ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the Great Ohio Coaster Club.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The purpose of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be a social club created for the simple enjoyment of the roller coaster, wood or steel.

ARTICLE III

Character

The Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be a non-profit Organization.  No part of earnings of the Organization shall go for the benefit of, or distributable to, its members, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for rendered services incurred for normal operations of the organization.

ARTICLE IV

Members

Section 1.  Membership in the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be open to all interested persons who continue to abide by the rules set forth within.

Section 2.  Class of membership shall be limited to individual, corporate, couple, and family.

Section 3.  Individual memberships are extended to all individuals.  Each individual membership includes entitlement to one election vote per election year.  Couple memberships are extended to all individuals.  Each couple membership includes entitlement to two election votes per election year.  Family memberships are extended to three or more persons and entitlement include two issues of STREAK and two votes per election year.  Corporate membership are treated the same as an individual membership.

Section 4.  The Governing Committee shall determine annual dues for individual and couple membership.

Section 5.  The membership year shall begin on receipt of a complete paid application.

Section 6.  Members in good standing shall be those persons who maintain their status by proper submission of dues and complete application and by conduct that will have no detrimental effect on the Great Ohio Coaster Club or its members.

Section 6.1.  Members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall not use their membership to the Great Ohio Coaster Club to try and/or obtain complimentary admission to an amusement park or attraction.

Section 6.2.  Members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall not use their membership to the Great Ohio Coaster Club to gain special privileges or access to restricted areas of any amusement park or attractions.

Section 6.3.  Members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall observe and abide by all rules and regulations set by an amusement park of attraction.

Section 6.4.   Members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall not use their affiliation with the Great Ohio Coaster Club as an excuse for not complying with an amusement park or attraction rules and regulations.

Section 6.5.  Members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall not expect or demand special treatment or discounts from any amusement park or attraction based on their affiliation with the Great Ohio Coaster Club.

Section 6.6.  In the event where member/s of the Great Ohio Coaster Club does receive special privileges from an amusement park or attraction, member/s will not take advantage of the situation by pressing established limits, and/or wandering form group or host.

Section 7.  Members whose actions are adjudged to be contrary to the purpose of the Great Ohio Coaster Club or its Constitution and Bylaws may be impeached and barred from future membership by a two-thirds vote of the Governing Committee.

ARTICLE V

Officers

Section 1.  The affairs of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be under the general direction of the Governing Committee.

Section 2.  The officers of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Membership Director, a Documentarian, an Editor and an Immediate Past President. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by this Constitution and Bylaws adopted by the Great Ohio Coaster Club.  Only members in good standing are permitted to hold office.  Only members in good standing may be elected to office of the Great Ohio Coaster Club.  Officers of other Roller Coaster/Amusement Park related organizations may not be elected to an office of the Great Ohio Coaster Club.

Section 3.  Prior to March 1st of each election year the President shall provide to the Editor of the newsletter the names and addresses of an Election Committee of 5 members, consisting of the Vice President (who shall chair the Election Committee) and four members in good standing appointed by the President.  The Editor shall publish the names and addresses of the members of the Election Committee in the newsletter immediately proceeding March 1st, along with an invitation for interested members of the Great Ohio Coaster Club to contact members of the Election Committee with suggestions for nominations.  Members of the Election Committee may run for an elected office.

Section 4.  Prior to May 1st of each election year the Vice President shall submit to the President the list of nominees decided upon by majority vote of the Election Committee.  The President shall send the list to the Editor for publication in the May Issue of STREAK along with the candidates’ platforms.

Section 5.  The Editor must submit with the July issue of STREAK a ballot reflecting the nominations and providing for write-in votes for alternate candidates.  Such ballots shall be returned to the Vice President before August 15.  The compiling of the results will be the responsibility of the Election Committee.

Section 6.  Before September 1 of the election year the Election Committee shall tabulate all the ballots received as of that date, verify and certify the results of the election, and forward the results to the President.  The candidate for each office receiving the most votes shall be declared elected and notified by mail.  Results of the election will be announced by publication in the September newsletter.  Newly elected officers will take office effective September 1.  In the event of a tie, a run-off election ballot will be sent off in the next available newsletter.  Ballots of the run-off election need be returned to the Election Committee one-month after the mailing of said ballot.

Section 7.  The officers of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be elected to serve for four years or until their successors are elected.

Section 8.  Officers shall not be eligible to run for reelection.  Officers must wait one term before running for office.

Section 9.  The President of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be responsible for the overall direction of the affairs of said club and shall oversee the performance of the other officers and the various committees.  The President shall chair the business meeting and carry out the intent of this Constitution and Bylaws to the best of their abilities.  Should the President be unable to continue in office for any reason or is not performing their duties as stated here, the Vice President shall assume the role of President until the next election of officers.

Section 10.  The Vice President shall assist the President in performance of his or her duties, undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the President, chair the Election Committee, and be prepared to function as Acting President until the next election should the President be unable to continue in office.  Should the Vice President be unable to continue in office for any reason or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Vice President.  The nomination will be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Governing Committee.

Section 11.  The Secretary shall maintain records of all meetings, Governing Committee meetings, and elections; undertake such correspondence as may be necessary for the conduct of business of the Great Ohio Coaster Club; and assist the president in such ways as may be directed.  Should the Secretary be unable to continue in office for any reason or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Secretary.  The nomination will be brought before the Governing Committee for approval.  The nomination will be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Governing Committee.

Section 12.  The Treasurer shall maintain the funds of the Great Ohio Coaster Club with a joint bank account with a designated Governing Committee member, and make disbursements for such expenditures as may be authorized by the Governing Committee; and provide a financial summary at each business meeting and a full accounting and all expenditures and receipts shall be submitted to the Secretary, with a copy transmitted to the Editor for publication each year in the September issue of the newsletter.  Should the Treasurer be unable to continue in office or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Treasurer.  The nomination will be brought before the Governing Committee for approval.  The nomination will be approved by two-thirds majority vote of the Governing Committee.

Section 13.  The Membership Director shall handle membership applications, maintain the official file of current members and prospective members, supply the Governing Committee with the up-to-date membership rosters, receive dues from the members and promptly forward said dues to the Treasurer, and notify members of upcoming renewal.  Duplicates of the Great Ohio Coaster Club membership roster shall be available to all members in good standing annually.  Should the Membership Director be unable to continue in office or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Membership Director.  The nomination will be brought before the Governing Committee for approval.  The nomination will be approved by a majority vote of the Governing Committee.

Section 14.   The Documentarian shall maintain a record of club events; club documents, and shall also receive a copy of the minutes from the Secretary.  The Documentarian shall undertake such correspondence as may be required for the business of the Great Ohio Coaster Club and collect and distribute information regarding the historical background of the roller coaster for the member’s informational needs.  Should the Documentarian be unable to continue in office or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Documentarian.  The nominations will be brought before the Governing Committee for approval.  The nomination will be approved by a majority vote of the Governing Committee.

Section 15.  The Editor shall compile news, photographs, and coaster related material, and have available both a printed and electronic copy every other month of the Great Ohio Coaster newsletter, the Streak, and undertake such correspondence deemed fit to complete each issue.  Should the Editor be unable to continue in office or is not performing their duties as stated here, the President shall nominate a member in good standing to replace said Editor.  The nominations will be brought before the Governing Committee for approval.  The nomination will be approved by a majority vote of the Governing Committee.

Section 15.1.  A proof reader shall be nominated by the President and approved by a 2/3's vote of the Governing Committee. The editor shall provide a proof copy of the STREAK to the designated proof reader with sufficient time to proof the copy prior to printing.

Section 16.  The Governing Committee shall advise and assist the President in direction of the affairs of the Great Ohio Coaster Club, ratify or reject by vote such proposals that may be brought before said Committee, and undertake such other duties as the President may direct.

Section 17.  Officers shall make a concerted effort to attend all meetings. In the event that an officer is unable to attend a meeting, they shall make a report for their position to the President prior to each meeting.

Section 18.  In the event that an officer is replaced in accordance with Article V, and the term of office is more than half expired, said replacement shall be eligible to run for the same office during the next election.

ARTICLE VI

The Governing Committee

Section 1.  The officers of the Great Ohio Coaster Club and committee directors shall constitute the Governing Committee.

Section 2.  The Governing Committee shall have general supervision of the business affairs of the Great Ohio Coaster Club between elections, assist in determining possible sites for future conventions and outings to be put before the membership, and perform such other duties as are specified in this constitution and Bylaws.

Section 3.  The President at the convenience of its members shall call meetings of the Governing Committee.  The date and site of the Committee meeting will be published in the newsletter.

Section 4.  If a vacancy occurs on the Governing Committee, the remaining members may elect a replacement to fill such a vacancy using the guidelines within the Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 5.  In the event of the dissolution of the Great Ohio Coaster Club, the officers shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the club, dispose of all assets of the organization exclusively for the purpose if the club in such a manner, or to such organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 6. In the event that a vote is needed by the governing committee and members of the governing committee are unable to attend the governing committee meeting, a vote shall be passed by 2/3’s of the voting governing committee members.

Section 6.1. Members of the Governing Committee shall be notified in advance of any upcoming votes with a minimum of 2 weeks notice. This may be accomplished by phone, mail, e-mail, publication in the STREAK, etc. Governing Committee members not able to attend may provide an absentee vote. In the event, of an impromptu vote, it shall be acceptable to call the governing committee members not in attendance. It will be the discretion of those members not in attendance to vote or not vote. If said members feel the topic can not be adequately explained over the phone, the vote shall be tabled until the next meeting. In turn, that phone call shall be considered the notification of the upcoming vote.

ARTICLE VII

Conventions

Section 1.  A Convention for the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be held if there are interested parks that would desire hosting the convention.

Section 2.  Conferences and other outings may be organized as directed by the Governing Committee, as the Governing Committee shall from time to time deem feasible.

Section 3.  The Convention Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President and other appointed members in good standing such as the President and Vice President shall deem appropriate.  It shall be the responsibility of the Convention Committee for soliciting proposals from possible host sites, planning programs, accommodations; dates and schedules for said events.

Section 4.  Convention site proposals shall be submitted by the Convention Committee and/or representation from amusement parks or coaster operators, which desire to host the convention.  Selection of the site will be determined by a majority vote of the membership at large.  Proposals for possible convention site selection should be received by October 1.  A ballot for site selection shall go in the next available newsletter.  The deadline for returning ballot shall be three weeks after ballots were sent.

ARTICLE VIII

Membership Benefits and Membership Rights

Section 1.  Each host park shall establish membership benefit(s) in cooperation with the Governing Committee.

Section 2. All parks administering any benefit(s) shall receive mailings of the Great Ohio Coaster Club, including a complete listing of members for identification purposes.

Section 3.  The newsletter of the Great Ohio Coaster Club shall be mailed to all paid members.

Section 4.  All members shall have the rights to witness any and all Governing Committee meetings that shall be held in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

Legal Principles

The Great Ohio Coaster Club shall use the current edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” as a guide, if deemed necessary, to conduct business.

ARTICLE X

Amendment of Constitution and Bylaws

The Constitution and Bylaws of the Great Ohio Coaster Club may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the responding ballots to proposed amendments, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing with the endorsement of at least ten members in good standing.  A ballot will be published and sent with the next available newsletter after receipt of the duly constituted proposal.  Bylaws of the Great Ohio Coaster Club can be amended by a two-thirds vote of the governing committee.

BYLAWS OF THE GREAT OHIO COASTER CLUB

Bylaw 1:   Dues and Fees

Section 1.  The membership fees shall be $20 per year for each individual member in good standing and corporate members.  $30 for each couple membership.  $40 for each family membership.

Section 1a.  The membership fees for those members electing to receive the STREAK electronically shall be $15 per year for each individual member in good standing.  $20 for each couple membership.  $25 for each family membership.

Section 2.  Reasonable fees to cover only the expense of the Club meeting shall be funded by the general treasury.

Bylaw 2:   Great Ohio Coaster Club meetings

Section 1.  There shall be a maximum of 5 business meetings per year.

Section 2.  The dates and locations of all meetings shall be published in the newsletter before the meeting so to allow any individual who may wish to witness the proceedings may do so.

Revised August 20, 2012