Evansville Scuba Club

EVANSVILLE SCUBA CLUB CHARTER
Date: May 7, 2007

ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION NAME:
This organization shall be called the Evansville Scuba Club, hereinafter the Club.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES:
The purposes of the Club are:

• The provision of a social group for local divers to find dive buddies and diving opportunities.
• The preservation, support and promotion of sport of SCUBA diving and its various forms of activities.
• To promote educational programs that will provide fundamental knowledge and experience in variety of areas including:
  1. Promotion and adherence to Safe Diving Practices
  2. Conservation of Marine Ecosystems
  3. First Aid and Handling of Diving Related Emergencies
• To promote fellowship among underwater sportsmen.
• To obtain information on new diving equipment so as to inform the membership on the merits of this equipment.
• To organize group SCUBA Diving trips, educational and social events to accomplish the above stated purposes.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

• Membership is open to any person who will abide by the laws of the organization.
• Members are those whose dues are paid and are in good standing in the Club.
• Membership is not required to attend meetings or sponsored Club events.
• All membership applications must be submitted to the Vice President along with payment of designated dues.
• Membership shall be limited to all persons applying for membership after the date of ratification of this constitution. Regular membership will be entitled to one vote each and to any and all other rights and privileges according to Bylaws provided they are not in arrears in their dues as specified in Article IV. Family memberships to include one vote per adult member (18 yrs. of age).
• Active members will receive benefits to include:
  1. Access to Club assets.
  2. Discounts at our affiliated dive shop on gear and rentals as the dive shop may specify.
  3. A membership card.
  4. Special education opportunities.
  5. A vote in all official Club business.
  6. Eligibility to hold elected office.
• Instructors:

• Active Instructors shall have the option to become a full member of Evansville Scuba Club free of dues.
• The term “Active” means that the instructor has taught at least: 1 class in the last 3 months, and Active status will be periodically verified with our Business Partner.
• Must be instructing under the name of our Business Partners
• Must be an instructor in good standing with the certification agency that they are teaching.
• Should the above status change, the Board will vote during the next business meeting, on whether to continue the instructor’s free membership till the end of the membership year, offer normal dues as a normal club membership, or terminate membership in whole.
• Active Instructors shall enjoy full membership privileges including the ability to run for and hold offices on the Board, as any other full member of Evansville Scuba Club.

• The Club will operate as a not-for-profit organization.
• The Fiscal Year for the Club will begin on January 1st of each year and end on December 31st of the following year.
• The Board of Directors will recommend any changes in the amount of dues and/or fees.
• Dues are due and payable on January 1st of each year. Members who join the Club after June 30th will pay one half the regular dues to cover the remainder of the current year.
• Members who have not paid their dues by the first meeting in February will have their membership terminated and be dropped from the membership roster.
• Membership may be reinstated by reapplication.
• Dues shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars, per year, per member.
• Family Membership to be thirty five ($35) dollars, per year, per family of same household.
• Charter members shall have dues of fifteen ($15) dollars, and be known as a Charter member while they are members of good standing.
• Lifetime members shall have a lifetime due of two-hundred and fifty ($250) dollars with no further dues accessed while they are members of good standing.
• Special consideration shall be given, on a case by case basis, by the Board, to college students and active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• The Board shall develop and approve a budget prior to December 1st.
• Any single use of Club funds that exceeds $100 must be approved by a majority vote of members.
• Club funds will be used for:
• Club operating costs
• Membership advertisements
• Purchase of Club assets
• Deposits for Club events
• Other expenses as the executive board or membership may designate

• Voting shall take place at the annual meeting and shall be by secret ballot.
• Only Members are eligible to vote or hold office.
• Elections of officers to be held during the November Meeting and shall take office the following January.

• The officers of the Club shall be elected by the members of the Club. Each of the officers will serve as a Director on the Board of Directors.
• Officers shall hold office for one year.

President:

• Provide leadership and administration of the Club.
• Call and preside at all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the general membership.
• Manage the Club budget; approve expenditures less than one hundred ($100) dollars.
• Guide, develop, and coordinate the various activities of the Club.

Vice President:

• Assist the President in directing and coordinating activities of the Club.
• Assume the duties of the President in his absence.
• Succeed to the office of President should that office become vacant prior to the end of the President’s term of office.
• Prepare, distribute and receive all membership applications.
• Authorized to be a co-signer in place of the President on monies distributed, when the President is not available.

• Serve as recording and corresponding secretary of the Club.
• Handle all correspondences for the Club.
• Maintain all legal records of the Club, including current copies of Bylaws.

• Shall receive and process all monies payable to or from the Club.
• Keep all financial records, and present the financial reports at each of the regular meetings.
• Submit proposed annual budget to the Board by February 1.
• Receive all monies obtained via the club Web Site.

• Shall serve as tie-breaking vote.
• Shall fill in for any B.O.D. not present, with the exception of the duties of the Vice- President, during the absence of the President.
• Maintain a roster of current members.

The Board shall consist of (5) elected officers:

The Duties of the Board shall be:

• Schedule the Club’s major activities.
• Fill any vacated positions for Club officers.
• Recommend any changes to the Club’s bylaws for membership vote.
• Appoint committees and chairpersons.
• Meet monthly.

• Regular meetings will be held at the time and place agreed upon by the majority of the active members.
• The annual meeting for the election of officers shall be held during the month of November.
• A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of those active members present. Unless otherwise specified in this document, a simple majority shall decide all business.

• These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the active members present or represented by a written proxy.
• No amendment shall be voted upon unless the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the vice president at least two weeks in advance of the meeting it will be voted upon. The secretary will advise each active member in advance of the proposal.

• The web page, http addresses: www.evvscuba.com, www.evansvillescuba.com, and www.evansvillescubaclub.com, (hereon known as the Web Page) is the most visible, cost effective means of communication and information sharing between members and non- members.
• The Web Page shall always have a free of charge, informative section available to the general public.
• The general public may sign up on the Web Page, free of charge and become members of the Evansville Scuba Club web page.
• Only dues paying members in good standing may access any area of the Web Page designated for club members only.
• Web Page to be maintained by a dues paying member, or be supervised by such in the event that no dues paying member has the necessary skills or ability. A web service may be employed to maintain and ensure that the directives listed in the Charter for Evansville Scuba Club are maintained.

• The board member title of “Tie Breaker” has been voted on & changed to “Committee Chairperson”. Amendment added 12/25/2007.
• The Instructor membership clause was voted on & added into the charter on 4/8/2008