ARTICLE I.  PURPOSE

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

ARTICLE II.  MEMBERSHIP

SECTION A.  Only FCC-Licensed amateur radio operators shall be admitted into full membership in The Club.  Proof of such license is required:  See section C., below.  Persons meeting any one of the criteria for removal from membership under Article X 1c., 1d., or 1e., below will not be considered for membership.

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

SECTION C.   Applicants for membership shall:

SECTION D.  The completed application for membership shall then be submitted to the Board of Directors, by the Secretary, before submission to the membership for final acceptance.  The review by the Board of Directors shall include, among other factors, consideration of the fact that we must maintain at fifty percent ARRL Membership if we are to remain an ARRL Affiliated Club.  A time limit of thirty days is imposed on the Board of Directors for this review.

SECTION E.  After the review of the application by the Board of Directors, the application shall be returned to the Secretary with the Board's recommendation.

SECTION F.  The Secretary shall call for a vote on admitting the applicant to the membership at the next regular club meeting, passing along the Board's recommendation.  If present, the applicant may be asked to leave the room while the voting takes place.  Five (5) or more dissenting votes shall be sufficient for denying of membership to the applicant.

SECTION A.  The Board of Directors shall set the dollar amount for annual dues by October 31st of each year for the following year.  (Also see section c., below.)  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 X, below, if such dues are not paid by April first.  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.

SECTION B.  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 C., below.

SECTION C.  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 Board of Directors each year at the time when the Board sets the regular dues for the up-coming year.

SECTION D.  Nothing in the Constitution or these By-Laws shall be construed to mean that the Board of Directors cannot propose, and the membership vote for a special assessment should that become necessary in order to pay a legally incurred debt or liability.

SECTION A.  The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of no fewer than three members at least ninety (90) days prior to the first day of January, The Chairmen thereof, being designated by the President.  This committee shall nominate a slate of officers as designated in Article V of the Constitution subparts 1), a) through f), except only one Two-Year Director shall be nominated, as the term of that officer is two years. The Club Station Trustee is an appointed office and the Immediate Past President is automatic, requiring no nominations. The Nominating Committee may not nominate one of their own members to office.  However, this provision shall not preclude such nomination from the floor as covered in Section B., below.  No one shall serve as President and Vice-president concurrently or hold office as Director and any other elected office concurrently.

SECTION B.  The nominating committee shall report its slate of candidates at the first regular meeting held after the first day of November.  At that time the nominating committee will receive any additional nominations from the floor. [Attention to Art. II, Sec. B]

SECTION C.  The election shall immediately follow the closing of nominations, the Nominating Committee serving as Election Committee.

SECTION D.  The officers thus elected, including the carried-over second term Director, and Immediate Past President, shall serve for the following calendar year except in the event of unexpected circumstances, such as moving out of the area, death or other unforeseen occurrences that might prevent the serving out of the term.  [See Sec. G., below]  The Two-Year Director serves two years.  The newly elected officers will automatically assume the duties of their respective offices on January first of the next year, thus the agenda and program for the January meeting rests with the new group.

SECTION E.  If there is only one nominee for any (or all) offices, the candidates so nominated shall be declared elected by acclamation.  If there are additional nominations from the membership, a plurality vote shall be necessary to elect.  Where such voting is necessary it shall be done by secret ballot.

SECTION F.  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.

SECTION A.  This Board as defined by the Constitution shall designate the bank for deposit of club funds. The board shall also designate which club officers have signatory authority on club checks.

SECTION B.  The Board is authorized to approve expenditures of club funds, not to exceed $500, without prior approval from the club membership, between reports to the membership at regular meetings.

SECTION C.  The Board is responsible for an audit of the Treasurer's books and accounts, annually.

SECTION D.  The Board shall hold regular meetings, no less frequently than quarterly and special meetings as necessary.  On-line electronic meetings are authorized for this body.

Regular meetings of The Club shall be held on the third Thursday evening of each month, at 7:30 PM local time, at a place selected by the Board of Directors.  The date and time of these meetings will not be changed except by vote of the membership.  A special meeting may be called by the President, Board of Directors, 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.   All meetings shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order in as far as practicable.

SECTION A.  The members present at any regular meeting shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business. In special meetings, called by petition of the members, a quorum shall consist of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership.

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

SECTION A.  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.

SECTION B.  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.

ARTICLE IX.  REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE X.  REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

A petition for removal from office requires five (5) or more members’ signatures.  Such petition shall be sent by mail or submitted to the Secretary at a regular meeting.  Upon receipt of the petition, the Secretary must notify each member, in writing, of the receipt of the petition.  This notice must be sent to the membership at least thirteen (13) days prior to any meeting (regular or special) at which the petition will be voted upon.  This written notice may be included in a regularly published newsletter or posted on The Club web site.  If the latter, copies must be mailed to those members not having on-line computer addresses.

ARTICLE XI.  AMENDMENTS

SECTION A.  Proposals for amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted, in writing, to the secretary by mail or at a regular meeting.  Upon receipt of such proposed amendment, the Secretary shall send it to the Board of Directors for review.  A time limit of forty-five (45) days may be allowed for this review, after which the membership shall be notified as deemed appropriate. At the next regular meeting after notification, the membership shall vote to adopt or reject the proposed change.  A three-quarters (3/4) majority vote of those members voting is necessary for adoption of the amendment.  

SECTION B.  Proposals for amendments to these By-Laws shall be submitted, in writing, to the Secretary at a regular meeting or by mail.  Upon receipt of such proposal, the Secretary shall notify the membership, in writing, of the proposed wording of the amendment. This notice must be sent out prior to the regular meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.  A simple plurality of the members present at that meeting shall be sufficient to make the change to these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XII.  EFFECTIVE DATE, LEGALITY AND IDENTIFICATION

These By-Laws supersede any By-Laws in effect prior to midnight the 21st day of October 2004.  This is certified to be a true copy of that adopted on the 21st of October 2004.