(Revised Sept. 2024)

Name and insignia

The name of this Club will be “Dixieland Cruisers of Savannah, Georgia”.

This Club will have such official insignia as the membership will determine.

Purpose of the Club

Promote interest in various types of special interest auto activity.

Create good fellowship and sportsmanship among the members.

To uphold the principles of good government, and support charities as a non-profit organization.

Conduct Club operations and activities in such a manner as to bring about a clearer understanding on the part of the public, press and law enforcement agencies of organized special interest auto activities.

Promote safety in automobile maintenance and operation.

Qualifications for Membership

Any person of good character interested in special interest auto activities and meeting the qualifications of this Club is eligible for membership and full Club privileges.

Prospective Members must attend a meeting and be voted on at the meeting where they are in attendance. Meeting attendance may be at any regularly scheduled business meeting. When a Prospective Member attends a meeting, the President or the prospect’s sponsor may, with the consent of the prospect, ask that the prospect be nominated and voted upon for membership. A volunteer Club Sponsor or an appointed Sponsor must be a member in current good standing. The Sponsor shall be proactive and keep the Applicant informed of Club activities and events. All Applicants will be made to feel welcome and encouraged to take an active role in the Club. The Sponsor will become familiar with the Applicant’s background in order to make a knowledgeable membership recommendation.  The Applicant will introduce themself and affirm they are interested in membership. An Applicant will be voted in by the membership in the privacy of the meeting room. An application can be rejected by “No” votes from 25% of the members at their acceptance meeting, any unwillingness of the prospect to join, or non-compliance with this section.

All Applicants for membership must complete a membership application form.

Upon passing all qualifications, Applicants must pay applicable dues. Any changes of dues will be determined by the Club membership.

Membership

Annual membership is from January 1st through December 31st.

There shall be four forms of memberships in the Club: Active, Lifetime, Lifetime Charter, Honorary:

An Active Member is a person or couple that have paid dues for the year. Active Members shall have the right to vote. New members will be provided with a copy of the Bylaws and Club Roster by E-mail (or paper copy if requested) upon joining.

A surviving spouse will have a Lifetime Membership and have full active status to include voting but will not be required to pay annual dues. This will be a single membership with one vote and a family membership with one vote by the surviving husband or wife.

A Lifetime Charter Member is a member with voting rights but will not be required to pay annual dues. These members will hold this status for life or until they do not meet the Club qualifications listed below.

A Honorary Member is any person who does outstanding work for the Club and can be made an Honorary Member when voted on and approved by the Club membership but will not be required to pay annual dues. Honorary Members are not allowed to vote. These members will hold this status for life or until they do not meet the Club qualifications listed below.

Any member who later fails to meet Club qualifications such as performing unsafe driving acts while driving a special interest auto on public highways or whose conduct is otherwise detrimental to the purpose and standing of the Club may be suspended or expelled from the Club by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the members present at the meeting when the vote is held.

 

The member may appeal to the Executive Committee (Elected Officers) in person, or by letter within thirty (30) days. After reviewing the appeal, the Executive Committee may then present their recommendation to the Club for another vote.

 

Dues

Dues are payable at the first annual meeting in January.

Dues for new members will be prorated. They will be 100% through June, 50% in the third quarter and 25% in the fourth quarter.

 

Membership Annual Dues are due to the Club Treasurer by the end of February. Any member who has not paid their annual dues by the end of February will be automatically dropped from the club membership unless special circumstances as outlined in Section 3.d are presented to the membership.

If a previous member is less than six months (end of August) in arrears paying dues and wants to rejoin the club, he/she must have a club member sponsor him/her, submit a new application and present himself/herself at a monthly club meeting to the membership for a vote on his/her reinstatement, and pay a full year’s membership dues.

If a previous member is in arrears for more than six months, he/she must have a club member sponsor him/her, submit a new application, attend three meeting (meetings do not have to be consecutive) and be voted on at the third meeting, and pay a full year’s dues.

If a member is not able to pay their annual dues because of a special circumstance such as job lost, sickness or death in the family, overseas deployment or another significant event, the Executive Committee can recommend to the membership that the member can be carried on the roster as a non-paying member until their circumstance’s changes. The member should contact the President about such circumstances. The members’ status should be reviewed at least annually. It should also be taken into account that if the members are able to drive their specialty cruising vehicle and have auto insurance, they should be able to afford the club’s small annual dues.

Section 4. All dues and fees paid to the Club will not be refunded under any circumstances.

 

Officers and Duties

The elected officers of this Club will be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. They will comprise the Executive Committee.

The President will preside at all monthly meetings of the Club; appoint such committees necessary to carry out activities of the Club; act as ex-officio member all special committees; issue the call for regular and special meetings; and see that the regular elections are held in accordance with the Club Bylaws.

The Vice-President will perform the duties of the President in his absence and assist the President with any duties as he designates.

The Secretary will record and maintain the monthly meeting minutes; have the minutes of meetings and Club Bylaws available for review at all meetings.

The Treasurer will collect dues; collect other money due the Club; make payments from Club funds; sign Club checks; maintain the Club financial records; and will make regular reports of the financial condition of the Club to members at monthly meetings.

 

Elections

All officers will be elected at the May meeting and will assume office at the June meeting of the new term and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are duly qualified and elected. The Club office term will be June through May.

All nominees for office will be active members.

Elections will be held as follows: The President will appoint a Nominating Committee at the March meeting. The Nominating Committee will submit a list of candidates at the April meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor any time prior to the election. Voting will be by secret ballot when more than one applicant is nominated for a position.

Elections will be the last order of business at the May meeting.

Elections will be decided by a majority vote of all members in good standing who are present at the May meeting.

 

a. When the Club Presidency is vacated before January 1, during the current voting year, the Vice President will assume the President’s duties until a new President is elected not later than the second monthly meeting following the vacancy. A new Vice President may or may not be elected at this time.

b. If the Presidency is vacated after January 1, during the current voting year, the Vice President will assume the duties of President until the May election.

Section 7. All elected officers and Presidential appointees must remain active members in good standing during their term in office.

Meetings

Ten percent (10%) of the active members in good standing will constitute a quorum.

Regular Club meetings will be held on the Second Tuesday of each month.

The President may call special meetings.

Club meetings will be governed by Roberts Rules of Order or otherwise determined by Club members.

Club Monies

All proceeds from any Club project will go to the Club Treasury.

A minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of all funds raised will be given to Charities.

All Club funds spent for the personal benefit of the members will be approved by a majority vote of members present at monthly meetings.

Charity Committee Donation Guidelines:

The Charity Committee can recommend a maximum of $500.00 per organization per year. The Club membership can exceed this limit by majority vote.

Local Charities are preferred.

Charitable organizations must be non-profit organizations.

The Charity Donation Year is from May after the Annual Car Show through the following April.

Club members are to submit charitable donation requests to the Charity Committee in May and June. Additional requests can be submitted through the end of the Donation Year.

The Club will provide the Charity budget to the Charity Committee for the Donation Year at the June Meeting.

The Charity Committee will consolidate the charity requests, determine eligibility, and obtain appropriate background information.

The Charity Committee will submit recommendations for 75% of the Charity Budget to the Club membership at the July meeting for discussion and voting/approval.

Twenty-five (25%) of the Charity Budget will be held in reserve for additional donations later in the Charity Donation Year.

Club Participation Monetary Awards.

a. Club members in attendance at another organization’s event can by their majority vote donate received awarded funds to the event organization’s preferred charity. The funds will be turned over to the Dixieland Cruisers Charity Committee in the event of a tie vote.

b. The members in attendance can by majority vote to turn the funds over to the Dixieland Cruisers’ Charity Committee.

c. The funds will be turned over to the Dixieland Cruisers’ Charity Committee if the event organizer is not supporting a charity.

d. The participating club members can by majority vote recommend a charity to the Dixieland Cruisers’ Charity Committee if funds are brought back to the club.

Sunshine Fund

If a Club member or immediate Club family member passes away, flowers will be sent from the Club. Both Husband and Wife are Club members. Immediate Family includes Husband, Wife, Daughter, Son, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Stepmother, Stepfather.

The price for a floral arrangement is not to exceed $75.00.

The Club will pay for Deceased Member Annual Car Show Memorial Awards.

Club Property

All Club property will be itemized on an inventory sheet to include the item description, member holding the property and telephone number.

Property will be maintained in a secure environment which prevents loss or degradation of the property.

Club members may make use of the property with permission of the Club leadership.

Members using Club property are responsible for its condition, repair and/or replacement.

Members holding Club property will make the property available for events at the request of the Club leadership.

The Vice President will maintain the Club’s Asset Inventory Sheets and review the inventory when custody changes occur or at least annually in June.

Club Disbanding (In the Event of ...)

A quorum of Club members must be present at a Club meeting to consider disbanding the Club.

If a majority of members at the meeting in Section 1 vote to consider disbanding the Club, a letter will be sent to each member by the Club Secretary stating that a vote to disband the Club will be considered at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

A majority of Club members at the meeting must vote for disbanding the Club in order for the Club to be disbanded.

Club property will be disposed of at auction, sold or given to charity by vote of the club members.

Club monetary funds will be used to pay outstanding bills and the remaining funds given to charity by a vote of the Club members.

The Club Secretary will notify the State of Georgia that the Club has disbanded.

Procedures for Changing Bylaws

Advertising on the Club Website

Club members can advertise their business for free on the Club Website.

Annual Car Club Show Sponsors can be offered business card advertising on the Club Website for a minimum $25.00 valued donation in merchandise or cash/check. Club Members soliciting funds or merchandise from potential show sponsors can use Club Website advertising to help obtain Car Show sponsor support. The Club can accept sponsorship donations at any time for the next Annual Car Show. This advertising can then stay on the Club Website through the following Annual Car Show. Advertising will be in good taste.

Non-Club Members and Non-Annual Car Show Sponsors can advertise for free on the Club Website when approved by the Club Officers. This advertising should be restricted to special interest of the Club such as the Jesup Drive-in Movie Theater.

Other organization’s Car Show Flyers may be posted on the Club Website.

Club Website Advertisements will be reviewed annually in May by the Show Committee Chairman and Website Coordinator to determine eligibility of the Advertisers. The Show Committee Chairman will maintain a list of Annual Car Show Sponsors. Advertisements will be removed or added as appropriate in accordance with above Sections 1 through 4.