Iron Indian Riders Association

The most basic function of an IIRA chapter (or “tribe”) is to organize Iron Indian Members at a local level and to help bring more members to the Iron Indian Riders Association. A member of the Iron Indian Riders Association need not be a member of a chapter; but all Iron Indian chapter members must be members in good standing of the national Iron Indian Riders Association.

Requirements and Procedures for an IIRA Chapter

A. Creating an IIRA Chapter

For those that wish to form an IIRA Chapter, you must apply to the Tribal Council by utilizing the Chapter Application Form at www.ironindian.com/chapter_app_email.shtml . Successful chapter applicant’s are known as “Charter Holders” and need not be functional officers of the chapter (President, Vice President, etc…) – but can be. Charter Holders are considered Chapter Officers for IIRA management purposes. After reviewing the instructions on the Chapter Form, and if the applicant agrees with the information listed there and submits the application, the request will be reviewed by the Tribal Council and a decision will be made on whether establishing this Chapter is in the best interest of the IIRA. After approval has been obtained, the applicant will then be required to submit a Chapter membership fee of $85.00 and an initial chapter roster with at least three (3) current IIRA members listed to form the chapter. Upon receiving the Chapter Membership Fee and Roster, the Tribal Council will then open the Chapter by creating a Chapter Charter, assign the Chapter a unique ID number and send the applicant a set of officer patches, all Chapter documentation and the current user ID's and passwords to access those website areas that are restricted to IIRA Chapter Presidents only. The IIRA chapter Charter Holder will be the acting guardian of that Charter – which is the property of the IIRA – and is responsible for ensuring that Chapter guidelines are followed and that IIRA is best represented in all activities of the chapter. At that point the slate of officers established on the application will be known as the officers of that Chapter. The Charter Holder may not transfer the guardianship or rights without TC written approval. The Charter Holder will take direction from the Tribal Council. Any questions about IIRA Chapters, Charter Holders and Chapter Officers should be directed to the Tribal Council at this address: TribalCouncil@ironindian.com. Each year thereafter on or within 4 weeks prior to July 4th the chapter shall pay dues of $25 (this amount may be adjusted from time to time by the Tribal Council) and turn in a current and up to date chapter roster listing all current members and their title, if any, within the chapter.

A Chapter may set its own guidelines as to acceptance or non acceptance of an IIRA national member to the local chapter. A chapter must file its operating procedure/bylaws with the national IIRA organization and submit all future revision when implemented.

B. IIRA Chapter Officers

An IIRA Chapter is run by one or more officers under the direct authority of the Charter Holder: The Charter Holder can determine the chapter organizational structure for reporting both to the chapter members and to the Tribal Council. Usually, the President is the top level manager (Chief Executive Officer) of the Chapter and he/she reports directly to the Charter Holder (or they may be the same person). This is usually the person who applied to the Tribal Council to start the Chapter (but it may not be). The Charter Holder may appoint a President, Vice President, one or more Road Captains and/or create other positions as necessary (Secretary, Treasurer, Events Manager, etc) to keep the Chapter operating efficiently.

The Charter Holder and his/her management team are responsible for running the IIRA Chapter and maintaining a communications channel between the Chapter and the Tribal Council. A Charter Holder who does not maintain an open communication policy with both the Tribal Council and the Chapter Membership can have their charter reviewed and can be dismissed by the Tribal Council and replaced by another Charter Holder or the Chapter will be disbanded. Upon dismissal of a Charter Holder, any Regular Member of the Chapter may contact the Tribal Council and request to assume the role as the new Charter Holder. The Tribal Council will issue all decisions on these requests.

The Charter Holders will use their own discretion as to their chapter’s offices. They may appoint a new President at any time or create an officer selection process of their own choosing - such as holding an election. The Charter Holder may be removed by the Tribal Council for violating these Bylaws or any other reason deemed by the Tribal Council to be in the best interest of the Chapter or the IIRA.

Chapter Officers who resign from their positions for other than hardship reasons will have a 6 month waiting period before they can be considered for another Officer position in the IIRA. Hardship reasons consist of personal illness or illness of a direct family member, death of a direct family member, relocation, temporary financial hardship or extreme time constraints placed on the member by employment, education or family. Chapter Officers that have resigned due to hardship will be able to regain an Officers position based on the Chapter's need.

Chapter Officers that resign due to conflict of interest or who have been previously terminated by the Tribal Council will not be allowed to hold an Officers position in an IIRA Chapter again.

C. The IIRA Chapter Officers "Code of Conduct"

No officer of the IIRA may hold a post as an officer of another similar or competing motorcycle club/organization. This does not prohibit multiple memberships in multiple motorcycle clubs but it does prohibit multiple officer posts in different clubs. The Tribal Council may, on a case by case basis, suspend this caveat to allow an IIRA Chapter Officer to simultaneously hold an Officers position in both an IIRA Chapter and another similar organization. A written request to have this caveat suspended must be sent to the Tribal Council in writing by the person making the request and it must be agreed to by a majority of the Tribal Council members to be accepted. The request will be signed by all Tribal Council members with their yea or nay vote. Copies will be retained by the Tribal Council and the original will be returned to the requestor.

IIRA officers are responsible for maintaining a good public image and perception of the IIRA and motorcycling in general. An IIRA officer should not publicly make any statements in any form of communication or commit an act that portrays the IIRA, IIRA leadership, an IIRA Chapter or any of its members in a negative or unfavorable manner.

An IIRA officer should not publicly make any statements in any form of communication or commit an act that ridicules, derides or otherwise portrays any motorcycle rider in a negative or unfavorable manner.

An IIRA officer has a duty of loyalty to the IIRA and to fellow officers and Chapter members. An IIRA officer should not make any statement or commit any act which would cause his/her loyalty to be called into question. Treat everyone with respect.

D. Removal of an IIRA Chapter Officer

An IIRA Chapter Officer may be removed in the following ways:

1: The Officer resigns

2: The Officer (Charter Holder) is dismissed by the Tribal Council for Bylaw or Conduct violations

3: The Officer’s own Chapter rules or Charter Holder require removal from the Chapter (possibly through elections).

4: In the case of the Charter Holder, a majority of the Chapter Members petitions the Tribal Council to appoint a new Officer (Charter Holder).

In most cases, a current Chapter Regular member will step up to replace the outgoing Officer or a restructuring of the chapter will occur. IIRA requires 3 officers in a chapter, if no member comes forward to fill out the minimum three officers, the IIRA Chapter will be disbanded.

For option 3, the Petition must be signed by a majority of the Chapter members who are in good standing and sent to the Tribal Council for review. Before issuing a ruling, both parties will have an opportunity to present their "side" of the story. The Tribal Council will investigate the issues and question both the membership and the Charter Holder to determine the facts. When the Tribal Council rules on the petition, both parties will be notified and the decision is final.

All Petitions from the Chapter membership sent to the Tribal Council for review will be kept confidential and will not be released to the Public or the IIRA membership. This gives the Chapter Membership the opportunity to file a complaint without being subjected to public controversy. The content and context of petitions will only be shared with the individuals filing the complaint, the Tribal Council and the Chapter Charter Holder.

E. Removal of an IIRA Member

1: An IIRA Member may have their membership terminated, suspended or non-renewed. Only the Tribal Council, by majority vote of the Tribal Council, can suspend, terminate or non-renew an IIRA member. These actions are not taken lightly and are to be undertaken in the best interest of IIRA. An IIRA member in good standing can resign their membership at any time by sending a letter of resignation to the Tribal Council.

2: In addition, an IIRA Member can be terminated or suspended under the following conditions

a: Failure to pay the Membership fee or Annual Dues

b: A petition by the members Chapter Charter Holder to suspend or terminate the member for cause (the Tribal Council will contact the members Chapter Charter Holder and member prior to making any ruling)

In all cases, the Tribal Council will evaluate the situation and notify the member of its decision.

All Petitions from the Chapter Charter Holder sent to the Tribal Council for review will be kept confidential and will not be released to the Public or the IIRA membership. This gives the Chapter Charter Holder the opportunity to file a complaint without being subjected to public controversy. The content and context of petitions will only be shared with the Chapter Charter Holder, the Tribal Council and the IIRA Member.

F. IIRA Patch Requirements

The IIRA Back Patch, as worn on a vest or jacket shall be placed on the upper half of the back of the vest or jacket. Absolutely No three-piece patches are permitted in the IIRA. No Member of the IIRA shall ever add the letters "MC" or wear the designation "1%" on their vest, jacket or any other article of clothing while representing the IIRA. No Rockers or Chapter Location Bars (CLB's) should ever be worn with a City, State or any other markings that identifies a Territory on the back of the vest or jacket.

The IIRA small Patch shall be placed on the upper left front of a vest or jacket or on the left sleeve of a jacket.
Chapter may create their own patch but it must be no larger then the IIRA small vest patch and may only be worn on the front of a vest or jacket or on the sleeve of a jacket.

G. Charity Events

The IIRA will not discourage any member from attending a charity event or any IIRA Chapter from conducting one. If the IIRA is used in the billing of such event, then the Tribal Council must approve the charity that has been selected as beneficiary. No Bank accounts, Savings or Checking should ever be opened under the name Iron Indian Riders Association by any IIRA Officer or Member.

If the name Iron Indian Riders Association, IIRA, or the IIRA Logo is to be used in the promotion of a charitable event, by a Chapter or member, then the beneficiary of the event must be previously approved by the Tribal Council.

H. Have Fun!