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<!-- Row 1 Column 1 --> CONSTITUTION
OF THE WATERBURY
AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Name The name of this
organization shall be the WATERBURY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, hereafter referred to
as The Club or WARC. Purpose The purpose of this
organization shall be the promotion of interest in Amateur Radio
communications, the furtherance of the public welfare, the advancement of the
radio art, the fostering of education in the field of electronic
communications, and the dissemination of knowledge and information of the Amateur
Radio Service. The Club is organized exclusively for charitable and
educational purposes as defined within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of
the Internal Revenue Code. Non-Discrimination
Policy. The Waterbury
Amateur Radio Club will not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex,
national, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, disabilities, etc. in the
administration of its educational, admission and operating policies, and
activities associated with the club. Membership All persons
interested in amateur radio communications shall be eligible for membership.
The types of membership are: ·
Full
Member - Full membership in the Waterbury Amateur Radio Club is
available to any person holding a valid Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) license in the Amateur Radio Service. Full members are entitled to vote
at all general Club business meetings ·
Associate
Member - Associate membership in the Waterbury Amateur Radio
Club is available to any person who has an interest in the activities of the
club or who desires to learn more about the Amateur Radio Service. An
Associate Membership may be upgraded to Full Membership after obtaining a
valid Federal Communications Commission license in the Amateur Radio Service.
Associate members dues are equal to that of Full Members. Associate members
are not entitled to vote on general Club business. ·
Senior
Member - Senior Membership in the Waterbury Amateur Radio Club
may be granted for those adults who are sixty (60) years old or older and
meet the requirements of Full Membership. Senior Member dues shall be 75% of
the established Full Membership dues. Senior Members are entitled to all of
the privileges of a Full Member. ·
Family
Member - Family membership in the Waterbury Amateur Radio Club
is available to any member of a household in which at least one person is a
Full, Senior or Associate Member of the Club. A household consists of all
related persons living at the same residence. A related person is defined as
the spouse, the children or the parents of a Waterbury Amateur Radio Club
member. Each family member holding a valid FCC license in the Amateur Radio
Service is entitled to all of the privileges of a Full Member. Dues for
Family Members will be 25% that of a Full Member. ·
Life
Member - Life Membership in the Waterbury Amateur Radio Club may
be granted to those persons whose has exhibited "Distinguished and
Outstanding Service" to the WARC and the Amateur Radio Service. Life
membership may be recommended by any member, presented and approved by the
WARC Board of Directors and ratified by two-thirds (67%) of the general
voting membership at any regular meeting. Life Members are entitled to all of
the privileges of a Full Member. (NOTE: Any member who, previous to this
revision of the WARC Constitution, held a "Life Membership" will
continue to do so.) Membership in the Club (except "Life Members")
runs concurrent with the calendar year, and must be renewed at the beginning
of each calendar year (A grace period is established from 1 January to 15
March of each year). Governing
Bodies The
governing bodies of the Club consists of the Club Officers and the Board of
Directors: The officers of the Club shall be a President, a Vice President, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and a Master at Arms. The Board of Directors of the
Club shall be comprised of; the immediate Past President, the current elected
officers, the Trustee(s), and two (2) members at large ( "Board
Members"). Eligibility
and election of Club Officers and Board members: Only members who are
eligible to vote and have been a member of the Club for the entire preceding
year, may be nominated and elected to a position of a Club officer. Any Club
member is eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors. Nominations for
Club officers and the two (2) members at large will be made during the
general business meeting during the month of October. Elections will be
conducted during the general business meeting during the month of November. A
nominee should be present at the election to be elected. A majority vote of
those eligible voting members in attendance is necessary for election of
officers. Officers elected will assume their responsibilities on January 1st,
following the preceding election. Terms of all elected officers will be for
the following calendar year, starting January 1st, and ending December 31st
of the same year. If
the President's office becomes vacant, the Vice President will fill the
vacant position. If a vacancy in any other office occurs between regular
elections, the replacement shall be chosen by a majority vote of those
eligible voting members in attendance at the next regular business meeting.
The term of office shall be for the remainder of the un-expired term. The
Club President and Vice President may serve up to two (2) consecutive terms
in the same office, and will not be eligible for the same office for two (2)
years after the term is served. Club
Officers may be removed from office only after due consideration by the
members of the Club. The officer in question shall be notified of the motion
and the reasons for it within ten (10) days after the meeting at which the
motion(s) were made. A registered letter to the addressee's last known
address constitutes compliance of notification. The un-excused absence of an
officer for three (3) consecutive meetings may be grounds for removal from
office. After a motion for removal is made, a waiting period of fifteen (15)
days after notification is mailed is required before a vote on the motion,
which requires a three-quarter (75%) majority vote of those eligible voting
members of the Club present at the next regular business meeting. Powers and
duties of the Club: ·
The
President of the Club shall preside at all
Club meetings; serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors; decide
questions of order; appoint all committee chairpersons; be an x-officio
member of all committees; ensure that the Club is operating within the annual
operating budget, and perform such other duties as are required by the
office. The President shall present a report of his/her administration to the
Club membership at least once a year. ·
The
Vice President shall perform the duties of the
President in the absence of the latter. The Vice President shall be the
chairperson of the Program Committee and perform such other duties as are
required by the office. ·
The
Secretary shall preside at meetings in the
absence of both the President and the Vice President, and shall record the
official minutes of both the Business meetings and Board of Directors
meetings. The Secretary shall maintain the official record of all changes in
the Articles of Incorporation, the Constitution and other Club documents. The
Secretary shall be the official correspondent of the Club and shall at the
end of his or her term pass on all Club records to his or her successor. All
Club documents and records shall be open for inspection by any member at any
business meeting. ·
The
Treasurer shall preside at meetings in the
absence of other officers, shall collect, hold and disburse the funds of the
Club as directed by the Board of Directors, or as directed by a three-quarter
(75%) majority vote of the Club Membership. Withdrawals from any Club
accounts shall require at least two signatories from the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer is responsible for the development and tracking of the annual
operating budget. The treasurer shall submit monthly financial reports to the
Board of Directors, who will approve, forward and post said reports at the
next general membership meeting. The Treasurer, at the expiration of his or
her term of office, shall prepare a detailed financial report and remit the
financial records to the successor of the office. He or she shall keep
accurate records, which shall be audited by competent person(s) (2 prior Club
Officers or a Certified Public Accountant or equivalent) prior to the end of
each term of office. WARC financial records of the Treasurer shall be open
for inspection by any member at any business meeting. ·
The
Master At Arms keeps order in accordance with
Robert’s Rules of Order, and is responsible for the authenticity and
tabulation of all votes cast at all business meetings. The Master At Arms is
also responsible for ensuring that the Club has adequate facilities for its meetings
and activities. </LU> Board of Directors: The Board of
Directors shall be composed of the immediate Past President, the current
elected Club Officers, the Trustee and two members at large, hereafter called
Board Members. The Board of Directors have the responsibility for the overall
direction and guidance of the Club. This includes, but is not limited to: <LU> ·
Ensuring that the Club’s Constitution
and rules are followed. Overseeing how the Club’s funds are maintained and
disbursed. The Board of Directors is authorized to disburse up to the lessor
of $250.00 or 10% of the general fund on any one item without the concurrence
of the general membership. The Board of Directors may authorize the
Treasurer, to disperse diminimus reoccurring funds, not to exceed $25.00,
without the full Board of Directors concurrence for each transaction. Meetings A
meeting to conduct Club business should be held on a monthly basis, with a
minimum of ten (10) general business meetings to be held each year. Social
meetings may be held at times and places designated by the President. Special
meetings of the Club may be called by the President with the approval of at
least three (3) members of the Board of Directors. Board
of Directors meetings shall be called by the Club President. A special Board
of Directors meeting must be called if requested in writing to the Club
President by at least three (3) members of the Board of Directors. Committee
meetings will be called by their respective chairperson(s). Notice of all
Club meetings will be presented in the Club's publications and/or by other
suitable means. Committees Committees
will be established to help fulfill the objectives of the Club.
Chairperson(s) will be appointed by the President as needed, with approval by
majority vote of Board of Directors. Committee members are appointed by the
committees chairperson. Any Club member, regardless of type of membership,
may be a member of a committee. There shall be the following standing
committees: <LU> ·
Program
Committee - The Chairperson (Club Vice
President) will be responsible for all Club activities which are not related
to any other committee or chairperson. ·
Membership
Committee - Each club member is to be
considered as a member of the Membership Committee. The Chairperson shall be
responsible for recruiting new members, maintaining a current roster of all
members and for forwarding all dues to the Treasurer in a timely manner. ·
Field
Day Committee - The Chairperson will be
responsible for the organization and the conduct of WARC participation in
Field Day. The Field Day Committee will prepare a plan for the annual field
day events and will present the plan to the Board of Directors for approval
at a date no later than three (3) months before the date of the field day
events. ·
Emergency
Preparedness Committee - The Chairperson will be
responsible for coordinating all emergency preparedness committee activities.
The Chairperson will be responsible for keeping an inventory of all of the
Club's property, seeing that all of the Club's property stays in working condition.
·
Public
Affairs Committee - The Chairperson will be
responsible for promoting the Club's activities in the media, will be
responsible for publishing the house organ(s) and maintaining the WARC radio
net. ·
Education
Programs Committee - The Chairperson will be
responsible for ongoing educational and training efforts of the Club. ·
Radio
Station(s) Committee - The Club Radio Station
Trustee shall be the Chairperson. If there is more than one Radio Station
Trustee, the Chairperson will be selected from the Trustees by a majority
vote of the Board of Directors. The entire Board of Directors shall also be
members of the committee. In times of emergency or situations requiring an
immediate decision to keep the station(s) operating or to keep from violating
FCC Rules, the Trustee or the Trustee's appointee shall have full power to
take all necessary corrective actions. To keep from violating FCC rules any
member of the Radio Stations Committee or officer may, if the trustee can not
be contacted, shut down the station(s). All decisions, such as upgrading,
changing frequency, and all routine matters will require approval of majority
vote of the Club membership at a regular business meeting. </LU> Transition of officers and preparation for the next
calendar year.
·
Review the previous administrations
accomplishments. ·
Plan the upcoming years goals,
objectives and overall activities of the new administration. ·
The Treasurer pro-temp, with input
from the incumbent Board of Directors, is responsible for preparing an annual
operating budget for the upcoming administration’s term, based on all
available data and anticipated expenses, to support the activities and obligations
of the Club. ·
Determine and recommend the amount of
the dues that will be required to maintain a balanced budget for the upcoming
year. </LU> ·
At the first general Club meeting of
each year, the Club President will present a "State of the Club"
report to the general membership, stating at least the: <LU> ·
Current financial status of the Club.
·
The new administration’s general
plans for the upcoming year. ·
The proposed operating budget for the
year, and the membership dues required to maintain a balanced budget. </LU> The general membership will then
approve, reject, or modify the recommended budget and dues for the current
calendar year. Dues Dues
are established by the general membership, at the first general Club meeting
each year, and are payable in January of each year for the current calendar
year. Members not renewing by March 15 will be dropped from the active
membership role and are not eligible to vote on any Club issue. To continue
uninterrupted membership, renewals after March 15 must pay full dues for the
current year for reinstatement to active member status. New membership dues
shall be prorated into four quarters as follows:<LU> ·
1st Quarter - January through March -
100% of the applicable rate ·
2nd Quarter - April through June -
75% of the applicable rate ·
3rd Quarter - July through September
- 50% of the applicable rate ·
4th Quarter - October through
December 25% of the applicable rate </LU> The Board of
Directors may waive payment of dues, on an annual basis, for any member who
demonstrates a bona fide need. A copy of the Club
documents (Constitution and By Laws) will be presented, without charge, to
each new Club member. Upon request, a copy of the Club documents shall be
made available to any member. The Board of Directors may set a charge for
more than one copy per member per year. Quorums No binding action
may be taken by the general Club membership unless a quorum is present at an
established Club meeting. A quorum shall consist of ten percent (10%) of the
Club's total eligible voting membership, whose dues are currently paid. If
membership is less than fifty (50) members then a quorum will be ten (10)
members including two (2) elected officers. No binding action may be taken by
the Board of Directors unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of
fifty percent (50%) of the entire Board. Club Radio
Station(s) Radio station(s)
for the use of licensed amateur radio operators will be under the
jurisdiction of the Trustee(s) named on the station license. The operation of
the station(s) must be conducted in a manner satisfactory and acceptable to
the Trustee(s), the Board of Directors, and the club membership in accordance
with the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations, and the
Waterbury Amateur Radio Club. Insurance The Club will
maintain insurance coverage as follows: <LU> · Legal liability
coverage for the officers and the Club in an amount consistent with the risks
that may be experienced. · Other property
and casualty insurance coverage as is usual and appropriate for the security
of the Club's assets and well being of its members. </LU> Insurance
requirements will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Board of Directors. Assets No part of the
assets or income of the Club shall be the property of any member or members,
but such assets and income shall be devoted exclusively to the purposes
herein set forth. In the event of dissolution, the disposal of assets will be
conducted by the officers and Board of Directors of the Club. The residual
assets of the Waterbury Amateur Radio Club will be turned over to one or more
organizations, which are classified as exempt organizations, as described in
section 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or
corresponding sections of any prior or future law, or to the Federal, State
or Local government for exclusive public purpose. Rules of Order The rules contained
in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Club in
cases in which they are applicable. Priority and Order
of Precedence In any issue of
disparity between the Constitution and any other Club document, the Constitution
takes priority. Amendments Amendments to the
Constitution will be initiated and ratified as follows: All proposed
amendments must be submitted in writing and will be submitted to the
membership by the Secretary at a general business meeting. Proposed
amendments shall then be published in the next edition of the Club's organ
and voted on at the next regularly scheduled business meeting after the
publication. Should there be no house organ, at least ten (10) days before
voting on the amendments, printed copies of the proposed amendment(s) will be
made available and distributed to all voting members. The Constitution may be
amended by majority vote of two-thirds (67%) of the general voting membership
of the Club, who are either in attendance or have submitted their absentee
ballot to a member of the Board. Absentee ballots will be permitted for this
purpose. All amendments adopted by the Club will be published in the house
organ. Authority The purpose of this
document is to update and clarify points of possible confusion in previous
documents. Upon adoption of this Constitution all prior versions of the
Waterbury Amateur Radio Club Constitution, Amendments and By Laws thereto are
null and void. This Constitution is the primary document controlling the
Club's operation and business. This Constitution was approved and adopted on
the: 28th Day
of July, 2001. BY: WARC President
Steve Stone, N1AOB ATTEST: Conrad
Sheldon, K1EC |