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Bylaws

Bylaws

(Last Amended May 2023)

DEFINITIONS

DEFINITIONS Herein, the terms Club, Organization on and WCRA shall mean Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs. The term FULL member shall mean other than ASSOCIATE member, as referred to in Article IV.

ARTICLE I: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Robert’s Rules of Order shall normally be the authority for action by this organization except in those cases covered specifically by the constitution or By-Laws.

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS

Election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting each year, by a majority vote of the FULL members present. Officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected, except that the President, Secretary and Property Custodian elected at the annual meeting in 1999 shall be serve for a term of one (1) year. Each term of office shall begin on May 1 of the year in which elected.

An executive session of the outgoing and incoming Executive Board members shall be held not later than twenty-one (21) days following the annual meeting.

Executive Board

This Board shall consist of the five officers of the Club, of which the Club President shall preside as Chairperson. It shall be authorized to suggest policies, new projects, programs, appoint committee chairpersons, and to carry on such business as may be required in the general operation of the Club. Executive Board meetings will be announced and all FULL members may attend, except during executive sessions.

President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club, and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He/she shall enforce due observance of the By-Laws, decide all questions of order, sign all official documents adopted by the Club, appoint committee chairpersons, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President. At the expiration of the term, he/she shall turn over all records and items belonging to the club to the successor.

Vice President

The Vice President shall assume all the duties of the President in his/her absence. In addition, he/she shall make arrangements for the location, refreshments and necessary clean-up pertaining to all club meetings, and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the club President and as otherwise provided in these By-Laws. At the expiration of the term, he/she shall turn over all records and items belonging to the club to the successor.

Secretary

The Secretary shall keep a record of the attendance and proceedings of all club meetings, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each meeting, and arrange for written meeting notices to each member. At the expiration of the term, he/she shall turn over all records and items belonging to the Club to the successor.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all money paid to the Club, keep accurate accounts of all money received and spent, and pay bills with Executive Board approval. At the end of each quarter he/she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursement 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.

Property Custodian

The duty of the Property Custodian shall be to keep control and cost data, in a bound book provided by the club for that purpose, on all equipment owned by the Club. Such equipment may be loaned to Club members by him/her, but only for stated periods of time. The member borrowing equipment shall sign for it in the record book. Members shall be required to return equipment to the Property Custodian at the time specified, and shall not lend it to other members or non-members. It shall also be the duty of the Property Custodian to keep the equipment in good operating condition, requesting any assistance needed from the Club members, Where amounts greater than the approved budget are required to repair equipment, authorization must be approved by a majority of voting FULL members present at a regular meeting. 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.

ARTICLE III: COMMITTEES

This organization shall be operated under the following standing committees:

Program Committee

This committee shall consist of up to three members, and the Vice President as chairperson. It shall be the duty of this committee to provide programs and refreshments for the regular meetings.

Training Committee

This committee shall consist of not less than three members. It shall be the duty of this committee to plan and execute a training program for future amateur radio operators. Schedules and meetings shall be set up with members of the Club serving as instructors.

Public Service/Emergency Committee

This committee shall consist of up to four members. Subject to the approval and authorization of the Club, it shall plan and build equipment for emergency use and shall conduct such trials as are necessary to perfect the work of the Club as an emergency unit. The chairperson shall schedule and coordinate public service and emergency events and exercises. He/she shall maintain close liaison with the ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator to further club participation in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and also coordinate activities with agencies such as DuPage County Office of Emergency Management.

Public Relations Committee

This committee shall consist of up to three members. It shall publicize the meetings, programs, public exhibits, field days, and other work of the Club to help the public understand the Club’s activities.

Field Day Committee

This committee shall consist of not less than three members. The chairperson may select any additional members required for this committee. He/she shall coordinate activities in connection with Field Day, as authorized by the Club, including the provision of food for the Field Day workers.

Interference Committee

It shall be the responsibility of this committee to handle all interference complaints referred to it or to the Club. This committee shall consist of up to three members.

Hamfest Committee

It shall be the responsibility of this committee to handle all Hamfest related items and issues necessary to run the annual Hamfest. The Treasurer shall be a member of this committee. The chairperson shall be in charge of coordinating the subcommittees used for this event

Other positions

The Executive Board may appoint members to other positions and/or committees in furtherance of the interests of the Club, such as Membership, Health & Welfare, Club Newsletter, Christmas Party, Club Historian and Picnic.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Classes of membership shall be FULL, and ASSOCIATE. FULL membership requires the holding of an amateur radio license. ASSOCIATE membership shall be assigned to those interested in amateur radio but not holding an amateur license at the time of their application. ASSOCIATE members shall not have the power or right to vote or hold a Club office. FULL members who allow their licenses to lapse shall automatically become ASSOCIATE members. If a member allows his or her license to lapse while holding office, he or she may retain such office upon approval of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board may grant honorary memberships for special acknowledgement or considerations.

All prospective members must make application on the regular application form, and a FULL member of the Club must sponsor each. Such application must meet the requirements specified on the application form. An acceptable application may be approved by a two-thirds vote of the FULL members present at any regular meeting.

ARTICLE V: FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP

Members may be dropped from membership if:

  1. Annual dues are not paid by the April meeting of each year.
  2. A written resignation is submitted.
  3. The member’s operator or station license is suspended or revoked by the Federal Communications Commission.
  4. Undesirable conduct:
    1. If a FULL member desires to formally accuse another member of undesirable conduct, he/she shall provide the Club President, in writing, full details of such conduct, and concurrently furnish the accused member with a copy of such accusation.
    2. The Club President shall refer such accusation to the Executive Board for consideration. If it is determined that further action is warranted, a hearing of the accusation shall be held in an executive session of the Executive Board, but not less than twenty-one (21) days after written notice of such hearing is received by the accused member. The accused shall have the right to appear and be assisted in his/her defense at such hearing by any WCRA FULL member.
    3. Within ten (10) days of such hearing, the Executive Board shall determine if the accused’s membership has been forfeited. The accused shall be given written notice of the decision.
    4. The decision of the Executive Board may be vetoed within six (6) months thereof under the following procedure:
      1. A petition for veto signed by at least ten (10) FULL members shall be submitted to the Club President at a regular meeting.
      2. The President shall read the petition to the members in attendance, and schedule a vote on the petition for the next regular meeting.
      3. A two-thirds majority vote of FULL members present at such meeting shall be required to pass the veto.

The Executive Board may defer dropping a member for non-payment of dues.

ARTICLE VI: DUES

Dues for the respective classes of membership shall be set in the amount determined by the Executive Board, as may be necessary for the operation of the Club. The Executive Board at a regular meeting of the Club shall submit proposed changes to the existing dues. Adoption of the proposal may not be voted on until the next, or a subsequent meeting of the Club, prior to which time the Secretary shall notify the entire voting membership, in writing, of the proposed changes. Adoption of the proposal shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote of voting members present at the meeting set for such vote.

Student and retired member’s dues shall be one-half the otherwise applicable rate. The total dues payable by all FULL members in one family household shall be one and one-half times the FULL member rate.

All dues are payable in January of each year. Dues of members joining during the year shall be assessed on a semi-annual prorated basis after July 1, up to the following January 1. The dues of members on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States shall be suspended for the duration of their service. Upon completion of their active duty, their membership may be retained by payment of dues for the current year on a semi-annual prorated basis.

ARTICLE VII: VACANCIES

Interim vacancies in elected offices shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Board until the next annual meeting at which regular elections are held. The Executive Board shall promptly make appointments to fill any interim committee chairperson vacancies.

ARTICLE VIII: TIME OF MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held on the first Friday of each month except December, unless changed by the Executive Board. The annual meeting shall replace the regular meeting in April.

ARTICLE IX: QUORUM

A quorum shall be the FULL members present at any regular scheduled meeting.

ARTICLE X: CLUB STATION LICENSE TRUSTEE

The Trustee of any Club station license assigned to this Club must have the following qualifications:

  1. Be a FULL member of WCRA in good standing;
  2. Shall possess a valid radio amateur license of General class or higher.

The Executive Board shall appoint the Trustee and has the power to remove the Trustee from office. The Executive Board shall have the responsibility for maintaining the validity of the Club station license.

ARTICLE XI: REPEATER ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD

The Repeater Administrative Board (RAB) shall administer the operation and maintenance of all Club repeaters.

Organization

The RAB shall consist of five members: Chairman, Trustee, Secretary, and two (2) standing members.

Meetings

The RAB shall meet not less than four times per year, on a quarterly basis. The Secretary of the RAB shall keep minutes of all business conducted, for future reference. The RAB shall not conduct its routine business at the regular Club meetings; however, the Club President will ask, at each regular meeting, if the RAB has a report to give.

Selection of Members

The RAB members shall be FULL members of the Club, and shall be selected according to the following rules:

  1. Each fiscal year the Executive Board shall appoint two members to the RAB, each to serve a two-year term. Reappointments shall be allowed. If any RAB member resigns, the Executive Board shall appoint a member to serve for the balance of the term of the member who has resigned.
  2. The Trustee of the Club’s repeater license shall serve for an indefinite period. The Executive Board shall have the authority to replace the Trustee at any time, consistent with Article X of the By-Laws. The Trustee of the Club’s repeater license shall be a member of the RAB.
  3. No member of the Executive Board shall serve concurrently as a member of the RAB.
  4. Upon appointment of a member to the RAB, the Executive Board shall ask for a vote of confirmation from the Club members present at a regular meeting.

Administrative Functions

The RAB’s administrative functions shall include the following:

  1. Establishing guidelines for usage of WCRA repeaters.
  2. Repeater maintenance.
  3. Planning and implementing new repeater features.

Requesting RAB Action

Any FULL member may request RAB action by submitting his request, in writing, to the WCRA Secretary at a regular meeting. The request shall be read into the Club minutes and sent to the RAB for action. The request shall not be discussed until the RAB reports on the request.

Reports

The RAB shall report to the Club on each request for RAB action, on or before the third regular meeting following submission of the request. Furthermore, the RAB shall report to the Club on any operational or functional changes made in any Club repeater, at the regular meeting immediately following implementation of said changes.

Vetoing RAB Action

Any RAB action may be vetoed according to the following procedure within six months of said action by:

  1. A petition for veto signed by at least ten (10) FULL members shall be submitted to the Club President at a regular meeting.
  2. The President shall read the petition and schedule a vote on the petition for the NEXT regular meeting.
  3. A TWO-THIRDS majority vote of FULL members present at the regular meeting immediately following submission and reading of the petition shall be required to pass the veto.

ARTICLE XII: Electronic Meetings

Meetings of and within the organization may be held partially or fully via electronic means.

The membership may adopt standing rules for electronic regular club meeting participation which shall be contained in a single document that may be adopted or revised at any regular meeting of the club by a 2/3 vote of the members present.

The executive board may adopt standing rules for electronic executive board meeting participation which shall be contained in a single document that may be adopted or revised at any executive board meeting by a majority vote of the executive board members present.

The repeater administrative board may adopt standing rules for electronic RAB meeting participation which shall be contained in a single document that may be adopted or revised at any RAB meeting by a majority vote of the RAB members present.

Committee chair shall have sole discretion to publish rules for electronic participation in meetings of their respective committees.