ABATE of South Carolina Constitution

"A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments"

ARTICLE I: Name

The legal name of this association is ABATE of South Carolina. The letters of ABATE represent "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments". The word "Totalitarian", as defined by Webster's Dictionary: "exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic."

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The purpose of ABATE of South Carolina is to form a not-for-profit association at the state level to protect the rights and liberties of motorcyclists, and promote motorcycle awareness and voluntary motorcycle rider training.

ARTICLE III: Membership

Section 1: Voting Member

A member in good standing is any person, 18 years of age or older, who has completed an ABATE of South Carolina membership application and paid a membership fee to ABATE of South Carolina.

Section 2: Other Types of Memberships

(a) An associate member is a person under the age of eighteen sponsored by a member in good standing. A membership application and fee must be completed and paid. Written parental permission is required. If the sponsoring member is not the parent the sponsor must witness the written permission.

(b) Honorary membership is the highest honor ABATE of South Carolina bestows. Honorary membership requires no fee to be paid. This distinction may be extended by ABATE of South Carolina to any person by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2.

Section 3: Membership Fees

(a) Applicants must pay membership fees. Membership fee includes cost of a membership card, one year subscription to the ABATE of South Carolina Newsletter and one year of membership beginning with either

(1) - the month of the previous membership (for a renewals) or

(2) - the month of receipt of the application by the Membership Coordinator. Membership expires at the end of the month of ABATE membership.

(b) Active ABATE of South Carolina Officers, Area Coordinators, and Chapter Coordinators are entitled to waive their membership fees for as long as they are active officers.

(c) Membership Fee's are subject to change by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2.

ARTICLE IV: Structure

Section 1: Board of Directors

ABATE of South Carolina is supervised by a Board of Directors made up of the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator and one Area Coordinator from each of the geographical areas outlined in Article IV Section 6 (b)

Section 2: The ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator

The ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator presides at all Board of Directors Meetings.

Section 3: The Assistant ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator

The Assistant ABATE of South Carolina coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The Assistant ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator assists the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator as needed and presides at Board of Directors Meetings in the absence of the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator.

Section 4: The ABATE of South Carolina Secretary

The ABATE of South Carolina Secretary is appointed by the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator and is confirmed by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The ABATE of South Carolina Secretary attends all Board of Directors Meetings. The ABATE of South Carolina Secretary's purpose is to keep a written record of Board of Directors Meetings; minutes are to include all votes.

Section 5: The ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer

The ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer maintains a detailed record of all monies, debts and obligations belonging to ABATE of South Carolina. The Treasurer receives all payments to ABATE of South Carolina and makes all payments for ABATE of South Carolina's debts. All contracts, checks, drafts, notes or other orders of payment of money are signed in the name of ABATE of South Carolina, the Treasurer. The ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer provides a written financial report at each Board of Directors Meeting.

Section 6: Area Coordinators

(a) Chapter Coordinators in each area elect an Area Coordinator. Area Coordinators represent their areas at all Board of Directors Meetings. Area Coordinators relay information between their area's chapters and the ABATE of South Carolina organization. Area Coordinators assist the formation of new Chapters within their areas.

(b) The state is divided into geographical areas as follows:

(1) Central Savannah River Area contains the following counties: Abbeville, Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda.

(2) Coastal Area contains the following counties: Clarendon, Florence, Horry, Georgetown, Lee, Marion, and Williamsburg.

(3) High Country Area contains the following counties: Cherokee, Chester, Lancaster, Spartanburg, Union, and York.

(4) Midlands Area contains the following counties: Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, and Sumter.

(5) Low Country Area contains the following counties: Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, and Colleton.

(6) Sandhills Area contains the following counties: Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro.

(7) Southern Low Country Area contains the following counties: Allendale, Bamburg, Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper

(8) Upstate Area contains the following counties: Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, and Pickens

Section 7: The ABATE of South Carolina Membership Coordinator

The ABATE of South Carolina Membership Coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The ABATE of South Carolina Membership Coordinator maintains a current list of all ABATE of South Carolina members; process all member applications; and issues all membership cards. Membership fees are collected by the ABATE of South Carolina Membership Coordinator and sent to the ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer.

Section 8: The ABATE of South Carolina Products Coordinator

The ABATE of South Carolina Products Coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The ABATE of South Carolina Products Coordinator is responsible for pricing, purchasing, and selling all "ABATE of South Carolina" products. The ABATE of South Carolina Products Coordinator is to ensure that ABATE of South Carolina Products are readily available.

Section 9: ABATE of South Carolina Newsletter Editor

The Newsletter Editor is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The Newsletter Editor is responsible to collect information and stories, write articles, edit, prepare copy, print and distribute the newsletter. The Newsletter Editor may recruit a newsletter staff as necessary.

Section 10: Legislative Coordinator

The Legislative Coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The Legislative Coordinator works with the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator and legislative committee to develop strategies and coordinate membership lobbying efforts.

Section 11: Media Coordinator

The Media Coordinator is elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. The Media Coordinator works with the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator and Legislative Coordinator in writing press releases; all three will approve prior to sending release to wire service.

Section 12: Chapter Coordinators

Membership of each Chapter of ABATE of South Carolina elects a Chapter Coordinator. All chapter members in good standing as defined in Article III Section 1 are entitled to vote in all chapter elections. The Chapter Coordinator presides at all Chapter Meetings. A Chapter Coordinator represents his chapter at all Area Meetings.

ARTICLE V: Additional ABATE of South Carolina Officers

Additional administrative ABATE of South Carolina offices may be created as necessary. Additional ABATE of South Carolina Officers will be appointed by the ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator and confirmed by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2.

ARTICLE VI: Elections and Voting

Section 1: Nominations and Elections of ABATE of South Carolina Officers

Nominations for ABATE of South Carolina Officers open in June and close in August of each year; nominations are accepted from the membership at large. Any member of at least one year in good standing as defined in Article III Section 1 may be nominated. Elections are held each even year during the October Board of Directors Meeting for the offices of ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator, Assistant ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator, Legislative Coordinator, and Newsletter Editor. Elections are held each odd year during the October Board of Directors Meeting for the offices of ABATE of South Carolina Treasurer, Products Coordinator, and Membership Coordinator. ABATE of South Carolina Officers are elected by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. New ABATE of South Carolina Officers assume office at the close of the October Board of Directors Meeting. A ABATE of South Carolina Officer may be removed from office by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2.

Section 2: All Issues

Area Coordinators vote on all issues at Board of Directors Meetings. If a Roll Call vote is requested the vote of each Area Coordinator will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The ABATE of South Carolina Coordinator will vote in the case of a tie vote.

ARTICLE VII: Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be made by submission, in writing, to the Board of Directors for approval. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the membership of ABATE of South Carolina. Chapters will vote on the Amendment. Coordinators vote as their chapters did at Area Meetings. Area Coordinators will vote as the majority did in their Area. The Amendment will be passed or killed by a vote as outlined in Article VI Section 2. An Amendment will become final when the each member of the Board of Directors signs the Facilitation copy of The ABATE of South Carolina Constitution.