By-Laws of the Santa Clara Amateur Radio Association
Adopted April 14th, 2008


Preamble: 
We, the Amateurs of Santa Clara County, wishing to secure for ourselves the 
pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in 
Amateur Radio, constitute ourselves the Santa Clara County Amateur Radio 
Association (SCCARA or the Association) and enact these By-Laws as our governing 
law. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and 
cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and 
individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct club programs and activities 
as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the 
community. 


1.0 Membership: 

1.1. All persons interested in Amateur Radio communications shall be eligible 
for membership. Membership shall be by application under terms determined by the 
Board of Directors (BOD). 


2.0 Officers: 

2.1. The elected officers of this club shall be President, Vice-President, 
Secretary and Treasurer.
2.1.1. The elected Officers of this club shall be elected from members in good 
standing for a term of one year by majority ballot of the members present at the 
annual meeting. 
2.1.2. Vacancies, except for the office of President or Junior Past President 
(most recent past president), occurring between elections may be filled by 
appointment by the President and concurrence of the majority of the BOD. 
2.1.3. Vacancy of the office of President may be filled by majority vote of the 
BOD.
2.1.4. Elective Officers may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the 
membership.

2.2. The office of Station Trustee shall be appointed from members in good 
standing by the president with the majority approval of the BOD. 
2.2.1 The Station Trustee must hold the highest level amateur radio license, 
i.e. Amateur Extra Class.
2.2.2 The Station Trustee shall seek the council of the BOD but will have final 
authority over compliance with laws and regulations governing station operation.
2.2.3 .The term of the Station Trustee shall be indefinite. 
2.2.4. The Station Trustee may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the BOD.

2.3. Upon succession, the immediate past President shall be promoted to the 
office of Junior Past President. 
2.3.1 .The term of the Junior Past President shall be one year, non-renewable. 
2.3.2. The Junior Past President may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the 
BOD.
2.3.3. In instances where the current President is elected to a new term, the 
office of Junior Past President shall remain vacant.

2.4. Duties of Officers: All Officers are voting members of the Board of 
Directors. 
2.4.1. The President shall preside at general and BOD meetings, and conduct them 
according to the rules adopted. He/she shall enforce due observance of these By-
Laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents adopted by the 
club or its BOD, appoint committee chairpersons, appoint vacant officers or 
Directors, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President. 
At the end of their term he/she shall turn over everything in his/her possession 
belonging to the club to his/her successor and negotiate such banking documents 
as may be required to transfer signatory authority.
2.4.2 The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in his/her 
absence. In addition, he/she shall organize club activities, plan and recommend 
contests for operating benefits, and advance club interest and activities as 
approved by the club. He/she shall maintain close liaison with the ARRL District 
Emergency Coordinator to further club participation in the Amateur Radio 
Emergency Service. 
2.4.3. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings 
(except Special Event Meetings: see 5.3), keep a roll of members, accept 
membership applications, carry on all correspondence, read communications at 
each meeting, and mail correspondence to the membership as directed by the BOD. 
The Secretary shall assist members in commerce with affiliated organizations 
(see 7.2.). The Secretary shall maintain the current copy of these By-Laws of 
the club and have the same with him/her at every meeting. He/she shall note all 
amendments, changes and additions to the By-Laws and shall permit them to be 
consulted by members upon request. At the end of their term he/she shall turn 
over everything in his/her possession belonging to the club to his/her successor 
and negotiate such banking documents as may be required to transfer signatory 
authority.
2.4.4. The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid to the club; 
keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended; pay bills 
authorized by the BOD. At the end of each quarter he/she shall submit an 
itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the end of their term 
he/she shall turn over everything in his/her possession belonging to the club to 
his/her successor and negotiate such banking documents as may be required to 
transfer signatory authority. 
2.4.5. The Station Trustee is the custodian of the call sign (license) of the 
Club Station (currently W6UW and W6UU) and is the liaison between the 
Association and the Federal Communications Commission. He/she shall investigate 
and report to the BOD all cases of violation of legal and proper amateur 
practice involving the Club Station. He/she is in charge of the equipment and 
operation of the Club Station.  
2.4.6. The Junior Past President shall advise the Officers and Directors in 
matters of business, protocol, and precedence and other functions as may be 
assigned or appointed by the President.


3.0 Directors:

3.1. The five Directors shall be elected in the same manner as the Officers. The 
term of a Director is two years. The Director positions should be filled in such 
a way that approximately half of the Director positions will be concluded in 
alternate years.

3.2. Duties of a Director: All Directors are voting members of the Board of 
Directors.
3.2.1. Each Director shall be a member of the Board of Directors (BOD).
3.2.2. Each Director shall seek the wisdom and council of the general 
membership.
3.2.3. Each Director shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the 
President.

3.3. Director vacancies occurring between elections may be filled by appointment 
of the President.

3.4. Directors may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the membership.


4.0 Board of Directors (BOD):

4.1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers, elected, promoted, 
and appointed, and five Directors.

4.2. Duties of BOD: 
4.2.1. The BOD shall manage the affairs of the Association subject to the 
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. The BOD shall have authority over the 
affairs of the Association during and between its meetings.
4.2.2. The BOD may adopt rules governing its own procedures and meetings. 
4.2.3. At the first meeting of any calendar year the BOD shall levy such dues or 
assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the Association.
4.2.4. In the event of the mid term vacancy of the office of President, the BOD 
shall elect a new President by simple majority of the quorum.

4.3. Sixty percent of members of the BOD shall constitute a quorum. 


5.0 Meetings:

5.1. General Meetings shall be held on regular basis as determined by the BOD. 
5.1.1 Attendance shall be open to all members and the general public.
5.1.2. In the event that meeting agenda addresses formal business, such as 
elections, notice of intention to conduct formal business shall be declared. 
5.1.3. The time, location, and declarations, if needed, shall be published no 
less than five (5) days before the meeting date. 
5.1.4. The Officers and elapsing members of the BOD shall be nominated at the 
October General Meeting and elected at the November General Meeting. Members may 
cast their vote in absentia provided their signed proxy is in the possession of 
the Secretary by the November General Meeting. 

5.2. Special Membership Meetings may be called by the President upon the written 
request of any five club members or resolution of the BOD. Notices shall be sent 
to members concerning special meetings and the business to be transacted 
declared. Only such business as declared shall be transacted. Such notices shall 
be sent so that they arrive not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the 
meeting.

5.3. Special Event Meetings may be declared by the President or majority vote of 
the BOD at any time. Such meetings are intended for the promotion and practice 
of Amateur Radio and not for the conduct of formal business. Formal business may 
not be transacted at such meetings.

5.4. Board of Directors (BOD) Meetings shall be held on regular basis as 
determined by the BOD. 
5.4.1. Attendance shall be open to all members and guests invited by the 
President. 
5.4.2. The time, location, and declarations, if needed, shall be published not 
less than five (5) days before the meeting date. 
5.4.3. Issues shall be decided by a quorum of the membership of the BOD.

5.5. Special Board of Directors (BOD) Meetings may be called by the President or 
any three (3) members of the BOD at any time or place. 

5.5.1. Notice of the business to be transacted shall be declared. Only such 
business as declared shall be transacted. The time, location, and declarations, 
shall be communicated by the President, Secretary, or their designate to the BOD 
as soon as reasonably possible. 
5.5.1.1. Notice may be made in person, postal, e-mail, telephonic, or other 
electronic media. Where the first notice is unsuccessful, second and third 
attempts shall be made using other methods described above.

5.5.2. Attendance may be in person or by symbolic virtual attendance 
communicated by Amateur Radio or any real time or near real time electronic 
media. 
5.5.2.1. The President, Secretary, or their designate shall be responsible for 
communicating issues and motions on the floor to virtual attendees.

5.5.3. Unless otherwise stated in these By-Laws, issues decided at Special Board 
of Directors Meetings shall be decided by the simple majority of all BOD 
members. 
5.5.3. 1. BOD members not in attendance shall be deemed to have cast votes in 
opposition to all ballots except motions to table or adjourn. 
5.5.3. 2. Motions to table or adjourn require only a simple majority of BOD in 
attendance 



6.0 Dues: 

6.1. Annual dues are payable by January 1st and considered delinquent by 
February 28th.

6.2. New members are prorated according to the following formulas:
6.2.1. For January: 100% annual rate.
6.2.2. For February through October: [(eleven minus the month number) x 10%]. 
{i.e. June = [(11-6) x 10%] = 50% annual rate}
6.2.3. November and December: 100% of succeeding year's annual rate (i.e. free 
when making advance payment for next year.)

6.3. Delinquent members are not eligible to cast ballots or access other member 
benefits.


7.0 Community Outreach 

7.1. The President may appoint Public Relations and Technical Committees to 
provide assistance to the community in frequency observance, clean signals, 
uniform practice, absence of spurious radiation, and general furtherance of 
Amateur Radio. 
7.2. Affiliations:
7.7.1. In furtherance of the objectives stated in the Preamble, it is the 
intention of SCCARA to be an affiliated club of the American Radio Relay League 
(ARRL).
7.7.2. SCCARA will encourage ARRL membership and participation by its members, 
to remain an affiliated club in good standing. However, ARRL membership will not 
be required as a condition of membership.
7.7.3. The Secretary shall assist all SCCARA members in obtaining the services 
made available by the ARRL. 
7.7.4. SCCARA may also choose to affiliate with other organizations (such as the 
Red Cross) in furtherance of community service and the interests of the club. 
Such affiliations may be established or terminated by a majority vote of the 
BOD.


8.0 Amendments:  

8.1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members and 
proxies present at a General Meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be 
submitted in writing at a General Meeting and shall be voted on at the next 
following General Meeting, provided all members have been noticed by mail of the 
intent to amend the By-Laws at said meeting. Robert's Rules shall govern 
proceedings. 


9.0 Resignation:

9.1. Any Officer or Director may resign their office by submitting a letter of 
resignation to the Secretary.

9.2. Implied Resignation:
9.2.1. Any Officer or Director that is delinquent in dues by April 2nd is deemed 
to have resigned their office.
9.2.2. Any Officer or Director that has more than two (2) consecutive unexcused 
BOD meeting absences or that has more than three (3) consecutive unexcused 
General meeting absences, with the concurrence of the majority of the BOD, is 
deemed to have resigned their office.
9.2.2.1 An absence is deemed excused if advanced notice of the absence is filed 
with the President, or Secretary, or any two Directors.


10.0 PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY:

10.1. The Rules of Order governing the Association in all cases except where 
contrary to these By-Laws, the Articles of Incorporation, or any Special Rules 
of Order adopted by the Association shall be those contained in the latest 
edition or printing of Robert's Rules of Order.


Submitted to the BOD February 18, 2008.

Ratified by the general membership Monday, April 14, 2008.
SCCARA By-Laws 2008 draft revision 4/14/2008

E:\SCCARA\ByLaws\New_SCCARA_Bylaws rev 2-20-08.doc  Last printed 2/18/2008 
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