CLUB RULES

Code of Conduct and GENERAL INFORMATION

All vehicles must, within reason, comply to the Montana vehicle code and this includes proper seating and the wearing of seat belts on all club functions.

NO LIMITATIONS AS TO VEHICLE TYPE, MODIFICATIONS OR DRIVER EXPERIENCE: However, members have to understand that all trips may not be suited to their rigs or driving experience due to type of terrain. Vehicles must be in good repair, we want to go Four Wheeling, not perfect our field fixing skills.

NO WHINERS: If you break something or do body damage to yourself or your vehicle, you have no one to blame but yourself. Good-natured kidding will take place but not to excess.

NO AWARDS OR TROPHYS for who did the dumbest thing or broke the most. This is nothing to be proud of! The guy who doesn’t break things is our hero.

HONESTY: If you feel that a member’s rig isn’t up to the particular trail standard, or he continues to do “dumb” things, let him know directly.

NO ALCOHOL ON THE TRAIL Period! DRUG USAGE AT ANY TIME WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

BEHAVE LIKE YOUR MOTHER WAS RIDING WITH YOU, No kicking, biting or swearing.

THINK SAFETY, STUPID HURTS: Such as: seat belts on at all times, is every thing securely fastened down? (and this doesn’t mean with a bungee cord around a high lift jack or ice chest.) Keep your hands off the roll bar for a grab handle.

MEETINGS and such.
Should be fun, something that you want to go to, not that you feel you have to. Not taken up with arguing over things like dues or regulations, or who is in what office. There is to be no minimum number of “runs”, trips, or meetings that one has to attend to maintain membership. If someone can’t come for some reason, that is his loss. . Meetings to be held when needed. In reality maybe only a couple of times a year, most “important business” can be handled by phone or email. We maintain a member list with phone numbers and Email. If you want to go four wheeling, you contact the members that you feel would like to go and or have vehicles capable of the trip you have planned.

TRIPS
If you say you’re going to leave from a certain place at 9 am, that means leaving at 9 am, not when so and so shows up because he is always running late. They can be planned for the next day or next month. Not all trips should be hard-core four wheeling. It could be as simple as a bunch of us touring Glacier Park or running some Forest Service roads where the hubs are never turned. Or if you want hard core, let every one know that body damage may take place. If there are some people you don’t like, or who are showing up with junk that holds every one else up or breaks or doesn’t think safety or drinks, then just don’t invite him any more. It’s that simple. Follow the guidelines of the TREAD LIGHTLY PROGRAM.

Bylaws of the Montana Back Roads 4x4 club

I. The name of the organization shall be “MONTANA BACK ROADS 4X4 CLUB Inc. also know as MBR and will be a non profit corporation under the laws of the state of Montana.
II. Membership will be limited to those individuals who are in good standing within the community who own a 4x4 vehicle that “within reason” conforms to the Montana Motor Vehicle code. There will be one voting membership per membership. There is no requirement to belong to any other state or national association. Members will be voted in after attending 2 club trips by a 2/3s majority of those present. This can be at a open meeting or by postal or E mail. All members must follow and adhere to a code of conduct and rules and regulations of the MBR
III. Meetings will take place at the request of the MBR president or a member of the board of directors. Members will be notified by phone, mail or E. mail of a meeting no less than 5 days before the meeting in regards to the time and place. It will be the responsibility of the president to notify members of the meetings. It is not necessary to attend meetings to maintain membership in MBR.
IV. Dues: Dues will be $20 per year and must be received from current members by the President no later than the last day in January. For members joining the club after January 31 the dues will be prorated at the rate of 1/12 per month figured at last day of each month.
V. Board of Directors. There will be a Board of Directors that will consist of no less than 3 and no more than 7 members, as well as the President of the MBR. The MBR membership will elect the Board members. Those wishing to be on the board will notify the president of such interest.
The Board members will meet as needed at the request of the President and will handle the necessary day to day running of the MBR and make such decisions as directed by the general wishes of the general membership.
VI. Election: the president and board members will be elected by the general membership of a 2/3 majority of those in attendance at the meeting and/or written proxy votes. They will serve for 2 years. Elections will take place at the first meeting of the new physical year. The president will also serve as the secretary and the treasurer and be responsible for the general running of the MBR. He may at his discretion appoint a board member to handle these duties or to fill in as the President if he is not available.
VII. Amendments: these rules and regulations may be changed at any time by a 2/3-majority vote of the general membership of those in attendance at a regular meeting or those that respond to postal or E-Mail

Amendments:
#1 March 23, 2004. During the month of Dec of each year the club’s financial records shall be reviewed by the board of directors and made available to the general membership by the first of Jan. of the following year.