ARTICLE I - Name
The name of the Section shall be the "Black Mountain Hiking Section of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club."
ARTICLE II - Object
The objectives of the Section shall be to provide leadership and organization for its members to explore and enjoy the many parks, open spaces, and other legally accessible lands primarily (but not exclusively) in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Section will specialize in a variety of one-day moderate hikes (and occasional other events) providing a combination of good exercise, companionship, and appreciation of nature. The Section will seek to enlist public interest and cooperation in protecting these environments and in furthering the interests and purposes of the Sierra Club.
ARTICLE III - Members
Section 1. Any person shall be eligible for membership in the Section provided that such person (1) is a member of the Sierra Club and (2) notifies the Treasurer annually of a desire to be a member and (3) pays yearly membership dues when dues are enacted unless specifically waived as defined in the Section's Standing Rules. Members are eligible to vote and hold elective office in the Section.
ARTICLE IV – Executive Committee (ExCom)
Section 1.Management of the affairs and activities of the Section shall be in the hands of an ExCom of five members elected by the Section members for terms of two years.
Section 2. In any election, up to five members may be elected for full terms, as long as the size of the ExCom does not increase as a result and no fewer than two terms will expire in any future year. When filling vacancies in unexpired terms by election, longer terms shall be awarded to candidates with more votes. The candidates who win the higher numbers of votes shall receive any available full terms and the others shall receive the unexpired remainders of the vacated terms.
Section 3. A Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by the ExCom by the first of April. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate candidates for the ExCom to be filled by election at the Annual Meeting. Before the election, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted. Terms of newly elected ExCom members begin on August 1st.
Section 4. Vacancies in the ExCom shall be filled for the balance of the term by appointment by a majority vote of the remaining sitting ExCom at the next ExCom meeting following the occurrence of the vacancy.
Section 5. The ExCom shall elect from its members a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary/Editor, and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, by the Section Standing Rules, and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Section. The ExCom may change its officers at any time by majority vote.
Section 6. Duties of the Officers:
A. Chair. The Chair of the Section presides at meetings of the Section and the ExCom, enforces the bylaws of the Section, and (with concurrence of the ExCom) appoints committees to carry out the work of the Section. Unless the ExCom appoints an alternate, the Chair of the Section shall attend meetings required by the Executive Committee of the Loma Prieta Chapter.
B. Vice Chair. During the absence or disability of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall act in the Chair's place.
C. Secretary/Editor. The Secretary/Editor of the Section shall keep minutes of all decisions made at meetings, publish and distribute the Section Newsletter, maintain the Section Bylaws and Standing Rules, and carry on such correspondence as the Section may require.
D. Treasurer. The Treasurer of the Section shall keep an up-to-date roster of the members and shall manage all financial matters of the Section, keeping proper records thereof and preparing financial reports as required.
E. Other duties. Other more specific duties and responsibilities for officers shall be described in the Standing Rules of the Section.
ARTICLE V - Meetings
Section 1. The Annual Meeting, at which ExCom members shall be elected and annual reports shall be received from officers and standing committees, shall be held during June or July at a time and place determined by the ExCom.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the ExCom or by written request of ten percent of the membership to the ExCom. Meetings requested by the membership shall be called by the ExCom within thirty days of the receipt of the request. Only that business mentioned in the special meeting notice shall be transacted at such a meeting.
Section 3. Notice of meetings of the Section shall be given to the membership at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Notice will be via the Section Newsletter, which may be electronic (e-mail).
Section 4. A quorum for the conduct of business shall consist of five members or five percent of the Section membership, whichever is greater.
ARTICLE VI - Committees
Section 1. Standing committees shall be appointed by the Chair each year (with concurrence of the ExCom) to serve until August 1st. A committee may consist of one or more members of the Section.
Section 2. An Outings Committee of experienced members shall be appointed each year to establish and maintain Leadership Training and Safety Programs, and to oversee the Section's outings program.
Section 3. Duties and responsibilities of committees shall be described in the Section's Standing Rules.
ARTICLE VII - Funds
Section 1. Dues to cover costs of production and distribution of the Section Newsletter, program or facilities charges for meetings, and other operating expenses may be charged as set forth in the Standing Rules.
Section 2. Expenditures will be based on a budget approved at the Annual Meeting for the following twelve months and based on guidelines set forth in the Standing Rules.
ARTICLE VIII - Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts' Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Section in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Section may adopt.
ARTICLE IX - Standing Rules
Section 1. The Section shall maintain a set of Standing Rules to govern its routine operations. Functions of officers and committees, Section dues, and expenditure guidelines shall be included.
Section 2. The Standing Rules can be amended by a majority vote at any meeting of the Section.
ARTICLE X - Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws can be amended at any meeting of the Section by a two-thirds vote provided that written notice of the amendment has been published in the Section Newsletter at least a month in advance of the meeting. The amendment shall be considered adopted upon its approval by the Executive Committee of the Loma Prieta Chapter.
Approved by BMHS – 5 May 2012
Approved by Chapter ExCom – 6 June 2012