BY-LAWS OF THE PLACER ULTIMATE BREWING SOCIETY

Article One. Organization

Section 1. Name

The name of this organization shall be PLACER ULTIMATE BREWING SOCIETY, and PUBS shall be the only accepted abbreviation.

No other name or abbreviation shall be used in formal reference to the Society, with the following exceptions: (1) the Internet domain name placerbrewers.org is recognized as the Society’s official Internet domain name; and (2) Placer Brewers, or any common variation of Placer Brewers (i.e. placerbrewers, placer_brewers, PlacerBrewers, etc.), may be used in “vanity” URLs whenever PUBS is not available, so long as the official name of the object referenced by the vanity URL is the Society’s name.

Section 2. Purpose

The Placer Ultimate Brewers Society's mission is to promote the spirit of goodwill and fellowship between members while dedicating its efforts toward the advancement of Placer County’s beer culture by:

  • educating its members and the public on the complexities of beer

  • education its members and the public on the brewing process

  • and the sponsorship of club events and involvement in local community activities

Section 3. Membership

The membership of this Society is non-discriminatory and shall be open to any person of legal drinking age who enjoys fine beers, whether or not they themselves are homebrewers.

Section 4. Headquarters

The headquarters of this Society shall be the Black Vinyl Ale Project (Formally Boneshaker Community Brewery) located in Rocklin, Ca, until such time that the business permanently closes, asks the Society to locate elsewhere, or the membership, by resolution, decides to locate elsewhere.

Article Two. Government

Section 1. Supreme Law

All legislative and executive powers—including the ability to remove a person from the membership for cause—shall be given to and controlled by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall consist of all the elected officers of this Society.

Section 2. Elected Officers

The elected officers of this Society shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary,

Treasurer, Activities Director, Communications and Membership Director, Public Relations and Fundraising Director.

More than one person may occupy an elected office if approved by the Board and duly elected according to the terms set forth in this document.

Section 3. Term of Office

All offices shall be held for a period of one calendar year, commencing at the start of the calendar year following the election.

Section 4. Removal from Office

Subsection 4.1. Excessive Absenteeism

Any officer missing three Board of Directors meetings and/or six membership meetings during his term of office, without reasonable excuse, shall be removed from office and replaced as soon as possible.

A reasonable excuse shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Subsection 4.2 Dereliction of Duty

Any officer found by a majority of the remaining Board of Directors to not be performing his duties may be recommended for removal from office, and, subject to a majority vote of the general membership at the following general membership meeting after a report from the Board of Directors, formally removed from office.

Section 5. Vacancy of Office

Any partial-term vacancy of a position on the Board of Directors shall be filled by an appointment by the Board of Directors, subject to the approval by a majority vote of the membership at the next general membership meeting.

In the event that the general membership votes down the appointment by the Board of Directors, there shall be open nominations and an election to fill the vacancy held at the same membership meeting.

Section 6. Returning of Placer Ultimate Brewing Society Property

All elected officers and members, upon completion of their term in office or assignment, shall return to Placer’s Ultimate Brewing Society any and all papers, documents and/or property deemed to be important to the operation and history of or belonging to the Society.

Failure to return Society property may result in expulsion from the Society and, if deemed necessary by a majority of the Board of Directors, civil action.

Article Three. Duties of Elected Officers

Section 1. President

The duties of the President shall be:

  1. to uphold the bylaws of the Society

  2. to interpret the bylaws of the Society when necessary

  3. to set the theme and agenda for all meetings

  4. to call meetings to order and ensure      they are conducted in an orderly manner

  5. to form committees when necessary and act as an ex officio      member of all committees

The President shall have no vote on any and all matters calling for a vote of the Board of Directors or general membership, unless the President’s vote is needed to achieve a majority and/or a quorum.

Section 2. Vice President

The duties of the Vice President shall be:

  1. to assist the President with his duties

  2. to present certificates of achievement

  3. to act as President at any meeting the President is absent      from

In any case that the Vice President is acting as President, the Vice President shall have no vote on any and all matters calling for a vote of the Board of Directors or general membership, unless the Vice President’s vote is needed to achieve a majority and/or a quorum.

Section 3. Secretary

The duties of the Secretary shall be:

  1. to make the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings and      portions of general membership meetings in which: (1) a vote of the      general membership is called; (2) a report is given to the general      membership in accordance with these bylaws or other governing regulation      (e.g. competition rules, state and/or federal law)

  2. to maintain an electronic file or store of all minutes and      to ensure the store is available, at a minimum, to all dues-paying members      and regulatory bodies/officials

  3. to act as President at any meeting the President and Vice      President are absent from

In any case that the Secretary is acting as President, the Secretary shall have no vote on any and all matters calling for a vote of the Board of Directors or general membership, unless the Secretary’s vote is needed to achieve a majority and/or a quorum.

Section 4. Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

  1. to administer the Society’s finances

  2. to collect and document monies owed to the Society

  3. to reimburse approved expenses incurred by members on      behalf of the Society from the Society’s coffers

  4. to submit a report of the Society’s finances to the Board      of Directors on a quarterly basis, or when requested by the President

  5. to ensure an inventory and record of      disbursement is maintained for all club property, whether by the Treasurer      or his appointee(s)

Section 5. Communications and Membership Director

The duties of the Communication and Membership Director shall be as follows:

  1. to maintain a current roster of members

  2. to issue membership cards

  3. to organize membership drives

  4. to proctor nominations and elections

  5. to maintain the Society’s online presence

Section 6. Public Relations and Fundraising Director

The duties of the Public Relations and Fundraising Director shall be as follows:

  1. To promote the Placer Ultimate Brewing Society to the media and the public at large.

  2. To maintain a scrapbook of the Society's history and events, including, but not limited to, photographs.

  3. To assist in club publications, including, but not limited to, newsletters, posters, flyers, etc.

To encourage and coordinate the monthly club brewing sessions, including finding brew masters, brewers and brewing times.

Section 7. Activities Director

The duties of the Activities Director shall be as follows:

  1. to arrange to have guest speakers and demonstrations at membership meetings

  2. to arrange the club festivals

  3. to arrange for tours, workshops and seminars in which the Society may participate

  4. to oversee raffles and auctions at events and membership meetings

Section 8. Members At Large

The unelected and optional position of Member at Large is designated for member(s) approved by the Board of Directors who wish to actively participate and comment on the governance of the club. They shall have no official authority or duties except those prescribed to them by the Board of Directors.

Article Four. Quorums

Section 1.

A voting quorum at a membership meeting shall be no less than ten percent of the paid membership as reported by the Membership Director at the most recent Board of Directors meeting.

A quorum at a Board of Directors meeting shall consist of one half of the Board of Directors plus one.

Article Five. Election of Officers

Section 1. Eligibility

Any dues-paying member in good standing who has been a dues-paying member for at least six (6) months is eligible to hold office.

Subsection 1.1 Eligibility Exceptions

To enable the establishment of a Board at the founding of the Society, a one-time exception shall be made to the requirement that eligible candidates be dues-paying members in good standing for at least six months. Instead, members of the Board shall be required to immediately pay their annual dues upon establishment of a fee schedule and Society coffers.

Section 2. Nominations

Nominations will open at the June general membership meeting and will close at the September general membership meeting before balloting commences. The method of collecting nominee names shall be done at the discretion of the Secretary or his appointee.

Section 3. Balloting

A secret-ballot election shall be held at the September membership meeting open to all dues-paying members in good standing. The Secretary shall determine the rules and standards for the balloting process, including the decree of an end-of-voting time by which all ballots must be submitted to be counted.

Section 4. Tallying

The President shall form a committee, or otherwise cause a committee to be formed, of three dues-paying members in good standing who are not running for elected office to tally the ballots. The committee members shall be announced to the Board of Directors at the Board meeting immediately preceding the general membership meeting at which the balloting will occur.

The ballots shall be tabulated immediately after the final ballot is submitted or the end-of-voting time is reached, and a report, either written or verbal, shall be submitted to the Secretary, or his appointee, immediately after tabulation is completed.

For each office, the nominee winning the relative majority of votes shall be declared the winner. In the event of a tie between two or more nominees, the President shall cast his vote to decide the winner.

Once received by the Secretary, or his appointee, the formal results shall be read aloud to the President in the presence of the general membership.

A formal report of the tabulated results must be prepared and submitted to the Board of Directors no later than the next Board of Directors meeting. Each of the three members of the tally committee must swear to the accuracy of the formal report by affixing his signature to it.

Subsection 4.1 Objections to a Tabulation Committee Member

Any elected officer has the right to object to the appointment of one or more members to the tallying committee before the commencement of the balloting period. In the event of a valid objection, an impromptu meeting of the Board of Directors shall be immediately called, and the member’s acceptance to the committee shall be accepted or overturned by a majority vote.

Article Six. Installation of Officers

Section 1. New Officers

Officers-elect will begin a three-month internship immediately following the announcement of the election results and will be considered officially in office on January 1 of the next calendar year.

Section 2. Officers Filling Vacancies

Any officer filling a vacancy shall be installed at the meeting at which the membership votes its approval.

Section 3. Certificate for Outgoing Officers

All outgoing officers shall be awarded a Certificate of Achievement in appreciation of their terms in office at the January general meeting following their departure from office.

Section 4. Membership Grant for Elected Officers

All outgoing officers determined by the Board of Directors to have completed a full active term in office will be granted a year's membership for the following year.

Article Seven. Meetings

Section 1. Membership Meetings

Membership meetings shall be held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Black Vinyl Ale Project (Formally Boneshaker Community Brewery) located in Rocklin, Ca, unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors. The exceptions being the months where there is a Festival or other special event.

All members are encouraged to attend these events and meetings.

Section 2. Board of Directors

Board of Directors meetings shall be held at a time and place called by the President.

All officers are required to attend and submit a report pertinent to their office. Any member in good standing is permitted to attend Board of Directors meetings.

Article Eight. Membership

Section 1. Membership Terms

Membership begins from the time the Membership Director records the member’s name in the roster until the start of the next calendar year.

Section 2. Dues

Dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership. Members shall receive a membership card and may enjoy any other benefits that come along with membership in this Society.

Section 3. First-time Members

First time members may be charged a higher due rate for their first year’s membership. The extra fee shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Renewing Members

All memberships renew at the start of each calendar year. Members who do not renew shall be placed on an inactive list for a period of five years or until the member renews, after which time the member will be removed from the list.

Section 5. Household Membership

All paying members’ spouses and significant others are eligible for non-voting membership at no additional cost.

Section 6. Honorary Membership

The Board of Directors may elect to designate any person an Honorary Member of the Society for a time period determined by the Board at the time of dispensing such Honorary Membership. Honorary Members are entitled to the same rights and privileges as dues-paying members.

Section 7. Membership Agreement

The Board of Directors shall codify a membership agreement that is required for all members. The agreement shall outline acceptable behavior and risks assumed by members.

Section 8. Membership Cards

The Society shall provide to each member a card designating them as a member of the Society. Each card shall include the member’s name and date of issue. The card shall be required for all discounts and voting privileges except where waived by the Board of Directors or vendor.

Article Nine. Newsletter/Web Site

Section 1. Definition

The newsletter/web site shall be a electronically published and accessible to all members at http://placerbrewers.org.

Section 2. Contents

The newsletter/web site must include:

  1. minutes of all Board of Directors and, when recorded, general membership meetings

  2. articles of appropriate length and subject matter submitted by the members

  3. a calendar if upcoming events

Article Ten. Festivals

Section 1.

There shall be at least one festival per year. The festival may take the place of the regular membership meeting of that month. The Board of Directors shall set the name and date for the festival.

Article Eleven. Competitions

Section 1. Society Competitions

The Board of Directors shall ensure at least one Society-sponsored homebrewer’s competition is held each year. This competition may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be open to other clubs and may be sanctioned by the BJCP/AHA.

Section 2. External Competitions

The Board of Directors may involve the Society and its resources in any externally organized homebrewer’s competition, although no externally organized competition shall satisfied the requirement set forth in Section 1.

Section 3. Rules and Awards

The rules and awards for competitions shall be determined on a per-competition basis and will be published at least six (6) weeks prior to the competition judging.

Article Twelve. Amendments

Section 1. Resolutions

From time to time it may be necessary to modify this Constitution and By-Laws. The procedure shall be as follows:

  1. Any individual, or committee, or the Board of Directors may write a resolution to modify the Constitution and/or By-Laws. It shall include the reason for the change, the article, the section, the paragraph, etc., where the change will occur, and what the change will be.

  2. If an individual member has drafted a resolution, he may present it to the Board of Directors for presentation to the membership or bring it to a membership meeting for presentation to the membership.

  3. After presentation, the membership shall vote on whether or not to accept the resolution for consideration.

  4. The resolution shall be posted in the newsletter after the initial membership approval.

  5. At the next membership meeting, the resolution will be voted on by the paid membership, and shall be formally adopted if voted for by a two-thirds majority.

Article Thirteen. Effective Date

Section 1. Effective Date

These By-Laws shall be considered in effect when approved by a two-thirds majority during a vote of the general membership.