MEMBERSHIP

Many people ask us about membership the following are excerpts from our constitution we hope that it answers some of your questions before you decide to join us. We don’t encourage membership from outside the Sarnia-Lambton County. If you are over an hour drive from the hub of our activities it takes a pretty committed member to be available to help out. You have to decide that before we can decide on you.

The first thing we seem to be asked about is how do I get one of your patches, well bottom line is earn it. Our basics are outlined below. If you like us and we like you it will happen. If you are just joining because you think wearing a patch on you back is cool then we ask you to look else where there are lots of riding clubs out there that will sell you their patch the day that you join.

We are not a 1% club but we do believe the people who get along together will Fight for the Rights of Bikers together. Some of us have been friends for over 15 years now we encourage new people and growth of our group but we do take the time to weed out what we feel to be a person who will upset the atmosphere of our organization.

ELIGIBILITY: Anyone interested in the future of motorcyclists in Sarnia-Lambton with the hope that it's effects spread in theory across Ontario; and who agrees and will support the bylaws, objectives and guidelines set down in our constitution. All memberships will be on an individual basis and no group memberships shall be recognized.

MEMBERS MAY BE EXPELLED OR SUSPENED whose conduct has been determined by a 2/3 majority membership vote to be improper, unbecoming, or likely to endanger the interest or reputation of S.L.B.R.O., or who willfully commits a breach of the constitution or guidelines of S.L.B.R.O.
No member will be expelled or suspended without being notified in writing of the charge or complaint against them and without having first been given an opportunity to be heard by the membership at a meeting called for that purpose.

MEMBERSHIP FEES will be set by the membership with guidance from the Treasurer in regards to membership associated costs and will be changed only at the last Meeting of the year to become effective at January 1st of the next year.
The membership year shall be considered to be one complete calendar year (January 1 to December 31 ).
Membership fees are due January 1st of each calendar year, all members have till the 31st day of January to have them paid or have indicated their intention to pay at the first opportunity, this allows those out of town for work or vacation to have sum leniency.
Any member not having paid on time will have their seniority revoked.
Members joining after January 31st will pay by the month until the end of the year to get them on cycle.
The monthly membership fee will be 1/12th of the annual fee.
Members joining after September 1st will be required to pay the remaining 3 months of that year and the 12 months of the next year (15 months in total) with their new membership application.  
Members may pay their membership fees up to five (5) calendar years in advance.
Members who pay in advance are expected to pay the difference between their paid in advance fees and any raise in membership fees deemed by the membership.
Their membership cards will reflect the expiry date respectively.
Members not forwarding their change of address or wishing to denounce their membership before the expiry date will not have their membership fees refunded.

New members not elected to membership after their minimum 3 month probationary period will have their membership fees refunded provided that probationary period has not extended past 6 months.

Any member Expelled or Suspended will have any advance fees refunded past the year when the expulsion or suspension has been enacted.
 
NEW MEMBERS                                                                 

All new members will receive a full copy of the constitution & bylaws upon filing their application for membership if they haven't received a copy already as part of their education about the organization before deciding to become a member.
Once a new membership application has been filed and appropriate membership fees paid their minimum 3 month probationary period will begin.
During this minimum 3 month probationary period designed to get to know the membership and for them to get to know you, the new member has no vote on matters brought before the membership for a vote. The perspective new member does have the opportunity to be recognized by the Chairman and speak on the issues brought before the membership.
After the minimum 3 months has passed the membership will have a vote on whether to accept the perspective new member. A minimum 2/3 majority is required for acceptance. Any members casting a no vote on the perspective member are expected to explain their reasons prior to the calling of the vote.
            
MEMBERSHIP FINES

Since September 1998 the S.L.B.R.O. decided by majority vote that members fines would be established for the following.

Showing up late for a called membership meeting.
A $2.00 (two dollar) fine will be assessed for each occurrence and will only be
revoked if found by a membership vote to be legitimate.

A member who totally misses a meeting that has not contacted one executive member prior to the calling to order of a regular called meeting. The executive is considered to be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. The Fine will be $5 (five dollars) per occurrence and will only be revoked if found by a membership vote to be legitimate.

Upon the third such unexcused occurrence the member will be excused from the organization.
A member can be reinstated into the organization once they have paid the fines for the three missed meetings $15.00 (fifteen dollars) and stood in front of the S.L.B.R.O. membership and declared why they should be reinstated.
If a majority vote in favor by the membership then the member will be reinstated as if nothing ever happened.

The Treasurer will collect all fines; refusal to pay such fines will result in immediate S.L.B.R.O. expulsion.

SARNIA-LAMBTON MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTATION

All members of Sarnia-Lambton BRO are considered to be representatives of our membership and how we are viewed by others at all times.
How you the member conduct yourself is a direct representation of us all as a whole.
Members are asked to Promote Motorcycle Safety and Awareness in the name of S.L.B.R.O on all appropriate occasions.
In the event where another group or individual wishes to meet with us on a matter that will affect a majority of the membership our representation will be the Sarnia-Lambton Chairman & Vice Chairman whenever possible.
Representatives have the power to vote NOW on any matter coming up, keeping in mind they are voting on behalf of the membership, not their personal views.

MEMBERSHIP PATCHES

Support patches may be worn by people the membership has agreed by majority to be an active supporter of the group. They will have exemplified some form of active participation in the group that is worthy of recognition, but they have indicated through membership conversations that they do not feel they are committed to being a full member at this time of their life. They will have be sponsored by a member of no less than one year seniority in the organization. That member will be considered responsible for this support patch. A majority vote of the membership will be required before a support patch will be issued to the person in question. 

Small Patches (approximately 3 ") all members are required to wear this crest over their heart on what they consider to be the main outer garment riding gear.

Medium Patches (approximately 5 ") are to be worn in the center of the shoulder blades of the back on what the member considers to be their main outer garment riding gear, by members either not having qualified for the Large Patch and Freedom Isn't Free Rockers, or by members not wishing to wear such large patch and rockers. This crest must be worn alone on the back panel of such garment with the exception of " In Memory Patches" or the flags of Canada or Ontario.

Large Patch and Freedom Isn't Free Rockers

Any member that complies with the following guidelines will be considered eligible to wear the Largest crest and Freedom Isn’t Free rockers.

1. Be a current S.L.B.R.O. member in good standing that presently owns, maintains, and rides a licensed Street legal motorcycle, while holding a valid driver’s license to do so. Any member not passing the M2 exist test will immediately remove their Large Crest and Freedom Isn't Free Rockers until they obtain a valid license once again.
   
2. Have maintained a valid membership to the S.L.B.R.O.for a minimum of two consecutive full years, with their 3rd year membership dues paid in full immediately prior to obtaining their patch and rockers.
3. Have shown an above average dedication level to the Aims, Objectives and Goals of S.L.B.R.O.
4. Have shown an above average participation and organizational involvement in the events and functions sponsored by S.L.B.R.O. or events the membership feels strongly that we should support.
5. Any member who has shown good judgement in so far as not to embarrass the Name of S.L.B.R.O. Either by that member's day to day actions or that member's riding practices.
6. Have been nominated by a sponsoring member with no less than 3 months notice to all other large patch members. This would give other large patch members a chance to respond their concerns if it is felt that the member in question has conducted themselves in such a way that is unbecoming to the membership and may affect the way other large patch members should vote. Notification of intent to sponsor a member can come as early as 1 year 9 months if it is felt that the member in question has exemplified what we feel is required to wear the large patch and rockers. Should any large patch member openly oppose the nomination it will be discussed by all  large patch members until a 100% yes vote is obtained before  the member in question  will be allowed the privilege of wearing the large crest.   The sponsoring member must have been a large patch member for no less than one calendar year to qualify to sponsor another member. The sponsoring member must not be an immediate relative or spouse of the member in question.
7. Patch Holders will sew their patch and rockers onto an appropriate garment so that the Winged Wheel is in the middle of the back with the “Freedom” rocker above it and the “Isn’t Free” rocker below. No other crests or patches will be on the back panel of the garment with the exception of "In Memory Patches" or the flags of Canada or Ontario.
8. If at any time the Patch Holder’s commitment does not meet S.L.B.R.O. expectations, and that which is described above, that member’s patch will be returned to the Executive until such time that the member requalifies. The decision to return the crest to S.L.B.R.O. permanently will be made by the members wearing the large patch . An appeal would be made to the membership in the event member feels his/her crest has been removed unjustly. At that point the membership would view both sides and make a decision. The member in question will be obliged to stand by that decision.
9. Members wishing to apply for a one year leave of absence to rule number one are allowed to do so with large patch membership approval to remove them from rule number 8 temporarily provided there is 100% agreement that the reasons for doing so are justified. Any more than one leave of absence in a 3 year period is frowned upon.
10. Before a member will be considered to wear the Large Patch and Rockers they will have rode a motorcycle to the August Long Weekend Sault Ste. Marie Summer Bash or an equivalent riding event as deemed by the chairman and approved by the membership where is has been established that a majority of the membership has attended the event in an effort to get to know each other. This event will take place in Ontario.
11. During the minimum two years of membership required to obtain a large crest the member in question will be required to complete tasks asked of them by other Large Patch members. Large Patch members may not ask for tasks to be done for personal gain. These tasks may not be of an illegal nature. These tasks may not be something that the large patch member is not willing to do themselves. If the perspective large crest member feels the task asked of them are unjust they may appeal to other large patch members keeping in mind that if the member who asked them to do the task completes said task they are subject to what we call double jeopardy from all other large patch members. This means they can expect to get tasks twice as much and possibility twice as hard until the members are satisfied that all is equal again. 

Click here to download the application.