On July 20, 2009, the Governing Board of FMCA approved the following Bylaws Amendments in Bowling Green, Ohio. Per Article XXI, Paragraph (3) of the FMCA Bylaws: Proposals to amend these Bylaws shall be adopted by a 65% affirmative vote of all votes cast by the Governing Board.
New Article VII – Awards
(The other Articles will be renumbered accordingly.)
(1) The Governing Board shall have the authority to recognize FMCA member(s) or non-members(s) for exceptional contribution(s) to FMCA or to motor coach owners in general.
(2) The Executive Board shall have the authority to recognize outstanding act(s) by an FMCA member(s).
(3) The bestowing of awards shall be in accordance with the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
Article VIII, Paragraph 1 (e) – Governing Board
Amend this article to read:
(e) Censure, discipline, recall, suspend, or expel officers, members, Chapters, or Area Associations in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
Article XII, Paragraph 3 – Committees
Amend this article to read:
(3) The Constitution and Bylaws Committee initiates and/or considers all proposed changes, additions, deletions, amendments, or revisions to FMCA’s Constitution and Bylaws, and reports to the Governing Board. The Committee presents proposed Bylaws amendments to the Executive Board for its review, discussion, and comment. The Committee also considers and reports to the Governing Board on matters that have a bearing on FMCA and regulatory or procedural matters that affect FMCA, an Area Association, or a Chapter. The Committee also reviews the Bylaws of Area Associations and Chapters to ensure their conformance with FMCA Bylaws.
Article XIV – President’s Council
Amend this article to read:
Article XIV – FMCA Review Council
(Committee name change.)
(1) The FMCA Review Council shall:
(c) Investigate complaints filed with the FMCA Review Council. All such investigations shall be carried out in accordance with the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
(2) The FMCA Review Council shall consist of 5 members whose term of service shall commence following the Annual Membership Meeting in odd-numbered years. The selection of the members to the FMCA Review Council shall be in accordance with the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
(3) The FMCA Review Council shall report to the Governing Board in accordance with the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
Article XVII – Chapters
Amend this article to read:
(1) A Chapter provides opportunities for fellowship and interchange of ideas among members who share mutual interests, geographic or otherwise.
(2) A Chapter has Governing Board representation and is an organization of members with a scope within the United States and Canada. An Associate Chapter does not have Governing Board representation and may have a scope outside of the United States and Canada.
(3) Any group of 20 or more voting memberships may petition FMCA for a charter for the creation of a Chapter. Any group of 10 or more voting memberships may petition FMCA for a charter for the creation of an Associate Chapter. All Chapter or Associate Chapter members must be FMCA members in good standing. An FMCA member may join more than one Chapter.
(4) In each fiscal year, a Chapter shall hold at least 1 business meeting at which a quorum is present. Said meeting shall be duly announced in advance to the membership.
(5) A Chapter shall elect a President, 1 or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a National Director, and an Alternate National Director for a one- or two-year term. An Associate Chapter shall elect a President, 1 or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer for a one- or two-year term. An FMCA member may hold no more than 2 offices in the same Chapter, and may not hold a Chapter office in more than 1 Chapter.
(7) All Chapters must maintain a minimum number of memberships in order to retain their accredited status.
(a) A Chapter must maintain a minimum number of 15 FMCA memberships. A Chapter that fails to maintain the required number of memberships shall revert to inactive Chapter status, and the National Director or Alternate National Director elected by the Chapter shall have no vote in the proceedings of the Governing Board.
(b) An Associate Chapter must maintain a minimum of 7 FMCA memberships. An Associate Chapter that fails to maintain the required number of memberships shall revert to inactive Associate Chapter status.
(9) For certification purposes, each Chapter Secretary shall furnish to the National Office of FMCA the required records for certification as cited in the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
(11) A Chapter remaining inactive longer than 2 years shall no longer be considered a Chapter of FMCA, and shall be dissolved.
(13) The fiscal year of a Chapter shall conform with that of FMCA whenever practical.
(14) No more than once a year, a Chapter may change its status to an Associate Chapter, or an Associate Chapter of members with a scope within the United States and Canada may change its status to a Chapter.
Article XVIII – Disciplinary Actions
Amend this article to read:
(1) Upon a recommendation of the FMCA Review Council, the Governing Board shall have the responsibility of taking disciplinary action against any member, Chapter, or Area Association for any of the following reasons:
(b) Conviction of a felony or conviction of an indictable offense;
(2) Members, Chapters, or Area Associations who have been found guilty of any of the above offenses shall be subject as appropriate to a written reprimand, suspension, expulsion, revocation of charter, and/or removal from any office or position within FMCA.
(3) The Governing Board shall establish procedures to investigate and resolve disciplinary actions. Such procedures shall be set forth in the Member and Volunteer Handbook.
Article XX – Indemnification
Amend this article to read:
(1) Except as prohibited by Chapter 1702 of the Ohio Revised Code and subject to the provisions therein, FMCA shall pay the legal fees of any officer, director, employee, or volunteer incurred in the defense of a complaint or civil action against any such individual which directly relates to any such individual’s acts or omissions made in the individual’s capacity as an officer, director, employee, or volunteer, as applicable, of FMCA. Any payment of legal fees or other indemnification made pursuant to this section shall only be made in accordance with Section 1702.12 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(2) The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights to which indemnified individuals and others may be entitled as a matter of law or otherwise.
(3) This indemnification shall be funded by the purchase of insurance insofar as coverage is available and in amounts as determined by the Executive Board from time to time.