Remote Control Model Airplane Club
Bylaws
Revision June 2005
Article I – Purpose
Section I.
The purpose of
the club is to promote the art of safely flying remote controlled aircraft and
show fine community and school relationships.
Section II.
Our objectives
are to promote the hobby through shows, field displays, flight demonstrations
and educational seminars for school children and community service or
organizations.
Article II – Membership
Section I.
Membership is open to virtually all people,
provided they acquire AMA membership within 30 days of acceptance.
Section II.
Membership
classifications include:
A.
Senior Member: A person 62
years of age or older as of June 1 of the current year.
B.
Open Member: A person 19 years of age or older as of June 1 of the
current year.
C.
Junior Member: A person under the age of 19 as of June 1 of the
current year.
D.
Life Members: A person who
has been given a life membership by the St. Clair County Propbusters for
reasons members saw fit.
Section III.
New Members shall
be acknowledged at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Section IV.
Club membership
must be applied for, and proof of valid AMA membership is required before a
student can begin training; excluding intro-pilot program. Training of
non-members at the Propbusters’ field is not permitted. The instructor is
responsible for verification of the student’s AMA document and club status.
Student pilots may fly only on a “buddy box” until granted pilot status by the
club president or his designee.
Section V.
Any pilot flying
solo at the Propbusters’ field must be certified “Pilot” status by the club
President or his designee.
Article III – Dues, Initiation Fee and Assessments
Section I.
Dues shall be
assessed by the members present at the November meeting each year in regards to
how much it will cost to operate the club for the following year and set them
accordingly.
Section II.
The members
present at any regularly scheduled meeting shall assess Initiation fee.
Section III.
During October’s
meeting it will be decided whether assessments will be applicable by the
members present. A notification will be
made in November’s newsletter of possible assessments. The members present at the November meeting
will review assessments. If an
assessment is chosen then it will be applied to the dues of the following
year’s applicants.
Section IV.
Dues must be paid
in full by December 31. If a member’s
dues are not paid for by December 31, they will be charged a $10.00 late fee.
Section V.
Any person
joining the club after September 1 will have those dues credited to the
following year.
Section VI.
All members shall
be notified of any change in dues, initiation fee, or assessments. Notification by newsletter will be
sufficient.
Section VII.
All changes of
dues, initiation fee, and assessments require a 2/3 majority vote to pass.
Section VIII.
All members will
show proof of AMA membership (AMA card, confirmation via e-mail, etc.) before
receiving dues card for the next year.
The due date for showing proof of the card is January 31; otherwise
member could be subject to termination from the club.
Section IX.
AMA member guest
pilots are welcome up to three times per year per guest (excluding contest or
special events). Guest must be accompanied by a host Propbusters member, agree
to follow all club rules and Bylaws, host members are responsible for the
actions of their guest. Guests using the field more than three visits are expected
to join the club. Host members allowing the guest to use the field more than
three times may themselves be held responsible for guest dues and fees. This
may be waived in advance by a ¾ vote of the executive board on a case-by-case
basis.
Article IV – Grievance Procedure (Flight and Ground
Safety Rules)
Section I.
The grievance
procedure provides a mechanism to enforce existing safety rules by providing a
progressive disciplinary system when needed.
Although most complaints can be resolved informally, if a complaint is
serious or cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the
Safety Officer for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form to be filled
out and turned in to the President. At
least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form.
Section II.
The Safety Office
shall use their judgment in carrying out action on the following:
A.
A Grievance Form
will be filled out and turned in to the President. At least one witness is required.
B.
First Violation
i.
Viewpoints of
both complainants and accused will be considered.
ii.
Complainant’s
name will be disclosed.
iii.
A verbal
reprimand will be given to the accused by the Safety Officer, and this will be
recorded in the club files.
C.
Second Violation
i.
Complainant’s
name will be disclosed.
ii.
The accused has the
right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the President.
iii.
If the President
so decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be suspended for 30
days. Written notice of this shall be
issued and a copy published in the club newsletter.
D.
Third Violation
i.
The President
will notify the accused in writing and the club members via club newsletter
that the club will vote on the expulsion of the accused at the next meeting.
ii.
Said expulsion
will last for one-year minimum. (Longer
if deemed necessary by the club members).
iii.
A member may be
expelled from the club only upon a 2/3 majority vote of the members present at
the meeting.
iv.
Voting will be by
secret ballot at a regularly scheduled meeting.
v.
The expelled
member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the expulsion time
period.
E.
The three actions
will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period of
time.
F.
Any member
receiving a Grievance, who directs any retaliation action against the person
filing said Grievance, will be subject to immediate expulsion from the
club. This is to include threats,
intimidation, physical harm, intentional equipment damage, or any other action
deemed to be retaliatory by the members of the club.
Article V – Resignation, Termination, Disciplinary
Action, Expulsion and Reinstatement of Membership
Section I.
Any member in
good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written notice to the
club.
Section II.
If any member
ceases to have the qualifications necessary for membership in the AMA, his/her
membership in the club shall thereby terminate, subject to reinstatement upon
restoration eligibility.
Section III.
This section
provides for enforcement of the Safety Rules that are related to flying
activities. Any other unacceptable
behavior by an individual member or members, as defined by the Board of
Directors, become the responsibility of the Board of Directors as stated in
Article I, Duties, Section I of these Bylaws.
Any individual may be expelled from membership from the Club by a 2/3
majority vote of the Board of Directors if, in the Board of Directors’ determination,
such individual willfully commits any act or omission which is a violation of
any of the terms of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, or the Rules of
the AMA, or which is detrimental to the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation.
Section IV.
Any member who is
expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by 2/3 majority
vote of the Board of Directors.
Section V.
The Board of
Directors shall have the discretionary authority to provide for and to impose
disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which do not justify expulsion
from membership.
Article VI – Officers
Section I.
There shall be
four (4) officers that must be voted upon; the President, Vice-President,
Treasurer, and Secretary. Terms of
office of all elected officers shall be one (1) year. In case a vacancy shall occur, from any
cause, or at any time in the office of the Vice-President, Treasurer, or
Secretary, the President will fill such vacancy by appointment. The said appointee will hold the respective
office until he/she or a successor is duly elected and installed. Should a vacancy occur in the office of the
President, the Vice-President will assume the Presidency, and then the club
shall nominate a Vice-President and the members shall vote upon the nominee.
Article VII – Officers’ Duties
Section I.
President – The
President shall be the senior officer and preside at all club meetings and
functions. The President shall also
appoint a Safety Officer, Field Marshal and three (3) directors.
Section II.
Vice-President –
The Vice-President shall act in the capacity of an assistant to the President,
and shall assume the office of the President in the event of the permanent loss
of the President.
Section III.
Treasurer – The
Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all financial transactions of the
club and report the financial condition at all club meetings. At the end of the year the Treasurer shall
have the preceding year’s accounting books up to date and present them to the
new Treasurer at the January club meeting.
Section IV.
Secretary – The
Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all club meetings. He/She shall be responsible for all club
correspondence and club-sponsored contest records. He/She shall also serve as the club’s voting
ballot officer. He/She shall publish the
St. Clair County Propbusters’ roster at the end of each year and present it to
the new President at the January club meeting.
Section V.
Directors – The
Directors shall monitor the club’s fiscal activities to abide by the rules for
a non-profit organization.
Section VI.
Field Marshal –
The Field Marshal shall oversee AMA rules and regulations and Propbusters
regulations for field layout and enforcement.
Section VII.
Safety Officer –
The Safety Officer shall oversee AMA and Propbusters safety rules and
enforcement.
Article VIII – Voting
Section I.
Nominations of
the officers will take place at the November meeting each year. Election of the officers will be by the
members present at the December meeting.
The officers will take the office elected at the January meeting. Only Open, Senior, and Life members may
participate in voting and hold office.
Election of the four (4) officers requires a simple majority of all
votes cast by all members present.
Voting on other matters at a club meeting requires a 2/3 majority vote
of members present to pass. All matters
voted upon will remain in effect for at least three (3) months before they can
be changed or modified to provide a trial period.
Section II.
Motions brought
to the table at a regularly scheduled meeting that are passed shall remain in
effect for three (3) months (a trial period) before they can be rescinded. During the trial period a motion can be
rescinded only if 100% majority of the members present vote to rescind.
Article IX – Funds
Section I.
The club officers
may, at their discretion, spend up to twenty dollars ($20.00) per year for the
benefit of the club and must turn in to the Treasurer the receipt for
such. Any amount over the allowed
requires approval by three other elected officers, or if it is saw fit by the
officers, the approval of the members present at the next regularly scheduled
meeting.
Article X – Recalling Elected Officers
Section I.
It shall take
three (3) members in good standing and with just cause to ask for a recall of
any previously elected officer of this club.
The three (3) members requesting such must present their motion for
recall in writing, signed by each member, to the club members at the next
regularly scheduled meeting. If the
motion of recall is accepted by the members present at that meeting, then the
Secretary shall notify membership by publishing it in the monthly newsletter
the month before the election for recall will be held. It shall take 2/3 majority vote of the
members present to recall a previous officer of this club.
Article XI – Dissolution of the Club
Section I.
In the event of
club disbandment, all properties and assets will be liquidated and donated to a
non-profit organization as voted on by the members present at the last meeting
held by the St. Clair County Propbusters.
Article XII – Bylaw Amendments
Section I.
Amendments to
these Bylaws may be made by the approval of a 2/3 majority vote of the members
present at a general meeting if given notice.
Notice of such shall be sufficient if published in the monthly
newsletter.