Preamble
Preamble
We, the members of “The Pocatello Amateur Radio Club”, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, constitute and enact these bylaws as our governing rules. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.
Article I
Membership
1. All person interested in amateur radio communication shall be eligible for membership.
2. There shall be two (2) classes of membership; Full Membership and Associate Member. Only Full Members will be eligible to be Board Members and/or Club Officers.
3. Full Membership status shall be conferred on all members that hold a valid amateur radio operator’s license issued by the Federal Communications Commission with current club dues paid.
4. Associate Membership status shall be conferred on any person interested in amateur radio, not holding a valid FCC license, with current club dues paid. Upon attaining a valid amateur radio operator’s license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, the Associate Member shall be conferred Full Membership status.
Article II
Board of Directors/Officers
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of five members. Elected per Article III.
2. The Board shall elect from within the Board two (2) officers, to serve as President and Secretary/Treasurer.
3. The Board shall elect a Vice President and a Recording Secretary from the full membership of the club.
4. The Officers and the Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of one year, which will run from the elections in January to the following January.
5. Officers and Board Members may be removed by a four-fifths vote of the Board of Directors, or a four-fifths vote of the members present at any regular scheduled or special club meeting provided a quorum is present.
6. Board Members shall be at least eighteen years of age. Officers other than the President and Secretary/Treasurer may be any age.
Article III
Elections
1. The President, in October, shall appoint three full members to act as an election committee. The elections committee shall be responsible for the collection of candidate nominations, the posting of said nominees, the making and tabulating of election ballots, and all other normal duties associated with the election process. Committee members should not, if possible, be candidates for office.
2. Nominations of candidates will be accepted through the end of the calendar year. Nominations should be made at regular club meetings, but can also be made up till the close of nominations to any election committee member.
3. Elections shall be held at a regular meeting of the club, in January of each year, by the full membership.
4. An absentee ballot may be counted if received at the meeting before the ballots are counted. Absentee ballots must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the name of the member voting on the outside.
5. In a case of a tie vote, the tie shall be broken by a coin toss.
6. Vacancies of Board members occurring between elections will be filled by special elections at the next regular club meeting following the withdrawal or resignation. Nominations for the special election will only be taken from the floor with the election immediately following nominations. The chair shall decide the method by which votes will be taken.
7. In the event of candidate withdrawal or no nominations for an office, the president may accept nominations at the January meeting before the voting process begins.
Article IV
Duties of the Officers
1. The President shall preside at all meetings of this club, and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. He shall enforce due observance of the incorporation papers and the Bylaws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents that are adopted by the PARC and none other, and perform all other customary duties pertaining to the office of President.
2. The Vice-President shall assume all duties of the president in the absence of the latter. In addition, they shall organize club activities, plan and recommend contests for operating benefits, and advance club interest and activity as provided by the club. They shall maintain close liaison with the ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator to further club participation in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
3. The Secretary /Treasurer shall maintain a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of full and associate members, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep record of latest revision of the by-laws, and maintain a file of all old by-laws of the club. The Secretary/Treasurer shall make the latest revision of the by-laws available for review at all regular and special club meetings, as well as, provide a copy of same to any full or associate member in good standing who requests a copy. The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive and receipt all monies paid to the club; shall keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended, shall pay no bills without proper authorization. At the end of each half, he/she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursement and receipts. Such statement shall be published in the club newsletter.
4. The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at all regular and special club meetings and providing a copy to the Secretary/Treasurer for the official records of the club after approval at the next club meeting. The Recording Secretary shall also be responsible for checkout and return of all club property.
Article V
Meetings
1. The bylaws shall provide for regular and special meetings.
2. Regular meetings shall be held at a time recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership.
3. Special meetings may be called by the President upon written request of any five (5) full club members. Notice shall be sent to members concerning special meetings and the business transacted. Only such business as designated shall be transacted. Such notice shall be so sent that it shall arrive not less than 24 hours before the meeting time; this may include email, parcel post, phone, or other appropriate means.
4. At meetings, a minimum of 12 full membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Article VI
Dues
1. Dues for full and associate members shall be $24.00 US per calendar year.
2. New members joining shall have their dues prorated for the remainder of the calendar year.
3. To foster and promote Amateur Radio as a family activity, a Family dues rate is enacted. The Family rate is only available to immediate family members who reside in the same household, or to children, living away from home that are full time students. The Family membership dues will be ˝ the usual amount. All family members, as described above, will be considered Full club members if they are FCC Licensed Amateurs.
Article VII
Official Publication
1. There shall be an official publication maintained by the Pocatello Amateur Radio Club, Inc., in the form of a monthly newsletter. A copy of this newsletter shall be made available to each full and associate member of the Pocatello Amateur Radio Club, Inc., in good standing. The general management of this newsletter shall be in the hands of the Club Newsletter Editor who, shall be chosen from those who volunteer for the position by the Board of Directors.
Article VIII
Rules for Meetings
1. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern meetings.
Article IX
Amendments
1. This constitution and By-laws, made under its provisions, may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full members present, provided there is a quorum, present, at any regular meeting, provided that each member is notified in writing of the proposed amendment at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
2. Proposals for amendments shall be first presented to the Board of Directors for their consideration. The Secretary/Treasurer shall present the Board of Directors’ recommendations and the proposed amendments to the general membership at the next general meeting following consideration by the Board of Directors.
3. This Constitution and By-Laws shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall at that time consider any and all proposed amendments that have not been addressed previously during the year.