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Bylaws

ARTICLE 1 – PURPOSE

Section A – Purpose
In order to promote the highest standards of education and
safety to its members and promote a favorable image of skydiving
to the public, the following shall be the purpose of the Seattle
Sky Divers:

  1. To promote parachuting and skydiving as a sport, and to
    promote safety in all parachuting activities.
  2. To organize and officiate competitive sport parachuting
    events, and officially record jumps made by its members at
    club events.
  3. To promote and encourage the study and knowledge of
    parachuting and skydiving among the membership and the
    public at large.

Section B – Objectives
Seattle Sky Divers shall strive to carry out its purpose
through the following objectives:

  1. Provide ongoing educational programs for its members.
  2. Provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas.
  3. Constitute subordinate committees in order that its
    purpose, objectives, principles, and benefits may be shared
    and supported by its individual members.

Section C – Principles
Seattle Sky Divers shall observe the following principles as
an organization:

  1. Seattle Sky Divers shall be democratic in its government
    and all its functions.
  2. Seattle Sky Divers shall not deny membership to any
    person because of race, color, creed, sex or national
    origin.
  3. Seattle Sky Divers shall always strive to provide the
    best possible image of skydiving to the general public.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section A – Membership Definition
Membership in the Seattle Sky Divers is open to all individuals
who have an interest in skydiving. Only individuals may become
members.

Section B – Class of Members

  1. Active
  2. Sustaining
  3. Honorary
  4. Lifetime

Section C – Definitions, Rights, and Benefits of
Membership Classifications

  1. Active – Shall be any person having made a
    parachute jump from an aircraft in flight and is a member or
    pending member of the United States Parachute Association.
    This membership shall be conferred upon completion of
    Article 3. He/she shall enjoy all the rights of membership
    without restriction. These rights shall include, but are not
    limited to, the following: to receive the publication or
    newsletter of the Seattle Sky Divers; the right to vote; the
    right to hold office; the right to serve on all committees;
    the right to chair committees; and the right to all
    financial benefits.
  2. Sustaining – Shall be any person interested in
    parachuting, rigging, or skydiving
  3. Honorary – Shall be any distinguished person who
    has advanced and supported the sport of parachuting. This
    membership shall be conferred by a 2/3 vote of the members
    with voting rights who are present at any regular meeting.
  4. Lifetime – Shall be conferred to a club member
    because of outstanding and long term service to the club.
    Shall be conferred by a unanimous nomination by the board of
    directors and a majority approval of the club membership.
    He/she shall enjoy all the rights of membership without
    restriction. These rights shall include, but are not limited
    to, the following: to receive the publication or newsletter
    of the Seattle Sky Divers; the right to vote; the right to
    hold office; the right to serve on all committees; the right
    to chair committees; and the right to all financial
    benefits.

ARTICLE III – APPLICATION

Section A – Application

  1. All applicants shall use the official “Seattle Sky
    Divers” application form.
  2. All applications for membership shall be presented to
    the membership for action within 2 regular/general meetings.
  3. Membership shall commence when the following has taken
    place: the tendering of the application form and the
    application and dues fees to a board member; proof of
    membership or pending membership in the USPA, if required;
    and a favorable majority vote of the voting members present
    at a general/regular meeting.
  4. Applicants shall be present or shall be sponsored by a
    member who is present at the general/regular membership
    meeting where their membership is being voted upon.

ARTICLE IV – OBLIGATIONS
AND GOOD STANDING

Section A – Obligations
Each member of the Seattle Sky Divers Club is be membership
obligated to observe the Basic Safety Rules Recommendations of
the United States Parachute Association.

Section B – Good Standing
A member shall be in good standing when all dues and fees
have been paid as required by Seattle Sky Divers; and the
obligations of membership are met.

ARTICLE V – Membership Dues
and Fees

SECTION A – SEATTLE SKY DIVERS DUES

  1. Annual dues for active members shall be $40.00 per year.
    determined by the board.
  2. Dues shall be waived for Honorary and Lifetime members.
  3. The application fee for individual membership shall be
    $10.00 per applicant determined by the board.
  4. New members prorate to $10.00 per quarter.

Section B – Dues Year
The dues year for all members shall be for 1 year from the
date of the application to the following calendar year 6-1 to
5-31.

Section C – Collection of Dues

  1. The secretary shall bill all dues.
  2. Dues shall be due upon expiration of the member’s 1 year
    anniversary. Dues shall be considered delinquent if not paid
    after 10 days of the anniversary expiration date.

Section D – Application Fee

  1. The application fee shall be non-refundable. If voted
    down shall be refunded.
  2. Upon receipt of the ratified application, dues, and fees
    to the Secretary shall process the application for
    membership.

Section E – Dues Remission/Reduction
In cases of inability to pay as determined by club membership,
the club may vote to maintain a member on the Seattle Sky Divers
rolls by reducing or eliminating the annual dues for any
specified time.

Section F – Resignation and Membership restoration

  1. A member in good standing shall have the right to resign
    membership in the Seattle Sky Divers Club.
  2. Any former member may renew without an application fee.

ARTICLE VI – Seattle Sky
Divers Publication

  1. The Seattle Sky Divers official publication shall be the
    “Seattle Sky Divers”.
  2. The “Seattle Sky Divers” subscription shall be free only
    to club members, and organizations designated by the board.
  3. The Seattle Sky Divers publications may be available to
    non-members for a fee to be determined by the board.
  4. All Seattle Sky Divers publications shall be sent at no
    charge to each club member in good standing.

ARTICLE VII – Club Meetings

  1. The Seattle Sky Divers shall meet at least 8 times a
    year at predetermined places and times. No business can be
    transacted by the membership at a called meeting unless
    proper notification has been sent out to all members at
    least 3 days in advance.
  2. Members must be given due and timely notice of any
    alteration of time or place for a stated or regular meeting.
  3. No club business can be transacted unless a quorum of
    the membership is present.
  4. A quorum shall be 15% of the active membership.
  5. Regular meetings are open to all members and guests.
  6. Only active or lifetime members may vote.

ARTICLE VIII – Officers,
Nomination, Election and Duties

Section A – Elected Officers
The officers of the club shall be the President, the
Vice-president, the Secretary and the Treasurer. One person may
be elected to hold the office of both the Secretary and the
Treasurer.

Section B – Qualifications
Only active or lifetime members in good standing of the
Seattle Sky Divers shall be eligible for nomination and election
to office.

Section C – Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee shall:

  1. Request nominations for all club offices, together with
    the nominees consent to serve.
  2. Select one or more candidate for the office of
    President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board
    members.
  3. Prepare a list of nominees showing the committee
    selection for President, Vice-president, Secretary,
    Treasurer, and Board members and submit the list to the
    Board of Directors fro presenting to the membership at the
    November meeting.
  4. The board shall chose a member not running for office,
    count the tally vote for office.

Section C – Nominations form the Floor
Additional nominations for any office may be made from the
floor at the regular November meeting.

Section D – Election of Officers

  1. Election of Officers shall be held once a year during
    the month of November.
  2. Election of Officers shall be by ballot, sent to the
    voting members mailing address for return to the Secretary
    before the first day of December.

Section E – Term of Office

  1. The term of office shall be January 1, to December 31.
  2. All Seattle Sky Divers’ officers shall be eligible to
    serve no more than two (2) consecutive years in the same
    office unless re-elected by a 2/3 majority vote of the votes
    cast.
  3. An officer who holds an office for more than six (6)
    months shall be considered to have served for a full year in
    calculation the re-election requirements.

Section F – Vacancies and Resignations

  1. In case of a vacancy in the office of the President, the
    Vice-president shall become President.
  2. A vacancy or resignation in any other elective office
    may be filled for the balance of the term by at least a 2/3
    vote of the Board of Directors provided the work load of the
    vacant office demands replacement before the next term.
  3. In case of a death or incapacity due to medical illness
    which restricts the officer from properly fulfilling his/her
    duties of the office, the Board of Directors may declare the
    position vacant.

Section G – Duties of Officers

  1. President – The President shall be the head of the
    Seattle Sky Divers and shall be its official spokesperson;
    serve as chairperson at all meetings; make all non-elective
    appointments, subject to approval by the Board of Directors;
    replace any incapacitated or inactive committee members; and
    exercise a general supervision over all the affairs of the
    Seattle Sky Divers Club.
  2. Vice-president – The Vice-president shall assist the
    President in the discharge of Presidential duties; in the
    absence or disability of the President, perform the duties
    of President; coordinate the work of all standing and
    special committees at the direction of the President; and
    keep the President informed of committee problems and
    progress.
  3. Secretary/Treasurer – the Secretary/treasurer shall act
    as Secretary to the board and membership; shall keep minutes
    of all board sessions and regular meetings; shall maintain
    an up-to-date copy of the Seattle Sky Divers Club by-laws,
    and board policies and contracts; shall maintain a record of
    memberships; shall be an authorized signatory to fund
    transfers, receipts, withdrawals and keep a record of these
    transactions; process Board members expense reports and keep
    a file copy of same; and shall distribute copies of proposed
    amendments to the By-Laws to the membership.

ARTICLE IX – BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

Section A – Composition
The Board of Directors shall be composed of 7 members and
include the club officers, the previous president, and board
members elected at large from the club membership. One person
may be elected to hold the office of both the Secretary and the
Treasurer. They shall serve for a term of one year.

Section B – Authority and Duties
The Board of Directors shall:

  1. Implement and carry out all membership orders.
  2. Administer the business of Seattle Sky Divers Club in
    conformity with the By-Laws.
  3. Recommend fees, dues, and assessments.

Section C – Quorum
A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be 4 members.

Section D – Board of Directors Meetings

  1. The Board of Directors shall meet at least 8 times a
    year at a time and place predetermined by the board.
  2. Any 4 or more members of the board may call a special
    meeting and designate its place and time.
  3. At least 3 days notice shall be given to all Board
    Members for special board meetings, except in cases where a
    majority of the board membership approves of a shorter
    notice. The call shall specify the purpose of the meeting
    and only business stated in the call shall be acted upon
    unless the meeting agenda is changed by a majority vote.
  4. Action taken by or on behalf of the Board of Directors
    which does not comply with the requirements for notice and
    call, and with the provisions of these By-Laws shall be
    legal only after ratification by the Board of Directors at a
    legal meeting.
  5. Board of Directors meetings are open to all members
    and/or guests of the board.
  6. The membership shall be advised of regular board meeting
    time and place.

Section E – Board of Director Finances

  1. Board members shall not receive any compensation for
    services as an officer or as a board member.
  2. Board members shall be reimbursed for necessary
    reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of properly
    authorized Seattle Sky Divers Club business.
  3. No club funds over $100.00 may be personally held by any
    member for more than 30 days unless this time limit is
    waived by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X 

Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the
rules of the Seattle Sky Divers Club in all cases not covered
specifically by these By-Laws.