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These recommendations are intended to suggest minimal changes to governance documents to facilitate better agreement between the governance documents and actual practice. They are only a first step.
From:
The officers of the Unit shall consist of a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer and 3 Trustees
To:
The officers of the Unit shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two Trustees.
From:
... Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, or Treasurer ...
To:
... Secretary or Treasurer ...
From:
... shall assume office on January 1...
To:
...shall assume office on election...
From:
... commencing January First...
To:
...commencing on election...
Replace "Vice President" with "Trustee"
Change January 1 as date to assume office to
delete
delete
Merge into one section and change all references to "Corresponding Secretary" or "Recording Secretary" to just "Secretary"
The references to the International Constitution appear to be incorrect. Article IX (board of trustees) does have several sections that describe the duties of a Board of Trustees that could be referenced to describe the duties of the Board for Unit purposes.
There is significant concern from some quarters that the Unit not impinge on International policy or rule. Here are relevant sections from the International Constitution, Bylaws, and Policies that define requirements of the unit related to some of the issues that have been raised. If there are sections that have been overlooked or comments that are needed to clarify the WBCCI intent or desire, please notify hq@SierraNevadaAirstreams.org
VI-SEC. 2 ALL UNITS SHALL PREPARE A CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AND ANY AMENDMENTS BYLAWS THERETO; AND SHALL DELIVER FOUR COPIES OF EACH TO THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE FOR REVIEW BY THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE. SUCH CONSTITUTION AND SUCH BYLAWS SHALL NOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH, OR INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS OR POLICY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB. SUCH CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, PROVISIONS FOR: (A) ELECTION OF OFFICERS, (B) REGULAR MEETINGS AND QUORUM OF EACH, (C) A METHOD OF SELECTING A DELEGATE AND AN ALTERNATE TO THE WBCCI DELEGATES MEETINGS, (D) A DISSOLUTION CLAUSE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.
VI-SEC. 3 THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB SHALL PROVIDE A UNIT MODEL CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS IN THE APPENDIX TO THE BLUE BOOK FOR THE USE OF THE UNITS, THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS AND POLICY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB.
The name, in the Blue Book Appendix of this model is SUGGESTED MODEL OF UNIT CONSTITUTION AND UNIT BYLAWS - note that this is suggested and not mandated! The SNU appears to have used this document for its own with only minor adjustments.
IV -Sec. 3 The minimum number of members necessary to obtain or retain a charter, shall be fifteen (15). All rules, regulations and qualifications for a Unit Charter shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Trustees, and upon granting a Unit Charter, assign such Unit a name. All Units shall hold not less than two (2) assembled rallies each year at which members attend with their recreational vehicles manufactured by Airstream, Inc. (6/30/95)
IV - SEC. 6: NO UNIT SHALL ESTABLISH, FIX OR OBSERVE A LIMIT AS TO THE NUMBER OF ITS MEMBERS.
IV - SEC. 7: A UNIT SHALL NOT ESTABLISH WITHIN THE UNIT A CLASS OF MEMBERSHIP THAT IS NOT AS DEFINED OR AS LISTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS OR POLICY. (1/20/95)
Policy B. Unit Officers ... pays International dues through said unit.
Policy F. Unit Elections Units shall hold an election of officers annually. New officers shall take office any time after their election but not later than December 31. (6/19/79)
Our Constitution says that officers terms start January 1st - this should probably be changed to bring it in line with WBCCI Unit policy F.(see recommended modifications above)
Other than in the suggested documents there is no instruction from or agreement with WBCCI that the unit shall maintain any particular list or set of officers.
Article IV section 2 of suggests that: "An officer shall serve in office for a term of one year or until a successor is elected but in no case shall an officer be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office except the Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary or Treasurer provided said officers are duly nominated and elected for each term of office."
Policy C. Ethics and Grievance ...
Policy D. Legislation ...
Note that these committee recommendations are policies and not at a higher level of governance. Ethics and Grievance is perhaps the most important because it is the means to handle complaints at the Unit level. These can be formed as needed by the President of the Unit.
VI -SEC. 1 UNITS MAY INCORPORATE UNDER THE NON-PROFIT LAWS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES PROVIDED THAT THE CORPORATE POWERS THUS ACQUIRED DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE CORPORATE POWERS GRANTED BY THE STATE OF OHIO TO THE WALLY BYAM CARAVAN CLUB INTERNATIONAL. IF SO INCORPORATED, SUCH UNITS MAY ACQUIRE AND HOLD PROPERTY, BOTH PERSONAL AND REAL, INDIVIDUALLY OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER UNITS, AND MAY IMPROVE AND DEVELOP THE SAME FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF THEIR MEMBERS. SUCH INCORPORATED UNITS, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER UNITS, MAY ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIVITIES THEY DEEM NECESSARY FOR THE BENEFIT AND PLEASURE OF THEIR MEMBERS.
The Sierra Nevada Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Inc. does not appear to be an incorporated entity in the state of Nevada. If it were to incorporate, it should structure its constitution to be a minimal document with mission and goals and use bylaws for the remaining rules and procedures.
A constitution should be considered a corporate document that can (or should) only be changed by filing with the governing authority. Bylaws contain organization governance information that should require membership approval for modification. Policies can be changed by duly delegated persons or committees. For examples of documents as might be appropriate to SNU see: constitution, bylaws, policies.
These ideas, suggestions, and recommendations are those of the Leipper Management Group for the Wally Byam Caravan Club International and its Region 12 and Sierra Nevada Unit components. These do not represent legal advice - any changes described here should be reviewed by a properly qualified lawyer prior to adoption or use - and the Leipper Management Group presents these ideas only for discussion and education. Any liabilities that arise from the adoption or use of these ideas is solely the responsibility of the individual or individuals or organizations that choose to implement any changes in their structures or governing documents.