Protected: By-Laws

KREWE OF SPANK

By-Laws

ARTICLE I:  NAME & PURPOSE

Section A: Name

The name of this krewe shall be the Krewe of SPANK.

Section B: Affiliation

The Krewe of SPANK is a sub-krewe of the Krewe du Vieux a.k.a. the ‘Mother Krewe.’

In this document, the Krewe of SPANK will be referred to as the ‘Krewe.’

Section C: Purpose

The purpose of this krewe shall be to foster unity, equality and good times within the Krewe and the Krewe du Vieux peephood, while creating lower echelon, satirical Mardi Graserie under the influence of a shit-ton of beer, chemicals and glitter.

Occasionally, there will be a penis.

ARTICLE II:  MEMBERSHIP & DUES

Section A:  Membership Designations

  1. Member
  • A person who paid marching dues for the parade the year before has the first right of refusal for a marching spot the following year.
  • 53 Krewe Marching spots
  • Members who join post 2012 must live in the Greater New Orleans area
  • Must participate in at least 2 den days, works days, or the equivalent (to be determined by the Officers)
  • Must attend at least one member meeting
  • A member who has moved out of town but still wishes to remain active is still expected to participate in the preparation for the parade or the cleanup afterwards.  If it is impossible for an out-of-town member to attend Den days, it will be expected that they will be fully involved with duties and work that occur on parade weekend.  Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in revocation of member status, subject to majority Krewe-wide vote.
  • Expected to attend Krewe, subkrewe and Mother Krewe activities and events
  • Receives all Krewe email communications
  • The right to vote on shit!

2. Referee (“Ref”)

  • A person who provides specific security and support during the parade in exchange for a wrist-band to the ball. Beings a ref does not make a person a member of the Krewe.
  • Does not pay dues
  • Must attend the Krewe du Vieux Ref training session each year
  • Must be relatively sober during the parade
  • May carry an official SPANK paddle but may NOT spank anyone during the parade
  • May purchase SPANK throws but may NOT distribute throws in any manner during the parade
  • Must wear Krewe du Vieux Ref t-shirt during the parade (but encouraged to costume with the krewe for the ball)
  • May receive limited Krewe email communications (upon request)
  • Invited to attend Krewe activities and events
  • No voting privileges
  • Second group considered for open marching spots

3. Spankee

  • A person living in the Greater New Orleans area who would like to become a Member. 
  • Must be nominated to be a Spankee by 2 members
  • Spankees must complete a 2-year probation period. After 2 years of hard labor, the Spankee must be voted IN by a majority of the krewe.
  • Must have performed well as a ref or participated significantly in prior parade and ball preparation
  • Should attend Krewe, subkrewe and Mother Krewe activities and events
  • Receives all Krewe email communications
  • NO voting privileges
  • Third group considered for open marching spots
  • Spankee program may be frozen if there are no member spots available.

4. Guest

  • A person who marches in the parade as a guest also called a substitute or “sub”.
  • A guest is not a member. 
  • A person who marched as a guest may petition for membership, if there are available spots. Guests are chosen in the order in which they are received, unless overshadowed by the nomination from a member who has worked heavily for the upcoming parade.
  • Must be invited by a member in good standing. Said member is responsible for the guest and should help them get throws, costume and teach them general krewe etiquette.
  • Must pay full marching fees to whomever they are substituting for
  • Invited to attend Krewe activities and events (notified by nominating member)
  • NO voting privileges

5. Banner Holder

  • Banner Holders march in the KdV parade, to hold the SPANK banner and help with crowd control.
  • Do not pay dues.
  • Are not a Members of the Krewe and have no voting privileges.
  • Must be relatively sober during the parade.
  • May not carry a paddle during the parade.
  • May receive limited Krewe email communications (upon request).
  • Invited to attend Krewe activites and events.
  • Report directly to the Captains.

Section B: Dues

The cost of marching and non-marching dues is contingent upon current Krewe needs and costs passed down by the Krewe du Vieux (i.e., each amount may vary from year to year). Any marching or non-marching member who neglects to pay dues and does not make other arrangement for later payment, loses member status and must go through the proper channels for being reinstated. (See above section – it’s no picnic.)

1. Yearly Dues Rates

All paid dues are for the following year/upcoming parade.

A ‘cost of dues’ email will go out to members before the October Krewe meeting.

2. Member Dues 

Paying your member dues retains your member or Spankee status and your spot in line to march (if you have one).

Dues should be paid to the Treasurer by the end of the October Krewe Meeting. If they are not paid by that date, it will result in the loss of membership, unless other arrangements are made with the treasurer.

3. Marching Fees

Members must pay member dues plus marching fees to retain their marching spot. Members will be notified the amount of that year’s marching fees as soon as they are known.

Marching fees should be paid to the Treasurer by the end of the November Krewe Meeting.

If a Member who marched the previous year cannot march, the spot goes back into the Krewe ‘pot.’ Any person who takes the spot must pay full marching dues.

4. Other Marching
Members who did not march the previous year, Spankees and Refs. will be notified after the November Krewe Meeting if they have the opportunity to fill a marching spot. Marching dues must be paid within one week of initial notification.

NOTE: If notification is less than 2 weeks before the parade, dues must be paid to the treasurer within 24 hours. Dues must be paid in full order to march.

5. Marching Guests (Also known as a substitute or “sub”)
Marching fees must be paid by the guest to the treasurer within one week of initial notification.

NOTE: If notification is less than 2 weeks before the parade, dues must be paid to the treasurer within 24 hours. Guests must be paid in full order to march.

Section C: Duties & Requirements of Members

A Member who violates any item in this section can be ejected from the Krewe by a unanimous decision by the officers. Expelled members may only be re-admitted through the full process of admission, probation and krewe-vote as described in the Membership section.

  1. Each Member must complete a designated Krewe job.
  2. All Members:
    • Are expected to have fun.
    • Shall not be assholes nor commit unwanted acts of lechery to fellow krewe members (or civilians).
  3. A Captain may kick a Member out of the parade or the ball if behavior is deemed unacceptable.
  4. All Members, Spankees, Guests and Referees must be 21 years or older.


ARTICLE III:  ELECTED OFFICERS

Section A: Officers 

The officers shall be two Captains, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section B: Eligibility

Officers must be a Member, who has marched, in good standing.

Section C: Election

The Officers shall be elected by ballot following the parade and before June 1 and will take office July 1.

Section D: Term

  • Captain: 2-year term.
  • Secretary/Treasurer: 1-year term.
  • Officers may be reelected an unlimited number of times.

Section E: Resignation

Officers may resign at anytime by provided written notice to one of the Captains.

Section F: Removal

Any officers may be removed by majority vote of the Elected Officers in office whenever deemed necessary in the best interests of the Krewe.

Section G: Vacancy

If a vacancy within the Officers occurs, the Captains will call a special election held to the same standards as a regularly scheduled election.

ARTICLE IV:  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section A: Captains

It shall be the duty of the Captains to:

  1. Preside at Krewe meetings.
  2. Attend Captain’s Meetings, den days and events.
  3. Vote only in case of a tie.
  4. Represent the krewe.
  5. Coordinate with the Creative Dictator.
  6. Perform all duties ordinarily pertained to this office (as implied by the Mother Krewe).

Section B: Secretary

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

  1. Record the minutes of all meetings.
  2. Keep a file of the Krewe’s records.
  3. Issue notices of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the Krewe.
  4. File with the Secretary of State annually.
  5. Conduct Elections.

Section C: Treasurer

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

  1. Receive all funds.
  2. Process Request for Payment, Deposit Slip, and Officer Signature Forms.
  3. Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures.
  4. Make reports as directed.
  5. Pay Krewe members back in a timely manner.

ARTICLE V:  MEETINGS

Section A: Krewe Meetings

Regular Krewe meetings will be held on the third week of the month, September – March.

Members, Spankees and Refs are encouraged to attend.

Section B: Post-Parade Meeting

A meeting held after the parade.

  • Members who marched should attend.
  • Members who did not march may attend at their leisure.
  • To discuss what worked, what didn’t, what should change and what should stay the same.

Section C: Special Meeting
Captains may call a special meeting with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section D: Quorum
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership.

Section E: Officers Meetings
Officers meetings will be held the second week of the month, September – March. Members of the Executive Committee attend on an as-needed basis.

ARTICLE VI:  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section A: Responsibility
Management of this Krewe shall be vested in an Executive Committee responsible to the entire membership to uphold these bylaws.

Section B: Membership
This Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers as listed in Article III and the Leadership as listed in Article VII.

Section C: Meetings
Executive Committee members will join Officers Meeting as needed.

ARTICLE VII:  LEADERSHIP

Section A: Leadership Roles

  • Creative Dictator
  • Parade Day Tsar
  • Ref Commander
  • Den Master
  • Membership Wrangler
  • Float Safety God
  • FUNdraiser
  • Non-Marching Overlord

Section B: Eligibility

Leadership must be Krewe Members in good standing.

Section C: Appointment

Leadership roles fulfillment should be discussed throughout the year, but final appointments will be made by the Captains.

Section D: Term

  • Leadership: 1-year term.
  • Leadership may be reappointed an unlimited number of times.
  • Leadership’s term in office coincides with the Officer’s.

Section E: Vacancy

If a vacancy occurs in a non-elected position, the Captains will appoint a replacement.

ARTICLE VIII:  DUTIES OF LEADERSHIP

Section A: Creative Dictator (or ‘Art Dic’)

  • Oversees float, costume and throws.
  • Designated keeper of the concept and theme.
  • Creates or assigns creation of royalty gifts for Captain’s Dinner.

Section B: Parade Day Tsar

  • Coordinates pre-parade day/ball volunteering.
  • Responsible for securing, setting up and taking down table/Krewe area at ball site.
  • Parade day: In charge of food, beer and loose ends.

Section C: Ref Commander

  • Oversees acquiring, vetting and keeping track of Refs.
  • Attends/Makes-sure Refs attend Krewe du Vieux Ref Training.
  • Protects the float and beer during the parade.
  • Coordinates Refs on Parade Day (before, during and after).
  • Reports to the Captains.

Section D: Den Master

  • Keeps the Den area clean and compliant with Mother Krewe rules.
  • Coordinates the setting up and taking down of den days.
  • Collects and disseminates gossip.
  • Makes sure attendance is taken at Den Days.

Section E: Membership Wrangler

  • Tracks members
  • Keeps member contact information up-to-date.
  • Coordinates with Secretary and Treasurer.
  • Makes sure Google Group and Facebook Group members stay up-to-date.

Section F: Float Safety God

  • Makes sure float is safety compliant with the Mother Krewe (including items needed inside the float and float height).
  • Responsible for tire condition, spares, jacks and process for dealing with a flat.
  • Responsible for checking tires and air pressure when float rolls out into line-up on Parade Day (generally morning or early afternoon).
  • Responsible for flats during the parade.
  • Coordinates with the Art Dic.

Section G: FUNdraiser

  • Responsible for developing and implementing fundraising activities for the Krewe
  • Works closely with the treasurer
  • Puts the FUN in FUNdraising
  • In charge of overseeing all aspects of the Brew Doo

Section H: Non-Marching Overlord

  • Coordinates parade day viewing site party for non-members.
  • Responsible for securing, setting up and taking down party stuff at parade viewing site.

ARTICLE IX:  AMENDMENTS

Section A: Selection

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership.

Section B: Notice

All members shall receive advance notice of the proposed amendment at least seven days before the voting begins.

BY-LAWS WERE AMENDED JUNE 17, 2022