Chai Riders By Laws

The Chai Riders Motorcycle Club is organized to provide a conducive environment for safe motorcycling by members of the Jewish faith, as well as those who identify with the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The activities of the club will include the promotion, encouragement, and growth of Jewish traditions and knowledge within the context of motorcycling and social activities.

Active members must support the club's statement of purpose, hold a valid motorcycle license endorsement and have paid their dues in full. Active members must show evidence of successfully completing the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Experienced Rider Course (ERC) within one year of their membership, and subsequently every three years, to remain in good standing. Other similar or related motorcycle courses may be allowed in place of the ERC class but they would need to be reviewed and accepted by the Executive Board. New members must be recommended by two active members of the club.

The officers of the club shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The executive board shall be composed of these officers as well as committee chairs.

The duty of the president shall be:

• To preside at all club meetings.
• To have general supervision of club affairs.
• To personally represent the club on appropriate occasions and in business contacts.
• To assist other club officers in their records, correspondence and other duties.
• To promote interest on the part of each member in club activities.
• To vote only when necessary to break a tie.

The president shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.

The duties of the Vice President shall be to perform the duties of the president in his/her absence.

The duties of the secretary shall be:

• To keep a record of the meeting of the club.
• To send out notices of club events and regular or special meetings.
• To handle all club correspondence.
• To perform such other duties as generally fall to that office.

The duties of the treasurer shall be:

• To collect dues from all members.
• To collect all other money due to the club.
• To approve all club expenditures.
• To maintain club financial records and deliver detailed financial reports to the membership within 30 days after the end of every fiscal year.

Club committees shall be created by the executive board or by a majority of the active membership.

The executive board will meet regularly to conduct club affairs. The duties of the executive board shall be:

• To have general control over all club affairs.
• To act for the club in all matters ordered by the club.
• To properly investigate and present to the club all business or important activity situations.
• To make appointments to officer positions that have been vacated.
• To make appointments and vote on Committee Chairs.
• To make final decisions on the status of individual memberships.

There shall be at least one general meeting held each year at which, on alternate years, the election of officers shall be held. Other meetings shall be held at the discretion of the executive board. Any gathering, social or ride, will be considered an official meeting to transact club business if a quorum is present. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the active membership will constitute of quorum.

Every two years the executive board will appoint a nominating committee by June 15th. The nominating committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each position. The committee must add to the ballot any member who is nominated by a petition signed by at least four active members. These petitions from the membership for elective positions shall be forwarded to the nominating committee by August 10th. The committee shall submit its ballot to the executive board by August 15th. The nominating committee's ballot will be presented to the membership prior to the election of officers, which will be held on a date after Rosh Hashanah and before Chanukah, to be chosen by the Executive Board. Nominations from the floor will be entertained in addition to the ballot submitted by the nominating committee. Only active members shall be eligible to vote and hold office. A majority vote by all active members, present at the meeting, and through the proxy votes, will elect the officers. Proxy votes will be accepted up until 24 hours before the official vote, through one of the following, either mail, or by email, to an email address designated by the executive board for the purpose of the specific vote, received from the member's email address currently on record with the club. All officers shall hold office for two years or until their successors are elected or qualified. Officers will be installed at the annual Chanukah party or no later than January 1st. The term of office shall begin upon the new officer's installation.

The dues amount will be determined by the Executive Board. Dues will be paid each year by October 15th to remain a Chai Rider in good standing as an active member. New member applicants must pay their dues after their acceptance into the club to be considered in good standing.

Roberts Rules of Order will be the general guide for conducting club meetings.

The treasurer and any elected officer will be authorized to sign all checks.

The executive board must approve all donations made to the club, or made in the name of the club.

Any member, who no longer actively rides a motorcycle and wishes to remain an active member of the club, may apply to the executive board for emeritus status. Only the executive board is empowered to grant this status after due deliberation. Emeritus status will allow the former rider to maintain a role in the club without having to complete the three year Motorcycle Safety Foundation Experienced Rider Course. Emeritus members will continue to pay their dues and will have all the rights of an active member.

The constitution may be amended, providing the proposed amendment is submitted in writing at an official meeting. Two-thirds (2/3) of active members attending that meeting must approve of the amendment. The amendment shall then be advertised either through mail, personal email on record with the club, or by being available through the way the club communicates, which at present means through the Chai Rider Yahoo Message Board which is available to the total membership. There must be at least a two week period between the proposed amendment being presented and it being voted on. A vote will be done and accepted through one of the following; mail, or by email, to an email address designated by the executive board for the purpose of the specific vote, received from the member's email address currently on record with the club, or by a poll done electronically through the way the Chai Riders communicate, which at present is the Yahoo Message Board. Which of the above ways the Proposed Amendment is presented and voted on, the Executive Board shall determine. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of all active members shall be required to pass an amendment.

The executive board will have the authority to grant charters for the establishment of additional chapters of the club. All new chapters will be required to adopt these bylaws. The executive board of the original chapter will also have the authority to suspend for due cause the charter of any subsequent chapter. Any chapter suspended by the executive board will be prohibited from using the name of the club.

Each current member is allowed to have one spouse or domestic partner as a “Family Member” if the said member requests it in writing. This Family Membership will mean being part of the Chai Ride Motorcycle Club through connection of the said paid up, current member and can be active and participate in all Chai Rider events. Family Membership will include being able to wear Chai Rider official clothes, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, or anything else seen as official to the club, such as patches and to being included in the way the Chai Riders communicate, which at present time means being allowed on the Chai Rider message board. There is no fee for a Family Member. Family Member's do NOT have voting rights. Children under the age of eighteen also living in the current members household can participate in club events when appropriate and can wear official Chai Rider clothes and patches as listed above. Said children, can be considered part of the Chai Rider Family.

These bylaws will go into effect when they are ratified by ten charter members. The interim executive board, which has functioned as the bylaws committee, shall serve no later than Rosh Hashanah 5760 (1999). The By-Laws have been updated as of 5773 (April 2013)