NORTH FLORIDA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY CONSTITUTION

We, the undersigned, desiring to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio by furthering better cooperation among its members, developing individual efficiency, furthering the interest of radio in the general community, do hereby constitute ourselves, the North Florida Amateur Radio Society and do enact this constitution as our governing law.

ARTICLE ONE: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: All persons interested in Amateur Radio shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2: All members holding a valid FCC Amateur Radio operator license shall be called a Full Member and entitled to full voting privileges.
Section 3: All persons not holding a valid Amateur Radio operator license shall be called an Associate Member. Associate Members will not be accorded voting privileges but are not to be excluded from club activities.
Section 4: The Society may confer honorary membership upon those persons who in the opinion of the board have made a definite contribution to the purposes of his Society. Honorary members have Associate Member privileges.
Section 5: Full members may apply for life membership upon payment of a sum equal to fifteen times the current annual dues. A Life Member has full membership privileges.

ARTICLE TWO: OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of this Society shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Activities Manager.
Section 2: The Board of Directors of this Society shall consist of the elected officers and the two immediate past-presidents of this Society provided that they are members in good standing.
Section 3: Election of officers shall be held at the November meeting. At the October meeting, a nominating committee consisting of the president and two full members elected at large from the Society shall present a list of candidates to be voted upon, it being ascertained that these candidates are fitted for the office and are willing to serve if elected. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Election shall be by secret ballot and majority vote shall elect. The terms of office shall be the calendar year.
Section 4: Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by a special ballot at the first regular meeting after which the withdrawal or resignation is announced.
Section 5: Officers shall be removed by a 3/4ths vote of the full membership of the Society.

ARTICLE THREE: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: The president shall preside at all meetings of this Society and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. He or she shall enforce due observance of this constitution and by-laws; certify documents that are adopted by this Society and perform all customary duties pertaining to the office of president. He or she shall be chairperson of the nominating committee.
Section 2: The vice president shall assume all duties of the president in the absence of the latter. He or she shall be the club property officer and maintain an up to date inventory of equipment owned by the Society or signed out on receipt from any other organization or person.
Section 3: The secretary shall keep a record of proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of members, receive applications for membership, carry on correspondence and read communications at each meeting.
Section 4: The treasurer shall receipt for monies paid to the Society. He or she shall keep an accurate record of all monies received and expended and shall pay no bills without proper authorization by the Society membership or Board of Directors.
Section 5: The activities manager shall organize Society radio station activities, contests for enjoyment and general interest maintaining activities. He or she shall maintain liaison with the ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Section Emergency Coordinator to further Society participation in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. He or she shall encourage stations in reporting activities properly to the Society bulletin and the ARRL Section Manager-all these things to make the standing of the Society and Amateur Radio activities in the community as outstanding as possible. He or she may appoint committees or assistants to assist in specific branches of activities.


ARTICLE FOUR: MEETINGS

Section 1: The by-laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, one tenth of the voting membership shall provide a quorum for transaction of business.

ARTICLE FIVE: DUES

Section 1: The North Florida Amateur Radio Society, Inc. by majority vote of those present at any regular meeting, may levy upon the general membership such dues and assessments as deemed necessary for the business of the Society. Non payment of such annual dues or assessments by March 31st shall be cause for expulsion from the Society.

ARTICLE SIX: MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE

Section 1: The Society, through designated members and committees, shall provide technical assistance to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency allocation observance, clean signals and absence of spurious radiation from Society member stations.

ARTICLE SEVEN: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: The constitution or by-laws may be amended by a 2/3rds vote of Society members present at a meeting provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend at said meeting. Proposals or amendments shall be submitted at a regular meeting and may not be voted upon until the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE EIGHT: PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON

Section 1: The Program Chairperson shall be appointed by the president and shall be responsible for the presentation and preparation of programs at regular meetings.

ARTICLE NINE: RULES

Section 1: Roberts Rules of Order shall govern proceedings.

NORTH FLORIDA AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY BY-LAWS

SECTION ONE: DUES

Any person, upon filing formal application with the secretary, may be admitted to the Society subject to a majority vote upon any member objecting to an admission and filing a statement with the Board of Directors. Only members in good standing shall be entitled to vote or hold office in this Society.

DUES SCHEDULE

Full Member-----------------$5 per calendar year

Associate Member----------$5 per calendar year

Age 18 or younger----------$2.50 per calendar year

Additional family members----$2.50 per year

PRORATED DUES SCHEDULE

Jan 1st through March 31st--------100% of dues for calendar year
April 1st through June 30th--------80% of dues for calendar year
July 1st through Sept. 30th--------60% of dues for calendar year
October 1st through Dec. 31st-----40% of dues for calendar year

Application for membership shall be accompanied by appropriate dues. In cases of more than one member of the same immediate family living at the same address, the first member shall pay the full regular or associate member rate and any other member in the same immediate family shall pay the reduced rate. Annual renewal dues are due and payable on January 1st of each year. Memberships not renewed by March 31st are considered delinquent and will be removed from the membership roster. Such members may be reinstated by payment of the prescribed annual dues in arrears.

SECTION TWO: QUORUM

A quorum of members must be present at any meeting before any official business can be conducted. A quorum shall consist of at least one tenth of the members in good standing. All powers not specifically given to the officers shall remain with the full membership. A meeting of the full membership shall be necessary for: (A) election of officers (B) expulsion from membership (C) amendment of the constitution or by-laws (D) approval of subject upon which there is substantial disagreement among the officers.

SECTION THREE: MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held on the second Thursday of each month except August and December at 1930 hours at such place as the president shall order. Special meetings may be called by the president upon written request of any five members of the Society. Notices shall be sent so that in ordinary postal delivery they shall arrive at least 24 hours before the time therein set for the special meeting. Only such business as is designated in the said notice shall be transacted at such special meeting.

SECTION FOUR: COMMITTEES

The president of the North Florida Amateur Radio Society shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to carry out the requirements of the Society. Committees shall report to the Society on any action taken.