BY LAWS OF THE
I. Name
The Shelby County Amateur Radio Club herein referred to as "the Club".
II. Membership and Dues
1. There are four classes of membership:
· Regular
· Family
· Associate
· Honorary
2. Regular membership is open to the holder of a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. Regular members pay dues, have a right to vote, and hold office.
3. Family membership is open to the holder of a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, and who, at the time of application, lives in the same household and is a member of the same immediate family as a Regular member who is in good standing. Family members pay dues, have a right to vote, and hold office. Correspondence or notification of the membership required by these by-laws shall only be required to be made to one member of the household of a Family member. Any Family member who moves from the household must reapply for Regular membership at the existing Regular member dues rate.
4. Associate
membership is open to unlicensed persons interested in amateur radio
communications and the purposes of the fraternity. Associate members pay dues but do not
have the right to vote nor hold office.
5. Honorary membership shall be open to persons or groups who by their interest support the Club. They shall be nominated by a member at a regular meeting and be elected to membership by the majority of voting members present. Honorary members shall not pay dues, vote, or hold office.
6. For election to Regular, Family, or Associate Memberships, a person shall submit a written application together with the proper membership fees at a regular meeting, and such applicant will become a member upon approval of a majority of the members present at any regular meeting.
7. All members shall agree to observe and follow the Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission governing amateur radio, any international treaty thereto, and also any Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission governing any other radio service in which the member is engaged.
8. Annual
Dues
a. Dues are payable January 1 of each year. A member shall be declared delinquent if dues are not paid by March 1 of the same year and a delinquent membership shall expire April 1 of the same year.
b. Newly elected members shall have their dues prorated by the month that they are admitted for membership. This shall apply for the first year of membership only.
c.
Payment of dues may be waived by the Board of
Directors for hardship cases. Such
waiver shall not be publicized.
9. A "voting member" is defined to be a member who holds either a Regular or Family membership
III. Officers
and Special Appointments
1. The Club officers are:
· The President
· The Vice-President
· The Secretary
· The Treasurer
· The Manager of Emergency Communications
2. All officers and two Members at Large for the Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of one year or until their successors are elected and shall serve from October 1st to September 30th.
3. A. The President shall authorize all expenditures as according to the budget.
B. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and Board of Directors.
C. The President shall not be entitled to a vote in a regular or special called meeting except in the case of a tie vote.
D. The President shall appoint committees and perform all customary duties of the President.
E. The President shall make special appointments as required by the By-Laws and necessary to for the functioning of the Club.
F. The President shall enforce due observance of the Constitution and By-Laws, decide all questions of order, and sign all official documents that are adopted by the Club.
G. The President shall present a written report of the activities of his administration to the membership at the last regular meeting in September.
4. A. The Vice-President is responsible for the publicity of the Club and serves in the capacity of the President in his absence.
B. If the President should become unable to perform his duties as President or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall become President for the remainder of the term.
C. The Vice-President is in charge of programs.
D. The Vice-President shall be responsible for membership recruitment.
5. A. The Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting of the membership.
B. The
Secretary shall keep an attendance roster for every regular and special called
meeting.
C. The Secretary shall carry on all correspondence, read communications at each business meeting.
6. A. The Treasurer shall receive all monies payable to the Club and will keep an accurate record thereof and pay all routine and approved expenses.
B. Membership dues will be payable to the Treasurer, and an accurate record of all expenditures shall be kept. A checking account and/or savings account may be opened, if approved by the membership, for payment of expenses.
C. The Treasurer shall give a report of the financial condition of the Club at each regular meeting.
D. The Treasurer shall make
the books available on request to any Regular, Family, or Associate member for
inspection at any regular meeting.
E. The Treasurer shall keep an up-to-date record of all members' names, addresses, telephone numbers, license class, and other personal data deemed necessary by the membership.
F. The Treasurer shall track the budget status and report to the President any non-budgeted expense, budget short-falls, or projected deficits.
7. A. The
Manager of Emergency Communications (MEC) shall be the chairman of the
Shelby County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SCARES).
B. The MEC shall coordinate and maintain all Club emergency plans.
8. Any officer may be removed by a vote of two-thirds of the voting membership present at any regular meeting.
9. Special appointments shall include (but not limited to):
a. A Repeater Chairman, who shall have the authority over and be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Club’s repeater system including all related budgeted items. He shall select a committee to assist him with his duties.
b. A Web Master who shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the www.W4SHL.com web site including all related budgeted items.
10. Every officer shall, at the expiration of his term, shall turn over all Club assets for which he was responsible to his successor. This shall be accomplished no later than two regular meetings after the installation of officers.
IV. Board of Directors
1. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a month.
2. A report to the club membership of the actions taken by the Board of Directors shall be made at the immediate business meeting following the Director's meeting.
3. Any action taken by the Board of Directors shall be subject to the approval of the voting members present at a regular or special called meeting.
4. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to determine all expenditures of the Club except normal operating expenses which the Treasurer is authorized to pay.
5. The Board of Directors shall construct an annual Club Budget and present it to the Club membership for ratification at the first business meeting after taking office for the new term. If the proposed budget is not approved by the Club membership, the Board of Directors shall present a revised proposed budget at the following business meeting for Club membership approval.
6. The Board of Directors shall hold, transfer, and dispose of all property of the Club and maintain an adequate inventory of such property.
7. The Board of Directors shall keep and maintain minutes of each and every meeting and shall make them available to the membership on request.
V. Elections
1. A. In July of each year, the President shall appoint a nominating committee which shall consist of four voting members.
B. This committee shall nominate at least one voting member for each office of the Club and two Directors at Large at the first business meeting in August.
2. Elections shall be held at the first business meeting in September and the officers elected will assume office on October First.
3. Election of
officers shall be by secret ballot and by majority vote.
4. Any officer or Director at Large candidate may be presented from the floor at any regular meeting and shall be included on the election ballot. Candidates from the floor that are presented at the election meeting shall be write-in candidates.
VI. Parliamentary Rules
1. The rules of order as prescribed in "Robert's Rules of Order, Revised" shall be implemented when consistent with the by-laws.
VII. Meetings and Web Postings
1. A. The Club shall have regular meetings. Regular meetings are defined as
scheduled business meetings and program meetings.
B. If a regular meeting should fall on a holiday, the membership present at a preceding meeting may reschedule or cancel the meeting.
2. Special meetings may be called by the President by making a reasonable attempt to contact each member at least three days in advance of the proposed meeting time. These meetings shall be referred as “special called meetings”.
3. No Club business shall be decided at a special called meeting unless there are at least twenty per cent (20%) of the Club voting membership present.
4. A. Regular meeting time, date and place
shall first be established by a motion from the floor and passed by a simple
majority vote of members present.
Once a time, date and place have become established, change can be affected
only as per Section VII, 4 B.
B. All Club members shall be notified in
writing at least one week in advance of any proposed change the meeting time,
date, and/or place. A two-thirds
majority vote of members present will be required to affect any change of
regular meeting time, date, and/or place.
Any change of meeting time, date, and/or place shall be effective
immediately after written notification has been sent to all Club members. Written notification is defined as electronic
or postal mail.
5. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed at any meeting.
6. The order of business shall be conducted per Section XI at each regular meeting.
7. Web postings to www.W4SHL.com must be approved by the President or the Web Master.
VIII. Committees
1. Ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the President from time to time to carry out the activities of the Club.
2. Standing committees shall expire at the end of the President’s term.
IX. American Radio Relay League Affiliation
1. The Club shall strive to maintain affiliation with the American Radio Relay League by encouraging the Club membership to join the ARRL. A fifty-per cent (or better) membership ratio shall be the goal.
X. Amendments
1. The by-laws of the Club may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting providing the following has been observed:
A. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors and read by the Secretary at a regular meeting.
B. Written notice as defined by By-Law VII.4.B of at least one week has been given to the voting membership.
2. The proposal shall be discussed and voted on at the next regular meeting.
3. A copy of the revised by-laws shall be made available to the voting membership after amendment
XI. Order of Business
1. The order of business shall be:
A. Call to order
B. Introduction of visitors
C. Report of officers
D.
E. Application for and election of new members
F. Report of committees and Board of Directors
G. Unfinished business
H. New business
I. Short break
J. Program
K. Discussion of program
L. Adjournment
2. The above sequence may be modified by the presiding officer with the consent of the membership present.
XII.
1. In recognition of the value that amateur radio can provide to the public, the Club shall establish and maintain an emergency service to be known as the "Shelby County Amateur Radio Emergency Service" (SCARES).
2. Membership in the Club is not required to participate in the activities of the service.
3 Title to all SCARES material assets shall be in the name of the Club and the Manager of Emergency Communications shall have the authority over and be responsible for it.
Revised 07/27/07