Lake Shore Model Railroad Association Constitution Originally adopted in October 1946,Revised in 1971,1976,1990 Revised October 10, 1997 ARTICLE I - Name and Purpose Section 1. The Lake Shore Model Railroad Association was organized in Chicago, Illinois, on September 1, 1946 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Illinois on January 27, 1948. The full legal name of the organization is the LAKE SHORE MODEL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION. In a shortened version, the organization is also known as the LSMRA. Section 2. The Purposes of the LSMRA are: A. To construct, operate and maintain a permanent model railroad system in 1:87 scale. B. To promote closer understanding and cooperation among members of this association interested in model railroading. C. To promote greater fellowship of model railroading among model railroaders. ARTICLE II - Membership and Dues Section 1. The classes of membership in LSMRA shall be Associate, Voting, Youth, Life , and Inactive. A. Associate membership: 1. A person who has reached the age of 18 and showing interest in joining the LSMRA may choose to join by filing an Associate membership form and paying the required annual rate of dues for associate membership as governed by the by-laws. This payment is non-refundable and gives the Associate club participation rights as governed by the LSMRA by-laws and policies. An Associate will have NO voting rights in matters of club business. 2. If at anytime after joining as an Associate member that person wishes to convert to a Voting membership, the person shall petition by appropriate document to be voted in as a Voting member. On acceptance as a Voting member any remaining Associate dues will be pro-rated against Voting membership dues requirements in effect at the time of his acceptance. Page 1 of 6 3. A person who maintains his/her Associate membership for one year may renew that membership on an annual basis on their anniversary date. B. Voting Membership: A person who has reached the age of 18 and showing interest in joining the LSMRA as a Voting member may become a Voting member upon : 1. Submitting the appropriate application to be a Voting member to any LSMRA officer. 2. Having a confirmation vote of the LSMRA Voting membership at a business meeting not less than 1 month nor more than 4 months after the application is received. 3. Payment of appropriate initiation fees and dues as set forth in the LSMRA by-laws. 4. Youth members in good standing become eligible for Voting membership on their 18th birthday. The next calendar month after attaining their 18th birthday the member is obligated to pay dues as a Voting member. C. Youth Membership: Any person who has not reached the age of 18 may become a Youth member upon: 1. Securing a sponsor who is a Voting Member in good standing and who agrees to be responsible to the LSMRA for said Youth Member in regards to guidance and conduct while said Youth Member is participating in LSMRA activities. 2. Making application to any LSMRA officer. 3. Having a confirmation vote of the LSMRA Voting membership at a business meeting not less than 1 month nor more than 4 months after the application is received. 4. Payment of appropriate initiation fees and dues as set forth in the by- laws. D. Life Membership: Any person, being a Voting member of the LSMRA for at least one (1) year may become a Life Member upon: 1. Informing the general membership of his/her intention to do so at a regular scheduled meeting. Page 2 of 6 2. The Life Member applicant will pay for twenty-five (25) years of membership at the rate for yearly dues in effect at the time he/she makes the initial payment on the life dues. payment of dues is to be made either by check or currency. Prior donations of material and/or money is no consideration for application to the dues payment. If the applicant has expenses owed to him/her by LSMRA , said expenses will be paid directly to the member. 3. The Life Member applicant must pay a minimum of one (1) year's dues within one (1) calendar year of announcing his/her intent and any amount over that if he /she wishes. The Life Member applicant may spread out the remaining payment over a period of up to but not to exceed five (5) years from the date of life membership announcement. 4. The applicant for Life Membership may go inactive during his Life Membership pay period (see #3), but he must pay all moneys due to fulfill the requirement for #3 within the planned pay period. If the applicant is inactive past his five (5) year pay period, then all moneys collected will be prorated at the current annual dues. Any moneys totaling more than five years dues will be put on account in his name but no refunds will be given. 5. When an inactive member goes active, any moneys in his account will be used for the paying of one year of dues at the current rate and the remainder of the account will be carried forward to cover any additional years or month's of dues at the current rate, providing the 5 year requirement was met as required above in Section 1D,4. 6. Any Voting Member that applies for a Life Membership will not be affected by any dues increase during his five (5) year pay period. 7. If the Life applicant cannot pay for his/her Life membership within the allotted 5 years, then the amount already paid will revert to ordinary dues status. That amount will then be pro-rated and applied as dues according to the prevailing dues structure in effect at the end of the 5 year period. E. No refunds will be made to any member or estate in the event that the member: quits, resigns, dies, moves, or is removed from the LSMRA. Section 2. Inactive Memberships shall be granted to Voting or Youth Members who through no fault of their own can no longer support their membership financially, attend meetings or participate in LSMRA functions. Inactive Membership participation at any time is at the discretion of the Executive Council. 1. A member requesting inactive membership must: a. Be paid up in dues at the time of request for inactive membership. b. Submit in writing a request for inactive membership to the secretary with the letter to be read to the membership at the next business meeting. Page 3 of 6 2. Any inactive member may return to active membership status upon the payment of one fiscal quarter dues. Section 3. Members holding any class of membership as outlined in Article II, Section I may be dismissed from that membership at any time for just cause. Action for dismissal of a Member shall be instituted by petition of five (5) other Voting Members (excluding members of the Executive Council) in good standing and submitted to the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall investigate the charges outlined in the petition and upon finding them worthy of action, shall submit then to the Voting Membership in a secret ballot at the next business meeting of the Association. If sixty-seven (67%) percent of the members casting votes favor expulsion of the Member, he shall be at once notified of his dismissal. No moneys will be refunded to a dismissed Member. Members casting votes must be Members in good standing. A person dismissed from the membership in the LSMRA may petition the Executive Council after a minimum of 5 years from dismissal for reinstatement. If the Executive Council accepts the petition, then the dismissed member may proceed into the proper membership application process. Section 4. A member who resigns may be re-admitted by following proper application procedures as set forth in Article II. ARTICLE III - Meetings Section 1. There shall be a minimum of one business meeting per quarter. Section 2. Parliamentary Law as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the LSMRA. Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the Secretary at any date and hour required. ARTICLE IV - Voting Section 1. Only Voting (current dues paid through the calendar month )and Life Members in good standing shall be entitled to vote. Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Constitution and by-laws, the election of officers, major questions of issue, and any other matter as decided by the Executive council shall be submitted to the membership for a vote. Section 3. Nominations of candidates for office and the means and methods of voting shall be set forth in the by-laws. Section 4. A sixty-seven (67%) percent majority of the votes cast on a question shall be necessary to amend this Constitution. Section 5. On all matters to voted upon, a simple majority of the votes cast will decide the question, unless otherwise noted specifically in this Constitution or the by-laws. Page 4 of 6 ARTICLE V - Officers Section 1. The Officers of the LSMRA shall consist of the following: A. President B. Executive Vice-President C. Vice-President of Operations D. Secretary E. Treasurer Section 2. The nominations for officers of the LSMRA made by the nominating committee shall be filed with the Secretary in sufficient time to prepare and issue a written ballot. Notice of the nominations shall also be posted on the Association Bulletin Board. Section 3. The terms of office for the President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President of Operations, Secretary and Treasurer shall begin on the day following their election, and shall run to the day of the next election or until their successors are elected. Their duties shall be set forth in the by-laws. Section 4. The Executive Council shall consist of the duly elected officers of the Association. Section 5. The general management of the LSMRA shall be vested in the Executive Council. Section 6. In the event of a vacancy in the offices outlined in Section 1 of Article V. Excepting the office of the President, by reason of the resignation, incapacitation, or death of the incumbent, the Executive Council shall name a successor who shall hold office until the day of the next election. The Executive Vice-President shall assume the office of the President during the absence of the latter, or at his written request or in event of his death. ARTICLE VI. -Committees Committees shall be appointed by the President as needed or directed by the Constitution or by-laws and their duties are governed by the by-laws. ARTICLE VII - By-laws Section 1. The LSMRA by-laws shall be established and adopted by the Association for the government of its Members and Officers. Section 2. The LSMRA by-laws may be adopted or amended on a written ballot as provided for in Article VII of the by-laws. Page 5 of 6 ARTICLE VIII - Initiative and Referendum The membership shall have the right to have any action taken by the Executive Council placed upon a written ballot at the next business meeting by petition of five Voting Members in good standing. ARTICLE IX - Donations and Loans Section 1. Donations A. Any monetary or material donation given to the LSMRA shall be considered the property of the LSMRA upon receipt. B. As long as the LSMRA exists the disposition of said donation is entirely at the discretion of the LSMRA. C. At such time as the LSMRA is dissolved any and all properties will be dispersed within applicable laws at the time of dissolution. D. Anything affixed to the LSMRA model railroad layout automatically becomes the property of the LSMRA at the time it is affixed thereon regardless of intent. Section 2. Loans Procedures governing loans to the LSMRA will be addressed specifically in the By-laws.