ACE's Constitution & Bylaws
ARTICLE I-Name
The name of this organization shall be the AMERICAN
COASTER ENTHUSIASTS, INCORPORATED, hereafter referred to as
ACE, a not-for-profit corporation.
ARTICLE II-Purpose
The purpose of ACE shall be to foster and promote the
conservation, appreciation, knowledge and enjoyment of the art of the
classic wooden roller coaster and the contemporary steel roller
coaster; to create and promote among and between its members a tie of
fellowship while striving to maintain good working relations with the
outdoor amusement business and operate in harmony with its policies;
to foster and promote the preservation and continued operation of
roller coasters; and to perform any other functions of a
not-for-profit corporation.
ARTICLE III-Membership
Membership shall be open to any person or corporation
who supports the purpose of ACE and who meets the requirements set
forth in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV-Officers
Section 1. The officers of ACE shall be the
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the Immediate Past
President of ACE. Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by this
Constitution and its Bylaws. To be nominated or elected, a member must
be in good standing for a period of at least three years prior to being
nominated or elected. A member may be elected to only one office.
Amended 1/31/2000
Section 2. The President shall be responsible
for the overall direction of the affairs of ACE, shall appoint all
directors with approval by majority vote of the officers, and shall
supervise the performance of the other officers, directors, committee
members and other appointees. The President shall preside at the annual
convention, shall chair the business and Executive Committee meetings,
shall authorize all disbursements of funds and shall ensure that the
intent and purpose of this Constitution and its Bylaws are met.
Amended 1/31/2000
Section 3. The Vice President shall assist
the President in the performance of his or her duties, shall perform
such other duties as may be assigned by the President, and shall serve
as President until the next election should the President be unable to
continue in office for any reason.
Section 4. The Secretary shall produce and
maintain minutes of the annual business meeting and all Executive
Committee meetings and distribute said minutes to the members of the
Executive Committee within a reasonable time as directed by the
President, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by
the President.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall maintain all
of ACE's financial records, shall supervise all deposits and
disbursements of funds at the direction of the President, shall report
all financial transactions in writing to the President on a monthly
basis, shall ensure that all Officers and Directors prepare an estimate
of their expenses to assist in the preparation of the annual budget,
shall prepare the annual financial statement and shall assist the
President in all financial planning.
Section 6. The Immediate Past President shall
perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
ARTICLE V-Elections
Section 1. No later than February 1 of each even
numbered year (hereafter referred to as the election year) the President
shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three members in
good standing. The Nominating Committee shall promptly select one of
its members to serve as Chairperson.
Section 2. From February 2 through March 31
of the election year, any member in good standing, including members
of the Nominating Committee, may submit nominations to said committee.
On April 1, the Chairperson shall submit to the President the list of
nominees decided upon by majority vote of the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee may exclude nominees only for due cause
consistent with the Constitution and its Bylaws.
Section 3. On or about June 15 of the
election year, ballots reflecting the nominations, and providing for
write-in votes for alternate candidates, shall be sent to all members
in good standing. Returned ballots shall be postmarked or electronically
stamped no later than July 15 and received no later than August 1 to be valid. Amended 8/4/2010
Section 4. The candidate receiving the most
votes for each respective office shall be declared elected. In case of
a tie among those receiving the highest number of votes for any office,
a run-off election shall be held immediately between those candidates
who tied for the highest number of votes for that office.
Section 5. The term of office shall be for
two years commencing September 15 of the election year. No person shall
serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 6. The elected officers shall serve
for two years or until their successors are elected.
Section 7. A President who fails to complete
a term of office is ineligible to be Immediate Past President.
Section 8. In the event the Nominating Committee submits a list decided
upon pursuant to Section 2 which presents not more than one person running as
a candidate for each of the four respective elected offices, so that no competitive
election is required for any office, then, and not otherwise, by not less than
two-thirds vote, the Executive Committee may vote to declare the proposed slate
of officers elected by acclamation, without formal election by the members in good
standing pursuant to Section 3. Amended 8/15/2012
ARTICLE VI-Meetings
Section 1. There shall be an annual convention.
Section 2. There shall be a business meeting
held during the annual convention.
ARTICLE VII-Executive Committee
Section 1. The affairs of ACE shall be under
the general direction of the Executive Committee, the sole policy
making body of ACE. The Executive Committee shall work with the
President to provide for the administration, management, preservation
and protection of the property, good will and reputation of the
corporation; shall fix the date and place of the annual convention and
conferences, and shall exercise its power to the extent allowed in this
Constitution and its Bylaws to administer, direct, manage and conduct
the affairs of ACE through the President and such other officers or
persons as may be designated by the President.
Section 2. Meetings of the Executive Committee
shall be called by the President and may utilize mail or electronic
communications when specified by the President. There shall be a
minimum of one (1) Executive Committee Meeting per year. Meetings of
the Executive Committee may also be called by a majority of the
Committee as provided for in the Bylaws.
Section 3. Those persons constituting the
Executive Committee, excluding officers, shall be as enumerated in the
Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII-Amendments
Section 1. An amendment to the Constitution may
be proposed by a petition signed by no less than five percent (5%) of
the current voting membership.
Section 2. An amendment to the Constitution
may be proposed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Constitution may be amended if
a proposed amendment, after having been presented to all members in
good standing for a vote, is approved by two-thirds or more of
those voting. Amended 8/4/2010
BYLAWS
Bylaw One: Executive Committee
Section 1. The Officers and Directors of ACE
shall constitute the Executive Committee, hereafter referred to as the
Committee.
Section 2. Except for the President and the
Immediate Past President, if an elective office becomes vacant, the
remaining members of the Committee may elect a replacement to serve
until the next regular election. Such service shall not count as a full
term for the purpose of the two-term limitation.
Section 3. In the event of the dissolution of
ACE, the Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the
payment of all liabilities of the organization, dispose of all assets
of the organization in accordance with the United States Internal
Revenue Code.
Section 4. The Committee shall advise and
assist the President in the direction of ACE's affairs, ratify or
reject by majority vote those proposals presented for action by the
President and undertake such other duties as the President may direct.
Section 5. The Committee shall be authorized
and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and
to make payments and distribution to ensure the objectives and
furtherance of ACE.
Section 6. The Committee shall approve the
guidelines for reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred by
officers and directors for attending Committee meetings and in
performing their duties.
Section 7. By a two-thirds vote, and after
due notice, the Committee may request the resignation of or may
terminate the term of any officer or director for any act or omission
which it deems to be inconsistent with or harmful to ACE's purposes,
objectives, property, good will or reputation. Once so removed, that
officer or director may not hold office or serve on the Executive
Committee for a period of ten (10) years.
Section 8. Upon the written request of a
majority of the members of the Committee, the President shall call a
Committee Meeting within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request.
Bylaw Two: Directors
Section 1. The Member Services Director shall oversee the management
of membership records and member issue resolution; solicitation of ACE member
benefits and maintenance of benefits and discounts; organization's IT components,
including systems, web site architecture, development, email, and databases; and
design, purchase, marketing, distribution, sale, and reporting of ACE merchandise. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 2. The Communications Director shall oversee the management of
publicity of ACE's goals and activities to new and prospective members, media,
amusement industry and general public; coordination of media interactions;
promotion of ACE and its brands and offerings to prospective members, media,
and amusement industry; and creation of online content such as ACE websites
and social media. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 3. The Publications Director shall supervise the preparation
and publication of RollerCoaster! and ACE News and undertake
correspondence necessary for the completion of each issue. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 4. The History and Preservation Director shall lead ACE efforts
to identify, conserve, and preserve roller coasters; document and maintain historic
collections, materials, documentation, photographs and records related to roller
coasters and ACE’s activities and archives; research and promote the history of
roller coasters, ACE, and amusement parks; acquire coaster exhibits, photographs,
records and equipment; assist in the establishment of a museum and archive facility;
and maintain and publish a census with characteristics, conditions, and locations
of operating and non-operating roller coasters. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 5. The Region Director shall supervise the performance of all
Regional Representatives; oversee solicitation of volunteers, maintenance of
lists of opportunities and members wanting to volunteer, and placement of
volunteers; and appoint Regional Representatives with the approval of the
President. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 6. The Events Director shall plan and execute the annual
convention and all ACE conferences with the President and oversee the
processing and execution of event registrations for all ACE national
and international events and other approved activities.
Amended 8/1/2014
Section 7.Directors shall appoint staff to perform responsibilities
within his or her area with the approval of the President. Amended 8/1/2014
Bylaw Three: Standing or Special Committees
Section 1. Standing or Special Committees may
be appointed by the President. The President shall be an ex-officio
member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
Bylaw Four: Membership
Section 1. Types of membership shall be:
- Individual. Memberships are extended to
any individual.
- Couple. Memberships are extended to any
couple with the same mailing address.
- Family. Memberships are extended to
three (3) or more individuals with the same mailing address.
- Corporate. Memberships are extended to
any business entity.
- Honorary. Honorary memberships are
awarded to individuals or organizations who have made exceptional
contributions to the fulfillment of ACE's purposes, upon election by
a two-thirds vote of the Committee, and are not required to pay dues.
Registration fees for all ACE's activities shall be waived for one
(1) year after receiving Honorary Membership.
- Associate. Memberships are extended to any individual with all
membership benefits, except Associate memberships do not receive
printed copies of ACE publications. Amended 8/1/2014
- Trial. Memberships are extended to any individual for a period of
six months with all membership benefits, except Trial memberships are
not eligible to vote in ACE elections and cannot register for international
ACE events at the discounted member rate. Trial memberships are available
only once per person, are not available to current members or to memberships
that have expired within the last 24 months, and are not renewable except at
regular annual membership costs. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 2. The number of votes for each type of membership shall be:
Individual (1); Couple (2); Family (2); Corporate (1); Honorary (1);
Associate (1); and Trial (0). Amended 8/1/2014
Section 3. Membership dues shall be determined
by a majority vote of the Committee.
Section 4. The membership year shall begin
upon receipt of complete, paid dues.
Section 5. A member in good standing is one
who is not in arrears and is not on probation or suspension.
Bylaw Five: Activities
Section 1. Convention and conference site
proposals shall be submitted to the President and approved by the
Committee.
Section 2. All other activities designated as ACE events shall
be at the discretion of the President, Events Director and Region
Director. Amended 8/1/2014
Bylaw Six: Regional Representatives
Section 1. Regional Representatives, hereinafter referred to as
Representatives, are appointed by the Region Director, with the approval
of the President. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 2. Regions for each Representative
must be approved by the Committee.
Section 3. Within their respective regions, Representatives are required
to communicate with members, welcome new members, maintain good relations with
parks, recruit new members and communicate with the Region Director. Amended 8/1/2014
Section 4. Representatives are urged to
develop camaraderie with assigned local members by creating a local
newsletter and planning activities for members in their region,
including coaster riding, under guidelines established by the Committee.
Bylaw Seven: ACE Property
Section 1. Control of ACE's copyright in
materials published by it is vested in the Committee. No material
copyrighted by ACE shall be released for use by others without prior
approval of the Committee and subsequent authorization in writing by
the President.
Section 2. The use of ACE stationery, the
names "American Coaster Enthusiasts", "ACE", and "A.C.E." and/or any
of ACE's logos without the prior consent of the Committee is prohibited.
Section 3. Individuals or firms granted
permission to use ACE's logos, copyrights, trademarks or service marks
may be required to pay a fee to ACE. The fee shall be determined by
the Committee.
Bylaw Eight: Membership Benefits
Section 1. For membership types that receive printed copies
of ACE publications, ACE publications shall be distributed to current
members on the following basis:
- RollerCoaster!: one copy to each
type of membership. Amended 8/1/2014
- ACE News: one copy to each type of
membership. Amended 8/1/2014
Bylaw Nine: Legal Principles
Section 1. The rules contained in the latest
revised edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern ACE in all
cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with ACE's Constitution and Bylaws.
Bylaw Ten: Amendment of Bylaws
Section 1. An amendment to the Bylaws may be
proposed by a petition signed by no less than five percent (5%) of the
current voting membership and received by the Secretary no less than
sixty (60) days prior to the annual business meeting.
Section 2. The Committee may implement an
amendment if it deems such action to be in ACE's best interest.
Section 3. All amendments must be ratified by
a majority of those members voting if voted on by ballot presented
to all members in good standing or by
two-thirds of those voting if brought before a duly constituted quorum
at the next annual business meeting. Amended 8/4/2010
Bylaw Eleven: Quorums
Section 1. An Executive Committee quorum shall
be a majority of the total number of Officers and Directors.
Section 2. A quorum at the annual convention
shall be the number of members present at the annual business meeting.
-- Last amended August 2016
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