Club Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE STORY COUNTY, IOWA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, do hereby constitute ourselves the STORY COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB and do enact this constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to facilitate the exchange of information and general 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 general community.

ARTICLE I

Sec. 1 - All persons interested in amateur radio shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall be made by application upon such terms as the club shall by its By- Laws provide.

ARTICLE II

Sec. 1 - The officers of this club shall be: A President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Communications Manager, and a Repeater Manager.

Sec. 2 - The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the members present, provided there be a quorum, at the meeting in May.

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

Sec. 4 - Officers may be removed on motion by a three-fourths vote of the membership.

ARTICLE III

Sec. 1 - The President shall preside at all meetings of this club, and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. The President shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws; decide all questions of order; interpret this Constitution; sign all official documents that are adopted by the club, and none other, and perform the duties customary to the office of President.

Sec. 2 - The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in the absence of the latter, and act as social and program chairman.

Sec. 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, and notify each member of every meeting of the club, except when excused by action under By-Laws. At the expiration of the term of office, the outgoing Secretary shall turn over all items belonging to the club to the incoming Secretary.

Sec. 4 - The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid to the club in the amount of 1 (one) dollar or more, and shall keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended. The Treasurer shall pay no bills without proper authorization (by the club or its officers constituting a business committee). At the end of each term of office the Treasurer shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the expiration of the term of office, the outgoing Treasurer shall turn over all items belonging to the club to the incoming Treasurer.

Sec. 5 - The Communications Manager shall organize club member radio station activities, plan and recommend contests for operating benefit, and advance the general club interest and activity as may be approved by the club. The Communications Manager shall maintain close liaison with the ARRL Emergency Coordinator or SEC to further the fullest possible club participation in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. The Communications Manager shall encourage new stations in reporting activities to the club and to the elected Section Communications official of the A.R.R.L.; all these things to make the reputation of the club and amateur radio activities in the community as outstanding as possible. The Communications Manager may appoint traffic committees or assistants to aid in specific branches of activity.

Sec. 6 - The Repeater Manager shall organize club repeater activities including construction, maintenance, and repair of repeaters. The Repeater Manager shall maintain close coordination with the Communications Manager and the ARRL Emergency Coordinator or SEC to enable the fullest possible repeater use in emergency communications needs. The Communications Manager may appoint committees or assistants to aid in specific branches of activity. SCARC repeaters shall be open to all users.

ARTICLE IV

Sec. 1 - The By-Laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, one officer plus four additional members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business.

ARTICLE V

Sec. 1 - The STORY COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO 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 object as set forth in the preamble thereof.

ARTICLE VI

Sec. 1 - The club, through designated INTERFERENCE, PUBLIC RELATIONS and OPERATING COMMITTEES, will provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice, and absence of spurious radiations from club member- stations. The club shall also maintain a program to foster and guide public relations in those channels favorable to amateur work.

ARTICLE VII

Sec. 1 - This constitution or the By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the total membership providing all members have been given notice of the intent to amend the constitution and/or By-Laws at a specified meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting and may not be voted on until the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

Sec. 1 - Robert's Rules shall govern proceedings.

THE BY-LAWS OF THE STORY COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

BY-LAWS

Sec. 1 - Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the constitution and by-laws of the Story County Amateur Radio Club and have the same available at every regular and special meeting. The Secretary shall cause all amendments, changes and additions to be noted thereon and shall permit the same to be consulted by members upon request.

Sec. 2 - Membership. Applications for membership shall be submitted at a regular meeting in writing and each application must express a willingness of the applicant to abide by the constitution and by-laws and such rules as shall from time to time be promulgated by the club.

Only those persons whose dues and assessments are currently paid up are members and eligible to vote on club business, hold office or be a party to calling a special meeting. Those in arrears may pay up their back dues and assessments at the next meeting they attend without loss of their rights at that meeting. However, after three months, those in arrears are to be dropped from the membership roll.

Charter members of this club shall hold a lifetime Honorary Membership. Others, who because of their significant contributions to amateur radio, the club may elect to such Honorary Membership. Unless the Honorary Members qualify by virtue of the previous paragraph, they shall not appear on the voting membership roll, otherwise referred to in the Constitution and By-Laws as the membership.

Sec. 3 - Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each calendar month when practical at such place as the president shall order. Special meetings may be called by the president upon the written request of any five members of the club. Notices shall be sent to all members informing them of the special meetings and the business to be transacted. Such notices shall be so sent that they shall arrive at least twenty-four hours before the time therein set for the meeting. Only such business as is designated in the said notice shall be transacted at such special meetings.

Sec. 4 - Dues. A regular monthly assessment of $1.00 per meeting $10.00 (amended 1995) a year per member) is hereby assessed in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the Constitution for the purpose of providing funds for current expense. Dues may be suspended by a majority vote of the members. The yearly dues for a family (family as defined by ARRL membership rules) shall be $10.00 for the first member and $1.00 for each succeeding member.

Sec. 5 - Communications Manager. The Communications Manager and the local EC will cooperate and work together to insure club support of the ARES program. Such ARES activities shall have the support of the Club and the local ARES group shall be a separate section within this club with the power and rights to supervise its own unique activities and shall be able to use club funds in the pursuance of its training and actual emergency functions (such as FD). Such funds as are provided to ARES shall not exceed that fractional part of the total club funds at any one time; as the number of ARES members of the club to the total membership; except by a majority vote of the total membership further authorizations may be made.

Sec. 6 - Repeater fund. A fund shall be established separate from the general treasury for moneys to be used for repeater operation, construction, and maintenance. The treasurer shall maintain separate accounting for this fund and shall disburse such funds only for uses authorized in this constitution. The treasurer shall accept donations for this fund. A majority vote of the membership may authorize transfer of funds from the general treasury to the Repeater fund or from the Repeater fund to the general treasury.

Sec. 7 - Repeater Manager. The Repeater Manager, the Communications Manager and the local EC will cooperate and work together to insure that club repeater operations support the ARES program. Such funds as are in the Repeater Fund shall be used only for maintenance of existing repeaters. Repeater upgrades and new repeater installations shall be funded from the repeater fund only by a majority vote. The Repeater Manager may solicit and accept contributions to the repeater fund but such contributions shall be turned over to the treasurer as provided for in the constitution Article III section 4.

(As amended September 7, 1995)
(As amended May 5, 2005)
(As amended April 7, 2016)