BY-LAWS OF THE
WINGBUSTERS MODEL AIRCRAFT CLUB
Approved 11\13\95
Last amended 04/9/02
ARTICLE I (Name)
The
name of the club is the Wingbusters M.A.C. INC. The club shall hereinafter in these By-laws be
referred to as The Club.
ARTICLE II (Places of meetings and activities)
1.
The principal office of the club shall be American Legion, Hanson
Massachusetts.
2.
The club may maintain or establish from time to time other places at which the
activities of the Club may be carried on, or at which the meeting of members
may be held.
ARTICLE III (Class of
memberships and voting
rights)
1. OPEN: Voting Member:
Qualifications for Open membership shall be any applicant, 19 years of age or older, an interest in model
aircraft, a willingness to share in the programs of the Club. Must possess a current AMA membership
2. JUNIORS: Non-voting member:
Qualifications for Juniors membership shall be under 19
years of age, an interest in model aircraft, a willingness to share in the
programs of the Club. Must
possess a current AMA membership.
3. ASSOCIATE: Voting Member: Same qualifications as open with
non-flying status. AMA
membership is required. The Wingbusters Club Membership Card will designate the
holder of this membership to be a
non-flying status.
4. FAMILY: Voting rights per above: Family membership shall
include spouse and all children under 19
years, old possessing a current AMA membership. An
AMA membership is required for all flying members.
ARTICLE IV (Purpose)
1. The club is organized and
shall be operated exclusively for pleasure, recreational and other nonprofit
purposes within the meaning of Sec. 501 (c) (7) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal
Revenue Code.)
2. No part of the
net earnings of the Club shall insure to the benefit of or be distributed to
its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons except that the Club
shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services
rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose
set forth in Section 1. Not withstanding any other provision of these articles,
the Club shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on
(a) by a Club exempt from the Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (7) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future
United States Internal Revenue law or (b) by a Club, contributions to which are
deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or
the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.
ARTICLE V (Dues, fees
and general requirements)
1.
All paid up members of all classes designated above of the Club in good
standing at the time of filling of the Articles or Organization of this Club
shall automatically become members of the Club, with all rights and privileges
of members.
2.
Annual dues shall be established for various classes of members by voting of
the membership.
3. Dues are to be paid by December 31 of the current year for the following years membership. There will be no grace
period for the payment of dues.
4. Dues will be prorated for the first year of a new membership. A
new member is defined as a person who is joining the Club for the first time or
who has not held a Club Membership during the previous 3 years. .
5. There is no membership limit of the club.
ARTICLE VI (Meeting of Members)
1. The members of the club
shall meet annually for the election of the officers and Executive Committee
and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting. The annual meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday of October of
each year, if not a legal holiday, then on the following Tuesday that is not a
legal holiday, or as established by the Executive Committee.
2. Notice of the annual
meeting of the members shall be served in writing not less than ten nor more
than fifty days previous to such meeting by first class mail. When such notice
is mailed it shall be sent to each member of the Club entitled to vote on the
election of officers at his address as it shall appear on the books of the
Club, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of the Club a written
request that notices intended for him or her be mailed to the address
designated in the request. Notice may be given in the Club Newsletter, if said
mailing meets the above requirements.
3. Junior members may not
hold office.
4. Special meeting of
members, for any purpose, may be called pursuant to resolution of the Executive
Committee or by the President, and shall be called by the President or
Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Executive Committee at
the written request of members entitled to cast 10
percent of the total number of votes entitled to be cast at such meeting
or as otherwise provided by law. Such requests shall in any case state the
purpose of such proposed meetings. Before such meetings are held, all members
entitled to vote shall be notified in writing in accordance with the notification
requirements for all annual meetings. Business transacted at all special
meetings shall be confined to the objects stated in the call.
5. At all annual, special or
regular meetings of the members of the club, the order of business shall be
substantially as follows:
a) Reading of the minutes of
the previous annual, special or regular meeting and approval thereof.
b) Reading of Treasurer's
report and approval thereof.
c) Completion of unfinished
business.
d) Reading of Communications
of the Club, received since the last previous annual, special, or
Regular meeting.
e) Reading of reports for
committees and approval thereof or action to be taken thereof.
f) Election of officer and
Executive Committee. (If annual meeting)
g) Transaction of new business.
h) A quorum will be 10 % of the voting membership.
6. Regular meetings of the
members of the club shall be held on the second Tuesday
of each month from January to December . Other dates
may be designated from time to time.
7. The members may exercise
all the power of the Club at any meeting of the members by majority vote of
those present and voting. Said vote may prescribe the manner in which the
officers and agents by whom the Club's purpose may be accomplished to carry out
said purposes at any meeting that meets the
requirements of Article VI section h.
8. The Club shall indemnify
(pay) any person authorized by it and acting as Executive Committee member
officer, employee or other agent any liability incurred by him/her in any such
capacity, arising out of his/her status as such, while acting on behalf of the
Club in good faith. In the absence of fraud or bad
fault, the Executive Committee members shall not be personally liable for the
debts or obligations of the Club except as otherwise provided by statute.
ARTICLE VII (Field
Conduct)
1.
The field and safety rules of the Wingbusters Model Aircraft Club must be
adhered to.
2. With reference to our
By-laws in accordance to the charter, the AMA Safety rules and field conduct
apply.
ARTICLE
VIII ( Resignation,
loss of membership qualifications)
1
. Any member in good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written
notice to the Club.
2. If any member ceases to have the
qualification necessary for membership in the AMA, his/her membership in the
Club shall thereby terminate subject to reinstatement upon restoration of
eligibility.
ARTICLE IX (Officers
and Executive Committee)
1. The officers of the club
shall consist of President, Vice-President and Treasurer and Secretary.
2. There shall be an
Executive Committee which shall have the powers of the Executive Committee and
which shall consist of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer.
3. Two or more officers may
be held by the same person. The President may not be designated as the Secretary.
4. The president of the Club,
on his/hers absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of the
members and of the Executive Committee and shall perform the duties usually
involving upon a presiding officer. He/She shall see that all orders and
resolutions of the members or the Executive Committee are carried into effect.
He/She shall also have the power to appoint special committees to have such
power and duties authorized by the membership and to hold offices for such
periods of time and shall be fixed by the President.
5. The Vice-President in the
absence of or the disability of the President, may perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties as may
be imposed upon him/her by resolution passed at any meeting of members.
6. The Secretary shall attend
all meetings of the Executive Committee and all meetings of the members and
shall record all votes, discussions and minutes of all proceedings in a book
for the purpose. He/She shall cause to be given notice of all meetings of
members or the Executive Committee when notice is required by these by-laws and
if required, by the resolution at a meeting of the members, shall give notice
of meetings of committees or members. He/She shall have custody of the original
copy of the BY-LAWS and all amendments thereto. He/She shall receive all
applications for membership and thereafter transmit them to the Executive
Committee for consideration. He/She shall conduct the correspondence of the
club and shall execute all instruments as may be officially authorized. He/She
shall have custody of the original copy of the by-laws and all the amendments
thereto.
7. The Treasurer shall have
the custody of all funds of the Club and shall keep full and accurate records
of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Club and shall deposit
all moneys in the name of, or to the credit of the Club in such depositories as
may be designated by the Executive Committee. He/She may disburse the moneys of
the Club as may be ordered by vote of membership meeting, taking proper
vouchers for such disbursements. No disbursement shall be make by check unless
said check is signed by the President or the Treasurer. He/She shall render to
the President and Executive Committee at the regular meeting of the Executive
Committee, or whenever they require it, an accounting of all transactions as
treasurer, and of the financial condition of the Club.
8. In case of the absence of
any officer of the Club, the powers or duty of such officer may be designated
to any other officer or person on a temporary basis by a vote of a membership
meeting.
9. The affairs of the Club
shall be managed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE X (Meetings
of Executive Committee)
1. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be
called by the President on five days notice to each Executive Committee member,
wither by personal contact or by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the
President or the Secretary in a like manner on the written request of two (2)
or more Executive Committee members.
2. At all meetings of the
Executive Committee, the presence of a majority of the Committee members shall
be necessary to constitute a quorum and sufficient for the transaction of
business. Any act of majority at a meeting at which there is quorum shall be
the act of the Executive Committee.
3. Every meeting of the
Executive Committee shall be called to order by the President or
Vice-President, or in the absence of both the meeting will be postponed to a
later date.
4. In the absence of fraud or
bad fault, the Executive Committee members shall not be personally liable for
the debts or obligations of the Club except as otherwise provided by statute.
ARTICLE XI
(Nomination and Elections)
1. For the purpose of
nomination and elections the office of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary shall
only be held by Open and/or Associate Club members in good standing.
2.
All persons seeking or nominating someone else for any office shall notify the
Executive Committee in writing before the September meeting of members and the
Executive Committee shall cause said persons name to appear on the ballot for
said office.
3. To be eligible for
nomination for office or to become a member of the Executive Committee, a
person must be a paid up member in good standing with the Club.
4. The slate shall consist of
at least one candidate for each office and no nomination shall be considered
valid if placed on the ballot without the nominee's consent.
5. Election shall be held at
the Annual Meeting in October and all eligible members shall be duly notified
by the Secretary. Voting will assume one of 2 formats
as determined by a majority vote of the membership present:
·
A majority
determined by a show of hands by the membership present at the elections
meeting.
·
A majority
determined by a secret ballot of the membership present at the elections
meeting.
6. If voting is
determined to be by secret ballot the following procedure is to be followed.
a) A ballot, and an outer envelope shall be given to each
eligible Club member.
b)
The marked ballot shall be inserted in the outer envelope and shall be turned
in at the annual meeting.
c)
The ballot shall be counted and opened at the annual meeting.
d)
The newly elected officers and Executive Committee will assume office on the
first meeting in January.
ARTICLE XII (Removals
and Vacancies)
1.
If the office of any
officer of Executive Committee member becomes vacant, the membership may elect
by vote of a majority of those present and voting at a meeting of members a
successor, who shall hold the office for the unexpired term.
2.
Removal of
an Executive Committee Member:
An Executive Committee Member may be removed from his/her office and/or expelled from membership of the Club by a two -thirds (2/3) majority vote of a quorum. if as determined by either a member of the Executive Committee, or a member of the General Club Membership, such individual willfully commits any act or omission which is a violation of any of the terms of these Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, or the Rules of the AMA, or which is detrimental the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation.
ARTICLE XIII (Amendments to the By-laws)
1. These by-laws or any one
or more of them, may be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be adopted
at any meeting of the members by affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of those
members present at such meeting and entitled to vote in the election of
officers and Executive Committee, provided notice of intention to amend the
by-laws shall gave been contained in the notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE XIV (Standing
Committees)
The Chairman and members of
each standing committee shall be appointed by the President.
1. Ground and Property Committee: It shall be the
responsibility of this committee to maintain the Club's flying field in good
condition. It shall also maintain a Club Roster of all Club Property; it's
value and location.
2. Program Committee: It
shall be the responsibility of this committee to promote, organize and
administer all club activities. These events will encompass all program
activities voted by the club membership, but excluding competition, fun flys or
sanctioned air meets involving participation by persons other than Club
members.
3.
Contest Committee: It shall be the responsibility of this committee to promote,
organize and administer out AMA sanctioned meets. The Contest Committee
chairman with the approval of a majority vote of a meeting of the members will
decide when, where, and how the club will have their AMA sanctioned meets.
4. Safety Committee: It shall
be the responsibility of this committee to review,
propose and administer any safety related policy,
procedure or facility for the field, spectators and flyers as they see
fit. They have the right to inspect any aircraft at any given time.
ARTICLE XV (Fiscal Year)
1.
The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
2.
The rules contained in "ROBERT RULES OF ORDER, REVISED" shall govern
this Club in all case in which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with these by-laws.
ARTICLE XVI
(Operating Practice)
1.Club field, safety, and AMA Rules must be
observed at all times.
2.All members of
the Club will assume the responsibility of ensuring a safe environment at the
Club’s flying site by:
a. Monitoring their own actions to ensure a
safe environment.
b. Speaking out when other Club members are
endangering a safe environment
3. Absolutely no littering
4.
Parking will be in the designated area only.
5. Lost planes not recovered within 24 hours must be
reported to an executive committee officer.
ARTICLE XVII (Guest)
1.
A guest with a valid AMA membership will be permitted to fly at the Wingbusters
Model Aircraft Club site field on three (3) separate occasions and then must
either join the club or the guest privilege will be revoked.
ARTICLE XVIII
(Dissolution)
In the event
of dissolution of the Club, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or
making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the Club, dispose of
all assets of the Club exclusively to further the purpose and primary object
for which the Club was organized. In the event of dissolution all assets will
be split equally and distributed to the membership pro-rated based on active
classification.
And / Or
1
. The Corporation may be dissolved with the approval of a two-thirds
(2/3)-majority vote of the total membership.
2. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the
Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of
all of the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all the assets of the
Corporation exclusively for the purposes of the Corporation in such manner, to
the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc., or to such other organization or
organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational,
religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt
organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, or to such other organization with purposes similar
to the purposes of this Corporation, as the Board shall determine. Any of such
assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas (or
similar court) of the county in which the principal office of this Corporation
is then located exclusively for such purposes and to such organization or
organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated
exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE XIX (Grievance procedure for Flight and Ground Rules)
1
.Purpose
The
grievance procedure provides a mechanism to enforce existing safety rules by
providing a progressive disciplinary system when needed. Although most
complaints can be resolved informally, if a complaint is serious or cannot be
resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the Executive Committee
for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form (Appendix A) to be filled
out and turned into the Executive Committee President. At least one witness is
required to sign the Grievance Form.
2.
Executive Committee
The
Executive Committee shall use its judgment in carrying out action on the
following:
A
grievance form will be filled out and turned into the Executive Committee
President. At least one witness is
required.
(b)
FIRST VIOLATION
·
Viewpoints
of both complainants and accused will be considered.
·
Complainants
name will be disclosed.
·
A
verbal reprimand will be given to the accused by the Executive Committee, and
this will be recorded in the committee files.
(c)
SECOND VIOLATION
·
Complainants
name will be disclosed.
·
The
accused has the right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Committee.
·
If
the Committee so decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be
suspended for thirty (30) days. Written
notice of this shall be issued and a copy published in the Club
newsletter.
·
(d)
THIRD VIOLATION
·
Committee will notify the accused in writing
and the Club members via the Club newsletter that the Club will vote on the
expulsion of the accused at the next meeting.
·
Said expulsion will last for a one-year
minimum. (Longer if deemed necessary by the Executive Committee).
·
A member may be expelled from the Club only
upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present at the meeting.
·
Voting
will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting.
·
The
expelled member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the
expulsion time period.
·
The
three actions will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a
two-year period of time.
·
Dues
of any expelled Club member will be forfeited.
Any member receiving a Grievance, who directs any retaliation
action against the person filing said Grievance, will be subject to immediate
expulsion from the Club. This is to include threats, intimidation, physical
harm, intentional equipment damage, or any other action deemed to be
retaliatory by the Executive Committee.
Appendix A
Wingbusters Club Grievance Form
Date_________________ Time__________________
Nature of Violation______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature_______________________
Witness________________________