Merced County Radio Control Club-Bylaws

Bylaws 2007

Article l — Duties of Officers

President: Preside over club meetings and perform all the duties normally pertaining to this office. Shall not vote, with the exception of breaking ties and election of Club Officers.
Vice President: Temporally assumes the Presidents duties during his absence. Should the President no longer be able to perform his duties, the Vice-President will permanently assume the duties of the President. A new Vice-President will be subsequently elected as prescribed per Article II, C of these Bylaws.
Secretary:
1. Keep minutes of all proceedings at club meetings, record election results and give notice of meetings.
2. Maintain current accountability of all club property to include item description, quantity and location of the properties listed.
3. Perform other duties the office may require.
Treasurer:
1. Keep and pay all club funds upon the order of the President.
2. Give monthly written summary of all receipts and disbursements to the Secretary.
3. Notify the membership of the financial status of the club once each month at a general meeting
4. Maintain a current club membership roster and notify any member who is delinquent in payment of dues.
Field Marshal: Observe and enforce safety practices and conditions at the club flying site as set forth in the club Constitution and Bylaws.

Article II — Election of Officers

Nomination for Club Officers will be conducted at the Annual Membership meeting the first Wednesday in November. Nominees must be a club member in good standing for a minimum of one (1) year prior to nomination.
Ballots will be made available to all members in good standings.
Absentee ballots may be used for the election of Officers and for other business requiring membership voting. The following procedures apply to the use of Absentee Ballots:
1. Absentee ballots will only be accepted on approved MCRCC forms issued by the Club Secretary to members via the club newsletter or by special mailing.
2. Each Absentee ballot will be used for one specific event. Names of nominated individuals, or in the event of a vote on club proposals the exact wording of the proposal will be included with the ballot.
3. Absentee ballots for Club Officers must be received by the Club Secretary one day prior to the general meeting on the third (3) week in November to be valid.
4. All Absentee ballots will include a suspense date by which the Club Secretary must receive the ballot to be valid.
New Officers will assume their positions and allied duties at the general meeting on the first Wednesday of December. New Officers will update club bank account signature cards within six (6) working days following the election.
Should an Officer resign during a term, the President or Vice-President (in the absence of the President) shall appoint a club member to temporarily assume that office and shall order the Club Secretary to send notice of a special election to be held at the next general meeting at which the vacant office(s) will be filled by election.

Article III — Membership

Regular Membership:
1. Be over the age of nineteen (19) as of 1 July of the current year.
2. Be a current member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
3. Make payment of dues at the regular rate.
Junior Membership:
1. Be under the age of nineteen (19) as of 1 July of the current year.
2. Be a current member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
3. Make payment of dues at one-half (1/2) the Regular Membership rate.
Special Membership:

Special membership is available to individuals who:

Are not former MCRCC members.
Are defined as students, transient workers, family members or any person the MCRCC wishes to classify as a Special Member.
Special Memberships are valid for a maximum of 30 calendar days per calendar year.
Possess a current AMA card.
There are no dues assessed to Special Members.

Guest Pilots:
1. Are not former MCRCC members who continue to reside in the local area.
2. Is defined as any non-MCRCC pilot is invited on a limited basis as a guest of a Regular Member (host Pilot). Guest Pilots must possess and display a current AMA card.
3. Guest pilot’s use of the MCRCC flying site will be limited to no more than two (2) flying days per calendar year. Individuals wishing to fly more than two (2) flying days per calendar should consider obtaining a regular/junior or special membership.
4. MCRCC host pilot will be responsible and insure that the guest pilot complies with club Constitution and Bylaws especially those concerning the flying site and will be responsible for any damage or injury done by the guest pilot.
5. When a host pilot departs the flying site, they are required to insure the guest pilot/s departs at the same time or that another club member assumes host pilot duties and responsibilities. The host pilot is responsible to insure the guest pilot is not the last individual to leave the flying site, thus insuring the gate is closed and locked.
A member may be removed from club membership per Article IX, for disorderly conduct or repeated violation of AMA, Club Constitution or Bylaws.
Withdrawal from the club is permitted upon written or verbal notification to any Club Officer. Withdraw in good standing implies the privilege to be re-instated with dues effective on the date of membership re-instatement. Re-instated members are not responsible for past dues.
Any member in arrears for a period of three months will be removed from active club membership; shall be denied the use of club facilities, delivery of club newsletters and shall be denied all club privileges. Members identified for removal from the club membership will be notified prior to club action whenever such notification is possible.

Article IV — Dues

Dues will be reviewed for he following calendar year by simple majority vote at the general meeting the third (3) Wednesday of November, a quorum being present.

Yearly dues of $50 are due on 1 January, $25 semi-annually on 1 January and 1 July.
Junior membership and/or additional members of the same family within the same household will pay annual dues of $25 or semi-annual payments of $12.50.
New Members pay rate of $4.17 per month until reaching the yearly or semi-annual dues date.

Membership cards will be issued upon payment of dues. New cards will be issued annually effective January 1 with the card color change from the preceding year.

Article V — Committee.

The President shall be empowered to appoint committees at any time, or upon the majority vote of the club members.
The voluntary position of the Club Newsletter Editor/Publisher will be appointed annually by the President.

Article VI — Parliamentary Authority

“Roberts Rules of Order”, (1893; Jove Books) shall be recognized as the parliamentary authority concerning all m4atters not specifically mentioned by the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy & Procedures of this club.

Article VII — Expenditure of Club Funds

The Club President may authorize the Treasurer to meet outstanding financial obligations up to an mount of $500.
Expenditure of funds in amounts greater than $500. shall be approved by the following procedures:
1. Proposed expenditure is submitted to the general membership during a general meeting.
2. Approval shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the majority present, a quorum being present.
In an emergency situation, the President may authorize the immediate payment of funds upon approval of (3) club officers, one of which may be the President.
The club checking, savings and certificates of deposit shall have the signatures of the club President, Vice-President and Treasure on all accounts. Withdrawals and/or checks from club accounts require the signatures of two (2) officers.

Article VIII — Weapons Free Zone

In the interest of member and guest safety, the MCRCC flying site is designated a Weapons Free Zone. Weapons of any kind including any form of pistol, rifle, explosives, or other life threatening or debilitating devises are prohibited from the confines of the MCRCC flying site. Violation of this article will constitute immediate action to remove the individual(s) from the site. Repeated violations of this Article will require disciplinary actions in accordance with Article IX.

Article IX — Disciplinary Procedures

In the event a member of the MCRC knowingly and/or willing violates Articles of the MCRCC Constitution and/or Bylaws the following procedures apply:

First Offense: The club president will make verbal contact with the individual(s), explaining the nature of the reported violation. The president will complete a written dated record of the contact, summarizing the violation and the individual’s comments. At the next general meeting, the president will inform membership of the reported violation and give an oral report regarding the content of the dated record. The dated record will be attached to the minutes of the general meeting.
Second Offense: The club president will notify the individual(s) in writing explaining the nature of the reported violation and the continued violation of Articles of the Constitution and/or the Bylaws may cause the individual to be removed from club membership. At the next general meeting, the president will inform the membership of the reported violation and make an oral report regarding the content of the dated letter. The offending individual will have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the letter to report to the membership at a general meeting to state his/her response to the letter. A copy of the letter will be attached to the minutes of the general meeting.
Third Offense: The club president will notify the membership during the next general membership meeting that a third violation has been reported and that a vote must be made to determine whether to retain or remove the Individual(s) from the club. A two thirds (2/3) vote in favor of removal must be made by members present, quorum being present. A quorum not being present, the Club President will defray the vote to the next general meeting or have a special mail out ballot to all members in good standing. In the event of a delayed vote, all ballots must be returned within thirty (30) calendar days of the postmark date of the ballot. Results of the ballot will be reported at the general meeting following the ballot deadline date. Results of the vote/ballot will be recorded in the minutes of the general meeting. It will be the Presidents duty to notify the subject individual(s) of the vote outcome and take appropriate action.

Article X — Flying Field Operation

Frequency Control:

1. A transmitter frequency control board has been established for the purpose of insuring interference free operation of radio-controlled aircraft.

2. Pilots desiring to operate radio-controlled equipment must, prior to activating any frequency-controlled transmitter, retrieve the matching frequency control pin from control board by inserting his/her AMA and current club membership card in the frequency pin slot.

3. Operation of radio-controlled transmitters without matching frequency control pins in the pilot’s possession is strictly prohibited.

4. Pilots must insure that their radio-controlled transmitter is turned off and the transmitter antenna collapsed any time aircraft operation is not being conducted and prior to surrendering the frequency control pin to another pilot or returning it to the frequency control board.

5. Violation of the frequency control procedure will result in the violator being held responsible for the satisfactory restitution of property damages caused by transmitter interference.

Transmitter frequency control board

Aircraft Operation:

1. Aircraft will be positioned on the hardened parking ramp such that the nose of the aircraft is facing the cyclone safety fence to insure engine prop wash will be directed away from the spectator area.

2. Large aircraft with large engines should be parked at the far ends of the parking ramp. Engine start of these aircraft should be accomplished with the use of tail tie-downs or secured by a second party.

3. Prolonged engine runs for trim adjustments and/or engine break-in should be performed downwind, distant from other aircraft, equipment and individuals.

4. Taxing of aircraft will be done in a safe and courteous manner to preclude damage to personnel or equipment.

5. White Safety/Hold lines are marked on each taxiway approaching the runway to establish a pilot minimum safe distance from the runway when flying aircraft. During flight operations pilots are restricted from standing closer to the runway than indicated by the White Safety Lines. Crossing the White Safety Line is permitted to retrieve aircraft, conduct transmitter safety checks, student pilot instruction, etc. after all pilots flying aircraft have acknowledged it is safe to do so. It is recommended that pilots normally position themselves further back from the runway to insure an additional safety margin. During club-sanctioned races, pilots will comply with the club racing rules in which pilots are restricted to be no closer to the runway than the hardened parking ramp.

6. To insure the runway is clear of approaching aircraft, pilots are required to announce intentions to taxi onto the runway prior to taxing beyond the White Safety Line marked on the taxiway. Aircraft on landing approach have priority over departing aircraft.

7. Pilots declaring a “death-stick” condition have priority over all other airborne, taxing, and/or departing aircraft.

8. Pilots are prohibited from taking off fuel-powered aircraft from any part of the flying site other than the paved runway.

9. An Airborne Safety Deadline has been established to insure the safety of pilots, spectators, equipment, parking areas, and adjacent radio antenna towers. The Airborne Safety Deadline is established as the boundary of the runway edge and grass area closest to the flight line. Under normal circumstances pilots are to make every effort to keep airborne aircraft to the runway side of the Airborne Safety Deadline.

10. In order to provide maximum student pilot instruction, pilots are to refrain from flying aircraft until the student/instructor have complete their instructional flight. This allows both student and instructor to concentrate on flight operation without the distraction of other aircraft.