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ARCA Constitution

Preamble

We, the undersigned, in order to form a club to further the enjoyment and benefits of Amateur Radio, constitute ourselves the Amateur Radio Club of Alameda, and establish this constitution as our governing law. It is our purpose to enjoy and promote Amateur Radio, inspire interest in radio topics, and share knowledge and experience.

Motto

“It’s just a hobby.”

Article I: Membership

Section A: Anyone shall be eligible for membership.

Section B: The bylaws may require dues of members.

Section C: Anyone who has applied for membership and satisfied the dues requirement is a full member in good standing. The bylaws may provide for other forms of membership.

Section D: Members may be expelled for serious misconduct.

Article II: Procedures

Section A: Each full member in good standing has one vote at any club business meeting or official club election. The voting rights of any other form of membership shall be specified in the bylaws.

Section B: Any voting member may present any motion at the monthly business meeting, and any other voting member may second such a motion. Any seconded motion must be voted upon by the club.

Section C: A majority vote of the entire voting membership shall suffice to carry any motion except as specified elsewhere in the articles of this constitution.

Section D: If the presiding officer deems a motion to be of minor importance or uncontroversial, he or she may propose an immediate vote. If no member objects, then an immediate vote may be taken. One third of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for such a vote, and a simple majority of voting members present shall carry the motion.

Section E: At meetings of the Governing Board, each officer on the board shall have one vote.

Section F: A simple majority of all the members of the Governing Board shall be required to pass any motion at a board meeting.

Section G: Any officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the entire voting membership.

Article III: Officers

Section A: The officers of the Governing Board shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The bylaws may combine the Secretary and Treasurer into a single office.

Section B: All officers of the Governing Board shall be elected by the club membership for a term of no more than one year, but may be re-elected any number of times.

Article IV: Duties of Officers

Section A: The President shall preside at meetings, sign official club documents, and represent the club at formal occasions. He or she shall also organize the club net. This last duty may be delegated.

Section B: The Vice-President shall stand in for the president when the president is unavailable, organize the program for each regular club meeting, and ensure that the meeting place is properly prepared before the start of each regular club meeting. Any of these duties may be delegated.

Section C: The Secretary shall stand in for the president when the president and vice-president are both unavailable, keep club records, and process new member applications. He or she must also arrange a place and time for regular meetings. This last duty may be delegated.

Section D: The Treasurer shall stand in for the president when the president, vice-president, and secretary are all unavailable, collect dues, and supervise all club finances.

Article V: Meetings

Section A: The bylaws shall provide for monthly club meetings intended to be of interest to the entire membership.

Section B: The bylaws shall provide for a weekly net intended to be of interest to the entire membership.

Section C: Meetings of the Governing Board shall be announced to the members beforehand, and any member may observe any meeting of the Governing Board.

Article VI: Dues

Section A: The bylaws may provide for the levying of dues.

Section B: The dues of any member may be waived.

Section C: Interest Groups, as defined in Article VII, having official standing within the club may levy additional dues and may exclude from their own activities members who have not paid such dues.

Article VII: Interest Groups

Section A: Interest groups may form within the club in accordance with the bylaws. They should be mostly autonomous, but their members must be members of the club.

Section B: Members may not be excluded from joining an Interest Group unless they refuse to pay the group dues.

Section C: To have official status as a club Interest Group, a group must be coordinated by an Interest Group Coordinator appointed by the Governing Board. The governing board shall respect the wishes of the members of the Interest Group when appointing the Interest Group Coordinator.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section A: The preamble and articles of this constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds majority vote of the full voting membership.

Section B: The bylaws may be amended only by a majority vote of the full voting membership.
Bylaws

I. Membership

A. All members whose dues have been paid or waived shall be full members in good standing.

B. Members may be expelled for serious misconduct only by a majority vote of the voting membership.

C. Honorary membership may be conferred on anyone by a majority vote of the full voting membership. Honorary membership does not expire. Honorary members have all privileges of membership except for a vote. Honorary members may pay dues or have them waived annually in order to gain full membership privileges including a vote.

D. Associate membership shall be available to all applicants. It shall require no dues, and shall have all privileges of full membership except that it shall carry no voting privileges, and associate members may not hold office. Associate members may become full members at any time by paying full member dues as appropriate for a new member.

II. Procedures

A. At the request of any two members at any meeting, Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed for the remainder of that meeting. Otherwise, the rules of order may be informal.

B. Deceased members may not vote, regardless of the reputation of the channeling individual. Sixty meters shall not constitute an exception to this rule.

C. Annual elections for the officers of the Governing Board shall be held in January on or before the January meeting. Members may notify the club Secretary of their votes prior to that meeting.

D. The elected club officers shall take office immediately upon election.

III. Additional Officers

A. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer shall be combined into the single office of Secretary-Treasurer.

B. The following offices shall be appointed by the Governing Board:

1. Equipment Manager

2. Web Master

3. Interest Group Coordinators (one for each Interest Group)

4. Supreme Mugwump

C. Any club member, including members of the Governing Board, may be appointed to any number of the offices in Section III B. Any member may also be Interest Group Coordinator for any number of groups as long as he or she can fulfill all the required duties.

D. Members may not be appointed to these offices against their will.

IV. Additional Officer Duties

A. The Equipment Manager shall store and care for all club equipment. In particular, the Equipment Manager shall maintain a log of serial numbers, equipment location, and equipment on loan.

B. The Web Master shall maintain the club Web site and ensure its continuance.

C. Each Interest Group Coordinator shall bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the Interest Group under their coordination accomplishes their mission and that the group abides by the club constitution and bylaws.

D. The Supreme Mugwump shall see all, know all, and be all.

V. Meetings

A. Club meetings shall normally be held on the fourth Friday night of each month at 7:00 p.m.

B. Each monthly club meeting shall begin with a business meeting, and contain at least one presentation intended to be of interest to the general membership.

C. The Governing Board shall hold regular meetings at least once a month.

D. Governing Board meeting times and places shall be made known to the club membership in advance.

VI. Dues

A. Dues shall be $12 annually, due in January and prorated monthly for new members.

B. Any member of the Governing Board may choose to summarily waive the dues of a member if those dues seem to represent an undue burden.

C. Moneys from dues paid to the club (not an Interest Group) may not be used for the exclusive benefit of any Interest Group.

VII. Interest Groups

A. An Interest Group shall have official standing when an Interest Group Coordinator for that group has been appointed by the Governing Board.

B. An Interest Group may organize internally in any way its members feel best serves its goals.

C. If an Interest Group has a treasury, it must ensure that adequate records are kept, and the club treasurer must be given access to those records on request.

D. Interest Groups shall report to the club on upcoming and completed events.

VIII. Nets

A. Club nets shall be open to any licensed amateur operator.

B. Club nets shall be dolphin safe.