Fort Wayne TurnerS

By-Laws

Last update 3/7/2008

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I- B

Application for Membership:

A. Applications for membership must be made in writing to the Board of Directors on forms furnished by the Society.

ARTICLE II- B

Acceptance-Rejection of Candidate for Membership:

A. Subsequent to recommendation by the membership committee and Board of Directors at the general membership meeting as stipulated by the Constitution Article V-E, the candidate shall receive the benefit of the ballot as follows

A ballot box shall be passed to each member present at the general membership meeting into which he/she shall cast a white marble in event he/she wishes to vote affirmatively for all the candidates recommended for membership, or a black marble in the event he/she wishes to vote negatively for one or more of the candidates

The presiding officer shall open the ballot box, and in the event there has not been enough black marbles cast into the box to reject membership, he/she shall declare that all the candidates are members. In the event that over 1/3 of the voters cast black marbles into the ballot box, the procedure shall be repeated immediately. In the event that again over 1/3 of the voters cast black marbles into the ballot box, the procedure shall be repeated for each candidate individually, and the presiding officer shall announce the acceptance or rejection of each candidate.

In the event of rejection of a candidate, the General Secretary shall so inform the candidate and those two members who recommended him/her, and the dues, which were paid, shall be returned.

B. Applicants who have been expelled from any other society affiliated with the American Turners shall not be eligible for membership in this Society for a period of five years; or in case of exclusion, one year.

C. A membership limit and a waiting list procedure may be established by majority vote of the general membership at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE III- B

Types of Membership:

A. General Membership-Single

Available only to

1. Single person

2. Must be 18 years of age or older

3. Dues are payable annually.

B. General Membership-Family

Available only to

1. Married person

2. Must be 18 years of age or older

3. Dues are payable annually

C. General Membership-Honorary

1. A member of this Society who has paid American Turner dues for forty (40) accumulative years shall be issued an American Turner Honorary Membership. Honorary members shall have all the rights and duties of “General Membership-Family” and “General Membership-Single” and shall be free from the payment of dues. It is the responsibility of the member who is eligible for “General Membership-Honorary” to make application at the proper time.

D. Junior Membership

1. Must be 18, 19, or 20 years of age.

2. Transfer to “General Membership-Single” or to “General Membership-Family” is automatic when 21^st birthday is reached.

3. Dues are payable annually

4. Effective date with regards to dues when “Junior Membership” transfers to “General Membership-Single” or “General Membership-Family” is January 1^st following his/her 21^st birthday.

E. Ladies Membership-Widow

1. A widow, whose husband was a member prior to January 1, 1990 and at the time of death, is extended this membership.

2. Membership is terminated at time of re-marriage.

3. There are no dues.

4. An identification card is to be issued.

F. Women’s Membership-Widow

1. This category shall have the same requirements as E. Ladies Membership-Widow, except a standard American Turner membership card is to be issued upon payment of the per capita tax levied by the American Turners and the Central States District of the American Turners and any other charges as they become due.

ARTICLE IV- B

Miscellaneous Membership Rulings:

A. American Turners/Fort Wayne Society “Application for Membership” is to

be used to apply for Membership in “General Membership-Single”,

“General Membership-Family” and “Junior Membership”.

B. American Turners membership cards are to be issued for “General Membership-Single”, “General Membership-Family”, “General Membership-Junior” and “Women’s Membership-Widow” categories. The membership category shall be noted on each membership card.

C. An Auxiliary, in which membership is limited to Turner Members, is authorized.

D. No other type of membership except as stipulated herein shall be formed except upon amendment of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE V-B

Dues:

A. Annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Membership. Such dues shall be payable in January of each year.

B. Members whose dues are past due for thirty (30) days shall be denied admittance to the building and all privileges of the Society. Members whose dues are past due for sixty (60) days shall be automatically dropped from the membership list. The Membership Secretary at his/her discretion shall have the authority to hold in abeyance for such period as they may deem advisable the dropping from the membership list of any member upon the written application of such past due member for cause shown.

C. Any member having forfeited his/her membership in good standing and wishing again to become a member, must file an application and pay the dues the same as any other applicant. Any member not having resigned in good standing, and wishing to again become a member, must file an application the same as any other applicant and must pay the reinstatement fee plus dues.

D. In the case membership fees are subject to any taxes levied by a government unit, such tax is to be paid by the member.

E. Members who have paid American Turner dues for at least fifteen (15) years and are at least sixty years of age are entitled to a dues discount. The percent of discount shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Membership. The discount will be granted only upon request of the member. The discount will be effective January 1^st of the year following his/her 60^th birthday or later.

F. New members being voted on at the September, October, November, and December General Meetings shall pay full dues for the upcoming year plus the prorated amount at the time of membership.

ARTICLE VI- B

Waiver of Dues:

A. Dues of all members who are serving in the military service of the United States of America are waived for those periods of time during which the member is on active duty.

ARTICLE VII- B

Rights and duties of Members:

A. Rights:

1. General Membership-Single; General Membership-Family; General Membership Senior and General Membership-Honorary

a. To cast one vote on any motion, resolution or nomination before the body at any Membership meeting of the Society.

b. To take part in all transactions of the Society and to be eligible to run for office after three consecutive years of “General Membership-(any classification)”.

c. To participate in gymnasium, social and recreational program of the Society.

d. To make use of the property of the Society for the prescribed purpose in accordance with the Rules and Regulations.

e. To propose new members and introduce guests subject to the rules of the Society.

f. To inspect the books and records of the Society after receiving permission from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors upon request shall grant such permission.

g. To all other rights extended to him/her elsewhere in the Constitution and By-Laws.

h. To have his/her children, up to 21 years of age, participate in gymnasium, social and recreational programs.

2. Junior Membership

a. To participate in gymnasium, social and recreational programs of the Society.

b. To make use of the property of the Society for the prescribed purpose in accordance with the Rules and Regulations.

c. To propose new members and introduce guests, subject to the rules of the Society.

3. Ladies Membership-Widow; Women’s Membership-Widow

a. To participate in gymnasium, social, and recreational programs of the Society.

b. To make use of the property of the Society for the prescribed purpose in accordance with the rules and regulations.

c. To promote new members and guests, subject to the rules of the Society.

B. Duties:

1. It shall be the duty of each member:

a. To uphold the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Society.

b. To do Committee service and to aid the Officers and Directors in the fulfillment of their duties when requested.

c. To report to the Board of Directors all conduct of members that render them unworthy of membership in the Society.

d. To not remove from the premises any article belonging to the Society, except by permission of the Board of Directors, to pay for any damage to property owned by the Society which he/she, the family or guests cause.

ARTICLE VIII- B

Membership Meetings:

A. Twelve (12) regular meetings of the Society shall be held each year on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

B. At regular Society meetings the order of business shall be:

1. Minutes of the previous membership meetings.

2. Minutes of all intervening Board of Directors meetings.

3. Reports of officers and committees.

4. Unfinished business.

5. New business

6. For the Good of the Society

7. Announcement of the results of annual election at June meeting.

C. A special meeting of the Society shall be called whenever twenty (20) members of the Society in good standing shall make a written request to the Board of Directors for the same, specifying the object of the meeting, and said meeting must be called not later than fifteen (15) days after the day the request is received. The Board of Directors may call a special meeting at any time.

D. At any regular or special meeting of the Society, a quorum shall consist of twenty (20) members in good standing. No proxies accepted. If a quorum is not present at the time scheduled for any special meeting, the presiding officer shall adjourn such meeting for one week. If a quorum is not present at the time scheduled for any regular meeting, the presiding officer shall adjourn the meeting. Upon adjournment of any regular meeting because of the absence of a quorum, the presiding officer may appoint a Committee of the Whole consisting of those members who are present. The Committee of the Whole is authorized to accept and/or reject candidates for membership in accordance with procedures prescribed in Article II of these By-Laws. Any other pending business shall be transacted at the next regular meeting.

E. Members classified in “General Membership-Single”, “General Membership-Family”, “General Membership-Senior” and “General Membership-Honorary” may attend regular and special membership meetings.

F. Members classified in “Junior Membership”, “Ladies Membership-Widow” and “Women’s Membership-Widow” may attend special meetings, if invited by the Board of Directors, but they may not vote.

G. Members shall be duly notified of all meetings. The notice of a special meeting shall state the object for which such meeting was called, and no other business than that specified in the notice shall be transacted at the meeting.

H. All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised).

ARTICLE IX-B

Board of Directors Meetings:

A. The Board of Directors shall meet regularly each month, or at any other time at the call, in writing, of the President or any three members thereof, provided prompt notice shall be given each member of the Board before the time appointed for said meeting. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum.

B. At regular meetings of the Board of Directors the order of business shall be:

1. Hearing of any member who has requested permission to attend meeting.

2. Minutes of previous meeting.

3. Presentation of bills for approval of payment.

4. Reports of officers and committees.

5. Unfinished business.

6. New business.

7. For the Good of the Society.