NMRA MCR Division 2 Constitution and By-Laws
AMENDED, January 2011
CONSTITUTION
Article I – Name and Purpose
Sec 1: This organization shall be known as the Keystone Division 2 MCR NMRA, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "the Division" or "Division 2") and is established under the provisions of the National Model Railroad Association (Inc.) Constitution and By-Laws with boundaries determined in accordance with its provisions.
Sec 2: The boundaries of the Division shall
be as established in the bylaws of the Mid Central Region of the National Model
Railroad Association Inc., and changed as required by the Region Board of
Directors upon agreement of the Divisions involved.
Sec 3: The purposes of the Division are:
Implementation and furtherance in the Division of the National Model Railroad
Association objectives set forth in the NMRA National Constitution, Article I,
Section 2 as amended by mail ballot, June 1976.
Article II – Membership
Sec 1: Any NMRA member residing in the
Division shall be eligible for regular membership. All members may vote on
Division matters. Any member may attend regular and special membership
meetings, may be appointed to committees, and hold elected office in the
Division.
Sec 2: Other classes of membership without
voting rights may be established by the By-Laws.
Sec 3: There shall be no dues requirement for
membership in the Division.
Article III – Management
Sec 1: The elected officers of the Division
shall be the Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent and the Chief Clerk.
Sec 2: These elected officers shall be
elected in the even-numbered years, their term of office shall be two years
beginning at the start of the May meeting of the even numbered years. The term
of office of Region Officers and the Division officers shall not end in the
same calendar year. All officers shall serve without compensation. The duties
shall be the usual ones of the various offices and such others as may be
prescribed by the By-Laws. No members shall serve more than two consecutive
terms or parts thereof in one elected office, nor shall any member hold more
than one elective position at one time.
Sec 3: The appointed officer of the Division
shall be the Treasurer.
Sec 4: To accomplish the stated purposes, the
Superintendent shall appoint the Chairmen for the committees required by the
Constitution and By-Laws, or otherwise, promptly after election results are
known.
Sec 5: There are no restrictions on the term
of appointed officers or committee Chairman.
Article IV – Advisory Committee
sec 1: The Advisory Committee shall be an
appointed body composed of committee chairmen, former officers, and other
qualified members who are willing to assist and advise the officers in
performing their duties. Any member may suggest possible appointees to the
President. The Advisory Committee shall recommend action or business to be
presented to the members.
Article V – Meetings
Sec 1: There shall be a minimum of ten
meetings per year, held on the third Sunday of each month. December and the
month of the NMRA National Convention are not mandatory.
Sec 2: The date of a meeting may be altered
if agreed to by the majority of the members present at the meeting where the
change is proposed and published in the Keystone Flyer preceding the changed
meeting.
Sec 3: A special business meeting for a
specific purpose, and with business limited to the stated purpose, may be
called by the Superintendent with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee, or
by a petition to the Chief Clerk signed by ten (10) members.
Sec 4: All regular and special membership
meetings shall be open to all members. Non members and non MCR members may
attend regular and special membership meetings and participate in activities at
these meetings that are not closed to them by the Constitution or By-Laws. Non
NMRA and non MCR members may attend the Advisory Board meetings by permission
from an Advisory Board member only.
Sec 5: The quorum at any regular or special
membership shall be the number of members present.
Article VI – Elections
Sec 1: The Division Nominating Committee for
Division officers shall be composed of a Chairman and at least two (2) other
members appointed by The Superintendent, from different parts of the Division.
No current Division officer shall serve on the Committee, nor sit with it
during its deliberations.
Sec 2: Nominations for Division offices may
be made by a petition to the Division Nominating Committee by five (5) members.
Sec 3: The committee shall nominate at least
one candidate for each office. The Committee shall report the nominations at
the January meeting proceeding the election, and receive nominations from the
floor.
Sec 4: No member shall be nominated for
elective office without his approval.
Sec 5: Election for Division elective offices
or issues shall be conducted by mail ballots. On all ballots, space will be
provided for write-in votes for each ofice.
Sec 6: The Region President shall appoint a
Superintendent to fill a vacancy for any cause including failure to make a
nomination. The Division may conduct an interim election later at a Division
meeting for a Superintendent of its own choice to complete the unexpired term.
Sec 7: The Advisory Committee shall elect a
successor to complete the unexpired term of any vacant Division office except
that of the Superintendent.
Sec 8: An elected officer can be removed from
office by completion of term or resignation, or by writing petition signed by
thirty (30) members provided that a) the call for removal from office is
submitted at a regular or special meeting, b) published in the KEYSTONE FLYER
with an announcement regarding where and when the vote to remove will take
place, and c) approved by a two-thirds majority vote of members at that regular
or special meeting.
Sec 9: The following classes of NMRA members
shall be eligible to vote in Division elections:
A.Regular members
B.Sustaining members
C1.Life members
C2.Retired Life members
D. Honorary Life members.
Article VII – Publications
Sec 1: The Region shall have an official
bulletin called the KEYSTONE FLYER for news and notices of interest t the
members.
Article VIII – Procedures
Sec 1: Parliamentary procedures not included
in the Constitution and By-Laws shall be governed by Robert's 'Rules of Order'
as amended.
Sec 2: A proposal to amend the Constitution
may be initiated by petition to the Chief Clerk not less than thirty (30) days
before a regular meeting signed by thirty (30) members. After publication of
the proposal, a membership meeting motion requiring a two-thirds majority vote
for approval may be made instructing the Chief Clerk to prepare a mail ballot
for resolution of the issue. The mail ballot shall be sent to all Division
members in good standing. The Advisory Committee may authorize early balloting
if the issue is urgent. A two-thirds majority of the mail ballots received is
required for approval.
Sec 3: The By-Laws may be amended by a
two-thirds majority of the members present at a regular meeting or a special
meeting called for the purpose.
Sec 4: In the event of the dissolution of the
Division by amendment of the Constitution or by action of the membership, the
entire assets of the Division shall be transferred to the Mid Central Region
Board of Directors.
Sec 5: No officer or member can incur
indebtedness on behalf of the Division, with the exception of the death of a
Division member, at which time the Superintendent is authorized to order
flowers or other appropriate remembrance.
Sec 6: None of the funds of the organization
shall be used to the advantage or benefit of any member, except for reasonable
compensation for services rendered as determined by the Constitution or
By-Laws.
END OF CONSTITUION