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The Midnight Homebrewers' League
BY-LAWS
Article I NAME
The name of this organization is and shall continue to be (until we get sick of it):
Midnight Homebrewers' League
Article II PURPOSE
The purposes of this organization are:
- to promote and expand the hobby of homebrewing;
- to promote and provide education about the art and science of homebrewing;
- to provide a forum for beer and brewing discussions among members;
- to help members make better beers;
- to promote the responsible use and consumption of beer as an alcoholic beverage;
- to have fun.
Article III LOCATION
The Midnight Homebrewers' League has no permanent residence. We have no money to speak of, and the members who volunteer to be officers and do the newsletter will not be the same forever. Members will meet periodically at such times and places as shall be volunteered by various members to host tastings and/or meetings. It could also happen that we have meetings and/or tastings at other locations, such as a brewpub, microbrewery, restaurant or Laundromat.
Article IV DURATION
The duration of The Midnight Homebrewers' League shall be perpetual, unless there comes a time when there are no more dues-paying members. Upon dissolution of the Midnight Homebrewers’ League, all remaining monies will be donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.)
Article V OFFICERS
There shall be a minimum of two officers and no more than four. The offices shall be:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
A. PRESIDENT
- Shall represent the club to the public, establish and maintain a positive public image and reputation for the club, and be authorized to speak on behalf of the club;
- Shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the executive board;
- Shall see to the general management of the business affairs of the organization and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the executive board are enacted;
- Shall, with the approval of the executive board, appoint Committees and Committee Leaders;
- May delegate as many of the above-prescribed duties to other willing members as he/she can get away with, so long as the reputation and public image of the club is preserved thereby.
B. VICE PRESIDENT
- Shall, in the absence of the President at meetings, preside at all meetings of the organization and perform all necessary duties of the office of President;
- Shall, in the event the office of President is vacant, become acting President until a new President is selected;
- Shall have any other duties as may be prescribed by the executive board.
C. SECRETARY
- Shall record and report the minutes of each general membership meeting and of the executive board;
- Shall conduct general organizational correspondence;
- Shall maintain a current membership and mailing roster, unless this duty is by agreement assumed by another officer or Committee;
- Shall have any other duties as may be prescribed by the executive board.
D. TREASURER
- Keep the club's cash safe and sound;
- Collect the organization's dues and any special fees;
- Shall coordinate and conduct fund-raising events, such as 50/50 raffles, etc.
- Shall disburse funds for all debts incurred by the organization;
- Shall keep accurate and complete records of all transactions suitable for audit by the executive board;
- Upon request of any Executive Board member, the treasurer's report will be given at each general membership meeting (but not tastings) and executive board meeting;
- Shall have any other duties as may be prescribed by the executive board.
Article VI ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers shall be elected to staggered two-year terms, with the positions of President and Treasurer being elected one year, and Vice President and Secretary the year after, etc. Elections shall take place during the fourth calendar quarter, at such time as shall be established by the Executive Board. Elections may be conducted by meeting, mail-in vote, email, or any other reasonable means agreed upon by the Executive Board.
A. QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE
Any member in good standing who is able to brew potable beer and who has attended a minimum of three (3) club meetings or events in the preceding twelve months, other than casual monthly "happy hours" is eligible for nomination to office. In addition to any official duties, officers are generally expected to set good examples by making an effort to attend club functions.
B. NOMINATION PROCESS
The Executive Board shall fix a means and date(s) during the fourth calendar quarter to hold the election of officers, which information shall be publicized to the membership, in enough time to give members adequate notice to participate.
Any member may, either in writing addressed to any current officer, or in person at any membership meeting or tasting, state his/her desire and willingness to serve as an officer, or nominate another qualified member for election to a particular office. The Executive Board shall confirm with each nominee his/her willingness to serve, prior to being listed as a candidate.
All candidates shall be announced to the membership on election day at the latest, earlier if practical.
C. CONDUCTING THE ELECTION
Qualifications for Voting: Any member in good standing is eligible to vote in a club election.
Voting shall take place either in person, at a date and location previously announced for the purpose of electing officers, or via mail-in and/or email ballots , so long as they are received no later than the announced final date for voting.
A simple majority of those members voting will determine the election of the candidate for each office.
D. RUN-OFF ELECTIONS
In the event more than two candidates run for the same office, a second vote between the two top vote-getting candidates shall take place. In the further event the second vote results in another tie, the election shall be settled, at the mutual choice of the candidates, by coin toss, arm-wrestling, or duel. If the candidates cannot agree upon a tie-breaking method, the coin toss shall prevail.
E. VACANCIES
A vacancy in any office for any reason (including but not limited to those enumerated below under REMOVAL OF OFFICERS) shall be filled for the remaining term by appointment of a volunteer who is otherwise qualified to hold office as defined above, by the remaining officers. If no volunteer can be found, one of the remaining officers is expected to step up and fill the vacancy.
F. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS
Any officer may be removed by the membership whenever in the judgment of two-thirds of the members qualified to vote, the best interests of the organization will be served thereby. Prior to any removal, the officer sought to be removed must be given reasonable prior notice of the impending action and a reasonable opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf before the board and at a meeting of the members.
Article VII EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall consist of the four organizational officers as set forth above, plus the Leaders of the Standing Committees. The President shall act as chairman of the Executive Board, meaning who-knows-what. The majority of the Executive Board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at the executive board meetings.
A. Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Board
- General supervision of the affairs of the organization.
- Determine policies with the advice of the general membership.
- Act upon committee reports and make recommendations to the membership.
- Fix the hour and place of the executive board meetings.
Article VIII MEMBERSHIP
A. Qualifications of Membership
- Membership shall, subject to the provisions of these by-laws or amendments thereto, be open to any person 21 years of age or older who either brews beer, has brewed beer, or promises to brew beer.
- Any person, by accepting membership in the organization, does thereby agree to abide by all provisions of the by-laws, rules and procedures of the organization.
- Dues are payable upon application for membership in the organization, the first year's dues being pro-rated to the quarter in which the member joins. Dues are renewed in January each year. Any member who does not renew by paying the annual membership dues by February 1 shall be removed from the current membership roster.
- Former members may be reinstated as current members by full payment of any outstanding dues along with advance payment of the coming year's dues.
- Members shall pay the prescribed annual dues, as determined by the Executive Committee, or else face revocation of membership benefits and, if it can be arranged, the Chinese Water Torture.
- All members shall be entitled to one vote on any issue put to the vote of the membership by the Executive Board, except for the election or removal of officers, or proposing/voting for amendments to these bylaws which require qualification described in Section VI. C. 1.
- Members shall not be allowed to vote in absentia or by proxy. In order to vote, you gotta be there in person, at the time the voting takes place.
B. CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP
There shall be three categories of membership:
- Individual Membership
- Shall be ones who have complied with all requirements for membership in this organization;
- Are entitled to full membership benefits.
- Couples Membership
- Same as above, except dues are discounted and couples receive only one copy of the newsletter instead of two;
- Everyone Else
- Shall be anyone in the world who has not seen fit to send in the measly pittance we charge for dues to become a member.
- Members who fail to pay their dues upon renewal, or who get kicked out of the club, shall revert to Everyone Else status.
C. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS
Any member may be removed (i.e. kicked out) by the membership whenever in the judgment of a majority of the members the best interest of the organization will be served by the removal. This procedure will be initiated by a petition signed by a majority of the members, or by majority agreement of the Executive Board. Prior to any removal, the member sought to be removed must be given reasonable prior notice of the impending action and a reasonable opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf at a tasting or meeting of the members.
Article IX FINANCES
A. GENERAL FUND:
The General Fund shall consist of all organization funds which are not DESIGNATED FUNDS, including Membership Dues, contributions, fund-raisers and Assessments.
The General Fund is to be used for all ordinary and customary purposes of the club, including, but not limited to:
- expenses of writing, publishing and distributing the club newsletter;
- necessary office supplies (e.g. paper, printer ink, envelopes, mailing labels, membership cards, computer diskettes, etc.);
- costs associated with other club activities such as meetings, speaker fees, club trips (i.e. brewery visits and pub crawls, etc.) as determined by the Executive Committee.
B. ASSESSMENTS:
Assessments may be made only as determined by the Executive Board. Assessments, which shall be mandatory for all club members to pay in equal amount, shall only be made in extraordinary circumstances for necessary operating expenses when it is determined by the Executive Board that the General Fund is insufficient for the continued financial well-being of the club.
C. DESIGNATED FUNDS
Designated funds are comprised of voluntary donations made to any specially-created fund which is designated by the Executive Committee to be applied for a particular purpose and not paid for out of the General Fund. Their use is most appropriate in circumstances where a particular expenditure is not considered a normal operating expense of the club and, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, would render the General Fund too depleted for the normal operating expenses of the club. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, such things as bus/van rental for field trips, and equipment purchased for the shared use of all club members.
D. TASTING FEES
Tasting Fees are assessed in equal share to all members attending a tasting, to offset the specific costs of the tasting including food and supplies, and other incidental costs incurred by the host. Any Tasting Fees which are collected in excess of the actual cost of the tasting shall revert to the General Fund.
Article X COMMITTEES
Committees shall be appointed from among volunteers. Committees shall consist of at least one (1) member. Each Committee shall have a Committee Chairman, to be chosen by the Committee members. It is the responsibility of each Committee Chairman to report on Committee activities to the Executive Board as the Board may request, and to the general membership at any meetings or tastings as appropriate. The dates, times and places of committee meetings shall be announced whenever relevant and practical, to enable other interested members to attend and participate.
A. Standing Committees
The Standing Committees and their respective duties are as follows:
- The Membership Committee
- promote and increase membership in the Midnight Homebrewers League;
- recommend any changes to the criteria for membership as may be appropriate;
- report relevant activities to the Newsletter Committee for publication.
- The Activities Committee
- organize and schedule club tastings and meetings;
- organize and schedule special club activities such as outside speakers, road trips, and participation in events such as local/regional festivals, etc. to promote the club;
- report relevant activities to the Newsletter Committee for publication.
- The Newsletter Committee
- produce a regular club newsletter on at least a quarterly basis and see to its distribution;
- write, edit and/or compile articles of interest to the membership;
- solicit participation in, and literary contributions to, the newsletter from the Officers and members;
- report periodically on club finances in coordination with the Treasurer;
- report regularly on club activities in coordination with any other Committee Chairmen.
- The Newsletter Committee shall have editorial freedom to use its best efforts to publish a quality newsletter for the benefit of club members.
B. Other Committees
In addition to the Standing Committees, the Executive Board may, without Amendment to these Bylaws, create additional Committees determined by the Executive Board to be in the best interests of the club.
Article XI Member Meetings
General business meetings of the club shall be held at least semi-annually. The scheduling and location for such meetings shall be coordinated by the Activities Committee, and announced in advance to the membership either in the newsletter or in a separate mailing.
A. RULES AND PROCEDURES OF MEETING CONDUCT
Common sense and decency, as determined by the Presiding Officer, shall be the only rules of conduct.
Presiding officer has final authority to dispense with these rules to move business forward.
B. Order of Business:
- Introductions of officers &/or guests
- Program/Speaker, if any
- Minutes of the meetings and executive board report (optional)
- Treasurer's report (optional)
- Committee reports (optional)
- Member talk (optional)
- Old business (optional)
- New business (optional)
- Have some beer and snacks
- Adjourn
Article XII AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Any member entitled to vote in an election may propose amendments to these by-laws. The Executive Board will then determine if the member proposing the amendment is serious. Any proposed amendment shall be published in two consecutive issues of the newsletter, and voted upon at the next quarterly general business meeting. Two-thirds of the membership present at the meeting and qualified to vote, must vote for the proposed amendment to the by-laws in order for the amendment to pass.
