Download Bylaws

(Duly Constituted January 4, 1984)

(Revised March 3, 2000)

The FIRST WEEDWACKER AERO SQUADRON has been formed to foster a public appreciation of Radio Controlled Model Aircraft as an avocation, and further, to promote, develop and encourage the design, construction and flying of Radio Controlled Model Aircraft. A primary objective of the Club is to foster an interest in model aviation among young persons. The Club is a non-profit organization, chartered under the auspices of the Academy of Model Aeronautics as AMA Chartered Club # 1651. All dues and other moneys received will be used to implement the activities of the Club.

1. Officers

The Board of Directors of the Club shall consist of the current officers and the officers from the immediate past year. The officers are the President, the Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. The President is the Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the overall direction and planning of the activities of the Club, review the qualifications of applicants for membership and act on acceptance of new members. All officers shall be at least 21 years of age.

B. Duties

(1) The Board of Directors meets prior to the regular meeting or at special meetings, to prepare routine and special matters for Club meetings.

(2) The President shall preside over all Club meetings and conduct them in a reasonable parliamentary manner. It shall be his responsibility to check all financial and other Club records to assure their propriety. The President is authorized to appoint personnel to special tasks such as Field Marshal and to committees, such as Newsletter Editor, entertainment, refreshments, etc., subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, and acceptance by the appointed personnel.

(3) The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in his absence. The Vice-President shall maintain the log of applicants for membership. The Vice-President shall guide and assist in all Club activities and report to the President and membership as requested.

(4) The Treasurer shall collect all moneys and keep a record of income and expenditures. The Treasurer shall report at each Club meeting on moneys received, spent, and current balance. The Treasurer shall maintain a bank checking account in the Club's name, process bank signature cards for all Club officers and assure that two Club Officers (one, usually the Treasurer) sign all Club checks. The Treasurer will arrange for the transfer of the account to the succeeding Treasurer. An auditing committee will audit the books at least once a year.

(5) The Secretary shall record the minutes of the Club meetings and submit them to the membership for approval at subsequent meetings. The Secretary shall be the custodian for all Club records, other than those of the treasurer. The Secretary shall conduct normal correspondence for the Club, and shall process the Club chartering paperwork with the Academy of Model Aeronautics. The Secretary is responsible for the maintenance of the Club roster, and for notifying the membership in the event of special meetings.

C. Election procedures and Officer Qualification

(1) Officers shall be elected at the November meeting and shall be installed in office at the December meeting, to serve one year. An officer may serve more than one year consecutively in one office.

(2) A candidate for President must be a member in good standing for at least one year. Candidates for the other offices must have been a member in good standing for a minimum of six months prior to the election.

(3) The Board of Directors shall present two nominees for each office to the membership.

(4) Nominations may be made from the floor subject to the foregoing criteria and to acceptance by the nominee. A member may be nominated for only one office; (a single secret ballot will be cast for all offices simultaneously.)

(5) The President shall appoint election judges who will distribute, collect and count ballots, and advise the President of the results; the President will announce the newly elected officers to the membership (without providing a breakdown of the voting).

1. General

All Club members must hold a current AMA membership.

2. Fees

(1) Club dues are $3.00 per month or $36.00 per year. Dues are discounted by $6.00 if paid before the January meeting. Dues for additional household family members will be one half the regular Club dues.

(2) New members join with the following conditions:

a. Pay one initiation fee of $20.00 (includes immediate family).

b. Pay dues prorated at $3.00 per month including the month they join.

(3) In the event the Club is dissolved, the money in the treasury will be paid back to the then current members after all outstanding financial obligations of the Club have been satisfied.

(4) All members shall be responsible for payment of all fees or special assessments approved by a "vote of the membership", as defined in GENERAL CLUB OPERATING PROCEDURES sub-paragraph A (3).

(5) Club officers are exempt from dues the year of their term.

C. Responsibilities

(1) The Club Liability Insurance Policy will be made available for review by any interested party providing reasonable notice of such interest to a Club Officer.

(2) All Club members shall be responsible for any personal injury or property damage caused by themselves, or by their aircraft, and shall assume said responsibility before resumption of flying from the Club field (i.e. a member is automatically grounded until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of the Board; Club membership may be canceled by the Board of Directors if injury/damage issues are not resolved within 60 days).

(3) Any member who deliberately violates Club By-laws, Field Rules, or behaves in an un-sportsmanlike manner is liable for expulsion from the Club or suspension, subject to a majority decision of the Board of Directors. Such disciplinary measures may be initiated by a signed complaint of any member, by an Officer, or by a Field Marshal.

D. Application for Membership

(1) An applicant for Club membership shall possess a current AMA membership and be acceptable to the Board of Directors.

(2) Pending approval by the Board, an applicant for membership may fly as a guest of the Club provided he possesses a current AMA membership and is supervised by a senior (21 or over) Club member. He must conform to the Club and AMA safety rules.

E. Reinstatement

1. The Board of Directors may reinstate former members, reapplying for membership, upon presentation of their current AMA membership card and upon pro-rata payment of unpaid dues and any unpaid special assessments for the current year. The initiation fee for returning former members will be waived.

F. Guests

1. Guests may fly at the Club field up to three times a year provided they possess current AMA license, comply with Club and AMA safety rules, and are monitored by a senior Club member.

A. Revisions

(1) Additions to or revisions of the By-laws proposed by the Board of Directors to the membership are subject to unanimous approval of the Board prior to submission to the members. However, a change to the By-laws proposed in the form of a motion at a Club meeting by any member is not subject to unanimous approval of the Board of Directors. Any change will be presented one month and voted on the next month.

(2) Any proposal or motion to amend the By-laws will be subject to a vote by the membership. A minimum of 10% of the total Club membership must be present for a vote to amend the By-laws. For the proposal to be accepted, the affirmative votes must be a minimum of 70% of the number of members present. (The 10% and 70% criteria will be rounded off to the nearest whole number, i.e., 70% of 36=25.2 is rounded off to 25). Board members will be considered in the "membership" for purposes of By-laws revision votes.

(3) Issues other than amendments to the By-laws and monetary assessments will be decided by a majority vote of the members at a regular Club meeting.

B. Expenses.

(1) Club operating expenses shall be paid from the treasury fund by checks signed by two officers, by special assigned fees or special assessment funds voted by the membership.

(2) Upon a majority vote of the Board, the Board of Directors is authorized to spend up to $200.00 in a single expenditure to expedite paying Club expenses, not to exceed $1000 in the aggregate for any calendar year. Additional expenditures may be authorized by a vote of the members as defined in GENERAL CLUB OPERATING PROCEDURES sub-paragraph A (3).

C. Meetings

Club meetings shall be conducted on the first Wednesday of each month at a site and time designated by the Board of Directors. The Club meeting schedule and venue will be posted in the Club newsletter. Minutes of the prior months Club meeting will be published in the Club newsletter.

D. Field Rules

Field Rules are established and maintained by the membership.

E. Field Marshal's Authority

1. Field Marshals are responsible for ensuring the safe, sportsmanlike conduct of flying activities at the field.
2. Field Marshals have authority to enforce compliance with field rules by suspending daily flying privileges of any member where, in the sole judgement of the Field Marshal, the individual is in violation of the Club By-laws, Field Rules, or behaves in an un-sportsmanlike manner.
3. Depending upon weather conditions or other pertinent circumstances, Field Marshals may modify field rules, or suspend all flying activity, for any given flying session to ensure the safety of persons and property.
4. A Field Marshal's ruling may not be overruled by any member, individual Board member or other Field Marshal.
5. A Field Marshal's ruling remains in effect until rescinded by the issuing Field Marshal or until 9:00AM the following day.

Revised:

11/6/1991

04/6/1994

03/01/2000