Vienna Host Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

Lions Club of Vienna, Virginia, Inc.

Constitution & By-Laws

(amended November 27, 2012)

ARTICLE I: NAME, SLOGAN AND MOTTO

The name of this organization shall be the Lions Club of Vienna, Virginia, Inc., incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and chartered by and under the jurisdiction of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
Its Slogan shall be: Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety.
Its Motto shall be: We Serve.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTS

The objects of this Club are:

To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
To promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
To take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
To unite the members in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
To provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by Club members.
To encourage civic-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP STATUS

Subject to the provisions of Section B hereinafter, any person of legal majority, good moral character and good reputation in the community, may be granted membership in this Lions Club.
Membership in this Lions Club shall be as follows:

ACTIVE: A member entitled to all rights and privileges and subject to all obligations which membership in a Lions Club confers or implies. Without limiting such rights and obligations, such rights shall include eligibility to seek, if otherwise qualified, any office in this Club, District or International Association and the right to vote on all matters requiring a vote of the membership; and such obligations shall include regular attendance, prompt payment of dues, participation in Club activities and conduct reflecting a favorable image of this Lions Club in the community.

AFFILIATE: A quality individual of the community who currently is not able to fully participate as an Active member of the Club but desires to support the Club and its community service initiatives and be affiliated with the Club. This status may be conferred by the invitation of the Club’s Board of Directors; however, the number of Affiliate members shall be limited to no more than 25% of the number of Active members of this Club. An Affiliate Member may be eligible to vote on club matters at meetings where s/he is present in person, but may not represent the club as a delegate at District (single, sub, provisional, and/or multiple) or International conventions. S/he shall not be eligible to hold Club, District or International office, nor District, multiple District or International committee assignment.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE: A member of this Club who has moved from the community, or because of health or other legitimate reason, is unable to regularly attend Club meetings and desires to retain membership in this Club, and upon whom the Board of Directors of this Club desires to confer this status. This status shall be reviewed each six months by the Board of Directors of this Club. A Member-at-Large shall not be eligible to hold office or to vote in District or International meetings or conventions, or at Club meetings.

HONORARY: An individual, not a member of this Lions Club, having performed outstanding service for the community or this Lions Club, upon whom this Club desires to confer special distinction. This Club shall pay entrance fees and International and District dues on such a member, who may attend meetings, but shall not be entitled to any privileges of Active Membership.

PRIVILEGED: A member of this Club who has been a Lion fifteen or more years, who, because of illness, infirmities, advanced age or other legitimate reason, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Club, must relinquish Active status. A Privileged Member shall pay such dues as the local club may charge, which dues shall include District and International dues. The member shall have the right to vote and be entitled to all other privileges of membership except the right to hold Club, District or International office.

LIFE MEMBER: Any member of this club who has maintained continuous Active membership as a Lion for 25 or more years and has rendered outstanding service to this Club, the community, or the International Association; or any member of this Club who has maintained such continuous Active membership for 15 or more years and is at least 70 years of age; or any member of this Club who has maintained such continuous Active membership for 20 or more years and has served as an Officer of the International Association may be granted Life membership in this club upon:
1. recommendation of the Club to the International Association,
2. payment by the Club to the International Association of the specified amount required by the International Association in lieu of all future dues, and
3. approval by the International Board of Directors.
4. District Life Memberships can be bestowed only if the provisions in sub. Para. a, b & c above are met and any applicable District fees are paid.

A Life Member shall have all privileges of Active Membership so long as all obligations thereof are fulfilled.

A Life Member who desires to relocate and receives an invitation to join another Lions Club as an Active Member shall not be required, nor shall the new Lions Club be required, to pay International dues while the Life Member retains this status.

FAMILY: A relative of another Active member, residing in the same household.

No person shall simultaneously hold membership, other than Life or Honorary, in this and any other Lions Club; and no person shall simultaneously hold membership, other than Honorary, in this Lions Club and any other service club of like character.

Membership shall be acquired by invitation only. Nominations shall be made on forms provided by the International Office, and shall be signed by a member in good standing who shall act as sponsor. No prospective new member shall be invited to join this Club until after this nomination has been approved in the following manner:

The sponsoring member shall give the name of the prospect to the Club Secretary for referral to the membership committee.
After investigation, the membership committee shall submit the application and the committee’s recommendation to the Board of Directors for majority approval.
If this approval is granted, then the prospect can be invited to become a member of the Club.
A properly filled out nomination form together with check for entrance fee must be in the hands of the Secretary before the member can be officially inducted into the club or reported to Lions International as a member.

An applicant for reinstatement to membership in this Club shall be passed upon by the Membership Committee and Board of Directors in the same manner as for a prospective new member, unless application occurs within six months of original termination, in which case only a majority vote by the Board is necessary.

An applicant desiring to transfer membership from another Lions Club to this Club shall be required to submit, or have submitted, a “Transfer Member Form” from the Secretary of the former Club, showing that the membership was terminated in good standing, providing the member applies within six months of termination from the former Club. If more than six months have elapsed since termination, the application shall be passed upon by the Membership Committee and Board of Directors in the same manner as for a prospective new member, giving due consideration to the past record as a Lion. In any event, the Club shall check with Lions International and/or previous Club as to the applicant’s record.

This Club will consider for membership those persons who have expressed an active interest in serving the greater Vienna Community.

ARTICLE IV: FEES AND DUES

There shall be an entrance fee as specified by International and the Club for each new, reinstated and transfer member of this Club. Said fee shall be collected before the incoming member is identified as a member of this club and before the Secretary shall be permitted to report the incoming member to Lions International. Any revisions of entrance fee amounts by Lions International and/or the Club shall automatically take effect.

The dues of this Club shall be payable quarter in advance and, effective January 1, 2013, shall be $90.00 per quarter for each Active member and $25.00 per quarter for each Affiliate member. Affiliate members shall be charged for meals at cost. Family members who are Active members shall receive a $5.00 dues discount quarterly. This Club may, in the discretion of its Board of Directors, elect to waive payment by any Active member of that portion of the quarterly dues representing dinners which the member is unable to attend provided that such absence is caused by reason of prolonged illness or other good and sufficient cause. Any such waiver granted under this provision shall be for a definite period and shall be subject to revocation at any time by the board of Directors.

All funds collected from dues shall be used for administrative purposes only. There shall be no assessment except as follows:

Lions International and State payments are included in the Club dues; however, if International and/or State dues are increased to more than $59 per annum, such increase shall automatically be reflected in an increase in Club dues. Active member dues also include meals at all regular meetings of the Club. Spouse and other Special Events, including Charter Night, shall be billed as deemed necessary per member in the quarter of the activity. If costs for future meetings, including Spouse and Special Events, exceed the amount specified in the annual Club administrative fund budget, each participating member shall be billed additional amounts if such action is deemed necessary and authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to membership approval at a regularly scheduled meeting at which a quorum is present of qualified voting members.

Each Affiliate Member, Privileged Member and each Member-at-Large shall be required to pay quarterly Club dues of $25.00 in advance, which does not include meals, out of which the Club shall pay their Lions International dues, magazine subscription, Lions International Convention Fund Tax and State dues; however, any increase in the costs of these listed items shall automatically be reflected in an increase in the Affiliate, Privileged and Member-at-Large Club dues.

Each Honorary Member, as elected, shall not be required to pay Club dues. In all cases the Club shall pay, out of its regular administrative funds, the regular Lions International entrance fee, as well as the Lions International dues, magazine subscription, Lions International Convention Fund Tax and State dues. The Honorary Member will be billed meal costs.

Each Life Member elected to this status by the Club after the application and qualifications have been approved and accepted by the Board of Directors of Lions International, shall be required to pay such dues as the local Club may prescribe. The local Club, after the member has been qualified as a Life Member by the Board of Directors of this Association, shall not be billed for International dues, magazine subscription, or Lions International Convention Fund on such member. Life Members so recognized after January 1, 1987 shall be billed for meal costs.

The Club may, at the discretion of its Board of Directors, elect to waive its regular entrance fee for any former member of another Lions Club who is now eligible for membership in this Lions Club; however, in addition to the payment of the regular Club dues in effect at that time, such transferred member shall be required to pay the Club’s required transfer fee, out of which the required Lions International transfer fee shall be sent to Lions International with the report of the transfer. The Lions International transfer fee covers the cost of establishing the member’s previous affiliation, ~~actually~~ making the transfer on the records and includes the member’s Lions International per capita for the remainder of the semi-annual period. However, in cases where the transferring member’s dues are paid up in the former Club for the full semi-annual period in which the transfer of membership is made in which case no Lions International transfer fee is charged.

This Club may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, elect to waive its regular entrance fee for any former member who wishes to be reinstated; however, in addition to the payment of the regular Club dues in effect at that time, such reinstated member shall be required to pay the club’s required reinstatement fee, out of which the required Lions International reinstatement fee shall be sent to Lions International with the report of reinstatement. The reinstatement fee covers the cost of establishing the member’s earlier affiliation, ~~actually~~ entering the reinstatement in the records, and includes the member’s Lions International per capita for the remainder of that semi-annual period.

The Club shall set aside the necessary amounts from the annual dues of all members for International and State per capita payments.

ARTICLE V: RESIGNATION

Resignation of any member shall become effective upon written notice to the President or Secretary of the Club, or upon two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors when a member has relocated without written notice and dues have not been paid within 60 days of the member being billed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall endeavor to collect all past dues funds owed.

ARTICLE VI: FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP

Secretary shall submit to the Board of Directors the name of any member who fails to pay any indebtedness to this Club which becomes 60 days or more past due. The Secretary shall then notify the member of such indebtedness, in writing, after securing Board approval. The member shall be dropped from or retained on the roster thirty (30) days after the member receives written notice from the Secretary. Any member who fails to pay any indebtedness due this club within 30 days after receipt from the Secretary of written notice thereof shall thereon forfeit his/her good standing and shall so remain until such indebtedness is paid in full. Only members in good standing may exercise the voting privilege and hold office in this Club.

Any member may be expelled for cause from the club by a two-thirds vote of the ~~entire~~ Board of Directors.

The name of any member who shall be absent from four consecutive regular meetings of the Club without acceptable cause being given to the Attendance Committee chairman or the Club Secretary, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors by the Attendance Committee chairman or the Secretary at the next Board meeting following the fourth such absence. The Board of Directors shall decide within thirty days thereafter whether such Active member shall be dropped from the Club or retained on the club roster.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

The officers of this Club shall be a President, Immediate Past President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Lion Tamer, Tail Twister and all Directors.

No person shall be eligible to hold office in this Club unless that person is an Active Member in good standing.

No officer shall receive any compensation for any service rendered to this Club in his/her official capacity with the exception of the Secretary, whose compensation, if any, shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, and in no event may exceed regular annual Club dues.

Duties:

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the club. The President shall preside at all meetings and shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors. The President shall issue the call for regular monthly and special Board meetings and shall appoint the standing c=administrative and activities committees, in accordance with Lions International Club Standard Organizational Plan, and shall act as an ex-officio member of each of these committees. The President shall cooperate with the Vice-Presidents to see that these committees function and both shall cooperate with the committee chairmen toward that end. The President shall call for regular committee reports and shall see that regular elections are held in accordance with International and local Constitutions. The President shall also cooperate with, and be an active member of, the District Government’s Advisory Committee of the Zone in which the Club is located.

The Immediate Past President shall be a member of the Board of Directors with all the rights and privileges of the other members of the Board. The Immediate Past President and the other Past Presidents shall officially greet members and their guests at the meetings.

The Vice-Presidents succeed or substitute for the President or other Vice-Presidents in case of absence or vacancy, according to their order of office. They shall assure that committees designated by the President function and shall participate in supporting their activities toward this end.

The Secretary shall be under the supervision and direction of the President and Board of Directors, and shall act as liaison officer between the club, the district and the Association. The Secretary’s duties shall be, in general, as follows:

To Lions International as provided in the Lions International Constitution and By-Laws, the Secretary shall submit:
1. Regular Monthly Membership and Activities Reports as prescribed. NOTE: The monthly reports should be submitted electronically as soon as possible after the last meeting of each month and not later than the last day of the calendar month or mailed in time to reach Lions Clubs International no later than the 20^th of the month. For State Achievement Awards, the annual application must be mailed through the Zone Chairperson so as to arrive at the District Governor’s address within thirty days following the close of the Lions Clubs International Convention.
2. Such other information and dates concerning the activities of this Club as may be called for by the International Association of Lions Clubs Board of Directors.

To the District: The Secretary shall keep in touch with the District Governor and submit such reports as may be required by the District Governors organization; particularly a copy of the Regular Membership and Activities Reports within the current month. The Secretary shall also cooperate with, and be an active member of, the District Governor’s Advisory Committee of the Zone in which this ~~his~~ club is located.

To the Club: The Secretary shall keep the general Club records, including minutes of Club and Board meetings, committee appointments, officers list, attendance records, list of members showing their classifications, addresses, ~~and~~ telephone numbers and email addresses. The Secretary shall keep the members’ Club accounts and a detailed record of Club receipts and disbursements and shall issue regular quarterly or semi-annual statements to each member for their dues or other financial obligations to the Club, and shall collect from members and others all monies due the Club, turning such funds over to the Treasurer, taking proper receipt thereof. The Secretary shall report to Lions International the names of all committee chairmen as soon as they are appointed by the President, as may be required by Lions Clubs International. The Secretary shall give bond for the faithful discharge of duties, in such sum and with such securities as may be required by the Board of directors.

The Treasurer shall receive all monies from the Secretary and deposit same in a bank or banks recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. All checks and vouchers must be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by one other officer, preferably the President or Secretary. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit monthly financial reports to the Board of directors, quarterly reports to the Club, and semi-annual reports to Lions International. The Treasurer shall give bond for the faithful discharge of duties, in such sum and with such securities as may be required by the Board of Directors.

The Lion Tamer shall be in charge of and responsible for the club’s property and paraphernalia; sees that flags, gong, gavel and button Board are properly placed; distributes bulletins, song books, favors and literature; is sergeant-at-arms at meetings; and sees that those present at the meetings are properly seated.

The Tail Twister shall foster harmony and fellowship, life, and enthusiasm at the meetings. The Tail Twister shall collect fines from the members, and there shall be no ruling from the decision in imposing a fine. The Tail Twister may not be fined except by unanimous vote of members present. No fine shall exceed one dollar and no member shall be fined more than twice at any one meeting. Thye Tail Twister shall also promote fun and laughter at the meeting by the inauguration of appropriate stunts and games. All monies collected by the Tail Twister shall be immediately turned over to the Secretary.

ARTICLE VIII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In addition to the Officers, there shall be at least four Directors and the Directors, together with the Officers, shall constitute the Board of Directors.

A majority of the Officers and Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board.

The duties of the Board of directors shall be as follows:

The Board of Directors shall constitute the Executive Board of the Club, and shall be responsible for the execution, through its officers, of the authorized policies of the Club. All new business of the Club shall first be considered and shaped by the Board of Directors for presentation to the Club members at a regular Club meeting, if in the opinion of the Board it is advisable to do so.
It shall authorize all expenditures and shall not create any indebtedness beyond the current assets of the Club, nor disburse funds for purposes non-essential to the objects of the Club.
A majority vote of the Board of Directors shall govern, except where otherwise provided. The Board of Directors shall have the power to overrule or modify the action of any officer of the Club.
It shall finally approve or reject, after due consideration of membership committee report and recommendations, any nomination for membership before invitation is extended.
It shall have the books and accounts audited annually, or more often at its discretion.
It shall determine the date and place of the annual nomination and election meetings and shall instruct the Secretary to issue the call for such meetings.
It shall hold regular monthly meetings.
It shall hold special meetings when called by the President of the Club or by written request of five Active Members of the Club in good standing.
It shall designate, on recommendation of the Finance Committee, bank(s) and/or other insured financial institutions for the deposit of the funds of the Club.
It shall approve the surety company in which the Secretary and the Treasurer shall be bonded.
It shall receive committee reports and recommendations, and shall submit to the club at regular meetings recommendations which it has approved affecting the administrative or activities policies of the Club.
It shall determine the time and place of the regular Club meetings, and shall have the authority to call any special meetings considered necessary.
At the first Club meeting in March, it shall submit to the Club a Board-approved list of delegates and alternates and a list of other members willing to serve as delegates or alternates to the State and International Conventions for final selection by Club Ballot.

ARTICLE IX: ELECTIONS

The Officers and Directors of this club, excluding the Immediate Past-President, shall be elected as follows:

A nomination meeting shall be held during the first regular Club meeting in March of each year, date and place of such meeting to be determined by the Board of directors and announced to each member of the Club by either the Secretary or the Nominating Committee by mail at least two weeks prior to the time of holding such meeting. At the nomination meeting, nominations for all offices to be filled in the succeeding year may also be made from the floor. This notice shall include the list of nominees that will be proposed by the Nominating Committee.

The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee comprised of past Club Presidents for the purpose of proposing the names of candidates for the various Club offices for presentation to the Club membership on the regular nomination day. The Nominating Committee shall meet in closed session. All nominations, whether by the Nominating Committee or from the floor, shall be made with the prior consent of the nominee.
If, in the interim between the nomination meeting and the election meeting, a nominee is unable to serve the club for the office to which the nominee was nominated, whether through death, disability, or refusal to act, and for which office there was no other nominee, the President shall instruct the Nominating Committee to propose names of candidates for that office. No election shall be held until two weeks after the Secretary notifies each member of the Club, by mail, of the nomination vacancy, and date of the special nomination meeting. At this special nomination meeting, additional nominations, restricted to the office in question, may be made from the floor, with the nominee’s consent, and the election held immediately thereafter.

An election meeting shall be held during the first regular Club meeting in April of each year, date and place of such meeting to be determined by the Board of Directors and announced to each member of the Club by either the Secretary or the Nominating Committee, by mail, at least two weeks prior to the time of such meeting. Said notification will be accompanied with a statement that that the included nominations will be voted upon at this election meeting. No nominations can be made on election night except those provided for in Art. VIII, Sec. C.

All Officers shall be elected annually and shall take office on July , and shall hold office for one year from that date, or until their successors shall be elected and installed.

One-half of the Directors shall be elected annually and shall take office on July 1, and shall hold office for two years from that ~~time~~ date or until their successors shall be elected and installed.

The election shall be by ballot by those present who shall be members in good standing and qualified to vote. A plurality vote shall be necessary to elect.

REMOVAL: Any Officer of this club may be removed from office for cause by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Club membership, qualified to vote and members in good standing.

ARTICLE X: VACANCIES

If the office of President of First Vice-President shall become vacant for any reason, the Vice-Presidents shall advance in office, according to their rank. In the event such provision for advancement shall fail to fill the office of President, or First Vice-President, the Board of Directors shall thereon call a special election, giving each member in good standing two weeks prior notice, by mail, of the time and place thereof, which time and place shall be determined by said Board, and such office shall be filled at said meeting.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Second Vice-President or any other office, the Board of Directors shall appoint a member, with the member’s consent, to fill the unexpired term.

In the event vacancies shall be of such a number as the reduce the number of Directors to less than the number required for a quorum, the membership of the Club shall have the power to fill such vacancies by an election held at any regular meeting of the Club upon prior notice, and in the manner specified in Section B hereafter. Such notice may be given by any remaining Officer or Director, but, if none, then by any member.

In the event of any Officer-elect, before his/her term of office commences, is unable or refuses for any reason to serve therein, the President may call a special nomination and election meeting to elect a replacement for such Officer-elect. Two weeks prior notice of such meeting, setting forth the purpose, time and place thereof, shall be mailed to each member. The election shall be held immediately after nominations have been closed and a plurality vote shall be necessary for election.

ARTICLE XI: MEETINGS

This club shall meet regularly, at least semi-monthly, on a day, time and place determined by the Board of Directors, subject to membership approval, and such meeting shall constitute the regular meeting of the Club. All meetings shall begin promptly and close promptly at the regular set time, as adopted by the Board of Directors, with prior notification given to the membership before each meeting.

The regular meeting shall be devoted to the promotion of a closer fellowship through singing, a system of fines by the Tail Twister, and individual programs of community affairs and Lionism.

The second regular meeting of each month shall include, in addition to Section B above, an abbreviated reading of the M & A report, minutes of the Board meeting, and any Club business requiring membership attention.

Special meetings may be called when considered necessary by the Board of Directors, with ten days prior notice to the membership, indicating purpose, time and place.

An Anniversary Charter Night meeting, shall be held each year, at which time special attention should be devoted to the objects and ethics of Lionism. The Club may decide to use this meeting additionally as an installation night.

A nomination meeting shall be held during the first regular Club meeting in March of each year, per Article IX, Section A.

An election meeting shall be held during the first regular Club meeting in April of each year, per Article IX, Section D.

An attendance of 51% of the members in good standing, with exceptions noted in Article VI, Section A, shall be necessary for a quorum at any meeting of this Club.

An annual meeting shall be held toward the end of the year, at which time the final reports of the retiring Officers shall be read.

ARTICLE XII: EMBLEM, COLORS AND FISCAL YEAR

The emblem and colors of this Club shall be the same as the emblem and colors of the International Association of Lions Clubs.

The Club’s fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.

ARTICLE XIII: DELEGATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL AND DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

The President-elect and Secretary-elect will be automatically selected as delegates to the International Convention each year provided they signify their intention of attending the convention prior to the Club’s selection of delegates by ballot. (NOTE: Each chartered Club in good standing shall be entitled in any convention of this Association to one delegate and one alternate for every twenty-five, or major fraction thereof, of its members in good standing a shown by the records of Lions International on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. The major fraction referred to in this section shall be thirteen or more members.) The selection of each such delegate and alternate shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Eligibility signed by the Club President and/or Club Secretary on a form furnished by Lions International.

The President, President-elect and Secretary-elect will be automatically selected as delegates to the District convention, provided they signify their intention of attending the convention prior to the selection of delegates by Club ballot.

All members that attend a District Convention will share in the convention fund, if any, that was budgeted or given later approval by the Board of Directors. Because the District Convention fund pays the registration fee for the Club delegates, all delegates attending whose registration has not been pre-paid will be reimbursed for the registration from the Club’s District Convention Fund, the balance to be divided on the following basis:

The available balance will be divided equally provided all members have attended the same number of days, otherwise the balance will be pro-rated, based on the sum of total number of days in attendance divided into the available balance, this result to be multiplied by the number of days registered in Convention Hotel by each member.

Any member who has a vote at the District Convention without election as a delegate by the Club, will not be selected by the Club as a delegate or alternate, but will share on the same basis as all Club members in the division of ~~State~~ District Convention funds with adjustment downward equivalent to any expense allowance from other official sources. This adjustment to be divided equally among remaining members. (NOTE: Each chartered Club in good standing in the Association shall be entitled in the District Convention to one voting delegate and one alternate for each ten members of said Club or major fraction thereof, as shown by the records of Lions International on the first day of the month last preceding that month during which the convention is held. The major fraction shall be five or more members.)

ARTICLE XIV: PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICES

Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and By-Laws, all questions of Order or Procedure with respect to any meeting or action of this Club, its Board of Directors or any committee appointed hereunder shall be determined in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, as revised from time to time.

ARTICLE XV: AMENDMENTS, NOTICES AND REPORTS

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Club at which there is a quorum, by a two-thirds vote of the members present whom are in good standing and qualified to vote, provided the Board has previously considered the merits of the amendment. A proposed amendment may originate from the Board of Directors or any Club member or group of members.

No amendment shall be put to vote unless written notice shall have been mailed to each member of this Club at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted on, said notice to state the proposed amendment.

Any and all written notices and reports required in this Constitution and By-Laws shall be considered made and/or delivered by one or more of the following methods: U.S. mail or other common carrier, electronic mail, personal delivery.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I: POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS ENDORSEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS

This Club at no time shall endorse or recommend any candidate for political office, nor shall politics or political candidates be discussed at the meetings. Also, no religious discussions shall be tolerated at the meetings.

ARTICLE II: USE OF CLUB FOR FURTHERING PERSONAL OR POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS

Except to further progress in Lionism, no Officer or member of this Club shall use it as a means of furthering any personal, political, or other aspirations, not shall this club, as a whole, take part in any movement not in keeping with the real purpose and objects of the club.

ARTICLE III: SOLICITATION OF FUNDS AT MEETING

No funds shall be collected from members of the Club during the meetings by any individual or individuals who are not members of the Club. Any suggestions or propositions made at any meeting of the Club calling for the expenditure of money for other than regular obligations shall be referred to the President or Secretary for Board action.

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT

The following Standing Committees may be appointed by the President:

Under the First Vice-President:

Administrative (Constitution/By-Laws, club newsletter, conferences, Greeters, club safety, Sunshine)
Community Relations (Halloween parade, website, public relations)
Hearing
Sight (White Cane, Recycle center, Sight/hearing van)
Social Activities (Attendance, picnic, holiday party, Charter Night, Mystery Trip, food and bar)

Under the Second Vice-President:

Fund Raising (Christmas trees, Holiday Bazaar, July 4^th, Car donor, Spring Bazaar)
Growing VHLC (Dinner programs, Membership)
Leo Club
Visitation
Youth (Bland Contest, Citizenship, HS grad parties, Madison baseball, Robotics, Youth Camp)

Special Committees: From time to time, the President may appoint such Special Committees as may be judged necessary is his/her judgment or the judgment of the Board of Directors. Said committee’ proposed budget(s) must be approved by the Board.

The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.

All committees shall consist of a chairman and as many members as shall be deemed necessary by the President.

Each committee, through its chairman, shall report either verbally or in writing at least once per quarter to the Board of Directors, and quarterly to the Club membership.

All matters for consideration shall be turned over to the Chairman of the corresponding committee for study and recommendation to the Board of Directors.

Vice-Presidents should meet with their committees at least twice a year.

ARTICLE V: ATTENDANCE CREDIT FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS

In the event a regular club meeting date is changed from its normal meeting night for a special program, Club members will still be eligible for 100% attendance, even if they miss the special program and no make-up date is available.

ARTICLE VI: FEES

The fees assessed members are as follows:

Transfer Fee - $ 30.00
Reinstatement Fee - $ 30.00
Entrance Fee - $ 30.00
Family member entrance fee - $ 25.00

Guest meals and membership social activity costs will be established from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDING BY-LAWS

These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of this Club at which a quorum is present, by the vote of a majority of the members in good standing, in person and eligible to vote.

No alteration, amendment or appeal shall be put to vote unless written notice shall have been provided to each member via US mail or common carrier, electronic mail, or personal delivery at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted on. The proposed amendment shall be stated in such notice.

ARTICLE VIII: SUSPENDING BY-LAWS

Any By-Law, except By-Laws Articles I, II and VII, may be suspended at any meeting of this Club by the majority vote of all members in good standing who are present and eligible to vote.