Trails Club of Rossmoor Bylaws
Article I. The name of this organization is the Trails Club of Rossmoor.
Article II. The purpose of this organization is to provide information and leadership for
Rossmoor residents interested in hiking. Activities shall include hiking in groups with similar
rates of speed and endurance, safaris, and social activities to promote club fellowship.
Article III. Membership is open to any Rossmoor resident interested in the above purpose and
willing to observe the rules of the club.
A. A Rossmoor resident is defined as anyone approved by GRF and issued a valid ID card.
Expiration or any other invalidation of the ID card cancels the membership.
B. Members are bound by the rules of the club as adopted, approved or amended by the
Board. Repeated violation of any of these rules may result in cancellation of Club
membership.
C. A person shall become a Member as follows:
1. Submit an application.
2. Pay annual dues upon joining and thereafter annually.
Article IV. Dues
Dues shall be approved by the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting. Dues shall be
sufficient only for defraying expenses and maintaining sufficient working capital for Club
activities.
Article V. Board of Directors
The Members of the Board are the Officers, the immediate Past President, and the
Members-at-Large.
A. The Officers are the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and their
duties, in general, are:
1. The President is responsible for assuring that the Club’s activities run smoothly and
shall appoint a chair for all standing and ad hoc committees.
2. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President, if the need arises.
3. The Secretary shall maintain attendance records, and minutes of the Board
meetings. Minutes of the Board meetings can be submitted to the Board members
for additions or corrections by email. Once the Secretary has heard from all
members of the Board, the Secretary may have the Tech Coordinator post the
minute on the website.
The Secretary shall maintain a Board Binder. The Binder will contain detailed and
current descriptions of the officers’ and members’-at-large responsibilities,
supporting positions, committee chairs responsibilities, and club policies, all as
adopted with Board approval.
4. The Treasurer shall handle all financial matters including collecting dues, paying
bills, reporting financial information, and preparing a successor.
B. Should a vacancy occur during the term of an Officer, the selection of a replacement for
the balance of the term shall be voted on by the Board.
Article VI. Members-at-Large
A. In order to insure that all hiking groups are represented on the Board, Members-at-
Large shall be elected. They consist of two members elected from each of the four
hiking groups.
B. The Members-at-Large of each hiking group shall begin in July to find nominees to fill
the position of the Member(s)-at-Large whose term is ending. A request for nominees
shall go to all members of the respective hiking group who are in the directory. The
request may be given by email.
C. If more than one nominee offers to fill a position, the Members-at-Large shall call for a
meeting to select, by secret ballot, the new Member-at-Large. The person receiving the
greatest number of votes of those present at the meeting shall be elected to that
position.
D. Should a vacancy occur during the term of a Member-at-Large, the position will be filled
for the balance of the term of the vacating member by asking for volunteers from that
same hiking group, and if more than one person volunteers for the position, selection
shall be voted on by the hiking group via email.
Article VII. Terms of Office
A. All Directors shall serve a term of two years. The Vice President, after serving as Vice
President the first year of the term, shall become the President in the second year,
fulfilling the two year requirement. For the first year in which these Bylaws are in effect,
one Member-at-Large for each hiking group shall serve for one year, and the second will
serve two years. After this first year, all Members-at-Large will serve two year terms.
B. Terms of office begin on January 1.
C. Directors may serve more than one term, provided that no Director shall serve for more
than two terms in immediate succession.
D. Should a Director fail to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the Board without
an excepted excuse, the Director shall be considered as having resigned from the
Board, and the position is vacant.
Article VIII. Supporting Positions
A. Membership Coordinator
B. Technical Coordinator
C. Registrar
D. Hike Leader Training Coordinator
E. Publicity Reporter
F. Rossmoor News Coordinator
G. Hike Calendar Coordinator
H. Trail Steward
Article IX. Conducting Business
A. Board meetings shall be conducted using Robert’s Rules of Order. All Board meetings
shall be open to the Members, and Members are entitled to speak to the Board. A
reasonable time limit for members to speak shall be established by the Board, and may
be changed by the Board at any time. Only Board members may make motions or vote
on any matters before the Board.
B. A quorum of the Board shall be 51% of the Board members and shall include the
President or Vice President.
Article X. Meetings
A. The Board shall meet bi-monthly beginning in January. The President may call
additional Board meetings as deemed necessary. Notice of regular Board meetings will
be published in the Directory/Calendar of Events. Members will be notified of special
Board meetings within ten days after scheduling.
B. The Annual Meeting of the membership shall be in October. During this meeting:
1. The Members shall elect new officers to serve on the Board. The slate prepared
by the Nominating Committee shall be received, and the persons listed on it are
nominated for the positions indicated in the slate. If there is only one person
nominated for each Officer position, then the Members may vote by acclamation.
If the Nominating Committee’s slate contains more than one nominee for an
Officer position, then a secret ballot election shall be held to determine who shall
be elected.
2. The Members shall vote on amendments to the Bylaws, as provided in Article
XII.
Article XI. Nominating Committee
A. The Past President, President, and Vice President, plus one Member-at-Large from
each hiking group shall make up the Nominating Committee. If two Members-at-Large
from the same hiking group wish to serve on the Nominating Committee, they shall draw
lots to determine which one will serve.
B. The Nominating Committee shall send an email notice to all members in July to recruit
volunteers to serve as Officers on the Board.
C. The Nominating Committee shall propose at least one nominee for each Officer position
on the Board which will become vacant on the following January 1.
D. The Nominating Committee shall complete its work in time to publish the slate of
nominees on the Club website at least one month prior to the Annual Meeting.
Article XII. Amendment of Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of members voting at a
Membership Meeting, provided notice of the proposed amendment, together with the text of
the proposed change, shall have been given to the Members at least one month prior to the
date of the meeting at which the amendment is presented for consideration.
Effective date: These Bylaws are effective upon adoption.
The Memorandum of Organization was adopted February 14, 1968
Bylaws Amended: October 20, 1998; October, 2005; December 8, 2011; October 2013; October 2016.