Bylaws are your LCO’s foundation. If you don’t operate by following or regularly referring to bylaws, your organization goes off course, falls apart, runs out of juice, or may hit roadblock after roadblock. Bylaws don’t have to be arcane, inflexible, unchanging or overly-complex documents. In fact, they should describe some pretty basic, seemingly mundane things—name, mission, structure, procedures, etc. But these very basic pieces allow our organizations to carry out our work and do great, celebrated things for our climbing community.
No organization is perfect, and yes it’s true many may operate without following some part of their bylaws to the letter (some even lose track of their bylaws altogether—not good!). The basic roles, responsibilities, and procedures in your bylaws should be followed and become organizational habits. Good groups regularly refer back—“What’s our bylaws tell us to do in this situation?” Maintaining this good habit keeps your organization healthy and sustaining, and in the end makes for a happier board. So keep the bones—your bylaws--of your org strong so you can flex your LCO’s muscle!
There are two samples of bylaws below - one for LCOs with members and one without. An organization has a great deal of latitude in shaping its bylaws, and does not need to follow this model exactly. In fact, no two bylaws are the same when you look from one LCO to another. That said, this is a simple, streamlined model we recommend.
Keep in mind, bylaw changes, amendments and additions are completely normal. An organization can and should amend its bylaws as often as necessary to improve operations, keep up with changes, and better address community, land manager, and climbing area needs.
