Calhoun County Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
Constitution and By-Laws
Amended July 8th, 2017
I. A. Name: The name of this organization shall be the Calhoun County Amateur Radio Association (hereafter called CCARA.) It is a private, non-profit corporation. It was incorporated in accordance with the Code of Alabama 1940, Title 10, Section 124, et seq.
I. B. Powers: The Corporation shall have all the powers of such corporation as set out in the Code of Alabama, 1940, Title 10, Section 124, et seq.
II. Object: It shall be our purpose to encourage the exchange of information and cooperation among members; to promote radio knowledge and fraternalism, and to support the community in an appropriate fashion through assistance to FEMA District G and /or our local Emergency Management Agency. The CCARA shall also relay weather conditions in emergency situations, assist as requested, and shall assist the Red Cross, Salvation Army or any other non-profit organization in need of our communication assistance.
III. A. Membership: Membership shall be by application and acceptance by a majority of voting members present and shall be open to all persons who are interested in furthering the ideas and objectives of the Association, whether they are licensed radio amateurs or not, upon payment of membership dues as specified in the rules of the Association. Members will adhere to the code of conduct promulgated by the American Radio Relay League and Part 97 of the FCC Rules.
Membership in the CCARA shall have three classes:
Voting Members: A voting member will hold a valid amateur radio operator’s license issued by any country which holds a reciprocal license with the U.S. and shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the CCARA.
Voting members: A voting member will hold a valid amateur radio operator’s license issued by the FCC, or any country which holds a reciprocal license with the USA and shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the CCARA.
Associate Members: An Associate member is any person who does not hold a valid Amateur Radio License issued by any country which holds a reciprocal license with the U.S. An Associate Member shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of the CCARA except the right to vote in CCARA affairs and the right to hold an elective office in CCARA. A spouse and minor children of a voting member (and not holding valid Amateur Radio Licenses) will be made Associate Members upon request by the voting member. An Associate membership is without yearly dues.
Associate Members: An Associate member is any person who does not hold a valid Amateur Radio License issued by the FCC or any country which holds a reciprocal license with the USA.
Club Supporters: Club Supporter status may be recommended by the Association officers and must be confirmed by a majority of the voting members present at a regular meeting in recognition of a person or group for outstanding contributions to CCARA, Amateur Radio, or the community. This status is without privileges that are extended to a voting member of the CCARA and is without yearly dues.
Procedures for acceptance of New Members:
All new applicants for membership in CCARA shall be required to complete the prescribed membership application. New members will normally be sponsored by a current CCARA member. Applicants wishing to join CCARA who do not have a CCARA sponsor will provide character references on their application.
All new applicants for membership in CCARA shall be required to complete the prescribed membership application. This includes all FCC licensed applicants within an immediate family. New members will normally be sponsored by a current CCARA member. Applicants wishing to join CCARA who do not have a CCARA sponsor will provide character references on their application.
Application shall be made at a regular business meeting and will be voted on at the next business meeting. Applicants (and any guests) will not be present when the vote is taken. An applicant will be approved for membership if a majority of voting members present at the meeting vote in the affirmative. Upon payment of dues, the applicant will be granted membership.
The only exception to the above procedure is for a spouse and minor children of a voting member who will be made Associate Members upon request by the voting member.
The only exception to the above procedure is for a non-licensed spouse and minor children of a voting member who will be made Associate Members upon request by the voting member. Adult Associate Members will complete an informational application.
III. B. Dues: The Association, by a majority vote of voting members present at a regular meeting, may levy on the membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the operation of the organization. These may be levied provided that the entire membership shall have been notified in writing, in advance, that such a vote will be taken. Electronic mail is an acceptable form of written notification if available to the member.
Dues are paid according to Individual or Family plans.
Dues are paid according to Individual, Family, or Student plans.
For dues paying purposes, the individual is defined as one, FCC licensed, adult. They will pay regular dues.
For dues paying purposes, The Family plan is defined as a FCC licensed husband, wife and/or child(ren), up through 18 years of age, living in the same household. Primary will pay regular dues plus ½ regular dues for the licensed “family.”
For dues paying purposes, the Student is defined as a FCC licensed individual, under age 25 who is enrolled in higher education. They will pay ½ regular dues.
Dues shall be payable each year on January 1st and are delinquent after February 1st.
Dues shall be payable each year on January 1st and are delinquent after the March meeting.
Members with dues that remain unpaid after April 1st will be automatically dropped from the rolls. Members dropped for delinquent dues will be required thereafter to apply for membership to be reinstated, and will pay dues equal to full year.
Members with dues that remain unpaid after April 1st will be automatically dropped from the rolls, with the exception of newly accepted members. They will have a one month extension. Members dropped for unpaid dues may be reinstated during the current year, without vote, by paying dues equal to a full year. Members dropped for unpaid dues of one year or more will be required thereafter to apply for membership to be reinstated, and will pay dues equal to a full year.
Dues for new members joining after March 1st will be pro-rated 1/10 of the total amount for remaining months in the year, and depending on the Plan (Individual or Family).
Dues for new members joining after the March meeting will be pro-rated 1/10 of the total amount for the remaining months in the year, and depending on the Plan (Individual, Family or Student.)
IV. Grievance and Expulsion: Charges against any member must be presented in writing to the President (unless the charges are against the President, in which case the charges are presented to the Vice President.) The President (or Vice President if the situation warrants) will appoint a Grievance Committee, composed of five voting members, who will investigate and attempt to resolve the charges. The Committee may meet with and orally advise the member of the charges brought against him/her. If the committee cannot resolve the matter, it will be brought before the membership. If the member is found to be guilty of the charges, the membership may vote to censure or expel the member. Censure will be by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting. Expulsion will be by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at a regular meeting after notification in writing to all members that such a vote will be taken. The accused member will be advised in writing of the results of any action taken against him/her.
All voting under this article will be by secret ballot.
V. A. Meetings: Regular meetings shall be held on the second Saturday of the odd numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, and November) as of July 2007 unless changed by a vote of the membership. Business will be transacted at regular meetings by a majority vote of the paid-up voting members present.
V. B. Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the President as needed. Examples of special meetings are Field Day preparation meetings and the Christmas party.
V.B. Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called by the President as needed. Examples of special meetings are Field Day preparation meetings and the Christmas party, or the transaction of business that cannot be held until the next regular meeting. (Electronic mail is an acceptable form of written notification if available to the member.)
VI. Officers: Officers of the Association shall consist of President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer. Any voting member may hold these offices.
Nomination of officers, made from the floor by voting members, shall be accomplished during the regular March business meeting. The floor will be open for further nominations from the voting members prior to the election which shall be held at the regular meeting in May. Voting shall be by secret ballot. Officers shall assume the duties of office as of June 1st. The term of office shall be one year.
Resignation from an office may be submitted at any regular meeting.
Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by direct appointment by the President. A vacancy in the President’s office shall be filled by the Vice-President.
Article IV procedures shall be used to determine if any officer shall be removed from office.
VII. Duties of Officers: The President shall preside at meetings, if he is present; enforce observance of by-laws; decide on questions of order; form committees and appoint their chairpersons (in accordance with Article XI); sign all adopted official documents; and perform other customary duties pertaining to the office.
The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in the absence of a duly elected President, and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct and not already assigned to some other officer.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings; keep a roll of the membership; carry on all correspondence and maintain property records. At the expiration of his term, he shall turn over all appropriate documents to his successor.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings; keep a roll of the membership; provide a roster for club members, and carry on all correspondence.
The Treasurer shall receive and account for all monies paid to the CCARA, and issue checks in payment for authorized purchases. At the expiration of his term, he shall turn over all appropriate documents to his successor.
The Treasurer shall receive and account for all monies paid to the CCARA, and issue checks in payment for authorized purchases. He shall advise the Secretary of members’ payment status and maintain property records. At the expiration of his term, he shall turn over all appropriate documents to his successor.
VIII. Capital: The CCARA was formed for non-pecuniary and non-profit purposes exclusively and no shares of stock are to be issued and no dividends of any kind shall be paid.
IX. Duration: The duration of the CCARA shall be perpetual.
X. Disposition of Assets: In the event it becomes necessary or expedient to dispose of individual pieces of property or equipment which exceeds $25.00 in value as determined by the officers, such action shall be discussed and voted on at a regular meeting.
XI. Committees: Committees may be established by the President as may be deemed advisable. The President will appoint the Chairperson and determine the size of the committee. Committee members will be determined by the committee chairperson.
XII. Dissolution of Organization: In the event it becomes necessary, or is considered to be expedient, the CCARA may be dissolved and no longer exist as the Calhoun County Amateur Radio Association, Inc. Such dissolution may be accomplished by a two-thirds vote of those members present, provided all paid-up members have been given two weeks written notice that such a vote is contemplated. (Electronic mail is an acceptable form of written notification if available to the member) Upon dissolution, all assets of the CCARA, whether money or property, will be turned over to one or more non-profit organizations. The organization(s), to whom the assets will be given, will be determined at the time of the dissolution vote.
XIII. Amendments: The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and qualified to vote at any regular meeting provided all members have been given notice, in writing, that such a vote is contemplated. (Electronic mail is an acceptable form of written notification if available to the member.) Such written notice shall include a draft of the proposed Constitution and By-Laws.
XIV. Parliamentary Procedure: Parliamentary practice in all meetings of the CCARA shall be in accordance with the Roberts Rules of Order.
]
XV. Repeater Trustee and Other Appointed Positions: The President, in consultation with the other officers, will appoint, subject to membership approval, a Repeater Trustee, and other positions necessary to further the Association’s goals. Membership approval will require a majority vote of members present at a regular meeting. No advance notice of the appointment is required; the appointment and vote may be held at the same meeting. Appointed positions serve at the discretion of the President, but for a period not to exceed three years, at which time the appointment can be renewed under the terms of this Article.
These constitutions and by-laws, have here by been amended and approved by the CCARA organization, this date of July 8th, 2017
Click the button to the right to download a copy and print if you would like.