Summary of the SMS Bylaws
Approved by the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee, 1988
The SMS was the first self-governing section of the Sierra Club when chartered in 1935. Its bylaws provided a model for many other entities. The following is a paraphrased summary.
Download the entire text as a PDF file (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
- Name
- Ski Mountaineers Section (SMS) of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club.
- Purpose
- To band together members of the Sierra Club to enjoy skiing in the mountain wilderness with the comradeship and safety of a group.
- To apply the principles of conservation as they concern the use of the wilderness in winter.
- To promote interest and ability in ski mountaineering by scheduling and leading ski mountaineering tours.
- To provide instruction in ski mountaineering and to determine the skiing and ski-mountaineering proficiency of members and candidates.
- To support existing ski huts.
- Constitution
- The SMS is an integral part of the Angeles Chapter and the Sierra Club, and all SMS actions shall be consistent with Chapter and Club policy.
- Membership Requirements
- Be a current Sierra Club member.
- Possess Fourth-Class skiing ability.
- Participate in an SMS ski tour.
- Be sponsored by a member.
- Be elected by the Central Committee.
- Classes of Membership
- Big Badge (Member who has passed the Ski Mountaineering Test and served the section).
- Regular (Fourth-Class skier).
- Honorary.
- Inactive (Previous member, may be reinstated).
- Meetings
- Mugelnoos Meetings - Monthly, social, and for mailing the Mugelnoos.
- Business meetings - In March, on call, or by petition.
One week's written notice to members required.
- Quorum - Ten percent of the membership.
- Central Committee
- Six members.
- Term of office one year, Jun 1 to May 31.
- Only the Central Commitee or its specifically authorized agents may act in the name of the section.
- Appoints committees and representatives.
- Appoints leaders.
- Maintains outings and safety policy.
- Manages funds.
- Nominated by Elections Committee appointed in January, or from floor at March business meeting.
- Elected by secret mailed ballot sent out with April Mugelnoos.
- Names of those elected published in May Mugelnoos.
- Vacancies filled immediately by vote of the remaining members of the Committee.
- Officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Outings and Safety Chair.
Offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
- Meetings - At least twice per year, with one week's notice from Chair or upon request of any two members.
- Quorum - A majority of the committee.
- Open Meetings - Meetings shall be open to SMS members.
Active members shall have a voice but no vote.
- Committees and Representatives
- Programs.
- Chapter Council representative and alternate.
- Chapter Conservation Committee representative and alternate.
- Others as necessary.
- The Mugelnoos
- Joint publication with the Rock Climbing Section (inactive).
- Managed by inter-section Mugelnoos Committee (in practice by SMS).
- Members are the Mugelnoos chair, the two section chairs, the Mugelmailer, and the Mugelgrapher.
The last two are appointed by section officers.
- Mugelnoos funds are separate.
- Mugelmailer handles subscriptions and mailing.
- Mugelgrapher arranges for printing.
- Funds
- Fiscal year shall coincide with that of Club.
- Central Committee is authorized to open bank accounts and regulate withdrawals.
- Contributions may be accepted according to Sierra Club policy.
- Funds received from the Chapter shall be expended only for the designated purpose.
- The section may conduct fundraising activities for designated purposes.
- Funds shall be deposited as specified by the Central Committee.
- All proceeds shall be payable to the section.
- Members shall keep section funds separate from personal funds.
- Disbursements shall be made by check against written invoices or budgets.
- Section funds shall be accountable to the Central Committee and the Chapter Treasurer.
- Activities shall be budgeted to include indirect expense.
- Neither the section nor its committees shall borrow money, own real estate, collect dues or assessments, or raise funds by direct mail appeal.
- Appeals
- Members may appeal any action to the Central Committee or a vote of the section, or, if section appeal is denied, to the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee.
- Parliamentary Authority
- Special rules of the section or Robert's Rules of Order, Revised (1915).
- Amendment
- By two-thirds vote of the members in a mailed, secret ballot, followed by approval of the Angeles Chapter Executive Committee.
- The Central Committee may adopt a temporary rule if a change in Chapter or Club bylaws invalidates a provision of the section bylaws.
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