Krewe of Columbus ByLaws
 

Bylaws of Columbus Celebration of Tampa, Inc.
as ratified by the Board of Directors November 30, 2001
Where these Bylaws are silent, Roberts Rules of Order shall dictate
the actions of this Organization, or the Laws of the State of Florida

MISSION

The mission of Columbus Celebration of Tampa, Inc. (the Organization)
To celebrate annually the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus and
Queen Isabella.

ENTITY

Columbus Celebration of Tampa, Inc., is a Florida not-for-profit Corporation
In accordance with the Laws of the State of Florida,
in the event of liquidation or dissolution, all remaining funds shall be contributed to a
selected charity, per Section 501-c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
or to the State or Local government.
The Organization retains the name "Krewe of Columbus" to represent its
parade activities.

ACTIVITIES

To maintain its not-for-profit status, the Organization will restrict its activities
to those that preserve its not-for-profit status.

• Community Service - Activities that benefit bona-fide charities, per Internal Revenue Code regulations.

• Krewe - Parades, Festivals, & Civic events

• National Holiday Observance - Sponsor of the Columbus Day Holiday Commemoration in Tampa / Queen Isabella Coronation

STRUCTURE

The fiscal year of the Organization shall run from January 1 to December 31.
An annual operating report shall be provided to each member in good standing at the Annual Meeting following the end of the Fiscal Year.

MEMBERSHIP

• Membership is open to men & women, age 18 years of age or older, of good community standing, dedicated to the Objectives & Mission of the Organization.

• The Organization may restrict or limit membership to 100 members. Admission to membership in the Organization is by invitation only.

• The Board of Directors of the Organization shall approve/deny applicants for Membership. The decision of the Board is final.

• All Members agree for abide by the Organization's Policy on Public Conduct.

• Member in "good standing": A member in "good standing" is not delinquent on
  dues payment and abides by the Bylaws and the Policy on Public Conduct of this Organization. A member not in good standing SHALL NOT be allowed any voting rights, nor shall that member be entitled to participation in events sponsored by the Organization. The Board shall determine the criteria for "good standing".

• Categories of Membership: A "Member of the Organization" is a person who
  falls under one of the following categories:

  • Columbus Celebration of Tampa Member (CCOT) General Member
    A member falling under this category does not participate in Parades, but may attend "Krewe" activities. A CCOT member shall not serve on a committee related to Krewe events. CCOT members may serve as officers, provided all other requirements have been met.

  • Krewe of Columbus (KREWE) krewe member
    A member falling under this category shall be allowed to participate in Parades and all events sponsored by the Organization, provided all membership dues and requirements have been satisfied for the operating year.

  • Royal Court Alumnus
    These members are at least 18 years of age & served in the Royal Court.
    They retain the rights of a Krewe member. Special dues consideration
    will be granted. An Alumnus must maintain good standing equal to a Krewe member.

  • Krewe Pledge
    A "Krewe Pledge" (Pledge) is a conditional Member. Persons age 15-17 who are sponsored by a legal parent or guardian Krewe member
    Membership & dues requirements shall be equal to a Krewe member.
    No Pledge shall participate in any event if the Sponsoring Krewe member (parent/guardian) is not present. The Sponsoring Krewe member is responsible for the actions of the Krewe Pledge. A Krewe Pledge DOES NOT vote for Officers or Revisions to the Bylaws. A Krewe Pledge has conditional acceptance to the KREWE, provided that the Pledge remains in good standing during the Pledge period.

OFFICERS

• Nominations, Qualifications, & Elections
  Each officer shall serve a term of 2 years. Nominations for officers will be
  accepted during the month of May by an Election Committee, whose 3 members shall be selected by the President. No member of this committee shall be a candidate. Elections shall be held at the General Meeting every Odd Year. Candidates for President, Vice President or Krewe Commander must first serve one term as either a Board Member or other officer position other than the President, Vice President, or Krewe Commander. A qualified candidate for nomination for any office is a member in good standing for at least 2 years
  AND has honorably served on at least 4 committees.

• Term
  The term of each officer shall be 2 years. No term limits shall be imposed.
  If an incumbent runs unopposed, a motion may be made, and approved with a majority vote, to reelect those officers for an additional term.

• Officers
  The Organization, at minimum, shall maintain the following slate of Officers. Additional officers may be added, if the majority of the membership agree that additional officers are necessary to carry out the mission of the Organization.
  This group shall be referred to as the Board of Officers (or as "the Board")
  President
  Vice President
  Executive Director
  Recording Secretary
  Treasurer 
  Directors (5)
  Former Columbus's

COMMITTEES

• Appointment
  Each committee member shall serve for a 2-year period to coincide with the term of the Officers.

• Term
  There will be no term limits for Committee Chairpersons or Committee members

• Qualifications
  A Committee member or Chairperson is a member in good standing and is selected by the Krewe Commander.

• Budgets & Activity Reports
  Each committee shall submit, no later than November 30th of each year, its activity report for the next fiscal year, indicating at minimum:

  • Funds needed in advance

  • Expected revenues, if any

  • Expected expenditures, if any

  • Anticipated surplus

  • A detailed description of all activities planned.

  • This Activity Report will be approved by the Board before the end of the Fiscal Year.

• Activity Reports
  A report showing the final results of the year's activities will be provided to the President no later than 60 days after the completion of that committee's project (or by January 31st committees). A summary of all reports shall be provided to the membership at the next General Meeting.

• Ad Hoc and Standing Committees
  The President may, at his or her discretion, create or dissolve Ad Hoc (one time) committees. The following committees shall be considered Standing Committees that cannot be dissolved without amendment to these Bylaws.

  • Parades & Float

  • Coronation and Celebration events

  • Commemoration

  • Community Service

  • Membership

  • Fund Raising

  • Krewe Socials

  • Ways & Means

BUSINESS MEETINGS

At minimum, the Organization will hold one Annual Business Meeting per Year.
The agenda of the General Meeting will include election of Officers (every Odd Year),
the approval of any changes to the Bylaws (majority approval of all members in attendance), and reports from all Standing Committees.

BUSINESS MEETINGS: The President may call a Business Meeting of the General Membership for reasons imperative to the ongoing affairs of the Organization. Two weeks notice shall be provided to the Membership. Lack of such notice shall render all motions passed and all business discussed VOID.

The Board of Officers (the Board) shall meet every 6 months, or more as
needed. These meetings shall be open to all members in good standing, however
only Officers shall vote at Board Meetings. A report of the Board Meetings will be
provided to any General Member in good standing upon written request.

No formal business of the Organization shall be conducted during events
not deemed to be a "Business Meeting". two weeks prior to its occurrence.
No motion, report, or other report shall be considered valid if presented
at a "Social" or Non-business meeting,

ROYALTY TITLES
With the exception of Christopher Columbus, Royalty ARE NOT members of the Organization.The following Royalty titles shall be bestowed by the Columbus Celebration of Tampa, Inc.:

• Christopher Columbus the __(st/th)

  • A qualified candidate is a male member in good standing for 3 consecutive years

  • Christopher Columbus is a 2-year term, and is limited to two consecutive terms.

  • Each Columbus shall be responsible for providing his costume, subject to
    the approval of the Board.

  • The Board may remove a Christopher Columbus if 75% of the Board finds cause to do so.

  • Christopher Columbus shall be selected by the Board. This selection will occur every even Year prior to the Annual Meeting.

  • Each member wishing to become Christopher Columbus shall submit his name within the specified time set by the Board.

  • A past Columbus shall be a Member of the Board

• Queen Isabella the ___(st/th)

• Princess (not limited to one)

• Duchess (not limited to one)

USE OF MEMBER LISTS

• Definition of "MEMBER LISTS" : any communication (written, electronic, or spoken) containing confidential information related to Members of the Organization, that includes names, phone numbers, physical addresses, mailing addresses fax numbers, and other addresses used in the electronic transfer of communication.

• MEMBER LISTS are for the exclusive use of the Members of the Organization
  and ARE NOT to be used in any fashion not in accordance with the mission
  of the Organization. Member Lists are confidential and ARE NOT for commercial purposes.

• The Organization shall not provide MEMBER LISTS to any party outside of the Organization.

• PROHIBITED: broadcast, publication, duplication, sale, electronic transmission, or
  other public use of Member Lists for non-organizational purposes.

• SANCTIONS IMPOSED: The membership of any person member found
  by the Directors of the Organization to be in violation of this policy shall
  be suspended. The term and definition of this suspension would be
  determined by the Board. Further the Board reserves the right to revoke
  the membership should the violations jeopardize the safety or security of any member.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

• The Board of Directors may, by majority vote, suspend or terminate the membership of any person found to be in violation of any provision of the Bylaws that provides for such action.

• SUSPENSION: A suspended member IS NOT a member in good standing, and does not retain voting rights and SHALL NOT be allowed to participate in events sponsored by the Organization. A suspended member is responsible for the payment of dues during the suspension period. Once the suspended period is completed the member will return to a member in good standing.

• REVOCATION: The Board may revoke the membership of any member of the Organization should the member's actions be considered deserving of such action.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

• The business manager of The Organization shall be the "Executive Director"
  whose responsibilities include:

  • Maintenance of a business office

  • Coordination of events sponsored by the Organization

  • Other duties deemed appropriate by the Board

  • Management of the Coronation

  • Activities for the Royal Court

• The Executive Director may or may not be an Officer of the Organization,
  however, that person should be a member of good standing for at least
  2 years.

• The Board shall select the Executive Director, whose term runs for 2 years
  from the date of appointment, without term limit.

• The Board is responsible for the selection of the Executive Director.

• The Board may remove an Executive Director, with cause, during
  that person's term, provided that a majority of the Board vote to do so.

• Should the Executive Director resign or retire, he/she shall select their
  successor, with majority approval by the Board

• The Executive Director currently serving prior to the adoption date of
  these Bylaws, shall be exempt from provisions 12B, 12C, 12D, & 12E.
  and shall serve until the Board is provided notice of that person's
  intention to resign or retire.