Buck Radio Control Club Constitution and By-Laws

Buck Radio Control Club Constitution

Article 1 – Name The name of the club shall be the Buck Radio Control Flying Club.

Article 2 – Purpose The objectives of the club shall be to promote model aircraft building and flying and promote fellowship among fellow modelers and flyers.

Article 3 – Membership All persons shall be eligible for membership, provided they meet the qualifications prescribed by the club as enumerated in the by-laws of the club.

Article 4 - Governing Body The club will be governed by the board of directors, which will consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Field Marshall, Safety Officer, and Newsletter editor (if separate from secretary).

Buck Radio Control Club By-Laws

Article 1 – Officers, Terms, and Duties The board of directors will be elected annually, each December, and shall govern the club, taking into consideration the wishes of the general membership.  Any officers can be removed from office with a general membership vote of two-thirds of the total membership.

Section 1 - Duties of Officers

President: 1) Preside at all meetings.  2) Act as spokesman for the club.  3) Appoint committees and chairpersons, and be an “ex officio” member of all committees appointed.   4) When necessary, call special meetings of the board of directors to act on any club business needing a decision prior to the meeting of the club (a majority vote of the number of the board present shall rule).   5) Authorize emergency or special expenditures not exceeding fifty dollars ($50) in any one instance.   6) Replace board members who are unable to fulfill their required duties due to excessive absences.   7) Only vote at meetings to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.  8) Perform other such duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Vice-President:  1) Assist the president in all matters and shall assume the duties of the president if, for any reason, he cannot perform his duties.  2) Be responsible for organizing all social events of the club, including setting up places for regular meetings.  3) Perform other such duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Secretary: 1) Record and preserve accurate minutes of all meetings.  2) Keep accurate records of membership, which will show officers, full names and addresses of all members including AMA numbers, birth dates, phone numbers, and frequencies used. This roster will also show total number of members and will be updated two (2) times a year, if necessary, and sent to each member.   The costs for doing this will be submitted, approved, and paid by the treasurer at each meeting. 3) Carry out all official correspondence of the club including all AMA correspondence. 4) Maintain a file of club correspondence, insurance records,  club charter,  and so on.  5) Assume the duties of the treasurer on a temporary basis if he is unable to perform his duties. 6) Perform other duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Treasurer:   1) Have charge of all funds of the club.  2) Collect all monies due, disburse same, and keep accurate records of all financial transactions.  Retain copies of bills and receipts for a period of one year. 3) Present a report of all financial transactions at meetings.  Present an annual financial statement to the membership at each December meeting. 4) Any expenses not required in ‘normal’ operation (normal is defined as field maintenance costs, AMA costs, et cetera) must pass a majority vote at a regular meeting. Any expense over fifty ($50) dollars that must be handled between meetings requires a special board of directors meeting and must pass with a majority vote. 5) Keep and maintain a record of members in good financial standing. 6) Assume the duties of the secretary on a temporary basis if he is unable to perform his duties.  7) Perform other such duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Field Marshall:  1) Must be mature, not given to loss of temper, and able to communicate with others in a calm, reasonable manner. 2) Supervise field operations, parking, flight line, et cetera.   3) Know the location of nearest hospital, police department, and EMS facility.  4) Greet new faces at field and explain the sport and how to get involved if necessary. 5) Know location of field fire extinguisher and first aid kid.  6) Erection of temporary signs during special occasions.  7) Presentations to the club at meetings on field related problems.  8) Perform other such duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Safety Officer:   1) Must be mature, diplomatic, responsible person, knowledgeable in R/C safety. 2) Preflight inspection of new aircraft when warranted. 3) Insure that field rules, pilots, and aircraft are up to date safety wise. 4) Enforcement of AMA Safety Code when necessary. 5) Right to prevent individual fliers from flying if their conduct or aircraft aren’t suitable.  6) Supervision of spectator areas.   7) Supervision of flight line and frequency control.  8)  Know location of field fire extinguisher and first aid kit. 9) Know names of members qualified in first aid, CPR, et cetera.  10) Perform other such duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Newsletter Editor:  1) Maintain a good quality newsletter and send it to all members once a quarter, at least 2 weeks in advance of designated club meetings.  2) Notify AMA of editor status in order to receive AMA editor newsletter and to use that newsletter in conjunction with club information in our newsletter. 3) Submit in writing all costs involved with our newsletter at regular meetings to be voted on for reimbursement. All normal costs (stamps, copying, et cetera) will be reimbursed by the treasurer. 4) Perform other duties that may be amended by the general membership in accordance with the by-laws.

Article 2 – Membership Section 1- Voting membership shall consist of a paid, regular member in good standing, age 18 or older. Family memberships shall have only one vote.   Section 2- Proof of AMA membership shall be required for all members, along with proof of current year dues being paid.  Section 3- A regular member is entitled to all rights and privileges without limitation.  A family member is a member of the immediate family of a regular member who shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of a regular member, except voting, provided he holds a current AMA license.  Upon reaching the age of 18, the family member must become a regular member.  Section 4- The secretary shall furnish every new member, upon being accepted, with a copy of the club’s by-laws, roster, and any rules and regulations which may be adopted, including a copy of the field rules in use.   Section 5- All new members are required to prove flying competency to one of the club officers, preferably the Safety Officer, with his decision being final, before they fly without the assistance of a qualified member. Section 6- Any member can be removed from the club on complaint in writing to an officer, by a member of group of members, with a 2/3 vote of the total membership present at a meeting if that member isn’t adhering to the by-laws, including the field rules, or the club feels its best interests will be served by his or her removal. Once the member is removed from the club, he or she will not be considered again for a period of one year.   Section 7- It will be the responsibility of the new applicant to get an application and to get 2 current club members to sponsor them.  The sponsor must sign the application, accepting responsibility for the new applicant. The applicant should make himself known by coming to the field so that current members can intelligently vote on him. Once the new applicant has the 2 sponsors, it will be his responsibility to submit the application to the treasurer. The treasurer will bring up the applicants at the next club meeting, in the order that he received them, for a vote into the club.   Section 8- Cost and Duration of Membership.  Duration of membership shall continue with the payment of annual dues and proof of AMA membership (showing current year AMA card) to the treasurer and compliance with all club by-laws, field rules, and by AMA rules by February 1 of that year.  Failure to pay dues by this date automatically severs membership.   Dues for regular and family memberships will be determined by a vote of the membership present during the September meeting, after a report from the treasurer of the past year’s income and expenses.  Anyone joining the club after September 1 will pay one-half the cost of the membership for that year.

Article 3 - Election of Officers At the regular meeting in December of each year, new officers will be nominated and voted on the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Field Marshall, Safety Officer, and Newsletter Editor will be voted in for the following year.

Article 4 – Voting Section 1- Quorum. The voting members present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the club.  Section 2- Voting Methods.  All voting at meetings shall be by a show of hands, with one-half minus plus one constituting a majority.   All voting of officers shall be by a show of hands, again with one-half plus one constituting a majority.

Article 5 – Meetings

Section 1- Times.  There will be four (4) regular meetings a year on the first Tuesday of March, June, September, and December.  All regular meetings will start at 7:00 P.M.   Section 2- Special Meetings.  By-law changes require special meetings (not to be done at regular meetings) and require all suggested changes to be submitted in writing at the regular meeting.   The board of directors will meet separately and if in concurrence, they will then schedule a special meeting for the membership, and the Secretary will mail notice to all members of said meeting. The by-laws can be changed at this special meeting with a one-half plus one vote constituting a majority. Section 3- Order of Business.  Meetings will be run using “Robert’s Rules of Order” except where superseded by the by-laws. Meeting Order will be as follows: 1) Call to order.  2) Introduction of visitors.  3) Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting by the secretary.  4) Treasurer’s Report.  5) Committees’ Report.  6) Presentation of circulars, letters, correspondence, et cetera. 7) Old business. 8) New business. 9) Good and welfare of the club. 10) Adjournment of meeting.