SMCARA By-Laws

 

St. Mary’s County Amateur Radio Association

By-laws

Section 1
Expenditure of Funds:

1. The Treasurer is responsible for all operating expenses. He / she may expend funds as approved by the membership which are part of the Associations’ approved annual budget or separately authorized by the membership.
2. The Executive Committee may also expend funds up to five hundred dollars ($500) for urgent and extraordinary expenses such as repeater maintenance. All other Association expenditures must be approved by the membership.

Section 2
Dues:

1. The fiscal year shall be August 1 through July 31 with dues payable by August 1st.
2. Regular Membership dues shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) per year.
3. Family Member and Family Associate Member dues shall be one dollar ($1.00) per person per year.
4. Associate Member (non-family) dues shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per year.
5. For periods of less than one half (1/2 of the fiscal year, new member shall have their dues prorated at the following rates:
a. Regular Members: Ten dollars ($10)
b. Associate Members: Five dollars ($5)
c. Family Members and Family Associate Members dues are not prorated.

Section 3
Membership Activities

1. Membership Application:
a. To become a Regular, Family, or Associate Member of the Association, a person who is eligible must complete the Association Membership Application and present it to the Secretary along with annual dues.
b. Applicants and members shall pledge themselves to adhere to the best of his / her ability to all applicable FCC Rules and Regulations, the Association Constitution and By-laws, and the Amateur’s Code (Appendix I).
2. Membership Termination:
a. A member may resign from the Association at any time upon written notice to the Association Secretary.
b. Membership shall be suspended for delinquent dues. Members three (3) months in arrears under normal circumstances would constitute suspension. One (1) year in arrears will cause delinquent members to be dropped from the Association rolls. The Secretary shall notify each delinquent member by mail or email prior to suspending or dropping their membership from the rolls. Suspended members have no voting privileges.
c. Members who resign or whose membership is terminated shall be immediately relieved of all duties and rights of membership and shall surrender all club property in their possession to the Association Trustee within 10 calendar days of resignation/termination.
d. Members of the Association may be expelled for violation of the Association’s Constitution, By-laws, or for other conduct which would tend to cause discredit to fall upon the Association or upon amateur radio as a whole. The proposed expulsion of a member shall be openly discussed at a regular or special meeting and the reasons for expulsion explained. All voting members of the Association will be notified of this meeting. In addition, the Secretary shall notify the affected member at least seven (7) days in advance of the next regularly scheduled meeting, at which time a vote of the members will be taken. The final decision shall be made on motion by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a quorum of members present.
Section 4
Meetings:

1. Regular meetings shall be held on the fourth Thursday of each month except June, November and December.
2. Field Day exercises will be held on the last full weekend of June.
3. Special Meetings may be called by the president at any time, or upon written request to the president of any five members of the Association. Notice of Special Meetings shall be announced on the Association Web Site and on the scheduled nets at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance. The announcement will include meeting date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

Section 5
Committees:

1. Field Day Committee – Plans and coordinates the ARRL Field Day activities. The President will ask for volunteers to chair and comprise the committee no later than the March meeting.
2. Audit Committee – Three-member team made up of Regular and/or Family Members that conducts an annual audit of the Association’s financial and property records. The President will ask for volunteers to chair and comprise the committee no later than the April meeting. The Audit Committee will present their report to the members at the July meeting, prior to the nomination and election of new officers.

Section 6
Maintenance of the Constitution and By-laws:

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the Constitution and By-laws of the Association and have the same with him/her at every meeting. He/she shall cause all amendments to be noted therein and post the current version of both documents on the Association Web Site.

Section 7
Dissolution:

If for any reason this Association is dissolved, none of the assets will be retuned to the donors. All remaining assets after liquidation and satisfaction of any indebtedness will be distributed to the American Radio Relay League or other tax exempt organization under IRS and Maryland Tax Rules and Regulations, as designated and determined by the Officers at the time of dissolution.

Approved by SMCARA Membership: (date)

Appendix I
The Amateur’s Code

The Radio Amateur is:

CONSIDERATE… never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.

LOYAL…offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, thorough which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally.

PROGRESSIVE…with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and operation above reproach.

FRIENDLY…slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

BALANCED…radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.

PATRIOTIC…station and skill always ready for service to country and community.

Download a PDF of the SMCARA Bi-Laws.