BYLAWS
The
name of this organization is Baltimore FrontRunners/Walkers.
The
purpose of this organization shall be to provide encouragement and support to
lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered persons and others
who are interested in running/walking and related activities. To further its purpose, the organization may
hold runs/walks, races, workshops, social events, publish newsletters and
conduct other activities as may be conducive to the encouragement of lesbian/gay/bi-sexual/transgendered persons and friends.
Baltimore
FrontRunners/Walkers shall be affiliated with
International FrontRunners.
A member is any person who has paid his/her annual membership dues and signs a waiver of liability. Annual dues are payable by February 1 each year. A membership list shall be maintained by the Secretary. Activities of the organization shall be open to both members and non-members.
General Coordinator. The General
Coordinator shall
Represent
Preside
over all meetings of the organization and the Executive Committee,
Convene and chair an annual General Meeting each January,
Convene Executive Committee meetings quarterly,
Convene
special General Meetings and Executive Committee meetings as necessary,
Appoint or accept volunteers for committee chairpersons,
Be available for input from all members,
Supervise/coordinate
all activities of Baltimore FrontRunners/Walkers, and
Be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Activities
Coordinator. The Activities Coordinator shall
Assume
all the responsibilities of the General Coordinator if the General Coordinator
is absent or fails to assume those responsibilities,
Assume the role of the General Coordinator if that office is
vacated,
Appoint
or accept volunteers for special activities and responsibilities, including the
Baltimore FrontRunners/Walkers web site,
Chair the Activities Committee, and
Chair the Nominating Committee.
Secretary. The Secretary shall
Maintain
the records of the organization, its meetings and activities, and report such
at the annual General Meeting,
Cause
to be maintained a current list of members and the mailing, e-mail and contact
lists,
Cause
to be published a newsletter of the organization and cause other information to
be distributed to the membership,
Make copies of the bylaws available to all members, and
Notify members of all meetings.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall
Be responsible for all financial matters of the
organization,
Manage
the sale of Baltimore FrontRunners/Walkers
merchandise, and
Report
to the General Coordinator, Executive Committee and annual General Meeting all
financially-related information upon request.
Women’s
Representative. The Women’s Representative shall
Be
available to interpret the activities and purpose of the organization to
prospective members,
Serve on the Activities Committee and the Executive
Committee, and
Serve
as the organization’s point of contact with the media, on the web site and with
other outreach opportunities.
Men’s
Representative. The Men’s Representative shall
Be
available to interpret the activities and purpose of the organization to
prospective members,
Serve on the Activities Committee and the Executive
Committee, and
Serve
as the organization’s point of contact with the media, on the web site and with
other outreach opportunities.
Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall
Consist
of the General Coordinator, Activities Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer,
Women’s Representative and Men’s Representative,
Act for the organization when the General Meeting is not in
session,
Appoint members to serve as officers if a vacancy should
occur,
Appoint two at-large members for the nominating committee,
and
Be chaired by the General Coordinator.
Activities
Committee. The Activities Committee shall
Consist
of the Activities Coordinator, the Women’s and Men’s Representatives and other
volunteers to carry out the function of the group,
Promote
all special events of the organization such as but not limited to Pride
activities, hospitality and related activities at races, pot-lucks and special
runs/walks, and
Be chaired by the Activities Coordinator.
Nominating
Committee. The Nominating Committee shall
Consist
of three persons – the Activities Coordinator and two members at large,
Provide
a slate of officers to be elected at the annual General Meeting, and
Be chaired by the Activities Coordinator.
Other
Committees. Special committees may be established by the
Executive Committee as the need arises.
A committee shall be deemed temporary for a specific task unless
established as a permanent committee at a General Meeting.
The
terms of office for members of the Executive Committee shall be for two
years. An officer may be elected to a
maximum of two full terms in succession.
Terms of office for chairs of other committees shall be determined by
the Executive Committee.
An
annual General Meeting of the organization shall be held each January at a time
and place determined by the Executive Committee and chaired by the General
Coordinator.
The
annual General Meeting shall
Receive
reports on the activities of the past year from all officers,
Elect
the officers of the organization,
Establish
the dues schedule and approve a budget for the year,
Determine
the scheduled runs/walks for the year, and
Conduct
any other business as necessary for the upcoming year.
Special
General Meetings may be convened by the Executive Committee or by petition of
five members of the organization. The
agenda of special meetings shall be limited to the purpose for which the
meeting is called.
Notification
of General Meetings shall be made in the organization’s newsletter or other
written media by the Secretary at least three weeks prior to the meeting. A simple majority of members present shall
prevail except where a two-thirds vote is required. A two-thirds vote is required for the passage
or modification of the bylaws or the recall of any officer. There will be no absentee or proxy voting.
A
quorum for General Meetings shall consist of 25% of the members in good
standing according to the records of the Secretary.
Executive
Committee meetings shall
Conduct
any necessary business of the organization not in conflict with the General
Meetings,
Welcome
input of ideas and proposals from the membership,
Adjust
scheduled runs/walks if conditions arise that necessitate a change,
Convene
special General Meetings of the organization as necessary, and
Promote
any activity that encourages the purpose of the organization.
A simple majority of Executive
Committee officers shall constitute a quorum.
Special
committee meetings shall be held as necessary to carry out their
responsibilities.
All
committee meetings shall be open to all members.
Roberts
Rules of Order shall be used in all cases where applicable and where they are
not inconsistent with the bylaws of the organization.
These
bylaws shall become effective upon two-thirds favorable vote by a quorum of the
membership at a meeting called specifically for that purpose. A quorum for this meeting shall be 25% of the
membership as maintained by the Secretary.
Amendments
to these bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by any ten
members of the organization petitioning the Executive Committee. Upon receiving a petition for an amendment,
the Executive Committee shall convene a General Meeting no earlier than three
weeks nor later than six weeks after receipt of the amendment unless the
petition states that action may wait until the annual General Meeting. An amendment shall require a two-thirds
majority of members present to be enacted.