HIGH DESERT CRUISERS

By-laws

As ratified on November 7th 1998

Article I- Name

The name of this Organization shall be High Desert Cruisers

 

Article II Purpose

The purposes of the High Desert Cruisers as organized are:

    1. Recreational exploration and preservation of the wild lands of our state and surrounding areas
    2. To act as a resource for Toyota 4x4 owners in our area
    3. To support and promote the Toyota Land Cruiser Association
    4. To promote and protect multiple use of public lands.

 HIGH DESERT CRUISERS shall operate without profit, shall be nonpartisan, and nonsectarian.

  

Article III Membership

Section 1 Voting members

Persons seeking membership in the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS as a voting member must meet the following requirements.

 

    1. Must be the registered driver of a Toyota 4x4 with a low range in the transfer case.
    2. Must be a legally licensed driver, at least 16 years in age.
    3. Must show proof of adequate liability insurance.
    4. Must be a member in good standing of the TLCA.
    5. Must submit dues required by the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS.

 The prospective voting member will become eligible for vote as soon as all of these requirements are met and the new member is approved by a majority vote of members present at a general meeting.

 

Section 2 Associate Members

By nomination of a member of the Board Of Directors (BOD) and a majority vote of members present at general meeting, any person or business may become an associate member of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. Associate members shall pay dues, not be entitled to vote, and may not hold office in the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS.

 

Section 3 Charter members

Listing of all that have been members since the first official meeting of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS.

 

Section 4 Dues

The yearly dues of each member and associate member of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS shall be set by the BOD and voted on by all regular members attending an annual meeting and passed by a simple majority. These dues must be paid within 30 of the expiration of the previous membership term.

 

Dues history

Dues were set at 15 dollars at the first annual meeting of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS on October 8th 1998.

 

Section 5 Membership Suspension or Termination

The following are grounds for a suspension or termination of membership;

    1. More than 30 Days between the ownership of a Toyota 4x4
    2. Non-payment of dues

Any member who fails to pay the Annual dues within 30 days after the lapse of their membership will be terminated from the membership rolls.

c. Non-participation

If a member fails to attend one HIGH DESERT CRUISERS sponsored event in a six-month period they may be dropped from the membership roll by a unanimous vote of the BOD. They may be reinstated by two-thirds vote of the members present at a general meeting.

d. Recall

Any member who shall conduct themselves in an irresponsible manner that, in the opinion of the BOD, is not in the best interest of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS or when such actions bring discredit upon the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS, Shall be suspended from all privileges of the membership. Subsequent membership termination or reinstatement shall come at a two-thirds vote of members present at the general meeting.

 

The following is the procedure for suspension of membership.

a. A BOD member must recommend the suspension of a member.

b. A majority vote of the BOD will suspend the member.

c. The suspended member must be notified by US mail of :

1. Reason for suspension

2. His or Her right to appeal the decision at a general meeting.

d. A two-thirds vote of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS at a regular meeting will reinstate membership

 

The following is the procedure for the termination of membership.

a. A BOD member must recommend termination of the membership

b. A unanimous vote of the BOD will then place the issue before a general meeting.

c. The membership of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS must be notified by US Mail of the Termination issue not less than 2 weeks before the issue is to be voted on.

d. A two-thirds vote of the members present at the general meeting will terminate the membership.

 

Section 7 Chapter and TLCA logos

a. In accordance with the national TLCA by-laws any member who sells a vehicle must remove all evidence of both local and national TLCA affiliation from said vehicle.

 b. If for any reason membership is terminated, all evidence of local chapter affiliation shall be removed.

 

Article IV Meetings

  a. General meetings

General meetings shall be held monthly. Members in the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS shall be contacted at least 2 weeks in advance. Acceptable forms of contact include but are not limited to:

1. US Mail

2. Email

3. Phone conversation

b. Annual meetings

Annual meetings shall be held each January. Members shall be notified of meeting date and meeting agenda not less than 3 weeks in advance. The acceptable form of contact shall be US Mail.

c. Board Meetings

The board of directors shall meet when 3 or more directors call for such meeting. BOD Members must be notified two weeks in advance of board meetings. Acceptable contact includes:

1. Mail

2. Email

3. Phone conversation

 d. Conduct of meetings

Meetings shall be conducted according to parliamentary rules, and open discussion from the floor on all measures shall be encouraged.

e. Quorums

For the purpose of any and all meetings the members present shall constitute a quorum.

 

Article V Officers and Officer Elections

The management of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS shall be vested in the following offices

Section 1 President

The president shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting.

a. Duties

The president shall preside over all meetings of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. The president shall represent both the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS and the TLCA in a manner fitting with these organizations and their by-laws. He or She shall enforce they by-laws of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. He or She shall sign all written contracts entered into by the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. He or She will protect and promote the membership of the local chapter of the TLCA as well as the TLCA itself. The president shall also be the selected delegate to the board of the TLCA.

 

b. The president is a member of the BOD.

Section 2 Vice president

The Vice President shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting.

  a. Duties

The vice president shall carry out the duties of the president in his or her absence.

  b. The Vice President is a member of the BOD.

 

Section 3 Secretary-Treasurer

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting.

a. Duties

The Secretary Treasurer shall keep minutes and other official reports of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. Shall also keep an account of all monetary transactions of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS. He or She shall have the power to establish accounts at local banks for the fulfillment of this duty. He or She shall be responsible for dissemination of information of financial standing of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS at each general meeting. At each Annual meeting the information shall be given in writing to the membership for approval.

 b. The Secretary Treasurer shall is a member of the BOD.

 

Section 4 Board of Directors

 The Board of directors is composed of the chairpersons of the permanent committees of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS as well as the officers listed in article V. They are empowered to carry out the day to day management of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS.

 

Article VI Amendments

Amendments may be made to these by-laws at an Annual meeting or at a meeting called for the purpose by two-thirds of all members present. Under these conditions:

a. Notice shall be given in writing to the BOD of the proposed amendment

b. The proposed amendment must be given to the members of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS by the Secretary 2 weeks prior to such meeting. Acceptable notice includes:

1. US Mail

2. Email

 

The BOD may screen all amendments for correct spelling and grammar before distribution to the membership, but shall make no judgement on the issue and may not alter the intent of the document.

 

Article VII Permanent Committees

The following are the approved permanent committees of the HIGH DESERT CRUISERS

 a. Trails and Safety

The Trails and Safety Chairperson shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting.

 The Trails and Safety committee chair shall be responsible for the organization of all off road events.

 b. Land Use

The Land Use Chairperson shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting.

 The Land Use committee chair shall be responsible for informing the members of local and national land access issues as well as working with managing entities to secure the use of public lands. He or She will also be responsible for helping the Trail and Safety committee chair plan trail clean up days.

 

Each of these committee chairs may appoint members to help them fulfill their duties.