Joplin Rifle & Pistol Club, Inc
By-Laws of the Joplin Rifle & Pistol Club, Incorporated, as amended November 17, 2022.
Article I
The name of this organization shall be Joplin Rifle & Pistol Club, Incorporated.
The objectives of this organization shall be the encouragement of organized rifle & pistol shooting among citizens of the United States to impart a greater knowledge upon those citizens in the safe handling & the proper care of firearms, as well as improved marksmanship. Further, the club's objective & purpose shall include the promotion of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship & the foundation of patriotism.
Article III
Any citizen of the United States (18) years or older, not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing or using firearms, and being a member of the National Rifle Association, shall be eligible to submit an application for membership in the Club. To be considered, an application for membership shall be completely filled out, signed by the applicant & bear the endorsing signature of two current Club member-s. An applicant shall become a member upon receiving a favorable majority vote of the club members present at a regular or special business meeting of the club & after subsequent payment of initiation fees, assessments, and membership dues in effect, & having attendee a Range Safety Orientation session.
Furthermore, no application for membership shall be presented for first reading unless the applicant is present. Sponsors need to be present at the time the application is submitted.
a. Any member with 25 years of continuous membership & who is 65 years of age or older, will receive a 50% discount on membership dues.
b. Members having attained Life Membership prior to Nov. 17, 2022 shall retain Life Membership and will be exempt thereafter from payment of annual dues.
c. There shall not be a limit on the number of club members.
The initiation fee for new members shall be equal to the amount of the current annual dues. Annual dues are due January 1st & considered in arrears on April 1st, A new member's first year dues are pro-rated depending on the month in which they apply to the club. No member of the organization in arrears for more than (3) months shall retain active membership. If a member's dues are over (3) months in arrears, the member shall be dropped from the Club rolls and may re-enter the Club only as a new member. Dues are payable on an annual basis & are established during the annual meeting. Member renewal shall not be complete without the member having attended a safety orientation session in the previous calendar year. All members shall be members of the National Rifle Association of America & must present verification of current NRA membership on the date that annual dues are paid. The provisions of this article shall not apply to those persons voted honorary membership in the organization. Spouses may become members of the Club by the payment of dues set at the annual meeting. Said spousal memberships to be concurrent. Any member called to active duty in the armed services shall be carried on the Club rolls as an active member for the duration of his military service or term of active duty with payment of dues, assessments, & fees forgiven during that period of time.
Article V
Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Club shall be the January business meeting in each year. If the annual meeting shall not take place at the time fixed, it shall be held within a reasonable time thereafter, & the officers shall hold over until their successors shall have been elected.
Regular Meeting. The regular business meeting of the Club shall be held each month, on such day as deemed most suitable by the Executive Committee, for the transaction of ordinary business. The time & place of such meeting shall be fixed by the Executive Committee. A quorum membership shall not be necessary to conduct business at a regular meeting.
Quorum: 10%, or 25 (the smaller of the two) of the members of the Club entitled to vote shall be present & will constitute a quorum at any regular meeting.
Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Club may be held at any time upon the call of the President, or upon the call of the Executive Committee, or upon demand in writing, stating the object of the proposed meeting, & signed by not less than 25% of the active members. Notice of the time, place, & objective of any special meeting shall be given all officers & members in good standing, in writing, by United States Mail not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for the holding of the meeting. Email is an acceptable alternate form of notification for those members who have an email address on record with the club. The place of such special meetings shall be fixed by the Executive Committee. Quorum for Special Meeting: 25% of the members of the Club entitled to vote shall be present & will constitute a quorum at any special meeting.
Article VI Officers
a. Officers. The officers of the Club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Executive Officer, & Public Relations Officer. These officers, acting together, shall constitute the Executive Committee. They shall be elected by a majority voice vote of the members in good standing present at the annual meeting of the organization. They shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected.
b. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision & control of all the activities of the organization.
c. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held regularly at such time & place as the Committee may determine.
Special meeting may be held at any time on the call of the President, or on demand in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer, or by three members of the executive committee.
d. (3) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
e. Resignation of any officer may be accepted by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.
f. A vacancy in the Executive Committee may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Committee. However, if more than one vacancy exists, a special meeting of the Club shall be called & new officers shall be elected to fill the vacancies until the date of the annual meeting, as provided previously herein.
Duties of the Officers
a. President: The President shall preside at all meeting of the Club & of the Executive Committee. He shall be a member ex-officio of all regular & special committees & shall perform all such other duties as usually pertain to his office.
b. Vice President: The Vice President shall perform all such other duties as usually pertain to his office
(& those of the President in his absence).
c. Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer shall conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the proper preparation & forwarding of all reports required of the Club. He shall notify the members of the executive Committee & of the Club & have custody of the books & papers of the Club. All applications for membership into the Club shall be made to the Secretary/Treasurer. He shall be responsible for the collection of all fees & dues & shall place the same in such bank or financial entities as may be approved by the Executive Committee. Such money shall only be
withdrawn by check (or debit card) signed by the Secretary/Treasurer or authorized Executive Officer, & for the payment of invoices & bills for Club expenses & allocations. He shall forward to the national headquarters annually by January 1st, the annual dues in payment for club reaffiliation. He shall maintain a list of the names of the Club members. He shall keep an accurate account of all his transactions and render a detailed report with vouchers at any meeting of the Executive Committee when requested & present an annual report to the Club at its annual meeting.
d. Executive Officer: The Executive Officer shall act in the capacity of chief range officer during all club shooting activities. In case of his absence, he shall appoint a Club member to act in his capacity.
e. Public Relations Officer: The Public relations Officer shall act as coordinator for the Club with various public information agencies by preparing news releases, announcing Club activities, upcoming events, results of matches, etc.
Suspension or Expulsion
a. Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the club members in good standing present at any special meeting called for this purpose. No vote on suspension or removal shall be taken unless at least (15) day notice in writing shall be given to the officer of the reasons for his removal & of the time & place of the special meeting at which such ballot on his removal is to be taken. At such special meeting, the officer shall be given a hearing.
b. Any member may be suspended or expelled from the organization for any cause deemed sufficient by the Executive Committee by a four-fifths affirmative vote of the members of the Committee present at any regular or special meeting. No vote on suspension of expulsion may be taken unless at least (15) day notice in writing shall have been given to the member of the charges preferred & of the time & place of the meeting of the Executive Committee at which such charges will be considered. At such meeting, the member under charges will be accorded a full hearing.
c Charges against any officer or member may be preferred by any member in good standing. They shall be in writing clearly stating the facts relied upon & accompanied by all affidavits or exhibits which are to be used in their support. Such charges shall be filed with the Secretary/Treasurer who will give at least (15) days notice of the meeting to each member of the Executive Committee, to the accuser, & to the accused, which notice shall be in writing & will include a true copy of the charges & of the supporting affidavits & exhibits.
d. Any member suspended or expelled by the Executive Committee may appeal (within 15 days) to the full membership of the organization. Such appeal shall be made to the Secretary/Treasurer in writing who will notify the President. The President shall call a Special Meeting of the Club for the purpose of acting on the appeal. The Secretary/Treasurer shall give at least (15) days notice in writing to all members in good standing of the Club stating the date, time, place, & reason for such special meeting. At the meeting, the Secretary/Treasurer will read the original charges, the supporting affidavits, read or display the accompanying exhibits, & will read the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Executive committee at which the charges were heard & action taken. A full hearing will be given the accuser & the accused. A vote will be taken by ballot of the members present & a two-thirds vote shall be required to reverse the action of the Executive Committee.
e. In any case in which any officer or member is suspended or expelled, a full report of the charges & actions taken must be submitted to the NRA within (10) days following final action.
f. Any official member.of the Club who has been suspended or expelled by the National Rifle Association of America shall automatically stand suspended or expelled from this organization immediately upon receipt of the official notice by the Secretary of the NRA.
Article VIII
By-laws Amendments
Amendments to these By-laws may be submitted by any member whose dues are paid up, as provided in Articles Ill & IV, at any regular Monthly Business Meeting, at which a quorum is present. Said amendment must be approved by a majority at the next regular Business Meeting, at which a quorum is present. Notice of the time, place, & amendment shall be given all officers & members in good standing in writing by United States Mail not less than (7) days prior to the meeting. Email is an acceptable form of notification for those members who have an email address on record with the club. Such amendment(s) shall become effective upon the date it is approved by the members present. It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to make a copy of such amendment(s) & sign same & it shall be the duty of the President, Vice President, & Executive Officer to sign such copy promptly. Regular members involved with updated by-law changes shall also sign & date said copy.
Eugene Spears - President
Ray Brown - Vice President
George Carder - Executive Officer
Dean Vandergriff - Sec/Treasurer
Mark Smith
Ted Fullen