BMAC By-Laws

By-Laws

of the

Burlington Model Airplane Club

Revised June 7, 2015

ARTICLE I: NAME AND LOCATION

The name of the Club shall be the Burlington Model Airplane Club (BMAC). It shall be located in Burlington, Iowa.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The functions and activities of the Club shall be devoted and directed toward the promotion of model airplane building and flying as a sport and educational hobby.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Club shall be open to all who demonstrate a genuine interest in model airplanes. All pilots must possess a current AMA membership or be accompanied by a qualified Intro-pilot/instructor. Application for membership and payment of dues shall constitute acceptance of and compliance with the Club’s bylaws and those of the AMA.

The conduct of the members shall promote goodwill in the community and all activities shall demonstrate due respect and consideration for the rights and property of others, both public and private.

ARTICLE IV: DUES

Annual dues for members nineteen (19) years old and above shall be determined by a simple majority vote of the members voting at the previous November meeting. Membership shall be free for members eighteen (18) years old and below. Dues for the spouse of a club member are one-half (1/2) the yearly dues if the club member is paid-up at the regular rate.

Dues shall be paid to the treasurer by the January Club meeting and are non-refundable, except under extraordinary circumstances, which will be determined by the Club officers on a case-by-case basis.

Dues shall be paid before a member can participate in a Club sponsored function or vote at a Club meeting.

New members who join the Club in October through December will pay the full dues. This will cover membership dues until the end of the following calendar year.

No special assessment shall be levied upon the Club membership, unless it is approved by a simple majority vote of members voting at a regular meeting, and the members have been given at least five (5) days notice along with an explanation of the assessment.

Ten (10) dollars of the annual dues for each member will be placed in a savings account.

One-half (1/2) of fun-fly landing fees will be placed in a savings account.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS, ELECTIONS, DUTIES

Officers

The officers of the Club shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer.

Qualifications

Candidates for office shall be paid-up members when nominated and while holding office. No member shall hold more than one Club office at a time.

Terms

The term of office for all elected officers of the Club shall be one (1) calendar year. Each outgoing officer shall within fifteen (15) days after the close of his/her term of office, transfer the files and records of his/her office to his/her successor.

Nomination and Election Procedures

Nominations shall be made from the floor during the November meeting. The election shall be held during the December meeting. A simple majority vote of the members voting shall be required for election, which shall be by ballot. Mail-in ballots will be made available for those members who can not attend the meeting. Ballots returned before the December meeting, will be counted as if those persons were present at the meeting.

Two qualified Club members may be nominated and elected to share an office.

Duties

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall conduct such meetings in accordance with “Roberts Rules of Order” insofar as is practical. The president shall appoint members to any and all committees or duties not specifically designated by these articles. The President shall have the power and the authority to enforce all rules and bylaws of the Club and shall endeavor to serve the Club in an impartial manner.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall preside and serve in any absence of the President. The Vice-President shall serve as special events chairman.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all business meetings, give notice of all meetings as directed by the President, and shall conduct the correspondence of the Club.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due and shall keep a record of moneys disbursed by the Club. The Treasurer shall pay all approved bills promptly and shall keep the financial books of the Club in a current condition. The Treasurer shall make a report to the Club during the monthly meetings and prepare a year end financial report which shall be presented to the Club in December.

Safety Officer: The Safety Officer is responsible for promoting safe operating procedures, inspecting aircraft, and enforcing the Club and AMA safety rules.

Vacancies

Vacancies in any office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining officers, such appointee to serve until the end of the term for which his/her predecessor was elected.

The Club is a non-profit organization and no member or elected officer may receive any compensation for the duties of his/her office. Reimbursement for funds expended on behalf of the Club shall be approved by a simple majority vote of members voting at a Club meeting. Any funds accumulated by the Club shall be for the purpose of Club activities.

ARTICLE VI: CLUB MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the Club officers and published in the Club newsletter.

Club officers may call special meetings with no less than five days (5) prior written notice of a special meeting. The principal purpose of the special meeting shall be stated in the written notice.

At any Club meeting, a simple majority shall be over 50% of the members voting at the meeting.

ARTICLE VII: AUDIT

An audit shall be made of the Club books and financial records by a qualified person or persons appointed by the President. Such audit shall be completed within thirty (30) days of the close of the calendar year and transfer of books and records to a newly elected Treasurer. An audit may be required at any time by a simple majority vote of members voting at a Club meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Amendments may be made to the bylaws at any regular meeting of the Club membership, provided the members shall have been notified five (5) days in advance that the amendments are to be considered. Copies of the proposed amendment(s) shall be provided to all members as part of the notification. Amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members voting at a regular monthly meeting. Mail-in ballots will be made available for those members who cannot attend the meeting. Ballots returned before the meeting will be counted as if those persons were present at the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

The grievance procedure provides a mechanism to enforce existing safety rules. Although most grievances can be resolved informally, if a complaint is serious or cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred in writing to the Safety Officer. The written grievance must include the date, time, and nature of the grievance plus the the name of at least one witness. The Safety Officer along with the other Club officers will review the written grievance and solicit input from the parties involved and any witnesses. The Club officers will determine what if any action should be taken in the matter and prepare a written response to the persons directly involved in the conflict.

Repeated violations of the Club or AMA safety rules or retaliation against a person filing a grievance will be subject to expulsion from the Club. This includes threats, intimidation, physical harm, intentional equipment damage or any other action deemed to be retaliatory by the officers.

ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION

The Club may be dissolved with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Club members.

Upon dissolution, the Club shall pay or make provisions for payment of all the liabilities of the Club. Per an agreement with the clubhouse donor and BMAC charter member, Jack Polson, in the event the Club dissolves, the clubhouse becomes the property of the Des Moines County Conservation Board for use at the Big Hollow Creek Park. Any remaining assets will be disposed of to another organization operated for the same purposes of the Club or to organizations operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes. Disposition will be by a simply majority vote of the Club and in accordance with any local, state or federal laws governing non-profit organizations.