Laurel Divers Constitution

LAUREL DIVERS CONSTITUTION (8/96)

Article I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the LAUREL DIVERS.

Article II - PURPOSE

The purpose and objective of this club shall be to promote and encourage the interest of skin and SCUBA diving in a safe and controlled manner.

Article III - Membership

Section I: Any individual interested in skin and SCUBA diving and willing to abide by the club constitution and bylaws may apply for membership by submitting an application to the Board of Directors for approval.

This club shall have two (3) types of membership as follows:

A CERTIFIED MEMBERSHIP: This type of membership shall be open only to certified divers.

B HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: An individual may be elected to honorary membership upon recommendation of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of a quorum of the active membership. The members shall pay no dues, may not hold any elective office or appointed office and are not entitled to any voting rights.

C LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP: An individual certified diver may be elected to lifetime membership upon recommendation by the Board and a majority vote of a quorum of the active membership. The member shall pay no dues, but will hold the rights and obligations of a certified member.

Section II: All members must sign a release waiver agreeing not to hold the club, its officers, nor any other affiliated organization responsible for any accidents or other misfortunes which might occur while participating in club activities.
A) All members under 18 years of age must have this release waiver signed by a parent or guardian in the presence of a club member or notarized.

Article IV - Dues

Section I: The fiscal year of the cub shall be from the first day of July of each year to the last day of June of the following year.

Section II: The dues of the club shall be paid annually, payable in one sum as Section I above, amount of the dues to be specified in Rules and Regulations which follow.

Section III: Members in arrears of dues within two months after the beginning of the new fiscal year shall be dropped from the mailing list and the membership.

Section IV: Members dropped from the club roll for non-payment of dues must be reinstated by a vote of a quorum of the Board of Directors, after submitting a new updated membership application.

Article V - MEETINGS

This club shall have two types of meetings as follows:

Section I: REGULAR MEETINGS - Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each month. The time and place for each meeting shall be designated by the Board of Directors at the previous regular meeting. The order of business at all regular meetings shall be:
A. Call to order
B. Roll Call
C. Minutes
D. Report of Officers
E. Report of Committees
F. Unfinished Business
G. New Business
H. Adjournment
I. Program ( if applicable)

Section II: SPECIAL MEETINGS - Special meetings may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or by 25% of the total number of active members providing the time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be mailed to every member at least ten days in advance of the meeting. Only business stated in the mailing card (meeting purpose) may be considered at the special meeting. Special meetings may not be used to amend this Constitution.

Article VI - OFFICERS AND DUTIES

This club shall elect the officers by majority vote of a quorum of the active members at the last regular meeting of each fiscal year, and each officer shall perform the duties herein ascribed to their office. Nominations for club officers shall commence two months prior to the month of election. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President shall automatically assume the Presidency. In the event of a vacancy in any others elected office, the President shall appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the next regular meeting at which time a quorum of the active membership shall elect a regular replacement by a majority vote.

Section I: PRESIDENT - To preside at all meetings, to act as official spokesman for the club, to be empowered to sign all necessary documents in the name of the club when directed by the Board of Directors of the membership, and to coordinate all club activities. The President will serve as chair person of the Board of Directors.

Section II: VICE - PRESIDENT - To act as assistant to the President, to preside in the absence of The President, and when so acting, to have full authority of the President.

Section III: SECRETARY - To record the minutes of all meetings, to be responsible for all the club correspondence, to call and maintain the roll at all meetings, to maintain the club’s membership roster.

Section IV: TREASURER - To disperse the club funds as directed by the Board of Directors, to keep a record of all transactions and to deliver a report of same at all regular meetings, to keep a record of all paid members and word with the Secretary in maintaining the membership roster, to be responsible for all club property.

Section V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following members: The club President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four elected members who shall be elected by the membership, from the membership, and the election shall be held at the first regular meeting of each calendar year. These members will all be given the power of vote.

2. The President of the club will act as the chair person for the Board of Directors.

3. The President may appoint any member to the Board of Directors without power of vote if he deems the individual's expertise would be beneficial to the Board in the conduction of its business.

4. The duties of the Board will include, but not be limited to, the following: Processing of applications for membership prior to submitting to the general membership for final approval, working out details and planning programs for submission to the membership for their final approval, and considering any other problems which may be brought to any of the officers in performance of their duties prior to submission to the membership, and other duties as outlined elsewhere in the constitution.
a) Duties of the Board of Directors are outlined within this constitution . These directors shall also have the responsibility for all surveys of purchases.

5. From the membership there will be three auditors elected, by the membership, from the membership, whose only duty will be to conduct semi-annual audits of the club financial records. Said auditors will be elected at the first regular meeting of the calender year.

Article VII - QUORUM

For the purpose of conducting club business by the membership, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the active membership in attendance. For the purpose of decision making by the Board of Directors, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the Board of Directors in attendance. There shall be no proxy on club business.

Article VIII - COMMITTEES

Committees of the club shall be established as deemed necessary by the officers or the Board of Directors. Membership on all committees shall be voluntary on the part of the members. If insufficient in number, appointments shall be by the President or Vice President.

Article IX - INCORPORATION

This club shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the state laws of Pennsylvania, and all its activities shall be of a non-profit nature. No elected officer shall receive payment for their time and/or effort as a club official.

(NOTE - ‘payment’ shall not be interpreted as meaning ‘reimbursement’ for legitimate expense incurred by an official on behalf of the club)

Article X - PROPERTY

This club may purchase, hold, lease, rent, or sell whatever types of property it deems necessary, providing the amount of indebtedness does not exceed the cash funds combined with the property value which the club possesses at the time of the indebtedness. If the club wishes to sell property, sealed bids for said property will be considered from the membership before placed on public sale. The Board of Directors may accept or reject any bid which is presented.

Article XI - AMENDMENTS

The Constitution, By-Laws and Amendments of the club may be amended only by a 3/4 vote of a quorum of the active membership, providing such a vote is taken at a regular meeting, and further that all proposed amendments have been announced at the preceding regular meeting and published in the newsletter in sufficient time for all members to be notified of the proposed changes. This Constitution and By-Laws may be supplemented by Rules and Regulations. Rules and regulations require a simple majority vote of a quorum of the active members present, providing, they are not in conflict with this constitution.

RULES and REGULATIONS

1). Dues: Single membership is $20 annually. Family memberships are $20 for the 1st member, $12 for the 2nd member, and $6 for each additional member. a family is defined as a head of a house and/or spouse and all legal dependents.

2) Membership application: All membership applications must be signed by two active members and be accompanied by the annual dues. In the event the application is rejected, the dues will be refunded.

3) There shall be at least one person appointed divemaster for every deep dive and every person going on a deep dive shall and will check with the divemaster prior to the deep dive and give a dive plan to the divemaster and check with the divemaster upon ending the dive. In addition, on any club sponsored dive with six or more divers in, a divemaster will be appointed from those present. The divemaster has exclusive charge and is the ultimate authority of the dive.

4) Every diver going on a dive requiring the use of tables shall have a thorough knowledge of the dive tables and how to use them; i.e. submit a dive chart with the plan showing surface interval credits, residual nitrogen time, repetitive group, etc.

5) No person shall be permitted to go on any dive without all proper equipment: a complete suit, hood and gloves (if water conditions so indicate need); a regulator with octopus, pressure and depth gauge; a power inflator on B.C.; and an adequate timing device.

8). Expenditures for the Club that are not the usual expenses, such as postage, letterhead, etc, must be cleared by the Board before they are incurred.

9). Dues shall be prorated monthly.

10). Anyone reported for unsafe diving practices by written complaint to the Board, and upon their judgment on the first offense, will receive a written warning, and on the second offense will be dismissed as a Laurel Diver.

11) Anyone wishing to sponsor a Club trip must submit the following information to the Board for approval before the trip can be said to be Club sanctioned and advertised in the Club newsletter: area, type of dive, current, visibility, type of boat, conditions normally seen, equipment needed, and rated for diver of what ability.

12). ‘FOR SALE’ ads in the Newsletter. a member who places a two line ad will pay nothing. Members wishing to place ads of greater length will be charged as follows: 1/8th page = $5, 1/4 page = $10, ½ page = $15 and 1 page = $20. Non-members will be charged at a rate of 1/8 page = $20, 1/4 page = $40, ½ page = $60 and 1 page = $80. All rates are for a single issue of the newsletter.

Revised 5/87
Reviewed & Revised 8/96