Preamble: We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, constitute ourselves the Northeast Amateur Radio Club and enact this constitution as our governing law. The primary purposes of the Club are:
- To further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency.
- To establish and operate an association of persons, dedicated to the operation of amateur radio and to so conduct activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio.
- To provide communications services to various non-profit groups in support of their activities, its members and the Amateur Radio community in general.
Article 1. Fiscal year
The fiscal year of Northeast Amateur Radio Club (“the club”) shall be coincident with the calendar year and shall encompass the period January 1 to December 31, inclusive. This period shall also be the measure of the term of each officer and member of the Board of Directors.
Article 2. Officers
Section 1. The officers of this club shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the members present, provided there be a quorum, at the annual meeting.
Section 3. Vacancies occurring between elections may be filled by Board of Directors appointment for the remainder of the term.
Section 4. Removal of Officers. Any officer whether duly elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by 2/3 vote of the Board whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Club would be served thereby or by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meeting of the Association. With the exception of the 6 founding forefathers of the club, Russell Apgar K1RTA, William Kretschmer N2KNL, David Hood W1KB, David Stevens N1DRS, Jaclyn Swenson K1JKS, Jerry Mailly WG1M shall be life members and not be voted out.
Section 5. The office of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person.
Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The President shall be Chairman of the Board and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint any standing or ad hoc committees necessary to conduct the business of the club.
Article 3. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings, and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He or she 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. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall enforce provisions of the by-laws, decide all questions of order, and sign all official documents which may be adopted by the organization. The President shall be "ex officio" member of all committees.
Section 2. The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in his or her absence.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the constitution and By-Laws of the club and have the same with him or her at every meeting. He or she shall note all amendments, changes and additions to the constitution and notify the membership of such changes. The Secretary is also responsible for processing of new requests for membership and maintaining an accurate roster. The by-laws will be made available to the membership by request of a printed copy and through their availability on the Club's web site and or via email. At the end of his or her term he or she shall turn over all items belonging to the club to his or her successor. It shall also be the responsibility of the secretary to take accurate minutes of all club meetings.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid to the Club; keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended and pay no bills without proper authorization. At the end of each year he or she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the end of his or her term he or she shall turn over everything in his or her possession belonging to the Club to his or her successor.
Article 4. Board of Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of six (6) members as follows: The President, Vice President, Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer), Secretary and as many other Directors as required to total at least 6 members. The Board of Directors shall serve as the operations committee and oversee all business of the Club including the legal and proper operations of all Club activity.
Section 2. Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, three (3) directors present in person shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Action in Lieu of Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting with the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the directors, if all members of the Board shall individually and collectively consent to such action.
Section 4, Candidates for office/director Candidates for office may be nominated by petitions signed by five or more members provided that such petitions are filed with the Secretary before balloting starts at the annual business meeting.
Section 5. Term of Office All officers and elected Directors shall be elected by ballot at the annual business meeting, provided there is a quorum, and shall continue in office for one year to coincide with the club year.
Section 6, Vacancies occurring between the elections shall be filled by special ballot at the first regular meeting following the official announcement of such vacancy.
Section 7. Removal of Officers Officers and Board members may be removed in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 sec. 4
Section 8. Powers The Board of Directors shall have power to:
a. Manage the affairs of the Club to plan and promote measures for its growth.
b. Transact the business of the Club in the interim between meetings and report the same at the next meeting.
c. Provide for the auditing of the Treasurer's books.
Article 5. Members
Section 1. Eligibility. All licensed Amateur Radio operators 18 years of age or older shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Application procedure. Membership shall be by approval of the Board of Directors by vote.
Section 3. Classes of Membership. There shall be one (1) voting class of membership, that of full voting member.
Article 6. Meetings
Two normal club meetings will be held at the New England Amateur Radio Festival event (NEARfest). Once in the spring and once in the fall.
The By-Laws shall provide for an annual meeting to be held in December, and special meetings may be called with due notice. At meetings, a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Article 7. Dues
Section 1 The Club, by majority vote of those present at any annual meeting, may levy upon the general membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization. Non-payment of such dues or assessments for a period of forty-five (45) days after the due date (January 1 of the current year) may be cause for loss of membership privileges.
Article 8. General
Section 1. Procedures.
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority of this organization.
Section 2. By-law amendments. Proposals for amendments to the by-laws shall be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing. The Board may elect to vote on by-laws amendments at a meeting. To be able to vote, 15% of the board members must be present and shall be required to adopt any by-law amendments.
Article 9. Dissolution of Organization
In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the Club shall, after payment of necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to another (other) organization(s) that will best accomplish the general purposes for which this Club was formed.