PREAMBLE:
We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of the association of people commonly interested in amateur radio, constitute ourselves the Hermiston Amateur Radio Club and enact this set of by-laws as our governing document. It shall be our purpose to further exchange of information and co-operation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism, and individual operating efficiency, and to conduct club programs and activities to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the community.
ARTICLE I:
All people interested in amateur radio communication (i.e. radio communications between amateur stations for personal aim and without pecuniary interest) shall be eligible for consideration of membership, upon application.
ARTICLE II:
SECTION 1: The officers of the club shall be President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer.
SECTION 2: No member shall be nominated if the member is not present at the time of the nominations, or if unable to be present, has given consent in writing, signed and dated prior to nomination. This document will be present at the time of nomination to have the member nominated for such office. The nominating party will make only one nomination per office per election. No person shall be nominated for more than one elected office during an election.
SECTION 3: Officers shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of members present at the regular November meeting with a quorum as per Article IV. Nominations will be closed one week prior to the election.
SECTION 4: The Board of Directors shall fill mid-term officer vacancies by appointment. Any such appointment shall require ratification by a majority vote of the membership at the next scheduled meeting. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office only until the expiration of the term being replaced.
SECTION 5: Officers may be removed by three-fourths vote of the membership.
SECTION 6: No officer, except for the Secretary/Treasurer and the Board of Directors, will hold the same elective office for more than four consecutive terms.
SECTION 7: No member who is not in good standing shall hold an elected office or be nominated to an office. A member in good standing is defined as a member current in their dues for a period of one year and who has attended eight or more regular monthly club meetings during the present year.
ARTICLE III:
SECTION 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of this club and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. The President shall enforce the observance of these by-laws, decide all questions of order, sign all official documents that are adopted by the club, and none other, and perform all customary duties pertaining to the office of President.
SECTION 2: The Vice President shall serve as club activities manager, maintain an inventory of club-owned property reporting biennially to the club membership on the inventory, and shall assume the duties of the President in the President’s absence.
SECTION 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a record of all proceedings of all meetings, keep a roster of members and record their attendance, review applications for membership information accuracy, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting and mail written meeting notices when appropriate. The Secretary-Treasurer shall pay no bills without proper authorization by the club. At the first club meeting of each calendar year, The Secretary-Treasurer shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. No other member of the Secretary-Treasurer’s household or family may hold any other club office except for Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV:
The by-laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, one elected officer excluding the secretary and five members current in their dues shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V:
SECTION 1: DUES
The club, by 2/3-membership vote, may set annual dues necessary for the business of the organization. Annual dues are payable at the first monthly club meeting of the calendar year. Multiple years of annual dues may be paid in advance. Any club member may have their dues waived, upon request, for one year by a vote of the club’s Board of Directors. The Club’s Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain records of paid memberships and provide timely notice to members to facilitate dues payments.
SECTION 2: Assessments
The club, by 2/3-membership vote, may levy upon the membership a one-time, special need assessment as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization within its objectives as set forth in the preamble.
ARTICLE VI:
These by-laws may be amended by a majority of those members present. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting and shall be voted upon at the following regular meeting, provided all members have been notified either by mail, e-mail, telephone or radio of the intent to amend the by-laws at said meeting.
ARTICLE VII:
The current Roberts Rules of Order shall govern proceedings.
ARTICLE VIII:
MEMBERSHIP: Membership is available to persons with an interest in amateur radio who have submitted an application. All membership applications will be subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors. If the membership application is approved by the majority of the Board of Directors, then the Board of Directors will present the candidate to the club members for a final vote of approval.
Full Membership is available to persons who hold an amateur radio license. Full membership includes all club privileges including the rights to hold office and to vote on club business and elections.
Associate membership is available to anyone who does not hold an amateur radio license. Associate membership includes all club privileges except the rights to hold office and to vote on club business and elections.
Family Memberships may include both Full and Associate members who are living in the same household.
ARTICLE IX:
MEETINGS: Regular meetings shall be held monthly, on a day, at a time and place that the President shall designate. Special meetings may be requested by any five club members in good standing, by petition, to the President. Notices shall be given to all members at least twenty-four hours in advance of any special meetings to be held and the business to be transacted at that meeting. Only such business as specified in the notice to club members shall be considered at a special meeting; no other club business may be conducted at a special meeting.
ARTICLE X
SECTION 1: BOARD of DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors cannot hold a club office. Board members shall maintain their club membership. One Board Member will be elected each year in March for a term of three years. The Board of Directors shall consist of: Position 1 (Chairman), Position 2 and Position 3. The Board of Directors will have the power to dissolve and/or reinstate the club should it be necessary. In the event of dissolving the club the Board of Directors will have the authority to sell club assets and distribute funds in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation.
The Board of Directors shall monitor club activities to ensure they are conducted in accordance with the club by–laws.
If a club officer is elected to a Board of Directors position the club officer shall resign from that office in writing immediately upon being elected to a Board of Directors position.
SECTION 2: A Club Radio License Trustee shall be appointed and approved by the membership. The Radio License Trustee will maintain the club license and callsign, and monitor all club activities to ensure the club performs all operations and actions in accordance with current FCC rules and laws.
ARTICLE XI
Inventory and review of club assets.
SECTION 1: Physical inventory: The Vice President will conduct an inventory of all club assets on even–numbered years. The inventory will be completed by 1 December of that year. The Board of Directors will monitor and review the physical inventory. The inventory will be recorded by the club Secretary/Treasurer and placed into the club’s records. This process will be completed by the end of that year. The current inventory listing of club assets will be available at all times for review by club members.
SECTION 2: Club assets will include those items rented, leased, or purchased by the club or items donated to the club. When these assets are of no further use or value to the club as determined by the Board of Directors they shall be sold, traded or stored and the inventory adjusted to show the change in status of these items.
SECTION 3: Club assets shall be for the use of club members only and will remain the property of the club.
Appendix A: Annual Dues
- Full membership $25.00
- Family membership $30.00
- Associate membership $15.00
- Student (21 and under) $5.00
- Senior (65 and over) $20.00
- Senior Family $25.00
- Late or prorated current year’s dues (dues paid after the month of June) will be 1/2 the current year’s dues plus the following year’s dues, both to be paid at the same time.