Article I. Name
This Association shall be called the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club, which shall be abbreviated as the LVCC.

Article II. Purpose
The purpose of the LVCC is to unite persons interested in paddlesport in the Lehigh Valley and adjacent watersheds to provide information, education and training to increase the safety, enjoyment and skills of its members. To this end the LVCC will provide...

• Exchange of information on equipment, river classification, trips, water levels, river conservation, training, and river access.
  
• Organization of training opportunities in paddling skills, safety and rescue techniques.
  
• Organization of competition in paddlesports.
  
• Organization of conservation programs and activities.
  

Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Elected officers. The elected officers of the LVCC are President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Area Representatives. All officers are elected for a one-year term. The President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary can serve a maximum of 3 consecutive terms. Area Representatives can serve a maximum of 6 consecutive terms.

Section 2. Nomination. The nominating committee shall submit a slate of candidates for LVCC office at the October membership meeting. Additional nominations for office may be made from the floor at the October and November meetings with prior approval of the nominee.

Section 3. Election. The officers of the LVCC shall be elected at the annual meeting by a simple majority of those members present or by written proxy and shall assume office immediately. Vacancies between elections shall be filled by appointment of the President or, in the case of the President, by appointment by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. President. The President shall preside at LVCC meetings following Robert's Rules of Order, appoint such committees as may be required for the conduct of LVCC activities, arrange meeting programs and in general direct the activities of the LVCC.

Section 5. Secretary. The Secretary shall maintain a written record of membership meetings and serve as liaison for LVCC correspondence.

Section 6. Treasurer. The Treasurer receives all monies due the LVCC, pays all bills out of funds at hand, submits a written financial report and a written budget for the upcoming year at the annual meeting, and complies with State and Federal tax reporting laws.

Section 7. Membership Secretary(s). The Membership Secretary(s) shall maintain the mailing list of all members, and distribute all LVCC publications to all new members.

Section 8. Area Representatives. Area Representatives serve as liaisons with new local members and community agencies. Areas represented are Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Quakertown, Kutztown, the Poconos and New Jersey.

Section 9. Succession of officers. In the absence of the President, the following order determines succession ‹ Secretary, Treasurer then Membership Secretary

Section 10. Removal of officers. The Executive Committee will conduct a 2/3 majority vote of the entire membership.

Article V. Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of the elected officers, the immediate Past President, and Chairpersons of all Standing and Special Committees. Each member of the Executive Committee has one vote. In case of absence a member's vote can be made by written proxy. No member can carry more than two votes, his/her own plus one proxy. A quorum for the Executive Committee is 2/3 of the members present. When it is impractical to consult the general membership, the Executive Committee has the power to make decisions in the interest of the LVCC.

Section 2. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of a total of 3 members who shall be appointed by the Executive Committee no later than August of each year. The immediate Past President shall be Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates for LVCC offices at the October membership meeting.

Section 3. Standing Committees. The following Standing Committee Chairpersons are appointed by the President: Newsletter, Website, Programs, Instruction, Safety, Conservation, Competition, Trips, Publicity, History and Equipment. Additional Standing Committees may be formed by amendment to the by-laws.

Article VI. Meetings
Meetings of the LVCC shall be held monthly. The November meeting shall be the annual meeting of the LVCC. A quorum for all membership meetings shall be no less than fifteen. Specific actions and policies of the LVCC shall be decided by majority vote of all members present at the meeting at which the action or policy is proposed. Proposals may be made by individuals, and a majority vote of members present may direct the President to set up a Special Committee to consider a proposal. In most cases, however, actions and policies should be proposed at meetings by a committee, which has thoroughly studied and refined the issues before presentation to the membership.

Article VII. Finances
Section 1. The LVCC shall operate as a non-profit organization. No officer shall receive a salary; all services being rendered to the LVCC on a volunteer basis.
Section 2. No part of the finances of the LVCC shall be distributed to its members or officers or private persons, except when the Executive Committee authorizes payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred in achieving the goals of the LVCC.
Section 3. All obligations and bills of the LVCC shall be paid upon authorization of the Executive Committee. Section 4. Dues shall be charged members annually in order to assist in defraying the expenses of the LVCC.

Article VIII. Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year of the LVCC shall begin at the annual meeting.

Article IX. Amendments
Proposed amendments of the By-Laws may be submitted by any member of the LVCC. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the President and shall appear in an LVCC publication and mailed to all members one month prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment shall be put to vote. The proposed amendment shall become effective when seconded and approved by a 2/3 majority of those members present.

Article X. Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the LVCC all assets of the LVCC shall be distributed to such non-profit organization(s) as may be selected by the Executive Committee in order that the assets then owned by the LVCC shall be devoted to the purposes set forth herein or as closely allied thereto as is possible, provided however, that such selected organization(s) must have established appropriate exempt status as organizations described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Revenue Code, contributions to which are deductible. In no way shall any of the assets of the LVCC or the proceeds of any of the assets, in the event of dissolution, be distributed to members, either for the reimbursement of any sums subscribed, donated, or contributed by such members, or for any other purposes.

Article XI. Ratification
These By-Laws shall be effective when ratified by a simple majority vote of all members present. Ratified 10/2/80, Amended 4/2/81, Amended 5/2/03.