MONACO INTERNATIONAL
A Chapter of the Family Motor
Coach Association
CHAPTER BYLAWS
Effective August 12, 2005
ARTICLE I -
CHAPTER NAME
The name of this
not-for-profit organization shall be
Monaco International,
chapter of the
Family Motor Coach Association, Inc.,
hereinafter referred to as Chapter and FMCA.
Monaco International is incorporated in the
state of Washington.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT
1)
PURPOSE:
This Chapter exists to promote social,
recreational, and informational exchange
activities that provide for the enjoyment and
pleasurable use of family member coaches.
2)
AREA/SCOPE: This Chapter shall be
authorized to function in the International
Area with a mutual interest in the
geographical area of the North American
Continent
ARTICLE III – MEMBERS
1)
ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for and to
maintain membership in the Chapter, a person
must own at least 1/3 of an FMCA-approved coach,
be in good standing with FMCA, and meet the dues
requirement and provisions set forth in the
Bylaws of this Chapter.
a)
Membership in this Chapter shall not be
denied any person because of race, sex,
religion, color, marital or family status, age,
nationality, or disability.
2)
FAMILY UNIT: The term "Family Unit," is
defined as a person; his or her spouse, or
partner; dependents of each, regardless of age;
non-dependent grandchildren and
great-grandchildren aged 18 and under.
3)
MEMBERSHIP: The term "Membership," is
defined as either a family unit or an individual
or individuals owning a Qualifying Motor Coach
who share a membership number.
4)
MEMBER:
The term "Member," is defined as each adult who,
jointly or individually, constitutes a
membership. The voting rights of each member are
defined in the description of each category.
5)
QUALIFYING MOTOR COACH: The term "Qualifying
Motor Coach," is defined as a
i)
self-propelled, completely self contained
vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a
home, including cooking, sleeping, and permanent
sanitary facilities, and in which the driver's area
is directly accessible in a walking position from
the living quarters. The terms motor coach and
motor home may be used interchangeably.
6)
DUES AND FEES:
a)
ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment of Chapter and
National dues enables persons to become active
members and entitled to all rights and privileges of
the Chapter and FMCA. The annual dues for membership
in the Chapter shall be an amount as the membership
shall establish.
b)
RENEWAL: Renewal dues from Chapter members
become due and payable by January 1st of
each year.
c)
INITIAL APPLICATION: Application for new
membership shall be accompanied by payment of annual
Chapter and National dues (unless already an FMCA
member). If an initial application is accepted
after October 1st, the dues shall be
regarded as covering the next membership year.
d)
INITIATION FEE: New and reinstated members
may be required to pay an initiation fee in an
amount to be established by the Chapter membership.
e)
ARREARS: Membership will be canceled
according to the Standing Rules of the Chapter.
ARTICLE IV
– OFFICERS
1)
DUTIES OF OFFICERS: The duties of elected
officers shall be as defined in the Monaco
International individual officer job descriptions
and the FMCA Member and Volunteer Handbook.
2)
TERMS OF OFFICE: The elected officers of this
Chapter shall serve a 1-year term of office, or
until their successors are elected.
3)
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS:
a)
An individual FMCA member may hold office(s)
in only 1 chapter.
b)
Individual FMCA members may hold no more than
2 offices in the same chapter.
c)
Any member in good standing may be nominated
from the floor for any elective Office.
d)
Only Full Members, Full Lifetime Members, or
Life Members who have advanced from one of these
classes have the right to hold office in this
chapter.
e)
No
official or member shall become vested of any right,
title to, or interest in any Chapter property,
except as required by law
4)
EXECUTIVE BOARD
a)
The Executive Board of the chapter shall
consist of the following: President, First Vice
President, Second Vice President, Vice President of
Membership, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director,
and Alternate National Director.
b)
The Executive Board shall have general
supervision of the affairs of the chapter between
business meetings. The Board shall be subject to the
orders of the Chapter, and none of its acts shall be
in conflict with the chapter or FMCA.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
1)
APPOINTMENT: Committee members and
Chairperson (except Nominating Committee) shall be
appointed by the President.
2)
DUTIES: All committees shall function within
the policies of the Chapter and (except Nominating
Committee) under the direction of the President.
Financial reports, vouchers, and monies due the
Chapter shall be submitted on a timely basis.
3)
QUORUM: A Committee quorum shall be a
majority of committee members.
ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
1)
AUTHORITY: This Chapter shall be
democratically self-governed, deriving its existence
and authority from the consent of its membership
assembled in meeting or, in certain instances, by
mail vote on stated propositions.
2)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Governing Body of the
Chapter, to be known as the Board of Directors,
consists of the following: The Executive Board,
Directors at Large (two immediate Past Presidents),
and twelve Regional Directors (two from each of the
six geographical areas as established by Monaco
International Chapter).
3)
ORGANIZATIONAL YEAR: The fiscal and
membership year of the Chapter shall commence on
January 1st and end on December 31st.
4)
CHAPTER MEETINGS:
a)
TYPES: The term "meeting" shall include coach
rallies and any other gathering suitable to the
function of the Chapter.
b)
BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Chapter must hold at
least 2 business meetings each membership year at
which a quorum is present. Said meetings must be at
least 14 days apart and be duly announced in advance
to the membership.
c)
ANNUAL ELECTION: One of the business meetings
shall be an Annual Meeting at which an election is
held. The voting general membership is to elect
Chapter Officers, including a President, 1st
Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Vice
President of Membership, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a
National Director, and an Alternate National
Director. The voting membership is to elect twelve
(12) Regional Directors.
d)
QUORUM: A quorum for the transaction of
business at any duly called Chapter meeting is 25%
of the Chapter family unit membership or 15 family
unit members, whichever is less.
e)
VOTING: Except as specified elsewhere in
these Bylaws, a simple majority vote of members in
good standing and voting shall be required to
approve or disapprove any matter.
The Chapter has
established that voting will be 1 vote per family
unit.
Balloting by mail may
be undertaken when a proposed matter is voted to be
of such importance or urgency that a total
membership vote is advisable.
f)
PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS: The rules contained in
the current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY
REVISED shall govern this Chapter's proceedings to
which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of
FMCA, and the Bylaws of this Chapter.
5)
MAINTAINING AFFILIATION: This Chapter must
maintain a minimum of 15 family unit members.
The Chapter Secretary
shall furnish to the National Office of FMCA, no
later than the last week in December, a membership
list, a list of chapter officers, and assurance that
2 business meetings were held.
6)
ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit of the
Chapter’s financial books and records shall be
undertaken and reported to the membership.
7)
APPLICATION OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND
BYLAWS: This Chapter accepts and agrees that the
Chapter Bylaws shall conform to any mandatory
requirements stipulated in the Constitution and
Bylaws of FMCA.
ARTICLE VII
- ELECTIONS
1)
NOMINATING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
a)
The Nominating Committee shall consist of not
less than 3 Chapter members in good standing,
nominated and elected yearly by the Chapter
membership.
b)
Election of an individual to the Nominating
Committee shall not prohibit that person from being
nominated for elected office.
2)
NOMINATING COMMITTEE DUTIES:
a)
To select one of its members as Nominating
Committee Chairperson.
b)
To nominate candidates for the Chapter
Offices of President, 1st Vice President, 2nd
Vice President, Vice President of Membership,
Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and
Alternate National Director. To nominate candidates
for the twelve (12) Monaco International Regional
Directors.
c)
To obtain clear acceptance of the nominees to
serve the Chapter should they be elected.
d)
To make certain that nominated candidates are
members in good standing and qualified under
applicable National and Chapter bylaws.
e)
To nominate candidates to fill vacancies that
occur in elected Chapter offices.
f)
The Nominating Committee Chairperson or
designee shall serve as the presiding officer in
conducting the election.
3)
SPECIAL ELECTIONS: In the event of a
permanent vacancy in the office of President, the 1st
Vice President shall serve as Acting President until
such time as an election by ballot of the Board of
Directors can occur to fill the unexpired term. In
the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of 1st
Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Vice
President of Membership, Secretary, or Treasurer;
the President, subject to the advice and consent of
the Executive Board, shall fill the vacancy from a
slate of nominees presented by the Nominating
Committee. Such appointments shall remain in effect
until the next regular election of officers. In the
event of a permanent vacancy in the office of
National Director or Alternate National Director,
FMCA Bylaws and Policies and Procedures shall apply
4)
TERM LIMITS: The President, 1st
Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Vice
President of Membership, Secretary, Treasurer, and
twelve (12) Regional Directors shall be elected for
a term of one (1) year and shall serve no more than
three (3) one year terms in each office.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1)
MANDATORY AMENDMENTS: National Bylaw
Amendments applicable to Chapter operations shall be
automatically adopted by the Chapter and are not
subject to a vote by the Chapter membership.
2)
AMENDING PROCEDURE: These Bylaws may be
amended by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the members
present and voting at a duly-called general meeting,
providing that prior notice of at least 30 days has
been given of the proposition(s) to amend.
a)
Any member of the Chapter may propose
amendments to the Bylaws.
b)
Approved amendments to these Bylaws become
effective immediately upon their adoption, or at
such time as specified in the amendment.
3)
DISTRIBUTION: Copies of changes, additions,
amendments, or revisions to these
4)
Bylaws shall be forwarded to the National
Office and to the International Area Vice President.
ARTICLE IX - LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
In the event of
dissolution of this Chapter of FMCA, by majority
vote of the chapter, all of the remaining assets of
the Chapter shall be contributed to the purpose(s)
for which the Chapter is organized, or to a
qualified non-profit charity or charities.
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