By-Laws
RAPID CITY RUSH BOOSTER CLUB
CONSTITUTION/BY-LAWS
Article I – Name
This organization shall be known as the RAPID CITY RUSH BOOSTER CLUB, the official booster club of the Rapid City Rush Hockey Organization.
Article II – Purpose
Our mission is to support and keep professional hockey as a spectator sport in Rapid City.
As the Official Booster Club for The Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League,
we invite and encourage every hockey fan to join in on the fun.
The Rapid City Rush Booster Club exists to support/follow the Rapid City Rush hockey team.
The Rapid City Rush Booster Club seeks to provide support and encouragement to the Rush Players.
We strive to make the Black Hills a comfortable place to
live for the players who come far away from home to play hockey and entertain fans.
We benefit the Rapid City Rush players by raising funds through lawful means.
The Rapid City Rush Booster Club also functions to promote open lines of communication
between the booster club and the Rush management.
Article III – Membership
Membership in the Club shall be granted to those in mutual agreement with Purpose (Article II).
Section 1: The fiscal year of the Rapid City Rush Booster Club shall be May 1 through April 30.
Section 2: Regular membership shall be for one (1) year beginning October 1 and ending September 30. Payment will be due with a completed application.
Section 2A: All applications will be voted on by the Executive Board for approval. In the event an application is denied, the membership fee will be refunded in full.
Section 3: A person must be on the current membership list to be eligible for any current season functions. Membership cards must be presented at each function.
Section 4: Definition of membership types: Single (one vote), and Corporate
Individual (voting) memberships are for any single persons over the age of 18.
Corporate membership includes two single memberships (two votes)
Section 5: A membership shall be divided into two groups: voting and non-voting (17 years of age and under at the time of the application. The “voting membership” shall consist of all current members who are at least eighteen (18) years of age. Those current members who are seventeen (17) years of age or under at the time of the application shall constitute the “non-voting membership”.
Section 6: The following items shall be furnished to each new member of the Club:
(a) A membership/ID card
(b) A copy of the Code of Conduct and By-Laws
(c) A copy of Rush Organization Waivers.
(d) A free membership item provided by the club.
Membership cards shall be issued each year to renewing members as well as new members. Members will be notified of any changes in their membership status by the Corresponding Secretary.
Section 7: The membership shall be expected to promote and support hockey at all levels.
All members shall hold themselves responsible for sportsmanlike conduct at all times.
The use of foul language shall be considered unsportsmanlike conduct in any context.
The rules and regulations of any sports arena must be abided by.
The excessive use of alcoholic beverages at any hockey related activity is discouraged. Harassing/stalking of any player or player’s family is strictly forbidden.
This includes players from any team.
Booster Club members shall not initiate unwarranted contact with players, other Rush employees, or booster club members.
Unwarranted contact shall include, but not be limited to, inappropriate contact with players, player’s families, or significant others unless approved by the player.
If a Board member establishes a relationship, whether casual or acknowledged, with a player, front office staff member, or other organizational employees, the Board should be notified, and a resignation tendered if the relationship could be viewed as unprofessional by the booster club at large.
Section 8: Booster Club members are at times privy to personal information about players and staff or other information given by the front office. These are confidential matters and should not be discussed outside of meetings, posted on message boards, or related to anyone not directly involved. Failure to keep this information confidential can result in termination of membership.
Section 9: Any member seen conducting themselves at any Club function in a manner which could have a derogatory affect against any article(s) of the Constitution/By-Laws or against the reputation of the Rapid City Rush Booster Club as a whole, should be reported in writing to an officer. Such Conduct may result in termination of membership. Only after personal contact with the reported member(s) and the person(s) filing the complaint can the Board terminate said membership, with or without refund of current dues.
Article IV – Officers/Board of Directors
Section 1: The government of the Club shall be:
Administration: President and Vice-President
Cabinet: Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer
Chiefs of Staff: Membership Director, Ways and Means Director, Meals Director, Hospitality Director, and
Public Relations Director.
by elective vote of the membership.
Section 2: The Board of Directors shall consist of the 5 Officers and 5 Directors elected by a vote of the membership.
Article V – Election of Officers and Directors
Section 1: In order to be eligible for election to the Board of Directors, a member must be on the current voting membership list as of December 31 of the current membership year.
Section 2: To be eligible to run for any office, you must be a member in good standing. A member in good standing is anyone who has paid their dues in full, and abides by the Constitution/By-Laws. The member must also have attained the age of 18 and been a member by or before December 31 of the current membership year.
Section 3: Election of Officers
(A) The Officers shall be elected by the majority vote of the General Membership during a special meeting in late April. The officers shall be elected for two (2) year terms.
President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary shall be elected on even years.
Vice-President and Corresponding Secretary shall be elected on odd years.
The Officers shall take office on the first day of May.
(B) The Directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the General Membership during during a special meeting in late April.
The Directors shall be elected for a one (1) year term.
The directors shall take office the first day of May.
Section 4: Officers and Directors may not serve in the same capacity for more that two (2) succeeding elected terms.
No elected person may concurrently hold more than one (1) elected position.
The Board of Directors will receive no monetary compensation for their services.
Section 5: In case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Other vacancies occurring on the Board shall be filled promptly by Board election from the membership, such elected members to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 6: Absence from any three (3) consecutive meetings by an officer or director without sufficient cause, as deemed by the Board, shall automatically forfeit membership on the Board. A request to be excused from meetings must be received by an officer prior to the opening of the meeting.
Section 7: To be eligible to run for President or Vice-President position, you must have served on the Board at least one year prior to seeking election for President or Vice-President position.
Article VI – Duties of Officers and Directors
Section 1: President
The President shall preside at all regular, special and open meetings of the Board and of the Club. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall enforce the Constitution/By-Laws as required, rule on questions of order, be empowered to sign official documents relating to the organization- by vote of the Board of Directors, and its activities and perform all other customary duties pertaining to the office of President.
With the exception of election of the Board of Directors and Awards, the President shall not have a vote except in the event of a tie.
Section 2: Vice-President
The Vice-President shall execute the duties of the President, in the absence of the President, and shall assist the President at all times. At all other times, the Vice-President shall consult with the President before making any decisions.
The Vice-President shall recognize all invited guests at the general membership meetings.
Section 3: Secretaries
(A) The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes of all Board and Club meetings, and report on all other official functions. In addition, a copy of the Constitution/By-Laws, Amendments, current list of Club properties and other Club records shall be maintained by the Recording Secretary and available to the Board at all times. The Recording Secretary shall keep an exact and impartial record of the proceedings of all meetings. He/She shall have in their possession at all meetings, a copy of the Constitution/By-Laws. In the absence of the Corresponding Secretary, the Recording Secretary will assume those duties.
(B) The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for any official club correspondence and prior notice of all meetings to the Board and General Membership. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for the distribution of the Club’s newsletter at the time to be determined by the Board. Responsibility of this position is to maintain a copy of membership applications. In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the Corresponding Secretary will assume those duties.
Section 4: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect all monies due the Club and deposit in a bank selected by the Board. The Treasurer shall, also, issue receipts, issue checks for all authorized debts, keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements and prepare a written monthly financial report. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for the preparation of a written annual operating statement. The Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of all committees concerned with financial activities of the Club. The Treasurer shall make no disbursements without approval of the Board, or approved by the President, Vice-President or Recording Secretary. There shall be no cash disbursements.
Section 5: Directors (aka Chiefs of Staff)
The Directors shall assist the Officers in rendering decisions on proposals and proposed amendments to the Constitution/By-Laws. All decisions of the chairpersons shall be approved by the President before any action.
Directors shall be expected to Chair various committees.
(A). Membership Director: Supervisor to Membership Committee
Responsible for the solicitation and signing of new members. Maintain the integrity of the membership list. Provide new members with membership badges. Validate the voting members for the annual membership meeting and election of officers of the Board of Officers. Collect membership dues submitted with membership applications and immediately turn them over to the Treasurer after validating the membership application. Provides the Newsletter Chairperson with a current list of members and their mailing/email addresses.
(B). Ways and Means Director: Supervisor to Fundraising/Booth and Travel to away games.
Responsible for choosing product for the table at all home games and to get approval by The Rapid City Rush management. Responsible for setting up and working for getting workers for the table. Coordinating fund raising events: garage sales, car washes, charity, etc.
(C). Meals Director: Supervisor to feed the players and care packages.
Responsible for feeding opposing teams playing here. Responsible for feeding our team when leaving immediately after home games. Planning meals to fit into budget set by the club. Responsible for meal planning for parties and social events. Responsible for snacks for bus trips.
(D). Hospitality Director: Supervisor to Entertainment and Family Support.
Responsible for coordinating parties or events; including Set-up and Clean-up committees. Working with Food Committee on any events that require meals.
(E). Public Relations: Superfans, website, newsletter.
The Newsletter Chairperson supplies a newsletter to each member of the Rapid City Rush Booster CLub, monthly, either by mailed hard copy or by email.
Web/ news Commitee is Responsible for setting up website and maintaining. Responsible for getting correct information on website, including By-Laws, Application, code of Conduct, anything else the club deems necessary.
Engaging the superfans.
Section 6: Impeachment of Officers and/or Directors
Impeachment of any officer or director shall require the filing of a written complaint by twenty-five (25%) percent of the Club’s voting membership and must be presented to any officer.
Such complaint must be read to the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Time shall be given to the Officer or Director in question to explain his/her side of the complaint.
A vote will then be held.
Said Officer or Director may then be removed by a majority vote of the voting membership.
Should a position be so vacated, a Board election shall be held to fill said position at a Board meeting called for that purpose, with the exception of the office of the President, which office shall be taken by the Vice-President for the remainder of the unexpired term.
All responsibilities and/or club properties of such impeached Officer or Director shall be remanded to the Club immediately upon termination of office.
Article VII – Committees and Their Duties
Standing Committees shall be:
1) Nominating Committee;
2) Membership Committee;
3) Fundraising Committee;
4) Travel Committee;
5) Booth Committee;
6) Meals Committee;
7) Entertainment, Parties Committee;
8) Family Support Committee;
9) Superfans Committee;
10) Website,Newsletter,Mailcast Committee;
All committees will be chaired by Board members for organization and direction, reporting to their Director on all matters.
There shall be special committees appointed by the Board as deemed necessary.
No action shall be taken by an Committee until approval to proceed has been granted by the Board.
Section 1: The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members to be appointed by the Board – the position of Recording Secretary and Treasurer on odd years and position of Vice-President and Corresponding Secretary on even years. This Committee shall function immediately upon being appointed. This Committee shall furnish, at least thirty (30) days prior to the election date, a ballot of candidates for upcoming vacant offices. The Nominating Committee shall conduct the election and be dissolved immediately following the election. The Co-Chairpersons of the Nominating Committee will turn over all final voting ballots in a sealed envelope to the President to be retained for a period of 2 years.
Section 2: Special Committees shall be determined by the Board, according to the nature of the duties or projects, as the occasion shall arise. Committees shall be comprised from the General Membership. Any special committee shall function immediately upon being appointed and shall be dissolved at the conclusion of its assigned task. No action shall be taken by an special committee until approval to proceed has been granted by the Board.
Article VIII – Meetings
Section 1: There shall be at least twelve (12) Board meetings each year. Other Board meetings shall be at the discretion of the President.
Section 2: Special Board meetings shall be by request in writing by three (3) members of the Board to the President, or by a signed petition of twenty-five (25) members to the Board, stating the exact purpose of the special meeting. Special meetings may transact only such business as specified in the call.
Section 3: There shall be at least one (1) General Membership meeting quarterly during the fiscal year.
Article IX – Finances
Section 1: No member shall solicit, on behalf of the Club, for donations or gifts of any kind without prior approval of the Board.
Section 2: Checks issued for the disbursement and/or payment of funds from the treasury over $200.00 shall require the signature of any two officers. The Treasurer shall have the authority to write single signature checks under $200.00 with verbal approval of the President or Vice-President.
Section 3: All debit card purchases must be approved by two (2) Officers prior to making said purchase. Receipt will be signed by the two (2) approving Officers.
Section 4: This organization shall not dissolve as long as there are ten (10) paid memberships. If the number of paid memberships falls below ten (10), and in the event of dissolution, Club funds and properties shall be donated to the Rush Foundation.
Article X – Amendments
This Constitution/By-Laws may be amended at any membership meeting by a majority vote of the voting membership. Copies of the proposed amendments must be provided to the general membership thirty (30) days prior to the vote.
Article XI – Executive Power
Section 1: Any matter pertaining to the Constitution/By-Laws, not herein mentioned, shall be remanded to the Board for interpretation, clarification and decision.
Section 2: Annual membership dues shall be decided by the Board of Directors and shall be reviewed at the September Board meeting.