[members] COMMENTS LOTUS CLUB NW CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS

[Mark Velky]

Tom
 
    Thanks!!! I will hold on to this e-mail. This is a long term project and the current plan is to collect all the inputs by the Business Meeting in late April, then put as many of them together as we can to update the Constitution and By-Laws and get it approved and done by the end of the year.
    I hope you don't mind, I'm sending this along to the whole Club as a way to get us thinking about it.
 
CLNW Member
 
    I have been passing these out for about a month now, but if you do not have your copy of the old Constitution and By-Laws for your review and update inputs see me at a upcoming Club get-together before the Business Meeting in late April.
 
Thanks
 Mark
 

________________________________
 From: Tom Styczynski <vintagerace at verizon.net>
To: 'Mark Velky' <dmc.lotus at yahoo.com> 
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 7:34 AM
Subject: RE: COMMENTS LOTUS CLUB NW CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS
  

Mark,
One more thought. I realized that even age could ne be a discriminator for membership. Basically, a club is in a position of saying we are a group that enjoys a certain thing/activity, in our case Lotus, we offer the a number of services/insights related to the topic and have banded together to promote/expand related services. If you are interested – join. The corollary is also true.  If you are not interested in what we do and how we do it you do not have to join and we will go on without you.
It is odd how our culture has changed so dramatically over the years.
 
Tom
 
 
 
From:Tom Styczynski [mailto:vintagerace at verizon.net] 
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2013 7:49 PM
To: 'Mark Velky'
Subject: COMMENTS LOTUS CLUB NW CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS
 
Mark,
 
When I read the by-laws I could understand why you are concerned that they are outdated. I chaired both the Mid-California and Baltimore Sections of the Society of Automotive Engineers plus I served as an officer/board member of several Sports Car Clubs and realize that a 10% participation by members is extraordinary. Recently, I wrote the business plan and interface contracts for a start up in New Jersey. I am noting this experience to give you a background for the comments. Please consider the input as a first cut to the final document. 
 
Tom Styczynski
 
 
General:
-      I was looking for a place to define the privileges of membership. Something like for the dues payment members receive a membership card, decals, access (via club listing) of members/cars, right to vote for officers, club coordinated discounts, newsletter, website, e-mail notification, etc.
-      Terms need to be consistent. For example members are noted by the term General Membership and Club Members. It makes one look for a definition for each level of membership.
 
Purpose:
-      First line ….among Lotus Marque Enthusiasts in the state of Oregon and surrounding region. (The document later notes that directors serve Northern/Southern regions I could find nothing in the front of the document that defines the projected territory)
-      Second line …historic significance and continued production of…
-      Third line recommend
The Lotus Club North West seeks to supply technical assistance, parts/service sources, and share Lotus marque knowledge through general meetings and planned club events.
 
By – Laws
-      The first two lines notes both corporation and organization. I believe it should say organization in both places.
-      I believe there needs to be a line describing the difference between member and officers. I would suggest that the member definition include verified dues payment and officers are nominated by/from membership.
-      Third line – The Club membership shall…
 
Affiliation 
-      When I read this I wondered why and to what benefit to the organization and members is the affiliation. This should have an added line defining the terms of the affiliation.
 
Balloting/Elections
-      Second and third paragraphs need a complete rewrite to vote by the internet. This will probably require a ballot electronically sent to each member, appointment of a ballot chairman and creation of a link to the website to vote anomalously. 
 
Dues
-      As a non-profit shouldn’t the assessment of the dues be defined to establish a financial base of operation budget estimate? With the earlier the definition of members as shareholders requires the an accounting of distribution of profits, beyond the operation base. 
 
Membership Qualifications
-      I am an engineer, not a lawyer, but I believe you can no longer disqualify a member for cause unless a specific membership criteria was violated. For example, technical societies have reasonable criteria in their scientific and technical exchanges. Age is reasonable at a minimum. Our discriminator is the specific marque. 
-      Members join because the club offers something they want. This is a good section to define the benefits of membership. Examples are in the General section. 
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