Members News & Information Officers Classifieds Reference Discussion Links Events Regions Store Home
|
CONSTITUTION OF THE PLYMOUTH OWNER"S CLUB |
|
Article I. PURPOSE
OF THE ORGANIZATION The purpose of the
Club is to encourage the use, preservation and restoration of Plymouth and Fargo automobiles and trucks, 25 years
of age or older, particularly the AUTHENTIC restoration of these models, to provide and regulate meets, tours and
exhibitions for members vehicles, to provide high judging standards at these meets, to publish in the club magazine
information of interest and value to the members, and to discourage any activities, ideas or philosophies contrary
to these aims. Article II. CLUB
MEMBERSHIP Membership In the Plymouth
Owners Club, Inc., is open to any person of good character, genuinely Interested in the Plymouth or Fargo vehicle,
who will subscribe to the principles in Article I. Membership shall be continuous upon payment of annual dues as
set forth in Article III, Section 4. Ownership of a club recognized vehicle is not a prerequisite for membership. Clause A. Right of
Expulsion from membership or removal from office with cause is reserved by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Article Ill. DUES
OF THE CLUB The dues of the Plymouth
Owners Club, Inc. shall be payable under and according to the following provisions: Section 1. ACTIVE MEMBERS:
Any member that has submitted the proper fees for one year is entitled to receive six issues of the "Plymouth
Bulletin", a copy of the Membership Roster; may attend any club meets (subject to any entry fees which may
prevail), is entitled to submit to the Technical Director or Technical Advisors requests for information pertinent
to club business or to Plymouth restoration or history. Active members are also entitled to purchase and display
the club car badge and other official club merchandise to indicate their membership; is entitled to free advertising
in the "Plymouth Bulletin", subject to any restrictions published in the magazine and is entitled to
vote in club elections on club issues; and to run for election for club office. Section 2. HONORARY
MEMBERS: At the discretion of the Board of Directors and the Officers of the Club, individuals or corporations
deemed to have made outstanding contributions to Plymouth history may be named as Honorary Members. Additional
potential honorary members may be proposed by active members at any time. Honorary memberships are not given to
Active Members; do not require payment of dues; preclude holding office and have no voting privileges. Honorary
Members shall receive complimentary copies of the "Plymouth Bulletin" and may attend meets. Clause A. The following
have been granted Honorary Member Status: Plymouth Division,
Chrysler Corporation - 1961 Richardson Pan-American
Highway Expedition Members - 1982 Sullivan C. Richardson Arnold Whitaker Kenneth C. Van Hee Section 3: OTHER CLASSES
OF MEMBERS: Other classes of memberships may be adopted as growth of the club allows. Clause A. All memberships
shall be considered "family" memberships. Only one membership card shall be issued per family; family
members will received only one copy of the "Plymouth Bulletin". Each family membership will be allowed
only one vote and only one member of each family may hold National Office at one time. Family memberships are defined
as follows: member, spouse and children up to age 18 living In the household. Section 4: NON-PAYMENT
OF DUES: A member who has not paid dues for the membership year shall automatically be dropped from the mailing
roles and will be carried as an "inactive" member until such time as they have been contacted with a
second renewal notice. If upon receipt of a second renewal notice the member does not renew their membership they
will be dropped from the club roles. Upon nonpayment of dues the member shall be considered to have resigned their
membership and should they desire re-admittance at a later date, shall apply through regular channels for such
admission. Clause A. In cases
involving non-payment of dues, the Board of Directors or the Membership Secretary reserves the right to use discretionary
powers in expelling the offending member or In extending the membership If extenuating circumstances prevail. Article IV. THE
CLUB BADGE OR EMBLEM The emblem shall be
a facsimile of the sailing ship design used on the early Plymouth automobiles and bear the inscription "Plymouth
Owners Club, Inc." and the club's founding date. The earlier emblems, a plain oval with the inscription "Plymouth
Four Cylinder Owners Club" and the sailing ship ornament with the Inscription "Plymouth Four and Six
Cylinder Owners Club, Inc." may continue to be used by members possessing them. In the event a member allows
their membership to lapse, or otherwise severs connections with the Club, the badge looses its significance if
displayed on any automobile owned by a former member. Article V. BOARD
OF DIRECTORS Section 1. The Board
of Directors of the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc., shall consist of five active members, two of whom are Permanent
Directors, being Jay M. Fisher and Earl C. Buton, Jr., having titles of FounderDirector and Technical Director
respectively. Clause A. The Technical
Director shall be a person who has acquired the knowledge and background to qualify them as expert on the authentic
restoration of Plymouth vehicles and their history. The technical director shall be responsible for the Inclusion
of technical information in the "Plymouth Bulletin", for replying to technical correspondence addressed
to the Club by active members; and for the collection and use of such historic Plymouth Information as will be
useful to them In this office. Clause B. The function
of the Judging Director will be to ensure that the Club's Judging Guidelines are followed as closely as possible
and that they are updated as necessary. The Judging Director does not serve as the Chief Judge. Section A. The Judging
Director will update the Judging Guideline on a regular basis as changes or additions are made. Section B. The Judging
Director will contact new Technical Advisors to receive their comments for the year(s) they are acting as advisors
for. These comments will be forwarded to the Technical Director for review and approval before making them part
of the Judging Guide. Section C. The Judging
Director will send complete copies of the Judging Guide to each new Region after It has been officially accepted
by the Board. Section D. The Judging
Director will send approved additions, such as provided by a new Technical Advisor for his/her year, to each Board
member and each Region so they will have the most current information. Section E. The Judging
Director will make sure that any Region hosting a National Meet has copies of the Judging Sheets, Judging Guide
book and understand that the complete Judging Guide is to serve as a source of information should questions arise
during the judging. The Information in the Judging Guide will be considered accurate unless proven otherwise. Section F. The Judging
Director will work with the Board to regularly review the years of each Judging Class and to consider the point
requirements necessary to win an award. The review will also consider if the then current awards (Best of Show,
Chrysler Cup, Mayflower Award) are reflective of the number and years of Plymouths attending National Meets. Any
revisions will only be made by a majority vote of the Board. Section G. The Judging
Director will be appointed by the Board and serve in office at the discretion of the Board. Section H. The Judging
Director will have one vote as a member of the Board. Section 2. The National
Club President, upon completion of their term, automatically becomes a Director for a term of six (6) years. The
term of director expires Midnight December 31st, of the final year of their term. Section 3. In the event
that a President Is elected to serve a second term, this second term shall not by subtracted from their six year
term as Director. In such case, the Board of Directors, as constituted after January 1st, shall elect a Director
for the full six year term falling vacant by reason of the President's re-election. Section 4. In the event
of resignation, death or removal of office of a Director during their term of office, the remaining Directors shall
appoint a member of the Club to complete the unexpired term. In the event of resignation or death of a Permanent
Director, the post of Permanent Director is then eliminated, Section 5. No officer
shall be eligible to serve as a Director during their term In office. Article VI. OFFICERS
AND THEIR ELECTION Section 1. The staff
of officers for the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc. shall consist of a President, Vice-president, Corresponding Secretary,
Membership Secretary and Treasurer. The Editor of the "Plymouth Bulletin" is also considered an officer,
although not elected. The President must have served previously as a National officer, Director or Regional President. Section 2. DUTIES OF
THE OFFICERS Clause A. The duties
of the President shall be to preside over all regularly slated meetings of the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc., and
over all regular meetings of the Officers and all joint meetings of the Officers and Board of Directors; wlth advice
and counsel of the Officers and Board of Directors to appoint an editor for the "Plymouth Bulletin";
to take such actions, with the advice and consent of the Officers and Board of Directors, as may be deem necessary
and proper for the alms of the Club, as stated In Article 1, and for the protection of its welfare. Clause B. The duties
of the Vice-president shall be to preside over all meetings Identified in Article VI, Section 2, ln the absence
of the President; or in case of the removal, resignation or death of the President to take over all duties of the
President for the remainder of the President's term of office. Additional duties shall be to act as Regional Coordinator,
to advise and assist present and future Regional groups of the Club; to regulate geographical boundaries of these
Regions. All Regional business shall be with the advice and consent of the Officers and Board of Directors. Clause C. The duties
of the Corresponding Secretary shall be to keep a true and accurate record of the business transacted at all meetings
Identified in Article VI, Section 2, Clause A; to send a report or copy of these minutes to the Editor of the "Plymouth
Bulletin" for publication; to send out notices of forthcoming meetings, elections, and to tend to mailing
membership applications to prospective members, and to properly channel club correspondence to correct officers.
The Corresponding Secretary shall aide the Membership Secretary in contacting "Inactive" members about
renewing their membership in the Club and In other duties as may be deemed necessary. Clause D. Duties of
the Membership Secretary shall be to keep an accurate membership and vehicle roster; to publish an up-to-date membership
roster as determined and approved by the Officers and Board of Directors; tend to mailing of renewal statements
to the membership and process all new and renewal memberships; to deposit all club monies in the club account for
withdrawal by the Treasurer. The responsibility of preparing a "master" membership roster shall be the
Membership Secretary's, although these masters may be forwarded to the Editor for printing and mailing. Clause E. Duties of
the Treasurer shall be to keep a true and accurate account of the monies of the Club; to receive all income from
all sources of the Club; to make provision for the deposit of Club funds in a checking account and to establish
a two-signature club checking account. All expenses are to be paid promptly using Club checks. The Treasurer shall
submit to the Officers and Board of Directors a financial statement on a quarterly basis. The Officers and Directors
shall submit to the Treasurer, on a periodic and timely basis, all outstanding bills and/or club monies for payment
or deposit of such funds. The two signature club checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and either the President
or one of the Permanent Directors. All expenditures exceeding $500 must have prior approval of the Permanent Directors. Section 3. The staff
of elected officers named in Article VI, section 1, shall be elected for a term of two (2) years by secret mall
ballot. The election shall be completed by November 15th of each odd-numbered year. Section 4. Election
of officers shall be by vote of the Active Members. The total votes cast In any election shall be considered a
quorum. A plurality of one (1) vote shall be requisite for election. In the event of a tie, the Board of Directors shall vote
to break the tie. Section 5. Nominations
for National office will be received from the current National Officers, Board of Directors, Regional Officers,
and any Active Member. All nominations must be received by the President by August 15th of each odd numbered year.
All ballots must be mailed by October 15th of each odd numbered year and must be returned postmarked no later than
midnight November 15th of the same year. Section 6. Voting shall
be only by secret official ballot, on ballot forms provided by the Club. Section 7. The ballot
counting shall be done by a Ballot Teller appointed by the National Officers before voting begins. Only official
ballots will be counted. No National Officer, Regional Officer, Board of Director, Active Member of Honorary Member
shall have access to the ballot count until after the voting deadline has passed. The Ballot Teller shall then
notify the Founder-Director by telephone with the results. The FounderDirector will then notify the Officers and
Board members, as well as notifying the candidates of the election results. Section 8. New Officers
assume office January 1st following the concluded election. Officers so elected shall be responsible for conducting
the affairs of the Club according to the principles heretofore described. The President shall serve no more than
two (2) consecutive terms. The remaining Officers may serve an indefinite number of terms. Section 9. In the event
of a vacancy occurring In any office except the Presidency, but including the Vice-president upon assumption of
moving up to the Presidency under provisions of Article VI, Section 2, Clause B, the Officers and Board of Directors
shall immediately appoint an officer to fill the remainder of the term vacated. Section 10. Each staff
officer named In Article VI, Section 1 shall have been a member of the Club for one full year prior to holding
National office. Article VIII. PUBLICATIONS The "Plymouth
Bulletin" shall be the official publication of the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc. The "Plymouth Bulletin"
shall be published no fewer than five times per year. The Membership Roster shall be published as directed by the
Officers and Board of Directors. Section 1. The Club
shall set up a Publications Executive Committee which shall consist of the President, Editor and the two Permanent
Directors. This committee shall make all policy decisions regarding the "Plymouth Bulletin" and such
other official publications as the Club may at any time decide to issue. The Editor shall be obligated to follow
the line of policy and ethics decided upon by the Officers, Board of Directors or the Publications Executive Committee,
who shall have final say on whether or not to publish any controversial material. Section 2. The Editor
shall have the power to appoint an Assistant Editor or staff as is required or Is feasible. Article VIII. COMMITTEES The President, with
the advice and counsel of the Officers and Board of Directors, shall have the authority to appoint temporary or
permanent committees for the furtherance of the principles of the Club as set forth in Article 1. Members of temporary
committees shall serve until the end of the President's term unless relieved of their duties sooner by the President
or through the completion of their work. Article IX. BY-LAWS By-laws of the Club
shall be adopted and/or amended by a majority vote of a quorum of seven (7) of the National Officers and Board
of Directors. Article X. AMENDING
PROCEDURES An amendment to the
Constitution of the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc., may originate with five (5) active members in good standing, signed
by them, and presented to the President, who shall bring it before the membership at large. An amendment may also
originate with the Officers and/or Board of Directors. Any amendment shall be Incorporated Into the Club Constitution
by a majority vote of all votes cast by the membership at large, or by a majority vote of the Officers and Board
of Directors. Article XI. REGIONS The Plymouth Owners
Club, Inc., is both National and International In Its membership coverage. In order to promote the growth of the
Club in areas where it has not been possible to attend National Meets, the Club encourages those members to form
Regional Clubs. At all times the Regions are to abide by the National Club's Constitution. Section 1. The official
reglon(s) National Representative Is the Vicepresident of the National Club. All applications for Regional Charters
and general Region-to-National liaison work shall be handled by the Vice-president. Section 2. Regional
applications will be considered from five (5) or more active members. Upon approval the Vice-president shall issue
a Regional Charter to the Regional Club. Section 3. Regional
activities are Intended to supplement the National Club. The dates of proposed Regional meets shall not conflict
with National Meets. Clause A. Announcements
of Regional Meets and other official regional activities shall be sent to the Editor of the "Plymouth Bulletin"
in time for those activities to be published In the magazine. Write ups of all Regional activities shall also be
sent to the Editor for publication. Section 4. Regional
members are required to be Active or Honorary Members of the National Club. Clause A. Complete
rosters of Regional members may be requested at any time by the Officers or Board of Directors In order to enforce
Article XI, Section 4. Failure of a Region to comply with Section 4 will result in that Region's loss of a bid
for a National Meet and the Region will be ineligible for funding from the National Club for plaques and trophies. Section 5. Regional
Clubs may elect their own slate of officers for their Region. Clause A. Regional
Officers shall act as agents of their Region only and not as agents for the National Club. Clause B. After Regional
elections, the list of Regional officers shall be forwarded to the Vice-president and the Membership Secretary. Section 6. Any brochure,
letterhead or similar publication of the Region must contain, at a minimum, the National Club official emblem,
the Club's founding dates and the symbol for registered trademark ("R In a circle") with the wording
"Plymouth is a registered trademark of Chrysler Motors and is used by special permission" to comply with
Chrysler Corporation guidelines as set forth in the 1989 agreement between Chrysler Corporation and the Plymouth
Owners Club, Inc. Section 7. Regions
may collect separate dues, publish their own newsletters In compliance with Article XI, Section 6, and create their
own meets. Clause A. A complimentary
copy of each Regional Newsletter shall be sent to each National Officer, the Board of Directors and Editor In order
to keep them informed of Regional activities. Section B. Regions
may, upon written application to the National President, and approval from the National Officers, host a National
Meet. Clause A. The National
Club will advertise this meet in the "Plymouth Bulletin" at no charge to the Region. Clause B. The National
Club shall provide insurance coverage for any approved meet as the Club carries a bodily Injury liability and comprehensive
general liability policy for non-moving events only. This policy DOES NOT cover those selling food or drink but
does cover vendors or dealers. The Regional Club must notify the National President, in writing, in advance of
the meet, requesting extension coverage, giving the dates, times and location of the where the meet Is to take
place. Clause C. The National
Club shall, from its treasury, forward to the treasurer of the hosting Region, upon written request, the sum of
$150 to be used for the purchase of meet dash plaques and the additional sum of $750 to be used for the purchase
of National Meet trophies. Any excess funds shall be returned to the National Club treasury. Clause D. The National
Club will provide to the Regions financial support for up to three
(3) National Meets per year. Every tenth year, on the anniversary of the founding of the Plymouth automobile, the
National Club will authorize only one Grand National Meet to be held in the Detroit, Michigan area. The National
Club may sanction other meets, providing only insurance coverage and advertising in the "Plymouth Bulletin"
but not financial assistance. Clause E. One National
Meet shall be held geographically "west" of the Mississippi River and one shall be held "east"
of the Mississippi except years In which a Grand National meet is held. Clause F. The National
Club shall provide the transportation costs (only) of the National President to attend National Meets. |
|
Members News & Information Officers Classifieds Reference Discussion Links Events Regions Store Home |
Page Updated 1/21/2008