Club By-Laws

Below are the by-laws of the Nordeast Brewers Alliance (hereafter referred to as the “club”). All members are required to review and abide to them accordingly.

I. Purpose

  1. Mission statement: To bring home brewers, and the greater community together to increase their knowledge of beer and brewing through education and experimentation, and having fun doing it.
  2. The purpose of  this 501(c)(7) social club is an educational non-profit, namely to provide a medium for qualified persons to learn about, share information on, and skills in responsible brewing methods in the home environment.
  3. Dissolution Clause: In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the organization shall, after payment of necessary expenses, be distributed to sub-organization determined by the Executive Leadership Committee as shall qualify under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal Tax Law or to the Federal Government, a State or Local government for public purpose, subject to the approval of a court of competent jurisdiction within the State of Minnesota.
  4. Nondiscrimination Clause: The Nordeast Brewers Alliance shall not permit in their conduct of club affairs, any restriction or limitation whatsoever based upon sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.

II. Area

  1. Though the intent of the club is to have members from diverse geographic areas, the area served by the organization shall be the area primarily adjacent to and including Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota.

III. Dues

  1. Annual dues of $20.00 per household are payable as of the first meeting of the calendar year. Dues shall be determined by the Executive Leadership Committee and subject to approval by the membership. All dues are non-refundable.
  2. New members joining July 1 to October 31 receive a 50% discount on membership for the current calendar year. New members joining November 1 to December 31 pay the full membership fee good through the end of the following year.
  3. Payment of dues implies consent to adherence of the by-laws.

IV. Membership

  1. Eligibility: Individuals who are at least 21 years of age and who have paid annual dues shall be eligible for membership.
  2. Duration: Membership shall be on an annual basis effective the first meeting of the calendar year.
  3. Responsibility: All members are required to review and abide with all by-laws accordingly.
  4. Liability: All members shall be responsible for his/her own actions and shall hold the club blameless from any liability which may result therefrom.
  5. Founding Member: A Founding Member joined in or prior to January 2012.

V. Voting

  1. Voting Rights: Each member shall have one vote per person per quorum in the affairs of this club.
  2. Quorum: 25% of the total membership shall constitute a quorum provided that the club members present include a majority number of elected officers.

VI. Executive Leadership Committee Responsibilities

  1. Definition: The Executive Leadership Committee (ELC) shall consist of the officers of the club and the immediate past president, who may serve ex-officio for one year. The elected officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years.
    1. President and Director of Operations elected and installed during the January meeting of even years
    2. Vice President, Director of Finance, and Director of Technology and Communications elected and installed during the January meeting of odd years
    3. Officers will be listed and publicly displayed on the club’s website.
  2. Responsibility: The Executive Leadership Committee shall have full power to manage this organization, the responsibility for carrying out its purpose, and the establishment of rules for its operation.
  3. Vacancies: The Executive Leadership Committee shall fill vacancies of elected officer through appointment by the remaining members of the committee. Each person so appointed shall hold the position for the remaining period of vacancy and until a successor is duly elected.
  4. Meetings: The Executive Leadership Committee shall hold regular meetings and may hold special meetings. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the elected officers.

VII. Executive Committee and Non-Executive Committee Position Definitions

  1. President: Primary leader of monthly meetings, primary point of contact with other organizations, enforces the by-laws, and serves as a backup to the Director of Finance.
    1. If the President is unable to lead a meeting, he or she will need to select another ELC or senior member to lead the meeting.
  2. Vice President: Organizes all club education sessions and serves as a backup to the President.
  3. Director of Finance: Handles the finances for the group, creates and presents reports of the financial state of the  club, and serves as a backup to the Vice President.
  4. Director of Technology and Communications: Maintains our social media presence, employs any and all marketing endeavors, records the meetings minutes, and serves as a backup to up to the Director of Operations. Backup for this position is the chairperson and/or members of the Communications Committee.
  5. Director of Operations: Provides new member outreach, organizes club events (e.g. Summer Party, Winter Party), and serves as backup for the President.

VIII. Committees

  1. The Executive Leadership Committee may appoint committees and chairpersons as required for the conduct of the aims of the club and consistent with its purpose. Chairpersons may select members of the club for the purpose of assisting them in their respective undertakings.
  2. Each committee must attain sponsorship from at least one ELC member.
  3. Upon turnover of an ELC position, the new ELC officer reviews and may decommission any committees sponsored by that position. Decommissioned committees may be sponsored by another ELC officer.
  4. All ELC officers may attend any committee meetings as optional participants.

IX. Meetings

  1. Monthly Meetings: Regular meetings of the club shall be held monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 PM at East Side Neighborhood Services in Northeast Minneapolis, MN. The Executive Leadership Committee can change the date of a meeting. Club business will begin as soon as a quorum, as defined by Article V, is present.
  2. Notification: The Communications Director shall be responsible for notifying the membership of any change in time, date, or location of the monthly meeting.
  3. Meetings may be attended by dues-paying and prospective members.
  4. Everyone attending in-person events are expected to be free of symptoms of communicable disease (e.g., cold, flu). Anyone with symptoms — including, but not limited to cough, persistent sneeze, running nose — must refrain from in-person events until well again. Anyone showing signs of communicable illness will be asked to leave an event immediately. Please contact ELC or event coordinators to handle last-minute changes for events (e.g., education topic presentations, barrel transfers, group buys).

X. Elections

  1. Nominations: Nominations for club officers will be recorded from November until the election is held in January at a general membership meeting or via the official channels. Nominations are encouraged to come from the floor or be self-nominated. Nominations may be declined.
  2. Elections: Elections for club officers will be held in January at a general membership club event facilitated by the Executive Leadership Committee. The newly elected or re-elected officers will be installed immediately.
  3. Removal: Any ELC member may be removed for cause by a 2/3 vote of the officers present and voting at any meeting of the Executive Leadership Committee in which a quorum is present. Final voting for removal of an ELC member will be performed by the general membership, provided a quorum is present.
  4. Cause: Frequent absence from the membership and Executive Leadership Committee meetings is sufficient cause for removal.
  5. Notification: Prior to taking final action on any motion to replace an officer, the Executive Leadership Committee shall email the officer at the address as it appears on the membership records, giving reasonable notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.
  6. Vacancy: The Executive Leadership Committee may, by majority vote of the officers present and voting, fill any vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, or incapacity of an officer.

XI. Business

  1. Any matters of business brought before the club at a general membership meeting shall be voted upon by a quorum of the general membership, and the Executive Leadership Committee.
  2. The Executive Leadership Committee may vote on and approve club business directly.
  3. Any motion first made at a meeting of the general membership shall be referred to the Executive Leadership Committee and proper committee, if any, for action. The Executive Leadership Committee shall act on such motion within sixty (60) days and report its action to the next meeting of the general membership.
  4. If a motion has not been enacted by the Executive Leadership Committee, the motion may be acted upon by the general membership at the general membership meeting following the expiration of the 60 day period, or the first membership meeting after the membership is advised that the committee has failed to take action on the motion or has failed to enact said motion.

XII. Budget

  1. Annual dues for each calendar year shall be payable on or before the January general meeting.
  2. The dues collected for any given calendar year shall constitute income for the following fiscal year of the club which shall be one (1) year beginning February 1.
  3. The newly elected ELC members shall prepare and shall present to the Executive Committee at its first meeting of the fiscal year a budget showing the receipts already received for the fiscal year and the proposed expenses. This budget shall be approved by the Executive Leadership Committee and presented to the membership for approval.
  4. Upon approval, this budget shall be the authority of the Director of Finance to disburse funds not in excess of the amounts budgeted.
  5. In order to disburse any funds in excess of the amount budgeted, specific approval of the Executive Leadership Committee shall be required. In order to expend, during any fiscal year, funds in excess of receipts, specific approval shall be obtained from both the Executive Leadership Committee and general membership.
  6. The Director of Finance shall report the current and year-to-date expenditures of the club at regularly-scheduled monthly meetings to the general membership once per year, at Executive Leadership Committee meeting quarterly, and as requested. The Director of Finance may provide reports more often if appropriate or necessary.

XIII. Amendments to By-Laws

  1. These by-laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority in the presence of a quorum, at any regular or special meeting of the membership called for that purpose, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Executive Leadership Committee at any regular or special meeting of the committee called for that purpose, provided, however, that no change of time or place for the election of ELC members shall be made within sixty (60) days preceding the day on which such election is to be held, and that in case of any change of such time or place notice thereof shall be given to each member in person or by letter mailed (or emailed) to his/her last known address at least twenty (20) days prior to the election being held.

XIV. Access to By-Laws

  1. A current copy of these articles shall be available on the website to all members.
  2. A paper copy will be provided upon request.

Change History

Update effective 08/16/2021: Rename Executive Committee (ExComm, fka BAMF) to Executive Leadership Committee (ELC); minor punctuation corrections

Update effective 01/01/2022: Changes to section III Dues proposed by Jason Berg and approved by majority of the Executive Leadership Committee on 12/14/2021 to be effective 01/01/2022. Replace section III part 2 from “There will be a 50% discount applied to members joining after the July meeting.” to “New members joining July 1 to October 31 receive a 50% discount on membership for the current calendar year. New members joining November 1 to December 31 pay the full membership fee good through the end of the following year.”

Update effective 01/01/2022: Changes to section X Elections proposed by Jason Berg, seconded by Aaron De Boer, and approved by majority of the Executive Leadership Committee on 01/11/2022 to be effective 01/01/2022.

Replace section X part 1 from “Nominations for club officers will be held at the November meeting. One or more persons shall be nominated for each position at the meeting and nominations may be made from the floor. Nominations may be refused.” to “Nominations for club officers will be held starting in November until the election is held in January. Nominations may come from the floor or be self-nominated. Nominations may be declined.”

Replace section X part 2 from “Elections for club officers will be held at the January meeting and the elected officers will be installed immediately” to “Elections for club officers will be held in January at a general membership club event facilitated by the Executive Leadership Committee. The newly elected or re-elected officers will be installed immediately.”

Update effective 12/12/2023: Changes to sections III to XII proposed by the Executive Leadership Committee on 11/14/2023 and approved by a majority of the Executive Leadership Committee on 12/12/2023 to be effective 12/12/2023.

Dues Section (III): Annual dues of $20.00 per household. (Added “per household”). Voting Section (V): Each member shall have one vote per person per quorum. (Added “per quorum”). Executive Leadership Committee Responsibilities (VI): The immediate past president may serve ex-officio for one year. (Added “for one year”). Director of Operations Responsibilities (VII): Organizes club events (e.g., Summer Party, Winter Party). (Changed from Facilitates) Committees Section (VIII): Committee sponsorship requires sponsorship from at least one ELC member. (changed from approval). Meetings Section (IX): Regular meetings shall be held monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 PM. (Specified date and time). Elections Section (X): Nominations for club officers will be held from November. (changed to “from”). Business Section (XI): Any matters of business brought before the club at a general membership meeting shall be voted upon by a quorum of the general membership and the Executive Leadership Committee. The Executive Leadership Committee may vote on and approve club business directly. (updated to require ELC voting and ELC direct voting and approval of club business). Budget Section (XII): Annual dues for each calendar year shall be payable on or before the January general meeting. (Removed a budget requirement)

Update effective 12/10/2024: Updated Article X. Elections, part 1. Nominations from “Nominations for club officers will be held from November until the election is held in January. Nominations are encouraged to come from the floor or be self-nominated. Nominations may be declined.” to “Nominations for club officers will be recorded from November until the election is held in January at a general membership meeting or via the official channels. Nominations are encouraged to come from the floor or be self-nominated. Nominations may be declined.” Emphasis in bold to highlight.