Constitution

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    HackPGH Constitution (Amended 2018)

    1. Name, Organization, and Purpose

    (a) The name of our organization shall be “HackPGH”.
    (b) The purpose of HackPGH is to establish a community-based “maker” workshop that focuses on collaboration, education, and community outreach in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
    (c) HackPGH is incorporated under the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988 or any successor act (as amended) exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law. **
    (d) Our organization does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit, incidental or otherwise. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.
    (e) No substantial part of the activities of HackPGH shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
    (f) Management of HackPGH is vested in its Board of Directors.


    2. Membership

    (a) Qualifications
    (i) Membership qualifications shall be regulated by the organization’s Board of Directors.
    (ii) Members have 24/7 access to the shop areas and equipment. New members will be granted this privilege after the end of their first full month.
    (iii) To be a member in good standing, one must:
    (A) Pay their monthly dues (see Clause 3 below); and
    (B) Complete three hours of volunteer work per month.
    (iv) Volunteer work may include but is not limited to teaching classes, cleaning the shop and/or equipment, and hosting events. In lieu of volunteer work, members may seek Board approval to donate equipment, supplies, and/or money to the organization. \
    (v) If a member falls out of good standing over a three-month period, they may be considered for dismissal at the Board’s discretion. HackPGH understands that sometimes life doesn’t always go according to plan. If members are having difficulty paying their dues or fulfilling their volunteer requirements, they should contact a Board Member to work out an alternative arrangement.

    3. Dues

    (a) The group shall have the right to collect dues, issue discounts, work credits, and donation credits from all members according to the group constitution. As of November 2021, the monthly membership dues are $55 (fifty-five dollars).
    (b) Membership discounts are available (subject to approval by the Board of Directors) to students, veterans of the U.S. Military, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Please see one of our Board Members for details.

    4. Minors

    (a) For safety reasons, minors (under the age of 18 years old) are not eligible for membership. During regular hours, only children 7 (seven) and older are welcome in the shop. However, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. For insurance purposes, HackPGH does not allow children aged 6 (six) and under in the shop. Children of any age may not be “dropped off” and left alone in the shop.
    (b) During appropriate classes and parties, children may be welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian if and only when specified in the event or class description.


    5. Guests

    (a) Visitors, guests, and prospective members MUST sign HackPGH’s waiver prior to entering the shop. Failure or refusal to sign will result in denial of entry.
    (b) Members may bring the same guest up to 5 (five) times. After the fifth time, the guest must pay membership dues. Guest attendance at open shop and club nights, classes, and public events do NOT count toward this total.
    (c) Only members in good standing are allowed to use tools and equipment, unless they are being used during an open class. \
    (d) Children of members over age 7 (seven) are welcome in the shop, provided that they are accompanied by that member at all times.

    6. Dismissal

    (a) Any member who is thought to have violated any part of this constitution or laws enacted thereafter or to have committed an act against the group may be brought in front of the Board for expulsion as per the Board's defined powers. Members will receive one written warning, which must be signed by all members of the Board and the member in question.
    (b) If the member refuses to acknowledge and sign the warning and its conditions within two weeks of notification, then their membership will be revoked. If another problem arises after the written warning, then the Board has the right to permanently revoke the said person’s membership. Revocation of membership may entail the denial of entry to the shop and HackPGH events, and removal from email lists and message boards.
    (c) Dismissed persons must turn in their keys to a Board Member and remove their personal effects from the shop within one month of membership revocation. Personal effects left behind after one month are considered abandoned and will be considered the property of HackPGH.

    7. Meetings

    (a) General Body Meetings
    (i) General body meetings shall be held on a schedule posted by the Board. Meetings shall be posted at least one week in advance. As of July 2022, meetings are held bimonthly on the first Wednesday and third Sunday at 7:30pm. Holidays and/or inclimate weather may cause meetings to be rescheduled.
    (ii) A quorum shall be defined as 51% (fifty-one percent) of present members in good standing (as defined in the Constitution) present at the time of any applicable vote.
    (b) Board meetings
    (i) Board meetings shall be held at least once a month, at dates and times agreed upon by the Board.
    (ii) A quorum shall be defined as three or more Board members present at the time of any applicable vote.

    8. Board of Directors

    (a) Director Positions & Duties
    (i) The Board shall consist of five Board Members, four officers and one nonofficer.
    (ii) There are five officer positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
    (iii) The Board's purpose is to govern all activities of the Club, and work to achieve the objectives of the full membership and uphold the stated mission of HackPGH.
    (iv) Board Members shall have equal votes in all situations.
    (v) The powers granted to the Board shall include:
    (A) Overseeing the planning and conducting all Club events, meetings & classes.
    (B) Approving expenditures under $500 - all others must be voted on by quorum at monthly membership meetings.
    (C) Recurring expenditures over $500 are permitted following a successful vote by quorum at a monthly membership meeting.
    (D) Forming committees of Board Members and Members to carry out the Club's actions.
    (b) Elections & Voting
    (i) Elections shall take place annually on the 3rd Wednesday of February, except during emergency situations, dismissal, or resignation.
    (ii) On the 3rd Wednesday of January, nominations will be begin for all positions on the Board. Any member in good standing may be nominated for a Board position by another member. Members may not nominate themselves.
    (iii) The Board will be elected by plurality with the top four nominated members by votes being elected.
    (iv) If one of the Board members is unable to serve for any reason, a special election shall be held with a primary to nominate the new Board Member and there shall be an election the following week as scheduled by the committee.
    (c) Impeachment
    (i) Grounds for impeachment shall be the violation of any part of the constitution or committing any act deemed against the organization’s vision.
    (ii) A vote of impeachment shall be initiated by the vote of three members of the board. After initiation, a quorum of membership will vote on the impeachment.

    9. Amendments

    (a) Amendments to this constitution will be presented at General Body Meetings and must be approved by a simple majority 51% (fifty-one percent) of total membership. Amendments are recorded on the date they were held in a meeting OR were added on Wild Apricot (starting after 2018.5.1) These amendments are:


    (i) 2017.9.19: The 30 day waiting period, a vestigal procedure left from when HackPGH was a private club, is removed. This essentially means that induction of new members consists of simply signing up at https://hackpgh.org/join/, a board member or empowered member taking their first payment either in cash, check, or via Wild Apricot, and giving the new member a shop tour.
    In favor: 15
    Against: 0
    Abstain: 2


    (ii) 2017.10.4: The board must now either take a government issued ID or use due diligence to establish the upstanding nature of a new member applicant before approving them.
    In favor: 10
    Against: 1
    Abstain: 2


    (iii) 2017.11.21: Until December 31, 11:59:59 pm 2017, the board is empowered to sell day passes for $30 and if the member then wants to join, charge them an additional $20 in addition to the normal member induction process to allow them to join HackPGH.
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (iv) 2017.12.6: Jasee Latimer is granted 3 months of free membership due to services rendered for the City Christmas tree ornament project which brought in $2,000. In addition, future rewards for major contributions to HackPGH are allowed at the discretion of the board.
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (v) 2018.2.7: Slack, in addition to the existing mailing list (hackpgh-discuss@googlegroups.com), will be the official means of communication for members.
    In favor: 13
    Against: 1
    Abstain: 2


    (vi) 2018.2.7: At each shop quarterly shop clean, membership is allowed to determine the usefulness of items in the shop. No mention of what to do with these items is recorded.
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (vii) 2018.3.20: Steel City Infosec is allowed to use HackPGH's space for a meeting on May 10, 2018.
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (viii) The Board is empowered to pay for a year's subscription for Wild Apricot.
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (ix) 2018.5.2: HackPGH will work work alone in creating a proposal for the Tustin Tot Lot project instead of working with Jeremy and Daniel (last names not recorded).
    Votes were not recorded but meeting minutes indicate that the motion passed.


    (x) 2018.5.2: The Board is empowered to create an Improvement Committee. However, this is a redundant motion according to 8.d: (The board is empowered in the) forming (of) committees of Board Members and Members to carry out the Club's actions.


    (xi) 2018.5.16: The Board is empowered to purchase a TIG welder which is over the $500 monthly spending limit allotted to them.
    In favor: 6 + 4 (This vote comes from 6 who responded "I support the shop purchasing a TIG welder" and 4 members who voted "I support the shop purchasing a TIG welder AND I wish to make a donation towards its acquisition. (Click here and say "for the TIG welder" in the comments): https://hackpgh.org/donate/")
    Against: 1


    (xii) 2018.5.16: Todd Keebler is given a free membership for 3 months.
    In favor: 9
    Against: 3
    Abstain: 0


    (xiii) 2018.9.5: The Board is empowered to purchase tools from Andy Petkac at a cost of up to $4,200 for the items and up to $150 for transportation.
    In favor: 29
    Against: 1
    Abstain: 4


    (xiv) 2018.9.5: The Board is empowered to purchase set of helical cutter blades for the new plainer obtained from Andy Petkac at a cost of $400.
    In favor: 26
    Against: 4
    Abstain: 4


    (xv) 2018.9.5: The Board is empowered to spend $2,300 on insurance and is empowered to renew this coverage unless the premium is %50 more than the previous year's cost.
    In favor: 34
    Against: 0
    Abstain: 0