The Retired Couples Club consists of a group of retired persons over the age of 55. The purpose of this organization is to provide a channel through which retired persons can find a congenial group with which to socialize. The membership is a resource for mutual support during times of difficult physical, emotional and other situations where support is appropriate.
A regular monthly luncheon takes place on the 1st Wednesday of each month at the Raintree Country Club. The group meets at 11:30 am to socialize and have drinks (coffee and tea is free and there is a cash bar). Lunch is served at 12:00 noon. The President and other members of the group provide news about the membership and explain details of planned events that members can sign up for.
There may be groups of Bridge players, Luncheons at restaurants, Poker Groups, Golf, Dining-In, a Book Exchange, a Dinner/Theater Group and other activities such as trips to many interesting locations – museums, plays, picnics, ball games, etc. The annual membership dues are $20.00 each ($40.00 a couple).
Please see the separate Guidelines for making and paying for Reservations for the monthly luncheon meeting.
Retired Couples Club of Charlotte Monthly luncheon reservation guidelines
Effective January 1, 2023
Venue: Raintree Country Club, Charlotte, NC Date: First Wednesday of each month except December and when it falls on a national holiday Hours: 11:30-12:00 Social hour, 12-1:30 Lunch
Seating Capacity: To be determined by the Board and intended to accommodate RCC members who shall take seating priority over guests. (Members will have to reschedule guests if capacity is reached.) If seating capacity is an issue, reservations are taken on a first come basis.
The RCC Board will ensure that adequate space for socializing before lunch is provided at capacity. There is a maximum of 3 guests couples per luncheon.
Lunch price including gratuity: Currently $32/person
RCC Lunch Reservations: Lunch reservations are made via check payments for the current month lunch. Checks are collected at the luncheon for the next lunch, or future lunch or mailed to the Secretary/Treasurer to arrive no later than Wednesday before the next Wednesday lunch. In the event your check does NOT arrive by Wednesday, your reservation will be cancelled.
After the current luncheon, an email is sent out to all members indicating a reservation and/or check for the subsequent luncheon/s. Periodic updates will follow during the month.
Reservations for those having check on deposit close at NOON
FRIDAY preceding the lunch. If seating capacity is an issue, reservations are taken on a first come basis.
Make checks out to: Retired Couples Club (RCC) Mail to: The current Treasurer – see website for address.
Raintree CC Reservations: RCC secretary/treasurer makes lunch reservations including table arrangements with Raintree Country Club on Friday afternoon before Wednesday’s lunch.
Cancellations or changes: Lunch reservations can be changed or cancelled prior to NOON Friday. Hold-over checks for the following month’s lunch must be reconfirmed with the secretary/treasurer no later than NOON Friday before the lunch.
Forfeit of lunch payment: Emergency lunch cancellations after NOON Friday (preceding Wednesday’s lunch) cannot be reimbursed unless an alternate member(s) can attend in your place or your lunch is picked up.
Paid but unattended lunches: Members cannot be reimbursed for unattended lunches. Raintree CC will prepare take out lunches for members unable to attend. Friends should alert the current RCC Treasurer to prepare lunches for takeout.
Attendance credit for unattended lunches: Unattended lunches are not credited as attended lunches.
Seating assignments: RCC uses a random seat selection software to assign tables. Guests of members are seated with their host members. New members are seated with their member sponsors the first time they attend a luncheon as members. Requests for seat preferences cannot be entertained except for physical impairment requirements.
Name Tags: Name tags are made for members and guests. Please leave them on the front table after the lunch.
Communication: Please use emails for lunch issue communications, etc. Use telephone for emergencies only.
RCC Luncheon, Food Preferences and Food Allergy Disclaimer: The menu selections and food items served by the Raintree Country Club for the monthly RCC luncheons are at the sole discretion of the Raintree Country Club. The RCC cannot entertain requests for menu selections or menu substitutions. Raintree Country Club does not assume liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed. In the unlikely event that substitute menu items are served, it is the Raintree policy to charge the RCC for such substitutes. The members who insist on a substitute item will have to pay for that item in addition to the lunch already paid.
Guidelines for Sponsorship It is recommended that: 1. After having been members for at least one year, RCC members may sponsor new members.
2. Sponsorship of new member applications is limited to one couple per year.
3. Sponsors should make their prospective members aware of the RCC Constitution and By-Laws and proceed by following Article III / Membership.
4. Sponsors are requested to assist the new members by introducing them to fellow members and ensure that their membership in the club gets off to a positive start.
Board interpretative guidelines of the By-Laws regarding membership
It has come to the attention of the Board that although our By-Laws provide that eligibility for membership in the RCC is to be lost by failure to attend at least 4 business luncheons in a fiscal year, the By-Laws are silent regarding whether and how eligibility, once lost, may be regained. The By-Laws do provide for re-admittance following resignation, which is different from the loss of eligibility by failure to meet this incentive for active membership participation.
It is the view of the Board that such loss of eligibility should not be permanent. However, for the incentive intent of the By-Laws to be meaningful, couples desiring re-admittance after having lost eligibility for membership in the RCC, may submit a new application only after the beginning of the next fiscal year following their loss of eligibility and will be placed on the waiting list as of the date of that application. No sponsor will be needed.
Policy on Requests for Charity Donations
Occasionally the Retired Couples Club (RCC) board is approached by club members who want to make an appeal to our membership for donations to a cause or organization they deem deserving. We are aware that many of our members are active in worthy civic and charitable causes. However, the RCC was established and exists as a social organization and should not be put in the position of determining whether any particular charity should be proposed to the membership for support.
With this in mind, your board has determined to state as policy that it will not entertain requests from club members for the use of club activities or facilities to endorse or solicit contributions or other support of charitable or other causes. Of course, this policy does not affect any personal interaction members may have among themselves.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
(as revised: January 14, 2015)
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the "Retired Couples Club," herein referred to as RCC.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The RCC is a non-profit social club, organized for the purpose of planning functions within the organization and providing a channel through which retired couples can socialize. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the membership will serve as a resource for mutual support during difficult situations when such support is both appropriate and welcome.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. All RCC members shall be retired persons who live in the Charlotte area. Total membership in the club shall be limited to 190 persons, including dues-paying couples and all dues-paying single persons who are the surviving spouse of a member couple.
Section 2. A retired couple shall consist of any two adults who identify themselves as a couple, are in a stable relationship, and are both at least 55 years of age, with neither actively employed on a full-time basis.
Section 3. In order to maintain membership eligibility, all dues-paying RCC members must attend at least four (4) business luncheons per fiscal year, unless health issues prevent their attendance.
Section 4. Application for new membership shall consist of the following:
1) Sponsorship by one or more current RCC members,
2) Attendance as guests at a regular monthly business meeting and introduction to the membership by their sponsors.
3) Completion of a membership application,
4) Approval by the RCC Board.
5) Announcement at the next regular meeting that the couple has been approved for membership.
Note: Applications for membership will be considered only when the number of couples falls below the limit stated in Section 1 above. Applicants for membership in excess of the membership limit shall be placed on a waiting list and shall be added as members in the order of the date of their applications
Couples requesting re-admittance after having resigned from the RCC must submit a new application and will be placed on the waiting list in the order of the date of their new application.
Section 5. All RCC members are expected to participate in club activities and assume their share of leadership responsibilities. New members are encouraged to participate in the coordinating of at least one club activity during their first year of membership.
Section 6. Long-standing members who reach the age of 90, either as part of a couple or as a single member, and no longer wish to attend business meetings or events on a regular basis, may apply to the Board for non-dues-paying Emeritus status. They can continue to maintain their social contacts with the Club through the receipt of emails and the monthly newsletter. Existing Emeritus members are considered to have satisfied these requirements.
ARTICLE IV DUES AND EXPENSES
Section 1. The dues of this organization shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per person per year payable on or before 1 October of each year.
Section 2. Dues shall be used to defray club expenses; any expense over $25.00 must have prior approval of the RCC Board. The list of reimbursable expenses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Sympathy/Get-Wellcards.
Production of newsletter and membership roster list
Office expenses
RCC Web site maintenance
Memorials ($50.00)
ARTICLE V MEETINGS AND QUORUM
Section 1. Regular meetings of the RCC members will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, except December or when the date falls on a national holiday or is otherwise pre-empted by external circumstances. Members may invite potential new member couples to a business meeting. Each potential member couple may attend only once as a guest.
Note: Guests shall be accommodated at business meetings on a space-available basis, whereas members shall have preference.
Section 2. A quorum shall consist of 20% of the total membership.
Section 3. Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all business meeting procedures not provided for by these By-laws.
ARTICLE VI THE RCC BOARD, ELECTED OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
The RCC Board retains the responsibility for the smooth functioning of the Club and may, at its discretion, institute guidelines for RCC activities, providing these guidelines do not conflict with the By-laws.
Section 1. The RCC Board officers shall be elected annually and shall consist of four member couples with the following titles:
Presidents / Chairpersons First Vice Chairpersons Second Vice Chairpersons Secretary/Treasurer
Section 2. The above elected officers shall constitute the Executive Board and shall meet at least quarterly during a calendar year.
Section 3. The elected RCC Board of the current year shall constitute the Nominating Committee for the following year.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall present its report, and officers will be elected at the August Meeting and shall take office at the conclusion of the first business meeting in September. Nominations from the floor can be accepted but need the prior approval of the nominee.
Section 5. Duties of the RCC Board officers shall consist of the following:
1) The Presidents / Chairpersons shall be the executive officers of the club and shall preside at all meetings, and shall be chairperson of the Executive Board. The RCC Board may create, appoint or abolish any special committee and delegate to each committee such powers and functions as it may deem proper.
2) First Vice Chairpersons shall be in charge of organizing RCC activities and trips, partnering with the member hosts of the events, and will assume the duties of Presidents / Chairpersons in their absence.
3) Second Vice Chairpersons shall support the First Vice Chairpersons with the organization of all activities and trips and will assume the duties of First Vice Chairpersons in their absence.
4) The Secretary has the following duties:
Takes minutes of RCC Board meetings and shall provide meeting minutes to the RCC Board members.
Keeps a file of RCC Board meeting minutes and RCC documents ,as appropriate.
Provides and distributes nametags for all members and guests and collects them after the business meeting.
Keeps business meeting attendance log.
Processes membership applications and maintains membership logs and records.
5.) The Treasurer is responsible for the finances of the RCC and has following duties:
Maintains the RCC bank account.
Organizes the monthly business meetings including:
a. Table reservations
Seating arrangements for attending members and guests
Collection of business meeting payments from members and guests
d. Payment of business meeting invoice
Collects annual dues from members. Pays all club invoices including memorials for deceased members.
Provides annual RCC financial report to the RCC Board and members on the first month of each fiscal year.
Provides financial updates at RCC Board meetings as needed.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended at any time at a regular business meeting by two- thirds of those present (assuming a quorum) providing notice of the proposed amendment has been distributed at the prior regular business meeting.
