By-Laws
SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA INCORPORATED
BYLAWS
Effective July 1, 2000
ARTICLE I
Name, Purpose, Emblem and Seal
Section 1. Name. The name of the Club shall be SPORTS
CAR CLUB OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED.
Section 2. Purposes. The nature of the activities
to be conducted and the purposes to be promoted and carried out are
as follows: To promote interest in sports cars and other fine automobiles
and to encourage their safe and skillful operation, by developing,
arranging, and regulating closed circuit road racing, rallying, and
other forms of automotive competition, by dissemination of information
through news releases and Club publications, and through related social
and recreation activities for the instruction and enjoyment of its
members.
Section 3. Emblem. The Club's emblem shall be a design
of knock-off-hub type of wire wheel with tire, on which shall be inscribed
the words "Sports Car Club of America," as set forth below:
Section 4. Seal. The Club seal shall be circular in
form and inscribed with the name of the Club, the year of its incorporation
and the word "Connecticut."
Section 5. Exempt Organization. No part of the net earnings
of the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members,
trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Club shall
be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered
and make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth
in Article 1, Section 2 hereof. No substantial part of the activities of
the Club shall be the participation in, or intervention in (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf
of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of
these bylaws, the Club shall not carry on any other activities not permitted
to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal Income tax under Section
501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section 1. Classes of Members. The Club shall have two classes of
Members. The designation of such classes and qualifications of the Members
of such classes shall be as follows:
(a) Regular Members. Any individual interested in and capable of
furthering the purposes of the Club shall be eligible for Regular Membership.
The types and privileges of Regular Members in good standing are specified
in the SCCA Operations Manual. In addition, all Life Members in good
standing shall be considered Regular Members.
(b) Associate Members. Any person, corporation, organization or association
interested in and capable of furthering the purposes of the Club shall be
eligible for Associate Membership. The types and privileges of Associate
Members in good standing are specified in the SCCA Operations Manual.
Section 2. Membership Process.
(a) Regular Members. Any person eligible for Regular Membership may
apply according to procedures specified in the SCCA Operations Manual.
A person accepted for Regular Membership shall also become a Member
of the Region of his or her choice. Regular Members of the SCCA must
continue to hold membership in a Region unless specifically exempted
from this requirement by the Board of Directors.
(b) Associate Members. Any person, corporation, organization, or association
eligible for Associate Membership may apply according to procedures as specified
in the SCCA Operations Manual. An Associate Member need not be a member of
a Region.
Section 3. Dues. Regular and Associate Member dues
shall be payable annually in such amounts as the Board of Directors establishes.
Varying levels of dues for particular categories of Regular and Associate
Membership may be established by the Board of Directors, and will be
described in the SCCA Operations Manual. Regular Members who have previously
paid dues for life shall not be required to pay annual dues or to pay
subscription fees for Club periodicals distributed to the membership
at large. No refund of dues shall be made under any circumstances. Regions
may also establish Region membership dues.
Section 4. Termination, Suspension and Renewal.
(a) Any Regular or Associate Member may resign by letter addressed
to the Club. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt of the
letter.
(b) The Membership term is 12 months from the end of the month during which
dues are received. Membership shall automatically lapse for non-payment of
dues.
(c) The membership of any Member indebted to the Club or to any Region and
delinquent for more than 60 days shall automatically lapse and the Member
shall forfeit all dues and fees already paid.
(d) The Board of Directors or the governing body of a Regular Member's Region
may suspend a Member at any time for infraction of any Club rule or any other
cause if the suspending body deems the action in the best interests of the
Club, provided that the body will afford the Member a reasonable opportunity
to be heard by it or by a committee appointed by it, in person or through
a representative, prior to taking any action, unless it deems it imperative
to suspend the Member before a hearing can be held. The suspending body shall
immediately notify a Member who has been suspended, in writing, of the suspension.
The suspended Member shall then be entitled to a reasonable opportunity to
be heard, in person or through a representative, by the Board of Directors
or a committee appointed by it. The Board of Directors may thereafter continue
for a definite term, terminate, or rescind the suspension, or expel the Member,
and its decision shall be final. In addition, if the Board of Directors is
the original suspending body, and a hearing is held prior to any action,
then the Board of Directors may suspend for a definite term or expel the
Member without affording a second opportunity to be heard.
(e) A Regular Membership automatically lapses if the Member ceases to be
a Member in good standing of a Region, unless the Member has specifically
been exempted from this requirement according to Section 2(a) of this Article.
ARTICLE III
Meetings of the Members and Voting Rights
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the
Club shall be held each calendar year on a date designated by the Board
of Directors for presenting the reports of officers, committees and
boards, and such other business as may lawfully come before the meeting.
The time and place of the annual meeting, which may be held either
within or outside the state of Connecticut, shall be established by
the Board of Directors which shall also arrange for an annual convention
for the Members to be held in conjunction therewith.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Club
may be called at any time by the Board of Directors on its own motion, and
must be called by the Board of Directors on petition of at least 6 per cent
of the total Regular Members of the Club. For purposes of determining if
the required number of petitioners has been met, no more than 2 per cent
of the local Club membership may be counted from any one voting district.
The basis upon which the 6 per cent and 2 per cent shall be calculated shall
be the local Club membership count on the April 30 preceding the petition.
Such meetings shall be held at such times and places, either within or outside
the state of Connecticut, as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 3. Notice. A written notice of each annual and special
meeting stating the place, hour, date and purpose thereof shall be mailed
by the office of the Club to every Member not less than 14 nor more than
45 days before such meeting. No action shall be taken at any annual or special
meeting of the Members unless the intention to consider the subject matter
has been set forth in the notice of the meeting.
Section 4. Voting. Each Regular Member shall have one vote
on each and every matter submitted to a vote of the Members. Associate Members
shall have no voting rights except as otherwise provided by law. At all meetings
except as otherwise provided by law, the Members entitled to vote who are
present shall constitute a quorum. All actions except as otherwise provided
by law, by the Club's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, shall be by
majority of those Regular Members present and voting. Presence and voting
by proxy may be allowed at the discretion of and in accordance with rules
prescribed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
Board of Directors
Section 1. Jurisdiction. The affairs and property of the Club shall
be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of 13 Regular Members of the
Club elected in the manner set forth below.
Section 2. Areas. For the purpose of electing Directors,
the membership of the Club shall be divided into 13 voting districts called
Areas, consisting of Regular Members of Regions within the Areas illustrated
on the map included in these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the
boundaries of these Areas in order to accommodate newly formed Regions, or
Regions, which may petition the Board of Directors for a change of Area.
Section 3. Terms. Directors shall be elected from
the various Areas in the indicated year and each third year thereafter
as follows:
• 2000 - Areas 1, 5, 7, 8 and 13
• 2001 - Areas 2, 6, 10 and 12
• 2002 - Areas 3, 4, 9 and 11
The normal term for Directors commences on January 1 following their
election and terminates on the third succeeding January 1. No person
shall be elected to more than two consecutive terms as Director. In the
year 2001, for the purposes of the transition to 13 Directors, the currently
seated Director from Area 3 will remain in office for one additional
year in order to stagger the Area 3/Area 12 elections by one year.
Section 4. Nominations. Any 20 Regular Members of an
Area may nominate a Regular Member of that Area to be a candidate for
election to the Board of Directors for that Area. All nominations shall
be made in writing signed by the Members making the nomination, and delivered
to the office of the Club by October 1 of the year preceding the year
when the term of office is to start.
Section 5. Election. The secretary of the Club shall
prepare ballots for each Area listing in alphabetical order all duly
nominated candidates for Director in such Area and shall mail such ballots
on or before October 15 to all Regular Members of the Area. Each Regular
Member may cast as many votes as there are Directors to be elected but
no more than one for any one candidate. Ballots shall be mailed for counting
to the certified public accounting firm selected by the Board of Directors
as the Club's auditor of elections and shall not be available for inspection
by any officer, Member or employee of the Club. Only ballots received
at the address designated in the ballot on or before November 15 of the
same year shall be counted. The open Directorship or Directorships shall
be filled by the candidate or candidates receiving the highest number
of votes of the Regular Members voting, but if two or more candidates
are Members of the same Region only the candidate from that Region who
receives the greatest number of votes shall be eligible for election.
Whenever it is necessary to break a tie the same shall be accomplished
by a further election to be completed as soon as possible. If an elected
Director dies or resigns prior to the commencement of his or her term,
a further election shall be held to fill the vacancy to be completed
as soon as possible. If a vacancy occurs during the term of a directorship,
the majority of the Board of Directors shall fill the vacant directorship
by appointment of a Regular Member in good standing from the Area in
which the vacancy exists, provided, however, the appointee may not be
a Member of, or reside in the same Region as any incumbent Director.
No such vacancy shall remain unfilled for more than 90 days. If with
respect to any Area, the number of valid nominations received does not
exceed the number of directorships to be filled, the procedures set forth
in the first three paragraphs of this Section will not apply. In such
case, the secretary of the Club shall designate a Regular Member from
that Area as empowered to cast one vote for each nominee, and, upon casting
of such vote, such nominee or nominees shall be elected. A Director must
maintain his or her principal place of residence within the Area from
which he was elected. Upon vote of the Board of Directors that this requirement
is not being met, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist and it shall be
filled in the manner described in this Section.
Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors
shall constitute a quorum, which may act in any manner within its competence
by vote of a majority of the Directors present while a quorum is present.
Section 7. Removal of Director. The Board of Directors
may, at any regular or special meeting, by the affirmative vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of those Directors voting, remove a Director from
office for infraction of any Club rule or any other cause, including
physical or mental incapacity to serve, conflict of interest, conviction
of a felony, or behavior detrimental to the Club or deemed not in the
Club's best interests. Written notice of the proposed action must be
sent to all Directors at least 30 days prior to the meeting. The Director
whose directorship is in question shall be given an opportunity to be
heard at this meeting, but shall have no vote on the question.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 1. Election. A special meeting of newly elected and continuing
Directors shall be held between the time of the annual election and the next
January 1st for the purpose of electing officers. The newly constituted Board
of Directors shall elect from its number a chairperson and a vice-chairperson,
and from the regular membership of the Club a treasurer and a secretary and
such assistant treasurers and secretaries as it deems desirable. All such officers
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors
shall qualify.
Section 2. Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The
chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Members and of the
Board of Directors. In the absence of the chairperson, or in the
case of death, resignation, or inability to act, his or her duties
shall be performed by the vice-chairperson. The chairperson shall
be a non-voting ex-officio member of all boards and committees except
as provided in Article VI, Section 2.
Section 3. President. The Board of Directors shall
select a President who will serve at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors at a compensation to be set by the Board. In the event
of a vacancy in the office of President, or in the event of the inability
or refusal of the President to act, the Board of Directors shall
forthwith proceed to select a new President, and in the interim,
shall provide for the performance of the duties usually pertaining
to the office of President. The President will be the chief executive
officer of the Club and will perform his or her duties under the
policies established by the Board of Directors. The President shall,
in general, supervise and control all of the day-to-day business
and affairs of the Club. The President shall present at each Annual
Meeting of the Members, a report of the activities of the Club for
the preceding fiscal year and shall periodically make reports of
the Club's activities to the Board of Directors. The President shall
have responsibility for the general supervision of all other officers,
agents and employees of the Club, and in case where the duties of
the officers, agents or employees of the Club are not specifically
prescribed by the Bylaws or by Board resolution, they shall be supervised
by the President. The President may sign, as authorized by the Board
of Directors and as specified in the SCCA Operations Manual, any
deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the
Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases
where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated
by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer
or agent of the Club, or shall be required by law to be otherwise
signed or executed; and in general, shall perform all duties incident
to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors from time to time. The President shall
designate one or more members of the staff to: (a) give or cause
to be given notices of Board of Directors and Member meetings in
accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws or as otherwise required
by law; (b) supervise the keeping of a current roll of all Club Members;
and (c) be custodian of the Club Records and of the Seal of the Club
and see that the Seal of the Club is affixed to any documents requiring
the Seal.
Section 4. Vice President. The President shall
select one or more Vice Presidents who will serve at the pleasure
of the President at a compensation to be set by the President in
accordance with the compensation plan approved by the Board of Directors.
In the absence of the President, or in the event of the President's
death, inability or refusal to act, a Vice President may be designated
to perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon
the President. If more than one Vice-President is selected, a Vice
President shall be designated by the Board of Directors as Executive
Vice President to act in the President's absence. Vice Presidents
shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
by the President or by the Board of Directors. The Club shall employ
at least one Chief Financial Officer who shall, in general, supervise
the receipt, custody, control and expenditure of all the assets and
liabilities of the Club and shall give bond at Club expense. In the
event of a vacancy in the position of the Chief Financial Officer
(who may also carry the title of Vice President for Finance) , the
President shall forthwith proceed to employ a Chief Financial Officer,
and in the interim, shall provide for the performance of the duties
of the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 5. Secretary. The Secretary or designated
assistant shall:
(a) attend all meetings of the Members and the Board of Directors;
(b) record minutes thereof in a book kept for that purpose;
(c) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such
other duties as from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have care
of all assets and liabilities of the Club, subject to the direction
of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
Administration
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall establish
the policies of the Club and shall oversee and direct the implementation and
execution of such policies and the administration of the affairs of the Club
by the executive committee, such other committees as it determines to appoint
and authorize, and the staff of the Club.
Section 2. Executive Committee. The Board of
Directors shall elect annually from its own members an executive
committee consisting of not less than three nor more than five
members, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the Board of
Directors who shall also serve as chairperson of the executive
committee. The executive committee shall exercise the executive
powers of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board.
Section 3. Appointment of Committees. The Board
of Directors shall appoint such other committees and boards as
shall be necessary to regulate the competition activities of
the Club and to advise and assist the Board of Directors concerning
the affairs of the Club, and shall appoint the chairperson thereof.
Section 4. Committees. The jurisdiction and
procedures of such committees shall be established by the Board
of Directors, which shall also specify the tenure of committee
members and establish rules for the determination of quorums
and voting for all committees.
Section 5. Operations Manual. The SCCA Operations
Manual shall be the official operating guide for all areas of
SCCA administration. It shall further the guiding principle of
the SCCA: The ultimate direction of the Club rests with the Members.
In furthering this guiding principle the Operations Manual provides
an equitable system of administrative due process. The Operations
Manual shall be published at least triennially and be distributed
to all field staff, office staff, Directors, and one copy to
each Region. Changes to the Operations Manual may be made only
by the Board of Directors and shall be published.
Section 6. Conflict of Interest. No officer,
Director or employee of the Club may participate in, or attempt
to influence any decision by the Club affecting his or her own
personal business interests, or otherwise use his or her official
position for personal gain.
ARTICLE VII
Subsidiary Organizations
Section 1. Regions. The Club shall promote, encourage, and sponsor
the organization and operation of Regions, which shall be subsidiary affiliated
organizations of the Club, participating in and subscribing to its purposes
and activities, operating within its rules, and having rights and privileges
within geographical boundaries, as stipulated by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Standards. The Board of Directors
shall set, and from time to time may modify the standards
which such organizations shall be required to meet in order
to qualify as Regions. Such standards shall be uniform and
consistent for all Regions, and shall require that Regions
operate in accordance with the general policies established
by the Club, that their constitutions and bylaws or similar
instruments not be inconsistent with the bylaws, policies,
and regulations of the Club, and that Members of the Regions
be Members of the Club.
Section 3. Charters. Each such duly qualified
Region shall receive a charter in the name of the Board of
Directors authorizing it to use the name of the Club, the
Club emblem, and the Club initials, which are service marks,
trademarks and/or tradenames of the Club, as stipulated by
the Board of Directors. Each such charter shall specify that
the Region shall carry out the general purposes of the Club,
and shall conform to the provisions of those bylaws and the
policies and standards which the Board of Directors may from
time to time promulgate. Every such charter shall expire
at the end of the calendar year for which it is issued, and
shall be renewable only if the Board of Directors shall be
satisfied that the Region has functioned and will continue
to function in accordance with its charter, the provisions
of these bylaws, and the policies and standards set by the
Board of Directors. Such charter shall be subject to suspension
or revocation at any time by the Board of Directors if the
latter shall be satisfied, in its sole discretion, by evidence
it deems credible that the Region has failed to function
in accordance with its charter, the provisions of these bylaws
or the policies and standards set by the Board of Directors,
and such suspension or revocation shall be final.
Section 4. Requirements for Charter. Any
group desiring to become affiliated with the Club as a Region
must be a functioning corporation with at least 25 Members,
who would qualify as Regular Members of the Club, with a
governing body that is elected periodically by the Members,
holding membership and business meetings, and conducting
events and activities of its Members in general accordance
with the purposes of the Club. Any such organization may
make application to the Board of Directors in such form as
the Board of Directors may prescribe requesting a charter
as a Region. The formation of any Region shall be with the
approval of the Region ceding the territory for the new Region,
provided, however, that if one or more Regions shall fail
or refuse to give such approval, the organization requesting
charter as a new Region may appeal such action to the Board
of Directors. If the Board of Directors finds that this failure
or refusal is not in the best interests of the Club, the
Board of Directors may grant a Regional charter to such organzation
without this approval.
Section 5. Responsibility. Under no circumstances
shall the Club be responsible for any debts incurred by any
Region unless, prior to incurring such debt, the Board of
Directors has voted to guarantee payment thereof.
Section 6. Intermediate Organizations. The
Board of Directors may, in its discretion, permit the association
of Regions in divisional or area councils, or other such
groupings, for mutual assistance and cooperation in order
more effectively to carry out their objectives as subsidiary
organizations of the Club, and such councils or groupings,
no matter how denominated, shall have such powers, rights,
and privileges as the Board of Directors may specify but
no such powers, rights, and privileges shall contravene these
bylaws.
Section 7. SCCA Pro Racing, Ltd. SCCA may
not divest itself of any interest in SCCA Pro Racing, Ltd.
without the approval of a majority of the membership of the
Club.
ARTICLE VIII
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Sports Car Club of America and its subsidiaries shall be for the year ended December 31.
ARTICLE IX
Personal Liability
All persons or corporations extending credit to, contracting with, or having
any claim against the Club or the Board of Directors shall look only to the
funds and property of the Club for the payment of any debt, damages, judgment,
or decree, or any of other money that may otherwise become due or payable
to them from the Club or the Board of Directors, so that neither the Members
of the Club, nor the Board of Directors, past, present or future, shall be
personally liable therefor.
ARTICLE X
Indemnification
The Club may indemnify a Director, Officer, employee or agent of the Club against
liabilities, including judgments, settlements, penalties, fines and reasonable
expenses and legal fees incurred with respect to any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative and whether formal or informal. Such indemnification is
permitted by the Club if the person seeking indemnification:
(i) conducted himself in good faith,
(ii) reasonably believed,
(A) with respect to conduct in his or her official capacity
for the Club, that his or her conduct was in the Club's best interests, or
(B) with respect to conduct in other capacities, that his
or her conduct was, at least not opposed to the Club's best interests, and
(iii) with respect to criminal proceedings, that he or she had no reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of a proceeding
by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent shall not be determinative of whether the foregoing standard
of conduct has been satisfied.
The Club shall not indemnify a Director, Officer, employee or agent in connection
with
(i) a proceeding by or in the right of the Club, in which such person
is adjudged liable to the Club, or (ii) any proceeding charging improper
personal benefit to that person, in which he or she is adjudged liable
or, the basis that he or she improperly received personal benefit(s)
.
However, the Club shall indemnify a Director, Officer, employee or
agent who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense
of any proceeding to which he or she was a party, against reasonable
expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the proceeding. The
indemnification of a person, permitted by the foregoing provisions, must
be authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made
that indemnification is permissible under the circumstances because the
applicable standard of conduct was met. This determination shall be made
by:
(i) the Board of Directors by majority vote of a quorum, which quorum
shall consist of Directors not parties to the proceeding, or
(ii) if a quorum cannot be obtained, by a majority vote of a committee of
the Board of Directors designated by the Board, which committee shall consist
of two or more Directors not parties to the proceeding; except that Directors
who are parties to the proceeding may participate in the designation of Directors
for the committee.
If the quorum cannot be obtained or the committee cannot be established,
or if such quorum or committee so directs, the determination shall be
made by:
(i) independent legal counsel selected by a vote of the Board of
Directors or the committee, or if a quorum of the full Board cannot
be obtained or a committee cannot be established, by independent legal
counsel selected by a majority vote of the full Board, or
(ii) by the Members.
If the determination that indemnification is permissible is made by
independent legal counsel, the authorization of indemnification and evaluation
as to reasonableness of the expenses shall be made by the body which
selected that counsel. A Director, Officer, employee or agent of the
Club who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to
the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent
jurisdiction. On receipt of such an application, the court, after giving
any notice it considers necessary, if it determines that such person
is entitled to mandatory indemnification pursuant to these Bylaws or
law, the court shall order indemnification in which case the court shall
also order the Club to pay such person's reasonable expenses. If the
court determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification in view of all of the relevant circumstances, whether
or not such person meets the standard of conduct set forth in these Bylaws
as a condition of indemnification, or whether such person was adjudged
liable in such circumstances which would ordinarily prohibit the Club
from making indemnification, the court may order such indemnification
as it deems proper. The Club may pay for, or reimburse, the reasonable
expenses incurred by a Director, Officer, employee or agent of the Club,
who is a party to a proceeding, in advance of the final disposition of
the proceeding, if
(i) the Club is furnished with a written affirmation of such person's
good faith belief that he or she has met the applicable standard of
conduct,
(ii) such person furnishes the Club with a written undertaking, executed
personally or on his or her behalf, to repay the advance if it is determined
that he or she did not meet such standard of conduct, and
(iii) a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the
determination would not preclude indemnification under this paragraph.
The foregoing undertaking shall be an unlimited general obligation
of such person and need not be secured and may be accepted without reference
to financial ability to make repayment.
The Club may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who
is or was a Director, Officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Club and
who, while a Director, Officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Club is
or was serving at the request of the Club as a Director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation
or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise or employee
benefit plan against any liability asserted against or incurred by him in any
such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the
Club would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
foregoing provisions. If an indemnification or advance of expenses to a Director
arises out of a proceeding by or on behalf of the Club, such indemnification,
if made pursuant to the foregoing provisions, shall be reported in writing
to the Members with or before notice of the next meeting of the Club.
ARTICLE XI
Amendment
The Board of Directors, or three per cent or more of the Regular Members, of
whom no more than one-third shall be from the same Area, may propose an amendment
to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws by submitting such proposal
in writing to the secretary. A proposal submitted by the Members shall be
reviewed by a committee of five Regular Members, consisting of four Members
appointed by the Board of Directors, two of whom are Members proposing the
amendment, and a fifth Member appointed by these four Members, who shall
act as a chairperson. The committee shall consider the propriety of the proposal,
taking into account the intent of the Petitioners and the suitability of
the inclusion of the proposal in primary instruments such as the certificate
of incorporation and bylaws, and shall draft the proposed amendment into
suitable language. Proposals of either origin shall be submitted to the vote
of the Regular Member by mailing notice of the proposal and a form of ballot
to all Regular Members. Each Regular Member shall be entitled to one vote
on each proposal submitted to the membership. At least 30 days shall be allowed
for voting. Ballots shall be mailed for counting to the firm of certified
public accountants serving as the Club auditor, and shall not be available
for inspection by any officer, Member, or employee. If at least two-thirds
of the Regular Members voting are in favor of the amendment, it shall be
adopted. The secretary shall cause the result of the balloting to be published
for the information of the entire membership.