Thanks, Doug for the new pictures of the Norfolk Beer Festival. Check out the Pictures page.

                                                      Welcome | Bylaws

Welcome to the Hampton Roads Brewing and Tasting Society (HRBTS) website. We are dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of homebrewing. The club also encourages beer drinkers to discover the many unique and high quality craft beers from around the world.

The HRBTS works throughout the Tidewater area (Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach) as well as Northeastern North Carolina to promote a greater appreciation of quality beer and to help raise the region's level of beer consciousness. The HRBTS is southeastern Virginia's premier homebrewing club!

The club meets the first Wednesday of every month to discuss homebrewing and the Beer of the Month (BOTM). Members receive a monthly newsletter via e-mail. The club also sponsors a variety of other activities such as monthly homebrewing competitions, group brewing sessions, annual summer picnic, and an Oktoberfest party.

Members are encouraged to support the responsible enjoyment of beer and to observe the beverage laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Persons attending the HRBTS meetings and events are solely liable for actions attendant to their participation.

The Hampton Roads Brewing and Tasting Society (HRBTS) is dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of homebrewing. Members are encouraged to support the responsible enjoyment of beer and to observe the beverage laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Persons attending the HRBTS meetings and events are solely liable for actions attendant to their participation. Membership into the Club requires the acknowledgement and signing of the Membership/Release Form.

1. The club shall maintain the following elected and appointed positions of club officers:

• President - Responsible for setting the club budget, running club meetings, purchasing or acquiring donations for club raffle items, organizing club parties, appointing a Meeting Coordinator and Webmaster, authorizing reimbursements to club members and setting the agenda at planning meetings for club officers.
• Vice President - Taking over for the President in his/her absence as well as anything else the President chooses to delegate to this position. Providing beer sampling cups at all events (i.e., monthly social meeting, BOTM judging, etc.).
• Treasurer - Tracking the club budget (set by the President), collecting club membership applications and fees, collecting the club raffle money, reimbursing club members for money spent on club items, keeping track of all club receipts and writing a quarterly budget report for the newsletter.
• Secretary - Taking meeting minutes at a designated annual meeting.
• Newsletter Editor - Editing and mailing/e-mailing club newsletter.
• Competition Coordinator - Responsible for all club competition-related activities (e.g. finding judges, maintaining ribbons, sending First Place winners to the AHA club-only contest, etc.).

Appointed positions:

• Meeting Coordinator Appointed by the president and responsible for finding and arranging suitable meeting locations.
• Webmaster - Appointed by the president to design and maintain the club website.

2. Elections of club officers shall be held at the club general meeting for December. All nominations should be made prior to the November general meeting to allow candidates ample time to prepare a platform. Officer turnover shall happen at the Executive Board meeting following the December General Meeting.

3. Complimentary membership will be awarded to brewery and brewpub owners, and others who champion homebrewing of beer, at the discretion of the Executive Board (see complimentary section of membership roster).

4. There shall be two mandatory club parties "special events" (e.g. Summer Picnic and Oktoberfest).

5. Reimbursement for money spent on club items must be receipted. Also, prior to any expenditure, the President must grant pre-authorization.

6. Official club meetings shall be held on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:30 pm until approximately 10:00 pm.

7. Club monthly Board and Cup meetings shall be held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:30 pm until completion of the Cup judging.

8. There will be a NO SMOKING policy established for official club meetings so that our members may better enjoy fine beers.

9. Any club officer needing to leave office prior to the end of their term shall be replaced at the discretion of the President. If the President has to leave the Vice President shall take over the duties of the President.

10. Annual dues are $20.00 per individual and $25.00 per family. Dues shall be collected in December of each year. Club members will have until February to submit their dues prior to being removed from the club roster. Club fees shall be prorated for those joining the club late in the year.

11. Members are encouraged to support the reasonable enjoyment of beer, and to observe the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Federal government, and the "Golden Rule" during official Club functions.

12. Any changes to these bylaws must be voted on by club members at an official club meeting by the simple majority of those present.