CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF

THE SENIOR MEN’S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN

(Originally adopted June, 1977 – latest revision March, 2005)

 

 

ARTICLE 1    NAME AND AFFILIATION

1.1      The name of the organization is The Senior Men’s Club of New Canaan.  It is a program of the YMCA of New Canaan, Inc.

 

ARTICLE 2    OBJECTIVES

2.1       The objectives of the Club shall be to provide friendly association of senior men of New Canaan who have met the requirements of membership; to foster fellowship in a non-political, non-commercial, and non-soliciting  environment; to enable members to help each other enjoy life more fully; and to provide a forum to acquaint members with community activities and services.

 

ARTICLE 3    MEMBERSHIP

3.1       Eligible applicants are men 55 years or older who live or own property in New Canaan and who wish to participate in the Club.  Members who move out of town can retain their membership if they so desire.

 

3.2       The number of members will be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

3.3       Applicants will be admitted in order of application.

 

3.4       An applicant may be invited to attend a meeting and, at the discretion of a committee chairman, may participate in a club activity.

 

ARTICLE 4    OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

4.1       The Officers shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, a Secretary, and Assistant Secretary (ies).  Each officer shall be elected for one year.  The President shall not serve for more than two successive terms.

 

4.2       The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, the Immediate Past President, and the six Directors.  The Board shall meet at the call of the President or any four members of the Board.

 

4.3       There shall be six Directors in three classes.  Two Directors shall be elected each year to serve three-year terms.  Directors may be re-elected for a second full term.

 

ARTICLE 5    ELECTIONS

5.1       Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting.

 

5.2       The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of the Immediate Past President as Chairman, two Directors, and two members-at-large.  (In order to appear in the directory, the members should be appointed immediately following the Annual Meeting.)  The first nomination to be concluded by the Nominating Committee shall be the nomination for President, and that nominee shall then become an active member of the Committee.

 

5.3       The Nominating Committee shall present a complete slate of Officers and Directors at a regular meeting at least two meetings before the Annual Meeting.  At that meeting, nominations from the floor will also be accepted, provided they are seconded by at least five members.

 

5.4       Should any vacancy on the Board occur during the year, it shall be filled by appointment by the President with the approval of the Board.  If the office of the President becomes vacant, the Board of Directors shall choose one of the Vice Presidents to fill the unexpired term.

 

ARTICLE 6     COMMITTEES

6.1       There shall be the following committees.  Chairmen shall be appointed by the President with consent of the Board of Directors.

            Audit                                        Historian                                   Properties

Couth                                       Hospitality                                Public Relations

Directory                                  Membership                             Recreation

Education                                 Membership Assistance            Resident Humorist                                      

            Handymen                                Nominating                                

 

Other committees as required

 

6.2       Committee members are to be appointed by the respective chairmen.

 

ARTICLE 7    FINANCES

7.1       Membership dues shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and voted on by the membership.

 

7.2       Dues are payable on January 1st.   The Treasurer will notify by first-class mail any member who has not paid by March 1st.  Any members delinquent in dues on April 1st will be dropped from membership.

 

7.3       Dues shall be waived for any members not in a position to pay them, when such waiver is applied for and approved by the Treasurer.

 

7.4       The Couth Committee shall manage all income and expenses relative to couth trips with an overall non-profit objective.  Couth shall have a separate bank account.  Couth funds and dues will not be co-mingled.

 

ARTICLE 8    MEETINGS

8.1       Regular meetings will be held on Fridays from approximately 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.

 

8.2       In case of inclement weather, if the New Canaan schools are closed the meeting will be cancelled. If schools are delayed, the meeting will be held as scheduled.

 

8.3       The Annual Meeting has traditionally been a luncheon held on the first Friday in May, restricted to members only.  It replaces the Friday meeting.

 

ARTICLE 9    AMENDMENTS

9.1       The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present, provided that the amendments have been presented at a previous meeting of the general membership.

 

ARTICLE 10   GUIDELINES

10.1     Written GUIDELINES, covering informal practices and procedures, shall be maintained, updated, and published by the Secretary.  They are descriptive only and intended for the guidance of Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairmen.