Blue Sky Riders

Big Doug · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject: Club Bylaws

Folks, these are the club bylaws were drafted by the Club Directors in our first Director's meeting on February 20, 2007.
This was passed by Club Directors 2007 03 15 and we'll be including this in our Incorporation Application.

Blue Sky Riders

Club Bylaws

1. Responsibilities of executive officers

a) Co-ordinate & oversee all administrative duties.
b) Assume the President’s responsibilities in his/her absence.
c) Collect dues and maintain all membership records.
d) Publish the member list.
e) Responsible for all disbursement of club funds and maintain all accounting records.
f) Acts as an agent for all club paraphernalia.
g) Responsible for the planning and coordination of events.
h) Provide regular e-mail updates to members as well as update the website. Also handle e-mail enquiries.
i) Chair all membership and executive meetings.
j) Chair committees and delegate work regarding all of the above.

2. Annual Dues

a) Dues or fees payable by members shall from time to time be fixed by a majority vote of the club executive.
b) Memberships run from April 1 to March 31
c) There is no discount for new members who join late in the year
d) Memberships need to be renewed at or before the members first club ride of the season.
e) Members need a current year membership to vote on any club issues.

3. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year end of the club will be March 31.

4. Affiliations

The Blue Sky Riders are affiliated with the, the Motorcyclist’s Confederation of Canada, and the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders.

5. Termination from the club

That any club member who, through their personal conduct, does anything to embarrass or dishonour the good name of the Blue Sky Riders, upon a two thirds majority vote by the club membership, may have their club membership terminated.

6. Prospective members

A prospective member must become an Blue Sky Riders member to participate in club rides. Memberships are subject to the approval of the executive.

7. E-Mail List and Forums
Guidelines for use of the Blue Sky Riders E-mail List and Forums

• All rides organized through the Blue Sky Riders e-mail list and forum are to be considered Blue Sky Riders club events. Anyone attending a club event is required to be a club member, except for those attending their initiation ride with the club. Anyone attending club rides whom is not a member or on their initiation ride will, after a fair warning, be removed from the members only section of the Blue Sky Riders BBS.
• The forum can be used to ask questions and give out information related to motorcycles, riding gear and accessories.
• If you would like to send information to the forums please do it by linking to an internet page rather than attaching pictures, large amounts of text, video clips, audio clips, or other types of attachments. Many members are using free e-mail accounts and attachments will easily push their e-mail capacity beyond the limitations. You can sign up with a photo album type website if you have photos of interest that you would like to show to the list or to other sites that offer free web space. The forum would be able to accommodate large amounts of information that would other wise be included as an post attachment.
• Please include the topic in the subject line when composing an post. When replying to an post that has a long body of text, cut some of the original text out and just include a few lines of the original. This will streamline the reading of responses to a members e-mail.
• No chain letters, spam or junk mail.
• Private messages or forum posts should not include slanderous statements, offensive jokes/comments, use offensive language, contain malicious gossip, or discriminatory comments. (This is an open public mailing list so show consideration for others on the list and use some discretion when you reply to the list).

The Blue Sky Riders reserve the right to remove anyone from the list or forum for violation of any of the above items.

8. Riding rules

Responsibilities of every rider

a) Fulfil all legal requirements for the operation of your motorcycle (licensing, insurance, trail permits, etc)
b) Ensure that your machine is mechanically sound
c) Be prepared for all weather conditions
d) Exercise discretion in the use of medications
e) Pit stop before departure time (gas, tire pressure, bladder). Top up your gas tank at every designated stop.
f) Know who the “ride leader” is in your group.
g) Maintain a safe following distance between yourself and the bike ahead of you.
h) Maintain awareness of the rider behind you, to check if mechanical difficulties or a fall may have occurred. At intersections, always wait until the rider behind you has reached the intersection and can see which direction you proceed in before continuing. Periodically the whole group should stop to confirm everyone is present and ok.
i) Inform the ride leader or sweeper if you intend to leave the group before the ride is complete.

9. Responsibilities of the ride leader

a) Prepare & distribute route maps to all participants who request them. Clearly designate the final location & include contact phone numbers when possible.
b) Maintain visibility with group and ensure the integrity of the group formation by anticipating traffic signals and observing signs and posted speed limits.
c) The ultimate responsibility for maintaining the group formation resides with the ride leader and sweeper.
d) The ride leader should know who the sweep rider is at all times.
e) To keep track of the number of participants at each ride.
f) Ensure all prospective members complete the sign-in sheet. It is also recommended to have all participants sign-in, particularly on rides with a large turnout.

10. Blue Sky Riders CODE OF CONDUCT

• Do Not Trespass on private property.
• Ride on existing trails only.
• Tread Lightly.
• STOP and KILL your engine IMMEDIATELY when you see a horse.
• Ride prepared for any kind of emergency maneuver or situation - a trail ride is not a race.
• Respect and be courteous to others who have the right to be on the trails - ATVs, Hikers, Mountain Bikers.
• Remember that few other vehicles are as maneuverable as bikes, so give others lots of room.
• Hunt camp owners do a lot of trail grooming - respect their efforts.
• Do not ride in area's when they are being used for hunting.
• Comply with all legislation, bylaws and insurance requirements.
• Always wear a helmet and other safety gear and remove your helmet when talking to someone.
• Do not litter, leave the place better than you found it.
• Keep your bike QUIET. More sound = Less ground!