Center
By-laws

 These by-laws were approved by a vote of the membership on May 17, 2026

WICHITA MOUNTAINS AREA SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER

BI-LAWS

PREAMBLE

         We, the members of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens, to more adequately meet the exigencies of the times, do hereby ordain, ratify, and establish these by-laws to carry out the purposes and functions set forth by this organization.

ARTICLE I

ORGANIZATION, MEMBERSHIP, SELF-GOVERNMENT, RECORDS

Section   1   Organization.

         The Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Center, a non-profit organization organized by the Senior Citizens of the northwest portion of Comanche County, as now established, is and shall continue to be a proper entity whose purpose is promoting a general well-being of the seniors in the area and providing services to that end.

Section   2   Membership.

         The membership of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Center shall be those people 60 years old and older who participate in the ongoing activities of the center. Members who meet these qualifications are eligible to vote. Membership is open to any person meeting the age criteria without regard to race, color, creed, sex sexual orientation, citizenship, place of origin, or physical or mental disability.

Section   3   Self-Government.

         The Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens shall be governed by a board of directors. Each director will have been nominated by a voting member and selected by the vote of a majority of the members who are present at the annual election meeting. The election meeting will be scheduled in advance for the purpose of electing the officers of the board.

Section   4   Records.

         All records shall be readily available for the use of the center officers and will be available for inspection by the members of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Center at the Stony Point Center, Comanche County, Oklahoma.

ARTICLE II

GOVERNING BOARD

Section   5   Election of Officers.

         The members shall elect a governing board of six (6) members which consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public-Relations Officer, and Center Food Manager. Officers of the organization must meet the criteria for membership in the organization. Elections will be held during May of each year at a special meeting of the membership especially for that purpose. The meeting should be announced on the web site, by email, and verbally at center functions at least 8 days prior to the general membership meeting. No quorum standards need to be met.

Section   6   President

         Duties of the President of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens are:

·         to preside at regular meetings, events, and functions of the center;

·         to call special meetings of the directors or of the members, giving adequate prior notice;

·         to work with the Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and Center Food Manager overseeing all official activities, signing all official and legal documents, except as specifically delegated to another director;

·         to designate and work with activity leads in fulfilling the goals and functions of the organization;

·         to ensure that the organization complies with and satisfies the agreement between the center and the Hilliary Communications Company, owner of the Stony Point Center meeting place, and to maintain and care for the Stony Point Center property.

Section 7  Vice President

       The Vice President will assist the President in all center functions and perform other duties that may be requested by the President. Will perform all duties of the president in his/her absence.

Section 8  Secretary

       The Secretary shall keep a complete and accurate record of all business meetings, read the minutes of the previous meeting, and maintain a current record of participating members. The Secretary shall also be responsible, along with the Public Relations and activity leads, for correspondence with the members regarding event, day-to-day activities, and center membership meetings. The Secretary may be assigned other duties as needed by the President.

Section 9  Treasurer

       The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all funds and donations and ensure timely payment of all just obligations, maintain an accurate account of all financial transactions and status; prepare and maintain property records and present a financial report to the membership at regular meetings. The Treasurer shall ensure compliance with local, state, and federal tax laws and advise the President of the same. The Treasurer shall record all major purchases, maintain a list of those purchases for an accurate current record of center property.

 Section 10   Public Relations Officer

         The Public Relations Officer shall be responsible for announcing events and functions to the local newspapers, television and radio stations, and media, maintaining an Internet web presence which publishes all senior center news, events, and functions. With the President, Secretary, and Center Food Manager, the Public Relations Officer will ensure accuracy and timeliness of the Center scheduling calendar.

Section 11   Center Facility Manager

         The Center Facility Manger will plan, coordinate, arrange for, and oversee all food requirements for all events, functions, and fundraisers for the center; will purchase or oversee the purchase of foodstuff and associated material for the kitchen, and will provide receipts of all purchases to the Treasurer for accounting and record keeping purposes.

Section 12   Term of Office

         The term of each officer shall be for a period of one (1) year with any incumbent being eligible for re-election with no limit to the number of terms.

Section 13   Filling of Vacancies.

         The Governing Board, by majority vote of its remaining members, shall fill vacancies that occur on board. The selected incoming officer shall complete the unexpired term of the departing incumbent.

Section 14   Powers and Responsibilities.

         Except as otherwise provided by these by-laws, all powers of the governing board, including the determination of all matters of policy, shall be vested in the board. Without limitations of the foregoing, the board may:

·         Recommend, plan, conduct, and administer programs of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens to provide fellowship and promote general well-being for the seniors.

·         Approve all expenditure of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens funds. No more than three board members shall have signature authority for the center bank account; Checks shall be issued only under the auspices of the President or the Treasurer. Any debit card issued to the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens shall be under the direct control of the President or the Treasurer. Use of the debit card number for telephone or Internet purchases shall only occur with the direct approval of the President, Treasurer, or Center Food Manager.

·         Advise and consider comments and recommendations from the membership on all matters relating to the plans and activities of the Center.

·         Establish and appoint committees to assist the board in the discharge of its responsibilities. Such committees will consist of at least three (3) members with a designated chairperson.

·         Approve each Activity Lead, the Center activity involved, any resources required by the activity lead for the conduct of the activity, and the schedule requested by the activity lead for the activity.

·         Carry out and enforce all by-laws of this organization.

·         Plan for, obtain, appropriate, and expend funds of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens where needed, recommended, and warranted.

Section 13   Meetings.

         There shall be a public held business meeting periodically, at which time there shall be a reading and approval of minutes, financial reports, and reports of committees and designated activity leads. A special meeting may be called by the president or a majority of the board members after notification to the membership. The board may determine its own rules of order and procedures in conducting meetings. Business may be introduced by any member of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Center at which time the member will state concisely the nature of the business. Notice of all business meetings will be properly posted on the activity board of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens. Members will be informed in advance of such meetings. When possible, meetings will be included on the monthly Center calendar.

ARTICLE III

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Section 18   Suspension, disbarment from Attendance

A. The governing Board may, for just cause (i.e. disturbances, excessive and abusive use of language, etc.) indefinitely suspend or bar any member from participating or attending any or all activities of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Center. No disciplinary action shall become effective until the member has an opportunity to address the bord regarding the incident. The Governing Board shall then issue a written notice of indefinite suspension or disbarment, the effective date thereof, and reasons or grounds for such action to the member, with a copy provided to the Secretary for record-keeping. The disciplinary measure shall then become effective immediately. No disciplinary action shall be taken by the Governing Board against a member because of membership in any political, religious, or fraternal organization.