DCARC Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY (KANSAS)
AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

[Enacted April 12, 2000]

PREAMBLE: We, the undersigned, desiring to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in amateur radio, by furthering better cooperation among its members, developing individual efficiency, and furthering our public service which amateur radio offers to the general community, do hereby constitute ourselves the Douglas County Amateur Radio Club, and do enact this Constitution as our governing law. No undertaking of this Club shall be for profit-, all activities shall be in accordance with Part 97 of the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission which govern Amateur Radio.

ARTICLE I - Definitions

All words importing one gender shall be construed to include all other genders as well.

ARTICLE II - Membership

Section 1. All persons interested in Amateur Radio shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Membership shall be obtained by paying the appropriate annual membership fee to the Club Treasurer, Types of membership and associated fees shall be printed at least annually in the Club Newsletter.

Section 3. Only members holding a valid Amateur Radio license shall be eligible to vote or hold office in the Club. Such persons shall be considered full members.

Section 4. Members not holding valid Amateur Radio licenses shall be considered Associate members. Associate members who obtain an Amateur Radio license shall be upgraded to full membership.

Section 5. All memberships shall be valid for one year.

ARTICLE III - Officers

Section 1. The officers of this Club shall be: a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer with duties as defined in Article IV, and other Managers as defined in Article V.

Section 2. The Officers of the Club shall constitute a Board of Directors and shall hold an open meeting to discuss items of business before the general membership in regular monthly meetings.

Section 3. The Officers of this Club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the membership neither before October nor later than November.

Section 4. The Club president shall appoint a temporary chairman of a nominating committee for early elections and for nominating candidates for vacancies occurring between annual elections. Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special ballot, at a regular meeting as soon as possible after resignation or withdrawal is announced.

ARTICLE IV - Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of this Club and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. He shall enforce due observance of this Constitution, decide a questions of order, sign all official documents that are adopted by the Club and perform all customary duties pertaining to the office of President.

Section 2. The Vice President shall assume all official duties of the President in the absence of the latter. He shall maintain a current inventory of all Club-owned property.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, carry on correspondence and read communications at each meeting of the Club. In addition, it shall be his duty to keep the Constitution of the Club and to have the same with him at every meeting of the Club. He shall cause all amendments, changes and additions to be noted thereon, and shall permit the same to be consulted by the members on request. At the expiration of his term, the Secretary shall turn over all papers, documents, equipment and other items belonging to the Club and pertaining to the office of Secretary to the successor in office.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid to the Club and shall keep an accurate accounting of all monies received and expended. No bills shall be paid without proper authorization by the Club. At the end of each year the Treasurer shall make available for inspection an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts for all accounts, both general and special, which the Club may from time to time incur. The Treasurer shall maintain an up-to-date list of the Club members, including those who become associate members. The Treasurer shall maintain an information file as required by the Club on all members. At the expiration of his term, the Treasurer shall turn over all papers, documents, equipment and other items belonging to the Club and pertaining to the office of Treasurer to the successor in office.

ARTICLE V - Managers

Section 1. The Emergency Coordinator shall give major attention and support to the community's needs for communications assistance in the event that such assistance is requested. He, or his designated assistant, shall conduct all Club affairs and liaison with the Douglas County Office of Emergency Preparedness. When the Club is participating in emergency activities, the Emergency Coordinator or his assistant will act as Net Control Station. The Emergency Coordinator will work closely with the Activities Manager for coordination of Club activities during emergencies.

Section 2. The Activities Manager shall have assistants as needed for various functions such as VHF activities, Club station activities, ARRL liaison, traffic handling (ARRL and MARS), member station capabilities, contest participation, and TVI.

Section 3. The Program Manager(s), working with other Club officers, shall be responsible for the overall coordination of the program portion of the Club meetings and must have the cooperation of all members.

Section 4. The Information Manager shall coordinate all publicity activities.

Section 5. The Newsletter Manager shall produce and mail a monthly bulletin and special mailings as required to all Club members.

Section 6. The Training Manager shall be responsible for organizing courses of instruction, including course structure, scheduling, ordering materials and coordinating manpower.

ARTICLE VI - Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of each calendar month, at such place as the President may order. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President and shall be called upon wntten request by five members of the Club. Written notices shall be sent to all members informing them of all meetings of the Club. Such notices shall be mailed so that in the ordinary course of events they will be delivered at least 24 hours before the meeting so called.

Section 2. At any meeting, one-fourth of the voting membership of the Club shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except for business pertaining to membership dues and Constitutional amendments as described in Article VII, section 3, and Article VIII, Section 1, respectively.

ARTICLE VII - Dues

Section 1. The Club shall levy on each member such dues as may be necessary for the business of the Club. These dues shall be printed at least annually in the Club Newsletter.

Section 2. Nonpayment of these dues shall cause a membership to be suspended and voting eligibility shall be revoked. Membership can be reinstated at any time by payment of these dues.

Section 3. The amount of dues to be levied on each class of membership shall be changed only with the approval of two-thirds of the full members present at the meeting at which a change is proposed.

Section 4. Regular yearly dues shall be payable at the beginning of the calendar year. Failure to pay such dues by March I shall result in suspension. Members and those joining before July I shall pay the full amount-, new members joining on or after July I shall pay half the amount.

ARTICLE VIII - Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the full members present at a regular or special meeting, provided that all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution at a specified meeting.

Section 2. Anyone with full membership in the Club may propose amendments to the Constitution at any regular or special meeting of the Club.

Section 3. This Constitution shall be reviewed and updated not less than once every five (5) years, either by approval of proposed amendments or by reapproval of the existing Constitution. The President shall nominate a committee to review the Constitution, or if such a committee cannot be formed due to lack of interest, the President shall submit his own revisions to the Club for approval.

ARTICLE IX - Rules of Order

Section 1. "Robert's Rules of Order," Newly Revised or its successors shall govern all proceedings of the Club except as otherwise provided for in this Constitution.

Section 2. All transactions of business shall be conducted openly, frankly and with as little friction and turmoil as possible. It is mandatory that the Club officers concern themselves with the membership as a whole and not allow any special interest group to affect the Club as a whole adversely. If it is determined by any Club member that the Club officers or any other member is not acting in the best interests of the general membership, the members should make this known in writing to the Club president or to any member of the Board. The Board is empowered to investigate all facts and present the general membership with its recommendations.

[Approved unanimously at the DCARC Meeting, April 12, 2000]