MICH-A-CON AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

CONSTITUTION
October 1993 (Amended September 2011*)

PREAMBLE
We, the members, desiring to further the interest of Amateur Radio in the community, to further individual skills, to improve co-operation among its members, and to enjoy the pleasure and benefits of the association of those interested in Amateur Radio, do hereby constitute ourselves the Mich-A-Con Amateur Radio Club and do enact this Constitution as our governing law.


ARTICLE I
Membership:

Section 1 - All persons interested in Amateur Radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2 - Membership shall be Full, Associate, or Repeater.

Full-Membership: Requires a valid F.C.C. Amateur Radio License and affords all voting and club privileges.

Associate-Membership: Provides all club privileges except voting for those interested in Amateur Radio but not possessing a valid F.C.C. Amateur Radio License.

Repeater-Only-Membership: For those who wish to support and regularly use the club repeater but are unable or do not desire to be an active participating club member. A valid F.C.C. Amateur Radio License is required and voting privileges are not afforded.

ARTICLE II
Officers:

Section 1 - The Officers of this Club shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2 - The Officers of this Club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the members present at the November meeting, provided there be a quorum.

Section 3 - Vacancies occuring between elections must be filled by special ballot at the first regular meeting following the meeting at which the withdrawal or resignation is announced.

Section 4 - Officers may be removed, on a motion, approved by three-fourths of the total voting membership.

Section 5* - The Board of Directors, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, shall be the governing body of the Club and as such shall formulate and be responsible for all matters of policy. It shall review all reports of conduct unbecoming a member of the Club and, if sustained, submit the matter to the body of the Club at a regular meeting.

ARTICLE III
Duties of Officers:

Section 1 - The President shall preside at all meetings of this Club, and conduct the same in accordance with rules adopted; he shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and Bylaws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents that are adopted by the Club, and none other; and perform all customary duties pertaining to the office of President.

Section 2 - The Vice President shall assume all the duties of the President in the absence of the latter.

Section 3 - The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of the members, submit applications for membership, carry on all correspondence, read communications at meetings, and be responsible for club publicity.

Section 4 - The Treasurer shall receive and receipt all monies paid to the Club, keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended and make no disbursements without authorization by the Membership at a business meeting. The Treasurer shall present a budget at the Annual Meeting projecting club expenditures for the coming year.

Section 5 - All Officers shall turn over everything in their possession belonging to the club to their successors at the expiration of their term of office.

ARTICLE IV
Meetings:

Section 1 - The Bylaws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, a quorum of the membership shall be present for the transaction of business.

Section 2 - A Quorum will consist of a majority of full members present.

ARTICLE V
Dues and Assessments:

Section 1 - Dues structure for all classes of membership shall be set and assessed at the Annual Meeting. Non-payment of such dues or assessments shall be cause for expulsion from the club within the discretion of the membership.

Section 2 - The Mich-A-Con Amateur Radio Club by majority vote of those present at any regular meeting may levy upon the General Membership such assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the Organization within its objectives as set forth in the Preamble.

ARTICLE VI
QRM and Membership Assistance:

Section 1 - This Club shall assist members in handling cases of broadcast or television interference caused by any Amateur Station operation in the area of club jurisdiction. The club will provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in complete frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice, and absence of spurious radiations from club member's stations.

ARTICLE VII
Amendments:

Section 1 - This Constitution or the Bylaws may be amended by a favorable vote from a majority of the total membership. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at the regular meeting and may not be voted upon until the next regular meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution and/or Bylaws at a specific meeting.

ARTICLE VIII
Rules:

Section 1 - Meetings: Roberts Rules of Order shall govern proceedings.

Section 2 - Repeater: Use shall conform to rules set forth in Bylaws.

BYLAWS
Section 1 - Secretary:

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the Constitution and Bylaws of the Mich-A-Con Amateur Radio Club and have them at every regular and Special meeting, and cause all amendments, changes, and additions to be noted thereon and shall permit the same to be consulted by members upon request.

Section 2 - Meetings:

Regular meetings shall be held each month on a day determined at the Annual Meeting, unless changed by a vote at the preceding regular business meeting, at such place as the President shall order. Special meetings may be called by the President and/or upon the written request of any five members of the club. Notices shall be sent so that in the ordinary postal delivery they shall arrive at least twenty-four hours before the time therein set for the meeting. Only such business as is designated in said notice shall be transacted at such meetings.

Section 3 - Dues:

Dues shall be payable at the first meeting of the year. Members not paid by the third regular meeting of the year shall be dropped from the membership. Persons who have not paid dues but partake of membership privileges or participate in member-exclusive activities shall be deemed delinquent members. Within the current year, delinquent members must pay back-dues from the time such activity took place to the present, and current dues to the end of the year in order to be reinstated as a member in good standing.

Section 4 - Annual Meeting:

The Annual Meeting shall be the first meeting of January.

Section 5 - Repeater Use:

Repeater use and operating practices shall conform with all applicable F.C.C. Rules and Regulations, conform with the ARRL recommended Repeater Operating Practices, and such other rules as shall be applied by the membership.

Section 6 - Removal Of Members:*

(1) Any member whose Federal Communications Commission-issued Amateur Radio license is suspended or revoked with cause by the FCC shall be automatically removed from membership in the Mich-A-Con ARC.

(2) Any member who operates his/her station in violation of Part 97 of the FCC Rules and Regulations, and who does not cease and desist from the aforementioned violations, may be removed from membership in the Mich-A-Con ARC.

(3) Any member who causes adverse publicity to Amateur Radio or the Mich-A-Con ARC may be removed from membership in the Mich-A-Con ARC.

(4) Whenever a charge is made against a member that could result in his or her expulsion from membership, the Board of Directors shall investigate such charge. If the Board determines to proceed with the matter, the member involved shall be notified and given the opportunity to appear before the Board or, at the member's election, to respond in writing and answer or defend against such charge. After the member has been given reasonable opportunity to appear and defend, the Board of Directors shall act upon the charge and by a majority vote of all members of the Board either reject the charge, continue membership upon stated conditions, or expel. A member charged with conduct unbecoming a member of this Club may be expelled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at a meeting of the membership, if the Board of Directors has found the charges are sustained by its investigations.

(5) The expelled member may apply, in person before the Board of Directors, for membership in the club one year after expulsion.