NILES NOON OPTIMIST CLUB POLICIE

1.	Guests
	1.1	Potential new members can attend two meetings as guests of their sponsor. The sponsor or the potential new member must purchase the guest meal for any visits beyond the first two.
	1.2	Guests who are not potential new members, such as out-of-town friends and relatives, are not entitled to a guest meal. The host member or the guest must purchase a meal.
	1.3	All guests will sign the guest register and wear a visitor name badge with their name and the name of their sponsor or host.
	1.4	Two members of the immediate family of the Youth of the Week may attend the meeting at which their student is honored as a guest of the Club. Additional family members are welcome; however, any beyond the initial two must purchase their own meal.
	1.5	Special event meetings at which additional guests are expected, such as Oratorical Contest, will have the guest attendance policy determined by the committee organizing the special event such that meal costs are kept within project budget.
2.	Membership
	2.1	New members must be sponsored by one or more existing members, complete the written application, and submit a $25 application fee of which $15.00 is sent to OI and $10 covers the first month of dues. Dues are assessed quarterly.
	2.2	It is the responsibility of the sponsor to inform the new member of the financial obligations and the policies as described herein.
	2.3	New member applications are read to the Club membership twice and are approved by the board of directors prior to induction of the new member.
3.	Attendance
	3.1	All members are expected to obtain perfect attendance through a combination of 52 hours of attendance at regular meetings and participation of Club activities.
	3.2	Club members will sign the attendance sheet at each meeting and indicate participation in Club activities for makeup credits.
	3.3	Each hour of participation in a Club activity, including board and committee meetings, is worth make-up credit for one missed meeting.
	3.4	Excused absences as defined by Optimist International must be recorded on the sign in sheet in order to be accepted.
	3.5	The weekly sign-in sheet is the sole source for determining those members entitled to perfect attendance recognition.
4.	Fines
	4.1	The Sergeant-at-Arms collects fines for any infractions of Club rules and policies at his/her discretion, with all money collected going to the Youth Fund.
	4.2	Fines are meant to be a fun way of supporting youth, and shall be administered and paid in that spirit.

1.	Not wearing Optimist lapel pin or acceptable other (deemed so by the Sergeant-at-Arms.) Pin must bear the Optimist International (OI) logo and must be visible at all times during club. meetings.
2.	Not wearing proper Optimist name badge
3.	Your guest not wearing proper visitor’s nametag.
4.	Arriving late (after 12:10 Sergeant-at-Arms’ time)
5.	Taking off name badge and/or lapel pin prior to last bell.
6.	Not wearing red and/or green on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to Christmas.
7.	Not wearing red and/or green on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to New Years.
8.	Not wearing red on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to Valentine’s Day
9.	Not wearing green on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to St. Patrick’s Day.
10.	Not wearing red, white and blue on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to the 4^th of July.
11.	Not wearing red, white and blue on the Tuesday of or the Tuesday prior to Memorial Day.
12.	Your fine will be doubled if you do not have the correct change to pay your fine or fines.
13.	The mention of the proper name of your place of employment (unless sanctioned to do so) at any time during the meeting.

	You may also pay the Sergeant-at-Arms 25 cents per brag and in a few words (very few) state your brag. Example: "Last week I became the father of a 9 lb. 5 oz baby boy. He was 19½ inches long. Mother and baby are doing fine." Or: "I just got promoted to director of human resources on my job at _______." Anyone going over the time "seeming fit" by the Sergeant-at-Arms will be fined for the oversight.