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KANSAS CITY BIER MEISTERS
BY-LAWS
RULES & PROCEDURES

The name of this organization is and shall continue to be the “KANSAS CITY BIER MEISTERS.”

ArticleI. Purpose and/or Objective

The objective of this organization shall be to develop the appreciation of homebrew and commercial beer, and to promote knowledge of the various arts of brewing.

LOGO:      A frothy beer mug with a seal of barley & hops surrounded by the name, “Kansas City Bier Meisters.”

Article II. Meetings

  • The Kansas City Bier Meisters will meet monthly at such time & place as designated by the executive board.
  • Locations shall be announced two months in advance and published in the newsletters.
  • The duration of the Kansas City Bier Meisters shall be perpetual.

Article III. STRUCTURE

The structure of this organization shall be the relationship of the officers, committees, & members.
This organization shall be an organization whose members shall have the sole right to govern & control all its activities through its elected officers & committee structure. The offices shall be:   

  • PRESIDENT
  • VICE PRESIDENT
  • SECRETARY
  • TREASURER

and shall be members of the executive board as defined herein.

A vacancy in any office other than the office of president shall be filled by presidential appointment with the executive board’s approval. The president’s office shall be filled by the vice president if a vacancy occurs.
 
PRESIDENT

  1. Is the authorized leader.
  2. Presides at all meetings of the organization and the executive board.
  3. shall see to the general and active management of the business affairs of the organization and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the executive board are enacted.
  4. shall, with the approval of the executive board , appoint committees & approve the actions thereof.
  5. shall perform such other duties as the executive board may prescribe.

VICE PRESIDENT

  1. in the absence of the president, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and perform necessary duties of the office
  2. shall serve as program coordinator, whose duties include, but not necessarily be limited to:shall act as official host/hostess at all organization functions
    1. securing speakers
    2. coordinating tastings
    3. and such other duties as prescribed by the executive board
  4. shall be custodian of the organizational properties.

 SECRETARY

  1. record and report the minutes of each general membership meeting and of the executive board
  2. conduct general organizational correspondence
  3. maintain a list of committees & their members
  4. see that a monthly newsletter is published
  5. maintain a current member & mailing roster
  6. and such other duties as prescribed by the executive board

 TREASURER

  1. have custody of the funds of the organization
  2. collect the organization’s dues, monthly assessments, & special fees
  3. disperse funds for all debts incurred by the organization
  4. keep accurate & complete records of all transactions suitable for audit by the executive board
  5. see that funds are deposited in a federally insured account within 10 days of receipt
  6. and such other duties as prescribed by the executive board

Article IV. EXECUTIVE BOARD

The executive board shall consist of the four organizational officers as set forth in these by-laws.

The President shall act as chairman of the executive board.

A majority of the duly elected and qualified executive board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at executive board meetings.

The executive board shall:

  1. have general supervision of the affairs of the organization between the business meetings
  2. constitute organizational authority in deciding matters of organizational policy not otherwise decreed
  3. act upon committee reports and make recommendations to the membership
  4. perform other duties as specified in the procedures
  5. fix the hour and place of the executive board meetings

Article V. Removal of board members

Any board member may be removed by the membership whenever in the judgment of two-thirds of the members the best interest of the organization will be served by the removal.

This procedure shall be initiated by a petition signed by not less than one-third of the members.

Prior to any removal, the executive board member sought to be removed must be given reasonable prior notice of the impending action and a reasonable opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf before the board and at a regular or special meeting of the members.

Article VI. Membership

Membership shall be open to the public and subject to provisions of these by-laws.  It shall be limited to persons 21 years of age or older.

All members shall be entitled to one vote on each issue presented to the general membership.

Absentee Voting
Shall be accepted if such vote is submitted in writing to the secretary prior to the voting of the general membership

Classifications of membership:
Membership in the organization shall be one of three classifications:

  • Regular
  • Former
  • Honorary

Regular members shall be ones who have complied with all requirements for membership in this organization and who are in good standing.

Former members shall be members whose dues lapsed for a period of not greater than one year.

Honorary members shall be persons who have rendered special services to the organization, or made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of brewing.

Honorary membership shall be granted in lieu of annual dues and to any qualified person previously approved by a resolution of the executive board.

Any member may submit the name and qualifications of any person to the board for consideration.

No honorary members shall have the right to vote on the organizations affairs, nor to hold office.

All honorary members shall be entitled to all services of the organization.

Any individual, by accepting membership in the organization, does thereby agree to abide by all provisions of the by-laws, rules and procedures of the organization.

Article VII. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS

Any member may be removed by the membership whenever in the judgment of two-thirds of the members the best interest of the organization will be served by the removal.

This procedure shall be initiated by a petition signed by not less than one-third of the members.

Prior to any removal, the member sought to be removed must be given reasonable opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf before the board and at a regular or special meeting of the members.

Article VIII. FINANCES

The annual membership dues shall be established by the membership at the annual meeting.  The fiscal year shall be June – May.

Dues are payable on application for membership in the organization.

Dues are renewed by the June meeting each year.

Any member who does not pay the annual membership dues by June shall be removed form the membership roster.

New members joining after June shall pay prorated dues based on the number of months remaining in the fiscal year.

Former members may be reinstated as current members by full payment of the current annual dues.

ASSESSMENTS
Assessments for meeting expenses shall be determined by the board and approved by the membership

AMEDNMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Amendments to the by-laws shall be initiated by a discussion and simple majority vote of members present to form a committee of at least three members to study and propose the amendment.

The amendment shall be published for two consecutive months in the newsletter to members prior to a member-ship vote.

A simple majority of the membership must vote on the proposed amendment to the by-laws.  A two-thirds majority of such vote shall be necessary to pass an amendment to the by-laws.

Article IX. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS

The officers shall be elected annually by secret ballot at such time as shall be established by the executive board and shall serve 1 year or until the next official election.

Nomination Process

  • The members shall be polled annually as to their willingness to serve as an officer and/or committee chairman and/or committee member.  The documented results shall be made public to the membership.
  • Those members willing to serve in an elected office shall be candidates for the office.
  • In addition, nominations will be accepted from the floor 1 month prior to the election and no nominations on election night.
  • The candidates shall be made public in the newsletters prior to the election meeting.

Conducting the Election

  • The # of eligible voters present shall be determined.
  • The total # of members present eligible to vote is to be recorded by the secretary.
  • A simple majority of those voting will determine election of the candidate for each office

Exceptions

  • The Vice-President may not be the spouse of the President Elect.
  • Run-offs may be required to obtain a simple majority vote on one candidate.  The procedure will be determined by the executive board at that time.

Article X. COMMITTEES

The president shall call for volunteers for each committee prior to appointment.

The president will appoint the chairperson of each committee to coordinate & schedule meetings to accomplish the goals of the committees, such as:

  1. propose date, time, & place of function if applicable
  2. propose program format, costs, & assign duties

It is the responsibility of each committee chairperson to submit progress reports at monthly meetings.  A final written report to the president for review by the executive board prior to submission for the general membership is also responsibility of the chair-person.

The dates, times, & places of committee meetings shall be published or announced whenever possible, to enable other interested members to attend and participate.

Special Committees

Committee Appointment Final Report
Oktoberfest    
Christmas Social July September
Competition    
Maifest November February



Standing Committees

Public Relations June July, quarterly as needed
Homebrew Coordinator June July, & as needed


Additional committees and criteria for committees may be decided at such times as the executive board prescribes.
  

RULES & PROCEDURES

  1. Presiding Officer has final authority to dispense with rules to move business forward
  2. Presiding Officer has the floor until yielded to designated person
  3. It is the individual responsibility of each member to respect the speaker of the floor
  4. Each member is to wait to be recognized by the chair
  5. All ideas must initially be presented as suggestions in order to allow an opportunity for discussion by the membership
  6. Common sense and the simplest forms of parliamentary procedures shall be followed for matters not specifically covered by the by-laws.
  7. When by-laws, rules & procedures conflict, they shall be governed by the following precedence:
    1. By-laws
    2. Rules & Procedures
    3. Parliamentary procedure
  8. Order of BusinessTreasurer will coordinate the purchase of snacks for each general membership meeting
    1. Call to order
    2. Introduction of officers (if guests present)
    3. Introduction of guests
    4. Program/ Speaker
    5. Minutes of the meeting & executive board report
    6. Treasurer’s report
    7. Member Talk
    8. Committee Reports
    9. Old Business
    10. New Business
    11. Adjourn
  10. The executive board expenditures are limited to normal operating expenses as approved by a vote of membership.
  11. Non-commercial announcements of brewing equipment for sale or trade may be placed in the monthly Newsletter, by members, providing such inclusion does not increase Newsletter costs.