Article I - Name
The name of the organization shall be the Central Coast Home Vintners’ Association.
Article II – Objectives
A. Encourage members to develop their knowledge and skills in growing grapes (viticulture) and making wine (enology).
B. Consult and cooperate with professional vintners and growers.
C. Cooperate with other wine clubs to promote better evaluation of wine.
D. Bring about closer cooperation between members, encourage making better wine, and provide a medium to exchange ideas and experience relative to making and evaluating wine.
E. Encourage the development and implementation of programs to educate the public at large in the art of making wine.
Article III - Membership and Eligibility
Section 1 - Grades of Membership and Eligibility
A. Member -
B.Honorary Member
Section 2 – Dues
The dues of the Association shall be sufficient to carry on the functions of the Association as directed by the Board of Directors. The Association year shall run from February 1 through January 31. Dues notice for the upcoming year shall be mailed to the membership in December of each year. Members who have not paid dues by February 28 of each year will be dropped from the membership list. The Treasurer shall collect dues annually and compile a list of “Members in Good Standing”. These members shall comprise the voting membership and those who are eligible to hold positions as officers or Board members in the Association.
New members are required to pay dues for the current year.
Any member who allows their dues to lapse will be required to rejoin the Association as a new member.
Article IV - Meetings
Section 1 – Meetings
The Association Board of Directors shall normally meet monthly. Monthly meetings may be canceled at the discretion of the President or Board members if there is not sufficient business to warrant holding a meeting. Special meetings may be called by the President, and/or by the majority of the Board of Directors.
The Association members shall normally meet about six times a year and/or as the Board shall deem necessary.
Section 2 – Attendance
Members committing to attend to a meeting will be required to pay in advance for that meeting even if they do not attend, unless they give a forty-eight (48) hours notice prior to the meeting or send a substitute in their place.
Article V - Officers
Section 1 – Eligibility
Only Association members who are in good standing shall be eligible to hold office.
Section 2 – Officers & Directors
A. Association business shall be conducted by a Board of Directors comprised of not more than twelve (12) members elected by the general membership.
B. Officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer and shall be Board members.
C. The Board of Directors shall hold a term of two years starting at the beginning of the first Board meeting in each calendar year.
D. In the event a Board member is unable or unwilling to complete his/her full term, the Board may appoint a successor from the general membership. The appointees shall serve the remaining portion of that term and such partial terms shall not be counted in the re-election sequence restrictions.
E. The board members shall serve no more than three (3) consecutive two (2) year terms.
Section 3 - Election of Officers and Board Members
The election of Officers and Board Members shall be as follows:
- On or before November 1 of the election year, the President shall appoint three members in good standing to serve as the nominating committee. This committee shall verify that each nominee is a member in good standing and that each nominee is willing to serve in that office. They shall prepare a ballot containing the eligible names placed in nomination for each office.
- All members in good standing are eligible to vote and hold office.
- Members may place an individual’s name in nomination by getting two other members to sign the petition. The nominating committee must receive this petition on or before January 1. A statement that the nominee shall be willing to serve shall be included with the petition.
- The nominating committee shall put at least one eligible member’s name for each Board opening on the ballot. All eligible petitioned nominees shall be placed on the ballot and so identified.
- A minimum of two members not currently on the Board shall be placed in nomination to the Board of Directors. The two new candidates receiving the most membership votes shall become Board members. Any remaining openings shall be filled by the candidates (incumbent or new) that receive the most votes.
- The Officers of the Association shall be elected by the Board members annually by majority vote at the first Board meeting of each calendar year.
- On or before January 1 of the election year, a ballot containing the names of the nominees shall be mailed to each member in good standing. Each membership voting may mark their choice, as one (1) vote, for the various offices and return the ballots at the annual meeting, to be held anytime between January 7 and 31, to the nominating committee chairperson who will serve as custodians of the ballots.
- The ballots will be opened, counted and announced at the January annual meeting. A majority of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. In the event of a tie vote, the members in good standing that are present will conduct a runoff election at that meeting, by closed ballot.
Article VI - Duties of the Officers and Board of Directors
Section 1 – President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors. It will be the Presidents duty to supervise the activities of the Association and to prepare an agenda for all Board and general meetings.
Section 2 - Vice-President
The Vice-president, in the absence of the President, shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President. He shall assist the President in the performance of his duties as requested. The Vice-President shall be the chairperson of the Membership Committee.
Section 3 – Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the members informed of all meetings. He/she shall prepare minutes for all Board of Director meetings. The Secretary shall prepare and distribute event schedules, newsletters, club correspondence and meeting notices to the membership.
Section 4 – Treasurer
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to maintain all financial records of the Association and a current membership list . The Treasurer shall be responsible for all monetary transactions of the Association with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall prepare a monthly financial statement for the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual financial report, tax statements and returns.
Section 5 - Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall, with the direction of the President, discuss, recommend, and decide on all matters presented to it regarding governing the Association.
Section 6 - Standing Committees
A. Nominating Committee
The duty of the Nominating Committee shall be to nominate members for office. The President will designate the Chairperson.
- Membership Committee
- Education Committee
- Events Committee
E. New Committees
The President and the Board of Directors have the authority to appoint and disband committees as required.
Article VII - Amendments and Conflicts
Section 1 – Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws shall be prepared and disseminated to the membership
prior to the Annual meeting held in January of each year. Amendments shall be approved and ratified by a majority of voting membership at the annual meeting.
Section 2 – Conflicts
Conflicts or concerns not addressed by these Bylaws are to be deferred to a Bylaws Committee, as appointed by the President, for resolution. The Board of Directors shall resolve issues not resolved by the Bylaws Committee.