Name: The name of the club shall be the Virtual Village Home Brew Society.Purpose: The purpose of the club shall be to provide a framework within which organized competitions among member's home brewed beverages may be judged. These contests may or may not be open to non-members per the individual competition rules. Additionally, the club allows winning member's beverage to be entered in AHA club only competitions. Any other activities for the mutual good of members may be permitted by the club upon a vote of the membership.
Membership: Any Bacchus Wine and Beer Forum (hereafter referred to as the Forum) member may join the club by stating his intention via the message framework within the Forum. This membership will last through the calendar year. A membership will remain valid as long the member enters the Forum at least monthly, those who do not will be dropped from the roster. Membership must be renewed annually by registering a vote, or abstention, for the officers, or by re-joining via message thread means. A membership roster will be maintained in the club library and will be updated at least monthly.
Officers: The officers of the club shall be President, Vice President and Treasurer.
The president will be elected on a calendar year basis and may not succeed himself. The president will be the AHA contact person of the club, and will be responsible for conducting the monthly meetings via the Bacchus Wine and Beer Forum's message threads.
The vice president will be elected on a calendar year basis. The vice president will fill in for the president as necessary. He will succeed to office for the remainder of the president's term in the event of a resignation, death or other situation which terminates the president's ability to permanently function in office. If this happens the club will immediately select a new vice president from the membership.
The treasurer will be appointed by the president and maintain office until s/he resigns or is impeached from office for inappropriate manipulation of funds. The term of the treasurer is not a function of club voting and does not end with the club's fiscal year. An incoming president has no power to remove the treasurer unless s/he is made aware of poor/inappropriate handling of club funds. At such time that the treasurer vacates office, either by will or force, s/he will be immediately expected and obligated to turn over all club funds to the President, who will be responsible to name a successor and transfer club funds within 14 days of impeachment. The president may not name his/her self to the office of treasurer. The treasurer will be responsible for posting club assets no less than once in any given fiscal year. The grounds for impeachment will be as follows: if the president becomes aware of poor/inappropriate handling of club funds or is denied access to financial records by the treasurer. The process of impeachment can proceed only after the treasurer has been granted a reasonable opportunity to explain whatever problem may exsist. If this explaination is not to the satisfaction of both the president and vice president, the president has the power to declare the treasurers term as over.
Voting: All formal actions of the club except bylaw amendments, will require a majority of the voting members' approval. Bylaw amendments will require a two-third majority. Any vote will be taken via private message on the Forum to the president. All votes will be taken over time with at least a 5 day voting period, normally at least Monday 12:01pm (noon+1) Eastern Time through Friday 11:59pm (midnight-1) Pacific Time. No minimum number of votes will be required for any action except bylaw ammendments, which will require 50% of the membership as defined in the membership file at the time of the beginning of the vote. Voting for selection of the subsequent year's officers will commence with nominations beginning the week of the 1st Monday in November. Voting will begin the week of the first Monday in December. If no nominee receives a majority of the non-abstaining votes, a run off election will be held between the top two candidates the next week. These officers will begin their term of service January 1 of the subsequent year. In the event that neither the President or Vice President have been elected by 12:01 am (eastern) due to unforseen technical difficulties, January 1, the current officers will continue in their positions until the new officers are elected. In the event that neither the President or Vice President have been elected by 12:01 am (eastern) due lack of nominees, the Club will be disolved.
Hold Harmless: Each member's participation in this club is entirely voluntary. Members are aware that participation in club activities may involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages and this may affect perception and reactions. Members accept responsibility for their conduct, behavior and actions and absolve the club of responsibility for their conduct, behavior and actions.
The Club is an independent entity. The members recognize that The Forum, the Contract Holder, Compuserve, Inc., Bacchus Data Services and individual members of the Forum are in no way responsible or liable for the acts or omissions or negligence of the Club and its members. The Forum provides only an electronic meeting place for the transaction of club business, and provides a Free Flag to the president for his convienience.
Meetings: Meetings will be held monthly in Section 23 of the Forum. Topics will be discussed and if appropriate or necessary a vote will be taken to approve or disapprove any official club action or activities. The monthly meeting will always have a message thread titled New Club Business. Any member can bring any matter to club attention through this thread. These items may develop into individual topics or may be dropped if insufficient interest is expressed.
Forum Management: The club exists with the permission of the Bacchus Wine and Beer Forum management. They have restrictions and rules which must be adhered to in all club business and by all members. These rules may be changed without notice at management's discretion. The current rules are:
- 1) All Forum members (even non-brewers) are eligible to become members of the club; all that is required will be to declare their membership.
- 2) After an initial period of time, the value of the club will be re-examined and a determination made as to whether to continue or discontinue. This examination will be conducted by asking for feedback from all beer sections regarding the value of the club. Hopefully, the answer will be obvious either way!
- 3) Long-term continuation of the club will be at the discretion of the Forum members and always at the pleasure of the contract holder. As such, it will be subject to periodic review for its contribution to the "welfare" of all Forum members.
- 4) Club "activities" (discussions, tasting notes, etc.) will take place in section 23 (AHA/Zymurgy/Clubs) so persons not wishing to participate can simply avoid that section. Section 23 is also used for other club discussions and the AHA and AHA business.
- 5) There will be a duly elected president to serve as the AHA contact person; persons nominated (either by themselves or by others) will post a "platform" on which s/he will run.
- 6) In addition to specific declarations, voting in the election will constitute interest in being a member of the club. Needless to say, one vote per Forum member.
- 7) The Bacchus Wine and Beer Forum contract holder is totally in favor of forming the club, and has offered to make access to the Forum free for the elected president, who will also have thread and library management for section 23.
- 8) The contract holder does not foresee making free access available for conferences, etc. because of the administrative effort required to do so, and points out that there are costs involved in any club meeting: beverages, meeting place, transportation, and such.