SWAPRC

 

Constitution and Bylaws of Southwest Area Park Modelers

 

Revised: August 2010

 

CONSTITUTION

 

Article I - NAME

 

The name of this club shall be the Southwest Area Park Modelers, (SWAP), hereafter referred to as the Club, established as an organization of the Baltimore Highlands Recreation Council, hereafter referred to as the Council.  As such, the Club is subject to the provisions of their Constitution and Bylaws.

 

Article II - OBJECTIVES

 

The Club's objectives shall be to promote the development of radio controlled modeling as a recreational, sporting, and educational activity; to encourage brotherhood among the members of the Club and the community; and to aid the programs of the Council and the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

 

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership in the Club shall be open to all.

 

Article IV - ADMINISTRATION

 

Section 1. Administration of the Club shall be vested in elected officers who shall be responsible for the formulation of all Club policy as prescribed within the Constitution and Bylaws.

 

Section 2. The following officers shall be elected by the membership of the Club, to serve a term of one (1) year:

 

President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer. In compliance with this article, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one and the same.

 

Section 3. The election of officers shall be held annually at the February meeting and the term of office shall run from the beginning of March of the year in which the election is held until the end of February of the following year. Nominations shall be made by individual members at the January meeting. Any additional nominations may be made at the February meeting prior to the elections. Voting shall be by either voice vote or secret ballot. Upon any office, except that of President, becoming vacant for any reason, a special election shall be held at the next regular scheduled meeting to fill the vacant office for the remainder of the term.

 

Section 4. Resignation of Club Officer - A Club Officer may resign by submitting a written resignation to the President.  Such resignation shall become effective on the date submitted.

 

Article V - COMMITTEES

 

Committees shall be designated by the President as required.

 

Article VI - MEETINGS

 

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held once each calendar month on a regular schedule.

 

Section 2.    A quorum of the membership for the purpose of conducting the business of the Club shall consist of not less than thirteen (13) of the voting club members. The voting membership of the Club shall consist of those members who meet the criteria set in the by-laws under Article II, Section 2.  A two-thirds (2/3) quorum vote  (currently 9) is required to conduct club business unless otherwise specified.

 

Section 3. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

 

Article VII - AMENDMENTS

 

In order to amend the Constitution or By-Laws of the Club, a motion may be made and seconded at any regular Club meeting.   Discussion may be held, but voting on the motion will not occur until the second meeting after the motion is introduced.  Written notice must be given to the members via U.S. Postal Service no less than thirty days prior to the meeting in which the motion will be voted on.  A motion shall be approved if a quorum is present at the meeting and if the motion is approved by at least two-thirds of the members present.

 

BYLAWS

 

Article I - OFFICERS

 

Section 1. The Officers shall be as set forth in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution.

 

Section 2. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club. He shall preside at all meetings of the Club. In addition, the President shall:

 

a) Attend, or appoint someone to attend, and represent the Club at the meetings of the Council.

 

b) Unless otherwise provided for in this Constitution and Bylaws, appoint all committees as he deems necessary.

 

c) He shall: direct the affairs of the Club; supervise and keep in contact with all activities of the Club; and ensure that club activities adhere to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Council.

 

In the event of incapacity or inability to fulfill his term in office, the remainder of the term shall be filled in the following order of succession: Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

 

Section 3. The Vice-President shall perform such duties as are delegated to him by the President and shall succeed to the office of President in the event of death or resignation of the President. He shall preside at meetings in the event of a temporary absence of the President. Additionally, he shall act as the parliamentarian and shall thus advise the presiding officer on questions of parliamentary procedure in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

 

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Club and shall be the official custodian of all the records of the Club. The Secretary shall direct the mailings of all notices required to be given and to conduct the correspondence of the Club. The Secretary shall keep an accurate census of the membership.

 

Section 5. The Treasurer shall be the official custodian of funds of the Club. He shall collect all dues and monies of the Club and shall direct the accurate books of account. He shall prepare periodic reports of the funds of the Club for presentation to the club membership and shall handle Club funds in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Council.

 

Section 6. The Safety Officer will be charged with ensuring compliance by the Club and its members with the AMA Safety Code and any safety rules enacted by the Club.

 

Section 7. In the absence of both the President and Vice- President, the Secretary, and then the Treasurer shall assume the duties of the President.

 

Article II - MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. Further to Article III of the Constitution of the Club, that while membership will not be contingent on concurrent membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the operation of any model at any club facility, field, or event will be denied any member who is not concurrently an Open member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

 

Section 2. There shall be the following classes of membership.

 

(a). Regular Membership - Any person that meets the following requirements:

 

1. Possesses a valid Academy of Model Aeronautics Membership (AMA) Card, and obeys all of the rules of the AMA. This requirement may be waived for those members that do not intend to fly. However, a valid AMA Open membership is required to fly at the SWAP field.

 

2. Is committed and devoted to the concept of supporting the art of radio controlled modeling.

 

3. Is sincerely interested in the Club's welfare and maintaining a good flying site.

 

4. Pays annual dues according to Article III.

 

This person will continue to be a regular member as long as the above requirements are met.

 

A regular member is entitled to vote in accordance with Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution.

 

A regular member is also entitled to use the flying site and all of its attendant facilities.

 

(b). Senior Citizens Membership - Any person who reaches his sixtieth (60th) birthday on or before June 15th of the year of membership and otherwise qualifies as a Regular Member shall be eligible for Senior Citizen Membership. He is entitled to those privileges, constraints, and responsibilities consistent with Regular membership.

 

(c). Family Membership - Any member of the same family (mother, father, and children under the age of eighteen (18)), shall be eligible for Family Membership. Family Membership must meet the requirements of Article II, Section 2(a).

 

Article III - DUES

 

Section 1. Dues for membership shall be as follows:

 

(a). Regular Membership $50.00

 

(b). Senior Citizens Membership: $35.00

 

(c). Family Membership: $50.00 for first family member and $10.00 for each additional family member.

 

(d). Dues paid after April 30 will be subject to a $20.00 late fee for any past members who have not paid for up to 3 years

 

(e). Assessment Fee: All new members over the age of 18 must pay a one-time assessment fee of $20. Any youth member will also pay this fee once they have reached the age of 18.

 

Section 2. Any changes in the dues will be determined by the Officers of the Club and shall be presented to the membership to be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) quorum vote.

 

Section 3. Dues shall be payable annually by the 30th of April, but a member's failure to pay dues on that date shall not affect his good standing in the Club unless such failure continues for a period extending beyond the May meeting of the same year. Any member who has not paid dues by the said time shall be removed from the membership list of the Club.

 

Section 4. No refund shall be made to any member who decides to withdraw from further Club activities.

 

Section 5. New members that join the club after 1 November of the current year, may pay their dues for the following year and receive membership for the remainder of the current year for no charge. New Member is intended to mean anyone who has been a nonmember for at least three

 

(3) fiscal years (the fiscal year ending each April 30th)

 

Article IV - FINANCE

 

Section 1. Financial matters within the Club shall be conducted in accordance with the Council.

 

Section 2. Annual budget proposals shall be presented to the Club by the Treasurer and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) quorum vote. This budget should be presented at the May meeting.

 

Section 3. Proposed expenditures of Club funds for unbudgeted items in excess of $100.00 shall be presented to the club by the Treasurer and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) quorum vote.

 

Article V - RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

Any regulation or field safety rule pertaining to any Club activity may be proposed by a member in good standing providing it does not conflict with the Constitution or Bylaws of the Baltimore Highlands Recreation Council.  In order for such regulation or rule to be approved, a motion to consider such regulation or rule must be made at a regular Club meeting.  Discussion may be held, but voting on the motion will not occur until the second meeting after the motion is introduced, except in the event of an emergency or imminent threat of injury to person or club property.  Written notice must be given to the members via U.S. Postal Service no less than thirty days prior to the meeting in which the motion will be voted on.  A motion shall be approved if a quorum is present at the meeting and if the motion is approved by at least two-thirds of the members present.  If in the sole judgment of the President, a condition of emergency or imminent threat of injury to person or club property exists the club may take such action as deemed appropriate at the meeting in which the motion is introduced.

 

Article VI - SUSPENSIONS

 

If any member of the Club should knowingly break the rules and regulations of the Club, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, or the Council, or otherwise knowingly engages in conduct unbecoming a SWAP Modeler at a Club event, facility, or while representing the Club in any other activity, the officers of the Club may, by a unanimous vote, place that member on temporary membership suspension until the next scheduled monthly meeting. The suspension must be reviewed at that meeting, and the membership present, by majority vote, make a final disposition of the situation by whatever action it deems appropriate.

 

Article VII - DISSOLUTION

 

In the event of dissolution of the organization known as the SWAP Modelers, the membership will be responsible equally for any outstanding debts of the organization not covered by funds in the Club's account with the Council; and any funds remaining in the Club's account will revert to the Council's general fund.