COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
                                WASHINGTON CHAPTER 11 BYLAWS



                                   

ARTICLE 1- COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION

The Emblem used by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) is Trade Marked and is the sole property of CVMA. The CVMA patch or Logo cannot be reproduced without license from the National Board of Directors (BOD). The Emblem of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is in the shape of a skull encompassed by the following colors. The incorporated colors are: Red, representing the blood that has been shed on the battlefield. The Military Gold, representing the many ethnic backgrounds of all nations. Black, representing the heavy hearts possessed for those who gave their lives and for those that are considered missing in action or prisoners of war. The Skull and Ace of Spade represents the death that war leaves in its wake.

ARTICLE 2- MISSION STATEMENT

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association was formed to promote camaraderie among veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces and our Allies who ride motorcycles; to foster working relationships with other Veteran’s Motorcycle Associations and Motorcycle Groups; to promote interest in motorcycling among Veterans; to maintain a positive image with the public, law enforcement and the media to raise public awareness of the plight of MIA’s, POW’s and their families. Our goal is to support Veteran Organizations, Active Duty Military personnel and their families.

ARTICLE 3- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1-Full Members

1. A Chapter must have a minimum of fifteen (15) full members.

2. Members must be of good character.

3. Have served in the military in a combat theater or foreign war.

4. Provide proof of service by providing a DD 214 or ERB that will be verified by the National BOD.

5. Must own and operate a motorcycle of 500cc or larger.

6. Full members may vouch for only one Support member per year.

7. State Charter Members (SCM) are those Full Members who attended the first original Washington State meeting on April 9^th, 2006 at Bremerton, Washington.

Section 2-Support Members

1. Support members must be a veteran or active member of the United States Armed Forces whom have not served in combat.

2. Must be of good character.

3. Own and operate a motorcycle of 500cc or larger.

4. Maximum number of support members in a Chapter will not exceed 10% of the membership of a State Chapter.

5. Support members will read and abide by all CVMA by-laws.

6. Support members are required to submit their application with proof of military service through a full member of the CVMA who has held a membership for not less than one year. A full member submitting an application for a support member must vouch for the new support member.

7. Support members may wear a small CVMA Support Patch on the front of their vest or a 10” Support Patch on the back of their vest.

8. Cannot hold an Officer position in the CVMA.

9. Cannot vote on CVMA business.

10. May serve on committees as designated by the CO.

Section 3-Auxiliary Members

1. Must be of good character.

2. Auxiliary members must be a spouse of a full member.

3. Cannot hold an Officer position in the CVMA.

4. Cannot vote on CVMA business.

5. May serve on committees as designated by the CO.

ARTICLE 4- DUES

1. Annual Dues for Full Members will be $15.00.

2. Annual Dues for Support Members will be $10.00.

3. Annual Dues for Auxiliary Members will be $10.00.

4. Should a full member resign, they will have a five day grace period to rescind their resignation with no penalties. After the 5-day grace period a member will have to re-apply for membership as a new member and will require National BOD approval.

5. Active members in good standing with the CVMA who after 5 years become infirm, disabled or otherwise unable to ride their motorcycles will be able to keep their patch and be retired as life time members in good standing with the CVMA.

6. Membership dues are due in the month of June each year.

7. Dues for active duty personnel will be waived by National providing that the member is in fact serving in an actual combat zone. Other active duty personnel stationed stateside or overseas regardless of branch of service will still be required to pay annual dues. The member deployed to an AOE must send his/her information to his/her respective chapter officers and request their dues be waived. This should include as much information as possible as to their location without compromising mission directives and or security procedures/policy.

8. Life membership requirements: Three years of active membership in good standing in the CVMA and have participated in at least one sanctioned CVMA event per year to include having attended at least one National Meeting as one of the sanctioned events. Cost for life membership is $150.00. If a life member quits for any reason or the member is removed from the CVMA rolls for any reason, no refunds will be made.

9. An original 45 National Charter Member is not required to pay National Dues.

ARTICLE 5- MEETINGS

1. A quorum of members shall be those members present at any given meeting.

2. The Chapter CO or XO will chair Chapter meetings and may call for special meetings as required.

3. Rules of Order (Parliamentary Procedures) should be established and utilized during all meetings.

4. Meeting minutes will be maintained by the Chapter Secretary.

5. A Washington State CVMA Convention will be scheduled each year

1. The date, location of and agenda for this meeting will be set up by the State Rep.  Input for these decisions will be solicited from the Chapters and the state members.  The State Rep may request assistance from the membership in scheduling this event.

2. Though social activities are encouraged during this State Convention, the principal purpose for this meeting will be the general administrative "good of the order" business of CVMA Chapter 11.  Items for consideration at this meeting are proposed bylaw changes, additions, deletions (State and/or National), election of a State Rep, schedule of events for the coming year, etc.

3. The agenda to the meeting will be composed and posted to the general membership in a timely manner.

4. The general membership will be highly encouraged to attend this event each year. This will be considered the Chapter 11 administrative event of the year.  As such, the State Rep will request approval for this to be a recognized as a National sanctioned event.  An official roster will be collected on the morning of the general membership meeting by the Chapter SAA(s) and receive endorsement by the State Rep.  The State Rep will then forward the roster to the BOD for their record.

5.  Meeting minutes will be collected and endorsed for the record by the State Rep.  Forwarding of these minutes to the state members and National BOD will be completed as necessary.

6. If upon reflection, the State Rep deems it necessary, the State Convention may be cancelled.  Appropriate notification to the CEB(s) and general membership will be made of this decision. 

ARTICLE 6- ELECTIONS

Regularly Scheduled Annual Officer Elections

1. Nominees for office must be active, in good standing and have been a full member for at least one year.

2. Officers must remain active members in good standing during their term of office.

3. Elections for Officers will occur during the month of July each year.

4. Officers will hold a term of office for two years.

5. Officers may hold consecutive terms.

6. The Chapter Executive Board (CEB) is as follows:

1. Commanding Officer (CO)

2. Executive Officer (XO)

3. Secretary

4. Sergeant at Arms (SAA)

5. Treasurer

7. Elections for Chapter Officers should be staggered so that the CO and SAA are elected on opposite years from elections for the Secretary, XO and Treasurer.

8. During elections for Officer positions, the CO may only vote in the event there is a tie vote.

9. Should an elected officer resign from office, the remaining CEB may appoint a replacement to serve until the next Chapter meeting where a Special Election will be held for that position, for the remainder of its term. Candidates for Office subject to Art 6, subsection Regularly Scheduled Annual Officer Elections, paragraphs A and B.

10. For election purposes, if an Officer wishes to run for an Office other than his/her existing Office, they must resign their position. If he/she is unsuccessful during elections he/she will revert to a Full Member and not be eligible for elected office until the next Regularly Scheduled Annual Officer Elections.

11. Officers resigning their positions for other than election purposes will not be eligible for an elected office until the next Regularly Scheduled Annual Officer Elections.

ARTICLE 7- DUTIES OF OFFICERS

2. Chapter Officers make up the Chapter Executive Board (CEB) of the Chapter and are responsible for the execution of policies and By-Laws. By majority vote, fills vacancies in any office of the Executive Board and submits to the membership any recommendations affecting the policies of the Chapter which have been previously approved.

3. The Commanding Officer (CO) presides over all meetings of the Chapter.

   1. Has oversight over all committees and delegations

   2. Issues the call for regular and special Chapter meetings

   3. Schedules regular elections

   4. Ensures all proceedings are held in accordance with these Chapter By-Laws

   5. Carries out any directives of the BOD and the State Representative (SR).

   6. Assigns a member at large to assist in the Audit of the Chapters records and financial matters.

   7. May appoint delegations to represent the Chapter at any convention, meeting, rally, or other assembly that may be deemed necessary. These delegations are subject to approval by the State Representative. All delegations are authorized to exercise only those powers specifically vested in them by the CEB.

4. The Executive Officer (XO) is second in command, assists the CO as necessary and assumes the duties of the CO in his absence.

5. The Secretary shall keep and maintain a record of minutes of all special and general membership meetings.

6. The Treasurer collects dues and other forms of income due the Chapter:

   1. Set up all accounts and maintain a record of accounting books.

   2. Makes payments from the Chapter funds when necessary or so directed by CEB or State Representative

   3. Signs all checks or drafts from the Chapter account (A two signature system) and makes regular reports of the Chapter’s financial status to the Executive Board and general membership

   4. Assists the SAA along with a member at large (non-officer) in the annual Audit of the Chapter’s Books and Records, which is to occur in the month of October.

   5. Signatures required to draft funds are: Treasurer and one other EOB Member.

7. The Sergeant at Arms (SAA) maintains order during CVMA meetings:

   1. Checks members ID cards before each meeting starts.

   2. The SAA also ensures By-Laws are adhered to.

   3. Assists the Treasurer with the annual Audit of the Chapters Books each October.

   4. The SAA also assists in enforcement of any disciplinary action as directed by the SR or CEB.

   5. Is responsible for supervising Road Captains and coordination of Chapter rides.

8. Chapter CO’s within the state are considered to be equal in “rank” regardless of chapter recognition dates.

ARTICLE 8- RULES OF CONDUCT

1. By applying for membership with the CVMA, you are giving CVMA and the BOD the right to verify your membership application and DD 214 records.

2. Each member must attend at least one (1) Sanctioned event hosted by the CVMA per year.

3. All members must conduct themselves in a manner that is not an embarrassment to the CVMA or the United States of America.

4. Full and Support members must possess a valid motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license and have proof of insurance for their motorcycle.

5. Misconduct by a member, or violation of CVMA By-Laws, will subject the member to disciplinary action. The BOD has the authority to revoke a member's membership. Misconduct is defined as failure to abide by the By-Laws of the CVMA.

6. Misconduct also includes any behavior or activity that brings dishonor or discredit upon the CVMA by action, word(s) or deeds, to include commission of crimes in violation of State and Federal laws.

ARTICLE 9- DETACHMENTS/CHAPTERS

1. A Detachment may be formed under authority of a State Chapter and with approval of the State Representative.

1. A Detachment must have eight (8) Full Members.

2. Must have a designated Detachment CO as their representative.

3. Maintain communication with the sponsoring Chapter (mother chapter) through the mother Chapter’s SAA.

4. Is supervised by the mother Chapter.

2. Detachment members are carried as members of the Mother Chapter.

3. Detachment Officers will be elected at Detachment meetings

4. The Detachment CO will preside over all Detachment meetings and report meeting minutes and business to the mother Chapter.

5. The Detachment CO may appoint a detachment Liaison to the Mother Chapter.

6. The Detachment CO or Liaison will attend the Mother Chapter meetings and make a monthly progress report.

7. A Detachment may petition the Mother Chapter for Chapter status when they have obtained fifteen (15) full members as approved by the Mother Chapter, State Representative and National BOD.

8. Detachments are sponsored by and accountable to the state chapter.

9. Chapters or Detachments should not be located closer than 1-hour ride from a previously established Chapter within the same state unless approved by the state Rep and/or National BOD.

ARTICLE 10- COMMUNICATIONS/CORRESPONDENCE/MEDIA

1. Chapter Officers and their respective Detachment Officers will maintain open communication lines with each other.

2. Correspondence to or between Chapter Officers, their Detachments and the general membership will be communicated to the State Representative.

3. Correspondence to or between sister Chapters or other CVMA Chapters throughout the Association will be communicated to the State Representative.

4. Emails or Forum communication shall NOT contain any form of slander, derogatory comments or negative opinions. Participation in this kind of behavior could be considered as misconduct.

ARTICLE 11- BYLAWS

1. These by-laws may be altered, or repealed and new by-laws adopted only at the yearly Washington State CVMA Chapter 11 meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members.

2. Proposed amendments to the Washington State Chapter 11 Bylaws shall be submitted, in writing, utilizing CVMA Chapter 11 Bylaws Amendment Form, to a Chapter 11 Chapter Executive Board sixty days prior to Washington State Chapter 11 meeting for inclusion on the Washington State Chapter 11 Meeting Agenda. Proposed amendments submitted in any other form will not be considered, nor voted upon.

3. If any Washington State Chapter Bylaws conflict with CVMA National Bylaws, The National Bylaws will take precedence over State Bylaws.

Amended 5/31/09