Constitution

Article 1 - Charter

Section 1 Name

This organization shall be known as the Flying Tigers Cycling Team, hereby known as the "Team". No person shall use the name of the Team in advertising, promotion, or solicitation of goods, services, or events without prior consent of the Team's members.

Section 2 Affiliations

The Team is a member club of the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) and the New Jersey Bicycling Association (NJBA). The Team abides by the constitution, bylaws, racing rules and guide-lines of the USCF; when in conflict with these Bylaws, those of the USCF take precedence.

Section 3 Purpose

The goal of the Team is to support USCF competition and to provide fast and furious competitive bicycling fun for its members. We seek to achieve our goal through such activities as:

Article 2 - Executive Council

Section 1 Positions and Duties

The Executive Council consists of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Directeur Sportif. Each of the members of the Executive Council is an Officer of the Team.

Section 1.1 Duties of the President

The President is responsible for coordinating the operation of the Team. This includes maintaining membership in the USCF and NJBA, maintaining Team status with other appropriate governing bodies, setting the agenda for each business meeting of the Team, running each business meeting, ensuring that the items on the agenda are addressed, selecting members for Committees from among volunteers for said Committees, and selecting a temporary replacement for any Officers unable to complete their terms. The President may temporarily delegate any of the President's duties to another Team member in good standing.

Section 1.2 Duties of the Vice President

The Vice President is the chief external ambassador of the Team, and is responsible for maintaining good relationships with the USCF and NJBA. The Vice President shall act for the President in the President's absence, and shall be a member and chairman of the Rider Conduct Committee.

Section 1.3 Duties of the Treasurer

The Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the Team, and is responsible for ensuring that Team funds are dispersed solely as directed by the Team or Committees empowered by the Team to use Team funds.The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all financial transactions of the Team, maintain the Team bank accounts, and record all deposits and withdrawals. The Treasurer and President shall be the signatories to the bank accounts. Only the Treasurer shall write checks on Team accounts; the Treasurer can temporarily authorize the President to write checks. The President's signature is required on all checks over $200. The Treasurer shall make monthly financial reports to the Team, and shall prepare financial records annually and as-needed for review by the Audit Committee.

Section 1.4 Duties of the Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for all Team records and correspondence. The Secretary shall keep all minutes of Team meetings, shall communicate important Team meeting results to the Team (see Article 3, Section 2.2, item viii) and shall be responsible for maintaining the Bylaws and an up-to-date membership roster, which the Secretary may delegate to a Team member. The Secretary shall provide the USCF with an up-to-date list of Team officers at the beginning of each calendar year, and whenever new officers are elected or appointed

Section 1.5 Duties of the Directeur Sportif

The Directeur Sportif is responsible for coordinating and communicating the competitive activities of the Team. The Directeur Sportif shall determine voluntary training programs for the Team, be a member of the Ad Hoc NJBA Team Selection Committee and of the Rider Conduct Committee, and, when practicable, coordinate the Team's seasonal and particular race goals, strategy and tactics.

Section 2 Length of Service

The term of office for each Officer shall be one year, beginning October 1, and ending September 30 of the following calendar year. In the event any Officers are not able to complete their terms, the President shall select, from volunteers, a temporary replacement for that Officer. The term for said replacement shall be until a Special Election can be organized and completed, if the vacancy occurs before April 1; otherwise, until the next General Election.

Section 3 Elections

A General Election is held each year to determine the members of the Executive Council. Nominations for the Officers shall be given at or before the August meeting; nominations made prior to the August meeting shall be made to the Election Committee (See Article 3, Section 3). Ballots with the nominated candidates, and room for write-in candidates, shall be distributed to all Team members at least two weeks prior to the September meeting, with provision for any member to vote in absentia. All ballots must be returned to the Election Committee within one hour after the opening of the September meeting, at which time said Committee will count the ballots in private and announce the Officers for the upcoming term. Election is by plurality vote. A Special Election is held whenever any Officers are unable to complete their term, and a new Officer is to be elected to finish said term. A Special Election is held according to the protocol and schedule of a General Election, with the exception of the month in which it is held.

Section 4 Removal From Office and Suspension of Powers

An Officer may be removed from office by a vote taken at a Team business meeting. A written petition to request such a vote shall be made to the Election Committee which shall announce the vote to the Team membership at least two weeks prior to the next Team meeting. The vote shall be held at said meeting. The petitioner and the Officer in question shall be given adequate time to explain the nature of the petition from their perspectives. Removal from office requires a 75% vote of all members voting, and shall be effective immediately following such a vote. The Officer in question shall not be present during the voting. The Executive Council has the power to suspend the duties of an Officer by a majority vote; such a suspension shall be effective immediately, and shall result in a written petition for removal from office signed by an Officer voting for suspension.

Section 5 Repeated Terms

There is no limit on the number of terms of office, consecutive or otherwise, that may be held by an individual.

Article 3 - Government

Section 1 General Philosophy

Decisions that affect the Team and its members are made by the members of the Team at business meetings. Decisions binding on the Team are made only by majority vote of the Team at a business meeting; such a vote can give authority to a Committee to make such binding decisions.

Section 2 Business Meetings

The purpose of a business meeting is to give each Team member the opportunity to be involved in the decisions and business of the Team. Such business includes reading and accepting the minutes from the previous business meeting, discussion of and voting on previously determined issues, announcing results (racing, Team, and other events), Committee reports to the Team, raising of new business, and other activities as determined by the President.

Section 2.1 Executive Council Role

The President is responsible for running the business meeting. The President, or a Team member to whom the President has delegated said responsibility, shall ensure that all business that needs to be addressed is allocated sufficient time, that discussions remain focused on the business at hand, that all Team members who wish to express their views on the business at hand be given the opportunity to do so, that voting proceeds in a timely manner, and that the business meeting be adjourned when appropriate.

Section 2.2 Meeting Mechanics

i) Meetings of the Team shall be held the third Monday of every month. A given business meeting may be rescheduled at a prior business meeting; the new date and time shall be communicated to all Team members at least two weeks prior to the new date. ii) Meetings shall be held at a location convenient to the majority of Team members. iii) All items to be discussed and/or decided on at a given meeting shall be made known to all Team members at least one week prior to said business meeting. Mechanisms for doing so include but are not limited to the Team Hotline, a phone chain,  email, and word of mouth. iv) Proposals for new discussion items shall be conveyed to the President sufficiently in advance of a business meeting for the President to communicate said proposal to the Team membership. New business raised at a business meeting shall be discussed at the sole discretion of the President; such a decision is made with respect to the time remaining in the business meeting and the relative importance of the business. v) Each agenda item shall be given sufficient time for discussion, if appropriate. Following such discussion, motions may be entertained to request a vote on the item in question. vi) All decisions to be made shall be done by vote. A quorum must be present for any vote to be taken; a quorum shall consist of ten (10) Team members in good standing. A simple majority of those members voting affirmative shall make the decision binding on the Team and its members; consensus is required on new member acceptance. Voting on an issue by the Team members shall be by voice vote or by closed ballot, at the discretion of the President. Members not able to attend a business meeting may register in writing, in advance, with a member of the Team, their vote(s) on particular issues other than new membership. vii) The Chairman of each Committee shall be prepared to report on the current status of said Committee. viii) The Secretary shall be responsible for communicating to the Team membership any important results of the business meeting within a week of that meeting, using the Team Hotline, a phone chain, or other appropriate mechanism.

Section 3 Committees and Other Positions

Team business that cannot be addressed expeditiously at a business meeting is given to a selected group of Team members; such a group is a Committee. A Committee can be granted the authority to make decisions, within its granted domain, that are binding on the Team, and its members. A Committee is either a Standing Committee which is ongoing, or an Ad Hoc Committee which is created to address a particular issue or set of issues and which is disbanded when said issue or set of issues has been addressed.

Section 3.1 Committee Selection

The President shall select all members of each Committee from Team members in good standing. No Team member shall be compelled to serve on any Committee. A Committee shall consist of at least one member, and no more than five members, expect where noted below. Each member must meet the qualifications for each Committee, as specified in Section 3.2 and in Section 3.3. The members of a Committee shall elect a chairperson who shall organize the Committee and report its results at business meetings. A Team member may serve on any number of Committees for which that member is eligible.

Section 3.2 Standing Committees

i) Newsletter. The Newsletter Committee is responsible for gathering items for, editing, printing, and distribution of the Team Newsletter ("Paw Prints") on a timely basis. The Newsletter shall be published once per month from April through October, and whenever there is enough material to justify publication during the remaining months. ii) Uniform. The Uniform Committee shall make decisions, as needed, on the specification and supplier of all Team apparel. They shall maintain a list of all apparel inventory, outstanding orders, and existing Team member orders and payments. iii) Election. The Election Committee shall accept nominations for Officers prior to the General Election and any Special Election, print and distribute ballots for General Elections, accept absentee ballots for Elections and absentee votes for business meeting issues, and count ballots and announce new Officers. The Election Committee shall have a minimum of two members. iv) Team Race. The Team Race Committee shall be responsible for organizing and executing at least one Flying Tigers USCF-sanctioned bicycle race per year. v) Rider Conduct. The Rider Conduct Committee shall determine penalties for violation of the Rider Conduct Contract, and shall periodically review and amend, where necessary, the Rider Conduct Contract. The Rider Conduct Committee shall consist of  five Team members in good standing, including the Vice President and the Directeur Sportif; the Vice President shall be the chairperson of this Committee. It is recommended, but not necessary, that the other members of the Rider Conduct Committee represent a cross-section of the racing members of the Team. vi) Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for conducting financial audits, proposing an annual budget at the March business meeting, and determining membership dues.An audit shall be conducted by requesting from the Treasurer the financial records of the Team, to determine the appropriateness, accuracy and correctness of said records. Audits shall be made on an annual and as-needed basis.

Section 3.3 Ad-Hoc Committees

i) NJBA Team Selection. The NJBA Team Selection Committee shall determine the riders who will compete in the NJBA Stage Race. The Committee shall be staffed at a business meeting at least one month prior to the Stage Race, and shall consist of five racing Team members including the Directeur Sportif. The Committee shall accept applications from members wishing to compete, and shall determine and announce their selections at least two weeks prior to the competition. ii) Sponsorship Committee. The Sponsorship Committee shall investigate and make agreements with new and continuing Team sponsors, determine fair allocation to Team members of sponsor product, and work with the Finance Committee on budgeting of sponsor money.Allocation of sponsor product shall be done with racing Team members taking priority. iii) Bylaws. The Bylaws Committee shall review and amend the Bylaws of the Team on an as needed basis.

Section 3.4 Other Positions

i) NJBA Representative. The Vice President or the Vice President's appointed delegate shall attend each NJBA meeting. ii) MS 170 Contact. The MS 170 contact person shall be responsible for gathering information about the ride form the organizers, communicating that information to the Team membership, gathering commitments from the Team and its members, and making those commitments to the organizers. iii) Junior Development Coordinator. The Junior Development Coordinator shall work with the Directeur Sportif to develop and oversee training, fitness, and skill development programs, including racing, for all juniors on the Team. The Coordinator shall be the liaison with the East Region Junior Coach, shall seek out and enlist new junior members, and shall propose a junior racing budget to the Financial Committee. iv) Statistician. This person shall maintain a record of all known race results for all Team members. It is the responsibility of each Team member to communicate the member's results to the statistician.

Article 4 - Membership

Section 1 Nomination

Application for membership in the Flying Tigers Cycling Team is open to any individual interested in the sport of bicycling. All individuals will have equal opportunity to participate in the Team without discrimination with regards to race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. An individual interested in joining the Team must submit an application prior to becoming a member of the Team. New members must be sponsored by two current non-provisional Team members in good standing as defined in Section 4.2 and Section 4.1.

Section 2 Approvals

All applications will be reviewed at business meeting. A quorum must be present at the meeting to consider a membership application; see Article 3, Section 2.2. Consensus of those present at the meeting is required to accept a new member's application. A member cannot disapprove of a new member application without giving cause. An applicant becomes a member after approval by the Team, payment of Team dues (waived for Junior riders), and signing of a Rider Contract.

Section 3 Rider Contract

All new members must sign the Rider Contract upon acceptance onto the Team.All current members must sign a Rider Contract by or during the first meeting in January of each year; members unavailable to sign a Rider Contract at or before the first meeting of the year will be contacted to sign and return the Contract either in person or by mail.

Section 4 Status

Section 4.1 Provisional Membership

Team members who have been on the Team for less than six months are considered provisional members, and cannot vote, nominate new members, or run for office. They have all of the other rights and responsibilities of regular membership defined elsewhere in these Bylaws.

Section 4.2 Good Standing

All members of the Team are expected to adhere to a code of conduct as described in these Bylaws, the Rider Contract, and the USCF Bylaws. Team members should act in a manner that will not bring embarrassment or risk to themselves, the Team, or any sponsor the member or the Team represents. To remain a member in good standing a member must meet all financial obligations to the Team, and have signed a Rider Contract. All members in good standing have the option of purchasing a team uniform at the price set by the Uniform Committee.

Section 4.3 Loss of Good Standing

Reports of violations of the Rider Contract or the Team rules as given in the Bylaws are to be given in writing by a Team member to any member of the Rider Conduct Committee. Team members reported as in violation of the Rider Contract will be notified of their offense and given ample time to cease the behavior or rectify any problems. The reported offender may also submit a report on their own behalf. Loss of good standing is determined by the Rider Conduct Committee; a unanimous vote by that Committee is needed to declare a member not in good standing.The vote of a member of the Committee who is the reported offender shall not be counted. The Team member who is not in good standing will be notified in writing by the chairperson of the Rider Conduct Committee of the offense and the penalty for the offense. Penalties for violations may include warnings, suspensions for a limited time period, or removal from the Team, the last including notification to the USCF.

Section 4.4 Voting Privilege

To vote for Team offices and at Team business meetings, members must be in good standing, have paid Team dues for the calendar year at the time of the voting.

Section 5 Other Teams

Section 5.1 Resignation

A member wishing to join a different team or club will be issued a letter of resignation by the President of the Team, as per USCF regulations, that acknowledges the release of the member and their standing with the Team.

Section 5.2 Sponsored Teams

A member in good standing may be granted permission to ride on a sponsored team as defined by USCF Bylaw L.6. The Team shall determine the extend of such participation and the fees to be paid to the Team for such permission.

Section 6 Fees

Payment of the annual dues, the amount of which shall be determined on a yearly basis by the Financial Committee, shall be made by March 1 of each year or within 30 days of membership approval. Current members who do not pay by this date may be subject to a surcharge on the dues. New members must pay annual dues before being accepted as a member in good standing to the Team.

Junior riders do not have to pay an annual dues as long as they possess a valid USCF racing license that gives the Team as the rider's club, and have signed the Rider Contract. Members age 18 and older who do not pay their Team dues during one calendar year will be removed from the Team roster.

Article 5 - Amendments

The Bylaws of the Team may be amended, altered, or repealed, in part, or in whole, by written resolution. Such resolution shall detail the proposed change(s) and shall be presented to the Secretary at least two weeks prior to a business meeting at which the resolution shall be read and discussed. A vote on the resolution shall be taken at the following business meeting, where acceptance of the resolution shall be by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Team members in good standing present at the business meeting.