ARTICLE I Name and Objectives
Sec. 1 The name of this club shall be the Charleston Chess Club.
Sec. 2 The objectives of this club shall be:
2.1 To provide a meeting place for chess players.
2.2 To maintain affiliation with the United States Chess Federation.
2.3 To conduct chess tournaments rated by the United States Chess Federation.
2.4 To provide chess instruction for members and for the community.
2.5 To provide various chess activities for members and for the community.
2.6 To devote all profits accruing to the Club to the above purposes.
ARTICLE II Membership
Sec. 1 Any person may initiate or renew membership of the Club by paying the Club’s annual dues.
Sec. 2 All memberships expire one year from the date of purchase.
Sec. 3 All members terminate any offices, positions of trust, and other responsibilities, whether elective or appointive, immediately upon lapse of membership, but all such positions are automatically restored upon renewal of membership, if such renewal is made within one calendar month.
Sec. 4 Dues shall be ten dollars per year effective the first of the month paid until the end of the twelfth month.
Sec. 5 Children under the age of 14 years will be afforded access to club activities without requiring dues, but only the parent who is a club member will be allowed to vote on club matters.
ARTICLE III Officers
Sec. 1 The officers of the Club shall be the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer; who shall be elected as provided in the By-Laws. All officers of the Club elected prior to adoption of these By-Laws shall serve the remainder of their terms of Office under the conditions of these By-Laws.
Sec. 2 Duties of the Officers
2.1 The President:
2.11 Shall be the Presiding Officer of the Club except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws.
Sec. 2.12 Shall have the right to call special meetings of the Club and the Board of Directors.
2.2 The Vice-President:
2.21 Shall become President when the Board of Directors unanimously find that the Office of President is permanently vacant.
2.22 Shall be the Presiding Officer during and following any meeting of the Club or Board of Directors, should the President, for any reason, be absent.
2.3 The Secretary:
2.31 Shall keep a record of all business meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors.
2.32 Shall preside in the absence of the President and the Vice-President.
2.4 The Treasurer:
2.41 Shall collect all monies due and make all disbursements authorized by the Club or by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer’s books shall be open to all members during meetings of the Club.
2.42 Shall provide financial summaries at all Club business meetings, and at meetings of the Board of Directors.
2.43 Shall, at the end of his term of office, present all records to an auditor selected by the outgoing President.
2.44 Shall preside in the absence of the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary.
Sec. 3 The Presiding Officer:
3.1 Shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors, and following each meeting until the next meeting of any kind.
3.2 Shall have the right to call special meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors.
3.3 Not used.
3.4 Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Sec. 3.5 Shall appoint any publicity director, historian, or other petty officer that he deems expedient, except any similar officer or related committee which may arise from a motion at a Club business meeting is superior to and supersedes any such Presiding Officer appointment.
3.6 May appoint a temporary Secretary to serve in the absence of the elected Secretary. A temporary Secretary does not have the elected Secretary’s right to preside in the absence of higher officers.
Sec. 4 Any Officer may be removed from office by a majority of all Club members.
ARTICLE IV Board of Directors
Sec. 1 The Board of Directors shall consist of all elected Officers.
Sec. 2 The Board of Directors shall appoint all Tournament Directors.
Sec. 3 The Board of Directors may call a special Officer election if they unanimously agree that a permanent vacancy exists in the offices of Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
Sec. 4 All management of Club affairs not conflicting with provisions arising from Club business meetings is left in the hands of the Board of Directors. Actions of the Board of Directors shall be summarized at the next Club business meetings.
ARTICLE V The Tournament Director
The Tournament Director shall exercise exclusive authority of all activities concerning ny event involving prizes or United States Chess Federation ratings during the days and hours the event is conducted, from the time registration is scheduled to begin until the last game is finished and final disposition of prizes is made.
ARTICLE VI Club Business Meetings
Sec. 1 Club business meetings shall be held on the third Wednesday of every month unless otherwise agreed. Club business meetings must be held at least once every calendar month.
Sec. 2 The quorum for Club business meetings shall be six members.
ARTICLE VII Elections
Sec. 1 The Club officer elections shall take place on the Club’s regular meeting day during the first week of April. No other Club business shall be taken up.
Sec. 2 Nominations shall be opened for each office successively during the Club election meeting.
Sec. 3 Elections shall be for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, in that order. If no candidate wins a majority of votes, a run-off election of the two candidates with the most votes shall be held immediately.
Sec. 4 All votes must be by secret ballot.
Sec. 5 Each officer shall take office on the regular meeting day during the first week of May.
Sec. 6 No person shall be elected who is not a member of the Club.
ARTICLE VIII Rules of Order
Sec. 1 Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall govern all Club business meetings and elections unless other rules of procedure are adopted by a two-thirds vote of members present.
Sec. 2 The Board of Directors shall determine their own quorum and rules of order when all members of the Board are present.
ARTICLE IX Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present on any business meeting of the Club called for that purpose after being announced at Club meetings for four successive weeks.