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TVRCM By Laws

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be Tri Valley R C Modelers.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of this organization to develop the art of radio control modeling through the pursuit of research and training programs as the members shall feel useful, and to implement these programs through the holding of regular contests between members and hosting contests for other clubs. It shall further be the purpose of this organization to aid the cause of R C Modeling through educational programs designed to acquaint the public with the degree of R C Modeling available.

ARTICLE III: Membership

  1. The membership of this organization shall consist of all interested persons who express a desire to join, pledge to follow club rules and regulations, and who promptly pay all dues or monies as assessed by the Club at its regular meetings.
  2. All persons shall be eligible for membership, and shall agree to abide by the Club’s bylaws, and those of the AMA.
  3. The membership shall be divided into the following categories: a. Full Member: Is nineteen (19) years or older and has full privileges and voting rights. Dues: Full Member rate plus AMA membership. b. Junior Member: Is younger than nineteen (18) years old, has full privileges and voting rights. Dues: Junior Member rate plus AMA membership. c. Associate Member: Is a non-flyer who is interested in the activities of the Club and receives a newsletter.
  4. Flying members will be required to hold and maintain a license issued by the AMA. All first-time flying member 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.

ARTICLE IV: Officers (Board of Directors)

The officers (Board of Directors) of this Club shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Board of this Club shall consist of the four officers and any standing committee chairmen. Officers may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at the meeting.

ARTICLE V: Elections/Terms of Office

  1. The election of officers (Board of Directors) shall take place at the November meeting. Nominations shall be submitted by the members at the October meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot,(attachment I) if requested by any candidate. A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected. Vacancies in office shall be filled by the nomination and election of a Club member to fill the vacant office for the remainder of the term. Such nomination and election shall take place at the Club meeting at which the vacancy is announced.
  2. All elected officers of the Club shall serve two (2) years. The office of the President and Treasurer will begin in the odd years. The Secretary and Vice President will begin in even years. Officers are to be elected by a vote of simple majority of those present at the regular November meeting. Mail-in ballots (attachment I) will be made available on request 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 on January 1. 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., Newsletter Editor, Contest Director, Field Marshall, Safety Officer, etc.
  3. A secret ballot is required for removal of a Club officer, or a member of the Board of Directors, and for expulsion of a member from the club unless waived by a simple majority of the vote by the members at the meeting.

ARTICLE VI: Duties

  1. President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all Club meetings, to serve as Exofficio member of all committees and to represent the Club at public affairs.
  2. Vice-President: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside in the absence of President and chair the nominating committee for elections.
  3. Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to take minutes at all meetings and handle all Club correspondence as well as keeping file of all of aforementioned.
  4. Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect all Club dues and to keep records of all income and expenditures, keep all funds safe (bank), and to manage the purchase of equipment, etc. for the Club upon authorization of the members.
  5. Field Marshall: The Field Marshall shall be responsible for establishing mowing crews and mowing equipment and mowing equipment maintenance crews. He is to ensure that the field is properly maintained and recommend improvements and changes.
  6. Safety Committee Chairman/Safety Officer: The Safety Committee Chairman/Safety Officer shall be responsible for chairing the Safety Committee and ensuring existing rules are enforced. This includes processing the grievance forms and following the existing grievance procedures documented in the bylaws. The same person who has the position of Field Marshall can also hold this position.
  7. Newsletter Editor: The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for publishing a monthly newsletter to announce the monthly meeting, a schedule of events, and other items likely to be of interest to members. In addition, he will maintain a club roster and keep it up to date as the membership changes.

ARTICLE VII: Meetings

  1. Meetings of the Tri Valley R C Modelers shall be held at least twelve (12) times per year and at such times and places as the membership shall approve by a majority vote. Operation of the Club flying site shall not be considered a meeting. Transaction of business may be conducted by a majority of vote of members who are present at a regular stated meeting.
  2. Club officers may call special meetings with no less than five days prior written notice of the special meeting. The purpose of the special meeting shall be stated in the written notice.
  3. Any 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 on the working agenda of the next Club meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: 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 and cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the Safety Committee for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form (attachment II) to be filled out and turned into the Safety Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form (i.e. Safety Officer). 
  2. Safety Committee This Safety Committee will be formed as required by the Safety Officer. The Committee shall use its judgment in carrying out action on the following: (a)

(a)  A Grievance Form that was filled out and turned into the Safety Committee. At least one witness is required.

(b)  First Violation

1) Viewpoints of both complainants and accused will be considered.

2) Complainant’s name will be disclosed.

3) 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

1) Complainant’s name will be disclosed.

2) The accused has the right to a written rebuttal which will be reviewed by the Committee.

3) If the Committee so decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be suspended for thirty (30) days or Special Requalification Instruction (attachment III) could be invoked or both. Written notice of this shall be issued and a copy published in the Club Newsletter.

(d) Third Violation

1) Committee will notify the accused in writing and the Club members via the Club newsletter that the Club will vote on expulsion of the accused at the next meeting.

2) Said expulsion will last for a one-year minimum. If deemed necessary by the Board of Directors it will last longer.

3) A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority of vote of the membership present at the meeting.

4) Voting will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting.

5) The expelled member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the expulsion time period.

(e) Actions The three actions will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period.

(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.

ARTICLE IX: Special Funds

The President will have discretionary spending of up to $250 without requiring Club approval.

ARTICLE X: Field Rules

The Field Rules will be unique to each flying site, and will be published separately. AMA guidelines will prevail.

ARTICLE XI: Committees

Committees shall be appointed as necessary.

ARTICLE XII: Amendments

Amendments may be made to these bylaws at any general meeting of the Club membership, provided the members have been notified in writing at least seven (7) 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 to those 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 XIII: 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, or any other unacceptable behavior by an individual member or members, as defined by the Board of Directors. 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 By-Laws of the AMA, or which is detrimental to the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation. 
  4. Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by a 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 XIV: Dissolution 

  1. The Corporation may be dissolved with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the total membership. 
  2. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the purposes of the Corporation 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©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended , or to such other organization with purposes similar to the purposes of this Corporation, as the Board shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas (or similar court) of the county in which the principal office of this Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes and to 5 such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE XV: Duration

The duration of the Club shall be perpetual. ARTICLE XVI: Incorporation The incorporation of this membership shall be a minimum of three (3) of the four (4) elected officers. ARTICLE XVII: Dues, Monies, and Assessments 

  1. The annual dues to be paid to the Club shall be determined by the Club officers with the approval of a simple majority. Dues are non-refundable, except under extraordinary circumstances, which will be determined by the Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis. 
  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 seven (7) days prior notice with an explanation of the assessment. 
  3. New members who join in July through December will pay the initiation fee and half the annual rate. This will cover the membership dues until the end of the year. 
  4. Club members in arrears of dues for three (3) months become subject to dismissal by the Club. 
  5. All Club monies paid out will be paid by check, signed by Treasurer, President or Vice President.

ARTICLE XVIII: Audit

The President or his appointees will make an annual audit of the Treasurer’s books. 

 

 

 

 

BALLOT Please fill in appropriate information:

 

 

Persons name and the position being voted on: FOR: NAME ___________________________ POSITION _______________________

 

Proposal being voted on:

PROPOSAL ______________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

YES ___________ NO ___________

 

This ballot may be used for SECRET or MAIL-IN voting. Ballot must be received before the meeting that the voting will occur.

 

FOR MAIL-IN BALLOT ONLY:

 

Signature and AMA # of voting party: Signature: _______________________________________________________

 

AMA # ____________________

 

Mail To: P.O. Box 1402 Santa Maria, CA. 93454 TRI-VALLEY

 

 

 

R/C MODELERS CLUB BY-LAWS ATTACHMENT #1 7 GRIEVANCE FORM

 

OFFENDER: _____________________________________________________

 

GRIEVANCE: _________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

 

Name: ____________________________ Signature: __________________________ AMA # __________ Date: ______________

Witness: ____________________________________________

 

 

 

TRI-VALLEY R/C MODELERS CLUB BY-LAWS ATTACHMENT # II  

SPECIAL REQUALIFICATION INSTRUCTION.

This instruction is to be used for previously qualified pilots who have demonstrated erratic or dangerous flying behavior sometime after qualifying. It is not to be used for normal requalification. 

1.  After observing unsafe flying behavior by a club member on more than one occasion, an instructor pilot will be assigned to assist the member in requalification. The instructor pilot will:

a. Inspect the member’s airplane and radio equipment that was involved in the observed unsafe behavior, using the club “new aircraft checklist”. After successfully completing the inspection, the instructor will test fly the aircraft, evaluating trim, control sensitivity and power level. The instructor will supervise the member in performing any adjustments deemed necessary.

b. After successfully completing the equipment inspection and any modifications or adjustments, the instructor will conduct a buddy box flight evaluation with the member as “student”, using the pilot qualification test flight instruction.

c. The instructor will evaluate the member’s requalification flight performance and file a report with the executive board, including a recommendation to qualify the member for pilot status, or for follow up action considering both the flying equipment and the member’s performance. The instructor will note any observed member difficulties that might have resulted from such items as vision, hearing, or physical coordination

2.  Follow up action. Based on the instructor’s report, the board may:

a. Ask the member about any possible vision, hearing or other physical problems that could affect his or her performance, and suggest the member consider medical evaluation or treatment if not already done.

b. Recommend equipment changes to better match the flying skill level the member exhibited during the flight evaluation.

c. Recommend the member fly with an observer qualified to assist with verbal directions or taking control of the aircraft if needed.

d. Recommend, if appropriate, that the member complete the new pilot training program with an instructor pilot after correcting any physical problems. .

3. After completing the follow up action(s), the member’s flying skills will be re-evaluated with an instructor pilot using the pilot qualification instruction.

4. Failure to complete the actions and recommendations in items 1 through 3 above may result in the member’s flying privileges being revoked.

 

TRI-VALLEY R/C MODELERS CLUB BY-LAWS ATTACHMENT # III