ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this Club shall be “The Retired Men’s Club of Cape Cod, Massachusetts”.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE The purpose of this Club shall be to: A. Foster sociability and fellowship among the members of the Club and to provide a place to meet and get acquainted. B. Carry on functions for, and on the behalf of, its members for their common benefit. C. Promote meetings for the effective interchange of information and suggestions relative to the common good of the Club. D. Promote positive community relations by providing funds for local charitable organizations as approved by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III - QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1: All men who are interested in the purpose of this Club as stated in Article II without regard to race, creed, color or national origin are eligible for membership in this Club. SECTION 2: Any man, retired or semi retired, resident of Cape Cod, MA, may make application for membership. SECTION 3: Each Regular Member is required to attend a minimum of three (3) meetings of the Club during the Club Calendar Year (1/1-12/31). Attendance requires the member remain for the full business meeting. Failure to comply shall warrant forfeiture of membership, unless, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, such failure was unavoidable. SECTION 4 : All new applicants for membership shall be sponsored and endorsed by two members of the Club, in good standing. The Membership Committee shall submit said applicants in the order received, to the next regular meeting of the Club for approval. SECTION 5: Any regular member who has attained the age of eighty and has been a member of the Club for at least two years will be considered an Associate Member. An Associate Member shall have the same participatory privileges as a Regular Member, except that he will not be required to attend any number of meetings. Any member, upon attaining the age of ninety, and has been a member of the club for at least two years, shall become an Honorary Member and be exempt from all requirements. All Past Presidents shall be designated Pa. Pr. For the address book. SECTION 6 : In the event a member has been informed by the Membership Chairman that his membership has been forfeited, he has the right to appeal for reinstatement. He shall either write a letter to the Club President or Club Secretary stating his case and special circumstances, or appear before the Executive Committee at their next meeting to state his case for reconsideration. SECTION 7: Members shall conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner at all meetings and club sponsored events. Discourteous, disrespectful or disruptive conduct may result in forfeiture of membership upon majority vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV - DUES AND INCOME SECTION 1 : DUES A. The principle source of revenue of this Club shall be dues. The amount of dues shall be assessed each year by the Executive Committee, and approved by a majority vote of the members at the annual meeting. B. A newly admitted member shall pay dues for the Club year in which admitted, except that in the case of a member being admitted after September 30th of any year, dues shall apply in place of dues for the succeeding year. C. Dues of the members of this Club are due and payable by the January meeting of each year, and shall be delinquent if not paid by the February meeting, resulting in suspension from the Club. D. The members shall be advised of suspension or termination by a written notice from the Chairman of the Membership Committee. E. REINSTATEMENT - A member shall be reinstated if approved by the Executive Committee with payment in full of all outstanding dues that were due the Club at the time termination was effective. In the case of resignation, a member may be reinstated, if approved by the Executive Committee, upon payment in full of all outstanding dues that were due the Club at the time of resignation.
SECTION 2 : INCOME Income derived from raffles conducted by the Club for its members shall revert to the Club for charitable contributions as approved by the Executive Board.
SECTION 3 : GIFTS Gifts of money to the Club shall be added to the funds of the Club and shall be used for any purpose designed to promote Club development when approved by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS SECTION 1 The Club is on a calendar year basis, beginning on January 1st of each year, and ending on December 31st . SECTION 2 Unless otherwise determined by the Executive Committee, the regular meetings of this Club shall be held on the second Thursday of each month (except July and Aug.). SECTION 3 The Annual Meeting of the members for the purpose of election of Officers and the Executive Committee shall be the second Thursday in November in each year at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall determine and shall be announced at a regular meeting. SECTION 4 At least seven days before the date of any annual or special meeting of the members, the Secretary shall cause written notice to be mailed to each member at his address as appears on the records of this Club. SECTION 5 Notice of any special meeting shall state the purpose for which it is to be held, and no business other than that related to this purpose shall be transacted at the meeting. SECTION 6 Special meetings of the members may be called by the President and may be held at any location permitted. A special meeting shall be called by the President within 30 days of the receipt of a written request of 15 members in good standing. A special meeting may also be called by the President upon majority vote of the Executive Committee for which the Committee desires the member’s opinions. Notice of a special meeting shall be given as provided under Section 4 of this article. SECTION 7 The order of business at meetings of the members shall be: A. Ascertain that a quorum is present B. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting. C. Elections (Annual meeting only) D. Report of the President E. Report of the Treasurer F. Unfinished business (old business) G. New business H. Adjournment The members assembled at any meeting may suspend the above order of business upon a two-third vote of the members present at the meeting. SECTION 8 Except as hereinafter provided, at annual, regular or special meetings, 20 members in good standing shall constitute a quorum. If no quorum is present, an adjournment may be taken to a date no fewer than 7, or no more than 14 days thereafter; and the members present at any subsequent meeting shall constitute a quorum regardless of the number of members present. The same notice shall be given for the subsequent meeting as is prescribed in Section 4 of this article for the original meeting, except such notice shall be given not fewer than 5 days previous to the date of the meeting as fixed in adjournment.
ARTICLE VI - ELECTIONS SECTION 1 At least 30 days prior to each annual meeting, the President shall appoint a nominating committee of not fewer than three members. It shall be the duty of the nominating committee to nominate at least one member for each vacancy on the Executive Committee. SECTION 2 After the nominations of the nominating committee have been placed before the members, the President shall call for nominations from the floor. When nominations are closed, tellers shall be appointed by the President, ballots shall be distributed, the vote shall be taken and then tallied by the tellers, and the results announced. All elections shall be by ballot except where there is only one nominee for office. SECTION 3 After nominations are closed, if there is an equal number of nominees to the number of openings for election, the President will ask the Secretary to cast a single vote for the nominees. SECTION 4 No member shall be entitled to vote by proxy. ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SECTION 1 The Executive Committee shall consist of 12 members, all of whom shall be members in good standing of this Club, plus the immediate past president. No reduction in the number of committee members may be made unless corresponding vacancies exist as a result of death, resignation, expiration of terms of office, or other actions provided by these bylaws. A copy of the resolution of the Committee covering any increase or decrease in number of memberships shall be filed with the official copy of the bylaws of this Club. SECTION 2 Regular terms of office for the committee members shall be for periods of three years. The regular terms shall be so fixed at the beginning, or upon any increase or decrease in the number of committee members, so that approximately one-third of the regular terms shall expire each year. SECTION 3 Any vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by vote of a majority of the committee members then holding office. Committee member so appointed shall hold office until the end of the unexpired term. SECTION 4 A regular meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held on the second Thursday of each month. The time and place of such regular meetings shall be fixed by resolution of the Committee. The President, or in his absence the Vice President, may call a special meeting of the Committee at any time, and may do so only upon request of the majority of the Executive Committee. Unless the Committee prescribes otherwise, the President, or in his absence the Vice President, shall set the time and place of special meetings. Notice of all meetings shall be given in such manner as prescribed by these bylaws. SECTION 5 The Executive Committee shall have the general direction and control of the affairs of this Club and shall be responsible for performing all the duties customarily performed by executive committees. This shall include, but not be limited to, the following: A. Direction of the affairs of the Club in accordance with these bylaws. B. Establishing programs to achieve the purpose of this Club as stated in Article II of these bylaws. C. Performing such additional acts and exercising such additional powers as may be required or authorized by the Club membership. SECTION 6 A majority of the number of Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting thereof; but fewer than a quorum may adjourn from time to time until a quorum is in attendance. SECTION 7 If a committee member fails to attend three regular meetings or otherwise fails to perform any of the duties devolved upon him, his office may be declared vacant by the Executive Committee and that vacancy filled as herein provided. The Committee may remove any executive officer from office for failure to perform his duties, after giving the officer reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard.
ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE OFFICERS & DUTIES SECTION 1 The executive officers of the Club shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Executive Committee from their number. The office of Treasurer and Secretary only may be held by the same person. Unless sooner removed as herein provided, the officers elected at the first meeting of the Executive Committee shall hold office until the meeting of the Committee following the annual meeting of the members, and, until the election and qualification of their respective successors. SECTION 2 Officers elected at the meeting of the Executive Committee following the annual meeting of the members, which shall be held not later than 20 days after the annual meeting, shall hold office for a term of one year. SECTION 3 The President shall preside at all meetings of the Committee. He shall be one of the authorized signatures appointed by the Executive Committee to sign checks, drafts, and other orders for disbursements of its funds as required. The President shall also perform such other duties customarily pertaining to the office of President or as he may be directed to perform by the resolution of the Executive Committee not inconsistent with these bylaws. SECTION 4 The Vice President shall exercise all the powers, authority, and duties of the President during his absence or inability to act. The Vice President shall also chair the Program Committee. SECTION 5 The Treasurer shall be under the direction and control of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall: A. Have custody of all funds, securities, and valuable papers and other assets of the Club. B. Be responsible for all checks and other orders for disbursement of its funds. C. Provide and maintain full and complete records of all the assets and liabilities of this Club in accordance with forms and procedures prescribed by general accounting practices. D. At the close of each month, prepare and submit to the Executive Committee the financial statements showing the conditions of this Club as of the end of the month. E. Perform such other duties as customarily pertain to the office of Treasurer or as may be directed to perform by resolution of the Executive Committee not inconsistent with these bylaws. F. Motions from the Floor for expenditure of Club general funds shall be referred to the Executive Committee for review and shall be in accordance with the purposes of the Club as set forth in Article II SECTION 6 The Secretary shall prepare and maintain complete records of all meetings of the members of the Executive Committee and all meetings of the regular Club members. The secretary shall give or cause to be given, in the manner prescribed, proper notice of all meetings of the members, and shall perform such other duties as he may be directed to perform by resolution of the Executive Committee not inconsistent with these bylaws. SECTION 7 - PARLIAMENTARIAN The presiding officer shall appoint a qualified person to act as parliamentarian for the meeting. The presiding officer may consult the parliamentarian on any point of order, but the presiding officer shall render all decisions which shall be binding unless overruled by a majority vote on appeal from the decision of the Chair. SECTION 8 The President, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Chairman for each of the following standing committees: Membership, Bylaws, Bowling, Golf, Refreshment, Special Events, and Sunshine. The Membership and Bylaws Chairmen shall be from the Executive Committee. The other Chairmen may be ex officio members of the Executive Committee when appointed. Each Chairman will appoint his own committee members.
ARTICLE IX - AUDITING SECTION 1 The Executive Committee shall provide for an annual audit for the financial condition of the Club.
ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION SECTION 1 - POWER OF DISSOLUTION The Club shall have the power to dissolve itself only by the affirmative vote of the majority of the membership and said vote shall provide that: A. All just debts and legal obligations shall be paid and/or provided for. B. The balance remaining shall be used to contribute to a scholarship fund or a charitable institution as directed by the membership.
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS SECTION 1 These bylaws may be amended by a two-third vote of the members present in good standing and voting at any meeting of the Club provided notice of the purposed amendments shall be given in writing to the members of the Club at least 7 days prior to said meeting.
ARTICLE XII - CONFLICT OF INTEREST SECTION 1 No officer, member of the Executive Committee, or a member of this Club shall contract or cause this Club to be committed to a contract in excess of $ 500 without approval of a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee. This requirement is waived, if said commitment involves expenditures that will be partially or fully reimbursed to the Club, and the balance after reimbursement is less than $ 500. No officer, member of the Executive Committee, or a member of this Club shall contract or cause the Club to be committed to a contract in which he has a financial interest, without approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIII - GENERAL “Roberts Rules of Order Revised” shall govern all meetings in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the articles and bylaws of this Club. These Club Bylaws were completely rewritten in April 1993 and had minor changes in March 1994, June 1995, February 1996, June 1997, March 1998, September 2001, January 2004, May 2006, and April 2014, June 2014.