CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
OF
SOUTHERN COUNTRY SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be: “Southern Country South Florida,” a.k.a. “SoCoSoFo.”
ARTICLE II:
Section 1. Objects and Purposes
A. To act as a non-profit organization.
B. To perform charitable duties for the surrounding area through exhibitions, shows, etc., for any particular charitable organization chosen by the general membership.
C. To produce a group of well rounded individuals interested in Country/Western dancing, Bootscooting, Square Dancing and related events.
D. To bar all prejudices related to sex, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, race, or any other known bases.
E. To establish a base organization in which members can collectively communicate and work in unison with each other.
F. To establish a group of people, who collectively work in their area of interest and organizational activities, who are both proficient and professional.
G. The foregoing clauses shall be construed as Objects and Purposes, and the matters expressed in each clause shall not be limited, by reference or inference, from the terms of any other clause, but shall be regarded as independent Objects and Purposes.
Section 2. Operational Rules and Restrictions
A. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in ARTICLE II, Section 1 and ARTICLE IV, Section 4.E.4.
B. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, the otherwise attempting to influence legislation, or the participation in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, at any level of involvement whatsoever.
C. This organization shall only affiliate with international, national or state organizations that adhere to the same goals and objectives of this membership, unless for charitable, or other interest to the club.
D. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules of order (bylaws) of this organization.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Requirements
A. Any person with interest shall be eligible for membership.
B. Dues shall be $25 per year for individuals and $40 per year for couples sharing the same household. Membership shall become effective upon payment of dues. A member shall be in good standing when all dues or renewal dues are paid and current.
C. No member shall bind this organization to action through representing, joining or affiliating, without prior approval of the officers and/or the general membership.
Section 2. Show and Exhibition Requirements
A. All shows and exhibitions where Southern Country South Florida has been requested to dance shall comprise only those who have been members in good standing for the previous three months. Of those eligible, the dance instructor and Board shall determine who will dance. The three-month period may be waived by vote of the interested team involved or by the Board, as necessary.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICER AND NON-OFFICER POSITIONS
Section 1. Officers
A. Chairperson
B. Co-Chair
C. Treasurer/Secretary – Corresponding and Recording
D. Membership Chair
E. Public Relations Chair
Section 2. Election and Appointment of Officers
A. Election of Officers
1. Nominations shall be from the general membership for open positions.
2. After election of the open positions, the offices shall be decided amongst those elected.
B. Term of Office
1. Term of office shall be one year, March through February.
2. Nominations are to be made thirty days prior to the set election date.
C. Eligibility Requirements
1. Candidates for the Board shall be members in good standing for at least one year. However, in the event that there are fewer than five candidates who are members in good standing for at least one year, additional candidates for that election need only be members in good standing for at least six months.
2. No elected candidate who has been a member in good standing for less than one year shall serve as Chair of the Board.
Section 3. Duties of Officers
A. Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the bylaws and the parliamentary authority in Robert’s Rules.
1. Chair
a. Shall chair all meetings of the Board and the General Membership.
b. Shall represent the club to other organizations, acting in liaison with the other officers.
c. Shall be empowered to call special meetings of the Board for emergencies upon notice, not necessarily written, of not less than two days to all other members of the Board.
d. Shall serve as alternate delegate to the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs (IAGLCWDC) and assume the responsibilities of the Delegate should the elected Delegate be unable to attend.
2. Co-Chair
a. Shall assist the Chair and the other officers, and shall assume the responsibilities of the Chair in the absence of the Chair.
b. Shall become the acting Chair, should the Chair not be able to complete the term for any reason, until the general membership elects a new Chair at the next general membership meeting.
c. Shall be responsible for the coordination of all committees and sub-committees, as well as all non-officer positions.
3. Treasurer/Secretary
a. Shall be responsible for taking the minutes of all official meetings, and for distributing such after appropriate approval.
b. Shall be responsible for the maintenance of the bylaws and other official papers including financials.
c. Shall be responsible for the preparation of checks, and cash payments from the treasury.
d. Shall be responsible for the safekeeping of monies and checkbook, and shall prepare the monthly report for the general membership meetings.
(i) Check writing procedure
a. There shall be three authorized signatories: Chair, Co-Chair and Treasurer/Secretary.
b. All checks shall be signed by any two of the three authorized signatories.
4. Membership Chair
a. Shall be responsible for maintaining an up-to-date membership list (in coordination with the Treasurer/Secretary).
b. Shall strive to maintain the morale of the organization.
c. Shall make notification available to all members of all important events, such as elections and exhibitions.
d. Shall do whatever is felt necessary to increase membership (e.g., membership drives, notices to non-current members, etc.)
5. Public Relations Chair
a. Shall establish and maintain relations between the club and the gay community.
b. Shall develop community awareness through conversation, written material and advertisements, when appropriate and approved by the Board.
c. Shall act as liaison between the club and the community regarding exhibitions or show for hire.
d. Shall attend, or find a qualified alternate to attend, organizational and informational community meetings as the club representative.
B. It shall be incumbent on all officers to engage in an area of total communication, cooperation, and dissemination of all information regarding the operation of this organization.
C. Removal from Office
1. Any elected official performing below the standards set by the organization, or displaying a lack of proficiency and professionalism, shall be removed from office as directed by a simple majority vote of the general membership.
Section 4. Non-Officers
A. Instructor/Caller
1. Shall instruct at all workshop sessions and shall appoint a substitute in the event of his/her absence.
2. Shall determine the levels of dance and advancement of members through the dance levels with Board approval.
3. Shall take charge of establishing the teaching schedule with Board approval.
4. Shall assume any dance activity only with Board approval.
B. Newsletter Editor
1. Shall be in charge of the production and distribution of a club newsletter.
2. Shall be responsible for the proper editing of all information gathered.
3. Shall have approval from the Co-Chair before any material is printed.
C. Historian
1. Shall keep a chronological log of all pertinent items to include, but not be limited to, advertisements, brochures, flyers, invitations, pictures, newsletters, articles, etc.
2. Shall keep and maintain all albums of the organization, which are the sole property of Southern Country South Florida.
3. Shall submit albums, upon request, for inspection by the Board, or for presentation at special events.
4. Shall be responsible for having pictures taken at special events.
5. Shall submit all related expenses to the Treasurer for Board approval.
D. Fund-Raising
1. Shall be responsible for heading the sub-committee that raises money for any special event.
2. Shall organize fund-raisers throughout the year.
E. International Association Delegate
1. Shall attend international meetings of the International Association of Gay and Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs (IAGLCWDC).
2. Shall represent Southern Country South Florida in all matters needing discussion and/or vote.
3. Shall be an elected position – with nomination, eligibility requirements, term of office, etc., to follow those guidelines under Article IV, Section 2.
4. Shall be reimbursed by Southern Country South Florida up to $250.00 per year towards travel and room expenses, so long as funds are available and approved by the Board.
a. Travel and room arrangements shall be approved in advance by the Treasurer.
b. If delegate incurs additional travel and room expenses, a committee may be formed for the purpose of fund-raising. Any excess funds raised shall go directly into Southern Country South Florida’s treasury.
F. Removal from Office
1. Any Non-Officer/Appointee performing below the standards set by the organization, or displaying a lack of proficiency and professionalism, shall be removed from position by a simple majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE V: CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
Section 1. Proposing a change
A. Any and all changes to the bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the general membership.
B. The proposed change shall be discussed and voted upon at the next general membership meeting.
C. The proposed change shall require a simple majority vote unless otherwise specified in the bylaws.
D. The change shall become binding upon approval.
Section 2. Distribution
A. Any approved changes, additions, or deletions to the bylaws shall be published by July 31 of each year.
B. All previously published versions shall then be considered null and void.
Respectfully Submitted February, 2003
______________________________
Rebecca Heyman
Secretary 2002-2003