KNIGHTS of the BROWN BOTTLE

HOMEBREW CLUB

CONSTITUTIONAL BY – LAWS

October 16, 1997

(Updated November 10, 2011)

Article I – Membership

Sec. 1: The payment of dues to the KNIGHTS of the BROWN BOTTLE HOMEBREW CLUB, hereinafter referred to as The Club, in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00) per year will be required of each member [thirty dollars ($30.00) per family], whether in attendance or not. Dues are payable on the first day of January each year. Any exceptions will be handled on a case by case basis by the elected officers, hereinafter referred to as The Board.

Sec. 2: No member shall be entitled to refund of dues upon severing connection with The Club.

Article II – Duties of Members

Sec. 1: Each member shall strive to promote the purposes of The Club as defined in the Mission

Statement in The Club Constitution.

Sec. 2: Members may bring guests to Club meetings and special events. The same guest may not attend more than two meetings or special events in one year.

Article III – Meetings

Sec. 1: Meetings will be held as prescribed in The Club Constitution.

Article IV – Club Officers

Sec. 1: Officers shall be elected or appointed as prescribed in The Club Constitution.

Article V – Duties of Officers

Sec. 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of The Club and be Ex-officio member of every committee. The President shall act as the principle point-of-contact between The Club and other homebrew clubs, businesses, and /or organizations.

Sec. 2: The Vice-president shall assist the President, in any way required, and shall act for the President in his or her absence. The Vice-president shall also serve as Chairperson of the Membership Committee.

Sec. 3: The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings, to include special and Board Meetings. The Secretary will maintain a roll of current and past members (for one year) showing in writing the full name, address, phone number, and E-mail (if applicable) of each. The Secretary will provide each member in good standing a card of membership in The Club.

Sec. 4: The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to The Club, and pay out same only on expenditures of $100.00 or less. Any expenditure exceeding $100.00 shall require a vote by The Club and be approved by a simple majority of attending members.

  • The Treasurer shall report to The Club on a regular basis The Club’s financial status and obligations.
  • Each month The Treasurer shall provide to the Secretary a current list of new club members.

Sec. 5: The Competition Chairman shall chair the Competition Committee and direct The Club’s Beer Judge Certification Program.

Sec. 6: The Past president shall act in an advisory capacity to The Board and have full voting rights on The Board.

Sec. 7: The Librarian shall:

  • Catalog and maintain an informational library of material relating to homebrewing and make this material readily available to members upon request.
  • Maintain current copies of The Club Constitution and By-Laws in the library.
  • Maintain a file of past Knights of the Brown Bottle Newsletters.
  • Maintain and periodically update a “scrap-book” of club related activities.

Sec. 8: The Newsletter Editor shall act as the Newsletter Committee Chairperson and be responsible for formatting and editing all newsletter articles.

Sec. 9: A Sergeant-at-Arms, if appointed, shall keep order at meetings and shall direct The Club in Parliamentary procedure following “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

Article VI – Committee Functions

Sec. 1: The Competition Committee shall schedule, coordinate, and conduct all brewing competitions for The Club. As demand warrants, the Competition Committee will establish procedures for members to earn Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) points and prepare for the BJCP exam. The Competition Committee shall:

  • Determine the timing and the style for each intra-club competition.
  • Establish guidelines for entering and judging of intra-club brewing competitions.
  • Inform Club members of upcoming competitions in Texas and neighboring states and AHA National and AHA Club Only competitions and arrange mailings of entries to these competitions.
  • Be responsible for purchasing and presenting intra-club competition ribbons and awards.

Sec. 2: The Membership Committee shall actively seek out new members and insure all new members and guests are properly welcomed.

Sec. 3: The Program Committee shall plan and coordinate the location(s) and activities for the monthly club meetings/functions. This committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting Club functions to include parties, outings, and educational (brewing) demonstrations.

Sec. 4: The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for:

  • Publishing and disseminating The Club’s newsletter.
  • Establishing and updating The Club’s web page.
  • Publishing and disseminating “The Firkin”, a compilation of the best of the preceding year’s newsletter articles.

Sec. 5: The Bluebonnet Committee shall plan, coordinate, and direct Club activities for the annual Bluebonnet Brew-off. The Bluebonnet Committee shall consist of no less than three club members. At least two committee members shall attend each Bluebonnet Brew-off planning session as voting members of the Bluebonnet Brew-off Planning Committee which is made up of members from the sponsoring homebrew clubs. The Bluebonnet Committee shall each month update The Club as to the current status of the Bluebonnet Brew-off and of The Club’s obligations there in.

Sec. 6: The Scottish Festival Committee shall plan, coordinate, and direct Club activities for the annual Celtic Brew-off and the Club Tent proceedings at the Scottish Festival. The Scottish Festival Committee shall consist of no less than three club members. At least two committee members shall attend each Scottish Festival planning session. The Scottish Festival Committee shall each month update The Club as to the current status of the Celtic Brew-off and of The Scottish Festival logistics and plans.

Sec. 7: The Board may designate or appoint one or more special committees, which shall have such powers as The Board, may confer upon them.

Article VII – Club Competitions

Sec 1: There are two types of KOBB Club competitions held during the year. An intra-club competition and a combined competition, which incorporates the intra-club scores with scores from public competitions. All entries shall be judged using American Homebrew Association style guidelines. The Club will host Knights of the Brown Bottle intra-club competitions determined by the Competition Chairman. The winner of the intra-club competitions will be awarded the Master Brewer of the Year award. The highest combined cumulative scores from the intra-club competitions and public competitions at year’s end will be awarded the Crusader of the Year Award.

Sec.2

a). Intra-Club Competitions – Master Brewer Award

For the Intra-Club competitions, ribbons will be presented for each beer placing first, second, and third. The Master Brewer award shall be presented each December to the member who receives the highest point total in Intra-Club competitions from December through November. The Master Brewer competition will use the following point system:

5 points – First Place

3 points – Second Place

2 points – Third Place

1 point – Entered

b)Combined Competitions –Crusader of the Year Award

The Homebrewer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement in homebrewing competitions. Points accumulated during the year from the intra-club competitions (as outlined in Section 2a above), will be added to those accumulated from awards in AHA sanctioned public competitions. Points are awarded as follows: 5 points- First Place, 3 points- Second Place, and 2 points for Third Place. It is also the responsibility of the members to notify the Competition Chairman of any awards they receive at AHA sanctioned public competitions.

c)The Knight of the Year Award

The Knight of the Year Award recognizes the member who demonstrates the most initiative and organization during the year. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication throughout the year to make the Club fun and exciting. The Knight of the Year Award will be presented in December to the member that has accumulated the most non-brewing points in the proceeding 12 months. The points are awarded as:

Hosting the Club’s Christmas Party – 10 points

Organizing and Hosting a Club brew-in – 10 points

Organizing and Hosting a small, impromptu Club brew-in – 5 points

Bluebonnet Brew-off Committee Member – 5 points

Celtic Brew-off Committee Member – 5 points

Hosting a Club Meeting – 5 points

Presenting a technical talk or demonstration at a Meeting – 5 points

Taking the BJCP Exam – 5 points

Attendance at a monthly meeting – 1 point per meeting

Being a judge for an intra-club competition – 1 Point

The KOBB Board may award points for other non-brewing activities as it deems appropriate as long as the activity promotes the mission of the Knights of the Brown Bottle and home brewing.

d) In the event two or more members tie for the Homebrewer or Knight of the Year awards, the Board will vote and determine the winners for that year.

Article VIII – Fund Raising and Vested Rights

Sec. 1: All funds of The Club shall be raised, reported, and expended in accordance with all state and local laws governing non-profit organizations.

Sec. 2: All funds raised by The Club become property of The Club and will be expended as set forth in The Club’s constitution.

Sec. 3: No member shall become vested of any right, title, or interest of, in or to any property of The Club.

Sec. 4: No member of The Club may personally profit by association with or by using the name or logo of the Knights of the Brown Bottle and/or Knights of the Brown Bottle Homebrew Club.

Article IX – Amendments

Sec. 1: The BY-LAWS shall be amended in the same manner as The Club’s constitution.

Comments are closed.