CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits
of the association of persons commonly interested in amateur radio, constitute
ourselves the Carbon Amateur Radio Club (CARC) and enact this Constitution as
our governing law. It shall be our purpose to further exchange of information
and 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 community
and to serve the public interest and safety.
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - All persons interested in amateur radio communication * shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall be by application and election upon such terms as the club shall by its By-Laws provide.
Section 2 - Any Member may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the current voting membership. Voting membership is defined in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE II - GOVERNING BODIES
Section 1 - The officers of this club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers of this club must hold a valid Amateur Radio license.
Section 2 - The officers of this club shall be elected for
a term of one year by a simple majority ballot of a quorum of voting members
present at the regular general club meeting in August. The term of office begins
on September 1.
Section 3 – The affairs of the CARC shall be governed by a Board of Directors
(BoD) consisting of seven (7) Directors, including the four officers plus three
At-large Directors. At-large directors are elected to three (3) year terms, with
one At-large Director elected each year. Any voting member, licensed or not, may
serve as an At-large Director.
Section 4 - Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special
elections at the first regular meeting following the withdrawal or resignation
or as soon as possible to comply with the Constitution and By-Laws. Officers or
Directors elected by such special elections shall hold the office for the
remainder of the vacated term.
Section 5 - Officers or Directors may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the
current voting membership. Voting membership is defined in the By-Laws.
Section 6 - Members must have attended at least two meetings or sponsored club
events in the previous “administrative year” (defined as August to July
inclusive) in order to hold an Officer, Director, Repeater Trustee, Associate
Repeater Trustee, or Emergency Coordinator position, or be elected to such a
position. Checking into four weekly club nets on the repeater can count as
attendance for one event.
ARTICLE
Section 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 in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, and sign all
official documents as authorized by the BoD. The President will turn over all
items belonging to the club to the new President upon leaving office.
Section 2 - The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in
the absence of the latter. The Vice-President will turn over all items belonging
to the club to the new Vice-President upon leaving office.
Section 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, keep a record of attendance at each meeting, keep a record
of the count of all votes, and read communications at each meeting. The
Secretary shall, upon leaving office, turn over all items belonging to the club
to his the new Secretary. The Secretary may delegate authorization for certain
correspondence as approved by the BoD. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to
keep the Constitution and By-Laws of the club and have them available at every
meeting. The Secretary shall note all amendments, changes, and additions to be
acted thereon and shall permit the same to be consulted by members upon request.
Section 4 – The Treasurer shall receive and receipt all monies paid to the club, keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended, and pay no bills without authorization of the BoD. The Treasurer will report at each regular meeting a statement of accounts. The Treasurer will turn over all items belonging to the club to the new Treasurer upon leaving office.
Section 5 – The BoD shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws, create and appoint all committees, call special elections when vacancies in the BoD occur, and make all proposals to the general membership for consideration. The BoD may delegate and authorize a quorum of full members present at any regular club meeting to carry out certain specific responsibilities of the BoD. Any At-large Director will turn over all items belonging to the club to the new At-large Director upon leaving office.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
The By-Laws shall provide for regular and special meetings.
At regular and special club meetings, a minimum of one-third of the membership
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At meetings of the
BoD, a minimum of two-thirds of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
ARTICLE V - DUES
Upon such terms as the club shall by its By-Laws provide, may levy upon the general membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary.
ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
Proposals for amendments to this Constitution and By-Laws
must be submitted in writing to the BoD. The BoD shall direct the Secretary to
notify all voting members, of the proposal, in writing by first class mail. The
written notification must take place at least 20 days before the vote is to be
taken and must include the exact proposed amendment to be considered. This
Constitution or the By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of total voting
members at the next regular club meeting following the 20-day notification
period.
ARTICLE
The club call sign trustee shall be an Extra class licensee
and governs all use of the club call, W3HA. Any use of the club call must be
authorized by the trustee. The trustee shall be appointed by the BoD. There is
no specified term for the club call sign trustee. The club call sign, W3HA,
shall not be changed and shall be renewed at intervals specified by the FCC.
ARTICLE VIIII - RULES
Robert's Rules of Order shall govern
proceedings.
ARTICLE X - REPEATERS
The club repeater(s) shall be maintained by two elected positions called the Repeater Trustee and Associate Repeater Trustee. Each shall serve for two year terms with the Repeater Trustee being elected in even years and the Associate Repeater Trustee Elected in odd years. The Repeater Trustee must have at least a Technician Class license and have sufficient skills to maintain the Club repeater(s) and its accessories, maintain relationships with County officials and frequency coordination bodies, and educate club members on proper usage and technical issues. The Associate Repeater Trustee must have at least a Technician License and be able to provide technical and logistical assistance to the Repeater Trustee. Both the Repeater Trustee and Associate Repeater Trustee will maintain repeater site keys and access information, and repeater documentation. One set of documentation will also be provided to the Board of Directors for safekeeping. The Repeater Trustees may recruit and provide site access to Club members as deemed necessary to support repeater maintenance.
ARTICLE XI - EMCOMM COORDINATOR
The club shall have an Emcomm Coordinator position to coordinate Club emergency communications activities and act as a liaison to various served agencies. This elected position shall have a one year term and shall have a requirement of a Technician or higher license class.
BY-
MEMBERSHIP -- Full Membership is open to licensed amateurs and includes all
club privileges as well as the rights to hold club office and vote. Associate
Membership is open to all other persons interested in Amateur Radio includes all
club privileges except the right to hold office and vote. Life Membership may be
granted by recommendation of the BoD and approval by a simple majority of a
quorum of voting members present at any regular club meeting. Life Members have
all club privileges, including the right to hold office and vote. Honorary
Membership may be granted by recommendation of the BoD and approval by a simple
majority of a quorum of voting members present at any regular club meeting.
Honorary Members have all club privileges, except the right to hold office and
vote. Life Membership and Honorary Membership are lifetime appointments unless
their removal is mandated by virtue of this Constitution and By-Laws. The voting
membership includes the set of all club members with voting privileges (all Full
Members plus all Life Members). Applications for any class of membership shall
be submitted at regular club meetings. Approval of membership shall be by a
simple majority of full members present at any regular club meeting. Membership
status and privileges in existence at the time of adoption of this Constitution
and By-Laws shall continue indefinitely.
DUES -- Yearly dues will be assessed by the BoD and approved by a simple
majority of a quorum of voting members present at any regular club meeting in
accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Non-payment of dues by
April 1 shall result in termination of membership. Life Members and Honorary
Members incur no dues.
ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- Three voting members shall be elected
to the position of At-large Director. The first At-large Director elected will
serve a one-year term. The second At-large Director elected will serve a
two-year term. The third At-large Director elected will serve a three-year term.
Thereafter, one At-large Director will be elected each year for a three-year
term. The BoD shall include the three At-large Directors, plus the President,
Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. At-large Directors are elected by a
simple majority of a quorum of voting members at the regular or special meeting
designated for such election by the BoD and the Election Committee.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- Decisions of the BoD shall be by
two-thirds vote of Directors present. The BoD shall meet at such time and place
as determined by a quorum of the BoD.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXCEPTIONS -- The BoD hereby authorizes the following
delegations of its authority to the voting members present at any regular or
special club meeting:
Payment of expenditures for any club activity with aggregate expenses of less
than $100 Payment of expenses for printing and mailing of the club newsletter
and special club mailings
Opening and closing of regular or special club meetings
Approval of officer's reports
SIGNING OF CHECKS -- Disbursement of club funds must be made by check. Two
signatures shall be required for disbursement of club funds by check. The
signature of the Treasurer and either the President or Vice-President is
required on all checks.
HOLDING OF MULTIPLE OFFICES -- No voting member may hold more than one of the
following positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
At-large Director.
OFFICIAL FRIENDS OF THE CLUB -- As a mechanism to promote goodwill and
communications to those outside of the CARC, certain organizations and
individuals can be declared to be "Official Friends" of the CARC.
Official Friends are entitled to complimentary copies of the CARC newsletter and
other broadcast communications. Official Friend designation may be granted by
recommendation of the BoD and approval by a simple majority of a quorum of
voting members present at any regular club meeting. Official Friends have no
club privileges, but are welcome to participate in any club activity or
communications. The ARRL EPA Section Manager and Atlantic Division Director are
automatically declared Official Friends of CARC upon their election to office.
Other Official Friends can include other ARRL officials, neighboring ARRL
affiliated clubs, and any other approved organization or individual.
COMMITTEES
VOTING -- All voting for elections of Officers, At-large Directors, any members (including Full Member, Associate Member, Life Member, and Honorary Member), and Official Friends, shall be by secret, written ballot. All ballot votes will be supervised and tallied by an Election Committee.