Article
I Name
The
name of the Club shall
be the “German-American Men’s Club of Middle Franconia”.
Article
II Location
The
location of the Club shall be in Fürth, Germany.
Article
III Purposes
The
purposes of the Club shall be:
1.
To bring together Germans, Americans and english speaking people
of other nations for educational, recreational, and social activities
sponsored by the Club.
2.
To encourage and support community undertakings, excluding
political activities.
3.
To foster appreciation of the traditions, customs, historical
background, cultural and other aspects of the American and European way
of life, with a view towards achieving mutual understanding and
confidence, and a sincere desire for friendship.
Article IV Membership
1.
The Club’s membership shall be comprised of active, honorary
and corresponding members. No discrimination shall be made for reasons
of race, class, creed or political affiliation as long as it has a
democratic base. However, persons engaged in activities considered
detrimental to the purposes of the Club shall be excluded from
membership.
2.
Membership may be acquired only by submitting a written
application to the Board of Governors carrying the signature of one
active member as sponsor. Acceptance shall require a two thirds vote of
the members of the Board of Governors.
3.
Honorary members shall be nominated by the Board of Governors and
confirmed by a majority vote of members present at any regular meeting.
4.
Members who have moved from the Middle Franconian area may
continue as corresponding members upon request and after approval of
the Board of Governors.
5.
Honorary and corresponding members shall not pay dues.
6.
Membership may be terminated voluntarily, or under such
administrative procedures as the Board of Governors may determine.
a)
Resignations must be transmitted in writing to the Secretary.
b)
Reasons for the expulsion of a member may be non-payment of dues,
or activities detrimental to the purposes of the Club.
c)
If any member desires to recommend expulsion of a member for
activities considered detrimental to the purposes or the best interests
and repute of the Club, the reasons shall be stated in writing to the
Board of Governors, which shall review the allegations and give the
member involved an opportunity to be heard. A member may appeal this
decision at the next scheduled Board meeting.
Article V Meetings
1.
The Club shall normally conduct
at least six
meetings per year
for its members.
2.
A general membership meeting for the conducting of elections and/or
other Club business shall be held annually. The Board of Governors shall
convene general membership meetings by sending written announcements to
the members at least one month prior to the meeting. Announcements shall
include the agenda for the meeting.
3.
Special general membership meetings may be convened if and when
deemed necessary by the Board of Governors, or when one fourth of the
membership submits a written request to the Board of Governors, giving
the reason for their request.
Article VI Board of
Governors
1.
The Board of Governors shall conduct the business and control the
activities of the Club.
2.
The Board of Governors shall consist of a President, a Vice
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and
max.
5 additional members, each
having 1 vote.
3.
The officers and other members of the Board of Governors shall be
elected for a term of two years.
4.
Honorary and corresponding members shall not be eligible for
office or to serve as members of the Board of Governors.
5.
Vacancies on the Board of Governors
shall be filled by direct
appointment by the Board of Governors. Applications from the General
Membership to fill a vacancy on the Board must be mailed to the
Secretary within 1 month of the date of publication of the vacancy to
the membership. Persons so appointed shall serve until the next general
membership meeting where open elections must be held.
Article VII Committees
and Audits
1.
The
President may appoint special committees as he may deem desirable.
2.
An
Auditor shall be appointed prior to the general membership meeting, to
audit and verify the Club’s financial records. The auditor’s report
shall be submitted at the annual general membership meeting.
Article VIII Parliamentary
Authority
All meetings of the
Club, the Board of Governors, and other committees shall be conducted
in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the German Civil Code
(BGB) on “Vereine”, Sections 21-79.
Article IX Amendments
1.
This
constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of
the membership present at a general membership meeting. Notice in
writing that a vote shall be taken on a proposed amendment (or
amendments) must be furnished to each member at least one month
in advance.
2.
The
by-laws may be amended by the Board of Governors, subject to
confirmation by a majority vote of the members at the next general
membership meeting.
3.
In the
event of dissolution of the Club, its assets shall be turned over to a
community welfare organization to be selected, on the recommendation of
the Board of Governors, by a majority vote of the membership present at
a final meeting.
By-laws of
the
German-American
Men’s Club of Middle Franconia
Section I General
Club Meetings
Meetings
of the German-American Men’s Club of Middle Franconia shall be held at
such places as the Board of Governors may elect.
Club Activities
The
Club shall
1.
Normally
sponsor at least
six meetings per year
for the purpose of assembling the membership to participate in a program
that shall provide interest and enjoyment for all.
2.
Conduct
one general membership meeting a year. Normally, this meeting shall be
held in the first quarter of the calendar year.
3.
Sponsor
appropriate social gatherings. Participate in or sponsor such community,
sports or other activities as the membership may determine.
Source of Income
The
revenue of the Club shall be derived from initiation fees, monthly dues,
grants, and other such income-producing activities as may be approved by
the Board of Governors.
Initiation Fees and Dues
An
initiation fee of EUR 20.- shall be paid by all members.
The
annual dues are payable in full by 28 February each year. The Treasurer
shall notify the Secretary, in March, of the names of the delinquent
Members who shall not be invited to the next activity.
Disbursements
The
funds of the Club may be expended for entertainment, speakers, social
functions, equipment or services which benefit the membership as a whole,
or for activities on behalf of German-American friendship and
understanding.
Disbursements
made for the benefit of an individual member or for the benefit of a
small group of members, must have the approval of the Board of Governors.
Section II
The Board Of Governors
Functions
1.
To
direct and supervise the business of the Club.
2.
To
plan, arrange, and conduct programs for all activities of the Club.
3.
To
determine the date, place and time of all activities of the Club.
4.
To review and approve monthly financial statements by the
Treasurer, subject to future audit.
5.
To
receive and act on applications for membership and recommendations for
expulsion of members.
6.
To
amend the by-laws of the Club when deemed necessary.
Meetings and Quorum
1.
The
Board of Governors shall meet at the minimum of once every 3 months.
2.
A
quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of five members of
the Board of Governors. Duly elected officers of the Club shall be
installed at the first meeting of the Board of Governors following their
election.
Nominations to the Board of Governors
1.
To be
nominated to the Board, a candidate must be a regular member in good
standing.
2.
The
Board must announce elections in October of the year preceding the
actual elections, and request nominations for openings to the Board.
3.
The
election ballot shall clearly state which members have petitioned the
Board, and which members have been appointed or recommended by the
Board.
4.
If
there are no applications from the General Membership to fill vacancies,
then the Board shall ask the Membership for a vote of confidence at the
General Membership meeting to approve its recommendations.
5.
If
ballots are required, they shall be available at the General Membership
meeting where voting shall take place, the votes shall be counted and
the results announced during the meeting. Candidates must not be present
to be elected..
The Members of the Board of Governors
1.
The
President
shall preside at all regular meetings; in case of a tie vote, his vote
shall be decisive.
2.
The
Vice President shall
preside at regular meetings, when the President is prevented from
performing his assigned duty.
3.
The
Treasurer
shall be responsible to the membership, through the Board of Governors,
for the receipt, disbursement and accounting for all Club funds.
a)
All
funds, except as listed in paragraph (b) below, should be deposited on
the day of receipt in a bank account established by and for the Club.
b)
A cash
fund may be retained on hand by the Treasurer. The establishment,
maintenance and amount of this fund shall be determined by the Board of
Governors and shall be specified in writing. One copy of the cash fund
authorization shall be retained by the Treasurer; the other copy shall
be retained in the permanent files of the Club Secretary. The amount of
the cash fund shall not exceed the amount of money normally required to
transact one month’s business.
c)
All
transactions involving the expenditure of club funds shall be signed by
the Treasurer on delegated authority. All transactions shall be
documented, the transferring documents attached thereto, and all
vouchers shall become part of the Treasurer ’s permanent records.
d)
The
Treasurer shall be responsible for submitting to the Board of Governors
a monthly report on receipt, disbursements, and balances.
e)
Approval
by the Board of Governors shall not be required for routine minor
expenditures of Club funds for such items as stationary, stamps, and
dinners (regular dinner meetings). All other expenditures not considered
to be normal shall require prior approval of the Board of Governors.
f)
The
Treasurer shall submit all
records and funds for audit as the Board of Governors my direct.
g)
Notices
of delinquent dues shall be prepared and transmitted by the Treasurer .
4. The Secretary shall
perform all official Club correspondence except that which pertains to
dues, and in addition he:
a)
shall
maintain a current membership list
b) shall notify the members of
all meetings and gatherings, and shall inform the General membership of
any vacancies occurring within the Board, as they occur, with the
announcement of ne next club activity, or within six weeks of the
vacancy.
Members
may invite guests to Club activities except for business meetings,
upon giving notice to the Secretary at least 48 hours in advance of the
meetings. Guests shall be in accordance with accepted good taste.
Members shall be held liable for the conduct and actions of their guests.
The Club shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the entertainment
of guests. Members inviting guests shall be responsible for the payment
of such expenses.
I.
Accepted
at the Founders Meeting on Monday, 19. January 1970 at Nürnberg.
II.
Amended
at the General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, 20. February 1973 at Nürnberg.
III.
Amended
at the General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, 31. January 1989 at Nürnberg.
IV.
Approved
by the Board and presented for ratification at the General Membership
Meeting 15 October 1996.
The Consitutional Committee
(1996)
Herr Janos Aranyi
Mr. Paul Curzi
Mr. Roger Dennison
Herr
Teoman Eris
Herr
Ralph Hilpert
Mr. Abby Simon
V.
Amended at the General Membership
Meeting on Monday, 25. January 2010
at Fürth
