Tamela Germano [email protected] Page last modified: July 16, 2001
ARTICLE I: Name and Principal Location
Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the Reno Silver Blades Fencing Club, hereafter referred to as the "Club" with its principal location in Reno, Nevada.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of the Club shall be to practice, promote, and assist in the development and advancement of fencing.
Section 2. Good sportsmanship, safety and the execution of the essential rules of fencing as recognized by the United States Fencing Association (USFA), shall be upheld by the Club and all it’s members.
ARTICLE III: Property
Section 1. The Club may rent, lease or own any real or personal property necessary to further its purpose as stated in Article II.
Section 2. The Club may enter into an agreement with any private or public entity to operate and manage any facility so long as it is consistent with the purpose of the Club.
ARTICLE IV: Memberships, Dues and Privileges
Section 1. Membership shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of fencing.
Section 2. Membership dues, floor fees and method of payment shall be determined by the Executive Committee and voted on by the General Membership.
Section 3. Individual General Members (those members over the age of 16) shall have one vote on all matters at General Membership Meetings.
Section 4. General Members shall be those members who have paid annual membership dues and who have actively pursued within the club, the club’s purpose as specified in Article II for a minimum of six months.
Section 5. All privileges, other than voting, shall be held equally among all members, general and junior (those under 16).
Section 6. Affiliate Members are those fencers who desire to fence only, do not pay club dues and do not have a right to vote.
ARTICLE V: Officers
Section 1. Club officers shall consist of:
Section 2. Duties
The President shall preside over all Club functions except where the duty is prescribed to another officer, committee or member. The President is responsible for overseeing all financial affairs and the budget. All monetary expenditures greater than $500 must be brought before the membership for vote. The President is the liaison with other clubs and organizations.
The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President and shall be the Bout Committee Chairperson. He/she shall also assume other duties as delegated by the President.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for Club correspondence and shall keep the financial records of the Club. He/she shall receive all fees, dues and monies, and shall give a brief fiscal report at the quarterly General Membership meetings and a full and complete accounting at the annual July meeting. He/she may also assume other duties as delegated by the President.
The Member-at-Large shall represent the General Membership of the Club and shall attend all executive meetings.
The fencing instructor shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and is responsible to the Bout Committee. He/she is to see that instruction quality is maintained as well as maintain and be responsible for class equipment.
The Armorer is responsible to the Bout Committee. He/she shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and be responsible to maintain club equipment.
Section 3. Vacancies
Any vacancies during the year shall be filled by appointment by the remaining Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI: Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall administrate the routine operation of the Club. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary /Treasurer, and a Member-at-Large. The Executive Committee shall be presided over by the President who shall have one vote as a member and an additional one-half vote for tie breaking. All other members have one vote apiece. Routine decisions shall be those for the maintenance and operation of the club.
Section 2. Bout Committee
The Bout Committee shall be a standing committee whose members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall be chaired by the Vice President. The Bout Committee shall consist of not less than three people but not more than seven. It shall be the function of the Bout Committee to arrange and conduct competitions. There shall be at least six tournaments a year embracing all levels of fencing.
Section 3. Additional Committees
The Executive Committee shall create and dissolve ad hoc committees as it sees fit. The Executive Committee shall appoint members to newly created committees.
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month, at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee members.
Section 2. Executive Committee members must be duly notified, by their own protocols, and expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall hold quarterly General Membership Meetings during the months of July, October, January and April at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. In addition, the Executive Committee, for any situation deemed necessary, might call an extraordinary Membership Meeting. Notice of all meetings shall be announced and posted at least two consecutive fencing weeks immediately prior to the meeting date.
Section 4. The Annual Meeting, for the purpose of election of officers, shall take place at the July General Membership Meeting. In addition, the Secretary/Treasurer shall present a complete and itemized fiscal account of the year’s transactions.
Section 5. Any member in good standing may request a General Membership Meeting upon presentation of a petition signed by 33% of the current membership. Upon receipt of said petition, the Executive Committee must call a special General Membership Meeting within 30 days, and must notify the General Membership by mail 10 days prior to the meeting date.
Section 6. A notion may be passed or defeated by a simple majority of those members voting at a meeting where a quorum has been established. 33% of the Club’s membership shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7. Proxy designation may be given in writing and be signed over to any voting member of the Club.
Section 8. Proposed bylaws amendments must be mailed or hand delivered to the membership ten days prior to a regularly scheduled General Membership Meeting, and must be passed by a 2/3 majority of those voting.
Section 9. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings.
ARTICLE 8: Elections and Procedures
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Member-at-Large. They shall be elected from the general membership at the Annual Membership Meeting in July. Their term of office shall be one fencing year, August 1st through July 31st.
Section 2. Only the duly elected Executive Committee (or anyone duly authorized by the Executive Committee) is authorized to conduct any business relevant to the purpose of the Club as stated in Article II.
Section 3. Any member in good standing may be nominated, with his/her prior consent, for an office at the Annual Membership Meeting. Any nominee for the office of President must have been a member in good standing for a minimum of one year.
Section 4. The annual elections, by secret ballot, shall be determined by a simple majority vote of members.
Section 5. Any Executive Committee member may be removed from office for malfeasance or misfeasance at a General Membership Meeting by a majority vote (quorum as established in Article VII, Section 8) provided the Executive Committee member has been given written notice of the proposed removal motion and meeting at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 6. Any charge in violation of Article II made against a member of the club must be in writing and signed by a club member in good standing.
Section 7. The Executive Committee shall examine all charges and may suspend membership privileges within the club. Such discipline may be appealed to the membership at large at the next quarterly General Meeting, and shall be decided by a simple majority vote. The suspended fencer, however, must be allowed to fence in any USFA sanctioned tournament per USFA bylaws.
Proposed July 2001