Kansas BTW By-Laws
Voted in unanimously 04/18/09
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name by which this State/Area of BROTHERS OF
THE THIRD WHEEL, herein known as BTW, shall be
known is (KANSAS), herein known as the
State/Area.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSES
The specific purpose of the State/Area will be
to carry out the purposes spelled out in the BTW
By-Laws, as well as other purposes listed below.
(A) To unite all Chapters and independent
members of BTW within a specific state/area.
(B) To hold regularly scheduled meetings in
order to keep the membership informed and to
receive input from the membership.
(1)The state/area shall hold at least one state
meeting per year to conduct business of the
state/area such as election of officers.
(2) State/Area meetings will be called by the
State/Area Director with notification to the
State/Area members as determined by the
State/Area Roster not less than 30 days prior to
the meeting.
(C) To plan State/Area events and conduct other
State/Area business that the members deem
necessary.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the State/Area shall be open to
anyone who is a member of BTW in good standing
that resides in the state/area. The state/area
membership roster shall be produced by the
Chairman of the Corporation and made available
to State/Area and Chapter Directors. This roster
shall allow the members listed on it voting
rights within the state/area. BTW does not
discriminate in any manner. All decision making
power shall be vested in the membership. No
officer shall make decisions, involving the
State/Area without State/Area member approval.
As a courtesy to new members being added to the
state/area roster they will receive notification
either by mail, email or phone of the existence
of state/area by laws for the purpose of
education.
(A) Good standing shall mean that all
appropriate dues have been paid to the
corporation and there has not been a vote taken
at any BTW level to revoke the membership.
(B) State/Area dues may not be assessed by the
State/Area as a condition of membership.
(1) State/Area may collect a special assessment
from members wishing to receive a State/Area
Newsletter. This assessment will include Life
Members residing in the state/area who are
exempt from other dues and also BTW members
residing outside of the state/area if they wish
to receive a state/area newsletter.
(a.) The amount of the special assessment will
be determined by a majority vote of the
membership at a regular meeting not less than 30
days after written notice of the proposed
assessment.
(a1) The assessment cost for the newsletter is
$15.00 per household per calendar year. The
assessment is due by the 15th of
March.
(a2) The amount of the assessment may be
adjusted by a vote of the membership at a
regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote
of the members in attendance, provided that
proper notice has been given.
(a3) Any assessment above the cost of the
newsletter may be used to fund other state/area
activities and events.
(2)
The payment of this assessment will
generate a mailing roster for the state/area
newsletter.
(a) The roster will be updated prior to each
mailing of the newsletter. A member who has not
paid the special assessment will receive written
notice and given the opportunity to remain on
the mailing roster by paying the assessment
within 30 days of notice either by mail, email
or phone.
(b) There will be four newsletters published
each year. The schedule for mailing will be
determined by the state/area director and the
newsletter editor jointly.
(c) As a courtesy to new members they will
receive notice of the assessment following the
addition of their name to the State/Area Roster
so that they may be informed of the bylaw in
this state. If they pay the assessment they will
be added to the mailing roster.
(c1) Assessments paid after
September 30 will also apply to the following
years assessment.
(d) A copy of the state/area newsletter will
also be forwarded to the Chairman without fee
assessment for the purpose of keeping corporate
informed of the news/events in the state/area.
(e) A copy of the state/area newsletter will
also be forwarded to the each paying advertiser
without fee assessment for the purpose of a
record of the publishing of the advertisement.
(f) A copy of the state/area newsletter will
also be forwarded to the state director of
neighboring states without fee to keep them
informed of the news/events in Kansas and to
advertise Kansas events to their areas.
(C) There shall be no probationary period for
new members. Every member is equal and entitled
to the full benefits of members without time
constraints.
(D) Nothing within these by-laws shall be
interpreted that anything is mandatory, or
required of a member. That shall include the
wearing, or not wearing, of the BTW patch at any
time or place, membership in chapters of the
state/area, receiving a newsletter from the
state/area, or attendance at any meeting or
event.
(E). Membership in the State/Area may be revoked
only by following the Membership Grievance
Process & Resolution as set forth in the by laws
of the corporation. Only the Chairman may remove
a member from the State/Area Roster.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
State/Area meetings shall be held at a time and
place established by the State Director or the
membership with a minimum of 1 meeting a year.
Notification of any changes in times or places
will be sent out to all members of the
State/Area by mail, email or phone. Attendance
at meetings and events by members is not
mandatory and is not required.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND DUTIES
The officers of the State/Area shall include the
Director, Assistant Director, Treasure,
Secretary, Road Captain, Sergeant at Arms,
Newsletter Editor, Webmaster and Historian; and
whatever other officers the membership of the
State/Area deems necessary. No State/Area
officer shall use the term “President” in their
title.
(A) Director:
The Director shall act as the
Corporation’s liaison at the State/Area level,
shall problem solve at the chapter and
state/area level as set forth in the BTW By Laws
and forward problems unresolved at the Chapter
or State/Area levels to the Regional Director
for resolution, shall oversee all meetings of
the State/Area; shall conduct all State/Area
business; shall be responsible for or cause
notifying the membership of the time and place
of all meetings at least 30 days prior to a
meeting; shall be responsible for holding at
least one State/Area event each calendar year;
shall collect or cause to be collected all funds
that have been accessed by the State/Area; shall
be responsible to oversee all disbursement of
funds owed by the State/Area; shall cause the
State/Area news to be forwarded to the BTW
Headquarters for publishing; may establish
committees as are necessary or appropriate to
promote or carry out the purposes of State/Area
and shall serve as an Ex Officio Member of all
State/Area committees and shall perform other
such duties that are inherent to the running of
the State/Area.
(1) Event for the purpose of this duty may be
defined as little as a state meeting to as large
as the imagination.
(B) Assistant Director:
Shall assist the Director in his/her
duties and shall serve as Director in the
absence of the Director.
(C) Secretary:
Shall keep written records of all
State/Area meetings and perform other such
duties as the State/Area deems necessary. In the
absence of both the Director and Assistant
Director, the Secretary shall chair all
meetings.
(D) Treasurer:
Shall be
in charge of the handling of all State/Area
funds, shall collect and disburse any monies
owed by the State/Area or to the State/Area and
shall maintain a bank account with at least one
other state/area member on the account,
especially for State/Area funds. The Treasure
shall maintain a financial record of all funds
that is open to any member at their request and
may be published as the State/Area Director or
Treasurer deems necessary. The Treasure may
authorize expenses up to $99.99. Any expenses
between $100.00 and $349.99 must have approval
of a majority of the elected officers. Expenses
over the amount $350.00 must be presented to the
membership in a State/Area meeting for approval.
Approval will consist of a majority vote of the
members present at the meeting.
(E)
Sergeant at Arms:
Shall call all meetings to order
and see that they are run in an orderly and
proper manner.
(F) Road Captain:
Shall be responsible for leading all
State/Area runs and shall assist the Director in
the setting up of State/Area events.
(G) Newsletter Editor:
Shall prepare and cause to be printed and mailed
the State/Area newsletter. The
Editor shall maintain a State/Area mailing
roster to be updated prior to the mailing of
each State/Area Newsletter. May collect funds
for advertising/sponsorship in or of the
state/area newsletter and forward the funds to
the treasure for use by the state/area
(H) State Webmaster:
Shall establish and maintain a
State/Area website for the purpose of posting
information deemed appropriate and/or necessary
to the state membership.
(1) Costs for the domain name will
be forwarded to the treasure for payment by the
state/area.
(I) State Historian:
The Historian is to maintain an
anecdotal history of the state/area for
publication in the state/area newsletter.
(J) Temporary or Interim Directors:
As the need arises, a temporary or
interim director or contact may be appointed by
either BTW headquarters, or by the Regional
Director as they see fit. The term of the
temporary or interim director shall end at such
time that an elected director is selected to
replace him/her.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS
State/Area Chapter officers will be elected at a
scheduled meeting of the State/Area.
(A) Notification of Elections: All members of
the State/Area must be notified of any upcoming
election at least 30 days before the election is
held. This notification shall include a listing
of all offices being voted on. Notification can
be by postal mail, e-mail or phone.
(B) Qualification: Any member in good standing
with BTW and living in the state/area will be
eligible to seek and hold an office. Good
standing shall mean that the member’s membership
has not been revoked by BTW and that all
appropriate dues have been paid.
(C) Term of Office: All officers will be elected
for a term of at 2 years, except in the case of
an officer resigning, not being able to carry
out his or her duties or being terminated by the
membership, in which case the State/Area
Director may appoint a temporary or interim
officer until a special
election can be held or the next regular
election. Upon an appointment or special
election the newly elected officer will serve
the duration of the term of the officer he or
she is replacing. Any officer may be re-elected
for consecutive terms.
(D) Disputes: Any dispute arising from the
election of officers, and cannot be
satisfactorily resolved by the Members of the
State/Area, will be handled by the BTW Regional
Director. If the Regional Director is unable to
resolve the issue, the Regional Director will
take it before the Board of Directors for review
and final determination.
(E) Recall: Any officer may be recalled by a
vote of the membership.
(1) Just Cause: Causes for a recall shall
include, but not limited to, neglect of duties,
actions detrimental to the good name of the
State/Area or non-payment of BTW dues. Any
member who is found not to be in good standing
with BTW will be automatically recalled without
a vote being taken.
(2) Procedure: A motion made and seconded at a
meeting will be just cause to hold a recall
vote. This vote shall be taken at a second
meeting, which shall be held in no less than 30
days.
(3) Notice: The officer and all members of the
State/Area will be notified, in writing, of the
recall vote being taken and of the meeting date,
time, and place. A brief description of the
alleged charges against the officer shall be
included.
(4) Appearance: Any officer being recalled will
be afforded the opportunity to appear before the
membership and answer the charges made against
him or her before a vote is taken.
ARTICLE VII. FINANCES
(A) All funds belonging to the State/Area shall
be recorded in a ledger and kept in a special
bank account set up for that purpose.
(1) Records:
A complete record shall be kept of all finances
by the Director or by the Treasurer.
(2) Financial Report: The State/Area’s financial
report shall be open to any member desiring to
see it and shall be published at such times as
the State/Area decides.
(3) Disbursements: All State/Area funds shall be
disbursed by the Treasurer.
(4) Use of funds: No funds belonging to the
State/Area shall be used by any member or
officer for his or her own personal use, without
the prior approval of the membership.
Article VIII. Amendments
All members of the State/Area will be notified
in writing of the proposed amendment(s). A vote
shall be taken of the changes not less than 30
days from notification. There must be a majority
vote of members present for any amendments to be
approved.
