CONSTITUTION OF SACRAMENTO WALKING STICKS

Third REVISION

As amended by vote January 12, 2006

 

ARTICLE I.  NAME

 

The name of the organization shall be the Sacramento Walking Sticks.  The abbreviated name shall be SWS and such abbreviated name shall herein after refer to the organization in this constitution and the by-laws.

 

ARTICLE II.  RESIDENCE

 

SWS is organized under the non-profit laws of the State of California and shall have its registered office in the City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, State of California.

 

ARTICLE III.  AFFILIATION

 

The SWS is a sanctioned member of the American Volkssport Association, AKA AVA and the California Volkssport Association AKA CVA.

 

ARTICLE IV.  PURPOSE

 

Section 1.  The organization is a non-profit, voluntary membership club, organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended (or the corresponding           provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), to promote the public health, physical fitness and well-being of the people of the United States by organizing, promoting and conducting scheduled programs of non-competitive, family oriented, participatory lifetime sports, including, but not limited to walking (including jogging and running), bicycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, and such other events as may be sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA), and including the following specific purposes:

 

  1. to develop and implement a program of public information and education to engender interest in scheduled programs of non-competitive, family oriented, participatory lifetime sports;

 

  1. to supervise the compilation of a calendar of events to be made available to its members and the general public (primarily in the form of a newsletter).

 

  1. to increase communication among volkssport participants and foster the organization of other such clubs within the State of California;

 

  1. to provide understanding of the benefits of participation in organized programs of non-competitive, family oriented participatory lifetime sports.

 

  1. to foster a preventative maintenance concept in health care.

 

  1. to stress the fun and exhilaration of walking (including jogging and running), bicycling, swimming, cross-country skiing and such other events as may be sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA).

 

Section 2.  All activities of the organization shall be carried on so as to be responsive to the needs of all persons, without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national or cultural origin, place of residence, economic circumstances, lifestyle or social status.

 

ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. Regular membership is open to all persons who pay the annual dues established in the by-laws.

 

Section 2. Rights and Obligations of Members

 

  1. Every principal dues paying member shall have the right to participate in all activities conducted for the members, to file petitions, and exercise the right to vote.

 

  1. All members of the SWS are obligated to:

 

1.      promote the aims and goals of the SWS.

 

2.      uphold the reputation of the SWS at all times.

 

3.      obey the constitution and by-laws of the SWS.

 

ARTICLE VI.  OFFICERS

 

Section 1.  The elected officers of the SWS shall be:

 

  1. President

 

  1. Vice President                     

 

  1. Secretary                  

 

  1. Treasurer

 

            Section 2.  The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined upon approval of the membership.

 

            Section 3.  Election Procedures for Officers:

 

  1. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the membership at the regular meeting held in March.

 

  1. It shall be the duty of the nominating committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled by election at the regular meeting held in June.  No member of the Nominating Committee may accept nomination for an office.  If a committee member does choose to run for office, such candidate’s membership on the nominating committee shall terminate and the President of the SWS shall immediately appoint a replacement.

 

  1. The nominating committee shall report to the membership at the regular meeting in May.

 

  1. Prior to holding the election at the June meeting, nominations from the floor shall be permitted.                  

 

  1. The officers shall be elected-at-large by ballot of the membership at the June meeting.

 

  1. Where only one (1) candidate for an office has been nominated, no ballots shall be cast by members and the Secretary shall cast the unanimous ballot.

 

  1. Were more than two (2) candidates are nominated for the same office and, upon the first ballot, no candidate receives a majority, the two (2) candidates receiving the most ballots shall run against each other.  Upon the subsequent ballot, the candidate receiving a majority vote shall be declared elected.

 

Section 4.  General Requirements for Officers:

 

  1. The term of office shall be for one (1) year, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed.  The term of office shall begin at the regular meeting held in July.

 

  1. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same elected office.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

 

Section 1.  The regular meetings will be held monthly, unless ordered by a majority vote of the officers.

 

Section 2.  The regular meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for such other business which may arise.

 

Section 3.  Special meetings can be called by a majority vote of the officers.  Notice of a special meeting shall be given to all members at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date set for the special meeting if notice to be given by mail; ten (10) days if notice to be given by telephone.  The purpose for a special meeting shall be set forth in the call for such a meeting.

 

ARTICLE VIII.  COMMITTEES

 

Such committees as are required shall be established in accordance with the by-laws.

 

 

ARTICLE IX.  AMENDMENT        

 

Section 1.  This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the SWS, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the eligible voting members present.  Proposals for amendment must be presented at the meeting prior to the actual vote.

 

Section 2.  The requirement to present proposals at the meeting prior to the actual vote may be waived by 50% (1/2) of the eligible voting members at a regular or special meeting.

 

ARTICLE XI.  DISSOLUTION OF THE SWS

 

Section 1.  The SWS may only be dissolved upon decision of the eligible voting members at a regular or special membership meeting of the SWS.

 

Section 2.  The proposal for dissolution must be submitted in writing at the previous meeting.  Petition for dissolution must be submitted by at least one-half (1/2) of the regular members of the SWS.  Dissolution shall be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of eligible voting members.  Members will be provided timely notice for meetings concerning votes for the club dissolution or elections.  Upon receipt of such notice, members may submit written proxy votes before the aforementioned meeting. 

 

ARTICLE XII.  CONCLUDING CLAUSES

 

Section 1. This constitution goes into effect January 2006 after acceptance by the membership of the SWS.

 

Section 2.  The duly elected officers are empowered to make editorial changes in the text.