East Carolina R/C Flyers AMA Club # 479 IMAA Chapter # 611

East Carolina Radio Control (ECRC) By-laws
ARTICLE I: NAME
A. NAME: East Carolina Radio Control model airplane club
B. LOCATION: Randy Webber Field, Goldsboro, North Carolina
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE: To further the sport of model aviation by providing a safe,
Academy of Aeronautics (AMA) approved facility and organization. Members will be ambassadors of our hobby to Wayne and Lenoir County.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
A. QUALIFICATIONS: All persons applying for membership with field privileges in this club will first be a paid-up member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
B. DUES: Dues are $100.00 per year for adult members (16 and older), $50.00 for youth, and $125 for family. Dues are collected on the first of February.
New members joining later in the year will be charged a pro-rated amount of $8.33 for each remaining month until February 1 of the next year.
Returning club members will be charged the full dues unless hardship or military reasons dictate otherwise.
ECRC reserves the right to increase or decrease the club dues at the start of the fiscal year to meet forecasted operating costs.
Any member two months or more delinquent in paying dues shall be suspended from the club upon notification of the Treasurer to the club officers.
Reinstatement will occur upon full payment of the annual dues. Election of the individual to continue non-payment will result in immediate termination from the club.
The club Treasurer will present written termination of membership to the individual.
C. RESIGNATION: Any member in good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written notice to the Club.
D. TERMINATION: 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.
E. EXPULSION: Any individual may be expelled from membership from the Club by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership if in the officers’ determination,
such individual willfully commits any act or omission which is a violation of any of the terms of these Bylaws, or the Rules of the AMA,
or which is detrimental the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation.
F. REINSTATEMENT: A two-thirds vote of the membership is required for reinstatement to the club.
G. GUEST FLYERS: Visiting flyers with a current AMA membership may fly at ECRC field free of charge for a one-time visit.
Non AMA flyers must be accompanied by an approved AMA holding club member on a “Buddy box” training system while flying.
H. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Visiting AMA holding flyers who expect to visit the area on an occasional basis may acquire an associate membership for $50.
This entitles the flyer to six visits during the course of the year. The honor system must be applied.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
A. OFFICERS: President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer (or combined Secretary/Treasurer), and Safety.
B. TERM OF OFFICE: Officers are elected annually
C. DUTIES: President shall preside at meetings, VP shall preside in the absence of the president, Secretary records minutes, and Treasurer handles club funds
D. APPOINTED OFFICERS: Safety officer, Field Marshall, Committee Chairman, Program chairman.
E. VACANCIES: Officer Vacancies are to be filled by vote of the remaining officers
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
A. REGULAR MEETINGS: Will be held twice a year. Normally January with elections, and July to discuss second half matters.
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order will be followed during club meetings. At any club meeting, a quorum shall be fifty percent of the active membership.
At any club officer meeting, a quorum is one hundred percent.
MEETING PROCEDURES:
1. Roll call
2. Reading and corrections of minutes of previous meeting
3. Committee reports
4. Unfinished business
5. Announcements
6. New business
7. Club plans
8. Programs or demonstrations
9. Adjournment
B. SPECIAL MEETINGS: Will be convened on a needed basis as a club or officers only.
MEETING PROCEDURES:
1. Roll call
2. Business
3. Adjournment
C. There will be a time limit on all orders of business other than the programs of a one hour maximum.
ARTICLE VI: RECORD KEEPING: All records are passed on when new officers are elected.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES: Standing Committees, Special committees, committee membership.
Possible Standing committees are as follows:
Contest, Prizes and Awards, Rules, Membership, Technical, and Social
ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND RECALL
A. NOMINATIONS: Nominations for officer position can be from the floor or by e-mail.
B. ELECTION: Elections are held at a regularly scheduled meeting and will be by written ballot (unless show-of-hands method agreed upon).
ARTICLE IX: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A. FISCAL YEAR: Runs from January 1 to December 31
b. NEWSLETTER: An on-line newsletter is provided on the club web site: http/::www.ecrcflyers.com
C. CLUB LOGO: The club logo is a club owned and paid for symbol of our club. See attch. 2
D. STANDING RULES
1. Qualified students: A new member to ECRC and the hobby will be trained by an approved instructor in accordance with the ECRC training program
until they are able to perform the “solo” flying routine. A “solo” qualification routine consists of: AMA and ECRC field safety knowledge, aircraft inspections, safe starting,
taxiing, take off, two touch-and-go’s, landing, return taxi and shut down. Students attempting to fly prior to this qualification and in full knowledge of the rule, will be
subject to Article XI of these by-laws.
2. Qualified instructors: Must have minimum one year flying experience and be approved by the ECRC officers.
3. Financial requirements:
a. A contingency amount of no less than $1000 will be maintained in a club owned bank savings account for unexpected events to include
field location change or weather cancellations of money raising events.
b. Financial decisions for use of less than $500 can be made by a club officer. This may include paying utility bills, replacing field equipment,
or purchasing prizes. Use of over $500 must be decided on by an agreement of all officers.
c. All funds raised by ECRC to include dues, fly-in proceeds, snack bar income, and any donations will be kept on record and deposited into the club
account as soon as possible after receipt.
4. Volunteering resources and manpower: It is expected that all club members will in some form, help with club activities and field maintenance.
Approval by club officers is required BEFORE members privately purchase materials or construct items for club needs if reimbursement will be needed.
The same applies to the hiring of private contractors for completing club tasks.
5. Safety requirements: AMA and ECRC specific safety rules MUST be given or shown to all new members. Purposely violating these rules will result in
executing grievance procedures as listed in Article XI below.
E. DISSOLUTION OF CLUB: The duration of the club shall be perpetual. The club may be dissolved with the approval of 2/3 vote of the membership.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENT OF THESE BYLAWS
Amendments may be made to these by-laws at any official club meeting provided the amendment has been presented at a previous meeting and copies
of the proposal have been made available to all club officers and any member requesting them. A majority of 2/3 of the total active membership roster
is required to pass any amendment to these by-laws.
ARTICLE XI: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE (FLIGHT AND SAFETY RULES): 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 (Attch.1).
The Safety officer/Committee shall use its judgment in carrying out action on the following:
a. A grievance form will be filled out and turned into the Safety Officer/Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required.
b. FIRST VIOLATION
Viewpoints of both complainants and accused will be considered. Complainant’s name will be disclosed. A verbal reprimand will be given to the
accused by the Safety Officer/Committee, and this will be recorded in the Club records.
c. SECOND VIOLATION
Complainant’s name will be disclosed. The accused has the right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Club Safety Officer/Committee. 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
Safety Officer/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. Said expulsion will last for a one-year minimum. A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the
membership present at the meeting. Voting will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting. 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 Club Officers.