Sterling Miniature Aircraft Association
(SMAA)
ARTICLE 1: DUTIES
1. President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall act as a spokesperson in all matters pertaining to it.
2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act for the President when he/ she is unable to serve, and is to maintain an accurate record (including place of storage) of all Club assets. The Vice-President shall be the Safety Officer and shall be responsible for chairing the safety committee and ensuring existing are enforced. This includes processing the grievance forms and following the existing grievance procedure documented in the by-laws.
3. Secretary: The Secretary shall record minutes of each Club meeting and handle all correspondence pertaining to Club activities. He/she will also be the Club's contact person with AMA in case of questions, problems or situations.
4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due and shall keep a record of moneys disbursed by the Club.
ARTICLE 2: AUDIT
1. The President or his appointees will make a periodic audit of the Treasurer's books.
ARTICLE 3: TERMS OF OFFICE
1. All elected officers of the Club shall serve for one (1) year from date of election. Officers are to be elected by a vote of simple majority of those present at the regular meeting in the month of February. New officers will take office immediately after the February meeting. Personnel will be appointed by the elected officers and confirmed by a simple majority vote of those members present during a regular meeting: i.e. Newsletter Editor, Contest Director, etc.
2. Nomination of Club officers shall be made at the general membership meeting during the month of February. Nominations for office may be made by any active Club member holding voting rights, either in person or by submitting a proxy nomination to an existing officer. All known nominations for office will be published in the newsletter prior to the election.
3. A secret ballot is required for the inclusion and for expulsion of a member from the Club unless waived by a simple majority vote of the members present at the meeting.
ARTICLE 4: VACANCIES
1. Vacancies in any office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining officers, such appointee to serve until the end of the term for which is predecessor was elected.
ARTICLE 5: COMMITTEE
1. The committee of the Club shall be appointment by the President and may be approved by a simple majority vote of the members present at a meeting (if a vote is requested), to serve throughout the term, or less, of his tenure of office. Standing Committees are the Safety Committee and the Field Maintenance Committee.
ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS
1. Regular meetings shall be held the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm at either the club field or Sterling Computer Center depending on the time of year. Or a place designated by the Club officers and published in the Club newsletter.
2. Club officers may call special meetings with no less than five days prior written notice of a special meeting. The purpose of the special meeting shall be stated in the written notice.
3. Simple majority 51% of the Passage or Rejection of any issue brought before the membership needs a members present at the club meeting.
4. Any member or probationary member of the Club may initiate a formal request for action by submitting a written proposal to the President. The proposal shall include a written description of the nature, type, and extent of the Club action recommended. The President shall forward copies of the proposal to other members of the SMAA members for their consideration. Either the President, or any other SMAA member, may have the matter placed upon the working agenda of the next Club meeting.
1.
The annual dues to be paid to the Club shall be determined by the Club
officers with the approval of a simple majority vote. Dues are non-refundable.
Dues are presently $ 40.00 per year (for those who are over 18 years of age), $
5.00 of which goes into a separate maintenance savings account.
Members who are 18 years of age or younger shall pay ½ of the regular
club dues. Dues are to be paid no later than the February
Club meeting.
2.
No special assessment shall be levied upon the Club membership, unless it
is approved by a vote of two-thirds simple majority of the members present at
the regular monthly meeting, and the members have been given five (5) days prior
notice along with an explanation of the assessment.
3.
New members who join in July 1st through December will pay initiation fee
and rates of $25.00. This will cover the membership dues until the end of
the year.
4.
A member shall be in arrears and shall not be considered active if
his/her dues have not been paid as provided in Article 7, Section 1. Any member
who allows their membership to lapse beyond March 1 of any year shall be
considered a new member when renewing their membership and will not be given
preference over any other applicant should a membership waiting list be in
existence.
5.
Types of membership and limits on the total number of members shall be
determined by the Club officers and approved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3)
majority of the members present at the meeting.
6.
Public Service bill is due on or before September 1st
7.
The club charter with AMA will be renewed before March 31st
each year.
ARTICLE 8: MEMBER STANDING
1. Any individual can join SMAA and be a member in full standing upon being voted on at the monthly meeting. The new member agrees to SMAA Bylaws and AMA rules and payment of dues.
2. Being a member in good standing means that you will help support the club activities and help maintain the field so long as we have them.
ARTICLE 9: RESIGNATION, TERMINATION, DISCIPLINARY
ACTION, EXPULSION AND REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP
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.
3. This section provides for enforcement of the Safety Rules that are related to flying activities. Any other unacceptable behavior by an individual member or members, as defined by the SMAA members. Any individual may be expelled from membership from the Club by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of SMAA members present 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.
4. Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the SMAA members present at the monthly meeting.
ARTICLE 10: AMENDMENTS
1. Amendments may be made to the Constitution and these bylaws at any general meeting of the Club membership, provided the members shall have been notified in writing at least five (5) days in advance that the amendments are to be considered. Copies of the proposed amendments shall be provided to all members as part of the notification. Amendments shall be approved by no less than a two-third (2/3) majority vote of the members present, at the regular monthly meeting.
ARTICLE 11: SPECIAL FUNDS
1. The Treasurer of the Club is authorized to receive contributions or specially obtained funds from any individual or institution, to be applied to the operating expenses of the Club.
2. The SMAA Officers will have discretionary spending, of up to $25.00 without requiring Club approval.
ARTICLE 12: DURATION
1. The duration of this Club shall be perpetual.
1. The SMAA club members will be responsible to remove all structures and return the field to its natural state. This requirement is necessary in the event the club should ever disband or be evicted from the flying site
ARTICLE 14: LOGO
1. The official Club logo shall be as on the first page of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE 15: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE (FLIGHT AND GROUND SAFETY 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 Safety Committee for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form to be filled out and turned into the Safety Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form.
2. Safety Committee
The Safety Committee shall use its judgment in carrying out action on the following:
(a) A grievance form (see page 9) will be filled out and turned into the Safety Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required.
(b) FIRST VIOLATION
a. Viewpoints of both complainants and accused will be considered.
b. Complainant s name will be disclosed.
c. A verbal reprimand will be given to the accused by the Safety Committee, and this will be recorded in the
Committee files.
(c) SECOND VIOLATION
a. Complainant s name will be disclosed.
b. The accused has the right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Committee.
c. 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
a. 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.
b. Said expulsion will last for a one-year minimum. (Longer if deemed necessary by the Board of Directors).
c. A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present at the meeting.
d. Voting will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting.
e. The expelled member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the expulsion time period.
(e) The three actions will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period of time.
(f) 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 SMAA members.
3. At the field:
(a) All aircraft, while engine is running, will be restrained in the pit area whether departing or arriving. There will be no taxing in the pits with an unrestrained aircraft.
(b) Flying over the pits is not allowed, if this is not observed, the first warning will be verbal by the safety officer. Please refer to Article 16, Section 2C for the second violation.
ARTICLE 16: FIELD AND MAINTENANCE
1. No individual may fly more then three times in a calendar year without becoming a full member of SMAA. Club sanctioned events are excluded. Non-member flying will be by invitation only and must be accompanied by a SMAA club member. This Courtesy will not be abused!
2. Any individual flying at the SMAA field must have a current AMA card.
3. Field Maintenance: The person that is voted on, and their back up, will be paid the specified amount per mowing. Who ever mows; sprays weeds and waters.
Please read, sign and date to show that you understand the above.
Name____________________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________________
AMA#____________________________________________________
Radio Channel#/s__________________________________________
Date:________________________ Time:______________________
Nature of Violation:
Signature:_____________________________
Witness:_____________________________