Standing Rules
FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER STANDING RULES
SOUTHEAST COUNTRY COACHERS CHAPTER
ARTICLE 1 – CHAPTER NAME
The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be, SOUTHEAST COUNTRY COACHERS, chapter
of Family Motor Coach Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Chapter and FMCA.
1) Officers shall serve a 2 year term.
2) Annual dues shall be $35.00.
3) Initial fee shall be $15.00
4) Dues are assessed for the calendar year and will be prorated as follows: If an initial
application is accepted from January 1st thru September 30th, the dues will be for the current
year. Applications accepted from October 1st thru December 31st, shall cover the next calendar
year dues.
5) Guest Policy: Any owner of an FMCA approved motor coach may attend one meeting/rally
without joining the club. The guest will pay a fee in addition to the rally fee, and will be entitled
to attend all Chapter Member functions. A guest cannot vote or hold office within SECC.
6) Chapter Member or guest member may attend a rally or meeting in any FMCA approved
Motor Coach or at an off-site lodging when necessary.
7) Classification of Membership – Member must own at least 1/3 interest in an FMCA approved
Motor Coach.
a. Chapter Charter Member status is a full member who joined prior to March 31, 2008.
b. Chapter Full Member Status has the right to vote and hold office.
c. Chapter Full Member – is a member who owns a Country Coach motor coach. He has full
membership in SECC, can participate in all the club functions, has full voting rights, and may
hold office. Chapter Full Members who change brands of coach will be allowed to retain full
club membership, as the owner of a brand other than Country Coach.
d. Commercial Member Status denotes businesses that provide services to the club members,
(dealers; service individuals, centers, and suppliers who operate as distributors, dealers,
agencies, service centers, campgrounds and organizations that provide service to the club
members).
8) Refunds – No refunds of dues will be allowed. Rally fees may be refunded up to 30 days prior
to a rally, subject to a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Revised 5-9-2013, to include club approved motion to change 7c.
Bylaws
FAMILY MOTOR COACH ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER BYLAWS FORMAT
SOUTHEAST COUNTRY COACHERS CHAPTER
ARTICLE I - CHAPTER NAME
The name of this not-for-profit organization shall be the SOUTHEAST COUNTRY
COACHERS, Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as
Chapter and FMCA.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT
1. PURPOSE: This Chapter exists to promote social, recreational, and informational exchange
activities that provide for the enjoyment and pleasurable use of family member coaches.
2. AREA: This Chapter shall be authorized to function in the FMCA’s SOUTHEASTERN
Area.
3. SCOPE: This chapter will have members with a mutual interest in COUNTRY COACH
MOTOR COACHES and be drawn, PRIMARILY FROM BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
the geographic regions of the states of ALABAMA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA,
SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
1. ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for and to maintain membership in the Chapter, a person must
be in good standing with FMCA, and meet the dues requirement and provisions set forth in
the Bylaws of this Chapter.
Membership in this Chapter shall not be denied any person because of race, sex, religion,
color, marital or family status, age, nationality, or disability.
2. The term “Family Unit,” is defined as a person; his or her spouse, or partner; dependents of
each, regardless of age; non-dependent grandchildren and great-grandchildren aged 18 and
under.
3. The term "Membership," is defined as either a family unit or an individual or individuals
owning a Qualifying Motor Coach who share a membership number.
4. The term "Member," is defined as each adult who, jointly or individually, constitutes a
membership. The voting rights of each member are defined in the description of each
category.
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ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
(CONTINUED)
5. The term "Qualifying Motor Coach," is defined as a self-propelled, completely selfcontained
vehicle that contains all the conveniences of a home, including cooking, sleeping,
and permanent sanitary facilities, and in which the driver's area is directly accessible in a
walking position from the living quarters. The terms motor coach and motorhome may be
used interchangeably.
6. DUES AND FEES:
A. ANNUAL DUES: Annual payment of Chapter and National dues enables persons to
become active members and entitled to all rights and privileges of the Chapter and
FMCA. The annual dues for membership in the Chapter shall be an amount as the
membership shall establish.
B. RENEWAL: Renewal dues from Chapter members become due and payable on or
before January 1st of each year.
C. INITIAL APPLICATION: Application for new membership shall be accompanied by
payment of annual Chapter and National dues (unless already an FMCA member). If an
initial application is accepted after October 1st, the dues shall be regarded as covering
the next membership year.
D. INITIATION FEE: New and reinstated members may be required to pay an initiation fee
as established by the Chapter membership.
E. ARREARS: Any member whose dues remain unpaid for more than 30 days after
becoming due shall be considered delinquent; after 90 days membership is canceled.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
1. DUTIES OF OFFICERS: The duties of elected officers shall be as defined in the Member
and Volunteer Handbook.
2. TERMS OF OFFICE: The elected officers of this Chapter shall serve a (2) Two year term
of office, or until their successors are elected.
3. RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS:
A. A member must own a Qualifying Motor Coach (motorhome) or at least 1/3 interest in a
Qualifying Motor Coach (motorhome) in order to hold office in this chapter.
B. An individual FMCA member may hold office(s) in only 1 chapter.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
(CONTINUED)
C. Individual FMCA members may hold no more than 2 offices in the same chapter.
D. Any member in good standing may be nominated from the floor for any elective office.
E. Only Full Members, Full Lifetime Members, Life Members, or Honorary Members who
have advanced from one of these classes have the right to hold office in this Chapter.
F. No official or member shall become vested of any right, title to, or interest in any Chapter
property, except as required by law.
4. EXECUTIVE BOARD:
A. The officers of the chapter shall constitute the Executive Board.
B. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the chapter between
its business meetings. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the chapter, and none
of its acts shall be in conflict with the chapter or FMCA.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
1. APPOINTMENT: Committee members and Chairperson (except Nominating Committee)
shall be appointed by the President.
2. DUTIES: All committees shall function within the policies of the Chapter and (except
Nominating Committee) under the direction of the President. Financial reports, vouchers,
and monies due the Chapter shall be submitted on a timely basis.
3. QUORUM: A Committee quorum shall be a majority.
ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
1. AUTHORITY: This Chapter shall be democratically self-governed, deriving its existence
and authority from the consent of its membership assembled in meeting or, in certain
instances, by mail vote on stated propositions.
2. ORGANIZATIONAL YEAR: The fiscal and membership year of the Chapter shall
commence on January 1 and end on December 31.
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ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
(CONTINUED)
3. CHAPTER MEETINGS:
A. Types: The term “meeting” shall include coach rallies, campouts, dinner meetings, and
any other gatherings suitable to the function of the Chapter.
B. BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Chapter must hold at least 2 business meetings each
membership year at which a quorum is present. Said meetings must be at least 14 days
apart and be duly announced in advance to the membership.
C. ANNUAL ELECTION: One of the business meetings shall be an Annual Meeting at
which an election is held if required by a 1-year term option. The voting general
membership is to elect Chapter officers, including a President, First Vice President,
Second Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a National Director, and an
Alternate National Director.
D. QUORUM: A quorum for the transaction of business at any duly-called Chapter meeting
is 25% of the Chapter family unit memberships or 15 family unit memberships,
whichever is less.
E. VOTING: Except as specified elsewhere in these Bylaws, a simple majority vote of F#
and L# members in good standing and voting shall be required to approve or disapprove
any matter.
The Chapter has established that voting will be 1 vote for each adult member.
Balloting by mail may be undertaken when a proposed matter is voted to be of such
importance or urgency that a total membership vote is advisable.
F. PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS: The rules contained in the current edition of
ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern this Chapter's
proceedings to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the
Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA, and the Bylaws of this Chapter.
4. MAINTAINING AFFILIATION: This Chapter must maintain a minimum of 15 family unit
memberships.
The Chapter Secretary shall furnish to the National Office of FMCA, no later than the last
week in December, a membership list, a list of chapter officers, and assurance that 2 business
meetings were held.
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ARTICLE VI - CHAPTER ADMINISTRATION
(CONTINUED)
5. ANNUAL AUDIT: An annual audit of the Chapter’s financial books and records shall be
undertaken and reported to the membership.
6. APPLICATION OF NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS: This Chapter accepts
and agrees that the Chapter Bylaws shall conform to any mandatory requirements stipulated
in the Constitution and Bylaws of FMCA.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION:
A. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than 3 Chapter members in good
standing, nominated and elected every other year by the Chapter membership.
B. Election of an individual to the Nominating Committee shall not prohibit that person
from being nominated for elected office.
2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE DUTIES:
A. To select one of its members as Nominating Committee Chairman.
B. To nominate candidates for the Chapter Offices of President, First Vice President, Second
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, National Director, and an Alternate National
Director for the new term to be presented for voting by the Chapter membership.
C. To obtain clear acceptance of the nominees to serve the Chapter should they be elected.
D. To make certain that nominated candidates are members in good standing and qualified
under applicable National and Chapter bylaws.
E. To nominate candidates to fill vacancies that occur in elected Chapter offices.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1. MANDATORY AMENDMENTS: National Bylaw Amendments applicable to Chapter
operations shall be automatically adopted by the Chapter and are not subject to a vote by the
Chapter membership.
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ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
(CONTINUED)
2. AMENDING PROCEDURE: These Bylaws may be amended by a 65% affirmative vote of
the members present and voting at a duly-called meeting, providing that prior notice of at
least 30 days has been given of the proposition(s) to amend.
Any member of the Chapter may propose amendments to the Bylaws.
Approved amendments to these Bylaws become effective immediately upon their adoption,
or at such time as specified in the amendment.
3. DISTRIBUTION: Copies of changes, additions, amendments, or revisions to these Bylaws
shall be forwarded to the National Office and to the National Area Vice President.
ARTICLE IX - LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of this Chapter of FMCA, by majority vote of the chapter, all of the
remaining assets of the Chapter shall be contributed to the purpose(s) for which the Chapter is
organized, or to a qualified non-profit charity or charities.
EFFECTIVE February 2, 2008.