committee: To promote and oversee "Steering Committee-approved" activities in keeping with the purpose of S.O.L.A.R., to revise and maintain guidelines, and to make subsequent determinations on activities developed by members of S.O.L.A.R.
  2. Budget and Finance Committee: To plan the financial budget of S.O.L.A.R., to determine what funds are necessary to carry out the activities of S.O.L.A.R., and to plan for necessary fund raising.
  3. Bylaws Committee: To review periodically the Bylaws to determine what, if any, changes should be made to meet the changes in time. A member of this committee shall be chosen by the committee chairman to act as parliamentarian.
  4. Communications Committee: To be responsible for the organization and publication of the monthly newsletter, The S.O.L.A.R. Ray.
  5. Education Committee: To develop and coordinate the educational program of S.O.L.A.R., to approve or select the qualified people to instruct these programs and to explore new areas that may be of interest to members of S.O.L.A.R.
  6. Equipment Committee: To establish and maintain guidelines for the procurement and use of all physical properties of S.O.L.A.R., to maintain inventories, to monitor the condition of, and to regulate the use and storage of such properties.
  7. Historian Committee: To compile and maintain a record of S.O.L.A.R. activities utilizing all necessary documentation methods to extol the fulfillment of the stated purpose of S.O.L.A.R.
  8. Membership Committee: To strengthen and expand the membership in S.O.L.A.R., to maintain accurate and updated membership records, to maintain and update mailing lists and mailing labels, to provide new members with information and appropriate materials pertaining to S.O.L.A.R.
  9. Programs Committee: To arrange, develop, and assist in carrying out the programs presented at the general membership meetings. All programs shall be approved by the Steering Committee in keeping with the purpose of S.O.L.A.R.
  10. Public Relations Committee: To promote S.O.L.A.R. activities, and to organize and publish other materials as deemed necessary for the good of S.O.L.A.R.
  11. Website Committee: The Website Committee will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the S.O.L.A.R. website; ensuring that the website contains current information with regards to upcoming classes and activities. The Committee chairperson shall, with Steering Committee approval, have final authority over the content and function of the S.O.L.A.R. website.

ARTICLE V: ASSOCIATION

Section 5.1: Qualification for Membership

Any person, persons, or organization interested in the promotion of the activities and objectives for which this organization is formed which takes an active part in furthering any of its purposes, projects or programs, shall be admitted as a single membership in this S.O.L.A.R. upon approval of their membership application by the Membership Committee.

Section 5.2: Membership Designations

Memberships in S.O.L.A.R. shall be designated by the following classifications:

  1. Individual Memberships: The Individual Membership will consist of a person who is 18 years or older. This membership must be renewed annually.
  2. Family Membership: The Family Membership will consist of an individual member, their spouse, and children under 18 years of age. Any child of the immediate family who is at least 18 years of age shall be designated as an "Individual Member". This membership must be renewed annually.
  3. Lifetime Individual Membership: An individual member for life.
  4. Family Lifetime: The Family Lifetime Membership will consist of an individual member, their spouse, and children under 18 years of age. Any child that turns 18 years of age during the "Lifetime Membership" must choose between an "Individual Membership" or a "Lifetime Individual Membership".
  5. Honorary Membership: To be awarded by the Steering Committee as determined appropriate to any individual who has made exceptional contributions in and/or for the outdoors. Honorary members do not have voting rights.

The amount of the dues for each membership classification above will be reviewed on an annual basis and revised as necessary by the Steering Committee.

Section 5.3: Admittance to Membership

Any person, persons, or organization as stated in Section 5.1 and qualifying shall complete a membership application, including a signed annual waiver, and submit it with the application dues or service record to the Membership Committee for checking on membership applicability. In figuring service, the value of such service shall be figured at scale rates for similar work. The report of this application shall be given to the Steering Committee as soon as possible. Final disposition regarding the acceptance or rejection of each application rests with the Steering Committee and the prospective member will receive notification of the disposition of such application as soon as practical. If rejected, all dues shall be returned.

Section 5.4: Cancellation of Membership

Any member may withdraw from membership upon application in writing submitted to the Steering Committee upon meeting and fulfilling all obligations to S.O.L.A.R. then in existence.

Section 5.4.1: Termination of Membership

The Steering Committee may terminate the membership of any member participating in socially unacceptable or criminal behavior on any S.O.L.A.R. sponsored class or activity. The member shall be notified in writing by Certified Mail, Return Receipt requested, that the Steering Committee is considering the termination of their membership. The member under consideration for termination shall be advised of the time and location of the Steering Committee meeting where the termination will be considered. The member under consideration for termination shall have the right to select a Member At Large of S.O.L.A.R. to chair the termination proceedings. The Steering Committee shall advise the member why termination is being considered, presenting such supporting materials or witnesses as required. The member under consideration shall have the right to bring such supporting materials and witnesses to demonstrate why the termination clause should not be invoked. The termination of a membership shall require unanimous vote of the Steering Committee. If a membership is terminated, donations to S.O.L.A.R. shall be prorated (Lifetime Memberships shall be amortized over five years) and any unused portions of the donation shall be returned.

Section 5.5: Transfer of Membership

Membership in S.O.L.A.R. shall not be transferable.

Section 5.6 Change of Membership

Any person who has purchased an individual membership may convert to a family membership and any aforementioned memberships may be converted to Lifetime status by submitting the difference of such membership in cost or services as described. Said change of membership must take place before October 1st of that year.

Section 5.7: Membership Year

The membership year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of the same year. All memberships shall remain valid from the date of acceptance until December 31 of that calendar year. For new members joining S.O.L.A.R. in the months of January through September and wishing to obtain an annual membership, the membership amount will be the full annual amount and will expire on December 31 of that same year. For new members joining S.O.L.A.R. in the months of October through December and wishing to obtain an annual membership, the membership amount will be the full annual dues and will expire on December 31, of the following year.

Section 5.8: Rights and Voting

Each member of S.O.L.A.R., unless specifically stated otherwise, shall be equally privileged with all other members. Members shall have the right to vote for Steering Committee Officers. The election of officers shall be transacted by ballot vote. In the election of officers, tellers shall be appointed by the presiding officer to distribute, collect and tally the ballots. Such ballots shall be destroyed after the results have been announced.

Section 5.9: Regular Meetings

S.O.L.A.R. shall hold regular business meetings for the purpose of hearing committee reports and conducting business of S.O.L.A.R. The regular General Membership meetings of S.O.L.A.R. shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month or on a date determined by the steering committee.

Section 5.10: Special Meetings

Special meetings of S.O.L.A.R. may be convened by a majority of the Steering Committee.

Section 5.11: Notice of Meeting

Each member of S.O.L.A.R. shall be notified where and when each meeting will be held through the announcement by the secretary through the S.O.L.A.R. Ray. A minimum of five days notice shall be required to convene a special meeting of S.O.L.A.R.

Article VI: ASSETS AND FINANCE

Section 6.1 Acquisition

S.O.L.A.R. may acquire such assets as deemed necessary by the Steering Committee to carry out the purpose of S.O.L.A.R.

Section 6.2: Handling of Funds

All funds of S.O.L.A.R. shall be deposited in a bank to be named by the Steering Committee. All bills shall be paid only by check signed by the treasurer and one of a number of other designated members of the Steering Committee. No part of any dues, class or activity fees shall be refundable or repaid to the donors or contributors of such funds.

Section 6.3: The Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall extend from January 1 to December 31.

Section 6.4: Disposition

In the event of dissolution, all assets, real and personal, shall be eliminated at an auction through the membership. The proceeds will be distributed to an outdoor organization that is voted on by the Steering Committee.

Article VII: AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS

Section 7.1: Amendments

These Bylaws may be changed or amended by a twothirds vote at any regular or special meeting of the Steering Committee (consisting of a quorum).

Section 7.2: Notice of Proposed Changes

Written notice of the proposed Bylaws changes shall be sent to each member of the Steering Committee at least five days prior to such meeting.

Section 7.3: Conflict

No amendment or addition to these bylaws can be made which is not in harmony with the original purpose of S.O.L.A.R. as stated.

Adopted May 1976;

Revised: June & August 1976; July 1981; December 1983; March 1986; January 1987; January 1990; April, 1991; January, 1995; April, 1995; September, 1996; October, 1998; October, 2000; November 2003.