Crestline Soaring Society

Crestline Soaring Society By Laws

Revised - January 2004

Article I - Name

The name of the organization is the CRESTLINE SOARING SOCIETY, hereafter referred to as the SOCIETY.

Article II - Purposes of the SOCIETY

Section 1. The SOCIETY shall:

A. Encourage and promote the safe participation in hang gliding and paragliding.

B. Foster, support and conduct regional, national, and international competitions in the sports of hang gliding and paragliding.

C. Support and develop amateur athletes for competition and recreational hang gliding and paragliding.

D. Protect, regulate, maintain, and improve flying sites for pilots’ use.

E. This SOCIETY is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

F. No substantial part of the activities of the SOCIETY shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the SOCIETY shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

Article III - Membership

Section 1. Membership Types:

A. General Membership - General Members pay the standard dues and enjoy all membership benefits and voting privileges. Members who have failed to pay their dues by July 1 shall be removed from the mailing list and placed on the inactive members list until dues are paid.

B. Associate Members - Associate Members are granted flying privileges. No dues are required. Family members of the same household of a General Member may be Associate Members. Voting privileges are not automatically granted with the Associate Membership but if combined with the Administrative or Honorary Membership, the vote as described in these memberships is allowed.

C. Administrative Members - Administrative Members may hold an office of the Society’s Board and vote at General Membership meetings and at any function where General Members are voting. They receive full membership benefits with the exception of flying privileges. The Administrative Membership may be held in conjunction with Associate or Visiting Membership in which case flying privileges are granted. Any person who runs for and wins an office of the Society will be automatically granted an Administrative Membership status.

D. Honorary Membership - Honorary Members may vote at General Membership meetings and at any function where General Members are voting. They receive full membership benefits with the exception of flying privileges. Honorary Members are not Board members. The Honorary Membership may be held in conjunction with Associate or Visiting Membership in which case flying privileges are granted.

E. Lifetime Memberships are awarded to members for outstanding service to the sport of hang gliding and paragliding. They have full benefits and privileges as a General Member for the duration of their lifetime. (At present Juanita Jackson is our only Lifetime Member.)

F. Visiting Membership - Visiting Members are granted flying privileges. They must pay a fee as set by the Society’s Board for a term of flight privilege also set by the Board. Typically it is a day use fee for one (1) calendar day. Voting privileges are not automatically granted with the Visiting Membership but if combined with the Administrative or Honorary Membership, the vote as described in these memberships is allowed.

Section 2. Qualifications:

A. Flight privileges are allowed only to persons with current general, associate, lifetime and visiting members, and liability insurance through the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) unless otherwise approved by the Board.

Section 3. Dues:

A. Dues shall remain the same from year to year unless a change is proposed by the Board. Any changes in annual dues for general members and day-use fees for visiting members shall be set at a general meeting by an affirmation vote or one fifth of all general members and proxies present at a meeting designed for that purpose. Dues shall be payable to the treasurer no later than the first day of June of the membership year.

B. All memberships expire at 23:59 on May 31.

C. New general memberships shall be prorated for a partial year as follows:

1. From June 1 through September 30, no reduction of fees.

2. From October 1 through December 31, a 30 percent reduction.

3. From January 1 through April 30, a 50 percent reduction.

4. From May 1 through May 31, a 100 percent reduction if accompanying a renewal for the next membership year.

Article IV - Distribution of Income and Assets

Section 1. General:

A. The Society will distribute its income for each tax year at such time and in such manner as not to become subject to the tax on undistributed income imposed by Section 4942 of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

B. The Society will not engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in Section 4941(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

C. The Society will not maintain excess business holdings as defined in Section 4943(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

D. The Society will not make any investments in such manner as to subject it to tax under Section 4944 of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

E. The Society will not make any taxable expenditures as defined in Section 4945(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

F. No part of the net earnings of the SOCIETY shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the SOCIETY shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of these purposes.

G. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, the SOCIETY shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:

1. by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of future tax code, or;

2. by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of future tax code.

Section 2. Dissolution:

A. Upon the dissolution of the SOCIETY, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of future tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for 501(C)(3) purposes.

Section 3. Use:

A. All funds received by the Society will be used to support the purposes of the Society as described above in Article II.

Article V – Control of Funds

Section 1. Checking Account:

A. The Society shall maintain a bank account at any major financial institution in the State of California and all deposits shall be insured under the FDIC.

B. The Society bank account will be in three officers names, the president, treasurer, and a third officer, as determined by the executive Board. This third person cannot be related to any of the other officers.

C. The withdrawal of any Society funds shall require the signature of two of the three designated officers unless another amount of signatures is voted in by the Board.

D. Any purchases or expenses that would use 20 percent or more of the Society’s account balance shall be voted by the Society’s members.

E. The establishment of any contract between the CSS and any of its officers shall be governed by the IRS recommended conflict of interest policy for tax exempt organizations described in ‘Instructions for Form 1023 - Additional Material, Appendix A: Sample Conflict of Interest Policy’.

Article VI - The Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board:

A. The executive Board shall consist of the elected officers.

B. The executive Board shall handle the regular business of the Society.

Section 2. Board Meetings:

A. Regular meetings of the executive Board shall be held every other month (the day, time, and location to be determined by the Board) and open to the membership.

B. A quorum for conducting the business of the executive Board shall be not less than three (3) voting Board members.

Article VII - Officers

Section 1. Officers:

A. There shall be the following elected officers: President; Vice President: Secretary; Treasurer; Editor and Webmaster; Site Coordinator; Activities Director; and Past President.

Section 2. Replacement:

A. An officer who does not comply with assigned responsibilities may be relieved of office at an executive Board meeting by a majority vote of the executive Board members in attendance. Appointment of a replacement shall be made by the President with the approval of the executive Board.

Section 3. Committees:

A. The heads of committees shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the executive Board.

Article VIII - Elections

Section 1. Nominations

A. Nominations may be made, in writing, in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by proxy to the secretary during the two months preceding the January executive Board meeting or from the floor at the January executive Board meeting.

B. Nominees for office must have been either General, Associate, Administrative or Lifetime members of the Society for at least six months.

Section 3. Election Procedures:

A. An elections committee of three members shall be appointed by the president to conduct the elections according to the procedures set up in the standing rules.

B. Each general member shall have one vote.

C. Votes may be cast by mail, e-mail or in person on or before the day of the election, which will be the day of the February executive Board meeting.

D. Elections will be by secret ballot.

E. All officers will be elected by a majority of votes cast.

Section 4. Term of Office:

A. Officers shall be elected for a term of one year, to serve from the time of installation in February until the succeeding installation of officers in February of the next year.

Section 5. Transition of Officers:

A. There shall be a meeting of both the outgoing and incoming executive Boards immediately following installation.

Article IX - Duties of Officers

Section 1. President - The president shall:

A. Preside at all regular and special meetings.

B. Sign and execute all contracts in the name of the Society when authorized to do so by the executive Board.

C. Appoint committee heads.

D. Cosign checks.

E. Sign membership cards.

F. Call special meetings when necessary.

Section 2. Vice-president - The vice-president shall:

A. Perform the duties of an absent president.

B. Perform such duties as assigned by the president.

C. Cosign all checks in the absence of the president or treasurer.

Section 3. Secretary - The secretary shall:

A. Keep the minutes of all meetings.

B. Be responsible for all meeting notices.

C. Keep historical records for the Society.

D. Perform duties assigned by the executive Board.

Section 4. Treasurer - The treasurer shall:

A. Have charge of all the funds of the SOCIETY.

B. Pay all bills as required to maintain the Society’s activities.

C. Make a biannual financial report to the membership.

D. Cosign checks.

E. Maintain the Society checking/savings account.

F. Maintain the Society’s member’s record.

Section 5. Editor and Webmaster - The editor shall:

A. Edit and publish the newsletter.

B. Maintain the Society’s website.

Section 6. Site Coordinator - The site coordinator shall:

A. Represent the Society in site procurement.

B. Manage launch sites and landing zones under the direction of the executive Board to ensure necessary operation and maintenance.

Section 7. Safety Director - The safety director shall:

A. Maintain all safety equipment owned by the Society.

B. Enforce local site safety rules and regulations.

C. Coordinate actions to be undertaken in case of emergency.

Section 8. Activities Director - The activities director shall:

A. Promote and organize all Society activities and events.

Section 9. Past President - The past president shall:

A. Assist the incoming executive board in conducting all duties of the Society by providing information gained during the past term of office.

Article X - Meetings

Section 1. General Membership Meetings:

A. There shall be a semiannual general membership meeting during the months of April and October. Notice of such meetings shall be given each general member at least 30 days before the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings:

A. Special meetings may be called by the president or the executive Board. Special meetings may also be called by the president or the executive Board upon written notice of 20 general members. Notice of special meetings shall be given to the general members at least thirty (30) days in advance.

Section 3. Quorum:

A. A quorum for conducting business of a regular or special meeting of the membership shall be no less than one fifth of the membership empowered to vote.

Article Xl - Discipline

Section 1. Discipline of Members:

A. Charges of professional dishonesty, working against, or performing actions contrary to, the principles and purpose of the Society, and/or injuring the professional standing of a member may be filed in a written statement signed by five general members in good standing and sent to the executive Board.

B. The accused member shall be notified in writing of the action and shall have the privilege of being present at a special or regular meeting of the executive Board, at which the charges will be considered.

C. The member may be suspended by a two-thirds vote or expelled by a three-fourths vote of the executive Board.

Article XII – Amendments

These articles and any amendments shall constitute the Society's By Laws. The constitution may be amended or revised by an affirmation vote of two thirds of all general members and proxies present at a meeting designed for that purpose. Votes may be cast by mail, e-mail or in person on or before the meeting date. Copies of proposed amendments shall be given to members in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.