ARTICLE I NAME 

The name of the organization shall be the Falcon Backers Football Booster Club (herein after referred to as Falcon Backers), and such organization shall not be organized for profit. 100-percent of the monies raised will be directly utilized as defined by our objectives defined in Article II.

ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES

A. To work for the betterment and growth of football at the Ben Franklin High School.

B. To encourage and promote participation in football at Ben Franklin High School.

C. To promote and protect the best possible conditions for the total development of the students who will play football at Ben Franklin High School.

D. To promote, support, and provide assistance to the Ben Franklin High School Football Program.

E. To provide financial assistance to the Ben Franklin High School Football Program by purchasing items not provided for in the school budget yet deemed as necessary or beneficial to the program as determined by the Ben Franklin Football Coaching staff. Some items may include the following but not limited to:

   1. Football equipment (game balls, playing pads, mouthpieces, etc.)

   2. Field equipment (blocking dummies, blocking sleds, ropes, blocking chutes, etc.)

   3. Game day supplies (medical tape, Gatorade, helmet equipment, etc.)

   4. Accessories (helmet decals excluding school logo decal)

   5. Sideline shirts for coaching staff

   6. Awards recognizing player(s) at the annual football banquet

F. Insuring that all activities conducted by the organization have the approval of the Officers of the Board (herein after referred to as the “Board” refer to Article VI.)

ARTICLE III MEMBERS

Definitions of Members

Every Ben Franklin High School football student, parent, staff member, football alumnus, community resident and interested individual supporting the Objectives (Article II) of the organization may become a member of the Falcon Backers.

Membership can be initiated by attending and signing a membership roster at the annual meeting or registering on the Falcon Backers’ website.

Membership shall be for a term of one-year starting with the July (annual) meeting. This is to preserve the continuity of the membership list for the purpose of voting on matters brought before the Falcon Backers.

Voting Rights

Each member shall be entitled to one vote on such matters brought before the body as a whole at any given annual meeting. Voting shall be either by voice or by ballot, this being at the discretion of the President.

Players and Students of Ben Franklin High School do not have voting privileges.

To participate in the election of officers at the annual meeting, members must be in good standing prior to the start of the meeting.

ARTICLE IV MEETING OF MEMBERS

Annual Meetings

An annual meeting (July) of the members shall be held at a location designated by the board at least one month prior to the date of the first football game (regular season not including scrimmages or jamborees) for the purpose of electing officers of the Board. The acting Board will designate the date and time of such meeting. The initial board will be nominated by the President and confirmed at the first annual meeting scheduled for July 2009.

Special Meetings

Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the Board or by not less than one-fourth of the members listed on the current year's membership roster. Meetings are to take place at a location designated by the board.

If the head coach would like to schedule a special meeting, it would have to be through the Liaison to the Coach.

Notice

Notice of any special meetings may be verbal or written and must be given at least 3 days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VI OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

Officers

The officers of the Falcon Backers shall be a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms and the Liaison to the Head Football Coach.

Tenure, and Qualification

Each officer shall hold office until the next annual meetings (July) of members and until his/her successor shall have been elected and qualified. All board positions except for the Liaison to the Coach must be filled by former Ben Franklin High School football players. The Liaison to the Coach must be filled by a current player’s parent.

Nominations

The Board may nominate a slate of officers for election at the annual meeting or may at its discretion allow members in good standing to present a slate of officers for election at the annual meeting. All nominations presented by the Board or by members from the floor will be considered and placed on the ballot for election at the annual meeting.

Elections of Officers

The officers of the Falcon Backers shall be elected annually by secret ballot and a quorum of its current members at the annual meeting. The candidate for each office receiving a majority vote of the members present shall be declared duly elected. Elections will be held at the July meeting except for the initial 2009 meeting.

Removal

Any officer may be removed by a majority vote of the current members along with a majority of the quorum in attendance at a special or general meeting whenever in its judgment the best interest of the organization would be served thereby, but such removal would be without prejudice of the officer so removed. Any officer appointed by the Board to fill the remainder of an unexpired term of officer may be removed by a majority vote of the Board with the same consideration to said officer as previously stated.

Vacancies

A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be filled by the Board for the remaining portion of the term.

ARTICLE VII DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Duties of the Officers

A. The officers shall have the authority to conduct the business of the Falcon Backers.

B. The officers shall insure compliance with the policies of the Board.

C. The officers shall establish an annual budget and approve dispersal of the same at a regular meeting subject to available funds. Additionally the officers shall approve any purchases not specifically included in the budget.

ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

President

The president shall be the principal executive officer of the Falcon Backers and shall in general supervise and manage all of the business and affairs of the organization in conjunction with the Board. The president shall preside over all meetings of the members. The president may sign with any other proper officer of the Falcon Backers any contracts, checks, or other instruments the Board has authorized to be executed. In general, the president shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. The president shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Board. The president shall also see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provision of these by-laws or as required by law. He shall also be custodian of the club’s website and email address. On a yearly basis, the president shall work with the treasurer and publish a yearly report on the activities of the board.

Vice President

In the absence of the president or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the vice president shall perform all the duties of the president and when so acting shall have the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice president shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the Board.

Treasurer

If required by the Board, the treasurer shall give bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties, as the Board shall determine. The treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for all the funds of the organization. Receive and give receipts for monies due payable to the organization from any source whatsoever. Deposit all such monies in the name of the organization in such banks as shall be selected by the Board. On a yearly basis, the treasurer will work with the President to publish a report on the yearly activities of the board. In general, perform all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such duties from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the Board.

Sergeant at Arms

The Sergeant at Arms is charged with the maintenance of order on the floor of the annual meeting or any meeting called by the Board. He will also be charged with representing the club by fulfilling all speaking requests made by the Coach of the football team. In general, perform all duties incident to the office of the Sergeant at Arms and such duties from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the Board.

Liaison to the Coach

The Liaison to the Coach will be the line of communication between the board and the head coach. The liaison to the coach will provide the board with any and all requests made by the coach throughout the season. In general, perform all duties incident to the office of liaison to the coach and such duties from time to time may be assigned to him/her by the president or by the Board.

ARTICLE IX COMMITTEES

Committees

The president alone or the Board by a majority of the officers present at a meeting may appoint any such committee as deemed necessary. All committee chairpersons must present their plans and cost estimates (time permitting) for a majority approval by the Board. Chairpersons may present this at a general meeting. Further, at no time are members authorized to make decisions or conduct business on behalf of the Falcon Backers. Prior notification of such must be presented in writing to the President and majority approval from the Board is required.

Scope of Committees

Committees may be set up to accommodate the purposes and objectives (see article II) of the Falcon Backers. Committees shall have only the authority that is delegated by the president or the majority of the board. Board members may participate at a committee level.

Duration of Committees

The duration of each committee shall be until the goals of the committee are achieved or the board changes via annual election. Chairpersons shall submit final reports to the board.

ARTICLE X CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, and FUNDS

Contracts

The Board may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the organization in addition to the officers so authorized by these by-laws, to deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the organization, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All checks, drafts, or orders for payment of money issued in the name of the Falcon Backers shall be signed by such officer or officers as determined by the Board. In the absence of such determination, such instruments shall be signed by the treasurer and president and counter signed by the vice president or secretary of the organization.

Deposits

All funds of the organization shall be deposited to the credit of the organization in such banks or other depositaries as the Board may select.

ARTICLE XI BOOKS and RECORDS

The organization shall keep correct and complete books and records of accounts and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings, of its members, and Board, and shall keep a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Falcon Backer may be inspected by any member for any proper purpose at any reasonable time. Also, said books and record shall be used in preparing a yearly report that will be available for public viewing on the club’s website.

ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by the majority of the current membership present and approval of the Board. The board will designate a day prior to the annual meeting to alter, amend, repeal, or adopt new by-laws provided proper notice was given to the board. To participate in altering, amending, or repealing the by-laws at the January meeting, a member must attend the previous two general membership meetings. All alterations, amendments, or repeals to the by-laws shall be presented by the board to members at the annual meeting.