By Laws

BY LAWS

*******************************(OLD VERSION 2014-2019)***************************
Please go here for the current version

PREAMBLE

 

We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, constitute ourselves the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club and enact this constitution as our governing law. The primary purposes of the Club are:

 

1. To further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community.

 

2. To establish and operate an association of persons, dedicated to the maintenance and operation of a system of Amateur Radio repeaters, and in so doing render assistance for communication needs of the communities' emergency response systems and/or Red Cross in times of emergency, natural disasters or under other circumstances of a civic character.

 

3. To provide communications services to various non-profit civic groups in support of their activities. The repeaters will be open to all licensed Amateur Radio Operators to use in a manner consistent with good and legal operating practices. Nothing contained in these by-laws shall be construed to limit the Club from conducting any legal activity in the field of Amateur Radio that shall benefit the Club, its members, the Amateur Radio community in general, and the public.

 

ARTICLE 1. FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (“the club”) shall be coincident with the calendar year and shall encompass the period January 1 to December 31, inclusive. This period shall also be the measure of the term of each officer and member of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE 2. OFFICERS

 

Section 1. 

The officers of this club shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermaster.

 

Section 2. 

The officers of this club shall be elected by ballot of the members present, provided there be a quorum, at the annual meeting.(terms defined in Art. 4 Sec. 5)

 

Section 3.

Vacancies occurring between elections may be filled by Board of Directors appointment for the remainder of the term.

 

Section 4.

Removal of Officers. Any officer whether duly elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by 2/3 vote of the Board whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Club would be served thereby or by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meeting of the Association.

 

Section 5.

The office of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person.

 

Section 6.

Chairman of the Board. The President shall be Chairman of the Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint any standing or ad hoc committees necessary to conduct the business of the club.

 

ARTICLE 3. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

Section 1.

The President shall preside at all meetings, and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He or she shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents adopted by the Club, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall enforce provisions of the by-laws, decide all questions of order, and sign all official documents which may be adopted by the organization. The President shall be "ex officio" member of all committees.

 

Section 2.

The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in his or her absence.

 

Section 3.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the constitution and By-Laws of the club and have the same with him or her at every meeting. He or she shall note all amendments, changes and additions to the constitution and notify the membership of such changes. The by-laws will be made available to the membership by request of a printed copy and through their availability on the Club's web site. At the end of his or her term he or she shall turn over all items belonging to the club to his or her successor. It shall also be the responsibility of the secretary to take accurate minutes of all club meetings, and post them to the Club's website no later than one week before the next meeting.

 

Section 4. 

The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid to the Club; keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended and pay no bills without proper authorization. At the end of each year he or she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the end of his or her term he or she shall turn over everything in his or her possession belonging to the Club to his or her successor. Further, a budget will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting, showing proposed revenues and expenses for the following year. The membership will vote on the budget and upon passage will constitute spending authority up to the amount stated therein, except as noted in Section 3 of Article 8. The treasurer is also responsible for processing of new requests for membership and maintaining an accurate roster, including the online roster on the Club's web site.

 

Section 5.

The Quartermaster shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate written inventory and whereabouts of all club property with the exception of any that is permanently installed at the repeater site(s). The Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermaster shall be the only persons authorized to access, collect and distribute club property. The quartermaster shall report and damaged, missing or unreturned equipment to the Board of Directors. 

 

Section 6. 

The Assistant Quartermaster shall report to the Quartermaster and is charged with the same duties as the Quartermaster.

 

ARTICLE 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.

The Board of Directors shall consist of nine (9) members as follows: The President, Vice President, Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer if the position is held by one person), Secretary, Repeater control operator, Quartermaster, Assistant Quartermaster and as many other Directors as required to total nine members. If an officer also holds the position of repeater control operator,a Director will be elected in his/her place so that the total number of board members remains nine (9). The Board of Directors shall serve as the operations committee and oversee all business of the Club including the legal and proper operation of all Club repeaters and their maintenance.

 

Section 2.

Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, four (4) directors present in person shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 3.

Action in Lieu of Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting with the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors, if all members of the Board shall individually and collectively consent to such action.

 

Section 4. Candidates for office/director

Candidates for office may be nominated by petitions signed by five or more members provided that such petitions are filed with the Secretary before balloting starts at the annual business meeting. In addition, the Board of Directors shall appoint a nominating committee who shall nominate one candidate for each ---NEW--- open office.

 

Section 5. Term of Office

All officers and elected Directors shall be elected by ballot at the annual business meeting, provided there is a quorum, and shall continue in office unlit the expiration of there term. 

 

All officers and elected Directors with the exception of the Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermaster will have a term in office for one year to coincide with the club calender year.

 

The Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermaster shall normally have a term of two years to coincide with the club calender year. The Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermasters terms in office are not to end in the same calender year. If needed the terms for either the Quartermaster or Assistant Quartermaster shall be altered to be one year shorter or longer to ensure that the term expirations are not in the same calender year.

 

Section 6. Vacancies

Vacancies occurring between the elections shall be filled by special ballot at the first regular meeting following the official announcement of such vacancy.

 

Section 7. Removal of Officers 

Officers and Board members may be removed in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 sec. 4

 

Section 8. Powers

The Board of Directors shall have power to:

  • Manage the affairs of the Club to plan and promote measures for its growth. 
  • Transact the business of the Club in the interim between meetings and report the same at the next meeting.
  • Provide for the auditing of the Treasurer's books.
  • Provide for the auditing of the Quartermaster's inventory and records.

ARTICLE 5. MEMBERS

 

Section 1.

Eligibility. All licensed Amateur Radio operators of good character shall be eligible for membership.

 

Section 2.

Application procedure. Membership shall be by application and approval of the Board of Directors, or by vote at a club meeting.

 

Section 3.

Classes of Membership. There shall be one (1) voting class of membership, that of full voting member. Honorary members, as defined in Section 4 below, are not voting members unless they are also club members.

 

Section 4.

If so decided by the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the membership at an annual or special meeting the title of "Honorary Member" may be bestowed upon an individual that the Club wishes to recognize for his or her contribution to the Club and to the Amateur Radio community.

 

ARTICLE 6. MEETINGS

 

The By-Laws shall provide for an annual meeting to be held in November, and special meetings may be called with due notice. At meetings, a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

ARTICLE 7. DUES

 

Section 1 

The Club, by majority vote of those present at any annual meeting, may levy upon the general membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization. Non-payment of such dues or assessments for a period of forty-five (45) days after the due date (January 1 of the current year) may be cause for loss of membership privileges. 

 

ARTICLE 8. GENERAL

 

Section 1.

Procedures. Roberts' Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority of this organization.

 

Section 2.

By-law amendments. Proposals for amendments to the by-laws shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors 90 days prior to the annual meeting and in writing to the membership 30 days prior to the annual meeting at which the vote will be taken. With the same notice in writing to the Board of Directors, the Board may elect to vote on by-laws amendments at a regular meeting of the club. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting shall be required to adopt any by-laws amendment.

 

Section 3.

Expenditures. The President and one other elected officer are hereby empowered to authorize expenditures of not more that $100 dollars unless a higher expenditure has been specifically pre-approved as an expense as outlined in the annual budget. After June 30, the Board of Directors, by majority vote, may elect to utilize an under-run in a budget line item of up to $250 to fund an unanticipated expense either not in the budget or under-funded in the budget based on a forecast of remaining expenses for the year and an analysis of income and expenses to date by the Treasurer.

 

ARTICLE 9. DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

 

In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the Club shall, after payment of necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to another (other) organization(s) that will best accomplish the general purposes for which this Club was formed.

 

Last revised, November 2014