Mission & Bylaws
V-UP Vikings Football Booster Club Bylaws
Article I – Name of the Club
- The name of this organization shall be the “V-UP Vikings Football Booster Club”
Article II – The Purpose and Function of the Club
- The sole purpose of this booster club is to support the football program at Omaha North High School. This club will function to support the football team within the confines of these by-laws with our time, talent, and financial support. The executive board of the club will work with the varsity head football coach to set yearly focus and goals of the club.
- It is not the purpose of this club to replace any support that the football program receives from the Omaha Public Schools or from Omaha North Athletic Department.
Article III – Membership
- Membership is open to any person 19 years or older. No current student of a K-12 school will be allowed to be a member of this club. There are two types of memberships within the club.
- General Individual Membership – Cost is $10.00 annually
- Members that are staff at Omaha North High School will not be eligible to sit on the Executive Board
- General Individual Membership + Family Pass – Cost is $50.00 annually
- This gives you a pass for free entry for up to 2 adults and 3 children within your family into all regular season Omaha North home football games (all levels).
- This level of membership covers entry for 2 adults, however, it only grants voting rights for one voting member.
- This pass DOES NOT work at any away games or post season games regardless of if they are a home game.
Article IV – Executive Board Officers of the Club
- Terms, election process, vacancies process, titles, and responsibilities
- Terms: all officers of the club shall be elected to a term that consists of two years or “two football seasons”. No one person can hold the same executive board officer position for more than two election cycles or four football seasons. This is the only term limitation placed on club officers.
- No member or executive board member is allowed to accept salary or compensation from the club.
- Elections: shall take place in September of the football season in which the current executive board officer’s term will expire after the season on January 1st.
- The exception to this is the 1st elections after the ratification of the club by-laws on 8.9.22. The election of the initial executive board shall take place on the day of the by-law ratification.
- The new elected board officers will be referred to as Executive Board Officers Elect and will attend all Executive Board meetings starting in October as observers only until taking full control of the club on January 1st.
- To become a candidate for an officer position within the club you must be:
- A member of the club
- Place your name on the ballot for consideration of a specific officer role. You can only place your name on no more than 2 roles per ballot. However, you can only hold one executive board officer role at any one time.
- An individual cannot be placed on the ballot by another member.
- The candidate must attend the meeting that the election takes place.
- This rule does not apply to the inaugural voting year. The inaugural voting session may include candidate consideration via email, phone, or virtual option.
- Each candidate must give a short verbal statement prior to the voting at the meeting: The candidate should tell the membership why they desire to become an executive board officer at the club and if they have any goals if elected to the executive board officer role. This must be a short statement no longer than 3 minutes in length. The current VP will be the timekeeper.
- To become an elected officer, the candidate must receive a simple majority of votes from the members at the election. If there are multiple candidates on the ballot for any executive board role, the candidate receiving the most votes will win that position in the election.
- Vacancies of an executive board officer position prior to a normal election process:
- The current president and or VP will either call for a special meeting to be held or communicate to the membership prior to the next regular meeting that there is an executive board officer position up for immediate placement and a membership election will take place at the next scheduled meeting or at the designated special meeting. The same election process will be followed. Once elected the candidate will assume the elected officer role immediately and will serve until the original term is complete. This candidate will only be eligible to be re-elected one time in the current officer role.
- If the vacancy is the president role any current executive board member is eligible to run in the election. If it is any other position on the executive board the position is only open to club members not in a current executive board role.
- Executive Board Officers Titles and Responsibilities:
- President of the club:
- The president shall preside over all meetings of the club.
- The president, with the assistance of the rest of the executive board and membership, will appoint all committee chairs to one-year terms.
- The president will be the primary contact for the head football coach to communicate regarding club business.
- The president will facilitate all executive board retreat meetings.
- The president shall, with the assistance of the rest of the executive board, establish all monthly meeting agendas and follow adopted club yearly calendar.
- The president will establish all special meetings and communicate the purpose of the meeting to the membership of the club.
- The president shall establish parliamentary procedure and run an organized and efficient club business meeting.
- Email notification to membership no less than one day prior to a club meeting – reminding them of the location, date, and time of the meeting making sure to include the past meeting minutes.
- Vice President of the club:
- The vice president will perform all duties of the president in the absence of the president.
- The vice president will update election ballot forms and facilitate any elections of the executive board positions.
- The vice president will serve as the timekeeper for club officer election statements.
- The vice president will back up the secretary if the secretary is not at a business meeting.
- The vice president will keep an accurate list of current membership.
- The vice president will attend all executive board retreat meetings.
- The vice president will be the second signature along with the treasurer on the club checking account.
- Secretary of the club:
- The secretary will take accurate minutes of each business meeting of the club. This includes any executive board retreat meetings, and any special meetings.
- The secretary will also email the minutes of the previous meeting to the executive board one week prior to the next meeting.
- The secretary will formally present the previous meeting minutes for club review at the business meeting. After review they will make a nomination at the business meeting that membership accept them into the official club record.
- The secretary will keep all club documents in the club drive and update club email group during the club business year and at the start of each club year. This includes updating club membership list with the collaboration with the club vice president.
- The secretary will update membership forms.
- The secretary will attend all executive board retreat meetings.
- Treasurer of the club:
- The treasurer will be responsible for all financial dealings of the club. They shall submit a report at each monthly business meeting containing all club accounts. This report must account for all income, expenses, and current financial condition of the club. After review, they will make a nomination at the business meeting that membership accept them into the official club record.
- The treasurer will take the lead with collaboration with the entire executive board to maintain and file all necessary 501C3 paperwork of the club’s nonprofit status.
- The treasurer will also take the lead with collaboration with the entire executive board to file all necessary and required club taxes each year.
- The treasurer will be the first signature along with the vice president on the club checking account.
- The treasurer will attend all executive board retreat meetings.
- Removal of an Executive Board Member
- At any business meeting any member can make a motion to remove an executive board member without or with cause. If the motion receives a second motion that board member will be up for removal vote at the next business meeting.
- To remove the executive board member, they must receive 2/3 of the possible votes from members in attendance of that business meeting. If the executive board member is removed, a vacancy election will be held during the same meeting.
Article V – Club Calendar and Meetings
- Club Calendar:
- Each club year will start in February each year including an Executive Board Retreat
- The club will hold monthly business meetings on the second Tuesday each month at a location to be determined by the president of the club. Normal business meetings will take place in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November unless canceled by the president.
- February – Start of the Club year Executive Board Retreat
- March – 1st business meeting of the year
- April – Business meeting & committee heads appointed
- May – Business meeting, budget will be adopted & adopt sponsorship framework
- June – Business meeting
- July – Business meeting
- August – Business meeting
- September – Business meeting & elections held if term of executive board is expiring.
- October – Business meeting
- November – Business meeting
- December – NO MEETINGS SCHEDULED
- January – NO MEETINGS SCHEDULED – New executive board assumes club control – update access of accounts and club drive documents (only years the executive board terms are expiring).
- Types of Club Meetings:
- Annual Executive Board Meeting Retreat:
- Purpose: The executive board will have a retreat of meetings to help facilitate the vision and direction of the club for the upcoming football season. This retreat will take place in February each year. Along with the executive board retreat the board will meet with the head football coach during the same month each year to learn from the coach the vision, priorities, and the needs that the coach has for the football program for the upcoming football season. Minutes of the executive board retreat will be taken and shared with membership at the clubs first business meeting of the year.
- Monthly Business Meeting:
- Shall be held each month as outlined by the club calendar unless canceled by the president due to weather, emergency, or other determined reason. The president shall inform the membership no later than one day before a business meeting of its time, date, and location, In the notification they need to include the minutes of the previous meeting.
- The president shall present to membership during the March meeting the business meeting agenda framework they would like to follow for the upcoming club year. This framework needs to be accepted by a vote of members that are attending the March meeting. A simple majority will pass the framework into accepted practice for that specific club year.
- The president must follow the adapted club calendar unless membership accepts deviation of the calendar.
- Special Business Meetings:
- This is an additional business meeting needed that is not part of the club accepted calendar.
- The president is charged in calling and informing membership of the meeting. Notification of a special meeting must take place at least 24 hours prior to the meeting if possible and must include: the time, date, and the location of the meeting. This special business meeting will not follow the normal business agenda. The notification by the president must also include what the purpose of special business meeting will be.
Article VI – Committees:
- Budget Committee – The President must be a member of this committee
- Will work with other committee chairs to determine potential income, expenses, and over all club financial standing. This committee will establish a probable club budget for the club year and make a formal recommendation in the May club business meeting. When the budget is accepted (after any amendments) the chair of the committee will work with the chair of fundraising to make sure all probable income sources are on track and make any reduction of budgets throughout the year to meet the reality of income levels.
- Fundraising Committee – The Treasurer must be a member of this committee
- This committee will facilitate the growth of income into the club by the five accepted income types.
- Accepted Income Types
- #1 Gift in Kind – gifts in the form of monetary, service, or product from businesses or individuals with no other action needed.
- #2 Sponsorships – monetary gifts ties to potential sponsorships.
- Will have framework ready by May meeting.
- Help membership recruit and accept sponsorships.
- #3 Club Fundraiser – this is an activity not tied to the football team fundraiser. This will have a start and end date of the activity. All fundraisers will be facilitated by the members of this committee.
- #4 Membership – work with the membership committee in income available from membership dues.
- #5 Sale of Club Sponsored Merchandise. Examples – shirts, yard signs, and football promotional items.
- Activity Committee – The Secretary must be a member of this committee
- This committee will facilitate club activities. They will also work with the budget committee to set income needs that they need for the activities planned.
- Football Season Activities:
- Examples of this are team dinners the day before a game, meals after an out-of-town game or playoff game, snacks for travel, or special motivational items.
- Post Season Banquet – plan and help facilitate based on discretion of head coach
- Preseason team building, outreach activities, or motivational items as requested by the head coach or executive board officers.
- Special Request from the Head Coach
- Facilitate the purchase of the item or facilitate the activity requested by the head coach via the executive board officers.
- Membership Committee – The VP must be a member of this committee
- This committee will facilitate the growth and collection of membership dues and member contact information.
- Recruit new members – attend back to school events at North and in the community.
- Maximize communication with potential members.
- Establish social media presence of the club.
- Manage membership lists and provide lists and communication emails and phone numbers to the executive board members.
- PLEASE NOTE:
- Executive Board may appoint additional committees as needed
- Each executive board member must be part of a committee; however, they cannot chair or co-chair any committee unless the membership votes to accept placement due to an emergency. An emergency request must be made by the club officer it effects.
Article VII – Club Finances
- Authorization to Spend Funds
- The president and treasurer must approve any payment of any expense from the club account regardless of if it is on the approved budget.
- All checks written will need two signatures on the check (Treasurer and VP).
- The president may approve any expense under $100.00, if there is a deviation from the accepted budget, an additional unforeseen expense outside of the membership approved budget or an amount in the budget was not sufficient for full payment.
- If the amount is over $100.00 a full membership vote is required at a regular or special business meeting.
- Checking Account
- The club will operate a checking account at American National Bank in Omaha, Nebraska. To change the location the president must make a motion at a business meeting and give cause for the change. Membership at that meeting must ratify with a 2/3 vote.
- The Treasurer and the VP must be signatories on all account expenses.
- The club also may elect to open a savings account at the same location.
- The checking account is not allowed to have a ledger balance under $400.00 at any time for any reason.
- All club finances need to be deposited into the club account in a timely manner (24-72 hours).
- Gift and Sponsor Acceptance Process
- There are five accepted income types within the club. The fundraising committee is responsible to update sponsorship guidelines for a membership vote in the May business meeting each year. No member including executive board members is allowed to accept income outside the accepted income types. Any deviation must have a simple majority vote by membership at a business or special business meeting prior to acceptance of the unapproved gift.
- Fiscal Year Responsibilities of the Club
- The club treasurer is responsible to facilitate the filing of all required 501C3 paperwork and end of year taxes. The treasurer is also responsible to provide a financial report at each business meeting that includes all income, expenses, and current financial state of the club. The treasurer must also facilitate the maintenance of historical financial reports and documents that may be needed in an audit or other financial dealings.
- The club is never allowed to have less than $400.00 ledger balance in the club checking account.
- Non-Profit Organization Language
- The club shall be a non-profit organization and no part of the net earnings of the booster club shall incur to the personal benefit or be distributed to, any of its members, executive board members, or any other private person. The only exception is the club is authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payment and distribution in furtherance of the exempt purposes.
- Board Member Liability
- The private property of the executive board members shall not be subject to payment of the booster club debts or liabilities of any kind and each board member shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever, therefore, and this provision of this article shall not be subject to amendment or revision by operation of the law or otherwise.
- Waiver of Notice Language
- Whenever any notice is required to be given under provisions of the by laws of the booster club a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
Article VIII – Amendments of the by-laws
- These by-laws were adopted by the club on 8.23.22 and will stay in effect unless an amendment is made.
- By-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed (changed) and new by-laws may be adopted by a majority of club members at a club business meeting. A notice must be given to the membership prior to a business meeting that a change of the by-laws will be presented at the next business meeting. All proposed changes must be shared with the entire membership in writing prior to the meeting to vote on the change. Any member can request a by-law change but only the club president can notify the membership of the potential by-law change. If the majority of the club members at the meeting approve the change it will be accepted. The secretary will need to update the by-laws as directed by membership.
Article IX – Dissolution of Club
- Should the booster club cease to operate, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligation of the booster club, any remaining assets shall be distributed to Omaha North High School Football auxiliary account. If no such account exists, it shall be deposited into the Omaha North School athletic account for purposes to support the football program at the school.
Please note:
Acceptance
- The above by-laws were accepted and adopted by a majority of those present at the club meeting on 8.23.22.
- Amendments to these by-laws were approved the following dates:
- 9.21.22: Article V, Bullet 3 – Club Calendar and Meetings
- The club will hold monthly business meetings on the third Tuesday each month at a location to be determined by the president of the club.
- 9.21.22: Article V, Bullet 3 – Club Calendar and Meetings
- Amendments to these by-laws were approved the following dates:
Current Executive Board Officers and Past Executive Board Officers
- Current - 2022-2023
- President: Dan Bartels
- Vice-President: Glenn Mitchell, Jr.
- Secretary: Moniki Cannon
- Treasurer: Jackie Glassman