Membership Rules of the

Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association

 

Social Member

Anyone signing up as a new member is considered a “Social Member”. A Social Member is encouraged attend the monthly meetings and contribute to that meeting but does not have a vote; nor can a Social Member make a nomination or motion. A new member will receive a “Social” membership card and a copy of the regulations of the AFBA along with a copy of our by-laws.

 

If a Social Member intends to become an Active member, a Social Member must attend meetings and become involved in AFBA events, work weekends, and contribute to the growth of the association. After one year a Social Member may become an Active Member by being nominated by an Active Member and voted into Active Membership by the Active Members at the monthly association meeting. At this time the nominating member should make known the reasons they feel the Social Member should be considered for Active Membership. The member being discussed will be asked to leave the room.

 

If a Social Member has shown exceptional interest (above and beyond the normal), after six months of membership, an Active Member can nominate a Social Member by making known the reasons they should be given Active Membership.

 

Each nomination for Active Membership will be carefully reviewed and handled on a case by case basis. Active Membership status will not take effect until the following scheduled meeting.

 

The Social Member not voted into Active status should be told of the reasons that they were not deemed to be an Active Member.       If someone is not voted in as an Active Member they may be re-nominated after 3 months. It’s the association’s wish that the Social Member not achieving Active Membership will carefully consider the reasons given and strive for attaining Active Membership in the future.

 

Active Member

Active Members are voting contributing members. An Active Member is required to attend 6 meetings during a calendar year (January - December).

           

The Active Membership consists of dedicated, contributing members who want to help the AFBA continue to grow and promote Bluegrass music. In addition to attending 6 (six) meetings, the requirements for Active Members are:

 

Festivals -

·        working 3 3 hour shifts during a majority of the years major festivals, for example - 3 out of 5 festivals, (AFBA Festival mandatory),Any hours over the required 9 festival hours can be applied to “work hours” at the park.

·        early gate opening and clean-up after each event are in addition to the shifts required,

·        preparation for festival, for example - mailings, coordinating bands, vendors, volunteers, advertising, and any other pre-fest work not identified here, but is identified by the Executive Committee,

·        Officers and Board Members are required to work additional shifts should the situation arise.

·        Active Members should consider additional work shifts if their help is requested. All attempts will be made to have an event properly staffed prior to the event.

·        No member can be admitted to a Festival at no charge without working the required shifts at the Festival. 

If an Active Member does not meet the requirements, they will be subject to review by the Executive Committee and Board and may loose their Active Membership status.

 

Shindigs -

·        help out where needed at monthly shin-digs, for example - door, merchandise table, raffle.

 

Park -

·        in addition to scheduled work week-ends, help with clean-up or projects at the park (see attached for suggestions).

           

Active Members not attending meetings are to be reviewed by the Executive Committee and Board and membership status changed to Social Membership. Exceptions are to be made in writing and to become part of the meeting minutes should circumstances prevent a person from attending meetings such as illness, death in immediate family, working your regular job or commitment to another music event.

 

Active Members with Trailer Privileges

Trailer Privileges are a privilege! It is for the convenience of active members who work on the park; working during clean-up weekends, pre/post and during festivals, special work projects, routine maintenance or working towards the benefit of events at the park.

·        Members with Trailer Privileges will sign a yearly contract for their campsite which will be renewed each year.

·        A Security Deposit in the amount of $100 will be given to the AFBA to be held in an escrow account at the signing of the first yearly contract.  In the event a member leaves behind a mess, a trailer/camper/RV, or their actions result in expenses to the association, this deposit will not be returned.

·        Additional fees may be charged if removal/clean-up expenses exceeds the $100 deposit.

·        Campsites are defined and to be respected. A campsite is to be considered someone’s living quarters and should not be trespassed on.

            a) Only one trailer per campsite. This is defined as one trailer per family that cohabits together, couple, residence-sharing friends, married couple or cohabiting couple.

·        After 1 year of Active Membership, an Active Member may apply to keep a trailer at the park.

·        This privilege must be approved by the Active Members in attendance of at regular meeting.

            a) at which time they will be given a contract and 30 days to submit it along with the $100 deposit,

            b) once a signed copy of the contract is returned to you, you may bring your camper to the park.  

·        It may also be revoked by the Executive Committee and Board and Active Membership vote at any time with good cause.

            a) If revoked, a certified letter will be sent within 7 days of the offense notifying this member that the property must be removed within 30 days of receipt of the letter. After 30 days the association can remove the property from the park at the owners expense.

·        Trailer Privileges are automatically taken away once a person looses their Active Member status.

·        No deeding or willing of trailer privileges to any family member or friend in the event of a member’s death.

 

Lifetime Active Members

Anyone who has been a dedicated Active Member for over 20 consecutive years (and has reached the age of at least 55) is eligible for Lifetime Active Membership. This is usually at a time when they can not contribute as they did for the previous 20 years. Exceptions should be made as far as requirements; due to some limitations on the part of this older Active Member. They should be made to feel welcomed to work at a rate at which they are capable; at the park, at festivals or at shin-digs.  If applicable, they should also retain Trailer Privileges.

 

Membership Termination

Becoming a member in poor standing is a member who does any of the following:

·        makes negative verbal comments about the association; or by behavior, actions or deeds, creates a hostile environment at meetings, events/festivals,

·        takes any criminal action while at AFBA events or while representing the AFBA.

·        One year after termination, a terminated member may apply for Social Membership which will be voted on by the Active Members at the next meeting.

 

Officers and Board Members

Officers and Board Members are Active Members voted/appointed into office. They  should display leadership qualities and conduct themselves with respect to the position they have been entrusted with.

·        They must attend 8 meetings during the calendar year (January - December), and not miss more than 2 meetings in a row.

·        If an Officer or Board Member misses 3 meetings in a row, they will automatically come up for review with the Executive Committee and Board. The Executive Committee and Board may at that time request the resignation of the Officer or Board Member or remove that Officer or Board Member from office or the board.

·        In the event an Officer or Board Member is removed from office or the board, they are automatically changed to a Social Member. They must then wait 1 year before applying for Active Membership while proving they are deserving of Active Membership.

·        If an Officer or Board Member resigns, in good standing, they do not loose their Active status.

 

 

Gifts / Donations

Donations of goods, services and money are given freely to the Association without special consideration or favors to be returned for it. A donation statement should be completed any time work, services, goods, money, etc. are donated to the Association/Park.

 

A few Work Suggestions to remain an Active Member

General Park Maintenance - general clean-up, raking leaves,etc., mowing grass, planting flowers, cleaning showers, cleaning stage, etc.,making signs, painting,

Special Park Projects Taskforce - new bridges, upgrade roads, upgrade electric,defining park boundary,

AFBA  Special Committees – By-Laws (Membership Rules), Policies, etc.,

Any Coordinator Positions - volunteers, advertising, vendor,

merchandise

Helping at Shindig

Association Mailings

 

Approved 2005

Updated Submitted April 2006

 

 

 

 

                          Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association

                                    P.O. Box 507, Wind Gap, PA 18091

                                                     Trailer Contract

 

Date: ___/___/___

 

Active Member Name:______________________________

Trailer Make:____________________ Model:___________________ Year:______

Trailer Plate:_____________ Trailer Registration:_________________

 

Approximately how many hours did you work at the park last season? _____

Approximately how many hours did you work for the AFBA last year?  _____

What are some of the projects you worked on? ___________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

I have read the Membership Rules and fully understand them. Having been

an active member for over one year, I am requesting the privilege of

keeping a trailer on A.F.B.A. property known as Mountain View Park,in

Wind Gap,(Bushkill Township) PA.

The $100 Security deposit required for a first-time applicant must be

enclosed with this application.

 

Member Signature: __________________________

AFBA Officer Signature / Title: ________________________________

AFBA Officer Signature / Title: ________________________________

 

Trailer Contracts will be reviewed in March each year. All contracts must  be returned by March 1st. If trailer privileges are revoked (at the March meeting), your trailer must be removed from the park by April 30th.

First time Trailer Privileges may be requested at a meeting, at any time  during the year.

 

 

 

2005 COMMITTEE

Jodie Fishbein         

Jodie60@verizon.net

 

Debbie Frey  (Chair)

sp3office@rcn.com

 

Fred T. Lenczynski   

Grillbillie@rcn.com

 

Jeff Ohl

 

Ray Wexler   

 

The Committee met on December 3rd for 4 hours. We took draft 1 and reorganized the ideas under specific titles.

- rearranged Social membership and Active membership

- removed Contributing Active member

- added Lifetime Member

- added Membership Termination - brief and to the point

- under some headings we left room for “special” circumstances - Social to

 Active membership, trailer privileges - fast tracking

- work suggestions - broad strokes, not details

- Trailer contract - defined campsite

- reworded some parts

Reviewed and revised at December, January and February Association meetings. Revisions were aslo made at the March 13th meeting. Presented at the Association’s March meeting and will be distributed to all Active members along with the By-laws

 

2006 COMMITTEE

Deb, Jodie, Jeff

We met in March and made very few changes to the Membership Rules. We concentrated mainly on the contract.