DC Front Runners Washington, DC's LGBTQ+ Running & Walking Club

By-laws

Amended and Restated
By-Laws of the DC Front Runners
Dated: September 23, 2017

Adopted: January 18, 1984
Amended: September 24, 1989
September 19, 1991
August 20, 1992
Xxx, yy, 1994 [missing amendment]
Amended & Restated: May 3, 2009
Amended: July 12, 2009
Amended: January 31, 2010
Amended: March 5, 2017
Amended & Restated: September 23, 2017
Amended & Restated: April 24, 2023

​Article I. – Name

A. The name of this club shall be the DC Front Runners (hereinafter referred to as DCFR or the “Club”).

​Article II. – Purpose

A. The purpose of the Club is to encourage and support Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) persons in the Washington, DC area who are interested in  running and walking. 

B. In pursuit of this goal, the Club will hold regularly scheduled running and walking  events, encourage participation in competitive events, organize social gatherings, and conduct other related activities alone and in cooperation with other groups.

​Article III. – Membership

A. The only requirement for membership is the payment of dues. Membership is  open to all who wish to join regardless of ability, physical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, age, race, religion, ethnic background or nationality.  

B. Membership shall be for a twelve–month period from the receipt of the membership fee. 

C. Benefits of membership include, but are not limited to the following: the fellowship of the Club, participation in Club business and events, voting, eligibility to hold office, and receipt of Club correspondence.

​Article IV. – Governance

A. DCFR is governed by its members and operates by consensus. To facilitate the  ongoing business of the Club, members will elect a Board. The Board is elected to  serve the interests of the Club and its members, not to dominate or dictate.

The board will:

  1. Conduct the day-to-day business of the Club, including oversight of all  Club matters 
  2. Hold meetings as necessary, but no fewer than 8 meetings per year 
  3. Review and Approve financial expenditures, monthly/quarterly financial  reports of DCFR and Pride Run 
  4. Establish an Advisory Committee at the beginning of each board term to serve in a non-voting advisory role to the Board.

B. The DCFR Board will consist of officers elected by the Club (Elected Officers) and  officers appointed (Appointed Officers) by the Elected Board.

C. The following officers, with the listed major responsibilities, will be elected for a  one-year term, with no limit on the number of terms an officer may serve. Terms  of Elected Officers begin as soon as election results are presented to the Club at  the Anniversary Party. Please refer to the Board Handbook for more complete and  detailed descriptions of officer responsibilities.

a. Coordinator:

  1. Serve as the chief administrator for the Club and the Chair of the  DCFR Board, convening over Club and board meetings as required, and appointing committees as required for special events and issues. 
  2. Represent and speak for the Club to outside organizations.
  3. Approve financial expenditures of $500 or less in consultation with  the Treasurer. 
  4. Delegate and assign duties as necessary to assure Club business  is accomplished. 
  5. Serve as a signatory for DCFR bank accounts. 

b. Treasurer:

  1. Administer the Club’s financial affairs, providing financial reports to  the DCFR Board during regular boardmeetings. 
  2. Collect, record, keep, and expend DCFR funds in accordance with  generally accepted accounting principles. 
  3. Approve financial expenditures of $500 or less in consultation with  the Coordinator. 
  4. Serve as a signatory for DCFR bank accounts. 

c. Secretary:

  1. Record, prepare, and disseminate minutes for DCFR Board Meetings. 
  2. Preserve all records, reports, and official documents of DCFR. 
  3. Serve as governance officer during official club business

d. Race Director(s):

  1. Schedule running events for the Club. 
  2. Develop and maintain the DCFR Race Circuit with input from Club members and prepare and compile results from DCFR Race Circuit.
  3. Prepare and present Race Circuit and other awards at the Anniversary Party.    

e. Outreach/Social Coordinators (Two Positions):

  1. Outreach/Social Coordinators will consist of two members from two of the following gender expressions:
    • Man
    • Woman
    • Nonbinary
  2. Outreach/Social Coordinators will represent DCFR to outside groups, facilitate membership drives, and work together to increase all aspects of diversity for our membership.
  3. Organize and facilitate outreach activities, events, Pride, and strategies to increase diverse and inclusive membership.
  4. Assume primary responsibility for Club social activities.

f. Walking Coordinator:

  1. Schedule walking events for the Club. 
  2. Develop the DCFR Walking Circuit with input from Club members.

D. Appointed Officers serve at the pleasure of the Elected Board. Their primary  purpose is to support the Club and the Board by handling specific functions  related to the Club’s business. Appointed members are encouraged to attend  meetings as needed, but are non-voting members of the Board. The Elected  Board is encouraged to review the number, responsibilities and designation of  Appointed Officers within 30 days of each election. Appointed officers serve for a  one-year term or as needed by the Elected Board. Examples of Appointed Officers are as follows:

  • Apparel Coordinator 
  • Membership Coordinator 
  • Webmaster 
  • Newsletter Editor 

E. The Coordinator may establish committees as necessary to carry out special tasks. Committee chairs shall report to the DCFR Board as requested and as applicable, adhere to established budgetary guidance, including financial reporting. Committee decisions are subject to approval by the Board.

​Article V. – Elections and Vacancies

A. Elections for Elected Officers will be held annually each year (July – September  timeframe). Elections will be presided over by an Election Committee composed  of at least three members in good standing who are not seeking elected office.  The Election Committee shall select a chair upon organization. 

​B. Nominations for Elected Officer positions will be advertised and accepted from the DCFR membership 4 to 5 weeks prior to the election. The nomination period will be open for 14 days. If an Elected Officer position(s) does not have a nominee during this nomination period, the current board can opt to extend the nomination period for that specific position(s) until a nominee is received and accepted, or until the ballots are distributed to club members, whichever comes first. If a nominee is not received or accepted by the time ballots are distributed, that position would(s) be considered vacant (see Section D, Vacancies). The slate of candidates will be announced, including candidates for both contested and uncontested positions, and members in good standing will have 14 days to cast their votes. Voting will be conducted electronically when possible.

C. The Election Committee will announce the election results at the Anniversary  Party and will not disclose the results to non-elected board membership prior. 

​D. If a vacancy on the DCFR Board occurs, the Board may appoint a member of the Club in good standing to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term until the next annual election. If necessary, the board may opt to appoint a member in good standing on an interim basis to the vacancy until a permanent officer is identified.

Article VI. – Amendments of By-Laws

A. These By-Laws may be changed or amended by the Club. 

B. The Board may make minor, clarifying administrative changes to the By-Laws as  necessary without submitting those changes to the Club at large. 

C. Significant changes which fundamentally change the operation of the Club must  be presented to the Club for comment and vote. A majority of those who vote  must approve the changes.

Article VII. – Quorum and Voting

A. At DCFR Board meetings, a simple majority of elected officers shall constitute a  quorum. The quorum may be established through attendance, by proxy, or  through electronic communications. 

B. Every act approved or decision made by a simple majority of the elected officers  in attendance (or through proxy or electronic communications) shall be a valid act  and decision of the Board. 

C. Without a quorum, the Board may meet to discuss Club business, but shall not  make decisions regarding significant issues or expense of funds over $500.

Article VIII. – Dissolution

​A. In case of dissolution, DC Front Runners’ assets will be donated to LGBTQIA+ charities as approved by a vote of the Club members.

Article IX – Prior By-Laws

A. These Amended and Restated By-Laws replace and supersede all prior By-Laws  and amendments enacted by the Club in the past.