By Laws
Article I: Name And Purpose
This organization shall be known as the ST. CROIX VALLEY RADIO CONTROL CLUB and shall be referenced else where in this document as or simply the “Club”.
The ST. CROIX VALLEY RADIO CONTROL CLUB exists for the purpose of promoting radio control modeling as a sport and recreation, educational and family oriented pastime for all.
Article II: Membership
The Club views R/C modeling as a family activity. It, therefore, defines the membership entity as a family. For this purpose, a family shall be one or more persons consisting of the individual in whose name the membership is listed and that person’s spouse and minor children. For continuity and simplicity, the definition of a minor shall coincide with the definition of youth membership as set forth by the Academy of Model Aeronautics [hereinafter known as the AMA]. The membership entity [consisting of one or more persons] shall be referenced elsewhere in this document as simply the “member”.
There shall be three classes of membership: Prospective Member, Full Member and Associate Member. Each class of membership is designed to fulfill a specific member need.
Prospective Member: Any person may seek membership in the Club. Entry-level membership is the Prospective Member class. The membership class may be viewed as a trial period. Its purpose is to allow the candidate to become familiar with club members, activities, policies and procedures. It also allows the members to become familiar with the candidate.
An applicant may become a Prospective Member by satisfying three requirements, namely, A. attend a club business meeting, B. submit a properly completed membership application to the Club Executive Committee, and C. Pay an appropriate Prospective Member fee [see Dues and Fees] to the club treasurer. Prospective membership will commence immediately when all three requirements have been satisfied.
The only club privileges, which accompany Prospective membership, are those of the equivalent of unlimited visitor privileges at the club flying facility.
A Prospective member is required to Either, attend three business meetings or follow the guidelines of the Full membership initial probationary period (See Section 2B). The meeting, at which the applicant became a Prospective member, may be counted toward fulfilling this requirement. A Prospective member; is expected to participate in club activities such as administrative assistance for Club sponsored meets, events, and contest, field maintenance efforts, and other Club functions. Upon completion of the business-meeting requirement, or the completion of the Full membership initial probationary period, (See Section 2B) the Prospective member is eligible to be considered for Full membership. This procedure is described elsewhere in the Club by-laws.
The term of Prospective membership will be that time needed to satisfy the business meeting requirement or six months, whichever is less. Should an applicant wish to extend the Prospective membership beyond six months, the Club Executive Committee may review and rule on the case at its discretion.
Associate Member: Associate membership provides a means for a Full member to obtain a temporary hiatus from mainstream membership without jeopardizing his/her good standing with
the club. The Associate member is relieved of all club duties, responsibilities, and privileges except those specified below. An example, of the intended use of an Associate membership is the case of a Full member whose employment calls him/her out of town for an extended period. The member is unable to actively participate in club functions, but wishes to remain in touch and wishes to return to active membership at a later date. The Associate membership will provide a low cost, no-privilege tie to the club for those desiring such an association.
Any Full member in good standing may request Associate membership. An Associate member will be charged an appropriate annual fee [see Dues and Fees]. Associate membership is annual, and the maximum length of said membership is five consecutive years. Associate members will receive the club newsletter. An Associate member seeking reinstatement to Full member will not be required to pay another initiation fee. Returning Associate members will be given priority over Prospective members if there are more Full membership candidates that open Full membership slots, [both Associate and Prospective members are restricted by the number of Full membership openings available.] Associate members have No Club privileges [i.e., no vote, no flying, no flying facility keys or privileges, no current membership card].
Full Member: Full membership is the mainstream membership class. Full members are required to pay all appropriate dues and fees [see Dues and Fees]. Full members are afforded full Club privileges. They are issued a field key and equipment shed key and are responsible for the proper use and security of said keys and facilities. Each Full member may cast one vote whenever a vote or election takes place. Full membership is the only membership class that pays dues.
Full Membership Probationary period Rule in Lieu of the three meeting rule :
Any Applicant at his or her discretion, may choose Either the Prospective membership three meeting rule (See section 2A) or the Full membership Probationary period rule to obtain Full membership status in St Croix Valley R/C club.
The Full membership Probationary period rule is set forth as the following:
Any prospective Member may pay all dues associated with a full membership at the time of application for club membership . I.E. initiation Fee , Annual dues , Mowing fee . And present their current AMA membership card this may be done via mail or in person. After the application has been received and monies have cleared the bank, Then a face to face meeting with one of the current club officers and the prospective member will be scheduled for no more than 72 hours (Weather permitting) after his /her funds have cleared the bank. At that meeting the club officer will provide field keys to the prospective member and relay the basic club operations ( such as how to enter /exit the field /parking /flight boundaries/ ECT… and set of club rules/bylaws to the member.)
The prospective club member , Agrees that He /she has all the responsibilities and privileges of any full member in good standing.
Also the club prospective member agrees to be held to a strict probationary period of 90 day’s beginning no earlier than April 1st and ending no later than November 1st of any given year.
( The purpose of this period is to ensure the prospective member is under probation during the normal flying season in which the club is most active and that he/she may participate in any / all club events and get to know his or her follow club members)
If the prospective member intentionally violates any club rules , fails to participate in mandatory club events , acts in a manner not befitting a club member, or flies / continues to fly in an unsafe manner . The club officer’s may hold a public vote to expel the prospective member for their negative actions .
If any such member is expelled during their probationary period they will NOT be refunded any money paid , They will return all keys or be charged a fee of $50.00 and will be ineligible to reapply for membership for a period of three years time.
All persons are eligible for membership in the Club. There shall be no Club policy restricting membership based on age, creed, color, religion, gender or any other social, economic, or political bias.
The term of all annual memberships [Full and Associate] shall run concurrently with the calendar year. The term of all memberships other than annual shall be as described in the appropriate section.
Requirements for membership in addition to those set forth above are as follows:
Current membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics is a requirement for participatory membership classes. Associate membership is not considered participatory; therefore, current AMA membership is not required for that membership class. As per AMA guidelines, an individual may seek immediate membership in the AMA by making the appropriate application with a Club Contest Director. In this way, a Prospective membership candidate need not delay his/her application while waiting for AMA membership. ALL PERSONS, regardless of membership class, flying at the Club facility or at any Club sponsored or sanctioned function shall be a current member or the AMA and shall have proof of some in their possession while flying.
Prospective members who fulfilled the obligations of that membership class are entitled to consideration for Full membership. That consideration shall be the form of a vote made by Full members present at the first regular business meeting at which it would be practical to take such action. One or more dissensions [nays] shall preclude the candidate form Full membership. Abstentions [intentionally not voting] shall be counted as affirmatives [ayes].
All members are required to conduct themselves in a responsible manner when representing the Club, both on and off the field. All members shall exercise the reasonable diligence necessary to safeguard the property and equipment of the Club and other members. All members shall remain in good financial standing with the Club.
There shall be a maximum of forty members [membership entities, not individuals] at any given time. There shall be no maximum number of Associate or Prospective members.
Visitors may fly at the Club facility only as a guest of a Full member. That Full member must be present at all times while his/her guest visitor is flying. All visitors who wish to fly must display proof of current AMA membership.
Casual visitors [those modelers not affiliated with an R/C aeromodeling club] are limited to three flying visits per year.
Club affiliated visitors [those modelers who are members of another R/C aeromodeling club] are limited to a number of flying visits deemed reasonable and proper. By waiving the three-visit rule, the Club can extend an extra measure of hospitality to fellow modelers in other clubs.
Article III: Dues and Fees
Dues—those moneys levied against only Full members in return for the rights, privileges and considerations afforded that member class.
Fees—those moneys levied against all membership classes in return for the rights, privileges and consideration afforded that membership class.
Dues: Forty-eight dollars [$48] per year
Initiation fee: Fifty dollars [$50]
Prospective member fee: Twenty-five dollars [$25]
Associated members fee: Ten dollars [$10] per year
Grass cutting fee: Thirty-dollars [$30] per year
Each Club member is charged dues and fees as an appropriate means of raising capitol for the Club coffers.
As previously stated, the membership entity is considered to be a family. In practice, a family is frequently a single person, adult or minor, where only that person participates in club activities.
If a member is an adult, that person’s spouse and children are afforded club privileges at a reduced or no charge (see below). However, if a member is a minor, that person’s parents are NOT afforded club privileges based on his/her membership. If more than one member of a family wishes to utilize club facilities, the family who would be levied the highest dues amount must be the club member of record.
A minor with no other family members in the Club may participate at the full member level and be assessed dues at one half the amount of regular family membership. The member’s dues will increase to the regular family rate in January of the year following his/her nineteenth birthday.
Children of adult members who have become adults (over age nineteen by AMA definition) must seek their own FULL membership if they wish to retain club privileges.
Members voted to FULL membership during mid year will not be required to pay one full tear’s dues in advance. Instead, an amount based on one-twelfth the regular annual dues per full month remaining in the membership year shall be calculated. The incoming FULL member shall be required to pay this amount plus the appropriate fees.
All annual dues and fees are due and payable no later than the date of the regular January business meeting unless specific other arrangements have been made between the member and the Executive Committee. Any unpaid dues or fees or fraction thereof after this date shall be considered delinquent.
A one-time initiation fee of an appropriate amount (see Article III, Section 2) shall be levied against membership candidates at all membership levels.
The Club is not obligated to refund any dues and/or fees under any circumstances. The Club may, however, address individual cases as routine club business and take whatever action is deemed appropriate.
Article IV: Club Administration
Club administration shall be defined as the functions of those members holding elected office and volunteers and appointees serving on committees and other created positions. The purpose of these Club administrators is to uphold and enforce the Club laws and ensure that the Club functions in such a manner as to be an asset to the community and in general for the good of the membership.
There shall be six offices within the Club. These offices are President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Contest Director, and Safety Officer. There may be more than one Contest Director and/or Safety Officer. The holders of the offices of President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary shall constitute the Executive Committee.
President – Presides over and controls Club business meetings, acts as liaison between the Club and other persons and organizations, appoints committees.
Vice President – Administers field mowing plan, assumes duties of President when necessary.
Treasurer – Responsible for the collection, distribution, and safe keeping of all Club monies, maintains accurate and current records of all incoming and outgoing financial transactions, prepares and presents a monthly report of Club financial status, keeps financial records on each Club member and takes appropriate non-judicial administrative action to ensure that each member’s account is paid in full on a timely basis, notifies President of members in arrears.
Secretary – Records the minutes of each business meeting, maintains an on-going permanent record of said minutes, manages all incoming and out going Club correspondence except that managed by other officials, maintains a current membership roster containing at least name, address, dues/fees status, and AMA membership status of each Club member.
Contest Director – As defined by the AMA.
Safety Officer – As defined by the AMA.
The offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be filled by general election. This election shall be held at the December meeting. Voting shall be done by secret ballot. The winning candidate for any given office shall be the one, which receives the plurality of the votes cast by the members present. In the event of a tie vote, a tiebreaker vote will be held. Any FULL member in good standing may be nominated to serve in any office.
The term of office shall be one year commencing on the first day of January and terminating on the last day of December. There shall be no maximum number of terms, which may be served in any given office, consecutive or otherwise, by any given member.
The Executive Committee may create committees and/or other positions to be occupied by volunteers as it sees fit. These committees and/or positions may be temporary or permanent. Members of committees and occupants of positions may be volunteers or appointees. An example of a temporary committee is a group of volunteers assembled to research potential radio interference at the flying field. An example of a permanent position is that of newsletter editor.
All issues not specifically addressed in the by-laws must be a vote of the membership. That vote may be oral, a show of hands, or a secret ballot depending upon the sensitivity of the issue and/or request from the membership.
Only dues paying members in good standing may vote. (Note: Only FULL members pay dues. All other membership classes pay fees, not dues.) Each dues paying entity is entitled to cast one vote per issue.
Vacancies in any office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining officers, such appointments will serve to complete the term of the vacated office.
Article V: Meetings
A business meeting shall be defined as a scheduled gathering of Club members about which the general membership was aware. An impromptu gathering of a few Club members without the knowledge of the general membership does not constitute a business meeting; therefore, no binding decisions or policy changes can occur at such a gathering.
The purpose of business meetings is to provide an open forum at which Club business is transacted.
There is no minimum number of FULL members required to be present at any given business meeting to constitute a quorum. All business meetings are scheduled well in advance with the knowledge of the general membership. If a particular issue is to be discussed and decided upon and only a small number of FULL members attend that meeting, it is assumed that only those members in attendance are interested in the issue. It is, therefore, fitting that decisions regarding that issue be made by that small number of members.
Regularly scheduled business meetings shall be held monthly at a place and time agreeable to the majority of FULL members. This schedule may be set or modified by a simple majority action at any business meeting.
Special, unscheduled business meetings may be called only if the general membership is notified at least two weeks prior to the special meeting. Notifications may be accomplished via the Club newsletter, bulletin mailing, telephone or other suitable means.
Article VI: Treasure
The Club treasury shall be the financial holding area for all Club funds. The Club shall maintain a checking account at a local financial institution for this purpose. All Club monies shall be kept in said account. There shall be no holding of Club funds by any personnel other than the treasurer. There shall be no cash on handed for any purpose except that which has been collected and not yet deposited by the treasurer. Only the treasurer is authorized to write checks against the Club account.
Should the elected Treasurer be temporarily unable to execute the duties of the office, the President shall be the substitute Treasurer.
All Club debts which are to be satisfied monetarily [this excludes trades and barters] shall be paid by Club check. There shall be no checks written to the payee of “cash”.
All Club funds are the result of the community effort of those involved with raising said funds, whether through payment of dues and/or fees, event proceeds, or other sources. Therefore all expenditures and/or monetary commitments made on the behalf or in the name of the Club shall be reviewed and approved by the membership. No Club member or committee, except the Executive Committee [see below] shall be authorized to expend any funds, resources or any other Club assets or to make any financial commitment, except for routine operating expenses not exceeding $100.00 in the name of or on the behalf of the Club without first obtaining a two-thirds majority approval vote of those Full members present at the business meeting at which said proposed expenditure is discussed.
The executive committee shall be authorized to expend an amount not be exceed $50.00 in any given month to pay for Club operating expenses. These funds are to be used only for expenses incurred during normal business activities, which are urgent in nature, and Club business operation would be adversely affected if expenditure were delayed until the next business meeting. A complete accounting and report of all such expenditures shall be made to the membership at the next business meeting.
Under no circumstances shall the Club incur debts, which exceed the actual cash resources of the treasury. At no time shall the treasurer issue a check or checks, which would cause the check, register to show a negative balance.
All Club financial records shall be submitted by the treasurer in December of each year to an auditing committee appointed by the President. The auditing committee shall be comprised of no fewer than two adult Full members. No member currently holding an elected office may serve on the auditing committee.
Article VII: Dismissal from membership
Membership in the Club is a give and take proposition. Members are welcome to take what the Club has to offer such as the use of the flying facility, flight instruction, contest and events, and other tangible or intangible benefits of membership. These benefits, however, do not materialize out of thin air. They are given for the use of the membership through monies and effort supplied by the membership. Each member is expected to give as well as take. It would be unfair to the contributing members to have other members who consistently do not contribute a fair share to the good of the Club. Article VII describes the minimum required contribution and methods for removal of those who will not so contribute.
Any member two or more months in arrears in payment of the appropriate dues and/or fees is a candidate for dismissal from the Club.
Any member who knowingly operates his/her radio controlled model in violation of the “AMA Official Model Aircraft Regulations”, Club field rules, or in other manner which endangers the health and safety of others is a candidate for dismissal. Because each Club member is a full time representative of the Club, this governs all model activity at or away from the Club flying facility.
All members shall conduct themselves in such a manner as to provide for the reasonable safety of themselves and others. Reckless behavior will not be tolerated. All members shall maintain the demeanor necessary to convey the message that aero modeling is an entertaining and valuable learning experience and that the participants are responsible persons who are an asset to both the hobby and to the community.
Any Full member who unjustifiably refuses to participate in field maintenance or other Club work activities is a candidate for dismissal.
The Executive Committee may move to immediately suspend the privileges of any member allegedly guilty of any of the above infractions. That member’s conduct will be discussed as routine business at the next appropriate business meeting. A two thirds (2/3) majority vote of Full members present at that meeting is required to effect dismissal. This vote shall be accomplished by secret ballot.
The member who is the subject of such a dismissal hearing shall be notified no less than fourteen (14) days prior (unless waived by that member) to the business meeting at which such hearing is to occur. That member shall be afforded a fair and just opportunity to explain his/her actions and plead his/her case.
Any member dismissed from Club membership shall be notified in writing by the secretary. Said notification shall state the date and grounds for dismissal.
The Executive Committee shall have the discretionary authority to provide for and to impose disciplinary action for and to impose disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which come short of cause for dismissal of membership. This disciplinary action is puissant to a sample majority of committee votes.
Article VIII: Review and distribution of by-laws
The Club by-laws shall be reviewed and open to modification at least once per year. This activity shall be a scheduled part of every January business meeting and may be part of any other business meeting.
The current revision of the Club by-laws shall be distribution to the general membership at least once per year. The current by-laws shall be presented to each Prospective member at the beginning of said membership term.
Article IX: Dissolution
St. Croix Valley R/C Club may be dissolved with the approval of a simple majority vote of members present at the next business meeting following written communications of intent to dissolve presented to all members by mail. Proof of mailing is not required by the club to constitute fulfilling its responsibility in this matter.
Upon dissolution of the Club, the Executive Committee shall, after paying all liabilities for the Club, will dispose of the assets in accordance with acceptable practices to conform to all internal revenue and non-profit status roles. Any costs of dissolution of Club will be covered as a liability pre-dissolution.
Article X: Grievance procedure and ground safety rules
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 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 to be filled out and turned into the Executive Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form.
The Executive Committee shall use its judgment carrying out action on the following:
A grievance form will be filled out and turned into the Safety Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required.
First Violation—viewpoints of both complainant and accused will be considered, complainant 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.
Second Violation--Complainants name will be disclosed, the accused has the right to a rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Committee, if the Committee decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be eligible for suspension. Written notice of this shall be issued and recorded.
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 interim. [Longer if deemed necessary by the Executive Committee]. A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a 2/3s majority of members 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 with a one-year period of time. 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 deemed to be retaliatory by the Executive Committee.