Club Bylaws

Bylaws of the Prairie Riders Snowmobile Club

Revised 2008

Article I: Purpose and Name

Section 1: The name of the Club shall be Prairie Riders.
The purpose of the Prairie Riders are to stimulate and advance the general welfare and safety of snowmobiling, to serve the interests of snowmobile owners, to defend such owners against discriminatory legislation, regulations and burdensome taxation, to develop a fraternal spirit among local snowmobile and other winter sport enthusiasts and to provide a medium for the exchange of snowmobiling information, to own or lease property for Club uses, protect farmers and other land owners property by investigating complaints, and to perform all desirable and lawful functions for the successful operation of the Club and in general public interest abide by state and local laws.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Membership in the Club shall consist of two classes:
a. Active Members
b. Honorary Members

Section 2: Membership consists of a person and his/her spouse and all unmarried dependents of his immediate family living in household under the age of 21.

Section 3: Each active membership shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 4: The board of Directors may establish qualifications and rights of Honorary Members and such action will be brought to the attention of the membership at the next regular meeting.

Section 5: Liability insurance on snowmobile required for membership. Snowmobile encouraged to display Club decal and Kenosha County Alliance Decal.

Section 6: Applications for membership shall be made in writing addressed to the Secretary of the Club on the appropriate form containing an agreement by the applicant to abide by the by-laws and Constitution of the Club. The Secretary shall refer each application for membership to the Membership Committee for consideration and final approval. Once approved, the applicant becomes a member; upon payment of the required dues.

Section 7: Membership in Club may be terminated by action of the Board of Directors for non-payment of dues. Termination of the membership will not result in the refund of dues already paid.

Article III: Management

Section 1: The management of the Club shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

Article IV: Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of Four Directors, each of whom shall be elected just prior to the annual meeting of the membership and shall take office at the close of the annual meeting. Each Director shall be elected to serve for three years and until his/her successor shall be elected and shall qualify.

a. The immediate past President shall serve on the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity until his/her successor relegates position of president.

Section 2: In case vacancies occur on the Board of Directors by reason of death, resignation or otherwise, the active Club Members will, by majority vote, elect a successor or successors for the un-expired term or terms.

Section 3: A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Club business.

Section 4: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as may be from time to time fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as may be specified in the notice of the meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its regular annual meeting during the time and at the place of the annual meeting of the membership. Upon the request of the President or any two Directors, the Secretary shall call a special meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will meet at least once per year.

Section 5: The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors appoint an Executive Committee of the Board to act in emergencies. The Board of Directors may appoint other Club committees, fill any vacancies or change the membership in such committees or may delegate such authority to the Club President. The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to discharge any committee.

Section 6: The Board of Directors may employ whatever personnel they deem necessary and for which funds are available, to aid in the management of the Club and may authorize the expenditure of Club funds in any other manner in the proper furtherance of the purposes of the Clubs.

Article V: Dues

Section 1: Annual dues are reviewed annually and assessed at the first meeting of the season.

Section 2: The officers of the Club will not be required to pay annual dues while in office.

Section 3: Renewal dues are to be paid by November 30th to align with the Associate of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) deadline requirements for state dues and membership roster updates.

Article VI: Officers

Section 1: The officers of the club shall be: President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Chairman. The same person may hold the office of Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer. Another officer may also hold the Membership Chairman position.

Section 2: The officers shall be elected from the active members of the Club by plurality vote of the active members present at the regular annual meeting. Vacancies occurring between such elections may be filled for the unexpired term by the Board of Directors at any Board Meeting. Any officer may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the whole Board of Directors.

Section 3: Nomination of Officers shall be done in February by the Nomination Committee and the election shall be held in March. All officers shall take office immediately upon election and hold office for a Period of two years and until their successor shall have been elected and qualified.

Section 4: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of its Board of Directors; shall appoint such committees as authorized by the Board of Directors; shall be a member of ex-officio of all committees and shall carry on those other responsibilities assigned to him/her by the by-laws and by the Board of Directors.

Section 5: The Vice President during the absence or temporary incapacity of the powers of the President shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President. The Vice President will oversee all raffle ticket sales.

Section 6: The Recording Secretary shall keep all of the Club records, other than financial, including minutes of meetings, lists of Committees and their members, and discharge all of the usual secretarial functions of the office required by the by-laws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 7: The Corresponding Secretary shall send out notices of meetings and newsletters, and discharge all of the usual secretarial functions of the office required by the bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

Section 8: The Treasurer shall keep all accounts of the Club and have charge of the funds. The Treasurer shall keep all of the Club’s funds in a bank approved by the Board of Directors and in the name of the Club, subject to withdrawal by checks signed in such manner as may be from time to time approved by the Board of Directors and shall disburse the funds of the Club under the direction of the Board of Directors. A Treasurer’s report shall be prepared for each General Meeting and an annual audit shall be prepared and submitted at the Annual Meeting.

Section 9: The Membership Chairman shall accept dues and submit all monies to the Treasurer, keep an up-to-date roster of paid members, receive applications for membership, contact inactive or past members to determine status, and recruit new members and maintain all membership correspondence with the AWSC.

Section 10: All officers shall have such other powers and duties as required by law.

Section 11: All officers and committee chairs must submit all newsworthy information to be included in the monthly newsletter to the Corresponding Secretary by the last day of the month.

Article VII: Fiscal Year

Section 1: The fiscal year of the Club shall begin on the first day of September and end on the thirty-first day of August.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 1: The meetings of the members of the Club shall be held at the time and place designated by the Officers.

Section 2: Regular meetings of the members of the Club shall be held at least monthly, September through April.

Section 3: Written notice of the time and place of the annual and all other meetings of the membership shall be prepared and distributed to the membership by the Corresponding Secretary.

Section 4: Special meetings of the Club may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President or by any group of fifteen (15) active members by giving five (5) days written notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting.

Section 5: Any formal action taken at any meeting of the membership shall require a majority vote of those active members present.

Article IX: Election Procedure

Section 1: A Nominating Committee of at least three persons shall be appointed by the President or by the Board of Directors from the active members.

Section 2: The Nominating Committee shall place in nomination two candidates for election to the Board of Directors for each prospective vacancy to be taken from names of active members.

Section 3: At the initial organizing meeting, the Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates shall be shown on the official ballot; which also provides spaces for write-in candidates, together with the specific terms of years for which each candidate is nominated. The official ballots shall be distributed to the qualified voting members present, who shall mark and deposit all ballots, unsigned, in the ballot box. A Tally Committee of two or three members shall be appointed to count the official ballots and announce the names of those elected to the Board of Directors for the various terms.

Section 4: The Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates for election to the Board of Directors to fill prospective vacancies shall be sent to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the annual meeting.

Section 5: At the Annual Meeting, a Tally Committee of two or three members shall be appointed to count the official ballots and announce the names of those elected to the Board of Directors for the various terms. Ties shall be settled by a flip of the coin.

Article X: Rules

Section 1: Ages required to ride on trails:
16 and over – alone
12 to 16 – must have a Wisconsin Safety Certificate or be accompanied by an adult.
Under 12 – Only with a parent.
All members of the Club must comply with the laws of the state and should use common sense while using the trails.

Article XI: Amendments

Section 1: These by-laws must be amended in the following manner:
a. Discussion and presentation of a motion for the amendment at a meeting
b. Ratification requires the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the active members of the club who are present at the following meeting.