Offroad Riders, Post 54 Constitution and By Laws

American Legion Offroad Riders, Post 54 Constitution and By Laws

Preamble

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all of the wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

Purpose

The American Legion Offroad Riders is formed to promote the aims and purposes of The American Legion as a family oriented offroad activity for members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, and The Sons of The American Legion.

Article I—Name

Section 1. The chapter existing under these by-laws is to be known as American Legion Offroad Riders of Post 54, The American Legion, Department of Arizona.

Section 2. The name and nature of this chapter are as set forth in the constitution

Article II—Nature

Section 1. The American Legion Offroad Riders (ALOR) is a program for members of The

American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, and The Sons of The American Legion members, collectively “The American Legion Family,” who share an interest in off-roading.

Section 2. The American Legion Offroad Riders upholds the declared principles of The American Legion and conforms to and abides by the regulations and decisions of the department, post, or other duly constituted governing body.

Section 3. Under no circumstances shall any emblem of The American Legion be marketed, sold, or subordinated to any other organizational logo or emblem without the approval and consent of The American Legion national organization.

Article III—Organization

The American Legion Offroad Riders is organized at either the department or the post, and each chapter exists at the discretion of the sponsoring post/department. The chapter officers and executive committee are responsible and accountable to the sponsoring post/department executive committee. All officers of the American Legion Offroad Riders chapter must be named by the hosting post or department, or if elected must be confirmed or installed by the hosting post or department.

Article IV-Membership Eligibility

Section 1. Eligibility for basic membership in The American Legion Offroad Riders shall be as prescribed by the national constitutions of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion.

Section 2. All members of The American Legion Offroad Riders must further demonstrate current individual membership in The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, or the Sons of The American Legion.

Section 3. Members will not at any time hold membership in more than one chapter of The American Legion Offroad Riders.

Section 4. Each ALOR member shall establish and maintain membership by owning, individually or through marriage, an offroad vehicle licensed and insured as required under local laws.

Section 5. Members in good standing may continue to retain full membership if they have given up vehicle ownership involuntarily because of age, injury, or health reasons.

Section 6. There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership, and dues shall be paid as required by the chapter or by the department. There are no national dues.

Section 7. All members will obey the motor vehicle laws in any state in which they are operating an off-road vehicle or riding as a passenger.

Article V-Determine Elected Officers

Section 1. The recommended officers of the Chapter are Director, Assistant Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Road Captain, elected annually. [Note that the titles “President” and “Vice-President” are permissible replacements for “Director” and “Assistant Director:”]

Section 2. Between chapter meetings, the administrative power of the chapter shall be vested in the chapter executive committee, whose voting members shall consist of all elective officers for the current year and the immediate past chapter director.

Section 3. Officers of this chapter shall be elected annually in June and take office at the meeting next following that of the election. All elections of officers shall be by ballot and the candidate or candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the respective office or offices for which they are candidates. All such officers shall be confirmed by vote at a regular post meeting, or installed by the host post or department at a suitable installation ceremony.

Section 4. All vacancies existing in any office of the chapter from any cause other than the expiration of the term shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the committee, and a person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member of the committee or officer whose position was vacated. Any person so appointed or elected to fill a vacancy shall be confirmed or installed by the hosting post or department.

Section 5. A vacancy shall exist when a member or officer is absent from the chapter due to resignation, loss of qualifications, incapacity from injury or illness, or for a continuous period of unexcused absences considered detrimental to the interest of the chapter by the remaining members of the chapter executive committee.

Article VI—Finance

Section I. The revenue of the chapter shall be derived from such membership fees or dues and from such other sources as may be approved by the chapter executive committee.

Section 2. The amount of such membership or initiation fees and the amount of such annual chapter dues shall be fixed and determined by the chapter.

Section 3. The chapter will provide an annual financial report to the sponsoring department/post executive committee.

Article VII-Amendments

Section I. This constitution is adopted, subject to the provisions of the national constitution, department constitution, and post constitution of which this chapter is a subordinate program. Any amendment to the national, department, or post constitutions that is in conflict with any provision hereof shall be regarded as automatically repealing or modifying the provisions of the constitution and bylaws of this chapter to the extent of such conflict.

Section 2. This constitution may be amended at any regular chapter meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the membership attending such regular meeting provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing, and read at the immediate preceding chapter meeting. Further, that traditional mail or electronic mail notice shall have been sent to all members’ addresses of record at least 5 days in advance of the date which such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members that at such meeting there will be a proposal to amend the constitution

Article VIII—Meetings

Section I. The regular meeting of the chapter shall be held once a month

Section 2. The chapter director or a majority of the executive committee shall have power to call a special meeting of the chapter at any time

Section 3. Upon the written request of 3 members, the executive committee shall call a special meeting of the chapter.

Section 4. A majority of officers shall constitute a quorum.

Article IX-Duties of Officers

Section 1. Duties of Director. It shall be the duty of the chapter director to preside at all meetings of the chapter and to have general supervision over the business and affairs of the chapter. The chapter director shall be the chief executive officer of the chapter. The director shall approve all orders directing the disbursement of funds and shall provide a monthly report covering the business and finances of the chapter at each regular meeting of the hosting American Legion post, with a copy thereof immediately forwarded to the post or department adjutant. The director shall perform such other duties as directed by the chapter membership.

Section 2. Duties of Assistant Director: The assistant director shall assume and discharge the duties of the office of Director in the absence or disability of, or when called upon by the chapter director.

Section 3. Duties of Chapter Secretary. The secretary shall have charge of and keep a full and correct record of all proceedings of all meetings, keep such records as the hosting post and department organizations may require, render reports of membership annually or when called upon at a meeting, and under direction of the chapter director handle all correspondence of the chapter.

Section 4. Duties of the Treasurer. The treasurer shall have charge of all finances and see that they are safely deposited in some local bank or banks and shall report once a month to both the chapter executive committee and the hosting post the condition of the finances of the chapter, with such recommendations as he or she may deem expedient or necessary. The treasurer and director, and at least one member of the chapter executive committee and one officer of the host post or department, shall be signatory on any and all accounts of the chapter. The treasurer shall be provided such surety bonds in such amounts as shall be fixed by the chapter executive committee and obtained by the chapter. The treasurer prepares the chapter’s monthly financial report rendered to the sponsoring department/post at a regular meeting.

Section 5. Duties of Road Captain. The road captain shall plan all tours, runs, activities, and events; lead the chapter in formation riding or parades; arouse interest in activities; enforce all rules of safe motorcycle operation and group riding. Additionally, the road captain my select assistants to aid in special tasks and may chair appropriate activities committee as directed by the chapter director or executive committee.

Article X-Notices

Section I. Every member shall furnish the chapter secretary with a valid email or postal mailing address.

Section 2. The chapter secretary shall cause notice of the annual election to be given at least two weeks prior thereto.

Article XI—Limitations of Liabilities

Section 1. This chapter shall incur, or cause to be incurred, no liability nor obligation whatever which shall subject to liability any other chapter, subdivision, members of The American Legion, post, departments, or other individuals, corporations or organizations.

Section 2. This chapter shall take such steps necessary to secure appropriate event insurance for all organized rides, events, celebrations and functions undertaken under the name of the hosting post or department.

Section 3. This chapter shall require all members to sign a waiver of liability prior to participating in an off road function.

Article XII-Amendments

Section 1. These by-laws may be amended at any regular chapter meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members of said chapter attending such regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the next preceding regular meeting

Section 2. Written or electronically transmitted notice to the addresses of record indicated in Article X, Section 1, shall have been given to all members at least 5 days in advance of the date when such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members that at such meeting there will be presented a proposal to amend the by-laws.

Section 3.Any amendments will be reported to the sponsoring department or post, and such amendments will not be effective until approved by the sponsoring department or post.