Western Pennsylvania Garden Tractor Association

BYLAWS

Article I. Name

The official name of the organization shall be Western Pennsylvania Garden Tractor Association, hereby referred to as WPGTA, in all instances both public and private. 

Article II. Objectives and Purposes

            Section 1:  Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Western Pennsylvania Garden Tractor Association (WPGTA) is organized exclusively for the following purposes:  preservation, restoration, demonstration, education, and recreation purposes, as specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.             Section 2:  No substantial part of the activities of the WPGTA shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by Internal Revenue Code section 501(h).  The WPGTA does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.             Section 3:  A)  To promote collection, restoration and use of garden tractors.              B)  To provide family-oriented activities for the sharing of ideas, information and camaraderie.             C)  To preserve, teach and research the history of garden tractors.             D)  To engage in and subsidize social activities designed to foster the foregoing purposes of the organization as limited by the laws. In the furtherance of these objectives, and in accordance with the powers conferred by its Certificate of Incorporation, the WPGTA may collect membership dues, admission fees, gratuities, and bequests; and may, in general, exercise all of the powers granted by corporate law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The WPGTA is a not-for-profit corporation.  No member of the organization shall profit in any tangible way from its activities.  All funds are to be disbursed in furtherance of the objectives set forth in Article II, Section 3.  In the event of the dissolution of this organization, all monies, property, and physical assets of the organization shall be distributed to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (ParentProjectMA.org/800-714-5437) in accordance with a majority of the votes cast at a final meeting of membership called for that purpose. The WPGTA is nonpolitical in character and shall not engage in political activities of any nature.     Article III.  Fairness No set of Bylaws can cover all circumstances.  In the event of an issue arising which is not covered by these Bylaws, the issue will be decided upon on the basis of fairness, the good of WPGTA, and common sense. Article IV.  Membership           Section 1:  Membership shall be open to anyone having an interest in garden tractors.  All members are expected to participate in WPGTA events and to attend meetings whenever possible.             Section 2:  Association dues shall be $15 per year and may be adjusted as needed.   Section 3:  Membership is open to all interested persons, without discrimination.  Membership is required to participate in any WPGTA activities.  In order to vote, members must be at least 14 years of age and be a member for 30 days.  Members younger than 14 may not vote, but shall be accorded all other benefits of membership.  To run or hold an office of the Board, a member must be at least 18.  The Board will determine the dollar amount of dues which may be a requisite of membership.  The amount for dues for non-voting members will be less than that for voting members.  Dues are payable when a person joins the WPGTA, and after that, dues will run from October 1 to September 30, will be due in October, and will be delinquent in status after December 31 each year.  Members in delinquent status are not afforded membership privileges, including voting power.  The Fiscal Year for the WPGTA begins October 1^st, and ends September 30^th of the following year.  Section 4:  Membership of 30 days is required to vote or nominate.  Dues will be considered to have been paid when the Treasurer, a Board member, or a duly appointed representative of the Board has received them.     Section 5:  Membership can be revoked by any two board members if a violation of group policy or safety standard occurs.  

Article V. Board of Directors

Section 1:  The Board is responsible for overall policy, direction of the organization and is responsible for day-to-day operations.  The Board shall have seven members.  The Board will consist of:  the Executive Committee:  The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer along with three Directors.  The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.Section 2:  The Board shall meet quarterly, or as needed, at an agreed upon time and place. Section 3:  Nominations for members of the Board of Directors will be accepted during the month of July, up until August 1^st.  The Vice-President will prepare a slate of nominees and the membership will be notified no less than 15 days prior to the election in September.  Newly elected Board members shall assume their duties October 1^st.Section 4:  Association members will nominate and elect three fellow members to serve as Directors.  Directors will serve two year terms. Section 5:  A quorum is the minimal number of officers and members who must be present for valid transactions of business or motions made or passed.  This number is set at a simple majority. Section 6:  An official Board meeting requires that each Board member have one week advance notice. 

Article VI. Functions and Duties of Members of the Board

Section 1:  The President presides over all scheduled meetings of the Membership, as well as those of the Board of Directors.  The President may also call and preside over Special Meetings of the General Membership, as well as the Board of Directors, as circumstances warrant.  The President is an Ex-Officio member of all Committees.  The President serves a three year term.Section 2:  The Vice-President fulfills the functions of the President when the President is unavailable, and is first in succession to the Presidency.  The Vice President shall supervise the election process.  These duties include, but are not limited to taking nominations and validating membership.  The Vice-President serves a three year term.Section 3:  The Treasurer is responsible for managing all financial and fiscal requirements for the WPGTA.  These duties include, but are not limited to:  Maintaining all banking accounts and bank relationships;  Reconciling monthly bank account statements; Collecting and depositing all moneys generated by the activities of the WPGTA, including member dues;  Developing annual and individual performance budgets, and tracking actual income and expenses against said document and Generating an Annual Report at the end of each fiscal year.  Members shall approve all budgets.  The Board of Directors shall approve all non-budgeted expenditures in excess of $50.00.  The Treasurer is second in succession to the Presidency and serves a three year term. Section 4:  The Secretary shall be responsible to keep and make available minutes of all General Board Meetings.  The Secretary is also responsible for maintaining an up-to-date membership list.  The Secretary is third in succession to the Presidency and serves a three year term. Section 5:  Directors shall be available to chair Committees and serve two year terms. 

Article VII. Finances

Section 1:  The WPGTA state that their basic financial policy shall be to acquire funds for the following purposes in keeping with the objectives of the organization:A)  The conduct and support of activities such as plow days and tractor pulls to further interest in garden tractors B)  Provision for association events and meeting facilitiesSection 2:  The organization shall divide its assets into the following funds:A)  Working Funds.  These funds represent the allocation of assets in an amount necessary for the performance of the routine administrative and operational tasks of the organization including, but not necessarily limited to, the budgeting of tractor shows and pulls, the administrative expenses of the Board of Directors, advertising, and correspondence.  The Working Funds are under the custody of the Treasurer.B)  Permanent Funds.  These funds represent the balance of the organization’s assets after the allocation of Working Funds and are available for growth investments designed to enable the organization to accomplish its objectives as defined in Article 2 hereof. Section 4:  All monetary assets of the WPGTA shall be maintained in a banking institution designated by the Executive Committee.  Withdrawals may be made only to meet the financial obligations of the WPGTA.  All checks, drafts, or orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the WPGTA shall be signed by two members of the Board.Section 5:  No member of the organization shall have any right, title, or interest in any property of the WPGTA.  No person whose membership in the WPGTA is terminated, whether by death, resignation, or any other means, shall have any right, title, or interest in any asset or property of the WPGTA.

Article VIII. Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the members.  Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular Board announcements.  A motion to amend must be made at two regular meetings and can be voted on at the third meeting.