Last Chance Squares

1. The club shall elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer from club members in good standing. Members in good standing are defined as cancers who have paid club dues by December of the previous year, or club beginner class graduates from the current year who have paid dues by June 1. Officers may be nominated from the floor or actively run for an office. Proxy votes will not be accepted.

Officers will serve in that position for only one year and at the end of one (1) year will have the option of staying in their present office, running for a different office or just be done with an office.

In the event of a vacancy a special meeting will be called to replace that office from all of the members in good standing in the club.

2. There shall be club meetings held every other month starting in September. (September, November, January, March, May) and skipping the months of June, July and August. Meetings shall be open to any club member in good standing. The president may call special meetings as needed.

3. Elections of officers shall take place during the May meeting. Those elected will assume office immediately.

4. The president and vice-president will prepare the calendar for the upcoming year of dancing and present it to the club members for approval at the regular meeting in May.

5. Fees for all dances shall be established by the officers, with approval from the club members.

6. Annual membership dues will be determined by the officers, with approval from the club members annually, based upon insurance rates and other fixed expenses and will be due in September of each year. To be a voting member, dues must be paid by December 1 of each year or the member must be a graduate of club beginner classes of the current year who has paid dues by June 1.

7. The club shall sponsor beginner classes annually.

8. All amendments to the bylaws shall be proposed and explained at a club meeting for the membership's consideration and discussion. A vote of the members present at the next meeting shall then be taken to accept or reject proposed amendments. Amendments require acceptance by a majority vote of the members present at the scheduled club meeting. Proposed bylaw changes and date of the club vote shall also be posted and advertised to the membership a minimum of one month prior to the scheduled meeting and vote.

9. The club shall sponsor a minimum of two special dances a year, one to be held in the fall, and one to be held in the spring. Dates shall be determined by the officers. Outside callers may be hired as the officers deem appropriate.

10. Any two of the following officers shall sign all checks drawn against the club checking or savings accounts; President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Secretary.

11. Club callers, cuers, those with commercial interest in dancing and their immediate family shall not hold officer, Exception: Any member of the club or any officer, may if qualified, be asked to fill in for a caller or cuer, and be compensated accordingly.

12. Hiring of the Club caller(s) or cuer(s):

In the event the club caller(s) is/are not rehired, the officers, with club approval will replace the caller(s) Cuers will be replaced at the officer's option, with club approval depending upon interest, financial status, etc.

13. Duties of the officers:

PRESIDENT: The president shall preside at all meetings, schedule the dances, with the Vice-President, obtain the hall and oversee obtaining the callers, with club approval. The president shall also oversee the welfare of the club in general. Additional duties and work assignments not provided for in these bylaws shall be equitably assigned by the president to accomplish the goals of the club and further the welfare of square dancing.

The president or their delegated representative shall sign all official correspondence sent on behalf of the club.

The President shall vote only when there is a tie.

VICE-PRESIDENT: The vice-president shall assume the duties of the president should the president be unable to perform them. The vice-president shall oversee the annual beginners classes.

SECRETARY: The secretary shall take the minutes of all meetings, recording the actions of the club membership and the officers. This officer also serves as club librarian and historian to preserve documents essential to present and future operation of the club.

TREASURER: The treasurer will be responsible for collecting, depositing and accounting for all monies of the club.

The treasurer will present formal, written treasurer's reports at each club meeting and informal reports as requested by the president. In addition, the treasurer will be responsible for writing checks drawn upon club checking and savings accounts and securing appropriate signatures. The treasurer will provide for payment of caller's fees at each dance. The treasurer will process the club insurance application and forward premium payments annually.

The treasurer will have the books audited annually prior to June 1 and present a report signed by the auditor at the September club meeting.

In the absence of the treasurer, the treasurer may ask another officer or club member to serve as interim treasurer for dances or other events as necessary.

Other major activities of the club will be selected out of the club membership: Such as kitchen chair, Donkey Party, decorations, calling committee, advertising (notices to the paper, flyers, etc.), committees for special events, host & hostesses of each dance, etc.

14. Monies in the club checking account in excess of $1,500.00 on September 1 of each year shall be added to the Certificate of Deposit references in paragraph 15.

15. A Certificate of Deposit was purchased with profits from the 1991 Helena State Festival in the amount of $3,337.00. The intent of this fund is to provide a facility for the club to use for dances if necessary. These funds can only be used in accordance with provisions noted in the letter of intent from the Festival Committee dated February 5, 1992. A 3/4 majority of members in good standing, attending a club meeting scheduled and advertised to the membership one month in advance is required for spending any portion of these funds.

16. Protection of club assets: With the exception of callers/Cuer fees,insurance payments, and hall rentals, no club assets or funds with a value greater than $250.00 dollars, may be transferred to any other club, group or person(s) without a majority vote (more than 1/2) of the club members in good standing.