ROCHESTER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC.
BYLAWS
The Bylaws govern the operation of the Rochester Amateur Club. The current
bylaws are provided below. The official, current copy of the bylaws is
maintained by the RARC Secretary.
For a fast scroll to a specific Article, click on one of the following
links.
Article
1.0 Registered Office |
The registered office of the corporation required by the Minnesota Nonprofit
Corporation Act to be maintained in the State of Minnesota is as provided
and designated in the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors
of the corporation may, from time to time, change the location of the registered
office pursuant to Section 317.19 of Minnesota Statutes. On or before the
day that such change is to become effective, a certification of such change
and of the location and post office address of the new registered office
shall be filed with the Secretary of State of Minnesota as provided by
law.
Article
2.0 Corporate Seal |
The corporation shall have no seal.
Section 3.1 General
Membership is open to all licensed amateurs and to all other persons
interested in supporting the purposes and activities of the club.
Section 3.2 Classes of Members
There shall be two classes of membership:
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Full Membership. This class of membership is open to all licensed radio
amateurs and those actively engaged in a class leading to an amateur radio
license.
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Associate Membership. This class of membership is open to all other persons
who are interested in supporting and promoting the purposes and activities
of the club.
Section 3.3 Applications for Membership and Renewals
Applications for membership shall be submitted to the secretary of the
club and referred to the Board of Directors for acceptance or rejection.
No application for membership shall be rejected except for cause which
would be adequate to terminate membership as set forth below. Payment of
annual dues shall automatically renew the membership of a member in good
standing.
Section 3.4 Dues
The club dues structure shall be posted on the
club internet web site .
The Board of Directors may make a motion to change
the dues at a monthly club meeting. The members at the subsequent
monthly meeting shall vote on the motion with a simple majority causing
the motion to pass.
Section 3.5 Termination of Membership
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Any member of the club may resign his or her membership
at any time.
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No member shall be expelled from membership except for conduct unbecoming
a member or other serious cause. Conduct unbecoming a member is defined
as follows:
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Any act which tends to bring public disgrace or disrepute upon the club.
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Malicious or grossly negligent damaging or destruction of club property
or premises.
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Misappropriation of club funds or property.
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Operation of a radio transmitter in such a manner as to bring disfavor
or condemnation on amateur radio or upon this club or to bring legal sanction
on the member involved.
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Actions contrary to the policies or purposes of the club which are continued
after the warning.
Whenever a charge is made against a member which could result in his or
her expulsion from membership, such charge shall be investigated by the
Board of Directors. If the Board determines to proceed with the matter,
the member involved shall be notified and given the opportunity to appear
before the Board or, at the member's election, to respond in writing and
answer or defend against such charge. After the member has been given reasonable
opportunity to appear and defend, the Board of Directors shall act upon
the charge and by a majority vote of all members of the Board either reject
the charge, continue membership upon state conditions, or expel the member
charged.
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The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, continue in effect the membership
of a member who has failed to pay his or her current dues.
Article
4.0 Meetings of Members |
Section 4.1 Place
Meetings of members shall be held at such place within Olmsted County,
Minnesota, as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Regular Meetings
The regular meetings of the members shall be held monthly at a place
and time designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.3 Annual Meeting
The regular meeting of the members held during the month of December
of each year shall also be the Annual Meeting. Such meetings shall be for
the election of directors and officers and for the transaction of any other
business. The notice of such Annual Meeting shall include any matters concerning
which special notice is required. When an Annual Meeting has not been so
held, or when officers and directors have not been elected thereat, they
may be elected at a special meetings held for that purpose. Upon demand
of any member, the president, the vice-president or secretary shall call
such special meeting.
Section 4.4 Special Meetings
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Special meetings may be called for any purpose at any time in the manner
provided in clause (b) by the president, the Board of Directors, or any
ten (10) or more members.
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The person or persons entitled to call a special meeting may make a written
request to the president, vice- president, or secretary to call the meeting.
Such officer shall give notice of the meetings to be held between ten and
sixty days after receiving the request. If the officer fails to give notice
of the meetings within seven days from the day on which the request was
made, the person or persons who requested the meeting may fix the time
and place of the meeting, and give notice in the manner provided by these
bylaws.
Section 4.5 Notice
Notice of meetings and elections as provided in Article 5.0 hereof shall
be given to all members of the club.
Section 4.6 Quorum
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Subject to clause (c) of this Section, a quorum is necessary for the transaction
of business at a meeting. A quorum for meetings of members shall be the
presence of ten percent of the total voting membership.
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When a quorum is not present, any meeting may be adjourned from time to
time for that reason.
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If a quorum is present at the beginning of a meeting, the continued presence
of such quorum at the time of each vote thereat shall be presumed unless
the presence of a quorum is challenged before the vote and the minutes
reflect such challenge and the absence of a quorum.
Section 4.7 Voting
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Each member of the club entitled to vote shall have one vote.
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There shall be no cumulative voting, no voting by proxy, no voting by mail,
and no voting by absentee ballot.
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Members may vote by voice, ballot or by show of hands.
Section 4.8 Adjournment
When any meeting of the members is adjourned to another time or place,
notice of the adjournment need not be given other than by announcement
at the meeting at which adjournment is taken.
Section 4.9 Rules For Conduct Of Meetings
To the extent applicable and not inconsistent with the articles of incorporation
and these bylaws, the rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised
shall govern the conduct of meetings of members.
As used in these bylaws, "notice" means a written notification of a
meeting:
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Stating the time, place, and, in the case of a special meeting, purpose.
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Properly addressed according to the last available corporate records.
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Sent or delivered by a duly authorized person to each director or member
entitled to vote at the meeting.
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Delivered or mailed not less than five nor more than 30 days before the
meeting, excluding the day of the meeting.
Article
6.0 Board Of Directors |
Section 6.1 Duties
The business of the club shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Directors shall discharge their duties in good faith, and with the diligence
and care which an ordinarily prudent person
in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances. The
Board shall have the power and authority to do all things necessary to
implement and achieve the purposes and goals of the club. These duties
include, but are not limited to:
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Performing all functions allotted to it by other provisions of these bylaws
or by the members of this club.
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Performing all functions given it by law and not herein allotted to the
members of officers.
Section 6.2 Number, Qualifications, Selection and Terms
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The Board of Directors shall consist of five persons who shall each be
full members of the corporation. The five persons who are elected by the
members as president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer,
and trustee (of the club station license) shall also, by their election
as such officers, be elected as directors.
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Each director, shall be elected per Section 7.3 Term
of Office.
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The remaining members of the Board, though less than a quorum, shall fill
any vacancy occurring on the Board. A person so selected shall hold office
for the balance of the term of the person replaced and until his or her
successor is selected and qualified.
Section 6.3 Removal
A majority of members of the corporation may, with or without cause,
remove a director or the entire Board of Directors from office. Neither
a director nor the entire Board of Directors shall be so removed unless
the notice of the annual or special meeting at which removal is to be considered
states such purpose. When a director or the Board of Directors has been
so removed, new directors may be elected by the members at the same meeting.
Section 6.4 Compensation
Directors shall not be compensated for their services as such.
Section 6.5 Regular Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet as often as it deems necessary but
at least once during each term of office. The specific dates of regular
meetings shall be established by the Board in advance.
Section 6.6 Special Meetings
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Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called for any purpose
at any time in the manner provided in the following paragraph (b) by the
president or by any two members of the Board.
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The persons entitled to call a special meeting may make a written request
to the president, vice-president or secretary, to call the meeting. Such
officer shall give notice of the meeting to be held between 10 and 30 days
after receiving the request. If the officer fails to give notice of the
meeting within 7 days from the day on which the request was made, the persons
who requested the meeting may fix the time and place of the meeting and
give notice in the manner provided by these bylaws.
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All special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held within Olmsted
County, Minnesota.
Section 6.7 Notice
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Notice of all regular and special meetings shall be given as provided in
Article 5.0 hereof except notice of regular directors' meetings may be
given more than 30 days before a meeting.
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A director may make written waiver of notice before, at or after a meeting.
The waiver shall be filed with the person who has been designated to act
as secretary of the meeting who shall enter it upon the records of the
meeting. Appearance at a meeting is deemed a waiver unless it is solely
for the purpose of asserting the illegality of the meeting. Presence at
a meeting where the date, time and place of another meeting is set, is
also deemed a waiver of notice of such other meeting unless, again, such
presence is solely for the purpose of asserting the illegality of the other
meeting.
Section 6.8 Quorum
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A quorum of the Board of Directors is the presence of a majority of its
members. Subject to the following paragraph (c), a quorum is necessary
for the transaction of business at a meeting.
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When a quorum is not present, any meeting may be adjourned from time to
time for that reason.
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If a quorum is present at the beginning of a meeting, the continued presence
of such quorum at the time of each vote thereat shall be presumed unless
the presence of a quorum is challenged before the vote and the minutes
reflect such challenge and the absence of a quorum.
Section 6.9 Voting
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Members of the Board of Directors must be present in person to vote. No
director may vote by proxy, by "absentee ballot," or by mail.
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Each director shall have one vote.
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An act of the majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum
is present is the act of the Board.
Section 6.10 Action Without A Meeting
Any action which could be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors
may be taken without a meeting when authorized in writing and signed by
all of the directors.
Section 7.1 General
The officers of the members and Board of Directors shall be a president,
one vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, and
the trustee of the club station license.
Section 7.2 Qualifications
All officers must be natural persons of legal age. No person may hold
more than one office at the same time.
Section 7.3 Term Of Office
Each officer, except the initial officers and
the trustee of the club station license, shall be elected at the annual
meeting of the members to serve until the end of the next annual meeting
of members following his or her election or until his or her successor
is duly elected and qualified. The trustee of the club station license
shall be elected, but shall retain that position without annual re-election
until he or she resigns or is removed from office. In the event of any
vacancy, the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified successor to
fill the vacant office until the next annual meeting of members.
Section 7.4 Removal
Any officer may be removed and his or her successor elected in the same
manner as provided in Article 6.0, Section 6.3.
Section 7.5 Duties Of The President
The president shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the
Board of Directors and conduct the same according to the rules adopted.
He shall enforce due observance of the articles of incorporation and these
bylaws, decide all questions of order, sign all documents authorized by
the members of the Board of Directors, appoint all committees authorized
by the members or the Board of Directors, and perform all other customary
duties pertaining to the office of president.
Section 7.6 Duties Of The Vice-President
The vice-president shall assume all of the duties and preside in the
absence of the president, succeed to his/her office in case of the president's
death, removal, resignation or disability; and shall assist the president,
and perform such duties as the president may assign to him/her.
Section 7.7 Duties Of The Secretary
The secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the members
of the corporation and its Board of Directors, keep a role of all members,
submit applications for membership, carry on all correspondence, notify
all officers and of their appointments, give due notice of all meetings
to be held by the members and Board of Directors, have custody of all books
and records belonging to the corporation, keep the articles of incorporation
and the bylaws, and upon the expiration of his term deliver all club records
to the succeeding secretary.
Section 7.8 Duties Of The Treasurer
The treasurer shall oversee collection of all dues and assessments levied
against members of the club. He shall also receive and take charge of all
funds belonging to the corporation; pay all bills authorized by the club
membership, the Board of Directors, or the president; keep full and accurate
records concerning all financial affairs of the corporation and report
thereon regularly in writing; and shall have custody of all evidences of
property belonging to the corporation. The treasurer shall submit an oral
report of receipts and disbursements of the previous month at each regular
meeting of the members and an annual written report at the first
scheduled club meeting of the new fiscal year. At the expiration
of his or her term, the treasurer shall deliver all of the club's
financial records to the succeeding treasurer. At the beginning of each
elected term, the records shall be audited by a committee appointed
by the president.
Article
8.0 Nominating Committee |
By the first day of October each year, the president shall appoint a
nominating committee of three full members. It shall be the duty of this
committee to nominate candidates for election to the various officer-director
positions at the next annual meeting of members. The Nominating Committee
shall solicit suggestions for nominations from the members and shall report
its nominations at the regular meeting of members in the following November.
More than one candidate may be nominated for each position to be filled.
Article
9.0 Technical Committee |
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The Rochester Amateur Radio Club Technical Committee shall be a standing
committee responsible for the technical aspects of selecting, designing,
building and maintaining equipment, and formulating operating procedures
for equipment owned and/or operated by the club.
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The following special rules shall govern the membership and operation of
the technical committee:
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Technical committee members shall be appointed at the regular meeting of
the members in January of each year by the president subject to the approval
of the members. Committee members may resign at any time by notifying the
president and may be removed by the president with prior approval of the
club members.
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The committee chairperson shall be the president of the club
or his or her designee. The chairperson shall be a non-voting
member of the committee except in the case of tie votes, when the chairperson
may cast the deciding vote.
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The committee shall consist of a minimum of four and a maximum of eight
persons in addition to the chairperson.
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Routine maintenance expenses may be incurred by the committee without prior
approval of the members of the club, the officers of the club, or the Board
of Directors. Major expenses and additional equipment purchases must first
be approved by the members of the club.
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The committee shall document all equipment additions and changes and report
its activities at the regular club meetings.
Article
10.0 Control Operator Committee |
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The Control Operator Committee shall be a standing committee responsible
for assuring that proper and courteous procedures are followed by users
of repeaters owned and/or operated by the Rochester Amateur Radio Club,
Inc.
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The following special rules shall govern the membership and operation of
the Control Operator Committee:
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Control operator committee members shall be appointed at the regular meeting
of the members in January of each year by the president subject to the
approval of the repeater trustees. Committee members may resign at any
time by notifying the president and may be removed by the president with
prior approval of the club repeater trustees.
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The committee shall establish operational guidelines which comply with
FCC rules and regulations for repeater operation and monitoring. The guidelines
must be presented and approved by the repeater trustees on a yearly basis.
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The committee shall establish and maintain control operators' schedules
for monitoring the repeaters. The schedule shall include primary and secondary
operators.
Article
11.0 Amendments To Bylaws |
The Board of Directors may propose the amendment of these bylaws by
resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and directing that it be
submitted for adoption at a meeting of members. In addition, any five members
may set forth a proposed amendment by petition which shall be filed with
the secretary of the club. Notice of the meeting of the members, stating
the purpose and including the proposed amendment or amendments, shall be
given to each member entitled to vote on the proposed amendments, and to
each officer-director. If such notice has been given, the proposed amendment
or amendments may be adopted at any meeting of members. Adoption of any
such amendment shall require a majority vote of members voting.
The fiscal year of the corporation shall commence on the first day of
every January.
Date |
Revisions |
January 26, 1999 |
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Removed references to specific day and time of monthly meeting.
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Update of membership dues.
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November 13,
2001 |
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Update of membership dues section.
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Changed due date for treasurer's annual written report.
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Changed number of members needed to call special
meeting.
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Reduced documents secretary must carry to all meetings.
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Removed gender bias in several sections.
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Eliminated annual re-election requirement for the
trustee of the club station license.
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