Thinking of starting a Local Scooter Club.

[imagesinthewind]

I was thinking of starting a local scoot club.
We could do rides, get together to teach each other about scoot maint, how tos on oil/gear oil change, upgrades, etc and BBQs, get together and ride to the movies, stuff like that.
I live on a cul de sac and have a huge backyard so I could do the BBQs here and have places for the scoots to park. Rent a projector and put up a screen and show backyard movies.

What does one do to start a scoot club? Are there dues? Are there shirts? Anyone, Buehler?

[Rebel]

Clubs, well regarding the shirts, are you going to do a local club or start one that is say a Colorado Scooter Rebels Club? If you want shirts you can goto the cafe press accounts and have them done pretty easily, the stores I have set up have a zero mark up on them.

What I would suggest is to post fliers up about the first meeting and have it at your home or at a sponsoring scooter dealer. Be there and be patient, membership may take a little time to recruit.

As soon as you have one member start talking about a ride.
make cards you can put on scooter you see in parking lots advertising the club or event
dues, sure you need them in my opinion, especially if you are giving out shirts to member having events that offer trophies and prizes.

If you want to go formal I have a set of by-laws I can get to you

[shiftless]

An announcement on Craigslist in the mc section was helpful for recruitment for us
Fliers, and cards work too, just put them on parked scoots, also local dealer may let you post a flier at their shop

Good luck

[Rebel]

If anybody wants to have a more formal club with some by-laws, here is something I came up with a couple years ago when we were talking about a national club at SD.


ARTICLE 1. NAME AND ORGANIZATION
This organization shall be known as the "------- Scooter Club."

ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE
The purpose of the ------- Scooter Club is to promote skilled and educated scooter riding, broaden scooter awareness, serve as an advocate for scooterists on related issues and share camaraderie with other scooter enthusiasts, and the community.

ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP
Section 3.1 Criteria: Membership is open to any person has an interest in scooters and or scooter riding, and pays dues. Scooter ownership is helpful but not required.

Section 3.2 Membership Selection: Membership is open to those who:
(a) Meet the membership criteria.
(b) Agree with the club purpose.
(c) Be in good standing in terms of conduct.
(d) Pay dues and agree to abide by club bylaws.

Section 3.3 Rights: Each member shall have voting rights and full privileges.

Section 3.4 Any member may be removed for cause by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present at a business meeting following a discussion of the cause. The vote must be announced to the membership no later than two weeks (14 days) prior to the meeting and must include the date, time and location of both the cause and meeting. Removed members are not entitled to a dues refund.

ARTICLE 4. DUES
Section 4.1 Cost:

Section 4.2 Term length of membership is one year.

Section 4.2 Membership dues shall neither be pro-rated nor refunded unless approved by unanimous vote the Executive Board.

Section 4.3 In the event of dissolution of the club, all funds in the treasury shall be donated as selected by a majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE 5. MEETINGS
Section 5.1 At least one business meeting will be held each month. Additional business meetings may be called by the President or by a majority request of the Executive Board to accommodate specific club circumstances.

Section 5.2 Social meetings will be held periodically for the purpose of fraternization and to promote club interest.

Section 5.3 The exact dates, times and meeting places will be published in the club forum on the club website.

Section 5.4 Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called at the discretion of the President. All club officers shall be given timely notice of such meetings.

Section 5.5 Any three members of the Board can require the President to specify a quorum for decisions.

ARTICLE 6. CLUB OFFICERS
Section 6.1 The club shall be administered by the following officers who shall collectively function as the Executive Board: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Advisor, Webmaster and any Past-President who is an active club member.

Section 6.2 Event Officers are non-Executive Board officers charged with enforcing Conduct as set forth in the club bylaws. There are two types of Event Officers:
(a) Road Captain: organizes and leads the club during a riding event.
(b) Event Coordinator: organizes and leads an event not centered around riding.

Section 6.3 Qualifications:
(a) All officers must be members as described in Article 3 of these Bylaws.
(b) Executive Board members must be licensed scooter owners and operators.
(c) Road Captains must have taken part in a group riding program that covers the planning, procedures, signals and other relevant factors for a group riding activity.
(d) Event Coordinators must be capable of seeing the given event though completion.

Section 6.3 Officers shall be eligible for reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred during the administration of club business by submitting a request with receipts at a business meeting. Approval is by a majority vote of members present. These expenses are to be listed separately on an end-of-semester report by the Treasurer.


ARTICLE 7. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 7.1 Duties of the President:
(a) Preside over club meetings, functions and activities not being led by an Event Officer.
(b) See to the enforcement of the objectives and purpose of this organization.
(c) Coordinate, direct, and manage the business functions and activities of the club as required to ensure continuity and success of club and the club objectives.
(d) The President shall inform the Vice President when the President is unable to preside over any club meeting, function or activity.

Section 7.2 Duties of the Vice President:
(a) To perform the duties of the President in case of absence or inability of the latter.
(b) Serve as the Activities Coordinator in scheduling, planning, and ensuring proper arrangements are made for all club-sponsored activities and events.
(c) As necessary performs other duties which may be assigned by the President.

Section 7.3 Duties of the Treasurer:
(a) Maintain an up-to-date membership list available up request by any member of the Executive Board.
(b) Coordinate reimbursement expenditures through the Executive Board.
(c) Receive, record, and report all monies or property donated to, paid to, or owned by the club.
(d) Keep an account of all receipts and disbursements so that a statement of the financial condition of the club is available upon request by the officers or general membership.
(e) Prepare an end-of-semester report for the Board of Directors to be shared at the first meeting of following semester.

Section 7.4 Duties of the Webmaster:
(a) Maintain club website.
(b) Collect new material and information as needed to keep the website current.

ARTICLE 8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 8.1 Nominations and applications for Executive Officers shall be made at the first business meeting of the year. Nominations and applications may also be made by contacting the club Treasurer in writing.

Section 8.2 All officers must be members in good standing.

Section 8.3 Candidates for the Executive Officer positions must be current members. Those receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected and hold office until the election of a replacement. Terms will run for one year.

Section 8.4 Vacancies in any office shall be filled by a club member in good standing appointed by a consensus of the Executive Board, and shall serve until the next regular election of officers.

Section 8.5 Any officer may be removed from office for cause by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present at a business meeting following a discussion of the cause. The vote must be announced to the membership no later than two weeks (14 days) prior to the meeting and must include the date, time and location of both the cause and meeting.

ARTICLE 9. APPOINTMENTS AND COMMITTEES
Section 9.1 Appointments and Committees are positions in the club that are of a voluntary nature.

Section 9.2 These positions are appointed by the Executive Board and may change at the discretion of the appointee or the Board.

ARTICLE 10. AMENDMENTS
Section 10.1 Notification of proposed changes to the Bylaws of the club will be made through the e-mail at least two weeks prior to a meeting at which changes in the Bylaws are to be considered.

Section 10.2 Bylaws may be changed by a simple majority vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled club business meeting and of members absent from the meeting who wish to vote by e-mail to the President. All e-mail absentee ballots must be received no less than one (1) day before the meeting in which the proposed Bylaw change is to be voted on by the membership. The President shall include e-mail ballots after tallying the votes of those present and summarize the results for the record at the same meeting.

Section 10.3 Bylaw changes will take affect upon determination of the final result of the vote.

Section 10.4 Amendments or changes to the bylaws shall note the date of change after the respective bylaw, e.g. "[1 Jul 08]".

ARTICLE 11. CONDUCT AND GEAR
Section 11.1 Any member of the club may be dismissed from a club meeting or club activity as a result of inappropriate behavior. The member shall be warned concerning such inappropriate conduct by an Executive Board member or Event Coordinator. The following shall be the basis for, but not limited to, inappropriate behavior and disciplinary measures:
(a) Wild, unsafe riding habits, especially any activity which jeopardizes the safety of other persons.
(b) Obnoxious behavior that is detrimental to the image of the club.
(c) Consumption of alcohol or any other potentially impairing substance by a vehicle operator prior to or during any riding event.

Section 11.2 Ratification of Executive Board recommendations for disciplinary action will be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the club members in attendance at a regularly scheduled business meeting.

Section 11.3 All members and guests participating in any riding activity:
(a) Shall wear a helmet compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (FMVSS 218), commonly known as the DOT helmet standard.
(b) Shall wear eye protection such as goggles or a faceshield that meets the shatter or impact standards of VESC-8 and or ANSI Z87.1.
(c) Are recommended to also wear long pants, over-the-ankle footwear, long-sleeved shirt or jacket and full-fingered gloves.
(d) Shall be licensed, tagged/registered and insured for the vehicle that they are operating.
(e) Shall keep their scooter in proper operating condition.
(f) Proof of license, registration, insurance can be requested and an inspection of condition and or equipment be done by any club officer or road captain who may deny participation for failure to meet 11.3 standards in the interest of group's safety (6.2, 11.1).

ARTICLE 12. NON-MEMBER GUESTS
Section 12.1 Non-member scooter owners are welcome at general meetings, rides, and social gatherings of the club so long as they are invited guests and accompanied by a “regular” member. Each regular member may invite one (1) non-member guest to a club event.

Section 12.2 Guests must agree to abide by club rules and standards of conduct.

[imagesinthewind]

wow!
Awesome, thanks!!

[Rebel]

Well the idea behind the forum is to promote scooters and scootering. We also want to promote a friendly place to go to discuss scooter related topics and just have fun. So if anything can be contributed to the cause, I hope this is the place people come to.

you are welcome, keep us informed as to how well you are doing with the club

[imagesinthewind]

Okay, this might be too strange for me.

Here is the CL ad I put up:
denver.craigslist.org/mcy/1690331313.html

And here is the very first response I got:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html




denver.craigslist.org/mcy/1690331313.html


Hi. Male in Lakewood here.
Sounds like fun. I ride a Kymco.

Will there be any sex involved? It's not a deal breaker
if there isn't, I'm just wondering.




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All i can say is wow.
I'm deleting this one as if I never received it.
And hoping I don't get any more like it.

[Rebel]

that is a shocker, sounds like somebody to steer clear of.

[Trancebear]

Any more interest in a Colorado scooter club? I am in Denver and have a 2.5 car garage built for scooter repairs with a stand and lift and all the special tools.

[bagga]

dues and rules would be a deal breaker, but that's just me. i've been around different local motorcycle clubs over the years and i couldn't live with club rules or the politics that go with the rules.

[Trancebear]

Agreed, just meet up and ride and maybe drink some inbetween.

[jmkjr72]

yeah even with the just scooting and no rules we have a hard enough time getting people togehter
but just spending the day hanging out at the car and bike shows are noce too