Constitution

Of the

L’Anse Creuse Amateur Radio Club

 

PREAMBLE

 

We, the members, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, have joined together as the L’Anse Creuse Amateur Radio Club, and enact this constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to further the public relations, emergency communication activities, training, technical advancement of club members, operating activities, and other miscellaneous activities.

 

ARTICLE I                MEMBERSHIP

 

All persons interested in amateur radio communications, that is the Amateur Radio Service as defined by the Federal Communications Commission, shall be eligible for membership.  Membership shall be by application, upon such terms as the club shall set forth through its By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE II               OFFICERS

 

The officers of this club shall be President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Activities Manager, Technical Officer and ARRL Liaison.

 

SECTION 1.   All officers must hold a current, valid amateur radio license, at the time of their election.

           

SECTION 2.   The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year, by ballot of the majority of the members present at the meeting in December.

 

SECTION 3.   Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special election at the first regular meeting following the withdrawal or resignation.

 

SECTION 4.   Officers may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the membership at a meeting scheduled for that purpose.

 

SECTION 5.   The Board of Directors for the club shall consist of, but not be limited to, the present President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Activities Manager, Past-President, Technical Officer and the ARRL Liaison.

                         

ARTICLE III             DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

             SECTION 1.  The President shall:

 

-          Preside at all meetings of the club and conduct the same according to the rules adopted.  Enforce due observance of the Constitution and By-Laws;

-          Decide all question of order.

-          Sign all official documents that are adopted.

-          Conduct all official business of the Club.

-          Be the official spokesperson for the Club.

-          Be a representative on the Technical Committee.

-          Perform all other customary duties pertaining to the office of President.

 

             SECTION 2.  The President-Elect shall:

 

-          Succeed the to the office of President for a period of one year at the end of the term of President-Elect, or upon the removal or resignation of the President.

-          Be a representative on the Technical Committee.

-          Perform the duties of the President when necessary due to the absence or ill health of the President.

 

             SECTION 3.  The Secretary shall:

 

-          Keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings.

-          Keep a roll of members.

-          Submit applications for membership.

-          Carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting.

-          Mail a written notice for special meetings to each member.

-          Keep the Constitution and By-Laws of the club and have them at every meeting.

-          Cause all amendments, changes and additions to be noted thereon and shall permit the same to be consulted by members upon request.

-          File annual repeater reports with the Michigan Area repeater Council (MARC)

-          Oversee the activities of the Membership Chair, Club Historian, the Club Web Site and the Tuned Circuit.

-          Maintain close liaison with the ARRL Michigan Section Public Information Coordinator as the club’s ARRL Field Organization position of Public Information Officer.  If the Secretary wishes to delegate this role, a club member may be appointed by the board to perform this role.

-          Turn over all items belonging to the club to his/her successor.

 

             SECTION 4.  The Treasurer shall:

 

-          Be responsible for and keep an accurate record of all receipts and disbursements of club funds, having a receipt for all monies paid out of the treasury.

-          Pay no bills without proper authorization of the club.

-          Present an up to date financial report at each regularly scheduled club meeting.

-          Submit to the membership an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts at the end of each quarter.

-          At the expiration of his/her term, turn over all items belonging to the club to his/her successor.

 

             SECTION 5.  The Activities-Manager shall:

 

-          Organize club member activities, plan and recommend contests for operating benefit and advance club interest and activity as approved by the club.

-          Encourage all members to report activities to the club (bulletin) and to make the reputation of the club and Amateur Radio activities in the community as outstanding as possible.

-          Oversee general club activities and ensure that they are being planned and resourced by club members.  These activities would include but not be limited to; Club Swap, Field Day, License Classes, Nets, Monthly Meetings and Programs, Christmas Party, Dayton Trip, etc.

-          Appoint committees or assistants to aid in the duties of the office.

 

SECTION 6.   The Technical Officer shall:

 

-          Oversee the operations of the club repeater and club packet station.

-          Lead the Technical Committee as defined in Article VI and the By-Laws.

-          Maintain close liaison with the ARRL Michigan Section Technical Coordinator as the club’s ARRL Field Organization position of Technical Specialist.  If the Technical Officer wishes to delegate this role, a club member may be appointed by the board to perform this role.

-          Appoint additional committees or assistants to aid in the duties of the office.

 

 

SECTION 7.   The ARRL Liaison shall:

 

-          Maintain regular communications with the Michigan ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator.

-          Inform the board and club members of opportunities and responsibilities of ARRL Affiliated Clubs and Special Service Clubs, as appropriate.

-          Disseminate ARRL bulletins to club members regularly.

-          Maintain close liaison with the ARRL Michigan Section Manager and his/her staff to further club participation in the ARRL Field Organization.

-          Attend or have representation at ARRL Michigan Section called meetings.

-          Oversee the club’s ARRL Field Organization positions of Official Emergency Station, Official Bulletin Station, Official Observer, Official Relay Station and Local Government Liaison.  These positions are appointed by the board.

-          Apply for and coordinate any awards and certificates earned by the club for participation in ARRL events and activities.

-          Appoint committees or assistants to aid in the duties of the office.

 

 

ARTICLE IV             MEETINGS

 

The By-Laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, a minimum of one-third of the board and a minimum of 5 non-board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

Any business conducted requiring $1,000.00 or less can be approved by a majority of members present at a meeting. 

 

Any business conducted requiring more than $1,000.00 will require two approvals during two separate meetings.  First, the business item must be approved by a majority of members present at the original meeting presented. The business item will then be published and distributed to the club members for their review prior to the next meeting.  Then the business item must be approved by a majority of members present at the 2nd meeting.

 

ARTICLE V               DUES

 

The club, by majority vote of those present at any regular 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.  Annual dues are due and payable at the meeting in October of each year.  Members not having paid their dues by the conclusion of the November meeting will be considered delinquent and not a member in good standing.

 

ARTICLE VI             MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE

 

The club shall enact appropriate rules to minimize interference in operation between stations of its members.  It shall formulate adequate plans for disposition of any cases of interference to other radio services where reported as caused by any amateur station operation in the area of club jurisdiction.  The club, through the lead of the Technical Officer, may designate INTERFERENCE, PUBLIC RELATIONS and OPERATING committees, that will provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation, to assist in frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice and absence of spurious radiation from club member’s stations.  The club shall also maintain a program to foster and guide public relations via the Secretary Officer.

 

ARTICLE VII                        AMENDMENTS

 

This constitution or the By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the total membership present at the meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting and shall be voted on at the next following regular meeting, provided all members have been noticed by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws at said meeting.

 

ARTICLE VIII                      RULES

 

Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all Proceedings.

 


 

BY-LAWS

 

1.      MEMBERSHIP:

 

Applications for membership shall be submitted in writing with the required dues.  Each applicant must express a willingness to abide by the constitution and By-Laws and other rules promulgated by the club.

 

2.      MEETINGS:

 

Regular meetings shall be held on each calendar month except July and August at such a place, as the President shall order.  Special meetings may be called by the President upon the written request of any five club members.  Notices shall be sent to members concerning special meetings and the business to be transacted.  Such notices shall be sent so that they arrive not less than 24 hours before the meeting time

 

3.      DUES:

 

The L’Anse Creuse Amateur Radio Club will have the following types of members:

 

-          Regular members, annual dues $20.00

-          Student members, annual dues $2.00

-          Family members, annual dues equal to 1.5 times the current L’Anse Creuse Amateur Radio Club dues for a Regular member.  A Family membership is for all persons residing at one address.  A family membership will receive only 1 Tuned Circuit and annual club roster.  Each family member will receive a membership card and will be a full voting member of the club.

 

These dues are hereby assessed in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the Constitution for the purpose of providing a fund for current expenses.

 

Each member in good standing will receive the club newsletter, The Tuned Circuit, when published.  The regular method of delivery for the Tuned Circuit will be electronic mail via the Internet.  If a member wishes to receive a printed copy via US Mail, a fee of $10.00 per year to cover the charge for printing and mailing will be applied in addition to the member dues stated above.

 

4.      BOARD:

 

The board shall be authorized to approve non-routine expenditures of no more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).  All proposals for non-routine expenditures shall be reviewed by the board for recommendation before being voted on by the membership.  If necessary, this review by the board can be made during a general membership meeting.


 

 

5.     This section removed per April 2020 constitution update.

 

 

6.      TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:

A.     LCARC establishes a Technical Committee, which will consist of six members, one of whom will be the Technical Officer.  Other members of this committee shall include the President and President-Elect of LCARC and three representatives to be appointed by the Board of Directors.  The Technical Committee may establish working committees to aid in the ongoing operation and maintenance of the club’s repeater, packet station and any other stations created for the club.

B.     LCARC will fund the expenses of the Technical Committee to the extent that conditions dictate.  Any unusual expenses such as, but not limited to, capital improvements or other expenses approved by the Technical Committee will be paid from the pre-approved amount in the “Repeater Fund”.

 

7.      STATION CALL SIGNS:

A.     A club call sign is assigned to LCARC on a per request basis.  The call sign N8LC has been assigned to the LCARC by the Federal Communications Commission under sections 301 & 303(0) of the communications act.  The club call sign may be used for repeater or packet stations, special event stations, field day and etc.

B.     The Board of Directors may, by a simple majority, designate or replace a trustee for the club call signs.  One person may be the trustee for multiple call signs or a trustee may be designated for each call sign.  If an individual member’s call sign is used on a packet or repeater station then that member is the trustee of that station since the license has been assigned to the member and not to the club. 

C.     LCARC may change the trustee of a station call sign by filing with the Federal Communications Commission. 

 

8.      ADDITIONAL BY-LAWS:

 

Additional By-Laws may provide for technical, program, publicity and other committees or other rule provisions not provided for in the constitution itself.

 

That all assets, and real and personal property will revert to the local government or another nonprofit organization should the LCARC organization dissolve.

 

Updated Jun3, 1987

Updated Amended By-Laws #3 April5, 1989

Updated Amended By-Laws #4 April5, 1995

Updated Amended By-Laws #5 October 14, 1998

Became effective November 04, 1998 when ratified by the L’Anse Creuse Echo Repeater Association

Updated Amended By-Laws #3 September 3, 2003

Updated Constitution and By-Laws, Ratified on December 3, 2004

Updated By-Laws, Ratified on May 1, 2013

Updated Constitution and By-Laws, Ratified on June 3, 2020