American Legion Riders Post 574

Bylaws Accepted 6/4/09

• To participate in parades and other ceremonies which are in keeping with the Aims and Purposes of the American Legion.
• To promote motorcycle safety programs and to provide a social atmosphere for American Legion members who share the same interest.
• To use our Association to promote and support the programs of the American Legion

　

Bylaws

 

I.  Membership:

 

A.  Full Members:  Prospective full members in the ALR must meet requirements in Paragraphs (1.), (2.) and either Paragraph (3.) or Paragraph (4.) or Paragraph (5.) below, without exception:

          3. Must be the legally registered owner of a properly insured motorcycle of at least 350cc (21.4 CI) engine displacement and must possess a valid motorcycle driver's license in their state of residence (military equivalents acceptable as well).

- OR -

          4. Must be the legal spouse of an ALR member in good standing.

- OR -

          5. Having served for at least one full year as a full member and is no longer able to operate a motorcycle due to disability, shall continue to be allowed the rights and privileges of a full member, providing the following is met:

                 a. Will be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board        present at a meeting called for such purpose.

B. Charter Members: Eligibility for Charter Membership will be original members up to one month of onset of the group. The designation of "Charter Member" is reserved for those members.

C. Founding Members: The designation of "Founding Member" is reserved to honor those

members who originally founded the American Legion Riders and were present at its inception at Post 396, Garden City, MI.

D. Chapter Supporters: Also known as "Supporting Members"

       1. The Chapter Supporter classification does not constitute full  membership in the ALR, but

is intended as a means to provide recognition to those who show strong support to our ALR Chapter.

       2. Prospective Chapter Supporters must, without exception, meet the requirements of paragraph (A.1.) above.

       3. All articles of clothing worn by Chapter Supporters displaying the ALR emblem must also contain the words "I support" or "Supporter".

       4. Chapter Supporters will be issued a membership card, which clearly denotes their status as a Chapter Supporter.

E. Spouses and significant others that are non legion members can be involved in all aspects of our organization except voting and wearing of colors.

F. Any Military personnel returning from any active duty, and who qualifies to be an ALR member, may do so free of charge for their first year, once approved by the general membership at a regular monthly meeting.

II. Organization: The ALR is a Post Level Program of the American Legion, as defined within The American Legion Internal Affairs Position on the ALR. Each Chapter exists at the discretion of the sponsoring Post.

III. Officers & Duties:

A. Director:

1. Serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Chapter and presides over all meetings.

2. Supervises all affairs of the Chapter.

3. Performs such other duties as directed by the general membership.
4. Has the authority to administer an emergency expenditure up to $200.00, with the approval of another elected officer, when a membership vote is not possible.

B. Assistant Director:
1. Assumes the duties of the Director in his/her absence.

2. Assists the Director in the performance of his/her duties when called on to do so by the Director.

C. Secretary:
1. Keeps a full and accurate record of all proceedings at the meetings.

2. Provides detailed minutes of prior meeting at each regular meeting.

3. Submits a copy of minutes to the Director within 15 days after each general meeting.
 

D. Treasurer:
1. Responsible for all finances of the Chapter.

2. Disburses and collects funds as directed by the general membership.

3. Provides detailed financial reports at each regular meeting.

4. Provides financial audit data to the sponsoring Post if requested. 

E. Sgt. at Arms:
1. Appoints, directs, and dismisses security personnel as may be required by activities and/or circumstances of the Chapter. Shall be liaison to Road Captain.

2. Maintains order and performs other duties during chapter meetings as assigned by the Director.

3. Ensures eligibility of those participating in Chapter elections, and ensures ineligible persons are not allowed to participate in the vote.

F. Historian:

1. Compiles and maintains records to document activities of Chapter, including written and photographic documentation as may be required by the general membership. 

G. Membership Chairman
1. Responsible for maintenance of membership records as may be required by the membership.

2. Collects membership dues as determined by the Chapter Bylaws, and provides same to Treasurer

on a regular basis.

3. Reviews and/or collects eligibility documentation as may be required by the general membership,

sponsoring Post Executive Board, Department, or State and Local laws.

4. Provides detailed membership reports at regular meetings of the Chapter.

H. Past Director:

1. Duties are that of a mentor to the officers and a source of information to the membership. 

I. Chaplain:
1. Provides invocation at regular meetings or other activities as may be required by the general membership.

J. Road Captain:

1. Responsible for the logistics of organized runs of the Association, as may be required by the general membership, including determination of dates, times, routes, and meeting places forthose taking part in a run activity.

2. Responsible to plan for the safety of Chapter members during participation in any run or activity; and to plan for the safety of other participants in any Chapter-sponsored run or activity. Shall be liaison to Sgt. at Arms.

3. Appoints, directs, and dismisses assistant road captains as may be required by activities and/or circumstances of the Chapter.

K. An Elected Officer missing 3 meetings in one fiscal year shall lose his/her position as that Officer, unless due to work, illness or other excused absence accepted by majority vote of the Executive Board present at a meeting called for such purpose. Such vacancy shall be filled by appointment from the Director for the remainder of the fiscal year. An Elected Officer will call, e-mail or otherwise contact the Director beforehand of their inability to attend a regular monthly meeting.

L. The Executive Board will consist of "Director", "Assistant Director", "Secretary", "Treasurer" and "Sgt. at Arms".

IV. Elections:

A. Considerations for Office: Any full member is eligible to serve in any office, with the following exceptions:
1. No one shall hold office in more than one Post-level Chapter of the ALR.

2. To ensure that prospective members are fully aware of the personality of, and issues of the Chapter, no member having been so for less than one calendar year shall be considered for anyoffice of the Chapter, unless no other member is available or willing to serve.

B. Officers of the Chapter shall be elected through an annual nominating and balloting process as determined by the general membership and defined as such:

1. Nominations will be made annually at the February meeting. Only "full members" of the Chapter shall be allowed to make and except nominations.

2. Election of Chapter Officers will be held annually at the March meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot. Only "full members" of the Chapter shall be allowed to vote.

3. Installation of Officers will take place at the April meeting, using installation Ceremony adopted by the Chapter.

V. Meetings:

A. General meetings will be held on the first Thursday of each month, at 7:00 PM at the American Legion Hall, 72 Pearl St., Hudson Falls, NY.

B. Seven members will constitute a quorum, with the Director or Assistant Director present.

C. Meetings will be conducted under "Roberts Rules of Order".

B. Membership fee shall be $20.00, which includes the small Legion Rider patch. Annual dues shall be $12.00. Annual dues shall be due in April, with a ninety-day grace period. Members with delinquent dues will not be allowed to vote and will be dropped from the rolls the following fiscal year. The fiscal year shall be the first Thursday of April through the first Wednesday of April of the following calendar year.

C. Chapter finances will be held in such manner as allowed by the rules of the sponsoring Post. 

D. As a Post-level activity of the American Legion, it is recognized that all funds and property of the Chapter is ultimately property of the Post, and must be reported and/or surrendered upon demand of the Post Executive Board. 

E. As a Post-level activity of the American Legion, the Chapter enjoys the tax-exempt status of the Post and must manage its finances in accordance with applicable Federal (IRS), State, and local laws applicable to nonprofit organizations. 

F. Disbursement of funds will be only those authorized at any regular meeting of the Chapter, except for the $200.00 emergency expenditure allowed the Director as stated under the duties of the Director. As noted above, each Chapter is a nonprofit organization and may only disburse funds in a manner in accordance with all Federal (IRS), State, and local laws applicable to nonprofit organizations. This Chapter will maintain $2500.00 in its general account with a 10% increase added each year with a cap of $4000.00. 　

VII. Expulsion:

A.  Any member no longer fulfilling the requirements of Paragraph (I.A.) is immediately expelled from "full membership" in the ALR until such time as the requirements as outlined Paragraph (I.A.) are again fulfilled.

VIII. Chapter Designation:

A. Each Chapter will be designated by the Department (State) in which the majority of its members reside. Chapter designations may be further broken down into District and Post (i.e.: Michigan Chapter 16th District Post 396).

        1. At no time shall a Chapter refer to itself or present itself as an M/C.

A. Each State Chapter may elect to adopt a set of standing rules to govern its Membership or, at the Chapter's discretion, amend these bylaws to fit their local requirements.  These standing rules or amended bylaws shall be no less stringent than the National bylaws [ref: Paragraph 10]. These standing rules or amended bylaws must not be in conflict with the National Constitution, or with the bylaws of the American Legion, Department, Sponsoring Post, or with Federal, State, and local laws. 

B. These bylaws are a condensed version of the National bylaws with additions/changes to meet our Chapter’s needs and desires. Any issues, concerns, discrepancies or conflicts brought forth by this Chapter’s membership, that cannot be resolved within these bylaws, will be referred to our Executive Board. The Executive Board will meet and consult the National bylaws in its entirety and report back to the membership its findings and/or proposed solution.