Steve, I did get your text. Darrel and Ron had already shown up and voiced the same problems in coming from out that way. There were at least 3 problem areas on I-285 plus the area where the plane crashed.
Steve is also correct in his analysis of 'disbanding.' The club is incorporated under Georgia Laws of Incorporation and it's Charter. The Charter requires 5 members of a Board of Directors and 3 Officers. In the past several years we've had difficulty filling these positions. There have been years when we had to beg people to be put their name in the hat for a position. Though it's acceptable for persons to hold positions on both boards, it's better that the positions be occupied by different persons. Since the Board has the authority to remove an Officer for cause, if you have 3 officers holding 3 of the Board positions, you can see that there might be a problem.
Attendance at meetings and events has dwindled in the past few years to a core group of plus/minus 10 people. Eight Board and Officers paying $25 a year makes it difficult for the club to survive on just $200 a year. There are other members who help bring the members in good standing up to maybe 15 people but I think anyone can see that it's still difficult to maintain the website, pay yearly registration fees to the Secretary of State's Office or put on an event with plaques and trophies or even to buy flowers for one of our members. Associate (non-dues paying) members often help out by contributing their time or parts and that's most appreciated, too.
We have traditionally raised money at Run For The Hills by raffling items donated by auto parts stores, members and Fiero Parts Vendors. Because there were so few willing to take on the responsibility of handling this aspect of fund raising, we didn't contact major vendors and just raffled items our members brought along.
By disbanding, we would give up our charter and dissolve the Corporation. All the club assets would be turned over to a not-for-profit entity. The club courtesy car would be sold under the agreement I have with the club, the Fastback Formula would be sold, EGR adapter kits, and all the donated items carried in the Rescue Wagon. The money and that which is in our checking account would be given to a charity. At that point, anyone could incorporate the club name.
Meetings would then just become an informal get together whenever and wherever two or more persons would want to get together for something. I would prefer that if that happens, it would continue to be at the same time and place each month. A regular meeting place is best.
I would like to have all the Board Members, Officers and as many members as possible present to discuss this before any decision is made. I think everyone, including non-members, should have some input into our decision. Maybe we can get a few more at the June meeting.
Incorporation: The name of the club is registered to a corporation. The club is a legal entity just like a person and has all the legal rights of a person. It can own, buy and sell assets and initiate contracts. It can sue and be sued. It has a birth at the time of incorporation and a death at the time of un-incorporation. When the club puts on an event, the members have some degree of protection from being sued should someone get injured or killed unless it's a willful or negligent act of an individual. The club is the one that is liable unless it's the result of actions unrelated to the event, like having an accident on the way home because they stopped and had a few drinks. A few years ago, the Peach State Kappa Club (Solstice and Skye) had their yearly event at Fontana Village and Tail of The Dragon. After the evening dinner, one of the men and a woman, after having a few drinks, decided to go back to The Dragon. While returning to the hotel, he crashed, killing his passenger and severely injuring himself. The unincorporated club organizers could be held liable for that because the alcohol was consumed at the organized evening dinner. The Georgia Chapter no longer exists or meet.
