By-Laws and Charter

BUFFALO BULLDOGS, M.C.
By-Laws and Charter

Amended August, 2025

Article I. Purpose of the Club

The Buffalo Bulldogs Men’s Club, Inc (the Club) is a Fraternal, non-profit social club for men of the gay community twenty-one (21) years of age and older who enjoy the look, feel, smell and mystique of leather and/or the leather fetish lifestyle and promote the camaraderie and brotherhood of like-minded men. The Club will organize and conduct meetings and events to further promote that brotherhood.  Additionally, the Club will organize and conduct occasional events to raise funds or goods for worthy charitable organizations.

Article II.  Definitions

•    Club shall mean the Buffalo Bulldogs Men’s Club, Inc.

•    Member or Full Member shall mean any male Identifying member duly admitted to the Club in accordance with Article III stated herein.

•    Associate Member and shall mean any male Identifying member duly admitted to the Club in accordance with Article III stated herein.

•    Honorary Member shall mean A non-member that has been granted Honorary Membership by the Executive Board. Honorary Members are members by name only, they do not hold any special rights, or privileges within the club. They do not pay dues and cannot vote . 

•   Pledge shall mean any male Identifying  person who has applied for Full Member or Associate Member status in accordance with Article III stated herein and has not been voted for Full Member status.

•   Membership or Full Membership shall mean all Full Members of the Club in good standing.

•   Officer shall mean any member duly elected to hold an Office of the Club in accordance with Article        IV as stated herein.

•   Meeting or Regular Meeting shall mean the regular monthly meeting of Members in accordance with Article V stated herein.

•   Special Meeting shall mean an unscheduled meeting of members in accordance with Article V stated herein.

•   Bar Night shall mean a social gathering of the Membership at a host bar open to the public.

•   Fundraiser shall mean any social gathering of the Membership whose primary purpose is to raise money for either the Club’s treasure or for charitable purposes.

•   Road Trip shall mean any gathering of the Membership which will either convene locally and proceed to an out-of-town location or convene at an out-of-town location.

•   Event shall mean any Bar Night, Fund Raiser, Road Trip or other social gathering designated, approved and held by the Club.

•   Quorum shall be double the  number of board members present plus 2 full members in good standing. Example: 5 Board members present + 5 full members +2 other full members = 12 

•  Back Patch shall mean the Large Club Insignia patch to be worn in accordance with Article IX stated herein.

•  Shoulder Patch shall mean the Small Club Insignia patch worn in accordance with Article IX stated herein.

•  Sleeve Insignia shall mean the Small Club Insignia patch that can be worn on an armband, belt, suspenders, etc… This may be worn at Bar Nights and Events in lieu of wearing a Member’s Back Patch. The Sleeve Insignia is only available to Full Members. 

•  Colors shall mean all items of Club Insignia including but not limited to the Bulldog’s Banner, Back Patch, Shoulder Patch, nametag and office tag worn on a Full, Associate or Members Vest.

Article III. Membership

Section 3.01 Membership Admission Procedures

     Subsection A.  Application for Full and Associate Member status

1.  An applicant must attend at least four (4) meeting or events before being accepted as a pledge. The Pledge will then serve a three (3) to six (6) month pledge period, at the discretion of the Pledge Master before being voted on Full or Associate Member status. A quorum vote in the affirmative shall be required for acceptance.  

2.  Three Full Members in good standing must sponsor an applicant for Full or Associate Member status. There should not be more than one Executive Board member sponsoring the prospective Pledge. The Pledge Master should not be a sponsor to any pledges.        

3.   A Pledge Shall observe the following Basic Rules:

• A Pledge shall be invited and encouraged to participate in any event.

• A Pledge may not be given any responsibilities pertaining to the Club’s financial status.

• At all times the Pledge will show respect to the Members of any Leather Club.

• It is the responsibility of the Pledge to become acquainted with as many active Members as      possible of the Club. Sponsors may be asking you questions prior to and during your pledge period.

• A Pledge shall know and understand the Club Charter (Bylaws) prior to the Club voting on their membership.

• The Pledge should have a short speech prepared about themselves to begiven before they are voted on. 

•  Other rules shall be added as deemed necessary by the Pledge Master and executive board.    

4.  A newly elected Full Member shall serve a probationary period of six (6) meetings. During this time, the Full Member may not serve as an elected Officer or Appointed position. 

5.  No one may apply for Full Membership if they are a Full Member of another organization with similar composition.  Furthermore, no Member of the Club may apply for Full Membership of another Club with similar composition i.e. Another leather/kink club.

6.  Any former Full member who wishes to be reinstated shall abide by this Charter, Article III, Section 3.01 as stated herein.  Such as a request for reinstatement must be within two (2) years of the date of separation from the Club.  An application from a Person who has not been a member for more than two (2) years or who left for Disciplinary reason shall be treated as a new application. Exceptions are made at discretion of the board.

7.  A non-refundable fee of $5.00 must accompany each application.

Subsection B. Application for Honorary Membership

1. A Member of the Executive board must recommend a non-member to be considered For Honorary Membership status.

2. The Executive Board must recommend all nominations for Honorary MemberStatus of Membership.

3. A unanimous vote of a quorum shall be required.

4.  An Honorary Member may be voted into full membership or associate member due to the length of service to the club of 5 years or more. They will need to fill out an application, a non-refundable fee of $5.00 must accompany each application.

Section 3.02 Membership Rules and requirements

Subsection A. Regulations

1. Buffalo Bulldogs M.C (Men’s Club) is a Fraternal, non-profit social club for its members.

2. Members are Male or Male Identifying twenty-one (21) years of age and older who enjoy the look, feel, smell and mystique of leather and/or the leather fetish lifestyle and promote the camaraderie and brotherhood of like-minded men.

3.  Inappropriate deemed offensive symbols or behavior are prohibited. Members who display such items or behaviors at official events are subject to the disciplinary process up to and including removal from Club.

      Subsection B.  Member Attendance 

1. Full Members must attend no less than six (6) monthly meetings in each calendar year unless excused absences with prior approval of the Executive Board. This is not optional. Member attendance will be accommodated due to special circumstances but must be approved by the Board. The Board will review their special circumstances on a ongoing basis. Failure to so may result in disciplinary action 

2. To maintain full membership, all full members are expected to attend the annual election meeting that is held each December. If attendance isn’t possible, they need to notify the Board and inform them of this absence and cast their absent ballot of annual elections.

3.  Associate Members must attend no less than two (2) monthly meetings or Events in each Calendar year unless excused with prior approval of the Executive Board. Failure to so may result in disciplinary action

4.  Leave of Absence

• A request for leave of Absence shall be in writing to the Executive Board. The Executive Board will decide on approval and notify the member of their decision 

• All Members on Leave of Absence shall maintain all Club rules.

• Leave of Absence time is one (1) year with approval. This may be reviewed after one year.     

5.  If any Member changes residence or e-mail, they must inform the Secretary by e-mail or letter within thirty (30) days of the change.           

Subsection B. Precedence of Duty

1. When a member attends any Event, their responsibilities will be primarily to the Club.

2. Members should wear the Club Back Patch and no other.  Titleholders’ patches are excluded from such restriction but should be within 2 years of them holding that title unless at that event. 

3. The Club Colors and Insignia shall be respected at all times and remain the sole property of the club.   

 Subsection C.  Drug & Weapon Policy    

 The use or possession of illegal drugs or weapons at any Club meeting or Event is strictly prohibited, and a violation may lead to expulsion by quorum vote of the membership.

Subsection D. Dues 

Dues not paid in full by a member will result in that Member losing their Good Standing status immediately. Therefore, they forfeit their voting privileges until their dues are caught up in full. Catching up on past dues will reinstate their Good Standing status immediately as it applies to their financial obligation to the Club. Dues must be paid Before or after a meeting.

Section 3.03   Obligating the Club

 Subsection A.      

 The Club shall not be held responsible for its Members accepting personal credit from any member of another club, Their own club or a business associated with the club.  The Club also disassociates any and all financial obligations based on prior commitments. Members of the Club who are Bootblacks operate their earnings gained from Bootblacking outside of the purveyance of the Club and conversely, do not obligate the Club to committing financial assistance for materials and/or equipment.

Subsection B.      

 Any obligations made by this Club, whether financial or otherwise must have the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3.04 Disciplinary Procedures

Subsection A.      

 The Executive Board shall have the power to impose disciplines. action on any Member.  The following shall denote discipline Procedures:

• Loss of the right to vote

• Loss of the right to make a motion.

• Loss of the right to hold office.

• Loss of the right to represent the Club in any official capacity.

• Levy a financial responsibility for one’s conduct.

• Removal of from the club for cause

Subsection B.

  A Member may be expelled by quorum vote of the Membership.  The concerned Member must be requested to attend (vote) possessing full rights and privileges of their status and they must be notified of all charges against him.  Said notice must be in writing and served or posted by US Mail at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, allowing the Member to rebut or resign. This notice will be sent via Certified U.S. Mail, to ensure confirmation that the concerned Member received the notice.  The rebuttal may be made in writing posted by US Mail to the Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Article IV.  Executive Board

Section 4.01  The Executive Board shall govern the Club.  Executive Board Membership shall consist of the five (5) elected officers of the Club. They are as follows: President Ex-officio (non-voting advisory), Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary, Digital Marketing Manager. If deemed necessary and supported by a quorum of the Full Membership an alternate Executive Board may consist of four (4) elected officers.

Section 4.02   Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of a quorum.  Terms are for a two-year rotating schedule. No Member shall hold the same office for more than three (3) consecutive terms with one exception as follows:

In the event of outstanding service an Officer may hold the same office without limit if unopposed with a unanimous vote of the Club Membership. If there are no nominations for the board or no nominations for that position the current officer will continue to hold office. If an officer steps down, removed or passes the president may call for a special election or may appoint someone to fill the remainder of that term.

Section 4.03        Nominations for the Executive Board are held during the November meeting. The election shall be held at the December meeting each year.  Members elected  to sit on the board will take office at the January meeting. 

Section 4.04 Elected Officers

Subsection A. President

1. The President shall act as presiding officer of the Club with authority and duties incidental to said office and serves as a member of ex-offiico (advisory) of all committees.

2. The President shall have passwords/pin numbers to club email, webpages, bank cards and account information.

3. Supplies for an evening meal at camp 

4. Procures play equipment for camp

5. Procures Covance supplies for pride and registers the Clubs float

6. Retains right to audit the club’s financial records. 

  Subsection B. Vice-President                

1. The Vice-President shall act as the presiding officer in the absence of the President with the  authority and duties incidental to said office during such absence.

2. The Vice-President shall assist the President.

3.  The Vice-President shall hold in their possession one of the Club banners 

4. The Vice-President will order and distribute any and all friendship pins or items

5. Supplies for an evening meal at camp

6. The Vice-President will be responsible for additional duties as assigned by the President.

Subsection C. Secretary

1. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall preside in the case of the absence of the President and Vice-President.

2. The Secretary shall keep an up-to-date record of the Membership Roster

3. The Secretary shall hold all Club records.

4. The Secretary will call for agenda items from the board a week before a general meeting. This will serve at the agenda for the general meeting agenda will be texted or emailed to the board before the general meeting.

5. The Secretary will send out the meeting minutes. Including the meeting minutes of Decembers election results.

6. The secretary will provide one breakfast meal at camp

7. The Secretary will be responsible for additional duties as assigned by the President.

Subsection D. Treasurer

1.  The Treasurer shall collect and receive all the funds of the Club and deposit all funds in a bank approved by the Executive Board.

2. The Treasurer shall keep records of all financial transaction’s incidental to the business of the Club.

3. The Treasurer shall make monthly reports to the Membership.

4. The Treasurer shall notify the Executive Board of any Member in areas of dues payable and any other funds payable to the Club.

5. The Treasurer shall have a current list of dues at all general meetings

6. The Treasurer shall keep the club patches and be responsible for ordering name tags

7. The Treasurer will be responsible for additional duties as assigned by the President.

Subsection E. Digital Marketing Manager

• 1. The Digital Marketing Manager is responsible for designing promotional materials/flyers that will be pushed out to applicable social media channels.

  2. The Digital Marketing Manager will assume responsibility for posting and addressing inquiries/comments/responses made on social media on behalf of the club.

  3. The Digital Marketing Manager will make sure that the web page is regularly updated and assume webmaster duties.

• The Digital Marketing Manager is charged with the publication of the Club’s Web pages. 

• The Digital Marketing Manager’s editorial comments as well as the general contents are subject to approval by the Executive Board

•  The Digital Marketing Manager may form a subcommittee of members to assist with website maintenance and social media posts.

•  The Digital Marketing Manager shall not publish last names; telephone numbers or addresses electronically or otherwise on the Club’s web pages.

4.    The Digital Marketing Manager will be responsible for additional duties as assigned by the President.

Section 4.05 Appointments

The Executive Board shall recommend Membership candidates for appointments for positions.  A simple majority of the board shall be required to approve a member for an appointed position.  Appointees may be any Member or Officer, but do not serve on the Executive Board unless they are already an Officer. Appointments are appointed by the president by the February Meeting one month after their installation. Appointments run for a two-year term and serve at the will of the board.

Subsection A. Pledge Master

1. The Pledge Master shall be responsible for the storage and availability of items pertaining to pledge-ship.

2. The Pledge Master shall assume responsibility for Pledge’s knowledge of the Club and its Charter.

3. The Pledge Master/Board shall make the motion in Regular or Special Meetings to either extend or terminate pledge-ship or to extend Full Membership or Associate membership to Pledges.

4. Perform a Google search on all pledges as a basic background check.  They will report back their findings to the executive board, good or bad. If negative/harmful information is found out, it is up to the discretion of the executive board to continue or terminate the pledge-ship. 

5. The Pledge Master may assign tasks to pledges to benefit the club           

Subsection B. Sergeant-at-Arms

1. The Sergeant-at –Arms or designee shall be responsible for maintaining order at all Meetings and Events.  The Sergeant-At-Arms shall remove disorderly people.

2. The Sergeant-at Arms shall bar attendance at all Executive Meetings to all unauthorized people.

3. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall have the power to impose a fine on disorderly   Members as a disciplinary action, said fine not to exceed the sum of five dollars ($5.00).

4. The Executive Board shall have the power to add or waive said fines at their discretion.

5. The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for introducing all guests at general meeting.

Subsection C.  Road Captain

1. The Road Captain shall be responsible for and have command over the movement of the main group of members traveling to and from Club events.   

2. The Road Captain shall be responsible for the general safety and welfare of the group when traveling outside of our home location.

3. The Road Captain shall be coordinator or primary liaison for all negotiations that concern out-of-town activities and will serve as coordinator or club representative on all in town events.

4. The Road Captain should be a member of other local organizations that the club deals with regularly.

5. The Road Captain will Address the club on upcoming events pertaining to the Leather and kink communities within a 200-mile radius of Buffalo, and prestigious national Leather and kink  events during monthly meetings.

6. The Road Captain will help members find transportation to out of town events if needed.

Subsection D. Duty Officer

1. The Duty officer’s role is to manage the responsibilities of the members of the club during club events 

2.  The Duty Officer will make sure that the tasks that need to be completed will have the staff necessary to get the job done properly.

3. The Duty Officer will maintain a roster of those helping out with club event tasks, including names and cell phone numbers and times of designated helpers.  A roster will be published in the meeting minutes before the event, as well as printed out by the Duty Master to have at the event, which will include a timeline/schedule.

4. The Duty Officer will confer with the Pledge Master and or Road Captain  in assigning tasks for out of town events 

Section 4.06 Disciplinary

Subsection A. If an Officer fails to carry out the duties of their office or carries them out in a manner detrimental to the Club and proof is evidence thereof, they may be impeached by a quorum vote of the Full Membership.

Subsection B. Any Officer being considered for impeachment or other disciplinary action must be informed in writing of the charges against him.  Said Officer shall have the opportunity within thirty (30) days to rebut or resign from office.

Subsection C.  If any Officer has been impeached, a hearing will be held by the Executive Board to determine what action is to be taken.

Subsection D. A vote of no confidence may be taken at any time after three months from the date of Annual Elections regarding any Officer, combination of Officers or Executive Board itself, by ballot requiring a two-thirds vote of the Full Membership. If the executive Board as a whole is voted out the previous president will immediately become President of the Club. A special election will be held within thirty (30) days. With the newly elected board taking over immediately until December of that year.

Article V. Meetings

Section 5.01   Regular Meetings of the Club shall be held on the first Saturday of the month at a location designated by the Executive Board.  The Executive Board may change the Club meeting date or location when deemed necessary.

Section 5.02   Special Meetings for the consideration of matters of emergency may be called by the Executive Board upon notification of the Members prior to said Special Meeting.  No business shall be transacted at Special Meetings other than that specified. 

Section 5.03   An Executive Board Meeting may be called by any board member at a General or Special Meeting  These are closed to the public and members. A description will be given of what we talked about. All voting and motions will be made and conducted in public meetings. 

Section 5.04  The Secretary shall record the minutes of all Meetings.  All minutes are to be held by the Secretary and made available to the Executive Board and Full Members upon request.                                    

Section 5.05  The Secretary shall keep a written record of attendance at each meeting.  The record shall note Members, Guest(s), and excused or non-excused absences.

Section 5.06   A loose interpretation of “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall be used in conducting Meetings unless otherwise provided by the by-laws.

Article VI.  Voting

Section 6.01        Only Full Members in good standing have the privilege to vote.

Section 6.02        Except as otherwise required by this Charter, A Quorum shall be necessary for the completion or transaction of any Club business.

Section 6.03        Except as otherwise required by this charter, at any Meeting at which a Quorum is present, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting by the Members.

Section 6.04        A voting Member in an excused absence may vote by an Absentee ballot or in writing or e-mailed signed by the voting Member and forwarded to the Secretary in a sealed envelope. If the secretary is running for office, it will be forwarded to a board member who is not up for election.

Article VII. Dues

Section 7.01   All dues are to be paid to the Club Treasurer.

Section 7.02   Full Membership dues are paid monthly.  Membership dues are Five Dollars ($5.00) per month or Sixty ($60.00) per Year, and may be changed at the decision of the Executive Board as deemed necessary

Section 7.03   Associate Membership dues are to be paid by March 1st of each year.  The first year’s dues for an Associate Member will be prorated from his anniversary date are $36.00 a year

Article VIII.   Finance

Section 8.01        It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer to provide to the Club Membership with a written Annual statement about the Club’s finances at the Club’s November Meeting.

Section 8.02        Expenditures over $175.00 shall require an approval of a Quorum.

Section 8.03        The Treasurer and one other Executive Board Member must sign all checks or withdrawal slips.  There shall be no overriding signatures.

Section 8.04        The Executive board shall have the right to appoint an audit committee at any time to review the Treasurers’ records.

Article IX.  Insignia

Section 9.01   A Pledge may only receive his patches after he has been voted in to the Club.

Section 9.02   Only Full Members shall be entitled to wear the Back Patch or Sleeve Insignia

Section 9.03    All insignia shall remain Club property.  Any member terminating his Membership status in the Club, for any reason, is required to return all insignia to the Club.

Section 9.04    All Full Members of the Club shall wear the Club Shoulder Patch over the left breast of a jacket or vest.  The Club Patch shall be worn on the back of the same vest or jacket and shall be known as Member’s “Colors”. Only Full Members shall be entitled to wear the Club Patch. 

 Section 9.05   Body modifications including tattoos of the club’s insignia strictly prohibited.

Section 9.06    Any Member upon request, may have an additional Shoulder Patch issued to him for the purpose of displaying a secondary jacket or vest.  It does not have to be displayed over the left breast but must be displayed with respect.  Said secondary jacket or vest may not be considered a member’s primary Colors and therefore may not be substituted for Colors at any event, meeting or such Club Activity, nor at any run.

Section 9.07    Associate Members do not receive a Back Patch but are required to display shoulder Patch insignia on their vest or jacket in a respectable place, preferably over the right breast. 

Section 9.08 The Club’s Name and Insignis are registered and my not be reproduced without written consent.

Article X.  Committees

Section 10.01      It shall be the responsibility of Committees and Appointed Positions to do all the planning and research necessary to carry out their duties.          

Section 10.02      Committee Chairmen are responsible for any correspondence necessary to carry out their duties unless alternate arrangements have been made with the Secretary.  Any correspondence that is pertinent to a Club Events shall be made by or approved by the Digital marketing manager duplicated and forwarded to the secretary for proper retention. Poster and like media would be retained via Digital marketing manager

Section 10.03      Committees shall report on their activities at Regular Meetings.  Such reports should be brief and not burden the Regular Meeting with Committee business.

Article XI. Construction

Section 11.01  The authority to interpret and construe the provisions of this charter shall be vested in the Executive Board.

Article XII.  Amendments

Section 12.01      

1. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board in writing by a member in good standing. For the Board to review

2. The Board may present the proposed amendment to the membership in writing for review a minimum of 1 month before the membership vote.

3. To amend this Charter a two-thirds vote of the Full Membership is required.

4.  A subcommittee will be formed every five (5) years to review the Charter and recommend any changes if necessary.

Article XIII.  Dissolution of Buffalo Bulldogs M.C

Section 13.01

In the event that dissolution of the Buffalo Bulldogs was ever to occur, a notice would be e-mailed to all current members and functions would cease immediately.  After 30 days the Executive Board would meet to settle all monetary and property issues.  Providing there any remaining funds, the board would decide where those funds would be donated based on need within the LGBTQI+ community.  Any patches and banners will be sent to 1. Any local gay archives. 2. The Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago.  3. The Leather Hall of Fame in California.