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 ST. ALBANS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (STARC) and enact this constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community, to include public service and assistance in emergency communication when called upon.
Membership: Article I
All persons interested in Amateur Radio communications shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall be by application upon such terms as the club shall provide in its By-law’s.
Officers: Article II
Sec. 1 The officers of this club shall be:
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Alternate Treasurer.
Sec. 2 The officers of this club shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the Active members present, provided there be a quorum, at the annual meeting. The President and Vice-President are limited to two (2) consecutive terms in their respective offices.
Sec. 3 Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special elections at the first regular meeting following the withdrawal or resignation.
Sec. 4 Officers may be removed by three-fourths vote of the Active membership.
Sec. 5 The officers, sitting as the Business Committee, must have a minimum of three (3) “voting Officers” present out of the five (5) officers, in order to conduct business.
Duties of Officers: Article III
Sec. 1 The President shall preside at all meetings of this club, and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He/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. Moreover, he/she shall be an active Liaison with and seek support from Community Leaders across the N1STA-K1JAY coverage area. Chair the Officers Meetings, be an active Member of the Budget and Funding Committee and assist Officers, Committee Chairs and Members in their efforts.
Sec. 2 The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President in his/her absence. In addition, he/she shall be an active Member of the Website and Publicity Committee and advance club interest and activity as approved by the club.
Sec. 3 The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, submit membership applications, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting, and mail written Special meeting notices to each member. At the expiration of his/her term he/she shall turn over all items belonging to the club to his/her successor.
Sec. 4 The Treasurer or Alternate Treasurer shall Chair the Budget and Funding Committee, receive and receipt for all monies paid to the club; keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended; pay no bills without proper authorization (by the club or its officers constituting a Business Committee), provide a Treasurer’s report to the monthly General Membership Meeting; and provide a written or electronic copy to the Secretary. At the end of each quarter he/she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the end of his/her term he/she shall turn over everything in his/her possession belonging to the club to his/her successor. If the Treasurer is a non-member of STARC, then the Alternate Treasurer must be a member, and vice-versa.
On payment of dues, issue the appropriate Membership Card for the calendar year. Report delinquent dues to the Secretary on a monthly basis. (Affects voting status at the General meetings)
Meetings: Article IV
The By-laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. At a meeting, a quorum is required in order to conduct business. The quorum must be a minimum of ten percent (10%) of Active Members, one (1) of whom must be a voting officer.
Robert’s Rules shall govern proceedings.
Dues: Article V
Dues apply only to Active and Associate Members, as defined in the STARC Bylaws.
Membership Assistance: Article VI
The club shall provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice, and absence of spurious radiation from club member stations. The club shall also maintain a program to foster and guide public relations.
Write-in Votes: Article VII
Proxy balloting by mail must be received by the Secretary, five days prior to the vote. The absentee ballot will be opened and tallied in the presence of the membership, by the Election Committee at the designated time of the vote. Proxy ballots may be delivered by hand to an Officer at the start of the meeting.
Amendments: Article VIII
This Constitution or the By-laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of active vote participants. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting, posted to the STARC website, sent out to members of the STARC email distribution list and shall be voted on at the next following regular meeting, either in person, or by proxy ballots. Proxy ballots may be submitted by postal mail to the STARC post office mailbox, or submitted via email to the STARC Info email box ( info@starc.org )
Protection of Assets: Article IX:
STARC Officers will take all reasonable means to protect the organization’s assets.
By-laws:
- Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the Constitution and By-laws of the club and have the same with him/her at every meeting. He/she shall note amendments, changes and additions to the constitution and shall permit it to be consulted by the members upon request. The STARC, Inc. Constitution and By-laws shall also be posted on the Club website.
- Membership: Applications for membership shall be submitted at regular meetings.
A. Active Membership:If renewing a STARC membership:
- This Active Member is a licensed Amateur Radio Operator who was a STARC Active Member one month prior to this renewal of membership, and
- his/her annual dues are paid in full by the close of business at the March meeting.
If a new STARC membership:
3. A new Active membership takes effect at the STARC meeting following acceptance of the application for membership, providing that dues have been paid in full.
Active members have the right to vote, the right to be nominated for any office, the right to hold only one office at a given time, and the right to be designated as an Honorary member.
Within the same family, multiple licensed Amateur Radio Operators may be STARC Active members by full payment of one (1) “Family Membership” annual dues. Non-amateurs within that family may choose to secure Associate Membership. All members of that family will be welcome at STARC activities, but only licensed Amateurs in that family will have the rights of Active membership.
B. Supporting Membership:
A Supporting Member is a licensed Amateur Radio Operator who donates funds to STARC, but is unable to or does not wish to take part in STARC meetings. A Supporting Member has the right to be welcomed at STARC activities to take part in the fellowship and to have his/her voice heard relative to Amateur Radio issues. A Supporting Member has the right to vote if present at a meeting, but may not hold office. A Supporting Member who is not present at a meeting does not degrade the ability to have a quorum at the meeting.
C. Associate Membership:
An Associate Member is an individual who is not required to hold an Amateur Radio license, but who takes part in STARC activities for the betterment ofSTARC and for personal satisfaction. He/she has paid the Associate Member annual dues, with the same timing as that required of an Active Member. An Associate Member may hold the office of Secretary, Treasurer or Alternate Treasurer, and may take part in all STARC activities. An Associate Member may speak to the issue at hand at any STARC General Membership or Special Meeting and has the right to vote.
D. Honorary Membership:
An Active Member may be honored by being voted to Honorary Membership. He/she will be a voting member who need never pay annual dues, who will be welcomed at all STARC activities, and who will be honored for his/her past and present contributions to STARC and/or to Amateur Radio. His/her voice will be heard.
Table of Membership Rights and Duties:
| Licensed Amateur | Pays STARC Dues | Has Right to Vote | Quorum Count | Has a Voice IF at the Meeting | |||||
| Member | YES | NO | YES | NO | YES | NO | If Present | If Absent | |
| Active | X | X | X | Helps | Neutral | Yes | |||
| Supporting | X | X | X | Helps | Neutral | Yes | |||
| Associate | X | X | X | X | Helps | Neutral | Yes | ||
| Honorary | X | X | X | Helps | Neutral | Yes |
3. Meetings:
General Membership meetings shall be at a time and place posted on the STARC website. Special meetings may be called by the President upon the written request of any five club members. Notices shall be sent to members concerning Special meetings and the business to be transacted. Only such business as designated shall be transacted at a Special Meeting. Such notices shall be sent so that they will arrive not less than 24 hours before the meeting.
4. Dues:
A regular annual assessment of dues shall be published by STARC, $ 15.00 per Active Member, and $20.00 per Active Family Membership (up to five members), that amount being due by the close of business at the March meeting, in accordance with the provisions in Article V of the Constitution. An Active Member’s Right to Vote is contingent upon a member’s dues being current. Associate Membership dues are $10.00 for an individual, and $15.00 for an Associate Family. An Honorary Member pays no dues. A Life Member pays no dues for life.
5. Officers Meeting:
The board of officers, meeting as the Business Committee, may conduct their meeting as needed. An Officers Meeting shall be called when requested by a minimum of 2 Officers.
6. Club Repeaters:
The club will assist in the maintenance of the STARC repeaters, N1STA and K1JAY. Repeater funding shall be addressed in the annual STARC Budget.
7. Club Repeater Sites:
Any trespassing on the repeater sites will jeopardize our use of the repeaters. Only persons responsible for the maintenance of the repeaters, and their designees, are allowed to be on the repeater sites.
8. Membership Termination:
A membership may be terminated under the following conditions:
Any member may request, in writing to an Officer, that a Membership be terminated for improper conduct, that which violates the STARC Constitution or Bylaws, or the FCC Regulations.
STARC Officers will then investigate. The Secretary will send a letter within 30 days to the affected member indicating the results of their investigation. The letter will be sent by Certified Mail to the member’s most recent address on STARC records. The process of termination of membership shall be handled by mail, and not at general meetings. The affected member may request a meeting with STARC Officers to address the issue of termination. The issue shall be the sole responsibility of the Officers of the club whose decision shall be final. A simple majority of Officers must agree in order for the termination to take effect.
9. Organizational Statement:
This club is an organization dedicated to enhance the enjoyment of amateur radio for its members. We will work to share with each other in all different aspects of this hobby. Everybody has something to share with the membership whether it be experience, knowledge, or the desire to learn from others. So simply stated – ENJOY THE HOBBY AND HAVE FUN!
The constitution and By-laws are enacted on this the 17 day of November in the year of 2016.
Signed By:
Note: It is STARC, Inc policy to not display signatures on the World Wide Web.
Bylaws Committee:
Elected Club Officers at effective date of this Constitution and Bylaws:
Arn Benjamin (N1ARN) – President
Homer Wetherby (N1WXB) – Vice-President
Jason Garneau (K1LOL) – Treasurer
IRS Required Amendment to St. Albans Amateur Radio Club Charter, per letter received on 11/5/2001
a. The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific purposes under section 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
b. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
c. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
