BY-LAWS OF THE
COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
(A New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation)
PREAMBLE
The New Jersey Chapter, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, publishes and declares the following as the By-Laws governing said New Jersey Chapter, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. THIS ORGANIZATION IS NOT, NOR DOES IT CLAIM TO BE, A MOTORCYCLE CLUB (MC). IT DOES NOT HAVE “COLORS” AND DOES NOT “PROSPECT”. IT DOES NOT LAY CLAIM TO EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY.
NAME and JURISDICTION:
ARTICLE I –
Section 1. Name: this corporation shall be known as the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association New Jersey Chapter, hereinafter referred to as “Chapter”
Section 2. Jurisdiction: The Jurisdiction of the Chapter shall be the State of New Jersey as bounded by the state lines.
Section 3. Principle Office: The principle office of the Chapter shall be located within the boundaries of the Jurisdiction specified in Article 1, Section 2, hereof.
SUBORDINATION and AUTHORITY:
ARTICLE II.
Section 1. Authority. The supreme power of this Chapter shall be vested in the National CVMA.
Section 2. Chapter Government. Subject to the provisions of the National CVMA By-Laws, the government of this Chapter shall be vested in the membership, the chapter Board of Directors and the lawful orders of the Chapter Commander.
MISSION STATEMENT:
ARTICLE III. The mission of the Chapter include support of veterans and their organizations and to improve communication and camaraderie between other motorcycle groups: promoting interest in various forms of motorcycle activity associated with veterans: raising awareness of the plight of POWs and MIAs and the health problems of veterans (and their families) returning from combat theaters: conducting functions and activities in a manner consistent with high moral, legal and ethical values.
EMBLEM and LOGO:
ARTICLE IV – The emblem/logo used by the Chapter shall be that specified in the National Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, hereinafter referred to “CVMA” By-Laws, Article 1. Section 2.Incorporated herein and made part hereof by reference.
ARTICLE V –
Section 1. Qualifications: A person satisfying the below listed qualifications is eligible for membership in the Chapter.
DD-214, ORB/ERB or other military document.
Section 2. Dues. National CVMA dues are as prescribed by the CVMA and Chapter dues are $10.00 per annum, due and payable in June of each year. National CVMA shall determine deadlines, from time to time, for payment of renewable membership dues. National CVMA dues shall be paid to CVMA State Representative and Chapter dues shall be paid to the Chapter Quartermaster. Dues for Chapter members that are deployed in a war zone shall be waived. Dues for new members will cover the balance of current year, with the exception of dues for new members joining after March first will be considered as paid for the balance of the current year and for the following year.
Section 3.
(a). Life Membership. Life membership qualifications include (I) three years active membership in the Chapter, all in good standing: (II) participation in one CVMA sanctioned event each year; (III) attendance at one CVMA National Meeting (which counts as a sanctioned event for the of the attended CVMA National Meeting).
(b). Life Membership Fee. The fee for Life membership is $ 150.00, which in no case shall be refunded in part or in whole.
(c). Unable to ride. Life members, if for health reasons at the member’s discretion are unable to ride a motorcycle, shall remain members in good standing with all the privileges pertaining thereto.
Section 4. Resignation. Resignations shall be made verbally or in writing to the Chapter Commander or Executive Officer. Upon acceptance of such resignation, the resigned member shall turn in to the Chapter his/her back patch and shall cease wearing or use of items bearing the CVMA emblem/logo. A resigned member shall be given a five day “grace period” to rescind his/her resignation without repercussions or prejudice. After such “grace period”, a resigned member shall be deemed a new member and shall be subject to the new member requirements.
Section 5. Disability. A non-life member who becomes infirm, disabled or otherwise unable to ride a motorcycle and is in good standing for five consecutive years shall be
entitled to keep the CVMA back-patch and be retired as a Life Member in good standing with the Chapter, upon such member’s request.
Section 6. Support Members. The qualifications, requirements and rules for Support Members shall be as specified in the National CVMA By-Laws, Article 3, Section 2 (b), which are incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference.
Section 7. Verification of Eligibility, The Chapter and the CVMA shall verify the eligibility qualifications of any proposed new member whose military service records appear questionable, e.g. altered and/or illegible.
Section 8. Attendance At Events, Each member should attend at least one event hosted by New Jersey Chapter each year. With prior approval of the CVMA State Representative a qualifying event may be in another state.
Section 9. Conduct and Discipline. All members must conduct themselves in a manner that is not an embarrassment to them, the Chapter, the CVMA or the United States of America, bringing dishonor upon the Chapter and/or the CVMA in action. Word(s), or deeds, constitutes a breach of acceptable conduct. Failure to abide by these By-Laws or the CVMA By-Laws is a breach of acceptable conduct. Violation of these standards may range from a verbal or written warning to revocation of membership.
Section 10. License and Insurance, Every member shall possess a valid State driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement and liability insurance as required by the State of registration of the vehicle.
OFFICERS and DUTIES:
ARTICLE VI –
Section 1. Elected Officers.
Section 2. Appointed Officers and Chairmen. From time to time, the Commander may appoint Officers and Chairmen, specifying the duties thereof, including but not necessarily limited to Chief of Staff, Program Chairmen, Assistants to Elected Officers, Road Captains, Chaplain and Liaison Officers to other organizations.
Section 3. Attendance of Officers, All elected and appointed officers and chairmen shall make every reasonable effort to attend every meeting, event and function of the Chapter. Such officers and chairmen should notify the Commander or Executive Officer when they are unable to attend a meeting, event or function. Officers that accumulate three consecutive meetings un-excused absences shall be deemed to have abandoned the held office and election shall be conducted as soon as possible to fill such office.
CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
ARTICLE VII –
Section I. Composition. The Chapter Board of Directors shall consist of the Elected Officers specified in Article VI. Section I.
Section II. Duties. The Chapter Board of Directors shall set operating policies for the Chapter. It shall hear discipline matters, sentence and enforce punishments for offences by members. It shall fill vacancies in Elected Offices.
Section III. Elections. The Three Trustees of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Chapter, one every year in rotation, thereby making the term of office three years.
Section IV. The Chapter Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the Commander. A quorum for a Board of Directors meeting shall be five directors.
ELECTIONS:
ARTICLE VIII.
Section I. Chapter Elections Timing, Chapter elections shall be held during the month of April every year. The Commander and Adjutant shall be nominated and elected in odd numbered years, e.g. 2009. The Executive Officer, Quartermaster and Sergeant At Arms
shall be nominated and elected in even numbered years, e.g.2010. One Trustee will be nominated and elected every year.
Section 2. Term of Office, Officers will assume office immediately after the April meeting. Consecutive terms are permitted and there is no limit on the number of terms an officer may serve.
Section 3. Qualifications. All members shall be eligible to hold any office in the Chapter, provided that such members are in good standing and have been in good standing for at least one year. Officers shall remain in good standing for the entire term for which they have been elected.
Section 4. Vacancies, Officers becoming not in good standing during their term of office shall have sixty days to become in good standing or they shall be deemed to have abandoned the office to which they were elected. Should an elected office become vacant for any reason, a Chapter election will be held as soon as possible to fill the remaining term of the vacant office.
Section 5. Multiple Offices. Chapter officers may not hold more than one elected office concurrently. Any member may hold one elected office and one or more appointed offices concurrently.
MEETINGS and QUORUM:
ARTICLE IX
Section I. Regular Meetings, The Chapter membership shall meet on the fourth Saturday of each month. The locations for the monthly meeting will be at the VFW Post 10118,
2652 West Lacy Road, Forked River 08731 and the Somerset Armory 1060 Hamilton Street, Somerset, New Jersey 08873.The Commander may cancel a regular meeting in the event of inclement weather or other unusual event or circumstance. In such case, reasonable effort will be made to notify all members of the cancellation.
Section 2. Quorum. A quorum for a Chapter membership meeting shall be members, present at regular schedule meetings.
Section 3. By-Laws, By-Laws to be revised annually upon acceptance date by the National Board of Directors.
Section 4. Rules, Demeter’s Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure shall govern all procedural matters.
Section 5. Special Meetings, Special membership meetings may be called by the Commander or by three or more members. In such event, reasonable advance notice of such special meeting shall be provided to each member of the Chapter.
ARTICLE X.
Section I. Any proposed amendment to these By-Laws may be acted upon at any membership meeting, provided that a copy of any said proposed amendment shall be provided to each Chapter member 21 days prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment may be acted upon Any such proposed amendment shall be declared adopted upon a two-thirds vote of the meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS:
ARTICLE XI.
Section I. Dissolution. Upon dissolution of the Chapter, after liabilities have been paid, the assets of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit of the National CVMA.
Section 2. Conflicting Provisions. If there is a conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws and the Articles of Incorporation of the Chapter, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall govern. If there is a conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws and the By-Laws of the National CVMA, the provisions of the National CVMA By-Laws shall govern.
Section 3. Unenforceable Provisions, If any provision of these By-Laws is held unenforceable or invalid by a higher CVMA authority or a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall be unaffected by such holding.
Section 4. Conflict of Interest, The Chapter Board of Directors shall develop and maintain a Conflict of Interest Policy governing transactions or arrangements that might benefit the private interest of a Chapter member or officer. Such policy shall be reviewed by the membership annually.
Section 5. Financial Operating Policy, The Chapter Board of Directors shall develop and maintain a financial Operating Policy governing the management and procedures for the handling of Chapter funds. Such policy shall be reviewed by the membership annually.
ARTICLE XII –
Section I. The expenditure of funds may only be made with the approval of members at any given meeting, by majority vote.
Section 2. The Commanding Officer has the authority to allocate up to $250.00, for emergency use after approval from the Trustees.
Section 3. No Compensation shall be paid to any Officer of this Chapter for his services.
Section 4. Every Member of this Chapter shall keep the Adjutant and Quartermaster advised of his currant address and reporting any change.
Section 5. These By-Laws were adopted, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. On this, the twenty fifth day of July 2009.
New Jersey
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
By Bill “Squid” McDougall, NJ State Rep.