DCARA
W3UER/R Darby, PADCARA
W3UER/R Darby, PA
Constitution and Bylaws Revised March 1985
DELAWARE COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - TITLEThe name of this organization shall be the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association, a non-profit organization hereinafter referred to as The Association, formed September 18, 1977.
ARTICLE II - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association shall be wholly education, literacy, scientific, and to promote good will between association persons of the radio art and the general public, and by local action to further the aims and objectives of the American Radio Relay League. In addition, to render a public service to governmental agencies during storms, severe weather, disasters, and in times of communications need as requested; to maintain one or more repeaters for the benefit of the members and the amateur community; to maintain an autopatch in STRICT accordance with the FCC rules as a primary service to the embers; to be of help and influence to new operators in the area in the operation of their stations; and to further the art of electronics and encourage prospective members to participate in The Association.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Membership in The Association is open to any person who holds a valid amateur radio license issued by the FCC and who subscribes to the aims and objectives as set forth in Article II of this constitution. Those twenty-one (21) persons, who, at the inception of The Association, contributed fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be deemed Charter Members. Those Charter Members who, upon approval of the Board of Directors and the Treasurer, withdraw from The Association shall receive their original fifty dollar ($50.00) investment back and shall irrevocably relinquish Charter Membership status. Upon the death of a Charter Member, his original fifty dollar ($50.00) investment shall be returned to his heirs.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
The officers of the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association shall be such Officers, Boards, or Committees as the By-Laws of this association may prescribe.
ARTICLE V - OWNERSHIP
All assets, monies, and properties of The Association are owned by The Association. Any matters pertaining to the use of, or disposition of, these assets, monies and property must be approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws may be proposed by petition of one-third of the members present at any meeting of The Association. The Constitution of The Association may be amended by satisfying both of the following: 1) two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting provided that the proposed amendment has been previously advertised in any daiy Delaware County or Philadelphia newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 copies or more, and written notice be filed with each member of The Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the regular meeting at which the amendment is to be voted upon, and, 2) approval by two-thirds vote of the members of the Board of Directors present at any meeting, either regular or called for the purpose of considering an amendment to the constitution. Amendments to the By-Laws of The Association may be adopted at a regular meeting provided that: 1) the amendment does not conflict with the provisions set forth in Articles I through V and Article VII of the Constitution, 2) the amendment and the motion for adoption be filed with each member of The Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the regular meeting at which the amendment is to be voted upon, 3) a two-thirds vote of the members present at such a regular meeting described in (2), above, approves the motion for adoption of the amendment, and, 4) a two-thirds vote of the members present at a Board of Directors meeting, either regular or called for the purpose of considering the amendment to the By-Laws.
ARTICLE VII - CESSATION
If the occasion of the cessation of the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association should ever arise, upon decision to terminate, by the Board of Directors, all assets, monies, and properties of The Association shall be liquidated within sixty (60) days, then after all outstanding liabilities are cleared, the balance shall be equally divided among the remaining Charter Members, to a maximum of fifty dollars ($50.00) each. Then, any remaining funds or equipment shall be donated to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
DELAWARE COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section I -
Application for membership must be made in writing to the Board of Directors on the application form. The application must be accompanied by the initiation fee and the first year's dues or fraction thereof, as provided below, payable until January 1. This application will be investigated by the Board of Directors and acted upon by them.
Section II -
The dues of The Association and the initiation fee shall be set by the Board of Directors, payable during the dues solicitation period of November 1 - December 31 for the coming year. Any member who is still in arrears as of March 1 will be dropped from the roster, will be subject once again to an initiation fee, and will be ineligible to vote. Charter Members who are still in arrears as of March 1 will be dropped from the roster, and all regular and Charter membership rights will be suspended. By November 1 of the following year they shall be notified that they must pay back dues by December 31 or will irrevocably forfeit all Charter membership rights. These members may be reinstated, as regular members with a payment of the initiation fee and current dues.
Section III -
Family membership is available to a spouse and unmarried children under 19 years of age, unless a full-time student, in which case the age limit shall be 22 years. A family membership dues structure shall be the following: one initiation fee per family, full dues for each family member wishing to belong to The Association, and one vote shall be permitted for each family member. Association membership is available to a spouse and unmarried children, as above, except that the yearly dues for the association member will be one-half regular dues, and an association member will not have voting privileges.
Section IV -
Honorary membership may be bestowed upon any person by a majority vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting called for that purpose. Term of membership shall be one year. Honorary members have no voting privileges.
Section V -
Each full member of The Association has one vote.
Section VI -
Any member shall be suspended from the roster whose conduct is found unbecoming a member of The Association, after investigation, by vote of the Board of Directors, and signing same. Charter Members, in this regard, shall lose all regular and Charter membership rights and be removed from the roster, and receive their initial $50.00 investment back, by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. The charged member and member making such charges shall have the right to present their cases at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Each member involved shall be notified at least one week in advance. Any action taken by the Board in such matters must be approved by two-thirds vote of the membership.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS
Section I -
Regular meetings of The Association shall be held at the discretion of the Board of Directors during the months of January, March, May, September, and November. The meeting held in March will be for the purpose of elections only. Special meetings of the association may be called by the President at any time, or by written request of seven (7) members to the Secretary, and members shall be notified at least one week in advance.
Section II -
A quorum shall consist of one-third of the voting membership in good standing at a regular meeting. If one-third of the membership in good standing is not present at a regular meeting, the President may, at his discretion, adjourn the meeting and reconvene with those members present and they shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section I - The elected officers of The Association shall be: A. The President B. The Vice President C. The Corresponding Secretary D. The Recording Secretary E. The Treasurer F. Members at Large - one for each one hundred (100) members or portion thereof.
Section II -
The elected officers of The Association shall be chosen every year from the roster f members in good standing and who have been in good standing for at least one previous year. The President must have met these criteria for two consecutive years. A nomination committee will be appointed each November by the President, and shall submit the candidates for each office, agreed upon by them, to the members at the January meeting. All nominations shall be signed by five members in good standing and signed by the nominee. These nominees shall appear on the ballot.
Section III -
The new officers will take office at 0000 Local time on April 1. Officers may succeed themselves.
Section IV -
The President, all elected officers, immediate past President, Charter Members in good standing, the Chairman of the Technical Committee and the Station Trustee shall constitute the Board of Directors. The Recording Secretary shall record minutes of all Board meetings.
Section V -
All appointed officers shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. They shall be the Chairmen of those committees deemed necessary by the President.
Section VI -
The term of all officers shall be one year.
Section VII -
A vacancy in any elected office shall be filled by appointment by the President until the next regular meeting, at which time a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of a vacancy of that office, and a nominating committee shall be appointed by the Vice President and a special election held.
ARTICLE IV - DUTIES
Section I - President
The President shall preside at all meetings of The Association. He shall act as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He shall quide and lead the Delaware County Amateur Radio Association and all of it's activities. He shall be ex-officio a member of ALL Boards and committees. He shall sign all legal documents of The Association.
Section II - Vice President
The Vice President shall assume the office of President in the absence or inability of the President, and perform any other duties delegated by the President. He shall act as Public Relations Officer and act as such a liaison between the Club and the general public and all others interested in the Amateur Radio Art. He will welcome all quests at meetings and act as QSL Manager.
Section III - The Secretaries
The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings; sign, file and safeguard all legal documents and historical records of The Association. The Corresponding Secretary shall prepare and mail notices of meetings, other Association activities, and maintain a mailing list.
Section IV - Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive all monies and deposit them in a bank approved by the Board of Directors. He shall have ready at each meeting a current report of receipts and disbursements. He shall have final approval of all expenditures unless overruled by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. All disbursements be from a two-signature account. The Treasurer and either the President or Vice President shall be authorized to sign orders of disbursement. He shall prepare a line-item budget and present it to the Board of Directors at their first meeting of the year.
Section V - Immediate Past President
The immediate past President will offer his advice and expertise in guiding the Board of Directors in the Aims and Objectives of The Association.
Section VI - Chairman of the Technical Committee
The Chairman of the Technical Committee shall oversee and direct all communications activities and promote various communications projects and foster intelligent and gentlemanly operating procedures among the members of The Association. He shall oversee and direct all activities on the property of The Association station. He shall see that the station is kept in an orderly manner and facilities are kept in good condition. He shall maintain a current file of all Association property, acquisition, cost, date, and name of any person in charge of any property not in the custody of The Association. He shall see that all necessary repairs are made within the budgeted amounts.
Section VII - Board Members
The Board Members shall attend meetings of the Board of Directors and actively participate on the operation of The Association. If a Board Member does not attend two consecutive Board meetings he shall be suspended and replaced by appointment of the President. Charter Members who miss two consecutive Board Meetings will lose their voting privileges until they have attended two consecutive Board Meetings.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall be responsible for all efficient operation of The Association both in financial transactions and in the matters of policy. It shall review and act upon all applications for membership. It shall meet and act upon all matters enacted by the general membership. The Board of Directors shall meet on a regular basis at least four times per year at the discretion of the President or by written request of five Charter Members. Each Board member shall have one vote when considering matters before the Board.
ARTICLE VI - PROCEDURE
"Robert's Rules of Order" shall govern all proceedings of The Association.
ARTICLE VII - TRUSTEE
The Trustee shall be appointed by the majority of the Board of Directors.