Club Bylaws

Bylaws of the Kent Radio Aero Modelers, Inc.

APRIL 10, 2021

  1. OBJECTIVES

     The main objective of the Kent Radio Aero Modelers (KRAM) shall be:

  1. To promote and advance the sport of safe radio-controlled model flying.

  2. To promote good sportsmanship and good fellowship.

  3. To provide a place where the serious beginner may find assistance in developing their flying skills.

  1. REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

  1. A club member must be a current member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

  2. A new member must be voted on by the club members and receive a simple majority vote of the members present at the regular meeting.

  1. DUES AND CLUB MEMBERSHIP

  1. There are six (6) types of membership. They are:

    1. Regular Members. These are members over the ages of 19.

    2. Junior Members. Anyone under 19 years of age who does not have a parent as a club member.

    3. Family Members. As defined in IIIC.

    4. Lifetime Members. As defined in Article VIII.

    5. Honorary Members. These members pay no dues, have no vote in club decisions, and receive a monthly newsletter.

    6. Associate Members. An area club member in good standing with their home club and the AMA (dues paid) who pays a $50 fee to the KRAM club for the privilege of unlimited flying rights and no voting rights. They must maintain their home club membership. They must follow all the AMA KRAM Club rules.

  2. Dues for regular members shall be the current rate as established by the Club members. All dues are to be paid within thirty (30) days of the date the person joins the club, unless arrangements are made with the club Secretary-Treasurer.

  3. A family membership is to include the member, their spouse and children. Children shall be considered eligible for family membership as long as they are full time students living at home.

  4. A junior membership fee will be established annually.

  5. All club dues for the next calendar year are due and payable by December 31st of the current year. If special arrangements need to be made regarding dues payment, contact the Secretary-Treasurer.

  6. Any person joining the club after September 15th will pay the club dues which will cover the balance of the current year and all of the next year. Joining before September 15th will be for the current year.

  7. The club membership period extends from January 1st to December 31st of the calendar year.

  8. If a member leaves the club after paying dues, upon request, they will be refunded 50% of the Club dues if they leave before July 1. No refund will be made if the departure is after July 1.

  9. Special dues assessments or charges may be made by a simple majority vote of the members present at the regular club meeting.

  1. EXPULSION FROM THE CLUB

  1. Any member may be expelled from the club for reasons of undesirability and unacceptable conduct and/or violations of the safety rules. This must be done upon the majority recommendation of the club Board of Directors, a written notice mailed to the member, and a vote of sixty (60%) of the members present at the regular meeting.

  2. A motion for a secret ballot can be made and passed by a majority vote prior to the actual vote.

  3. Drinking of any alcoholic beverages or use of legal or illegal mind altering drugs that could impair the ability to fly at the flying field is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate expulsion from the club by a club officer. Not subject to section IV- A above. (Some discretion is allowed for Contest Directors (CD’s) or Event Managers to make allowances for afterhours activities at multi day events.)

  1. CLUB MEETINGS

  1. Club meetings shall take place on the first Tuesday of the month, starting at 7:00 PM at the place designated by the club.

  2. For the purposes of KRAM club meetings eight (8) members including two (2) officers will suffice for a quorum to validly transact business.

  3. From June through September all club meetings will be held at the club field. The October through May meetings will be held inside and subject to the availability of the meeting place.

  4. Minutes are to be kept and published monthly to the members.

  5. All motions requiring a vote, other than specified elsewhere in the bylaws, shall be decided upon by a simple majority vote of members present at the regular club meeting.

  6. Voting by mail is only allowed for annual Board/Officer elections. A numbered ballot will be mailed to all eligible voting members for officers’ elections. It will be returned to the secretary/ treasurer before or during the December meeting for validation by an election committee. These ballots will be the only voting mechanism for annual officers’ elections. In the event of an uncontested election for all positions, a simple show of hands at the December meeting, assuming a quorum is present, shall be substituted for the preceding ballot process.

  7. There will be no assignment (Proxy) of a member’s vote to another member.

  8. Only regular club members & lifetime club members with paid AMA dues may vote.

  9. ALTERNATE MEETING DATE – If a club meeting is cancelled for any reason, it can be rescheduled at the discretion of the president at a time and place of his choosing. Club members will be electronically notified of said time and place.

  1. BYLAW CHANGES

    1. All club action on proposed bylaw changes will be tabled during the months that the club meets at the flying field.

    2. All proposals for bylaw changes must be submitted in writing to the board to be reviewed & submitted (as written) for discussion at the next indoor club meeting. Following discussion, final wording of the bylaw change will be developed and voted upon. If approved, it will then be published in the club meeting minutes. The bylaw changes will then be voted on at the next regularly scheduled meeting by a simple majority vote.

  1. PROJECT EXPENSE CONTROL

    1. Any project proposal over $1,000.00 must include a written itemized expense budget. If the project is approved by the membership, the secretary / treasurer is authorized to reimburse the project team within the limits of the approved budget. Prior to overspending or over committing any funds, the project leader must come back to the membership for approval.

    2. All expenditures over $200.00 must be reviewed by the secretary / treasurer and voted upon for approval by the club membership.

    3. The club president may approve spending up to $200.00 if an urgent situation should arise. This expenditure must be explained at the next club meeting.

  1. LIFETIME MEMBERS

  1. The club recognizes that there is a need to recognize members that over a period of years have made a significant contribution to the club. Therefore, the category of Life Member shall be established. Life Members cannot exceed 5% of dues paying membership. A person chosen as a life member shall be a member for life, retain voting privileges, and not need to pay any future dues or assessments. They will be required to pay AMA dues only.

  2. A club member must nominate a person and the rational for the nomination must be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the club. The nomination and rational will then be published by the Secretary Treasurer in the club minutes and voting will take place at the following meeting.

  3. The person nominated must receive 75% voter approval of the members attending the meeting in order to be elected.

  1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    1. The Board of Directors of the club shall consist of the following club officers; President, Vice-President, Assistant Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) Directors. The term of Office for the Secretary and Treasurer shall be two (2) years. All other terms of office shall be for a period of one (1) year.

    2. Nominations for club officers will take place during the October and November meetings. Elections will take place at the December meeting and new officers will be installed at the January meeting. Term of Office is from January 1st to December 31st. Anyone not able to attend, may mail in their vote to the club secretary/treasurer for certification by the December meeting.

    3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to establish a new rule and put said rule into effect until the next business meeting of the club. The rule must then be voted on by the members of the club and passed by a simple majority vote of those members present at the regular meeting.

    4. A vote by the Board of Directors will be decided by a simple majority of the board members.

    5. If a club officer resigns or leaves office for any reason, a replacement may be named by the remaining Board of Directors. The replacement club officer member will hold the position until the end of the current year. If the Board of Directors elects not to fill the vacated position, the position will be filled during the next regular election process for club officers.

    6. Board of Directors meetings will be called at the discretion of the Club President at a time and place of his choosing.

    7. A special club meeting may be called by the Board of Directors with a minimum of five (5) day notice to all members. Time and place of the meeting to be announced.

    8. The officers of the club are named on the club’s yearly incorporation update report and AMA Charter.

    9. The past president will be expected to attend all board meetings as an advisor for the year after they leave office.

    10. Club members that are currently AMA officers representing AMA District 7 will be invited to all board meetings as advisors.

  1. DUTIES OF THE CLUB OFFICERS

  1. PRESIDENT

    1. To organize and conduct all club meetings.

    2. To reserve the monthly meeting place.

    3. To coordinate dates and club events with other clubs in the area.

    4. To be the official spokesperson for the club.

    5. May appoint special committees as necessary.

    6. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules.

    7. Enforce these rules where required.

  1. VICE-PRESIDENT

    1. To act in the absence of the club President.

    2. To assist the club president as requested.

    3. To have total responsibility for the annual club swap shop.

    4. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  2. ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT

    1. Assist the Vice-President with the swap shop.

    2. Become a candidate for Vice-President next year.

    3. To act in the absence of the club Vice-President

    4. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  3. SECRETARY-TREASURER

    1. To ensure that timely meeting minutes are distributed to members.

    2. To organize a club roster and keep it up to date.

    3. To renew the annual AMA membership of the club.

    4. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

    5. To keep account of the club funds.

    6. To collect membership dues and to notify the club when members fail to pay dues.

    7. The Secretary-treasurer will acquire a yearly independent review of the treasury and report to the Board of Directors.

    8. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  4. DIRECTOR 1 – Lead Field safety Officer

    1. Develop new safety program as required by the club.

    2. Meet with and train new club member on safety procedures. Including, but not limited to pin board usage, respecting the flight line, use of pilot location blocks, working around moving propellers and the benefits of using hearing protection.

    3. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  5. DIRECTOR 2 – Field Maintenance Officer

    1. Coordinate the field mowing schedule.

    2. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  6. DIRECTOR 3 – Social Director

    1. To organize social events.

    2. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules.  Enforce these rules where required.

  7. Director 4 – Webmaster

    1. Maintain the official club website.

    2. Electronically distribute club correspondence to membership.

    3. Educate new members regarding club and AMA safety rules. Enforce these rules where required.

  1. DISSOLUTION OF CLUB

If the club should ever be dissolved, all assets and monies remaining after all bills are paid will be donated to a local non-profit group or charity organization. This organization is to be selected by the remaining fully paid up club members.

  1. ARBITRATION

All club members will agree to arbitration of any formal disagreements involving club matters that cannot be settled satisfactorily by the Board of Directors. Both parties will pay ½ of any arbitration fees by an outside arbitrator.

  1. DEATH OF A MEMBER

In the event that an individual has indicated in his or her will that a specific bequest naming Kent Radio Aero Modelers, Inc. as the beneficiary, and the member has passed away, and there not being any family objections that: current officers of the club will make all efforts to remove and sell any items mentioned in the will and keep the proceeds for the betterment of the club.

KRAM BYLAWS APRIL, 2014

Document updated 4/10/2021

This shall be considered the official Kent Radio Aeromodelers club logo.