BY-LAWS

As Approved on 10/15/2009

 

I.          PURPOSE These By-Laws are established for Macon Amateur Radio Club, as called for in the Constitution of that club.

 

II.         MEMBERSHIP

1.         Only FCC-Licensed amateur radio operators shall be admitted into full membership in The Club. Full membership is subject to verification that the individual has a current valid Amateur Radio license issued by the FCC. Persons meeting any one of the criteria for removal from membership under Article IX, 1b, 1c, or 1d, below will not be considered for full membership.

2.         Unlicensed persons interested in amateur radio may join The Club as Associate Members. Associate Members may not vote or hold office.

3.         A person shall become a member of the club by submitting a completed application to the Secretary, or other club officer if the Secretary is not available, paying the current dues, being accepted by a vote of the membership at a regular meeting, and meeting the requirements of Sections 1 or 2 above as appropriate.

 

III.       FEES, DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

1.         The membership, by a vote at a regular or special meeting, shall set the dollar amount for annual dues by October 31st of each year for the following year. If such a vote does not pass or take place, then the annual dues shall remain the same as the current year.

2.         Dues are due and payable on the first of January for that year, and are considered delinquent after the regular February meeting. Members whose dues are delinquent are not considered to be in good standing and may be removed from the rolls under Article IX, below, if such dues are not paid by April first.

3.         New members admitted after July first shall pay an amount equal to one-half the regular dues for that year. This does not apply, however, to a former member applying for reinstatement, unless recently returning from an out-of-town residence, or military duty assignment.

4.         Associate members shall pay dues in the amount of one-half the annual dues (or one-half the half-year dues if joining after July first). Associate members are not entitled to any additional "family member" discount covered in Section 5, below.

5.         As a special provision, where a second or third family member resides in the same household, those additional family members may pay reduced dues in the amount set by the membership each year at the time when the membership sets the regular dues for the up-coming year.

6.         The membership may vote for a special assessment should that become necessary in order to pay a legally incurred debt or liability.

 

IV.       CLUB FUNDS

1.         The membership, by a vote at a regular or special meeting, shall designate the bank for deposit of club funds and shall also designate which club officers have signatory authority on club checks.

2.         All expenditures, except as provide in Section 3 below, require authorization of the membership by a vote at a regular or special meeting.

3.         An expenditure(s) of up to $100 or 20 percent of available club funds, whichever is least, may be made without prior approval of the membership when the President and at least one other club member, who is also a club officer, determine that the expenditure is necessary, appropriate and that it is not practical to wait until the next regular meeting to obtain membership approval for the expenditure(s). Details of this expenditure(s) must be reported to the membership at the next club meeting.

4.         Treasurer's books and accounts shall be audited at least once per year.

 

V.        NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1.         The election of all elected club officers for the next calendar year shall take place at the regular club meeting in November, or the next club meeting if the regular November club meeting is cancelled.

2.         Nominations will be taken from the floor.

3.         Each nominee must consent to the nomination, and be a full club member in good standing.

4.         A club member may concurrently hold a two elected club officer positions, except that the President may not also be Vice-President or Treasurer, and the Vice-President may not also be Treasurer.

5.         If there are insufficient qualified nominees available, then the membership, in a separate vote, may suspend the restriction in Section 4 above for the current election only.

6.         If there is only one nominee for a club officer position, then that person shall be declared elected by acclamation.

7.         If there is more than one nominee for a club officer position, then the membership shall vote by secret ballot to determine who will be elected to that position.

8.         Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by a special election at the first regular meeting following resignation, incapacitation, death or removal from office of any officer.

 

VI.       MEETINGS

1.         Regular meetings of The Club shall at a place, date and time selected by the membership by a vote at a regular or special meeting.

2.         If circumstances occur between club meetings that require that a regular club meeting location be changed or that the time be slightly changed, the President, with the concurrence of at least one other club member, who is also a club officer, may change the location and slightly change the time, provided that as much notice as is practical is given to all members.

3.         A special meeting may be called by the President or petition by twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership. In the latter case, the names of those requesting the meeting must be filed, in advance, with the President or Secretary and reasonable prior notice given to the membership (Article X below).

4.         All meetings shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order in as far as practicable.

 

VII.      QUORUM AND VOTING

1.         The members present at any regular meeting shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

2.         In special meetings, called by petition of the members, a quorum shall consist of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership.

3.         A plurality vote shall be necessary in all proceedings to carry. Associate members and non-member visitors are not eligible to vote.

 

VIII.     COMMITTEES

1.         Excluding the Club Station Committee, the President shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary from time to time. Committees may be of the "standing" type or "single-event" (ad hoc) type. The chairman will normally, be named by the President. Associate Members may serve on committees, but may not serve as a Chairman.

2.         As covered in the Constitution, the Trustee of the Club Station, who is also the Club Station licensee, is automatically chairman of the Club Station committee and appoints all members to serve on that committee.

 

IX.       REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP

1.         The following shall constitute grounds for removal from membership in The Club:

a.         Non-payment of dues or special assessment after ninety (90) days in arrears (first of April for dues).

b.         Allowing one's amateur radio license to expire and making no effort to renew it, thus no longer meeting the requirement for membership. [Article II, Section. 1, above]

c.         Having one's license revoked or suspended by the FCC.

d.         Conduct unbecoming a radio amateur (as determined by the club membership).

2.         Removal under 1a, 1b, or 1c, above shall be automatic, requiring no vote by the membership.

3.         Removal under 1d, above, requires a vote by the membership at a regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. A simple majority vote of those present at such meeting is required to effect the removal.

 

X.        REASONABLE PRIOR NOTICE

1.         From time to time the entire membership needs to be informed concerning club business. Such instances include special meetings, Removal from Office and Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.

2.         In such instances, each member must be given reasonable prior notice.

3.         Reasonable prior notice shall be made so that the each current member may be reasonably expected to be informed of the specifics of the business and meeting time, date, and location at least one week before the meeting to conduct said business.

4.         Reasonable prior notice may be made by mail, phone, radio or in person. E-mail or similar messaging system may be used to give notice to those members who have easy regular access to such system.

 

XI.       REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

1.         A petition for removal from office requires five (5) or more members’ signatures or 25 percent of the membership, whichever is least.

2.         Such petition shall be sent by mail, email or similar electronic communication, or submitted to the Secretary or President at a regular meeting.

3.         Upon receipt of the petition, the Secretary or President must make sure that each member is given reasonable prior notice of the petition and the meeting date and time to vote on the petition (See Article X above).

 

XII.      AMENDMENTS

1.         Proposals for amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws shall be submitted, in writing, to the Secretary by mail, e-mail, or similar appropriate electronic communication or at a regular meeting.

2.         If the proposed amendment is submitted to the Secretary at a regular meeting, then the proposed amendment must be initially discussed at that meeting, unless the member submitting the proposed amendment agrees to delay the discussion. If the proposed amendment is submitted to the Secretary by mail, e-mail, or similar appropriate electronic communication, then the proposed amendment must be initially discussed at the next regular or special meeting.

3.         The member who submitted the proposed amendment is the only one who may change the wording of the proposed amendment. If that member chooses to change the wording of the proposed amendment as a result of the discussion, that member must finalize the changes by the end of the initial discussion meeting, discuss those changes with the members present at that meeting, and submit the modified proposed amendment to the Secretary in writing so that the Secretary has enough time to make sure that that each member is given reasonable prior notice of the specifics of the amendment.

4.         The membership shall vote to adopt or reject the proposed amendment at the next regular or special meeting after the initial discussion meeting.

5.         The Secretary must make sure that each member is given reasonable prior notice of the specifics of the amendment and the meeting date and time to vote on the amendment (See Article X above).

6.         A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those members present in person or by proxy is necessary for adoption of  an amendment to the Constitution.

7.         A simple majority vote of those members present in person or by proxy is necessary for adoption of an amendment to the By-Laws.

8.         Proxy votes will only be allowed if so approved by the members present at the meeting in which the proposed amendment is initially discussed.

 

XIII.     INITIAL EFFECTIVE DATE AND

            CO-AMMENDMENT REQUIREMENT

1.         This By-Laws amendment is initially proposed to be voted on at the October 15, 2009 regular meeting, and, if passed, will replace all previous club By-Laws.

2.         Further, this By-Laws amendment is initially proposed in conjunction with a Constitutional amendment, which, if passed, will replace all previous club Constitutions.

3.         These amendments to the club By-Laws shall only replace the current By-Laws if the club Constitutional amendment dated October 15, 2009 also passes, and shall take effect immediately.