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BYLAWS
OF
ABATE OF IDAHO, LLC
Amended August 2019
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the organization shall be ABATE of Idaho, incorporated in the State of Idaho as ABATE of Idaho, LLC and known hereinafter in this document as “ABATE”.
The acronym ABATE as used by this organization is defined as “A Brotherhood against Totalitarian Enactments” and no other definitions, meanings, or interpretations may be used.
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purpose of ABATE as a political, educational, and charitable group is to promote motorcyclist rights, awareness, education, freedom of choice legislation and to provide a more favorable environment for motorcycle riders and the communities in which they reside. ABATE seeks to eliminate laws and perceptions that infringe upon motorcyclist rights, and to preclude proposed legislation that may infringe upon those rights as follows:
- To join the general public together to stop unreasonable and unfair legislation and practices that diminish the rights of the motorcyclists of Idaho
- To end the discrimination experienced by motorcyclists
- To organize and conduct seminars, conferences, research, discussion groups, and publications about motorcyclists’ rights
ARTICLE III
Offices
ABATE shall have and continuously maintain a principal office within the State of Idaho as the Officers may designate or as the business of ABATE may require from time to time.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Membership in ABATE shall be open to all persons, clubs, or businesses who have applied for membership and paid their required dues.
ARTICLE V
Board of Directors
5.1 Definition
Members of the Board of Directors may be referred to as Officer or Officers.
5.2 Composition
The Board of Directors, hereinafter “Board”, of ABATE shall be composed of a Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms and Legislative Affairs Officer (LAO).
5.3 Term
Board members shall serve a term of two (2) years and may be re-elected at any time with no limit on the number of terms served. The terms of Deputy Coordinator, Sergeant at Arms and Secretary will run in alternate years of the Coordinator, Treasurer, and Legislative Affairs with the first year being a one (1) year position to establish the alternating terms. To ensure broad diversity and equal representation for all members, no more than one (1) member from another motorcycle organization or affiliation, excluding nationally recognized motorcycle groups, shall hold an Officer position. All Officers shall be elected by majority of votes at the business meeting in October. Potential officers can nominate themselves or can be nominated by other members. Nominees may make brief speeches before the votes are cast. A member may only hold one (1) board or one (1) chair position (as defined below) except as pro tempore. Members must be in good standing.
5.4 Coordinator
The Coordinator shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. The Coordinator shall be responsible to keep the members informed of the business and activities of ABATE. The Coordinator shall chair all regular, special meetings, shall supervise, manage and control all business of ABATE; shall perform all duties incident to the office according to these by-laws and policies; shall represent ABATE at functions, is an ex-officio member of all committees.
5.5 Deputy Coordinator
The Deputy Coordinator shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, alternating with the term of the Coordinator. The Deputy Coordinator shall assist the Coordinator; shall act in the place of the Coordinator in his/her absence; and shall perform any and all duties which may be prescribed by the Coordinator or Members. If the Coordinator position becomes vacant, the current Deputy Coordinator shall become the Coordinator pro tempore. The Coordinator position will then follow the process outlined for Officer Vacancies.
5.6 Secretary
The Secretary shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, alternating with the term of the Coordinator. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all business meetings and making the minutes available to the members; shall perform any and all duties incident to the office.
5.7 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, to run concurrent with the Coordinator. The Treasurer shall keep accurate and complete financial records of ABATE; shall submit quarterly financial reports to the Coordinator; report the financial condition of ABATE at all business meetings; perform any and all duties incident to the office.
5.8 Legislative Affairs Officer
The Legislative Affairs Officer (LAO) shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, to run concurrent with the Coordinator. The LAO shall be responsible for informing the Officers and general membership of any upcoming changes in law that may affect the rights of motorcycle riders; shall perform all duties incident to the office. The LAO will also coordinate and chair functions relating to political gatherings, functions, or rallies; and will act as liaison in developing political relationships in conjunction with the Black Thursday Committee chair. In the event of vacancy of the LAO position, the Sergeant at Arms will perform LAO duties until the LAO position is filled.
5.9 Sergeant at Arms
The Sergeant at Arms shall be elected for a term of two (2) years alternating with the term of the Coordinator. The Sergeant at Arms shall maintain order at all meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order, acknowledge questions or discussion from the membership on an open floor and direct to the board, and shall coordinate security at all ABATE functions, shall assist the Road Captain on ABATE runs. The Sergeant at Arms will act as liaison with other organizations when it becomes necessary and must be eligible to interact and maintain relationships with motorcycle clubs. If an individual’s behavior is deemed to be disruptive or inappropriate at the meeting or events, the Sergeant at Arms, with the approval of Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator, shall have the power to remove offending individuals from the meeting or event.
5.10 Officer Vacancies
Officer vacancies shall be filled by election. Upon vacancy of the position, the Officers may appoint a pro tempore Officer to temporarily fill the position until the position is filled by vote of the general membership. At the next business meeting following the vacancy, nominations will be accepted. Then the nominated members will be voted for by the general membership at the next business meeting following the nomination meeting. The newly elected Officer will complete the balance of the term of office. If the balance of the term is three (3) months or less, the pro tempore Officer shall complete the term and the position will go through the normal voting procedure at the time of normal elections.
ARTICLE VI
Chair Positions
6.1 Chair Positions
Chair positions are appointed by the Coordinator subject to the majority approval vote of the general membership. Members must be in good standing.
6.2 Membership Secretary
The Membership Secretary shall maintain an accurate and complete membership list of the members; process all membership applications and address changes; maintain the integrity of the ABATE roster; issue membership cards, make and deliver mailing labels for mailings; and issue patches and pins to new members. First ABATE patch is part of membership, additional ones can be purchased. First title patches for Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, Legislative Affairs officer and Senior Road Captain will be issued at no cost, additional ones, or other positions can purchase title patches at their cost.
6.3 Senior Road Captain
The Senior Road Captain will help plan rides; shall do a pre-ride for all planned rides, shall appoint additional Road Captains or Road Guards as needed; shall provide assistance for the ride participants as needed; and ensure the safety of group riders. All Road Captains must complete a group riding class.
6.4 Tech Master
Duties of the Tech Master shall include creating and keeping web presence current, maintain the ABATE mailing list, and other duties as may be assigned. Passwords to all ABATE assets shall be immediately made available to the Coordinator.
6.5 Ambassador At Large
The Ambassador at large shall keep in contact with ABATE representatives and members; shall promote membership and benefits to non-ABATE members; and shall act as liaison with other motorcycle clubs and rights organizations keeping ABATE members informed as to the work of other motorcycle groups.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
7.1 Permanent Committees
The Black Thursday Committee and Bylaw Review Committee are hereby established as permanent standing committees.
7.2 Establishment of Committees
The Officers or Coordinator, subject to member approval vote, may establish such other Standing and Special committees as are necessary to conduct the affairs of ABATE. Such committees shall provide a regular report at each business meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
Assets
8.1 Definition
Assets as defined in this section include any and all property of ABATE including but not limited to any and all funds excluding the Down Rider Fund, website and social media account logins, mailing lists either electronically stored or printed.
8.2 Restrictions on Dissemination
Assets under the control of any ABATE member may not be shared with or given to any person other than the Coordinator of ABATE.
8.3 Misuse
Misuse of any ABATE asset by any ABATE member will result in the immediate referral of the member to the Board for disciplinary action, suspension, or expulsion as outlined in ABATE Policies and Procedures.
ARTICLE IX
Down Rider Fund
9.1 Definition
A fund will be maintained by ABATE for the purpose of providing monetary support to “down riders”. Additions to this fund shall be by donation from the members or as provided by a majority vote of the general membership.
9.2 Ownership of Funds: The Down Rider Fund shall be kept separate from all other funds maintained by ABATE, and it shall be noted that these funds are the sole property of the current members of ABATE, not the property of ABATE.
ARTICLE X
Amendment of Bylaws
10.1 Bylaw Review Committee
The Bylaw Review Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members in good standing, including the committee Chair, and may not include any member of the ABATE Board.
10.2 Bylaws Reviewed
The Bylaws of ABATE of Idaho shall be reviewed at least annually beginning July 2020 and may be reviewed or changes suggested at any other time by resolution of majority vote of membership.
10.3 Bylaw Review Committee Chair
The Bylaw Review Committee Chair shall be appointed by the Coordinator and may not be a current Board member.
10.4 Board Representation
All meetings of the Bylaw Review Committee must include a member of the ABATE Board. The Board representative is ineligible to vote on amendments.
10.5 Amending the Bylaws
Proposals for alteration or amending of these Bylaws shall be made by majority vote, a quorum being present, of the Bylaw Review Committee.
10.6 Review
Copies of proposed Bylaw amendments shall be made available to ABATE members at least 30 days prior to any vote of adoption.
10.7 Effective Date
These bylaws shall become effective immediately upon adoption by a two-thirds majority vote, a quorum being present, at any regular meeting of ABATE members.