Wisconsin 4 Wheel Drive Association
Mission Statement
"To preserve and promote the off highway use of four wheel drive vehicles in Wisconsin on public and private land by working with federal, state, county and local governments. To promote good trail and conservation practices for enjoyable family recreation."
Mission Statement
"To preserve and promote the off highway use of four wheel drive vehicles in Wisconsin on public and private land by working with federal, state, county and local governments. To promote good trail and conservation practices for enjoyable family recreation."
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For a PDF version of the W4WDA Bylaws
click here.
WISCONSIN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWSTable of ContentsConstitutionBY-LAWSARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIPARTICLE II - DUESARTICLE III - ORGANIZATIONARTICLE IV - ASSOCIATION OFFICERSARTICLE V - DUTIES OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND FILLING VACANT OFFICESARTICLE VI - NOMINATION OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERSARTICLE VII - BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERSARTICLE VIII - CLUB DELEGATESARTICLE IX - SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND LOCATIONARTICLE X - ASSOCIATION MEETINGS & VOTINGARTICLE XII - COMMUNICATIONSARTICLE XIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITYConstitutionThe name of this organization shall be The Wisconsin Four Wheel Drive Association, Inc., herein referred to as the Association. The primary aims and purposes of this Association are:
BY-LAWSARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP -
may be made to State or Regional Officers, club
delegates of any Region or to the Association
Office. The object and purpose of same is the
ownership and operation of four wheel drive
vehicles to consort with others having the same
interests and objectives.
Section 2. CLUB INITIATION - into the
Association shall be by a majority vote of the
State Board of Directors, based on the rules of
these By-laws and upon payment of dues plus
receipt of a current membership roster. It is
recommended that maps of the clubs trail system
be presented to the State trail Development
Committee, but is not required.
Section 3. CLUB MEMBERSHIP - member
clubs shall be a group of four or more members
organized together with the same interests and
objectives. The Club is recognized as the
Association Membership holder and through the
club to the individual within it. The club must
submit to the Secretary with 1 (One) year of
initiation its Articles of incorporation.
Section 4. OUT OF STATE MEMBERSHIP -
clubs from out of Wisconsin shall be allowed to
join the Association with the understanding
that the emphasis of the Association will be in
the State of Wisconsin. Assistance from the
Association to out of State Clubs shall be
primarily advisory in nature and further aid
shall be given only with the State Board of
Directors approval, and only if the Association
derives benefit from such action. Out of State
Club members shall have all the rights of
Wisconsin Club members except that of holding
elective office.
Section 5. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP - shall
be for an individual owning a 4WD vehicle.
Individual members will receive all benefits
that the regular member receives with the
exception of the right to vote and hold office.
They shall receive a membership card
identifying them as an individual member. The
Individual Membership shall not be confined to
Wisconsin residents.
Section 6. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIPS - any
local, statewide or national business firm may
receive an Associate Membership in the
Association upon payment of dues and acceptance
by the State Board of Directors. Upon being
accepted into membership, they may display the
Associate member decal in their place of
business, and upon written, prescribed approval
of the Association, may be allowed to use the
name and official emblem of the Association in
other mediums of advertising. Associate Members
will be entitled to all privileges of
membership except voting and holding elective
office. One vehicle per Associate Membership
shall be allowed to participate in Association
sponsored events, which might be limited to
Association members only.
Section 7. CHARTER MEMBERS - shall be
any member who adopted and signed the By-Laws
of the Wisconsin Four Wheel Drive Association,
Inc. on or before the State General meeting
held September 18, 1977 at The Mead Inn, in
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (also June 28,
1982) and shall be known as Charter Members of
the Association. All Charter Members shall
receive a special Charter Member patch to be
worn below and in addition to the state W4WDA
patch.
Section 8. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS - an
Honorary Life Membership shall be issued to all
Past Presidents serving a full term, unless
interrupted by sickness or death. In the event
of an untimely death during the term of office,
the Life Membership would be passed onto his
immediate family, as decreed by the State Board
of Directors. Other Honorary Life Memberships
to be voted on by the entire membership.
Section 9. HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS - may be
bestowed to an individual club member,
associate member or other individuals on a
year-to-year basis as voted on by the State
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II - DUES
Section 1. CLUB MEMBERSHIP DUES - shall
be equal to $10.00, per membership, per
calendar year, based on 100% of the clubs
membership. The Association Treasurer shall
send notice of dues, per membership payable, to
each club no later than 30 day prior to Jan
1st. Dues will be due by January 31st, with a
grace period of March 1st. Members belonging to
more than one club need to pay Association dues
only through one club. An updated membership
roster will accompany dues payment. The
Association will pay dues to United to maintain
voting status.
Section 2. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES -
shall be $20.00 per year or as determined by
the State Board of Directors.
Section 3. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP DUES -
shall be a minimum of $50.00 per year or as
determined by the State Board of Directors.
Section 4. DELINQUENT DUES - shall
automatically forfeit membership when not paid
by March 1st, and will so be advised by the
Treasurer. Clubs who have been dropped for
non-payment of dues may be reinstated by a
majority vote of the State Board of Directors,
providing application for reinstatement is
accompanied by the payment of all dues in full
at the time of reinstatement.
Section 5. CLUB DUES - may be raised or
lowered only by a majority vote of the
delegates present at a State General meeting.
Section 6. INITIATION FEE - an
initiation fee shall be required of club
members, individual members and associate
members. The State Board of Directors shall
determine from time to time the amount of
initiation fee payable to the Association by
members of each class.
ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION
Section 1. ADMINISTRATION - the purpose
and business of the Association shall be
affected through meetings of delegates,
officers, Board of Directors and its authorized
committees.
Section 2. STRUCTURE - the Association
shall be divided into Three (3) geographical
regions. Regions will be identified by letter
(A,B,C). The number of regions may be increased
or decreased, or existing boundary lines may be
altered as deemed necessary by the State Board
of Directors to insure a balance between the
clubs for geographic, manpower and voting
purposes.
Section 3. COMPOSITION OF REGIONS:
REGION A
To include the counties of Ashland, Barron,
Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas,
Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron,
Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Pepin,
Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, St. Croix,
Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn.
WESTERN REGION B
To include the counties of Adams, Buffalo,
Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green,
Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, LaCrosse,
LaFayette, Monroe, Richland, Rock, Sauk,
Trempealeau, Vernon and Wood.
EASTERN REGION C
To include the counties of Brown, Calumet,
Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha,
Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette,
Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie,
Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth,
Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Waukesha and
Winnebago.
Section 4. RE-ASSIGNMENT - any club located in
a borderline city or county, desiring to be
included in a Region other than the one
designated for their county, may petition the
State Board of Directors for a change of Region
of their choice.
ARTICLE IV - ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Section 1. PREREQUISITE FOR OFFICERS -
of this Association shall be that they are
active members of clubs in good standing.
Section 2. STATE OFFICERS - shall be
President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
They shall be elected for a term of 2 years
at the Fall State meeting by delegate vote.
The immediate Past President shall also serve
as a state officer in an advisory capacity
only The State Corresponding Secretary may be
appointed by the President.
Section 3. REGIONAL OFFICERS - of this
Association for each of the Three (3) regions
shall be Vice-President, and Assistant
Vice-President. They shall be elected for a
term of 2 years at the Fall State meeting by
delegate vote. Each Regional Vice-President
may appoint a Corresponding Secretary.
Section 4. INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS -
for State and Region will be January 1st of
the year directly following election; at such
time their official duties will begin and
shall serve until their successors shall be
duly elected and qualified.
Section 5. VOTING YEARS - in the even
years the membership shall meet and elect
State President, State Vice-President for
Region ?B?, State Secretary, State Treasurer,
State Assistant Vice-President Region A, and
State Assistant Vice-President Region C. In
the odd years the membership shall meet and
elect State Vice-Presidents for Region A,
State Vice-Presidents for Region C, State
Assistant Vice-President Region B and State
Director.
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND FILLING VACANT OFFICES
Section 1. DUTIES OF ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS - shall include State Officers
and Regional Officers whose duties will be
covered in the Standard Operating Procedures.
Section 2. FILLING VACANT OFFICES -
shall be covered in the Standard Operating
Procedures.
ARTICLE VI - NOMINATION OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Section 1. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE -
shall select suitable candidates who are
willing to fulfill the duties of an
Association Officer. Members of the
Nominating Committee shall also be eligible
to run for office, if they so desire, while
they are serving on the committee. Candidates
for office must be members in good standing
of their own member clubs. Candidates for the
office of Treasurer must be bondable. The
elections shall be held as outlined in
Article IV, Section 2, and 3.
Section 2. THE STATE NOMINATING
COMMITTEE - shall consist of One (1)
member from each region for a total of THREE
(3) and shall be appointed by the Regional
vice-presidents.
Section 3. NOMINATION CHAIRPERSONS -
shall be selected from those appointed on
individual committees.
ARTICLE VII - BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS
Section 1. THE STATE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS - shall consist of the State
President, Secretary and Treasurer, along
with the Three (3) Regional vice-presidents,
Three (3) Assistant Regional Vice-Presidents
for a total of Nine (9) members. The past
State President shall also be a member, but
only at an advisory capacity and shall not
have a vote.
Section 2. ATTENDANCE BY NON BOARD
MEMBERS - is encouraged for all
Association Members, as these Board meetings
shall be open, but the guest will have no
voting privileges.
ARTICLE VIII - CLUB DELEGATES
Section 1. CLUB REPRESENTATIVES - at
State and Regional General meetings shall be
by One (1) Delegate selected by each member
club and shall cast the One (1) Vote to which
the club is entitled.
Section 2. CLUB DELEGATE CREDENTIALS -
shall be presented to the Board of Directors
presiding over the State General Meeting from
his club President and Secretary on
credential forms furnished by the State
Association.
Section 3. A CLUB DELEGATE WITHOUT SIGNED
CREDENTIALS - upon arrival at a State or
Regional General meeting must present
themselves to a presiding officer who will
verify from the Secretaries Records,
information proving the Delegate is a member in
good standing in both his club and the State
Association and both officers shall sign the
Delegates State Credential Form.
Section 4. A DUAL CLUB DELEGATE - is a
Delegate having membership in more than one
member club, may, when properly credentialed,
serve as a Delegate for more than one member
club.
ARTICLE IX - SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND LOCATIONARTICLE X - ASSOCIATION MEETINGS & VOTING
Section 1. BUSINESS CONDUCTED AT
MEETINGS - shall be within its area of
jurisdiction. Meaning that Region shall make
decisions on matters concerning the Region.
If a Lower decision is deemed not to be in
the best interest of the Association it can
be over-ruled at a State General Meeting. A
State decision is final and shall be observed
by all the Association Members.
Section 2. PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING -
at any meeting shall be that a voting quorum
be present at the commencement of such
meetings. If a quorum cannot be established,
the meeting may proceed with general
discussion only, no motions shall be voted
on, except for the adjournment of the
meeting, any other matters requiring a vote
will be tabled until the next meeting or the
presiding officer may evoke the Emergency
Voting Measure Provision-Article X, if it is
determined an issue must be voted on
immediately and cannot wait until the next
meeting.
Section 3. A VOTING QUORUM - for all
State General, Regional or Board duly noticed
meetings shall be those properly credentialed
delegates in attendance. All votes shall
carry by a simple majority (excess of 50%) of
delegates present. For State General and
Board meetings the President will cast a vote
only in case of a tie. For Regional meetings
the Regional Vice President will cast a vote
only in case of a tie. Proxy votes will NOT
be permitted.
Section 4. NON-VOTING ASSOCIATION
MEMBERS - shall have the right, and be
encouraged to attend and speak on any matter
before any Association Meetings.
Section 5. VOTING AT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING - both State and Regional shall be
by voting Board members only.
Section 6. VOTING AT A GENERAL MEETING
- both State and Regional shall be by
Credentialed Club Delegates only. Members of
the State and Regional Board shall not have a
vote.
Section 7. VOTING AT REGIONAL MEETINGS
- shall be by Regional Officers and Regional
Credentialed Club Delegates.
Section 8. EMERGENCY VOTING MEASURES -
in the event of an emergency arising or where
time is a pressing factor the presiding
officer at a State or Regional level may
conduct such necessary business by phone,
U.S. Mail or Western Union Telegram. Any
necessary voting shall be done by U.S. Mail
or Western Union Telegram in order to retain
a permanent copy of the Board Members and/or
Club Delegates votes.
Section 9. VOTING FOR THE ELECTION OF
OFFICERS - shall be by secret ballot for
each office in separate successive sequence.
All ballots for officers must be counted and
checked by Three (3) members other than the
nominees.
Section 10. VOTING TO REMOVE AN OFFICER FROM
OFFICE - shall be by secret ballot. The
ballots shall be handled as outlined in the
preceding Section 9. If the vote is affirmative
the position will be filled as prescribed in
the SOP with reference to Filling of Vacant
officers.
Section 11. VOTING TO EXPEL AN ASSOCIATION
MEMBER - may only be voted on at a State
General meeting. The member shall first be
served with a warning letter by the State
president at the direction of the State Board
of Directors outlining the conduct, which has
not been in the best interest of the
Association. The member in question shall have
Thirty (30) days to correct the situation or
face expulsion and shall so be advised. Failure
to heed the warning letter shall force the
State Board of Directors to bring the issue to
a vote at the next State General meeting and
all member clubs shall be advised of the
impending action by letter Thirty (30) days
prior to the actual voting.
Section 12. VOTING TO AMEND THESE BY-LAWS OR
CONSITUTION - may only be voted on at a
State General Meeting. The changes must be
presented and read at a previous State General
meeting or Board of Directors Meeting. All
member clubs shall be notified of the proposed
amendment Thirty (30) days prior to the actual
voting.
ARTICLE XII - COMMUNICATIONS
Section 1. COMMUNICATIONS - is of the
utmost importance, because of the size of our
Association. Therefore, all Secretaries,
State, Regional and Clubs shall exchange
minutes of their respective meetings in an
effort to keep everyone informed. An exchange
of Newsletters shall also be made. The Club
Delegates shall keep the Association informed
of events, problems or changes at a club
level and the State Association shall do the
same for its member clubs.
ARTICLE XIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, revised
edition, - shall be the Parliamentary
Authority in all matters not covered by these
By-Laws.
By Law Revised Jan 2007
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