I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be: THE CHEROKEE COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, herein referred to as "The Club" or "CCARC".
II. OBJECT
It shall be our purpose to encourage the exchange of information and cooperation among members to promote radio knowledge and fraternalism and to support the community in an appropriate fashion through assistance to the Civil Defense coordinators in our five county area. The CCARC shall also relay weather conditions in emergency situations, assist State, County and local law enforcement agencies when assistance is requested, and shall assist the Red Cross, Salvation Army or any other non-profit organization in need of our communication assistance.
III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be by application and acceptance by a majority of the members present and shall be open to all persons who are interested in furthering the ideas and objectives of the club, whether they are licensed radio amateurs or not, upon payment of membership dues as specified in the rules of the club. Members will adhere to the code of conduct promulgated by the American Radio Relay League.
1. There are four classes of membership; Regular, Family, Associate, and Honorary.
2. Regular membership is open to the holder of a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. Regular members shall pay dues, have the right to vote and hold office.
3. Family membership is open to the holder of a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, lives in the same household and is a member of the same immediate family as a regular member who is in good standing. Family members shall pay dues, have the right to vote and hold office. Correspondence or notification of the membership is required by the household of a family member. Should a family member move from the family household his/her family membership shall terminate immediately. He/she must then reapply for regular membership at the existing regular member dues rate.
4. Associate membership is open to any unlicensed persons interested in amateur radio communications and the purposes of this club. Associate members shall pay dues as set forth herein but do not have the right to vote nor will they have the right to hold office. Upon obtaining a valid amateur radio license, the Associate member will become a regular member with full privileges thereof.
5. Honorary membership shall be open to any person, or group, who demonstrate extraordinary interest and support in The Club and are deemed by the members of the club, the officers and board members to be entitled to said honorary membership. Honorary members shall not pay dues, vote, or hold office.
6. To become a Regular, Family or Associate Member, a person shall submit a written application, together with the proper membership fee(s), at a regular meeting. Said applicant will become a member upon approval of a majority of the members present at any regular meeting.
7. Honorary members shall be nominated for Honorary membership by a member, or by recommendation by the board of directors, at a regular meeting and be elected to membership by the majority of voting members present.
8. All members shall agree to observe and follow the Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission governing amateur radio, any international treaty thereto, and also any Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission governing any other radio service in which the member is engaged.
9. Dues shall be twenty dollars for regular membership, five dollars for a family member and ten dollars for an associate member. The membership fees may be changed upon approval by the board of directors and subsequent submission to the membership at a regular membership meeting. If any such action is to be brought before the regular membership, written notice, either in the regular newsletter or separate notification shall be sent to all members, via U.S. mail no less than 10 days prior to the regular meeting at which this action will be voted upon.
10. (Amended July, 1998) The term of membership shall be for one year extending from January 1 through, and including December 31 of each year. An applicant shall submit a completed application form along with the required membership fee for consideration and approval by the membership.
Any new member application submitted between January 1 and January 31 shall constitute a full year's membership and therefor the full year's membership fees shall be due. If a new member application is submitted after January 31 the membership fee shall be pro-rated over the remainder of the current year.
All membership renewals shall be due on January 1 of each year and shall be considered delinquent after December 31. Any member who has not paid his dues by the last day of February shall be dropped from the rolls of the club."
Any current member whose membership expires on any date other than December 31, 1998 shall be refunded the unused portion of their fees extending beyond December 31, 1998 or, at their option, apply said unused portion towards their 1999 dues.
11. Payment of dues may be waived by the Board of Directors for 1) hardship, or 2) special cases involving a member who provides a service to the club and in which the value of said service exceeds the cost of an annual membership. Approval of special cases,(#2), shall be required by both the board of directors and the a majority of the membership at a regular meeting. No distinction shall be made on the rolls by the Treasurer for members whose dues have been waived.
12. As used in these By-Laws, the term "voting member" shall include Regular and Family members only.
IV. OFFICERS
Officers of The Club shall consist of President, Vice- President, Secretary and Treasurer. All officers shall be elected for a term of one year and shall serve from January 1st to December 31st.
The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and Board of Directors, enforce observance of by-laws; decide on questions of order, appoint committees; sign all official documents adopted, and perform other customary duties pertaining to the office. He shall authorize all expenditures as determined by the directors and approved by the membership. He shall not be entitled to a vote in a regular or special called meeting except in the case of a tie vote in which case he may cast the deciding vote. The President shall present a written report of the activities of his administration to the membership at the last regular meeting in September.
The Vice President shall assume all the duties of the President in the absence of duly elected President, and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct and not already assigned to some other officer. He is in charge of publicity of The Club and programs for the regular meetings.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting of the membership and Board of Directors, keep an attendance roster, an up-to-date record of all members' names, addresses, telephone numbers, license class and other personal data deemed necessary by the membership, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting, and mail written notices to each member. At the expiration of his/her term, the Secretary shall turn over all items belonging to The Club to his/her successor.
The Treasurer shall give a report of the financial condition of the club at each regular meeting, receive all monies payable to The Club including membership dues and will keep an accurate record of all monies and expenditures. A checking account and/or savings account may be opened, if approved by the membership, for payment of expenses. He shall make the books available to any Regular, Family, or Associate member for inspection at any regular meeting and at the expiration of his term, turn over all items belonging to The Club to his successor.
The Manager of Emergency Communications shall be the coordinator of all emergency plans and assist in the activities of The Club and shall be the chairman of The Cherokee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
Any officer may be removed by a vote of two-thirds of the paid-up membership in attendance, provided that the entire paid-up membership has been notified in writing at least a week in advance that a removal vote will be taken at the meeting to be held on a regular meeting date. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
Vacancies other then the President occurring between elections shall be filled by direct appointment by the President.
Resignation from office may be submitted at any regular meeting.
V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall include the officers, the Immediate Past President, an elected director. Either the repeater trustee or club station licensee shall serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) board member. This person shall be appointed by the president and approved by the majority of the voting board members.
They shall meet no less than quarterly.
A report of the actions taken by the Board of Directors shall be made by the secretary at the first regular meeting following the Director's meeting. Any action taken by the Board of Directors shall be subject to the approval of the voting board members present. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors and shall be entitled to a vote at such meetings.
The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to determine all expenditures of The Club except normal operating expenses which the Treasurer is authorized to pay. They shall hold, transfer, and dispose of all property of The club and maintain an adequate inventory of such property.
VI. ELECTIONS
In October of each year, the President shall appoint a nominating committee which shall consist of three voting members.
This committee shall nominate at least one voting member for each office of The Club, and the director, at the first regular meeting in December. Elections shall be held at the first regular meeting in December. If any position is contested then voting shall be by secret ballot. Election shall be by majority vote of the voting membership present and the officers elected will assume office on January First.
VII. PARLIAMENTARY RULES
The rules of order as prescribed in "Robert's Rules of Order, Revised" shall prevail so long as they are consistent with these by-laws.
VIII. MEETINGS
1. The Club shall have regular meetings. If a regular meeting should fall on a holiday, the membership present at the preceding meeting may select another date or omit the meeting.
2. Special called meetings may be called by the President by making a reasonable attempt to contact each member at least thee days in advance of the called meeting.
3. A quorum shall consist of at least ten voting members at all special called meetings.
4a. Regular meeting time, date and place shall first be established by a motion from the floor and passed by a simple majority vote of members present. Once a time, date and place have become established, change can be effected only as per section VIII, 4b.
4b. All club members shall be notified in writing at least one week in advance of any vote to change the meeting time, date and/or place. A two-thirds majority vote of members present will be required to effect any change of regular meeting time, date and/or place. Any change of meeting time, date and/or place shall be effective immediately after written notification has been sent to all club members.
5. No alcoholic beverages or smoking will be permitted allowed at any meeting of The Club.
6. The order of business shall be stated and observed at each regular meeting.
IX. COMMITTEES
Various committees shall be appointed by the President from time to time to carry out the activities of The Club. Such committees shall be designated for certain activities and the duties and duration of such committees shall be stated at the time of appointment.
The Technical Committee consisting of three or more members, shall be responsible for making recommendations for planning, designing, building and maintaining The Clubs electronic equipment.
Public Affairs Committee consisting of three to five members, shall maintain an emergency preparedness plan. Provide club publicity and conduct liaison between clubs. The members of this committee shall keep the Club informed of their activities.
X. AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE AFFILIATION
The Club shall be inclined toward the aims and purposes of the American Radio Relay League and should strive to maintain at least fifty-one percent ARRL members and at least fifty-one percent of the voting membership be licensed radio amateurs of any grade if possible.
XI. AMENDMENTS
The by-laws of The Club may be amended by a vote of two- thirds of the members present at any regular meeting providing the following has been observed:
a. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Secretary and read by the Secretary at a regular meeting.
b. Written notice of at least one week has been given to each voting member.
2. The proposal shall be discussed and voted on at the next regular meeting.
3. A copy of the by-laws shall be given to each member after amendment.
XII. ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. The order of business shall be:
a. Call to order
b. Introduction of visitors
c. Report of Officers
d. Reading of any Communications
e. Application for and election of new members
f. Report of committees and directors
g. Old business
h. New business
i. Short break, (if needed)
j. Program
k. Discussion of program
l. Adjournment
2. The above sequence may be modified by the presiding Officer as may be necessary.
XIII. CHEROKEE COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
In recognizing the value that amateur radio can provide to the public, The Club shall establish and maintain an emergency service to be known as the "Cherokee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service". Membership in The Club is not required to participate in the activities of the service. Title to all property and equipment shall be in the name of The Club.
XIV. DISPOSITION OF ASSETS:
In the event it becomes necessary, or expedient, to dispose of individual pieces of property or equipment which exceeds $25.00 value as determined by the trustees, such action shall be discussed in one regular meeting and voted upon at the regular meeting.
In the event it becomes necessary, or is considered to be expedient, The Club may be dissolved and no longer exist as the Cherokee County Amateur Radio Club. Such dissolution may be accomplished by vote of a simple majority of those members present provided all paid-up members have been given two weeks notice that such a vote is contemplated. Upon dissolution, all assets of The Club, whether money or property, will be turned over to another non-profit organization. The organization to which the assets will be given will be determined at the time of the dissolution vote.