Fire and Iron Station 56


	*Fire & Iron Firefighter MC* *Fire & Iron Firefighter MC* *Station 56 SW Ohio* *Preamble* *These bylaws and any interpretation beyond the written word of are left to the complete discretion of the Executive Board.* Article I: Name The Trademark name of this organization shall be Fire & Iron Firefighters Motorcycle Club. The local station identification is *Station 56 SW Ohio.* Article II: Membership No member shall be discriminated on basis of race, sex or creed. A prospective member must be at least *twenty one (21)* years of age. Primary membership of the club shall be made up of those people who are currently career Firefighters, retired career Firefighters, *part-time Firefighters, retired part-time firefighters,* volunteer Firefighters, retired volunteer Firefighters, and fire department support personnel *such as EMT’s working with a fire department. Primary members must own and ride a motorcycle. The brand, type and size of motorcycle are not important but motorcycles must be able to keep up during group rides. Spouses of Primary members (not girlfriends)* will also be allowed Primary member status with two variations The spouse is not required to own or ride a motorcycle The spouse can not sponsor another member. If a separation occurs between a couple the non-firefighter member will be removed from the club. Union membership is not mandatory. The decision to allow “Sponsored” memberships is at the discretion of local control. If sponsored membership is allowed in a Station, a Primary member can sponsor one, and only one, non-Fire Department applicant to join the club. This person can be a family member or friend. The “Sponsored” member must ride a motorcycle or ride as a passenger of a Primary member. “Sponsored” members do not have voting privileges in National club elections and will not be able to hold National office. Voting privileges in their respective Stations are under local control but they cannot hold President or Vice President Offices. “Sponsored” member must meet the final approval of the Station President. Primary members are responsible for the actions of their sponsored members and have the right to withdraw their sponsorship at any time If a “Sponsored” member loses their sponsor for any reason, they must leave the club when their dues run out, unless they are able to find another Primary member to sponsor them. (See Article VII ) “Sponsored” members cannot sponsor another member. “Honorary” membership status is at the discretion of local control. It may be granted to an individual who has contributed substantially to the promotion of Fire & Iron Firefighters MC. Persons considered for “Honorary” membership do not have to have a sponsor but must have shown positive actions that support the “principles and purposes” of our club by acts in assisting their Station. “Honorary” members may have the same rights as “Sponsored” members under local control. Such membership should be limited to no more than 4 persons at any given time. All new members waiting for approval will be referred to as Probationary members, whether Primary or “Sponsored.” Probationary time within a Station shall be under local Station control *during which the bottom rocker will be issued for a period of no less than two months.* A “Lifetime Membership” shall only be granted to those members who have passed away. Lifetime Membership status will be defined as adding their name and picture to our fallen brothers page and the issuing of their colors to their family. Article III: Dues Every Station in good standing will be required to pay to the National Treasurer, annual National Station dues. At this time, National dues are set at $55.00 *(subject to change). Annual dues shall be due on November 30th each year, for the upcoming year. The cutoff date shall be January 31st of the year that dues are due for. Station 61 (MAL) members will pay annual dues of $25 each, to the National Treasurer. The National President and National Vice President will oversee Station # 61 but maintain privileges within their home station. Each member in good standing will be required to pay annual dues of $20.00 (subject to change) to the Station 56 Treasurer by January 31st.* Every new member will be required to pay a “one-time” initiation fee of $55.00 *(subject to change), plus their annual Station dues. This is to cover “local” administration costs. Dues will be used to promote activities and/or purchase equipment and supplies for the individual Stations and National Club. Dues allow each member the privilege of membership and the right to attend all meetings and rallies. $25.00 of each station’s annual National dues will be set aside to go to the next “host” station for the bi-annual National Rally, up to $3500. Article IV: Officers* National Officers – All National Officers will be a Firefighter Primary member. National President The executive duties of the President are as follows: Preside over meetings of both the National Board and the club as a whole. Judge items not covered in the constitution or in the rules. Act as the personal representative of the club in the area of public relations; as a liaison between Fire & Iron Firefighter MC and local-law enforcement agencies; and as a connecting link between Fire & Iron Firefighter MC and other motorcycle clubs. Represent the club in any club business contacts and supervise major economic transactions. Assist Fire & Iron Firefighter MCofficers in the interpretation of their club responsibilities, and promote club life among members in general. National Vice President The executive duties of the Vice President are as follows: To perform the duties of the President in his absence and to assist the President in all of his duties. To perform any duty deemed necessary to complete by the President. To take over as President if something happens to the President until such time as an election takes place. National Secretary The executive duties of the Secretary are as follows: Record and safeguard the minutes of the National Club meetings. Maintain the Club By-Laws, recording any additions, deletions, or modifications, and tally all National votes. Handle any National Club correspondence. Oversee Regional Officer Elections. Keep and record all votes for any National Votes. National Treasurer The executive duties of the Treasurer are as follows: Monitor and record the club's income and expenditures. Collect the dues and fines owed by the Stations. The National Treasurer shall notify the respective Regional Officer if a Station in their Region is delinquent in paying their National dues. The National Treasurer will prepare a Financial Report before any meeting or annually if there is no scheduled meeting, for presentation to the National membership each April. The National Store Operator will report directly to the National Treasurer. The Store operator must forward a quarterly financial report the National Treasurer National Sergeant-at-Arms The executive duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms are as follows: Maintain order at National meetings. Ensure that members adhere to club rulings, policies, and expected models of conduct. To assist the Regional Officers with any appropriate business. Defend club members and property, from inside/ outside threats. The National Sergeant-at -Arms will report directly to the National President and Vice President. Regional Officers There shall be seven (7) Regional Officers, each representing a designated geographical region. Additional regions may be established, if necessary. A review of the regions will be done periodically by the National Board to ensure Regional Officer’s duties are relatively equal. Regional Officers report directly to the National President. The Regional officer is an elected representative for their region. The regional officer will act as a manager within the region. The R.O. has the ability and authority to dispense disciplinary action. The executive duties of Regional Officers are as follows: Regional Officers shall promote and ensure that those who inquire about the Fire & Iron Firefighters Motorcycle Club are provided current and accurate information. Regional Officers shall receive Station applications and inform the National President that there is interest in the Region to activate a Station. The Regional Officer will assist in following through with the inquiry and activation of the new Station, making sure that all newly chartered Stations have a solid membership foundation with the intention of eliminating potential problems before they occur. Regional Officers shall establish a relationship with the Station Presidents within their Region. Regional Officers shall assist Station Presidents in coordinating promotions and events that the Stations in their Region may be sponsoring. Regional Officers shall keep a current roster of all Stations in their Region. If there any changes, the Regional Officer shall notify the National President, National Secretary and National Web Master for web site updating. Regional Officers are responsible for collecting votes for all Regional voting. (Only exception being the Regional officer election vote) Station Presidents will forward the voting results of their membership to their Regional Officer. Regional voting results will be sent to the National Secretary. If a Regional Officer has a conflict of interest in any matter within his own region, the National Executive Board will select a Regional Officer from another region to intervene. Any major issues within the region will be handled by the convening of a Regional Tribunal. The R.O. has the ability and authority to issue a temporary suspension of up to 30 days for major infractions that will require the convening of a Regional Tribunal. The Tribunal will consist of all Station President’s within that region, with the R.O. having the tie breaking vote. Once the regional tribunal has acted and a decision has been made, then the tribunal will be dissolved for this matter and the case will be considered closed. National Board The National board consists of National and Regional Officers of the club. Meetings will be held at every National Rally. National Rallies will be held on the even numbered years. Emergency meetings can be called if a situation develops that demands immediate attention. The National board is responsible for: Monitor conflicts between the Stations. Apply disciplinary procedures above the Station President level. Evaluate prospective Stations. Present summarized assessments of the overall club situation to the membership. Station Officers President (Must be a Primary Firefighter Member) The duties of the president are as follows: Preside over meetings and the Station as a whole. Judge items not covered in the constitution or in the rules regulations that are under local control. Act as the personal representative of their Station and the club. Represent their station in any club business contacts. Promote enjoyable club life among members in general. Vice President (Must be a Primary Firefighter Member) The duties of the Vice President are to assume the responsibilities of the Presidency when the President is unable to do so. Secretary The duties of the Secretary are as follows: Record and safeguard the minutes of the station meetings. Maintain the Station bylaws, recording any additions, deletions, or modifications. Handle any station correspondence. Treasurer (May be combined with Secretary) The duties of the Treasurer are as follows: Monitor and record the stations income and expenditures. Collect the dues and fines owed by the members. Road Captains The duties of the Road Captain are as follows: Plan the travel routes and organize the basic itinerary of the station prior to going on a ride. Lead or trail the club in formation while riding. Enforce station rules and procedures for group riding. Sergeant at Arms The duties of the Sergeant at Arms are as follows: Maintain order at station meetings in particular, and station activities in general. Ensure that members adhere to station rulings, policies, and expected models of conduct when dealing with other members or outsiders. Defend station members and property, from inside/outside threats. Will report directly to the Station President and Vice President. In cases of an Area/Regional Conflict the Sergeant- at- Arms may contact the regional Officer directly. Article V: Elections National and Regional Officers of this club serve a two year term of office. All voting for Station, National, and Regional Officers will be by a simple majority. In order to be eligible for office, a member has to have been an active member in good standing for a minimum of two years. National Officers will be voted on at every National Rally. National Officers can be nominated by any Fire & Iron Firefighter MC member. Candidates for nomination may be from any region. All Primary members will vote on all National Officers. These votes will be taken in each individual station and the votes tallied by the Station President. The Station President will report his/her single Station vote to the National Secretary. Regional Officers will be voted on in both even and odd numbered years. Even numbered Regions will vote in even years; and odd numbered Regions will vote in odd years. Regional Officer Candidates will be nominated by Fire & Iron Firefighter MC members from the region they will serve. All Primary members from the effected region will vote on Regional Officer for their region. These votes will be taken in each individual station and the votes tallied by the Station President. The Station President will report his/her single Station vote to the National Secretary. If a National Officer is relieved of their duties or steps down from their position, then the National President will appoint someone to fill the position until an election can be held. Station Officers will be voted on by individual Station members per local policy. An emergency election can be called whenever there is a vacancy in an Officer position. Article VI: Disciplinary Actions The following is a list of infractions and acts that may result in the removal or Colors and/or the removal from the club. The list is not meant to be all encompassing and does not cover every act or infraction that may arise. Nonpayment of dues. Bringing shame or dishonor to the club. Losing your colors Throwing your Colors to the ground. Actions of a member by which a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the member’s station feel that are not in keeping with the Club’s spirit or intent. Incorrect application of Colors to a vest/jacket and not correcting it when instructed to do so. Any unauthorized patch applied to Colors and not removed when instructed to do so. Showing disrespect to other members, Stations, Officers or non-members when acting as a member of Fire and Iron MC. Removal from Office: A National Officer may be relived of their duties if he fails to perform the duties of their position. The National Board will convene and require a 2/3rd’s majority vote to remove the officer. A station officer may be removed from office in one of three ways: A station officer may be removed from office by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the station’s members. Any major issues regarding a station officer will be handled by the convening of a Regional Tribunal. The R.O. has the ability and authority to issue a temporary suspension of up to 30 days for major infractions that will require the convening of a Regional Tribunal. The Tribunal will consist of all Station President’s within that region, with the R.O. having the tie breaking vote. Once the regional tribunal has acted and a decision has been made, then the tribunal will be dissolved for this matter and the case will be considered closed. The exception being that the regional tribunal petitions the National Board to rule in the matter at hand. This vote will require a simple majority. The regional officer of that region must have exhausted every possible avenue to mediate the situation, and have offered the offending officer every chance to rehabilitate himself A station officer may be removed from office by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the National Board. Termination of Membership: The membership of a member can be terminated in one of two ways: The membership of a member can be terminated by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the member’s station. The conduct of the member must be so grievous that “Probation” or a “Suspension” does not fit as punishment. That determination shall be at the discretion of the station membership. The membership of a member can be terminated by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the National Board. The National Board will only act to remove an individual member if asked to intervene by the Station involved, or by request of the Regional Tribunal. 3. A terminated member is prohibited from joining the Club again in the future. Placing a Member on “Probation” or “Suspension”: A member who’s actions or misdeeds do not rise to the level of a “termination” punishment, maybe placed on probation or suspended for a determinate amount of time. A member can be placed on probation or suspension by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the stations members. “Probation” is defined as: The loss of the ability to wear the “Colors” back patch. He will be required to wear only the local rocker for the duration of the probationary period. The member has the right to participate in club events and vote on club or station issues or elections. May not hold any office within the station. The length of the probation will be up to local control, but will be a minimum of 6 months. “Suspension” is defined as: The loss of the ability to wear the “Colors” back patch. He will be required to wear only the local rocker for the duration of the suspension period. The member can participate in Club events but cannot vote in any club or station issues or elections. May not hold any office within the station. The length of a suspension will be up to local control, but will be a minimum of 1 year. Article VII: Regions Geographical regions are: Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Florida Wisconsin Ohio California Minnesota Kentucky Washington Michigan Indiana Oregon Iowa Pennsylvania Idaho Illinois West Virginia Nevada Missouri Virginia Utah North Dakota Maryland Arizona South Dakota Delaware Hawaii Alaska Region 5 Region 6 Region 7 Tennessee New Hampshire Colorado North Carolina Maine Montana South Carolina Massachusetts Wyoming Arkansas Vermont Nebraska Louisiana Rhode Island Kansas Mississippi New York Oklahoma Alabama New Jersey Texas Georgia Connecticut New Mexico Article VIII: Colors The club Colors belongs to Fire & Iron Firefighters MC. Chapter 1 Orange County, Florida will forever be the Mother Chapter of this club. The club Colors will be worn with honor, pride and respect. Only members in good standing will be allowed to wear the club Colors. If for any reason a member should leave or be removed from the club, that member shall turn in their Colors to their station *Sergeant at Arms,* *Vice President* or President. Colors may be affixed to ether *a black leather vest or black leather jacket. Colors should never be washed. Colors are to be worn as the outer most garments and not to be obstructed in any way. Colors will be worn at all Fire & Iron Firefighter MC* functions, gatherings, runs *(where three (3) or more members are present)* and sanctioned events *unless otherwise directed by the Vice President or President.* At no time will the Colors be placed face down. Respect your colors. At no time will the Colors touch the ground unless the member is wearing them. Members are responsible for their colors at all times regardless of location. Colors should be affixed to the rear of the garment as follows: *See attachment #1* The Fire & Iron Firefighter MC back patch shall be worn on the rear of the vest/jacket approximately centered or slightly higher, in the middle of the back. The Station rocker shall be located centered, slightly below the Fire & Iron Firefighter MC back patch. Placement and color scheme for name and rank patches are as follows: Name and rank patches will have a black background, red border and gold writing In the event the standardized colors are impossible to use at your station you may petition the National Board for an exception. Name patch goes on the right side of your vest/jacket Rank patch goes on the left side of your vest/jacket. *All colors will be ordered by the Station 56 President.* The back patches (Colors) will be obtained from only one vendor to keep the uniformity of the colors. Currently, the vendor is 100 Monkeys in Orlando, FL. The National Colors, regardless of what kind of merchandise it is, are not to be sold to non-members. Article IX: General Information There will be only one Chapter in this club, Chapter 1. All other chapters will be referred to as Stations. Station meetings will be held on days of rides with the exception of prearranged meeting days or emergencies. Each Station will strive to have at least one ride or meeting a month. All members are encouraged to *host a meeting or plan a ride day.* All members must attend at least *Four* (4) functions per year (i.e.: event, meeting or ride) to remain in good standing with the club. 3a) *The Station 56 annual ride held on the 3rd Saturday in August is a mandatory event unless prior direct verbal arrangements have been made with the President or Vice President.* Safe riding practices will be followed. Members not adhering to the "accepted" rules-of-the-road will not be tolerated! Personal conflicts or fighting within the "ranks" reflects poorly on the membership and will not be tolerated. Any disagreements will be brought to a Station Officer for settlement. Membership in other associations or groups is allowed; i.e., H.O.G., CMA or IAFF Motor Group. Holding Officer Positions is discouraged but not completely forbidden. Holding an Officer position in another association or group will be dealt with by the individual Fire & Iron Firefighter MC Station it affects. *Members may not be a member of any other motorcycle club.* Your rank or position within the Fire Department does not carry over into Club or hold sway over any Club activities. What happens in the Club stays in the Club. Respect is to be shown to all officers and club members, rides, homes and jobs. In other words, if it's not yours respect it and don't mess with it. National Dues, Station Dues and initiation fees can be raised by a 2/3rd’s majority vote of the National membership. If a member is going to change Stations, they must inform their previous Station President of their intentions to reapply with another Station. If the membership is terminated due to "bringing shame and dishonor to the club," the member is banned from rejoining permanently. Any apparel using any Fire & Iron Firefighter MC trademarked logo must be pre-approved by the National Treasurer. Local Stations have the ability to modify these by-laws to meet local needs or issues; however, they cannot be less restrictive than the National By-laws. Any modifications of the National By-laws must receive approval of the Regional Officer. Article X: Amendments Any of the above listed rules are subject to change with 2/3rds majority vote of the current, active membership and/or by the National Board. All members will be informed of any changes.

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