The name of this organization is the Socialist Rifle Association Inc., henceforth referred to as the Socialist Rifle Association or “Organization,” a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Kansas.
The Socialist Rifle Association is an education and advocacy organization dedicated to providing marginalized communities and the working class with the education, the skills, and the advocates necessary to be effectively armed for self and community defense. We recognize all aspects of self and community defense to include (but not limited to) topics such as firearms, disaster relief, medicine, logistics, agriculture, general survival skills, and other pursuits necessary to unify and strengthen communities against the hardships of life under capitalism. We seek, advocate for, and advance an inclusive, safe, and healthy firearms culture in America to combat the toxic, right-wing, and exclusionary firearm culture in place today. We work to create a platform, environment, and community of members and like-minded individuals that are free of reactionary influences and prejudices, such as racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other discriminatory ideologies. We maintain the necessity of and work towards the implementation of an anti-capitalist platform for protecting and promoting the inherent human right to defend oneself and one’s community.
Any individual who is above the age of eighteen (18) years, who is a resident of the United States, and who agrees with the purpose of this Organization, may apply for membership within the Socialist Rifle Association.
An application may be denied on the following character grounds:
From time to time, the Administration of the Organization may ask additional questions to applicants on the membership application form to better gauge the character and history of applicants.
Any dues will be set by policy of the Administration and if any changes in dues are made will not go into effect until the next January 1st or July 1st , whichever occurs first. Any changes in dues will be sent to members via email and preferred communications platform as decided on by the Organizing Committee.
Members of the Socialist Rifle Association are expected to adhere to certain rules, policies, and standards of conduct when acting within the organization and when representing the organization. Certain forms of misconduct may be considered so egregious as to be grounds for discipline even if a member is not representing the organization.
The Administration and/or Organizing Committee of the Organization may, from time to time, set forth additional standards of conduct in the form of ongoing policy resolutions, so long as they do not violate any enumerated member rights.
All members are expected to comply with the following standards of conduct:
Members are empowered with certain rights within the Socialist Rifle Association. All members shall be entitled to the following rights:
A member may resign their membership by either a provided membership management platform or by serving the Membership Department with a notice of resignation. The Membership Department may establish an accountable and verifiable method of providing this notice as they see necessary. A member's resignation will be immediate and irrevocable.
A member who fails to renew dues shall have their membership status updated to "Delinquent" and lose their rights as a member while delinquent. If a member remains delinquent for one (1) month, they shall have their membership status updated to "Administratively Removed."
If a member is found to have been in violation of these bylaws they can be removed from the organization by a majority vote of the Organizing Committee
Any item that may fall under membership not covered by these bylaws shall be set via policy of the Membership Department
For clarification there will be two (2) types of members.
The Organizing Committee of the Socialist Rifle Association shall be the collective leadership and highest decision making body of the Organization, imbued with ultimate authority to pass resolutions, amend the Bylaws, and determine the direction of the Organization. It shall act in the Organization’s best and fiduciary interests at all times and shall work to promote and serve the mission of the Organization.
The Organizing Committee shall be ultimately responsible for all actions of the organization and shall be principally responsible for the setting of annual budgets for the Organization, the appointment of members to various Commissions, Committees, Workgroups and supervision of the Executive Director.
All members of the Organizing Committee shall serve in a volunteer capacity and shall not receive wage or salary compensation for their duties within the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee may approve reasonable travel reimbursements for its members as the budget of the Organization allows and the needs of the Organizing Committee demand.
The Organizing Committee will comprise of 5 (minimum) to 25 (maximum) seats.
Any representative of the Organizing Committee , or any candidate for such, shall be a member in good standing.
Any member seeking to run for the Organizing Committee shall obtain the nomination of another two members of the SRA to be listed on the ballot. And shall be turned in from the start of application (May 1st) thru end of the open application time (May 14th). Applications will be set up and handled by the Membership Department.
No more than two (2) people from any chapter may sit on the Organizing Committee. No more than five(5) members who do not belong to a chapter may be seated on the Organizing Committee at any one time.
All elected members of the Organizing Committee must sign with their legal names, due to Personal Identifiable Information that they will be privy to.
No staff member, paid or volunteer, may serve in the Organizing Committee. A member of the Organizing Committee who accepts a staff commission shall resign their seat, and vice versa.
A quorum necessary to conduct business of the Organizing Committee at a regularly scheduled meeting (or emergency meeting) shall be a simple majority of its elected and appointed members. Vacant seats shall not count toward the number of Representatives necessary for quorum. This quorum shall be sufficient to conduct business of the Organizing Committee, and any quotient of Representatives required to pass a measure shall be based on this quorum. This quorum shall be accomplished by roll call via voice.
The President shall be the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee and shall chair all meetings of the Organizing Committee. They shall be empowered to maintain the agenda during meetings, set time limits on discussions, and advise on parliamentary conduct. They shall additionally maintain an observer role over the affairs of any committees/subcommittees and/or Caucuses. In their absence, the Vice President will chair the meeting in their stead.
The Organizing Committee shall regularly meet every month. Meetings shall be held the 2nd Sunday of every month (if this date falls on a Federal/Religious or any other day recognized as a Holiday it may be moved to the 3rd Sunday).
The Organizing Committee may host an emergency meeting on the petition of at least one-fifth (⅕) of the members of the organization or one-third (⅓) of the Organizing Committee. An emergency meeting shall have at least 72 hours notice to members of the Organizing Committee and may be chaired by any member of the Organizing Committee if the President is unable to attend. Emergency meetings shall be limited to a single issue to be deliberated upon.
Agendas for meetings of the Organizing Committee shall be distributed at least one (1) week ahead of the regular meeting to membership. The Organizing Committee shall be responsible for the creation and order of the agenda. Items not on the agenda may not be considered without a majority vote of the Organizing Committee to approve an in-meeting item addition.
All long-form matters of the Organizing Committee shall take the form of a resolution, which shall be a written instrument explaining the nature, rationale, and jurisdiction of a proposed action of the Organization. Resolutions presented by members of the Organizing Committee shall first be considered by Committees and shall not be considered by the full Organizing Committee without the approval of a Committee unless a majority plus 1 vote of the Organizing Committee moves it to be considered. These Committees shall meet periodically outside of Organizing Committee meetings, not less than once per month.
Motions shall be any short-form matter of the Organizing Committee that can be easily spoken in one to two sentences. They may be procedural in regards to parliamentary order or may delegate or mandate some authority or responsibility to the Administration of the Organization. Procedural motions may be made at any time, while non-procedural motions may only be made during open discussion periods. A motion shall require a second to be considered.
The Organizing Committee shall consider and vote on a budget prepared by the Organizing Committee at every October session for the next calendar year. If a new budget fails to pass, the previous budget shall hold until a new budget is passed.
Any member of the Organization may visit and sit in on a session of the Organizing Committee. Any member may testify to the Organizing Committee, provided a time slot for such testimony is provided by a member of the Organizing Committee.
The Chairperson may additionally designate a portion of time dedicated to member testimony on an agenda item and shall accept requests by full members to testify until the time slot is filled.
Any matter of parliamentary conduct not enumerated in these Bylaws may be considered by the Organizing Committee, and the Organizing Committee may pass binding resolutions on itself governing parliamentary conduct.
Quarterly (January , April , July and October) a meeting will be held on the last Sunday of the month (If this date falls on a Federal/Religious or any other day recognized as a Holiday it may be moved to the Sunday before) chaired by the Organizing Committee to hear any grievance , concerns or general input from the chapters. Any chapter may participate by sending one (1) delegate to this meeting via the chapter's internal election process. Only requirement set forth by the organization is that any delegate sent forth must contact the Organizing Committee no less than one (1) week before the meeting. Only delegates sent forth by their chapters will be allowed to speak at these meetings other than the Organizing Committee , Administration and/or specially selected members by the Organizing Committee. Any member is able to attend these meetings.
The term of an Organizing Committee member shall be two years in length. In the event of a filled vacancy, the interim representative shall fill for the remainder of the previous representative’s term.
If a previously occupied seat becomes vacant by reason of resignation or removal, the Organizing Committee shall have the power to interview and appoint any member in good standing by three fourths (¾) vote of the Organizing Committee. If this vacancy occurs in April or May, the vacancy shall be filled during the regular election of the Organizing Committee.
If a seat becomes vacant because of a lack of candidates in an election, the Organizing Committee shall be empowered to appoint by a three fourths (¾) vote , a representative for the remainder of the term.
The elections of the Organizing Committee shall be administered by the Administration of the Organization. Elections shall take place digitally, via secure and auditable software. These elections will occur during the last week of May for results to be posted no later than the 6th day of June.
Organizing Committee members shall be chosen by approval voting. Members shall be presented with a ballot with all candidates running for the Organizing Committee. The member may then select any number of candidates which they approve (or disapprove) of and then submit their ballot.
The candidate with the highest sum of approvals shall win the election. If there is more than one open seat, the second highest approval count shall win election, and so forth until all open seats are filled. Any one running that receives more disapproval votes than approval votes shall not be seated.
The Organizing Committee shall be elected in May of every year, with incoming candidates to take office and outgoing representatives to leave office the following July 1st.
The first election of the Organizing Committee shall seat (depending on number of elected members) members on a 2 year term, which will be the top half of the vote totals (ie 13 people run, 7 highest total votes for that candidate will be seated for 2 years. The lower 6 will be sat for a 1 year term), and the election held the next year will be for a 2 year term like the rest of the Organizing Committee. If the top 8 (or more) vote totals are equal then during the first meeting of the newly elected Organizing Committee there shall be a vote by ranked choice voting on who will fill the first set of a 2 year term with the original election as the decider (ie 7 highest in a 13 person race will take a 2 year term while the other 6 take a one year term). After the execution of the 2nd election this subsection of the bylaws shall be automaticly removed.
The Organizing Committee shall be the Board of Directors of the Socialist Rifle Association and shall serve as signature authority for any business necessary to be conducted as such with other entities. They shall directly oversee and supervise the Administration of the Organization and shall be composed of four Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All of whom will have to use their legal name for any Federal and/or State documents.
The President shall serve as the Speaker of the Organizing Committee and shall be considered the representative of the movement and direction of the Organization. The President shall see that all orders of the Organizing Committee are enacted, shall serve as an additional signature authority for any contracts signed by the Executive Director, and may sign official correspondence on behalf of the Organizing Committee.
The Vice President shall be assistant to the president , take the place of the President if the President cannot attend a meeting or if the President is removed from office (either by recall or resignation) until a time that the Organizing Committee can convene to elect a new President.
The Secretary shall keep all the minutes of the meetings of the Organizing Committee and shall record all votes of the Organizing Committee in a medium meant for that purpose. They shall be responsible for the notification of all meetings of the Organizing Committee to members thereof and may sign official correspondence on behalf of the Organizing Committee.
The Secretary shall designate a Deputy Secretary (chosen from the members of the Organizing Committee) to act in their stead in the event of the Secretary’s absence.
The Treasurer shall review the records of the expenses and incomes of the Organization, shall be responsible for ensuring all appropriate laws and regulations regarding finance are being complied with, and shall be responsible for advising the Organizing Committee on technical aspects of any proposed annual budget of the Organization.
The Treasurer shall designate a Deputy Treasurer (chosen from the members of the Organizing Committee) to act in their stead in the event of the Treasurer’s absence.
After the elections for the Organizing Committee are complete , at the first meeting of the Organizing Committee the Organizing Committee shall conduct elections for President , Vice President , Secretary and Treasurer . Each position shall be elected and filled before any other business can be conducted. President , Vice President , Secretary and Treasurer are chosen from the elected Organizing Committee , all to be either self nominated or nominated by no less than 2 other members of the Organizing Committee. All terms for the above are for a period of one year , and elections for these positions will be held in the July meeting of the Organizing Committee every year.
Any resolution or non-procedural motion passed by the Organizing Committee shall receive the signature of the Organizing Committee, prior to taking effect. The Organizing Committee shall always sign a duly-passed resolution or motion by the Organizing Committee, unless:
In the event any of these clauses are invoked, the resolution or motion shall not have force under these bylaws, and either the Legal Director (or designated attorney) or the Organizing Committee shall recommend what changes, if any, can be made to change the determination If such changes are made and no violation is found, the Organizing Committee shall affirm and sign the resolution or motion.
The Organizing Committee may delegate any powers/authority not described in these bylaws to other members of the Organizing Committee and even the President, Vice President , Secretary and/or Treasurer by policy of the Organizing Committee.
Any member of the Organizing Committee may be removed for violations of these bylaws. Removal on these grounds shall require a two-thirds majority of the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee shall require a simple majority to remove a member if at least one-fifth (⅕) of members of the organization have petitioned for their removal on these grounds.
Any member of the Organizing Committee may be removed for too many unexcused absences. Should a representative miss two meetings of the Organizing Committee consecutively, without excuse, the Organizing Committee shall automatically hold a vote on their removal in the second meeting they are unexcused from. A simple majority vote shall be required to remove a representative on these grounds.
Excusal policy shall be prepared by the Organizing Committee, and excuses granted by vote of the Organizing Committee.
Any member of the Organizing Committee who consistently fails in their duties, fails to act in a fiduciary role to the Organization, or otherwise lacks the confidence of the Organizing Committee, may be removed by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the Organizing Committee, or a simple majority if at least one-fifth (⅕) of members of the organization have petitioned for their removal on these grounds.
The Administration of the Socialist Rifle Association shall be the paid and volunteer staff of the Organization, responsible for its daily upkeep and maintenance. All regular affairs of the Organization, to include but not limited to the administration, finances, and logistics of the Organization, shall be directed through the Administration, and it shall remain separate from the Organizing Committee.
Directors within the Administration shall be provided the authority and clearance to establish uniform policies and procedures within their domain, provided these policies and procedures are fair, equitable, and respectful, and are in keeping with any resolutions passed by the Organizing Committee. Any policy written by the Administration shall be approved by the Organizing Committee of a majority vote from the Organizing Committee.
Members of the Administration may be paid, provided the rate of pay for the position has been previously approved by the Organizing Committee or by prior contract, and is accounted for within the current budget passed by the Organizing Committee.
To maintain and ensure consistency and clarity in all writings and documents published by the Organization, internally and externally, members of the Organizing Committee may request the assistance of the Administration in typing resolutions and policies. The Administration shall not independently create resolutions or policies under the sole jurisdiction of the Organizing Committee. The Administration may provide advice on resolutions and policies, but shall do so from an organization, administrative, or logistical perspective, and shall not comment nor advise on strictly political matters of any resolution or policy.
The Executive Director of the Organization shall be chief executive officer of the Organization for its day to day affairs. The Executive Director shall be the final supervisor of all of the staff and other Directors, and shall be responsible for ensuring the day to day activities of the Organization are fulfilled.
They shall recommend staff and Director hires and appointments to the Organizing Committee, and shall conduct periodic performance reviews of staff for the records of the Organization.
The Membership Director shall be the chief administrative officer of the Organization, and shall be responsible for the book keeping of the Organization, to include the maintenance and upkeep of the member roster. They shall additionally maintain the chapter roster, and work with the Chapters Director to ensure it is complete and accurate.
The Chapters Director shall be the chief chapters officer of the Organization, and shall be responsible for the supervision, accounting, and support of the chapters.
Additional directorships may be created by recommendation of the Executive Director, subject to the approval of the Organizing Committee. The roles, responsibilities, and current title holders of these directorships shall be listed on the Organization website.
General staff shall handle administrative tasks that do not generally require new policies or significant independent direction to complete. General staff largely complete routine work or otherwise follow firmly established procedures or tasks set out by Directors of the Organization.
The Executive Director shall be selected by the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee shall vote on the recommended Executive Director, for this to pass, a vote of three fourths(¾) in favor. If the Organizing Committee rejects the selected Executive Director, the Organizing Committee shall select another candidate.
Directors shall be selected by the Executive Director and confirmed by the Organizing Committee by a simple majority vote . If the Organizing Committee refuses to second the selection, the Executive Director shall select another candidate.
Staff may be hired by the Administration, subject to budgetary limits imposed by the Organizing Committee. If a staff member will work underneath a director, that director shall interview and recommend the hire to the Executive Director, who will approve or disapprove of the hire. If the staff member is to work directly underneath the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall interview and recommend the hire to the Organizing Committee, who will approve or disapprove of the hire by majority vote. The same procedure shall apply for volunteer staff, but without limitation by the budget.
Employed staff shall only be removed for either gross misconduct or due to lack of funding.
Employed staff may be removed for gross misconduct, to include failure to perform their duties, following review and notification of the employee. A minimum of two notifications shall be required, over a minimum of a two month period. This requirement may be waived by majority vote of the Organizing Committee if an employee’s misconduct severely harms or damages the Organization.
Employed staff may be removed due to lack of funding if the Organizing Committee approves a budget that removes the employee’s position as a paid position. Such a budget shall only be passed by a three fourths (3/4) vote of the Organizing Committee if it removes a paid position. They shall be given not less than three (3) months notice of loss of position for this reason. Employees shall be offered reduced hours prior to the consideration of the elimination of their position.
Volunteer staff may be removed for misconduct or lack of work.
Volunteer staff may be removed for misconduct, to include failure to perform their duties, following review and notification of the employee. A minimum of two notifications shall be required, over a minimum of a month period. This requirement may be waived by majority vote of the Organizing Committee if a volunteer’s misconduct severely harms or damages the Organization.
Volunteers may be removed due to lack of work if, by their supervising Director’s determination, the amount of work being done does not require the number of volunteers the Director currently has under their supervision.
The Organization shall take no action to deny or stymie the creation of a union. The Organization shall automatically recognize any card check that shows a majority of paid staff wish to create a union.
The Executive Director may open up business credit card lines to assist in the day to day expenditures of the Administration, upon majority approval from the Organizing Committee.
Any loans to be taken out for any reason shall be approved of by the Organizing Committee by a three fourths (¾) approval vote.
Chapters serve as the foundation of the Socialist Rifle Association, the bedrock of the Organization’s material actions, and the structure with which members participate in the Organization.
Any member joining a chapter must be a dues paying member of the SRA in order to vote in or be in the chapter's leadership roles.
Any member taking on leadership roles within chapters must have an NDA (signed with their legal name, to be verified by Administration) on file with the Organization.
Any other rules and regulations not covered by these bylaws placed upon the chapters will be done so via policy of the Chapters Department.
Are subject to any local,state and federal laws for a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit.
The Organizing Committee may recommend the amendment of any portion of these Bylaws by a majority vote, to be sent to membership and may be enacted by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the ballots returned shall be required for adoption of the amendment.
The Organizing Committee may amend any portion of these Bylaws by a three-fourths (¾) majority vote in a regular meeting.
The membership may, by petition of not less than one-fifth (⅕) of the total number of members who voted in the most recent Organizing Committee election, initiate a referendum to amend these Bylaws. Such a referendum shall be submitted to a vote of the full membership. A two-thirds (⅔) majority of the ballots returned shall be required for adoption of the amendment.
The chapters may, by processes determined by each chapter, petition to amend these Bylaws by referendum. Such a petition shall require not less than one fourth (¼) of the chapters of the Organization. Such a referendum shall be submitted to a vote of the full membership. A two-thirds (⅔) majority of the ballots returned shall be required for adoption of the amendment.
To the full extent authorized by the laws of the State of Kansas and the United States, all members of the Organizing Committee, all officers, all committee members, all employees, all volunteers, and all members acting in accordance with authority given to them by the Bylaws of this Organization or at the direction of authorized agents of the Organization, shall be indemnified from lawsuit pressed against them. This indemnity shall be waived upon finding of a court that the individual committed gross misconduct in the execution of their duties. The foregoing indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an indemnitee may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, resolution of the Organizing Committee, or otherwise.
Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the organization in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding, if authorized by the Organizing Committee, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder.
The Organization shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a committeeperson, officer, employee, or agent against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the organization would have the power or obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article.
Upon dissolution, the Socialist Rifle Association Inc. permanently dedicates all remaining funds and assets to such other organizations that are organized exclusively for the promotion of social welfare and that operate to further the common good and general welfare of the community, subject to any present or future sections of federal, state, or local laws and regulations.
Upon dissolution, Kansas law will govern the distribution of the Socialist Rifle Association Inc.'s assets.
For the purposes of these Bylaws, all statements and procedures outlined in this Article take precedence and supremacy over all others made in these Bylaws. The purpose of this Article is to ensure the smooth and effective transition from any previous version of the Bylaws to the version enacted via these Bylaws.
At the enacting date of these bylaws , Provisional members under the old bylaws will become Members of the SRA regardless of chapter or at-large status.
All ratified chapters of the Organization shall retain their ratification, and shall not be deprived of their status as such by the enactment of these Bylaws. Ratified chapters shall, within three (3) months of the passage of these bylaws, ensure that their chapter bylaws have been updated in accordance with any provisions mandated by these Bylaws.
The previous Organizing Committee shall retain the mandate and legal authority of the Organization under the previous Bylaws until the Organizing Committee is established, upon which time legal authority shall transfer to the newly elected Organizing Committee.
Duly appointed directors shall retain their positions and become directors of equivalent title under these Bylaws.
Officers shall be afforded first preference to vacant directorships within the Administration, as described in Section Four of this Article. Officers receiving pay shall maintain such pay in their directorship, and their prior office, if it still exists, shall become a voluntary commission.
Upon the passage of these Bylaws, all prior Officers who have chosen to take positions within the Administration shall take their positions within it and immediately commence work on taking all actions, measures, and procedures necessary to fulfill the provisions of these Bylaws and commence a prompt election of the first Organizing Committee. The Executive Director may temporarily commission directorships until the Organizing Committee can be formed.
Following the first election of the Organizing Committee, the past President shall convene the inaugural meeting of the Organizing Committee. No regular actions may be taken by the Organizing Committee until the completion of all applicable retention votes and appointments have been made.
Existing policies, procedures, and standing rules of the Organization shall continue following the enactment of these Bylaws, unless these Bylaws contravene any lesser document. In the event of a contradiction, these Bylaws shall take precedence, and the appropriate authority shall rewrite or nullify the infringing document.
After any section of Article Ten is completed that section may be removed from the bylaws without a vote of the Membership or Organizing Committee.
