Bylaws

PURPOSE:

DRAFT is organized exclusively for educational, scientific and social purposes. The purpose of the organization is:

  • To promote education and enhance public awareness of the craft of homebrewing.
  • To provide beginning, intermediate and advanced homebrewers with information, advice and training appropriate to their skill level.
  • To encourage members to train for Beer Judge status under the guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP);
    • To hold tastings and contests;
    • To enjoy the company of fellow beer brewers;
    • To promote the appreciation of real beer among non-brewers;
    • To actively promote responsibility in the use of alcoholic beverages

MEMBERSHIP:

SECTION 1. Membership in the Dayton Regional Amateur Fermentation Technologists, a non-profit Corporation in the State of Ohio, (herein referred to as DRAFT), shall be open without discrimination to persons of legal drinking age in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

SECTION 2. A person may become a member in good standing based on the following:

  • Be sponsored by a current member
  • Be voted in by secret ballot
  • Payment of dues
  • Demonstration of legal drinking age
  • Completion of an application for membership form.

SECTION 3. Dues will be $24 per member or per member including spouse, per year. When additional members reside at the same address, only one copy of the newsletter is sent per household.

OFFICERS:

SECTION 1. The officers of DRAFT shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Editor, Membership Director and Activities Director. Election of officers shall be held in November of each year. Officers will take office on January first and serve for one year with a one year extension, if reelected. When elected, these officers shall serve as the Executive Board (herein referred to as EB) of the DRAFT organization. When conducting club business, all EB members shall act in the best interest of the Corporation. Any officer having a financial interest in the organization shall make such interest known. An officer shall not vote on any item where they have a financial interest. Each officer may appoint members to assist him or her in the performance of their duties. The duties of members of the EB Officers are as defined as follows:

  • President: The President shall preside over all meetings, act as ex-officio member of all standing committees and serve as statutory agent. The President shall also be authorized to dispense corporate funds along with the Treasurer. The President shall provide a statement of the continued existence of DRAFT to the Secretary of the State of Ohio as required.

 

  • Vice President: The Vice President shall preside over meetings in the absence of the President, schedule educational presentations of general interest for meetings of the memberships, and provide opportunities for members to learn how to better brew and judge homebrew and be responsible for inter-club liaison.

 

  • Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and dispense corporate funds, keep financial records, maintain checking account, receive all in-coming monies. The treasurer shall provide monthly financial status reports to the EB and produce annual tax reports if required. In the absence of the President and Vice President, the Treasurer shall preside over the meetings.

 

  • Secretary: The Secretary shall record the minutes of the EB meetings and meetings of the membership, provide them for publication for the website, maintain correspondence for the Corporation, and be responsible for DRAFT publicity. In the absence of the President, Vice President and Treasurer, the Secretary shall preside over the meetings.

 

  • Communications Editor: The Communications Editor is responsible for announcements of DRAFT activities and any other related activities, via email. In this capacity, the Communications Editor shall receive, review, edit and authorize all announcements, articles or posts from outside sources for electronic distribution or for the website. Provide the Web Administrator with formatted and approved items to be posted and making sure that all club communications is beneficial and not detrimental to the club. The communications editor shall keep an updated email listing of all members, sponsors and other important club email addresses needed for announcements.

 

  • Membership Director: The Membership Director shall track active members and inactive members (current within past 3 months) and provide a list of the active members to the Treasurer and Communications Editor (or others as determined by the EB). The membership director shall be responsible for obtaining data on why people join DRAFT or why they no longer participate in the club for presentation to the EB. The membership director is also responsible for running the raffle and door prize events.

 

  • Activities Director: The Activities Director shall plan and organize club events and competitions; develop monthly educational programs for club meetings; and be the focal point for soliciting ideas for club activities or events. The activities director shall educate, grow and support small group brewing through monthly presentations, demonstrations and lectures.

SECTION 2. The elected DRAFT officers shall be responsible for club operation and administering disciplinary actions. The EB shall meet at least quarterly to plan meetings and activities and conduct Corporate business. Meetings of the EB may be called by the President or Vice President (when acting for the President) so as to provide timely notification of the meeting time and place. A quorum for the conduct of business by the EB shall be three officers, one of which shall be either the President or Vice President.

SECTION 3. The EB may appoint members to chair additional committees. The duties of said committees shall not assume or encroach upon the duties of any DRAFT officers.

SECTION 4. If the office of the President becomes vacant, it shall be filled by the Vice President. Vacancies for the offices of VP and other officers will be filled as necessary (as determined by the EB) by redistributing duties to Board members or by selecting a replacement to serve out the term.

TRUSTEES:

A Board of three trustees shall be formed to provide oversight of Corporate business, resolve disciplinary issues (SEE article VI), and monitor dissolution of the Corporation.

SECTION 1. The Trustees shall consist of:

  • The most recent Past President available to serve
  • Two members of DRAFT, chosen at large.

SECTION 2. The Trustees shall meet with the EB during January of each year to review past year activities to ensure compliance with corporate purpose and to interact with and advise the newly elected DRAFT officers.

SECTION 3. When evidence of officer misconduct is present by petition or by the EB, Trustees are empowered to review the situation and remove the officer from the elected position. In the event a member chooses to protest disciplinary action taken by the EB, the Trustees are empowered to review the protest and sustain or amend the action.

SECTION 4. The Trustees shall monitor proceedings for the dissolution of the Corporation, and ensure that the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation are followed.

MEETINGS:

The EB shall determine the time and place for regular meetings of the membership on a monthly basis, and may cancel membership meetings for cause.

SECTION 1. The regular meetings for the month of November each year shall be designated the annual meeting of the membership. Its purpose is to elect officers. At this meeting, the President will solicit nominations for each office from the floor.

SECTION 2. A quorum for the conduct of business at meetings of the membership shall consist of not less than two elected officers, one of whom shall be either the President or Vice President.

SECTION 3. Members will treat each other with courtesy, and respect the rights of others. During the meetings, the President is responsible for the efficient conduct of business and the application of rules of common sense. When necessary to resolve disagreements in the conduct of meetings, members may request, or the President may invoke Robert’s Rules of Order.

DISCIPLINE:

SECTION 1. Member Behavior. When a member exhibits behavior detrimental to the interests or purpose of the Corporation, that member is subject to disciplinary action to be determined by the EB. Upon being informed of instances of such behavior, the EB shall solicit evidence and testimony in the matter. Upon reviewing such evidence and testimony and providing the offender with the opportunity to present similar evidence and testimony, the EB may impose appropriate disciplinary actions. Levels of disciplinary action include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Written Reprimand. The member will receive a written reprimand, communicating and detailing the problem behavior, an explanation of its adverse effects and warning of the consequences of continued misconduct, ie. possible expulsion. If said behavior continues then;
  • Expulsion. The member will receive a written reprimand, communicating and detailing the problem behavior, an explanation of its adverse effects and notification of termination of membership and its privileges.

SECTION 2. Officer Conduct. When an officer exhibits behavior detrimental to the interests or purpose of the Corporation, or fails to carry out the duties of the office that officer is subject to removal from office.

Any member or officer disciplined by the EB shall have the option of appealing that disciplinary action to the Board of Trustees. The decision of the Board of Trustees, based on a 2/3 vote shall be final.

REVISIONS:

The Articles on Incorporation for DRAFT are filed with the Secretary of the State of Ohio and are subject to change only under the laws of the state. Proposals for amendments to the By-Laws may be generated by a majority of the EB, or by a petition signed by 20% of the members in good standing and presented to the EB. Proposals for amendments to the By-Laws must be announced in the Newsletter and presented to the membership at the next regular meeting for discussion and change.

Following the discussion and changes, the proposed amendment shall be published in the Newsletter and read to the membership at the next regular meeting. To be approved the amendment must receive 2/3 of the votes of the members in good standing present at the meeting.

Amendments to the By-Laws will be effective immediately unless otherwise specified in the amendment.