Beaver County Detecting Club
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
By-Laws Revision
July 10 2024
ARTICLE I – NAME AND LOCATION
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be “Beaver County Detecting Club”, referred to herein as BCDC.
Section 2
The BCDC business shall be conducted in Beaver County, Pennsylvania and when authorized by the membership, elsewhere, within and outside the State of Pennsylvania, according to the By-laws of the BCDC.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Section 1
To provide an organization for individuals interested in metal detecting and archeology.
Section 2
To promote education and knowledge of metal detecting and archeology techniques, expand awareness and knowledge of local and state history in relation to metal detecting.
Section 3
The BCDC shall be a non-profit organization.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1
Any person interested in metal detecting, treasure hunting, relics and artifacts, may be eligible for membership by application and payment of proper dues.
Section 2
Membership Dues: Shall be per Person (single) or per Family for each year of membership. Persons joining on or after July 1st shall have their dues prorated to 50% of the annual fee. New members joining after October 1st shall pay full dues for the following year. Family Plan includes an individual and spouse and their immediate children ages 12 through 17. Membership dues for the year shall be waived for active charter members and active club officers, i.e., President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 3
Active membership shall be limited to persons 18 years of age or older. Members must be in good standing in the club for a period of six months and have attended 6 meetings in the current year before being eligible to serve as an officer of the club.
Section 4
Membership dues shall be payable by April 1st of each year. If dues are not paid by April 1st the person will be subject to removal from the active membership roster and will lose all rights of membership. Dues may be paid by cash or check to the club Treasurer at any club meeting. A membership card shall then be issued.
Section 5a
Please remember that as members and guests of the BCDC we all have the responsibility to conduct ourselves both respectfully and professionally.The success of our club is built on our reputation so we should all take a little time now and again to refresh ourselves with the Code of Conduct.
Code of Conduct
These rules will apply in all situations including online such as Facebook or any social media.
Rule 1
Be kind and courteous. We are all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are encouraged but hate speech or bullying is not allowed. Degrading comments about topics such as, but not limited to, race, religion, political affiliations, culture, sexual orientation, gender, identity and appearance will not be tolerated.
Rule 2
Members will not make threats or carry out any actions that could disrupt the smooth operation or reputation of the club including, but not limited to, voting manipulation, discussing confidential club matters with outside organizations, viral attacks on club systems, or on committee members' computer systems.
Rule 3
Violation of the Code of Conduct may result in the investigation of the occurrence(s) under Section 5b as stated below.
Section 5b
Termination of membership for conduct prejudicial to the welfare and prestige of the BCDC may be made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee must first receive a written complaint or email, then investigate the charges including providing the accused an opportunity to testify. The member will be notified of the decision of the Executive Committee which shall be by secret ballot. The decision of the Executive Committee may be appealed by the accused to the general membership. The member will be notified of the final
results of the appeal and the membership roster will be adjusted accordingly. No further appeals will be allowed.
Section 6
The club from time to time may sponsor annual “seeded” hunts, typically one in the spring (around June) and the other in the fall (around October). The BCDC shall fund these “seeded” hunts from monies taken in from the monthly fund raising activities, from member donations and from the assessed hunt fee. A minimum standard hunt fee of $50.00 (subject to change) shall apply to participate in any such “seeded hunt” sponsored by the BCDC. Club members may earn a “credit” by participating in the monthly fund raising activities of the club and/or by making donations to the club sponsored hunt. A “credit” of $1.00 (one dollar) will be given for every $1.00 (one dollar) spent by the member on fund raising activities and/or member donations to the BCDC seeded hunt,subject to a maximum total credit of $30.00 per hunt and shall be applied as a reduction to the standard hunt fee.
Credit for donations of “silver or gold” coins shall be based on the current spot/melt value of the coin(s) donated as shown by Coinflation. The value for donations of other than coins shall be based on a reasonable estimate of value made by the President and Treasurer (subject to a maximum credit of $30.00). Credits earned from January through May shall be applied as a reduction to the cost of the Spring Hunt. Credits earned from June through September shall be applied as a reduction to the cost of the Fall Hunt. Members who cannot attend the Spring Hunt, for any reason whatsoever, may carry over all credits earned (subject to a maximum total credit of $30.00 for application to the Fall Hunt. All credits earned in one calendar year must be used on that years “seeded” hunts and cannot be carried over to subsequent years. At year-end, all member credit balances will be reduced to zero with no carry-over to subsequent years.
ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1
The Executive Committee shall meet at least once each year or as needed. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, the vice president, the treasurer and 2 active charter members. If charter members are not available, members will be appointed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is a separate entity, which the President works with and answers to.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1
The officers of this club shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. No one person shall be permitted to hold more than two offices simultaneously in any given year.
Section 2 President:
a. The President shall be the chief executive officer and shall supervise the affairs of the BCDC and the activities of the officers.
b. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be required by the BCDC By-laws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Committee.
c. The President shall have the general supervision of the BCDC, shall see that all orders and resolutions are carried into effect, that all officers, committees, and individuals perform their assigned duties as
provided for by the By-laws, by orders, or by resolution.
d. The President shall work under the Executive Committee.
e. The President shall preside over all BCDC meetings.
f. The President shall appoint all standing and special committees, during a meeting, with the approval of the membership, and shall be considered an ex-officio member of all such committees.
g. The President shall sign all contracts along with the signature of the Treasurer.
Section 3 Vice President (VP):
a. The VP shall be vested with the powers of the President in that officer’s absence or inability to perform his duty and shall automatically become President if there is a vacancy in that position during the term.
b. The VP shall assist other club officers when needed in performing club duties.
c. The VP shall perform such other duties as may be assigned or delegated by the Executive Committee or the President.
Section 4 Secretary:
a. The Secretary shall keep an up to date record and minutes of all club meetings, including meetings of the Executive Committee.
b. The Secretary shall have on file an account of all attendance at meetings.
c. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be assigned or delegated by the Executive Committee or the President.
Section 5 Treasurer:
a. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements.
b. Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to BCDC from any outside source.
c. Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of BCDC’s business transactions, including accounts of receipts and disbursements.
d. Shall deposit or cause to be deposited money in a bank or credit union approved by the Executive Committee.
e. Shall maintain a roster of all paid members.
f. Shall receive statements and make payment of bills.
g. Any checks written from the BCDC Account for an amount over $1,000 must be signed by the President and Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Any active member in good standing with greater than six months active membership and attended six meetings in the current year shall be eligible to
hold an office. A majority vote, by ballot or show of hands at the November meeting, shall be sufficient to elect or retain officers.
Section 2
Officers shall be installed or re-instated at the December club meeting for the following year.
Section 3
The term of office shall be for one year, from January 1st to December 31st.
.
Section 4
Retiring officers shall turn over to their successors all records pertaining to their office at the December meeting.
Section 5
Vacancies in any elected office during the term (with the exception of the President) shall be filled immediately at the next regularly scheduled club meeting. A majority show of hands by those present shall be sufficient to install new officer(s) for the remainder of the term.
Section 6
In the event of a vacant officer’s position that cannot immediately be filled, the Executive Committee may temporarily appoint someone to fill that position until a successor can be voted upon by the general membership. (This could include the officer that just vacated that position even though it may exceed his or her two-year term limit.)
ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS AND QUORUM
Section 1
Regular meetings shall be held once each month unless circumstances prevent its occurrence.
a. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each month unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the membership
b. The time for the regular meetings shall be 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the membership.
Section 2
Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee.
Section 3
Twenty five percent (25%) of the entire membership shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of those members present. A discussion of the proposed change will precede the voting. If the proposed change passes, a footnote will be added to the By-Laws indicating the date the change was made.
Section 2
The Executive Committee, on a yearly basis, shall review the By-laws for potential revisions.
Section 3
In the event of the dissolution of the BCDC, all its assets and funds shall be given to a non-profit organization(s) voted on by the membership.
Original November 2007
Revised March 2017 ~ Added charter members to members not paying dues.
Article III, Section 2
Revised October 2017 ~ Replacement of Board of Directors with Executive Committee
Article IV, Section 1
Revised September 2018 ~ Shorten notification of proposed Bylaws change to 10 days via email. Article VIII, Section 1
Revised November 2020 ~ Refer to Bylaws of September 2018 or request list of revisions from one of the officers.
Revised July 2024 ~ Changed Article 3 sections 3.4 & 5. Added Code of Conduct Article 3 section 5a. Deleted section 1&2 of old Article 6 and revised section 5. Deleted section 1c Article 7. Added to section 3 of same article. Article 8 deleted some of section 1 about email notification of notice to vote 10 days prior to vote being held on bylaws changes.
Refer to by laws revision of November 2020 to reference changes
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
By-Laws Revision
July 10 2024
ARTICLE I – NAME AND LOCATION
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be “Beaver County Detecting Club”, referred to herein as BCDC.
Section 2
The BCDC business shall be conducted in Beaver County, Pennsylvania and when authorized by the membership, elsewhere, within and outside the State of Pennsylvania, according to the By-laws of the BCDC.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Section 1
To provide an organization for individuals interested in metal detecting and archeology.
Section 2
To promote education and knowledge of metal detecting and archeology techniques, expand awareness and knowledge of local and state history in relation to metal detecting.
Section 3
The BCDC shall be a non-profit organization.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1
Any person interested in metal detecting, treasure hunting, relics and artifacts, may be eligible for membership by application and payment of proper dues.
Section 2
Membership Dues: Shall be per Person (single) or per Family for each year of membership. Persons joining on or after July 1st shall have their dues prorated to 50% of the annual fee. New members joining after October 1st shall pay full dues for the following year. Family Plan includes an individual and spouse and their immediate children ages 12 through 17. Membership dues for the year shall be waived for active charter members and active club officers, i.e., President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 3
Active membership shall be limited to persons 18 years of age or older. Members must be in good standing in the club for a period of six months and have attended 6 meetings in the current year before being eligible to serve as an officer of the club.
Section 4
Membership dues shall be payable by April 1st of each year. If dues are not paid by April 1st the person will be subject to removal from the active membership roster and will lose all rights of membership. Dues may be paid by cash or check to the club Treasurer at any club meeting. A membership card shall then be issued.
Section 5a
Please remember that as members and guests of the BCDC we all have the responsibility to conduct ourselves both respectfully and professionally.The success of our club is built on our reputation so we should all take a little time now and again to refresh ourselves with the Code of Conduct.
Code of Conduct
These rules will apply in all situations including online such as Facebook or any social media.
Rule 1
Be kind and courteous. We are all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are encouraged but hate speech or bullying is not allowed. Degrading comments about topics such as, but not limited to, race, religion, political affiliations, culture, sexual orientation, gender, identity and appearance will not be tolerated.
Rule 2
Members will not make threats or carry out any actions that could disrupt the smooth operation or reputation of the club including, but not limited to, voting manipulation, discussing confidential club matters with outside organizations, viral attacks on club systems, or on committee members' computer systems.
Rule 3
Violation of the Code of Conduct may result in the investigation of the occurrence(s) under Section 5b as stated below.
Section 5b
Termination of membership for conduct prejudicial to the welfare and prestige of the BCDC may be made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee must first receive a written complaint or email, then investigate the charges including providing the accused an opportunity to testify. The member will be notified of the decision of the Executive Committee which shall be by secret ballot. The decision of the Executive Committee may be appealed by the accused to the general membership. The member will be notified of the final
results of the appeal and the membership roster will be adjusted accordingly. No further appeals will be allowed.
Section 6
The club from time to time may sponsor annual “seeded” hunts, typically one in the spring (around June) and the other in the fall (around October). The BCDC shall fund these “seeded” hunts from monies taken in from the monthly fund raising activities, from member donations and from the assessed hunt fee. A minimum standard hunt fee of $50.00 (subject to change) shall apply to participate in any such “seeded hunt” sponsored by the BCDC. Club members may earn a “credit” by participating in the monthly fund raising activities of the club and/or by making donations to the club sponsored hunt. A “credit” of $1.00 (one dollar) will be given for every $1.00 (one dollar) spent by the member on fund raising activities and/or member donations to the BCDC seeded hunt,subject to a maximum total credit of $30.00 per hunt and shall be applied as a reduction to the standard hunt fee.
Credit for donations of “silver or gold” coins shall be based on the current spot/melt value of the coin(s) donated as shown by Coinflation. The value for donations of other than coins shall be based on a reasonable estimate of value made by the President and Treasurer (subject to a maximum credit of $30.00). Credits earned from January through May shall be applied as a reduction to the cost of the Spring Hunt. Credits earned from June through September shall be applied as a reduction to the cost of the Fall Hunt. Members who cannot attend the Spring Hunt, for any reason whatsoever, may carry over all credits earned (subject to a maximum total credit of $30.00 for application to the Fall Hunt. All credits earned in one calendar year must be used on that years “seeded” hunts and cannot be carried over to subsequent years. At year-end, all member credit balances will be reduced to zero with no carry-over to subsequent years.
ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1
The Executive Committee shall meet at least once each year or as needed. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, the vice president, the treasurer and 2 active charter members. If charter members are not available, members will be appointed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is a separate entity, which the President works with and answers to.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1
The officers of this club shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. No one person shall be permitted to hold more than two offices simultaneously in any given year.
Section 2 President:
a. The President shall be the chief executive officer and shall supervise the affairs of the BCDC and the activities of the officers.
b. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be required by the BCDC By-laws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Committee.
c. The President shall have the general supervision of the BCDC, shall see that all orders and resolutions are carried into effect, that all officers, committees, and individuals perform their assigned duties as
provided for by the By-laws, by orders, or by resolution.
d. The President shall work under the Executive Committee.
e. The President shall preside over all BCDC meetings.
f. The President shall appoint all standing and special committees, during a meeting, with the approval of the membership, and shall be considered an ex-officio member of all such committees.
g. The President shall sign all contracts along with the signature of the Treasurer.
Section 3 Vice President (VP):
a. The VP shall be vested with the powers of the President in that officer’s absence or inability to perform his duty and shall automatically become President if there is a vacancy in that position during the term.
b. The VP shall assist other club officers when needed in performing club duties.
c. The VP shall perform such other duties as may be assigned or delegated by the Executive Committee or the President.
Section 4 Secretary:
a. The Secretary shall keep an up to date record and minutes of all club meetings, including meetings of the Executive Committee.
b. The Secretary shall have on file an account of all attendance at meetings.
c. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be assigned or delegated by the Executive Committee or the President.
Section 5 Treasurer:
a. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements.
b. Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to BCDC from any outside source.
c. Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of BCDC’s business transactions, including accounts of receipts and disbursements.
d. Shall deposit or cause to be deposited money in a bank or credit union approved by the Executive Committee.
e. Shall maintain a roster of all paid members.
f. Shall receive statements and make payment of bills.
g. Any checks written from the BCDC Account for an amount over $1,000 must be signed by the President and Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Any active member in good standing with greater than six months active membership and attended six meetings in the current year shall be eligible to
hold an office. A majority vote, by ballot or show of hands at the November meeting, shall be sufficient to elect or retain officers.
Section 2
Officers shall be installed or re-instated at the December club meeting for the following year.
Section 3
The term of office shall be for one year, from January 1st to December 31st.
.
Section 4
Retiring officers shall turn over to their successors all records pertaining to their office at the December meeting.
Section 5
Vacancies in any elected office during the term (with the exception of the President) shall be filled immediately at the next regularly scheduled club meeting. A majority show of hands by those present shall be sufficient to install new officer(s) for the remainder of the term.
Section 6
In the event of a vacant officer’s position that cannot immediately be filled, the Executive Committee may temporarily appoint someone to fill that position until a successor can be voted upon by the general membership. (This could include the officer that just vacated that position even though it may exceed his or her two-year term limit.)
ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS AND QUORUM
Section 1
Regular meetings shall be held once each month unless circumstances prevent its occurrence.
a. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each month unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the membership
b. The time for the regular meetings shall be 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise decided by a majority vote of the membership.
Section 2
Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee.
Section 3
Twenty five percent (25%) of the entire membership shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of those members present. A discussion of the proposed change will precede the voting. If the proposed change passes, a footnote will be added to the By-Laws indicating the date the change was made.
Section 2
The Executive Committee, on a yearly basis, shall review the By-laws for potential revisions.
Section 3
In the event of the dissolution of the BCDC, all its assets and funds shall be given to a non-profit organization(s) voted on by the membership.
Original November 2007
Revised March 2017 ~ Added charter members to members not paying dues.
Article III, Section 2
Revised October 2017 ~ Replacement of Board of Directors with Executive Committee
Article IV, Section 1
Revised September 2018 ~ Shorten notification of proposed Bylaws change to 10 days via email. Article VIII, Section 1
Revised November 2020 ~ Refer to Bylaws of September 2018 or request list of revisions from one of the officers.
Revised July 2024 ~ Changed Article 3 sections 3.4 & 5. Added Code of Conduct Article 3 section 5a. Deleted section 1&2 of old Article 6 and revised section 5. Deleted section 1c Article 7. Added to section 3 of same article. Article 8 deleted some of section 1 about email notification of notice to vote 10 days prior to vote being held on bylaws changes.
Refer to by laws revision of November 2020 to reference changes