AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS ASSOCIATION POST492 CHAPTER "BY-LAWS"
MISSION STATEMENT:
To function as a "Sub-Club" of American Legion Post 492. To assist American Legion Post 492 as it deems necessary. To foster, promote and perpetuate the spirit of the American Legion (AL), Sons of the American Legion (SAL), The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) and the American Legion Riders association (ALR). To participate in parades, comminity services and ceremonies that are in keeping with the goals, aims and purpose of the American Legion, (SAL)(ALA)(ALR) and like minded organizations. To provide a social atmosphere for American Legion members who share the same interests and to promote good will through motorcycling.
MEMBERSHIPS
There shall be two(2)types of memberships:
1. Full voting memberships
2. Non-voting "I support memberships"
OFFICERS (shall be elected):
Director
Assistant Director
Secretary
Treasurer/Membership Chairperson
Chaplain
OFFICERS (elected or appointed):
Events coordinator
Historian
Sargeant at Arms
Publicity Person
Road Captain/Run Coordinator
Web Master
OUTLINE OF ATTACHMENTS AND BASIC GOVERNING RULES
2/3 majority vote of all members in attendance at a General Membership Meeting is required to change By-Laws. Any article in the Indiana (ALR) State By-Laws that conflict with our By-Laws will nullify our conflicting By-Laws. No amemdment shall conflict with the (AL) By-Laws.
APPAREL See section C & (I SUPPORT MEMBER #11):
Shall be worn in accordance with the State guidelines.
ATTACHMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Outlines duties and responsibilities of Officer, Apparel,Membership and business in general.
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
See section H
DUES (Section B, Treasurer/Membership Chairperson #3)
Shall be set by majority vote of voting membership at a General Membership Meeting.
Shall run concurrent with Post 492 dues ending on Dec. 31st
Earlybird members will run congruent with Post 492.
Shall be submitted to the Membership Chairperson accompanied by completed application form.
ELECTIONS (See section D):
Nominations shall be held in October for officers in the year.
Elections will be in November.
EXPULSION (See section G)
GOVERNING RULES (See section I)
HOST POST MEMBERS (See section J)
MAJORITY VOTE (See section E)
Shall be greater than 50% of those voting members in attendance at a meeting unless specitied in Attachment.
MEETINGS (See section F)
MEMBERSHIP (See section A)
MISSION STATEMENT (SEE PAGE 1)
OFFICERS (See section B)
Shall be a current active member in good standing with either the (AL)(ALA)or the (SAL). Shall execute and emenate the will of the General Membership.
SAFETY (see section K)
No person shall knowingly ride an unsafe motorcycle or in an unsafe manner while on an organized event sponsored by our chapter. No person shall ride a motorcycle in our events if they do not meet the legal requirements of the State of Indiana.
ATTACHMENTS TO BY-LAWS
MEMBERSHIP (SECTION A)
FULL VOTING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
1. All voting member of Post 492(ALR) shall hold a current paid membership in good standing of either the (AL),(ALA)or(SAL). Must pay additional(ALR)dues to(ALR) Membership Chairperson to activate membership in Post 492 American Legion Riders Association.
2. Must own a street legal motorcycle with an engine displacement of at least "350cc" or be a spouse of a (ALR) member.
3. Shall complete and sign a "Membership Application Form".
4. Current active(ALR) members will update changes in their mailing address with Membership Chairperson.
I SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
(NOT ADDRESSED BY INDIANA STATE ALR "BY-LAWS")
1. Any current paid member in good standing of the (AL),(ALA)or(SAL) not owning a legal street motorcycle of "350cc" or bigger nor being the legal spouse of such, must pay additional(ALR) dues to (ALR) Membership Person to activate membership in Post 492 ALR. In number 1
2. Shall complete and sign a "Membership Application Form".
3. An I Support Member may not be elected to any offfice within Post 492 Chapter of the ALR.
4. Current active ALR I Support members will update changes in their mailing address with Membership Chairperson.
OFFICERS (SECTION B)
DIRECTOR
1. Will serve as Chief Administration Officer of the Association and will preside over all meetings. The Director shall have general supervision over the affairs of the association and shall perform such other duties as directed by the general membership.
2. Director will appoint posts or solicit election for all positions.
3. Shall assist new Director acclimate to their position.
4. Shall create calendar of events for when busines needs to be completed.
5. Shall hold meetings in accordance with "Roberts Rule of Order".
6. Can not hold another office in any ALR capacity during their active year as Director.
7. If Director chooses to accept an office in any other capacity within the ALR they shall resign their Post Directors office.
8. Oversee quarterly audit composed of three(3)officers.
9. May hold positions on any ALR committee outside of Post 492.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
1. Will asssume the position of Director in their absence.
2. Will assist the Director in the performance of his/her duties when called on to do so by the Director.
3. Will oversee safety issues.
4. Can hold one other office during their active year in any ALR capacity outside Post 492.
5. Shall become Post ALR Director if elected Director resigns.
6. If ALR Assistant Director assumes ALR Post Director while holding an additional office in any other capacity of the ALR and wishes to retain their multiple rolls they shall hold a special election for ALR Post 492 Director within 45 days of their temporary appointment to Post Director or resign from any other office they may hold within the ALR and retain position of Post Director for the remainder of the year.
7. May hold positions on any ALR committee outside Post 492.
SECRETARY
1. Keep a full and correct record of all proceedings at the meetings.
2. Handle all ALR correspondence.
TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON
1. To have charge of all finances of the association.
2. To have charge of disbursing funds directed by the general membership
3. To give financial reports at each regular meeting.
4. This office may be combined with the Secretary.
5. Make financial records available to Director for quarterly audits.
6. Make records available for membership and officer pursual.
7. Responsible for contating other Legion Posts, organizations and publicizing our ALR chapter.
8. Take necessary action to contact news media of our events.
9. Keep ALR membership records as may be required by the general membership.
10. Give detailed reports as needed to the general membership.
11. Verify members are qualified to join ALR and keep current ALR membership mailing addresses and Posts, Squadrons, and Auxiliary of affiliation.
CHAPLAIN
1. To open meetings with a prayer.
2. To provide service as required by the general membership.
HISTORIAN
1. Will keep a written history of all activities of the association.
2. Will keep a photo album of events.
SERGEANT AT ARMS
1. Will help set up meetings and maintain order during meetings and assist Director in most activites.
2. Will be the verifying agent for the ALR.
EVENTS COORDINATOR
1. The EC will be resposible for panning, organizing and conducting holiday events, charity rallies, toy runs, etc., which the chapter will sponsor.
2. The EC will chair committees to review worthwhile charities the chapter will sponsor.
3. The general membership will review proposed charities annually and select the ones the chapter will select to support.
ROAD CAPTAIN/RUN COORDINATOR
1. Is responsible for the safety of our rides.
2. May at any time take measures necessary to insure the safety of the group during a run.
3. Appoint assistant RCs to assist in their effort to maintain safety.
4. Will be the logistics person in charge of organizing routes and meeting places for those taking part in a run activity.
WEB MASTER
1. To maintain a website.
2. To send a monthly news letter to members.
APPAREL (SECTION C)
If you ware a black vest on one of our rides the following applies:
1. Vest - upper left front hightest badge shall be the American flag. (required)
2. Vest - upper left front below American Flag is Indiana Flag if worn. (optional)
3. Vest - upper left front below flags American Legion insignia (required)
4. Vest - upper left front below Legion insignia officer's patch or pin. (optional)
5. Vest - right side front (POW/MIA/MEMORY, etc. patches. (optional)
6. Vest - back centered NATIONAL RIDER PATCH. (required)
7. Vest - back and grounded to top of Rider Patch (Post 492).(required)
8. Vest - back and grounded to bottom of Rider patch (West Lafayette, IN.) (required)
9. Vest - back lower part (Chapter Charter Patch) (optional)
10 Absolutely no "PROPERTY PATCHES"
11 I Support members shall wear the I SUPPORT PATCH if black vest is worn.
ELECTIONS (SECTION D)
1. Elections will be held annually with nominations in October and elections in November.
2. A majority vote of the general membership successfully places nominee in office for the following year.
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS (SECTION E)
1. May be amended by submitting said proposed amendment to Director or Assistant Director in writing. The officer shall place proposed amendment on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting and read aloud.
2. Said amendment then becomes eligible for voting upon at next regular scheduled meeting provided that written notice of such vote has been availed to all members for at least 10 days prior to voting at a General Meeting unless referred to committee for review. If committee alters proposed amendment the process begins anew.
3. Passage shall require 2/3 vote of members attending the general membership meeting in favor of said amendment.
4. No amendment shall conflict with American Legion Post 492 By-Laws, State ALR or the Indiana State American Legion.
5. Post 492 executive board shall approve ALR amendments to become valid.
MEETING (SECTION F)
1. Meeting will be held each month on the 2nd Tuesday at 7pm at Post 492.
2. Three officers and four members will constitute a quorum capable of conducting business at a scheduled general meeting of the ALR.
EXPULSION (SECTION G)
1. Any member may be expelled of suspended from the association by a majority vote of the general membership at a regular chapter meeting. The back patch may not be worn. Appeals will be handled by the State Officers.
2. A Charter Chapter Member can only be expelled at the State Level.
3. Suspension - temporary - member may not wear back patch but can attend function.
4. Expulson - Permanent - back patch may not be worn.
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS (SECTION H)
1. Disbursement of funds in excess of $500 will be made by those authorized by majority vote of the general membership at any regular meeting of the post chapter.
2. Disbursement of under $500 requires approval of 2 officers. Approval may be obtained by phone or e-mail.
3. Disbursement of funds will follow local, state and national guidelines affecting Non Profit Organizations.
4. All payments requires a check with two signatures consisting of any two ALR officers officially designated at the ALR's bank to sign.
GOVERNING RULES (SECTION I)
1. Rules shall be no less stringent than those contained in the by-laws nor can they conflict with the National Constitution, Post 492, ALA of SAL by-laws.
HOST POST MEMBERS (SECTION J)
1. Post 492 ALR will allow members to join from other Posts.
2. They need not change membership from thir Post to Post 492.
3. They will wear our rocker with Post 492 and West Lafayette, IN. if they wear a black vest.
DEDICATED TO SAFETY (SECTION K)
These safety functions will be our By-Laws unless the State ALR have more stringent safety laws. Which ever represents the higher safety standard will be our By-Laws.
The following list of rules may be used in full or in part by the RC's decision regarding the event. An (*) denotes a mandatory safety issue desighed to protect our members and valued guests.
* No one shall knowingly operate a motorcycle on any of our events while impaired with either alcohol or illegal drugs.
* No operator shall throughout the course of a ALR ride become inpaired with either alcohol of illegal drugs.
* All riders and guests will sign a waiver stating they are in compliance with Indiana State driving laws, are aware of their rights while on a ALR Post 492 ride, have read our "RELEASE AND LIABILITY FORM" and signed said form.
01. Motorcycle operators must have a valid license for motorcycles, insurance for the motorcycle they are operating and a current license plate for the same in order to participate in our events.
02. No motorcycle shall carry more passengers than the cycle is disigned for.
03. An alternating riding style shall be incorporated at our events unless while at parades and funerals.
04. If Post 492 ALR participates in a ride sponsored by an organization other than our own, their rules shall govern the ride unless our RC or their designate determines them unsafe.
05. The RC and their assistant will maintain a position at the beginning and end of the group and will have communication between them when deemed necessary.
06. Knowledge of the route taken should be available to all riders prior to starting the event.
07. An estimated completion time and duration time at stops should be available
08. Any rider who chooses to drop out prior to the end of the run should notify the RC and take up a position at the end of the progression for that leg of the run which they desire to leave.
09. Any unsafe situation should be brought to the RC's attention.
10. A first aid kit shall accompany all rides.
11. The RC will compose a check list of things to do for a ride and pass it along to the incoming officer.
12. If asked to help another organization with their rides we must supply a qualified person, pending we acept.
13. A sign stating our * rules shall be posted at sign-in stations for major rides.
