BY-LAWS
of the
GREAT LAKES
EAGLES
founded January 4, 1982
Chartered
Club Chapter #97 of the
INTERNATIONAL
MINIATURE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION
A special interest group supporting giant scale model aviation.
ARTICLE 1: DUTIES
1. Club Name: The name of this Club shall be the "Great Lakes Eagles",
hereinafter referred to as the "Club".
2. Board of Directors: the management of the affairs of the Club shall be vested
in the Board of Directors who shall have the authority to establish and administer
its policies. The Board will consist of the Officers and Chairpersons as defined
in this Article. Official decisions may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) majority
mail vote or by a quorum at a Board of Director meeting. A quorum shall consist
of at least 50% of the current Board members. Official decisions shall be consistent
with the stated purposes and objectives of the AMA as set forth in its Bylaws
and, where those Bylaws are not specified, vested in the sound discretion of
the Board of Directors.
3. President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall
act as a spokesperson in all matters pertaining to it.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due and shall keep a record
of moneys disbursed by the Club.
7. Safety Committee Chairman/Safety Officer: The Safety Committee Chairman/Safety
Officer 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.
8. Contest/Event Committee Chairman: The Contest/Event Committee Chairman shall
be responsible for coordinating and establishing, in conjunction with all the
Club's Contest Directors, a schedule for the next contest/event season. The
schedule will be decided by the Contest Directors, and approved by the members.
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 two (2) years following
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 November. Mail-in ballots
will be made available for those members who have voting rights but cannot attend
the meeting. Those ballots, returned by mail before the next meeting, will be
counted as if those persons were present at the meeting. New officers will take
office immediately after the November 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. Contest Director, etc.
2. Nomination of Club officers shall be made at the general membership meeting
during the month of October. 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 elections, for removal of a Club officer,
a member of the Board of Directors, 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: COMMITTEES
1. The committees 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.
ARTICLE 6: MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATION
1. Club communication to members will be by phone and/or email with links provided
to the Club web site.
2. Regular meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the Club
officers and published at the Club web site.
3. Club officers may call special meetings with no less than five days prior
notice of a special meeting. The purpose of the special meeting shall be stated
in the notice.
4. At any Club meeting a simple majority shall be over 50% of the members voting
at the meeting.
5. Any member or probationary member of the Club may initiate a formal request
for action by the Board of Directors by submitting a written proposal to the
President. The proposal shall include a written description of the nature, type,
and extent of the Board action recommended. The President of the Board shall
forward copies of the proposal to other members of the Board of Directors for
their consideration. Either the President, or any other Board member, may have
the matter placed upon the working agenda of the next Club meeting.
ARTICLE 7: DUES AND MEMBERSHIP
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, except
under extraordinary circumstances, which will
be determined by the Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis. Dues are to
be paid in January and no later than the March Club meeting.
2. No special assessment shall be levied upon the Club membership, unless it
is approved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) 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 October through December will pay an initiation fee
at the then-current rate. This will cover the membership dues until the end
of the current year and will cover the cost of the Club cap, shirt, etc.
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 April 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.
ARTICLE 8: MEMBER STANDING
1. All persons shall be eligible for membership, and shall agree to abide by
the Club's bylaws, and those of the AMA.
2. The membership shall be divided into the following categories:
a. Active Member: Is sixteen (16) years old or older and has full privileges
and voting rights. Dues: Full Member rate plus AMA Membership
b. Associate Member: Designated "EM", a Non-Flyer, who is interested
in the activities of the Club, has no voting rights and receives Club communications.
c. Honorary Member: A lifetime member as a result of extraordinary performance
in support of the Club. So designated by a vote of the membership at a regular
meeting. Such a member pays no annual dues.
3. Flying members will be required to hold and maintain a license issued by
the AMA. All first-time flying members applicants, as well as present flying
members seeking membership renewal, must show proof of membership in the AMA.
Non-flying and Associate Members do not require AMA membership.
4. Before joining the Club, new members shall be introduced in person by their
sponsor. The membership, by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting,
shall approve any application for membership. The applicant will be on probation
for one (1) calendar year subsequent to the approval of his/her application
for membership. After this probationary period has ended, his/her membership
application may again become subject to the approval of the Club. Probationary
members are ineligible to hold any elected office in the Club.
5. Any member receiving a safety Grievance as stated in Article 16, who is involved
in non-flying violations, or who has key information of a non-flying violation
and withholds it from the Board of Directors, may at the Board of Directors'
discretion be placed on probation for one (1) year regardless of his or her
tenure in the Club.
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 Board of Directors, become the responsibility
of the Board of Directors as stated in Article 1, Duties, Section 1 of these
Bylaws. Any individual may be expelled from membership from the Club by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the Board of Directors if, in the Board of Directors'
determination, 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 Board of Directors.
5. The Board of Directors shall have the discretionary authority to provide
for and to impose disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which do not
justify expulsion from membership.
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 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. Mail-in ballots will be made available for those Full members who cannot attend the meeting. Those ballots, returned by mail before the next meeting, will be counted as if those persons were present at the 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 President will have discretionary spending, of up to $500.00 without
requiring Club approval.
ARTICLE 12: DURATION
1. The duration of this Club shall be perpetual.
ARTICLE 13: DISSOLUTION
1. The Club may be dissolved with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3)-majority
vote of the total membership.
2. Upon the dissolution of the Club, the Board shall, after paying or making
provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Club, dispose of
all the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the purposes of the Club in
such manner, to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc., or to such other organization
or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational,
religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization
or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, or to such other organization with purposes similar to the purposes
of this Club, as the Board shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed
of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas (or similar court) of the
county in which the principal office of this Club is then located, exclusively
for such purposes and to such organization or organizations, as said court shall
determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE 14: NOT APPLICABLE
ARTICLE 15: LOGO
1. The official Club logo shall be as is found on the club web site.
ARTICLE 16: 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 Board
of Directors.
Great Lakes Eagles - Club Grievance Form
Date: ____________________ Time : _______________________
Nature of Violation:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________________
Witness: ________________________________________
Additional Witnesses (not required):
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Revised: 03/07/2002. The original GLE Consitiution was eliminated in favor of this more comprehensive ByLaws revision.