2023 Proposed Bylaw Changes
The ORA board has some bylaw changes to present to the membership for a vote at the annual meeting on August 12, 2023. Please review these changes. Click below to download the current bylaws (2018) and the full change proposal below.
Introductory Paragraph Addition
Reason for the Change:
There is no definition, description of the association, or corporation type listed in the document.
Proposed Solution:
Add paragraphs to the beginning of the document before Article I.
Define the name as Oklahoma Rifle Association, Inc. per the incorporation certificate. Add the Oklahoma non-profit type corporation. Also add any other names that are allowed to be used in the rest of the document. Propose “ORA” and “Association.”
Define the principal and any other office locations as to be defined by the Board of Directors.
Bylaw Change:
Proposed document under title before Article I: The name of this organization is the Oklahoma Rifle Association, Inc. It may be referred to as the “ORA” or the “Association” in these bylaws. The ORA is organized as a private nonprofit Oklahoma corporation in accordance with Oklahoma law. The principal office of the ORA shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Additional offices may also be located throughout Oklahoma as determined by the Board of Directors.
Executive Committee Definition Update
Reason for the Change:
The Executive Committee is not clearly defined.
Bylaw Change:
Add the following to Article IV: In Article IV, clearly define the Executive Committee to be comprised of the Officers and the Executive Director, if there is one per III.2.B. Move III.3.E to this new section. Remove the weak existing definition from II.4.B. The Officers in the Committee have voice and vote, but the Executive Director has voice, but no vote.
Clearly state that the duties of the Executive Committee include the day-to-day operation of the Association. Move existing III.6.E to this new section. Move first sentence of II.2.G to this new section. Update II.2.G to mention that the Executive Committee reviews and recommends new fee schedules per this new section.
Current Article IV: [No paragraph C.]
Proposed Article IV: [Add new paragraph C:] C. The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Officers and the Executive Director, if there is one per III.2.B. The voting members of the Executive Committee shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Director is a non‐voting member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall conduct day-to-day operations of the Association. The Executive Committee shall have the power to meet and conduct Association and Board of Directors’ business in cases of special problems, emergencies, or when timeliness does not permit the full Board of Directors to meet. The Executive Committee shall annually review and propose all fee schedules and make recommendations to the Board of Directors. [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 7 and/or 8 are approved.]
Current III.3.E: E. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall constitute the voting members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Director would be a non‐voting member of the Executive Committee.
Proposed III.3.E: Delete E in its entirety.
Current II.4.B: B. All members in good standing shall have the privilege of participating in the State Convention, including voting for the President, Vice‐President, Secretary, and Treasurer who shall comprise the Executive Committee.
Proposed II.4.B: B. All members in good standing shall have the privilege of participating in the State Convention, including voting for the President, Vice‐President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Financial Review Committee
Reason for the Change:
Regarding III.1.A – last sentence: “The Treasurer must be a CPA or there must be an annual audit.” It is not always possible to have a Treasurer who is a CPA, and formal audits can be quite expensive. We can delete this requirement, but we need to have oversight of the finances in order to ensure compliance with these bylaws, state and federal law, and good practices. Also, the financial books should be reviewed independently, whether the Treasurer is a CPA or not.
Bylaw Change:
Delete the last sentence of III.1.A.
Add a section to Article IV entitled Financial Review Committee.
The purpose of the committee is to conduct a review of the annual financial statement. This committee is to be composed of three ORA Members appointed by the President and approved by the Board. The current Treasurer is not allowed to be a member of this committee. This committee will prepare and maintain a list of review topics to be used during the annual review.
This list of review topics, and any changes thereto, will be presented to and approved by the Board before the review is conducted. Annually, this committee will conduct and complete a financial review by the first quarter of the following year. The results of the review are to be presented to the Board for review and approval.
Current III.1.A: The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by the voting members as specified in Article II. Officers will be elected for two year terms. The President and Secretary to be elected in even numbered years and serve consecutive terms. The Vice President and Treasurer to be elected in odd numbered years and serve consecutive terms. Officers shall take office upon adjournment of the State Convention and shall hold such office until his or her successor is properly elected, or appointed and qualified. The Treasurer must be a CPA or there must be an annual audit.
Proposed III.1.A: The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by the voting members as specified in Article II. Officers will be elected for two year terms. The President and Secretary to be elected in even numbered years and serve consecutive terms. The Vice President and Treasurer to be elected in odd numbered years and serve consecutive terms. Officers shall take office upon adjournment of the State Convention and shall hold such office until his or her successor is properly elected, or appointed and qualified.
Current Article IV: [No paragraph C.]
Proposed Article IV: [Add new paragraph C.] C. Financial Review Committee. The purpose of the committee is to conduct a review of the annual financial statement. This committee is to be composed of three ORA Members appointed by the President and approved by the Board. Neither the current Treasurer nor the Treasurer of the fiscal year being reviewed is allowed to be a member of this committee. This committee shall prepare and maintain a list of review topics to be used during the annual review. This list of review topics, and any changes thereto, shall be presented to and approved by the Board before the review is conducted. Annually, this committee shall conduct and complete a financial review by the end of the first quarter of the following year. The results of the review shall be presented to the Board for review and approval. [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 and/or 8 is approved.]
Standing Committee
Reason for the Change:
Regarding Article IV, Standing Committees The only such committee defined is a Long Range Planning Committee. This is really the job of the Board and should come and go as needed to perform long term planning. When membership is low, it is extremely difficult to populate and conduct such a standing committee.
Proposed Change:
Delete the Long Range Planning Committee, IV.A. Add to III.6: The Board of Directors shall be responsible for long range planning in order to enhance and develop the ORA and its goals. If the Board feels it needs to stand up a committee to assist with that task, it may do so.
Bylaw Change:
Current section IV: A. Long Range Planning Committee. Upon assuming office, the President shall name a chairman and such number of committee members as he/she deems necessary to the Long Range Planning Committee. This committee will be charged with developing a long range, 5‐year plan for enhancement and development of the state association and its goals. Such plan is to be submitted annually to the President who may present it to the general membership. B. The President is empowered to create such other committees as he/she believes necessary for the betterment of the Association.
Proposed IV: [Delete current A. Renumber remaining paragraph.] A. The President is empowered to create such other committees as he/she believes necessary for the betterment of the Association. [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 and/or 7 is approved.]
Current III.6: Duties of the Board of Directors: [No current paragraph F.]
Proposed III.6: Duties of the Board of Directors: [Add new paragraph F.] F. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for long range planning in order to enhance and develop the ORA and its goals. If the Board feels it needs to stand up a committee to assist with that task, it may do so. [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 is approved.]
General Grammar & Punctuation Corrections
Reason for the Change:
There are several grammar and/or punctuation errors throughout the document.
Bylaw Change:
Article I, section 2, I – “individual” should be “individuals.” Article II, section 2, F – “in incurred” should be “be incurred.” Article III, section 2, B – Poorly worded paragraph. Reword, with no change in meaning. Article III, section 3, C – “all meeting” should be “all meetings.” Article V, section 4 – “Roberts” should be “Robert’s.” Article VI – The sections should not be indented. Remove the indent. Article VI, section 1 – “an approved” should be “approval.” Article I, section 2, I – Change “individual” to “individuals.” Article II, section 2, F – Change “in incurred” to “be incurred.”
Current III.2.B: B. The President may at his or her discretion nominate an Executive Director. The nomination to be confirmed by a majority of the ORA Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting. The Executive Director to perform duties as specified by the Board of Directors. The position of Executive Director to be an “at will” position. The Executive Director to serve as a non‐voting member of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
Proposed III.2.B: B. The President may at his or her discretion nominate an Executive Director. The nomination shall be confirmed by a majority of the ORA Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting. The Executive Director performs duties as specified by the Board of Directors. The position of Executive Director is an “at will” position. The Executive Director serves as a non‐voting member of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
Article III, section 2, B – Change “to serve” to “serves.” Article III, section 3, C – “all meeting” should be “all meetings.” Article IV, A – “Such plan” should be “This plan.” Article V, section 4 – “Roberts” should be “Robert’s.” Article VI – The sections should not be indented. Remove the indent.