Such expulsion shall be by a sixty (60%) percent vote of the members of the Executive Board present at a meeting thereof duly called and held; provided, however, that the Board at a prior meeting thereof shall first have voted to institute expulsion proceedings and that thereafter a statement of the charges have been mailed by registered or certified mail to the accused member, directed to his last recorded address, at least 30 days before final action is taken thereon. This statement shall be accompanied by a notice of the time when, and place where, the Executive Board is to take action on such charges, and such notice shall state that the accused member will have an opportunity to present a defense at the time and place designated in such notice. The decision of the Executive Board shall be final and conclusive. All rights and privileges of an expelled member shall terminate immediately after the expulsion. In cases of misconduct by a member of the Executive Board, the above proceedings can be initiated and resolved by a vote of sixty (60%) percent of the full membership of the club. ARTICLE V - GUESTS Guests are welcome at Club Meetings. They are allowed to attend only two (2) meetings before becoming Members. ARTICLE VI - DUES Club dues will be reviewed annually by the Executive Board at the November Board Meeting. Annual Dues will be announced at the November General Meeting. They shall be collected by the Treasurer on an annual basis and are due in the month of February for the current calendar year. Members who do not submit dues prior to March 1st will be removed from the Membership Roster. The New Member dues are not prorated for the year. ARTICLE VII- MEETINGS REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Regular Membership Meetings will normally be held on the third Saturday of the month. Minutes of the previous Membership Business Meeting and a Treasurer’s Report shall be made available at each meeting. The Club President shall prepare the agenda for each meeting. SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Special Membership Meetings may be called at any time by the Executive Board or by a majority vote of the General Membership. The Secretary will send notice of these Special Meetings to all Members. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS The Club President or Executive Board Members will normally call at least one (1) Executive Board Meeting each month from January through November of each year. Notice of these Meetings shall be given by the most expeditious route (email, newsletter or telephone). All General Members may attend Board Meetings. ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE BOARD The Executive Board of the Club consists of the seven (7) elected Officers named below: • President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer • Three (3) Directors at Large The Executive Board along with the Newsletter Editor (non-voting) and the Web Master (non-voting) are responsible for the Club’s day to day operations, including direction, policies, financial status, and recommended programs. Two or more household members cannot be elected to the Executive Board or appointed as a Committee Head during the same term. In addition, no Member can be elected to the Executive Board or appointed as a Committee Head who has Business Ownership or employment which is in a conflict of interest with the club. TERMS A candidate for office must have been an active member in good standing for 12 months prior to the date of the election. All Officers shall serve in his/her elected position for a period of one (1) calendar year. All Officers can be reelected to the same position for a second (2nd) term/year. No Officer can be reelected to the same position for the third (3rd) connective term/year, but can be elected to another position. DUTIES: The duties and responsibilities of each Officer shall be as follows: PRESIDENT: To preside at all Membership and Executive Board Meetings. To officially represent the Club and conduct its business. To implement direction, policies, and programs as directed by the Club or Executive Board. To have the power to appoint Members to serve on Committees as required. VICE PRESIDENT: To assist the President and preside at any meetings in his/her absence. To keep actively informed of activities and events concerning model railroading and other related areas which would be of interest to the General Membership. To arrange for Club activities and functions and to ensure that proper planning is done. To maintain the Club Calendar of Meetings and activities. SECRETARY: To accurately record, maintain and present the minutes of all Club and Executive Board Meetings where business is conducted. Will handle, retain, and present all Club correspondence. To maintain a role of all active Members based on information from The Club Treasurer. To maintain and publish the current Club Membership Roster in March and November. TREASURER: To properly transact all Club expenses and ensure that all bills which have been pre-approved by the Executive Board are paid in a timely manner. All other bills are to be submitted to the Executive Board for approval before being paid. To maintain accurate accounting and records of all Club income and expenses. To collect dues, moneys, and payments made to the Club and to maintain the Club checking account. In October of each year, two Club Members or outside ‘consultants’, as necessary, will be appointed by the Club President to audit the Treasury Books and statements of the Treasurer and present his/her report to the General Membership at or before the December Membership Meeting. THREE (3) DIRECTORS AT LARGE: To serve as a direct representative of the General Membership to the Executive Board and to communicate the Member's opinions on all issues that affect the Club's operations and business. To work with the other Officers as may be needed or requested. NEWSLETTER EDITOR: President shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, a Member to serve as the Newsletter Editor. The Editor will prepare and edit the Club Newsletter with information to include the results of business meetings, upcoming events, ballots and elections results, and amendments to the bylaws, etc. WEB MASTER: President shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, a Member to serve as the Web Master. The Web Master will edit and publish the Club Web Site with monthly updates such as the Newsletter, events, etc. ARTICLE IX - ELECTION OF OFFICERS A Nominating Committee will be appointed by the President from the General Membership List before the June General Membership Meeting of an election year. The Nominating Committee will announce a slate of candidates during the October General Membership Meeting. The election of new officers will be by secret written ballot. The ballot will be sent via US Mail to all members immediately following the October General Membership Meeting. An Election Committee will be appointed by the President from the General Membership List. All ballots will be counted by the Election Committee during the November General Membership Meeting and the new Officers announced. Officers will serve from January through December. All elected and/or appointed officers shall turn over all files, office equipment and materials pertaining to his/her duties to either his/her successor or to another member of the Executive Board no later than four weeks after leaving office. Any Club Officer may resign his position by notifying the Club President in writing. Other then illness, a Club Officer who misses three (3) Executive Board Meetings in any one calendar year, shall be considered to have resigned his/her position. In either of the event listed above, or the demise of a club Officer or Committee Head, the President shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board Members, another Member to serve for the remainder of the term. ARTICLE X - CONDUCT OF BUSINESS AND VOTING The Executive Board will meet to discuss and decide the issues affecting the Club and present the results to the General Membership. The Club President, or a duly elected Officer in order of decent, will preside over all Business Meetings All business will be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order (modified) and these Bylaws. The Executive Board shall prepare and present an annual Budget for the Club to the General Membership for approval by a majority vote at the April General Meeting each year. The Executive Board may authorize expenditures from the Club funds up to the amount of $1,000 over and above the Budget without the approval of the general membership. The general membership must approve the request for expenditure over $1,000 by a majority vote at a regularly scheduled general meeting. Any General Member recognized by the Club President or Presiding Officer may bring forth business before the club. All issues requiring a vote will be presented in motion form and be seconded. The Club President or Presiding Officer may ask for discussion before calling a vote. Successful passage of all motions or actions requires a simple majority vote of the General Membership present at a regularly scheduled Membership Meeting. Only Primary Members may vote at the General Meetings. ARTICLE XI – SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Any group of members may apply to the Executive Board for recognition as a Special Interest Group (SIG). Prior to approval by the Board, a SIG must make its special interests clear to the Club General Membership. In addition, A SIG shall present to the Executive Board prior to approval, a Budget for the remainder of the current year. A SIG shall present to the Executive Board an annual Budget each January outlining and requesting expected expenditures for the then current year. The Executive Board may or may not choose to fund the annual expenditures in whole or in part. ARTICLE XII - CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS These bylaws shall be reviewed every two (2) years. Any amendments, changes or alterations to these Bylaws shall be drafted by a Committee of General Members, appointed by the Executive Board. Such committee shall present those amendments, changes or alterations to the Executive Board for review. After review by the Executive Board, the proposed changes, if any, will be presented to the General Membership for consideration. All changes must be approved by a 2/3 Majority Vote by Ballot of the eligible Voting Members. Normally, approved changes to the Bylaws will take effect on January 1st.