Our bylaws:
SMOKY MOUNTAIN GHOSTBUSTERS
CHAPTER BYLAWS
Version 3
January 2022
Article I
The Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters is hereby formed as a fan organization, participating in costuming, charitable endeavors, and friendship.
Article II
Membership in the Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters shall be open to all persons, without regard to gender, race, religion, or ability. Junior members’ participation shall require parental permission and supervision both at joining and for subsequent activities. A parent, guardian, or parent-designated representative will be required to supervise junior members at events.
Section I. All prospective members shall petition for membership privileges by completing an application with personal information, undergoing a general background check, and completing a 90-day probation period during which the prospective member must put together a minimal uniform/costume and attend two sanctioned events.
Section II. Members shall be voted on by the majority of the current active members after completing the process of membership under Article II, Section I, and receiving a favorable background check. A simple majority vote is required for approval. Upon approval, new members will then receive their organization patch.
Section III. Membership, once approved, is for life except under the following conditions:
Termination of Membership at the will of the Member
Termination of Membership at the will of the Leadership Committee.
Section IV. Grievances by the membership shall be presented to the Leadership Committee. After review and investigation, the findings will be reported to the Chief and a decision will be rendered by Leadership. Disciplinary actions can include suspension and up to dismissal after due process, during which the identified member has the opportunity to address the Leadership Committee regarding the grievances.
Section V. Suspension would require a simple majority vote of the Leadership Committee, with the Chief casting the tie-breaking vote if needed; whereas any motion for dismissal must have a two-thirds majority of the Leadership Committee to carry. Suspension may be instituted for a period of no greater than 90 days. Upon reinstatement, the member will have a 60-day probation to demonstrate that they are in compliance with membership guidelines.
Section VI. Honorary memberships may be granted at the discretion of the Leadership Committee.
Article III
As an active organization in the community, participation is required by all members. The minimum participation shall be two events per calendar quarter, as scheduled, but more attendance is encouraged and reflects on that member's dedication. An exception to this rule is granted for active members who fill a role within the chapter that both contributes to the success and furthers the cause of the chapter. Examples of this include technical advising, managing communications actions, or other similar contributions as agreed to by the Leadership Committee. The Leadership Committee has the authority to suspend this article in the event of extenuating circumstances, i.e., global pandemic or civil unrest.
Members shall also participate in regular group meetings as set by Leadership, with meetings to be held no less than once per quarter.
Article IV
Events in which the chapter will participate will go through an approval process, and a participation survey before being agreed to. Smaller events proposed by individual members may be brought to the group for interest, on a case-by-case basis, but larger events that would reflect on the image of our chapter in the public shall be presented as follows:
Section I. The event contacts us, or it is one we wish to participate in and we contact the event, and the level of participation is agreed upon between Event Coordinator and the point of contact for the event.
Section II. The details, date, and needed resources of the event are presented to the Leadership Committee for review of appropriateness.
A. Appropriate events are those that are deemed “family friendly.”
B. A 60-day window to prepare and evaluate, prior to the actual date of the event, is preferred and less than this amount of time could result in the event being turned down.
Section III. The Leadership Committee presents the event to the group for interest and creates a poll in the approved online channels to get commitments for participation.
A. Members will NOT commit to working an event without acknowledging they are required to attend (barring special circumstances) and are responsible for obtaining the necessary transportation, billeting if necessary, and time off from other obligations to participate without interference.
B. Three consecutive failures to appear at events after committing or failure to work one's entire scheduled shift (barring special circumstances) shall result in membership review.
Section IV. If sufficient interest is gauged and committed, the Chapter will issue approval to sanction the event as an official appearance, and the host organization shall be notified.
Article V
Every member must assemble a basic uniform and strive to obtain accompanying equipment.
Section I. Acceptable uniform types are as follows:
Any version of the Original Ghostbusters khaki jumpsuit, Ghostbusters 2 jumpsuit, Ghostbusters 2016 jumpsuit, or Ghostbusters: Afterlife jumpsuit
Any version of the Real Ghostbusters cartoon series jumpsuits
Any “supporting cast” character jumpsuit, such as Louis Tully, Janine Melnitz, Gozer, Zuul, Walter Peck, Vigo the Carpathian, the Stay Puft Marshmallow man (or woman), or others as approved by the Leadership committee
Members under the age of 18 may dress as the child characters from Ghostbusters: Afterlife as long as the outfit conforms with the look of the movie.
Section II. Unacceptable uniform types are as follows:
Any “militarized” uniform, which comprises the use of fatigues and current military insignia
Any “mash-up” uniforms such as another character that simply wears a proton pack
Any “sexualized” costume, such as the “sexy Ghostbuster” or any version of the jumpsuit deemed too revealing for the group’s public appearances.
Section III. Gear and accessories shall be similar in appearance to the equipment seen on screen, but personalized touches and modifications are encouraged to express the personality and creativity of each individual member. Note that respectability and professionalism must still be maintained in your personal modifications, and the equipment must still be somewhat similar in appearance to the film and cartoon “canon.”
Article VI
Chapter organization shall be composed of an elected Chief plus an elected second-in-command as Deputy Chief, and subsequent positions as appointed by those elected positions. Elections shall be conducted every two years in April. A Leadership Committee shall be formed as a check and balance to the elected Chief, and authority of daily operation lies in the Leadership Committee with the elected Chief serving as a tie-breaker vote when needed. The composition and term of each Leadership Member is as follows:
Section I. The Chief is elected by a majority vote of the active members every two years. The Chief shall not serve more than two consecutive elected terms and serves at the pleasure of the membership.
Section II. The Deputy Chief is also elected by a majority vote of the active members every two years. The Deputy Chief shall not serve more than two consecutive elected terms and serves at the pleasure of the membership.
Section III. In the case of elected position vacancies, the following will apply:
Should the position of Chief become vacant, the Deputy Chief will assume the duties and responsibilities of Chief for the remainder of the term.
Should the position of Deputy Chief become vacant, the Chief will confer with the Leadership Committee to determine if one of those members would volunteer to serve as Deputy Chief for the remainder of the term. If no Leadership Committee member is willing to do so, a special election will take place to fill the position of Deputy Chief for the remainder of the term.
Section IV. The other Leadership Committee members shall serve concurrently with Chief and Deputy Chief by whom they were appointed. In the instance of a vacancy on the Leadership Committee, the Chief shall appoint a replacement.
Section V. The removal of a member of the Leadership Committee shall entail the following:
A vote of no confidence in either the Chief and/or the Deputy Chief can be called by any member, at any time, upon submitting reasoning to the Leadership Committee who will review the call for a vote and arrange a special vote by the chapter’s active members. The removal of the Chief or Deputy Chief would require a vote of no confidence by at least two-thirds of the active members.
Removal of a Leadership Committee member requires a simple majority vote of the active members of the chapter.
Article VII
Members have the opportunity to serve in many roles in the chapter, and, for it to be successful, certain positions will need to be filled by eager and capable individuals. The Leadership Committee shall be composed of the elected Chief as the head of the Committee, the Deputy Chief, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Public Relations, the Director of Recruiting and Retention, and the Director of Engineering and Costuming.
Section I. The Chief is the only elected position and serves as the leader of the Leadership Committee. The Chief serves as advisor, manager, and senior point of contact for the public.
Section II. The Deputy Chief serves in the same capacity as the Chief in their absence or at their direction. The Deputy Chief shall also serve as the senior most chapter officer under which all other departments report, and the Deputy Chief then reports to the Chief that which requires their attention.
Section III. The Director of Human Resources maintains personnel records and data plus ensures members are compliant with organization bylaws. The Human Resources Director also investigates complaints on member behavior presented by the membership or the community.
Section IV. The Director of Public Relations manages the chapter’s social media, email communications, marketing, and press releases plus serves as the media and public point of contact for all events and queries. The Director of Public Relations serves as a member of the Leadership Committee due to their contact with the public and their ability to speak intelligently on how we are perceived by the public.
The Event Coordinator assists with the scheduling and planning of events in compliance with Article IV and serves as the liaison between the Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters and the party hosting the event. The Event Coordinator also maintains the chapter’s event calendar and works in conjunction with the Director of Public Relations.
Section V. The Director of Recruiting and Retention recruits potential new members and contacts members who have been out of contact as well as helps any member deal with any questions they may have.
Section VII. The Director of Engineering and Costuming aids members in locating resources for equipment, props, and costumes.
Section VIII. The Chief and Deputy Chief shall have the power to create additional leadership roles as needed during their term.
Article VIII
Financial gain by the chapter will be for the sole purpose of covering any operating costs incurred by the organization. Any financial gain is strictly prohibited by any individual member of the organization while engaged in chapter activities. Operating costs include but are not limited to the following:
Ecto maintenance
Membership background checks
Member patch purchases
Merchandise inventory
Group convention vendor expenses
Table expenses (inflatables, decorations, event games, and so forth)
Discretionary expenses, such as assisting members experiencing acute hardship.
Section I. The members of the Leadership Committee shall act as the chapter’s fiduciaries. As such, they will maintain accurate financial records as well as good standing with the chosen financial institution (if applicable).
Section II. Any member shall have the right to request to review the financial records of the chapter. Upon such a request, the Leadership Committee will have up to 36 hours to comply.
Section III. If the group’s operating funds exceed $100 or more above $1,000 at biannual review no less than six months apart, this excess will be donated to one of the organization’s identified charities.
Article IX
These bylaws shall be amended by presentation of a suggested modification, in writing, to the Leadership Committee and, after a review, a majority vote of the membership to ratify. Failure to achieve a majority vote renders the proposed amendment(s) null and void.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN GHOSTBUSTERS
CHAPTER BYLAWS
Version 3
January 2022
Article I
The Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters is hereby formed as a fan organization, participating in costuming, charitable endeavors, and friendship.
Article II
Membership in the Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters shall be open to all persons, without regard to gender, race, religion, or ability. Junior members’ participation shall require parental permission and supervision both at joining and for subsequent activities. A parent, guardian, or parent-designated representative will be required to supervise junior members at events.
Section I. All prospective members shall petition for membership privileges by completing an application with personal information, undergoing a general background check, and completing a 90-day probation period during which the prospective member must put together a minimal uniform/costume and attend two sanctioned events.
Section II. Members shall be voted on by the majority of the current active members after completing the process of membership under Article II, Section I, and receiving a favorable background check. A simple majority vote is required for approval. Upon approval, new members will then receive their organization patch.
Section III. Membership, once approved, is for life except under the following conditions:
Termination of Membership at the will of the Member
Termination of Membership at the will of the Leadership Committee.
Section IV. Grievances by the membership shall be presented to the Leadership Committee. After review and investigation, the findings will be reported to the Chief and a decision will be rendered by Leadership. Disciplinary actions can include suspension and up to dismissal after due process, during which the identified member has the opportunity to address the Leadership Committee regarding the grievances.
Section V. Suspension would require a simple majority vote of the Leadership Committee, with the Chief casting the tie-breaking vote if needed; whereas any motion for dismissal must have a two-thirds majority of the Leadership Committee to carry. Suspension may be instituted for a period of no greater than 90 days. Upon reinstatement, the member will have a 60-day probation to demonstrate that they are in compliance with membership guidelines.
Section VI. Honorary memberships may be granted at the discretion of the Leadership Committee.
Article III
As an active organization in the community, participation is required by all members. The minimum participation shall be two events per calendar quarter, as scheduled, but more attendance is encouraged and reflects on that member's dedication. An exception to this rule is granted for active members who fill a role within the chapter that both contributes to the success and furthers the cause of the chapter. Examples of this include technical advising, managing communications actions, or other similar contributions as agreed to by the Leadership Committee. The Leadership Committee has the authority to suspend this article in the event of extenuating circumstances, i.e., global pandemic or civil unrest.
Members shall also participate in regular group meetings as set by Leadership, with meetings to be held no less than once per quarter.
Article IV
Events in which the chapter will participate will go through an approval process, and a participation survey before being agreed to. Smaller events proposed by individual members may be brought to the group for interest, on a case-by-case basis, but larger events that would reflect on the image of our chapter in the public shall be presented as follows:
Section I. The event contacts us, or it is one we wish to participate in and we contact the event, and the level of participation is agreed upon between Event Coordinator and the point of contact for the event.
Section II. The details, date, and needed resources of the event are presented to the Leadership Committee for review of appropriateness.
A. Appropriate events are those that are deemed “family friendly.”
B. A 60-day window to prepare and evaluate, prior to the actual date of the event, is preferred and less than this amount of time could result in the event being turned down.
Section III. The Leadership Committee presents the event to the group for interest and creates a poll in the approved online channels to get commitments for participation.
A. Members will NOT commit to working an event without acknowledging they are required to attend (barring special circumstances) and are responsible for obtaining the necessary transportation, billeting if necessary, and time off from other obligations to participate without interference.
B. Three consecutive failures to appear at events after committing or failure to work one's entire scheduled shift (barring special circumstances) shall result in membership review.
Section IV. If sufficient interest is gauged and committed, the Chapter will issue approval to sanction the event as an official appearance, and the host organization shall be notified.
Article V
Every member must assemble a basic uniform and strive to obtain accompanying equipment.
Section I. Acceptable uniform types are as follows:
Any version of the Original Ghostbusters khaki jumpsuit, Ghostbusters 2 jumpsuit, Ghostbusters 2016 jumpsuit, or Ghostbusters: Afterlife jumpsuit
Any version of the Real Ghostbusters cartoon series jumpsuits
Any “supporting cast” character jumpsuit, such as Louis Tully, Janine Melnitz, Gozer, Zuul, Walter Peck, Vigo the Carpathian, the Stay Puft Marshmallow man (or woman), or others as approved by the Leadership committee
Members under the age of 18 may dress as the child characters from Ghostbusters: Afterlife as long as the outfit conforms with the look of the movie.
Section II. Unacceptable uniform types are as follows:
Any “militarized” uniform, which comprises the use of fatigues and current military insignia
Any “mash-up” uniforms such as another character that simply wears a proton pack
Any “sexualized” costume, such as the “sexy Ghostbuster” or any version of the jumpsuit deemed too revealing for the group’s public appearances.
Section III. Gear and accessories shall be similar in appearance to the equipment seen on screen, but personalized touches and modifications are encouraged to express the personality and creativity of each individual member. Note that respectability and professionalism must still be maintained in your personal modifications, and the equipment must still be somewhat similar in appearance to the film and cartoon “canon.”
Article VI
Chapter organization shall be composed of an elected Chief plus an elected second-in-command as Deputy Chief, and subsequent positions as appointed by those elected positions. Elections shall be conducted every two years in April. A Leadership Committee shall be formed as a check and balance to the elected Chief, and authority of daily operation lies in the Leadership Committee with the elected Chief serving as a tie-breaker vote when needed. The composition and term of each Leadership Member is as follows:
Section I. The Chief is elected by a majority vote of the active members every two years. The Chief shall not serve more than two consecutive elected terms and serves at the pleasure of the membership.
Section II. The Deputy Chief is also elected by a majority vote of the active members every two years. The Deputy Chief shall not serve more than two consecutive elected terms and serves at the pleasure of the membership.
Section III. In the case of elected position vacancies, the following will apply:
Should the position of Chief become vacant, the Deputy Chief will assume the duties and responsibilities of Chief for the remainder of the term.
Should the position of Deputy Chief become vacant, the Chief will confer with the Leadership Committee to determine if one of those members would volunteer to serve as Deputy Chief for the remainder of the term. If no Leadership Committee member is willing to do so, a special election will take place to fill the position of Deputy Chief for the remainder of the term.
Section IV. The other Leadership Committee members shall serve concurrently with Chief and Deputy Chief by whom they were appointed. In the instance of a vacancy on the Leadership Committee, the Chief shall appoint a replacement.
Section V. The removal of a member of the Leadership Committee shall entail the following:
A vote of no confidence in either the Chief and/or the Deputy Chief can be called by any member, at any time, upon submitting reasoning to the Leadership Committee who will review the call for a vote and arrange a special vote by the chapter’s active members. The removal of the Chief or Deputy Chief would require a vote of no confidence by at least two-thirds of the active members.
Removal of a Leadership Committee member requires a simple majority vote of the active members of the chapter.
Article VII
Members have the opportunity to serve in many roles in the chapter, and, for it to be successful, certain positions will need to be filled by eager and capable individuals. The Leadership Committee shall be composed of the elected Chief as the head of the Committee, the Deputy Chief, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Public Relations, the Director of Recruiting and Retention, and the Director of Engineering and Costuming.
Section I. The Chief is the only elected position and serves as the leader of the Leadership Committee. The Chief serves as advisor, manager, and senior point of contact for the public.
Section II. The Deputy Chief serves in the same capacity as the Chief in their absence or at their direction. The Deputy Chief shall also serve as the senior most chapter officer under which all other departments report, and the Deputy Chief then reports to the Chief that which requires their attention.
Section III. The Director of Human Resources maintains personnel records and data plus ensures members are compliant with organization bylaws. The Human Resources Director also investigates complaints on member behavior presented by the membership or the community.
Section IV. The Director of Public Relations manages the chapter’s social media, email communications, marketing, and press releases plus serves as the media and public point of contact for all events and queries. The Director of Public Relations serves as a member of the Leadership Committee due to their contact with the public and their ability to speak intelligently on how we are perceived by the public.
The Event Coordinator assists with the scheduling and planning of events in compliance with Article IV and serves as the liaison between the Smoky Mountain Ghostbusters and the party hosting the event. The Event Coordinator also maintains the chapter’s event calendar and works in conjunction with the Director of Public Relations.
Section V. The Director of Recruiting and Retention recruits potential new members and contacts members who have been out of contact as well as helps any member deal with any questions they may have.
Section VII. The Director of Engineering and Costuming aids members in locating resources for equipment, props, and costumes.
Section VIII. The Chief and Deputy Chief shall have the power to create additional leadership roles as needed during their term.
Article VIII
Financial gain by the chapter will be for the sole purpose of covering any operating costs incurred by the organization. Any financial gain is strictly prohibited by any individual member of the organization while engaged in chapter activities. Operating costs include but are not limited to the following:
Ecto maintenance
Membership background checks
Member patch purchases
Merchandise inventory
Group convention vendor expenses
Table expenses (inflatables, decorations, event games, and so forth)
Discretionary expenses, such as assisting members experiencing acute hardship.
Section I. The members of the Leadership Committee shall act as the chapter’s fiduciaries. As such, they will maintain accurate financial records as well as good standing with the chosen financial institution (if applicable).
Section II. Any member shall have the right to request to review the financial records of the chapter. Upon such a request, the Leadership Committee will have up to 36 hours to comply.
Section III. If the group’s operating funds exceed $100 or more above $1,000 at biannual review no less than six months apart, this excess will be donated to one of the organization’s identified charities.
Article IX
These bylaws shall be amended by presentation of a suggested modification, in writing, to the Leadership Committee and, after a review, a majority vote of the membership to ratify. Failure to achieve a majority vote renders the proposed amendment(s) null and void.
Statistics: Posted by Amandalmv — June 30th, 2025, 2:48 pm