We the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves all the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in amateur radio, hereby constitute ourselves the Big Bear Amateur Radio Club and enact this constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote knowledge, to prepare ourselves for service to the community in time of disaster or other need for emergency communications, and to assist all persons who desire to learn and become proficient at Morse Code, Radio and electronic theory and ultimately become FCC licensed Radio Amateurs.
MEMBERSHIP:
Section 1: All persons interested in Amateur Radio communication shall be eligible for membership. (Radio communication being between amateur stations solely with a personal aim and without monetary and/or commercial interest.)
OFFICERS:
Section 1: The club officers shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President (IPP). These officers will constitute the board.
Section 2: The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year by a simple majority vote of those members casting ballots. Voting shall be done by written ballot presented to any of the current officers at or prior to the meeting in November. Ballots may be presented in person or may be sent by U. S. Mail. The ballots must be received prior to the November meeting. All members shall be mailed a ballot listing the nominees for office prior to the November meeting. New officers shall have received whatever materials and information they require as part of their office prior to the December meeting and their terms will commence at that meeting. The Immediate Past President (IPP) is not an elected position.
Section 3: Only members who hold a valid amateur license issued by the FCC are eligible to become officers.
Section 4: A president who has resigned, withdrawn or has been impeached cannot assume the position of Immediate Past President (IPP).
Section 5: Officers may be impeached for conduct detrimental to the club or Amateur Radio. A petition for election to impeach an officer must be presented to the elected officers containing signatures of not less than 20% of the membership as defined in the By-Laws. A vote for or against impeachment shall be made at a regular meeting within 60 (sixty) days of the presented petition.
Section 6: Vacancies occurring between regular elections must be filled (if at all possible) by special election, passing by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the first regular meeting following the withdrawal, resignation, impeachment or vacancy.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of this club and conduct them according to these adopted rules. He or she shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and its associated By-Laws, decide all questions of order as much as possible in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure, sign all official documents that are adopted by the club and perform all other customary duties pertaining to the office of President.
Section 2: The Immediate Past President (IPP) will act as an advisor. He or she does not have voting privileges at board meetings and does not have signing authority.
Section 3: The Vice President shall assume all the duties of the President in the absence of the President and shall be the Information and Public Relations Chairman for the club.
Section 4: The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a current roll of the membership, process all applications for membership, submit any dues collected to the Treasurer, carry on all correspondence and read all communications addressed to the club. The Secretary shall also retain all club historical records for the duration of his or her term of office. He or she shall at the expiration of his or her term turn over all items belonging to the club to his or her successor.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all moneys paid to the club. He or she shall keep an accurate account of all moneys received and expended. He or she shall maintain the club's checking account. He or she shall pay no bills without proper authorization (by the club or its officers constituting a business committee). Upon receipt of proper authorization, two elected club officer's signatures shall be required on all checks. The Treasurer shall present a report of the previous month's account balances and the receipts and expenditures at each regularly scheduled club meeting. This will then be published in the next newsletter.
MEETINGS:
Section 1: The By-Laws shall provide for regular and special club meetings. At club meetings, business may be conducted by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, this constituting a quorum for the transaction of club business.
DUES:
Section 1: The club, by a two-thirds vote of those present at any regularly scheduled meeting, may levy upon the general membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization within its objectives as set forth in the Preamble. In the event dues and assessments are to be part of a general meetings agenda, it shall be announced on the Club Nets. If time permits, an announcement will be published in the club's newsletter. A vote by mail is authorized. Nonpayment of such dues or assessments shall be cause for expulsion from the club within the discretion of the membership.
Section 2: Dues paid after June 30th and prior to November 30th, will be 50% of the annual dues. Dues received after November 30th will be credited towards the current and following calendar year dues.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Section 1: The club shall maintain a program to foster and guide public relations.
AMENDMENTS:
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regularly scheduled club meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular scheduled meeting and shall be voted on at the next following scheduled meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to modify the Constitution at said meeting. A vote by mail is authorized.
RULES OF ORDER:
Section 1: Robert's Rules of Order shall govern proceedings unless otherwise provided
herein.
1. SECRETARY.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the Constitution and Bylaws of the club and have the same with him or her at every meeting. He or she shall cause all amendments, changes and additions to be noted thereon and shall permit the same to be consulted by members upon request.
2. MEMBERSHIP.
Membership applicant will become a member immediately upon application to any elected officer and payment of applicable dues. Membership dues will be set as defined in Article V, Section 1 of the Constitution. Special fees for family shall be an additional 25% of the full January 1st membership fee per year for each family member residing in the same household. Any member who does not hold a current amateur radio license issued by the FCC shall be considered an Associate Member. An Associate Member does not have voting privileges.
3. MEETINGS.
Regular meetings shall be held once each calendar month at such place, date and time as the President shall order. These will be announced on the Club Nets and published in the Newsletter.
4. INFORMATION CHAIRMAN.
The Vice President, as Information Chairman, shall furnish and supply information concerning the club, its activities and amateur radio to local community agencies, the media, individuals and groups.
5. APPOINTMENTS.
The President may appoint committees to conduct any business deemed necessary subject to the approval of the majority of the members present at any regular scheduled meeting. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
6. EXPENDITURES.
Expenditures of club funds of up to $200.00 (Two Hundred Dollars) must be approved by at least three elected officers. Club expenditures of more than $200.00 must additionally be approved by a majority of the members present and voting at a regularly scheduled Club meeting.
7. AMENDMENTS.
These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regularly scheduled club meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular scheduled meeting and shall be voted on at the next following scheduled meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to modify the By-Laws at said meeting. A vote by mail is authorized.
8. TERM OF OFFICE.
Elected officers may serve more than one term. The President shall appoint two or more members as a nominating committee prior to the annual election.
9. INSURANCE.
The club shall procure and maintain adequate insurance to protect the membership, with a minimum amount of $300,000.00 liability and $50,000.00 property damage.
10. HONORARY MEMBERS.
The club officers may consider individuals or organizations for Honorary Membership. Consideration will be given to those individuals or organizations based on their contributions to the club during the year. An announcement of those approved for Honorary Membership will be made at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
11. YEARLY BUDGET.
All chairpersons, where applicable, shall submit an operating budget to the treasurer by the regularly scheduled January meeting. At the February meeting, the Treasurer shall present a budget plan for the remainder of the year to the general membership.
12. REPEATER.
A Repeater Committee shall be formed with a sufficient number of members to administer, maintain and monitor the club repeater. The control codes will be disseminated to the appropriate members upon approval of the club's board. Any donations received for the repeater shall be deposited in the club's general fund. In the event of an emergency, expenditures of over $200.00 must be approved by a majority of the club's elected officers. An emergency is defined as an event which renders the repeater inoperable and needs immediate attention to place it back in operation. The repeater committee shall formulate and maintain "Repeater Usage and Policy" procedures.
Randy Jay Fear KC6JTN President Steve Letendre KE6FQC Vice President Jim Nye K6GCF Treasurer Rose Marie Percy KD6WKH Secretary Rick Norwood KD6KHJ Constitution and By-Laws Chairman Bob Dunn K6ZTQ Constitution and By-Laws Chairman
Amended and approved August 30, 1996