ByLaws
BY LAWS OF AMERICAN CUSTOM GUNMAKERS GUILD, INC.
A NONPROFIT CORPORATION
ARTICLE 1: OFFICES AND NOTIFICATIONS
Principal Office
1.1 The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Texas shall be located in the City of New Braunfels, county of Comal. The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Texas, as the Board of Directors may determine or as the affairs of the Corporation may require from time to time.
Registered Office and Registered Agent
1.2 The Corporation shall have and continuously maintain in the State of Texas a registered office, and
a registered agent whose office is identical with such registered office, as required by the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. The registered office may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Texas, and the address of the principal agent may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Methods of Member Notification
1.3 When making notifications to the membership of the Corporation, the following methods of notification may be used (at the discretion of the Board of Directors or their designated representative): email, telephone and/or U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Notifications will be considered delivered as follows:
- Email: A read receipt or reply to the email acknowledging receipt of communication
- Telephone: Verbal acknowledgment to the caller will constitute receipt of communication
- USPS: When deposited for mailing with the USPS
ARTICLES 2: MEMBERS
Classes of Members
2. 1 The Corporation shall have three (3) classifications of which the designations, qualifications, and rights of each shall be as follows:
I. Professional Member - To qualify as a Professional Member one must be a professional craftsperson who is actively engaged in the creation of custom firearms or related items, all or in part. Professional members are required to maintain good business practices and high ethical standards in their relations with other Guild members and the public. Professional members retain all rights granted by the Guild as determined by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee. Those applicants who have paid their dues and submitted an application showing themselves qualified for membership by the close of the National Rifle Association convention in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 10, 1983, shall be deemed Charter Member, and an appropriate charter designation shall be affixed to their membership certificate.
The terms member(s), professional member(s), membership(s), and professional membership(s) used anywhere in these Bylaws, other than Article 2.01, Paragraph III, refer only to the Professional Member classification.
II. Associate Member
A non-voting supporter classification, which is open to any individual or group interested in supporting the craft of custom gunmaking and do not meet the requirements for any other classification. Associates shall not retain any rights which are granted to Professional Members other than to state that they support the ACGG, its purposes, and custom gunmaking.
III. Honorary Member
A classification to pay tribute to those who have contributed much to the gunmaking profession. Honorary membership may be awarded to either Professional Member or Associate classification. Honorary members are entitled to all rights and responsibilities as any other Professional or Associate. The Board of Directors, otherwise, maintains full discretionary power regarding the admission, suitability, and rights, of those being admitted to these classifications.
Election of Members
2. 2. Following the acceptance of charter members, new prospective members will be received as candidates for Professional membership after they have met all requirements as outlined in the current membership application form as prescribed by the Membership Committee. All fees and information must be received by the Executive Director no later than 1 September prior to the annual meeting so the names of the candidates may be printed in the monthly electronic newsletter and ”Gunmaker” magazine prior to the annual meeting. To complete requirements for Professional membership, a candidate must
(1) display at least two examples of their work at any venue in which at least 10 ACGG Professional Members are in attendance (said examples must have been completed by the candidate without the assistance of any outside party).; (2) receive affirmative vote of a 70% majority of the members voting and; satisfy any other requirements set forth by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Directors and/or the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors will have full discretionary powers regarding the admittance to and suitability of these classifications.
Voting Rights
2.3 Each Professional member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members.
2.4. Termination of Membership
Termination and/or suspension from membership in the Guild will be covered by rules and regulations adopted by the Ethics Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Any recommendation for termination or suspension will be acted upon by the Board of Directors without unnecessary delay. The rules, regulations and procedures adopted by the Ethics Committee and approved by the Board of Directors may be amended at any time by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. A member who is terminated may not be readmitted for a period of two (2) years, and then only after satisfying the ACGG Bylaws requirements for admission of a new member and by approval of a two thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors.
2.5. Resignation
Any member may resign by filing a written letter of resignation (to include email) with the Secretary, but such resignation shall not relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues, assessments, or other charges theretofore accrued and unpaid.
2.6. Reinstatement
A former member who resigned their membership or defaulted their membership by reason of unpaid dues and who was in previous good standing, may be reinstated into the Guild at any time upon review and approval of the Board of Directors after (a) submitting a letter of application for reinstatement to the Board of Directors, (b) bringing dues current and (c) receive an exemption from new membership requirements from the Board of Directors. A former member who was not approved for reinstatement by the preceding method or any other former member may be reinstated by satisfying the same requirements as a new member (Article 2. 2).
2.7. Transfer of Membership
Membership in this Corporation is not transferable or assignable.
ARTICLE 3: MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
ARTICLE 4: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS
ARTICLE 6: COMMITTEES
Committees of Directors
6.1 . There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the Officers and Board of Directors of the Corporation. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once prior to the annual meeting and they shall meet at such other times during the year as may be necessary to transact the business of the Guild and at such other times as may be directed by the Board of Directors. Six (6) members of the Executive Committee with at least two (2) Officers and three (3) Directors, shall constitute a quorum; action may be taken by an affirmative 2/3 majority vote of the members present plus any proxies submitted on behalf of members not in attendance. The President may vote only as a tie breaker. The Executive Committee shall have and exercise the authority of the Board of Directors in the ACGG Bylaws. However, the Executive Committee shall not have the authority of the Board of Directors, except in the case of other provisions in these Bylaws, in reference to amending, altering, or repealing the bylaws (subject to the approval of a majority of the membership attending the annual meeting); electing, appointing, or removing any member of any such committee or any Director or Officer of the Corporation; amending the Articles of Incorporation; adopting a plan of merger or adopting a plan of consolidation with another Corporation; authorizing the sale, lease, exchange, or mortgage of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation; authorizing the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation or revoking proceeding therefor; adopting a plan for the distribution of the assets of the Corporation as per Article Eight (8) of the Articles of Incorporation; or amending, altering or repealing any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms provides that it shall not be amended, altered, or repealed by such committee. The appointment of the Executive Committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any individual Director, of any responsibility imposed on it or him bylaw. Other Committees
ARTICLE 7: CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND FUNDS
ARTICLE 8: CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE 9: BOOKS AND RECORDS
9. 1 The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its members, Board of Directors, and committees having any of the Authority of the Board of Directors and shall keep at the registered or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by any member or his agent or attorney for any proper purpose at any reasonable time. An annual audit will be conducted with a synopsis of said audit provided to Professional membership.
ARTICLE 10: FISCAL YEAR
1 0.1 The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December in each year.
ARTICLE 11: DUES
ARTICLE 12: SEAL
1 2.1 The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal, which shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words " American Custom Gunmakers Guild."
ARTICLE 13: WAIVER OF NOTICE
1 3.1 . Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE 14: AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
14.1 These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by a majority vote of the entire Professional membership of the Corporation. Notification of proposed changes will be made IAW paragraph 1 .3 of this document. Vote tallies will be made by the Executive Director and made available to the membership upon request.
ARTICLE 15: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
1 5.1 . The appointment of an Executive Director shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee if they should deem such appointment necessary. The appointee will function as a contractor for the Corporation and will be contractually obligated for duties and responsibilities as outlined in said contract. The Executive director will be compensated from the Corporation’s coffers at a rate which is mutually agreed to by both the contractor and the Corporation.