Constitution of the Young Amateurs Radio Club
Preamble
The name of this organization is Young Amateurs Radio Club. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between young members of the amateur radio community, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the youth community.
Article I. Membership
Membership shall be open to any person who actively supports the purpose of the Young Amateurs Radio Club as set forth in this document. The Board of Executives reserves the right to decline membership to anyone the Board deems to not represent the goals and mission of this organization.
It should be noted that, as being named the Young Amateurs Radio Club, it is expected members are invested in the promotion and advancement of amateur radio amongst the youth, and anyone of any age is permitted to submit an application.
Article II. Officers
Sec. 1.
The officers of this club shall be President, Vice-President and Treasurer.
Sec. 2.
If the position of President should be vacated, then the Vice President shall take on the role of President immediately. Within one (1) month of the vacation of the President position, an election will occur to fill the newly vacated role of Vice President. Should the Vice President position be vacated, an election will occur within one month to fill the position. In the case of either election, the vacated position shall be filled through a nomination of the membership, and following that, a vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors. If the Board is standing at an even number of members, and the election should reach a tie, then the majority vote of the club’s members shall act as an additional singular vote.
Sec. 3.
The Treasurer shall be appointed by a unanimous decision of the President and Vice President.
Sec. 4.
A member shall be designated by the club President as the Amateur Radio License Trustee. The Trustee shall establish and maintain an Amateur Radio Club Station for the use of the licensed members of Young Amateurs Radio Club and other licensed radio amateurs, and shall carry out the duties designated by the Federal Communication Commission for the Trustee of this station. In the event that the Trustee can no longer perform the duties of Trustee, they shall designate another club member who holds a valid U.S. amateur license to apply to the FCC to succeed them as Trustee. The President shall concur in the selection of this new Trustee.
Article III. Duties of Officers
Sec. 1.
The President shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and By-Laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents adopted by the club, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President.
Sec. 2.
The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in their absence.
Sec. 3.
The Treasurer shall account for all monies paid to the club.
Article IV. Board of Directors
The organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The purpose of the Board of Directors includes, but is not limited to, providing fiscal oversight of the Organization and its assets, and to conduct the organization’s day-to-day business, financial transactions, outreach programs & events (including, but not limited to contests, the YARC Youth Contesters Program, and the Young Hams Discord Server). This Board shall be comprised of the club’s FCC callsign Trustee, and of the elected Officer positions described in the Article II of The Constitution, as well as a number of executive directors nominated by the standing Board described below; the Board of Directors shall not exceed 7 members, and should be maintained at an odd number of Board members.
Article V. Meetings
All meetings of Young Amateurs Radio Club shall be informal and may be called at the discretion of at least two officers, or singularly by the President. Such meetings may take place in person, over amateur radio or through other electronic communication means. Meeting minutes of Young Amateurs Radio Club are maintained by an attending officer at their discretion.
Article VI. Dues
Young Amateurs Radio Club shall not collect dues unless deemed absolutely necessary by the majority vote of the Board of Directors for expenses required for the operation of the organization and/or events created by the organization.
Article VII. Amendments
The constitution or By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the total members of the Board of Directors. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing (whether digitally or physical copy) at a regular meeting and shall be voted on at the next following regular meeting by the Board of Directors, provided all Board members have been notified at least one week in advance of the intent to amend the constitution and/or By-Laws at said meeting.
Constitution adopted on 7/19/2019
By-Laws of the Young Amateurs Radio Club
1. Organization.
The name of this organization is the Young Amateurs Radio Club. It is organized as a non-profit amateur radio club within the meaning of section 501(c)(7) of The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(7)) and section 5 of part 97 of the FCC Regulations supporting The Communications Act of 1934 (47 C.F.R. 97.5(d)(2)). However, no filing before the Internal Revenue Service for non-profit status shall be necessary as long as the organization does not maintain a treasury of its own.
2. Membership.
Full membership is open to licensed amateurs in good standing as well as to those with an interest in Amateur Radio. Applications for membership shall be submitted at regular meetings and at any time using the internet, and will be reviewed and accepted or denied by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may terminate an individual’s membership at their own discretion at any time by a majority vote. Individuals have the right to request that their membership to the club be terminated at any time.
3. Executive Board of Governing Directors.
Each of the three Officer positions holds a singular position on the Executive Board (i.e. a Member of the Board). The Trustee of the Club may be elected into an Executive Board position, however the title of Trustee does not carry with it a position on the Executive Board. The Executive Board votes on various matters regarding the club, as outlined in the Constitution and By-laws; each position on the Board shall have one vote. A Board member cannot be elected to or hold more than one position.
4. Election Procedure.
Only members of the Board of Directors shall be eligible to vote. Elections can only be held by majority decision of the Board of Directors. Each member shall be able to cast as many votes as there are elected positions to fill, but only one vote per candidate. Election to the Board shall occur for the candidate receiving the largest plurality of votes and continue to the next largest plurality until all positions are filled. Should there be a tie vote for any position where there are more candidates than elected positions remaining, the Board will vote again, considering only those candidates and with each member casting a number of votes equal to the number of positions remaining. Should there be an equal or lesser number of candidates seeking election to the Board than vacancies, the Board of Directors can choose by majority vote to either consider those candidate[s] elected without an election having taken place, or to cancel the election. There are no term limits imposed on any elected position. As such, a Board member shall hold their position unless impeached by unanimous vote of the other voting Board members, or until said member steps down from their position.
5. Dues.
The Board of Directors may set the necessary annual membership dues, which may not be increased by more than 25% of its current level without consent of a majority of the responding voting club membership. At the time of ratification of these Bylaws, there are no dues collected by the club. Should dues be collected, it will be in USD.
6. Equipment and Property.
Unless purchased with funds from the organization’s treasury, all equipment used by the organization remains the property of the respective Trustee. No rights shall affix to the equipment by virtue of its use by the organization or its members nor shall the ownership rights of the Trustee be diminished. All equipment purchased by the organization itself, from its treasury, remain property of the organization and likewise, no right of ownership attaches to such by the appointed Trustee (or their successor).
7. Ratification.
The constitution and bylaws are hereby ratified on 7/19/2019, with the board members of the organization being:
David F. Mosden KF1SHY, President
Scott W. Stelloh KD2LWH, Vice President
Abigail V. Gold KB6EE, Treasurer
Benjamin L. Johnson AB3NJ, Trustee, Board Member
Sterling S. Mann NØSSC, Board Member
Zhenhao Yang KN8U/BH4EPL, Contest Director, Board Member
Matthew Spiker KE8FGB, Board Member