About PVARC

History

Brief History of PVARC

The Page Valley Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (PVARC), the "Club", was started in the Spring of 2008 by a few hams interested in sharing their hobby with others, and who formed a club to take part in emergency communications

Senior Management at the Page Memorial Hospital (PMH) welcomed this idea, and (with the help of Club members) set up an emergency communications room in the Hospital to help in the event of widespread crisis, should the Hospital's own communications services fail. Space was also provided for the Club to hold its monthly meetings at the Hospital. Since then a new hospital has been built and the emergency radio station and equipment are under the purview of the North Western Hospital group.

By the Spring of 2009, the Club had met the requirements of the ARRL (the organization which coordinates most amateur radio activities in the U.S.) to become an affiliate member, and to receive its own unique identifier, its "call sign" which is K4PMH.

PVARC participated, also at this time, in its first 'Field Day' event. Field Day is an annual 24-hour nationwide communications exercise, in which all participating amateur/"ham" radio stations attempt to contact as many other participating ham stations in the U.S., and to do so using only emergency power, and under so called "field conditions". This situation offered an opportunity for the Club members to learn, practice, and perfect emergency communication procedures and techniques. The club members participating were so pleased with the outcome and what was learned, that participation in Field Day has become one of PVARC's major annual events. Our Club has consistently ranked high scores in the Field Day event.

Emergency communication operations, member training, and participating in local public service events have become major Club interests. A considerable amount of training, and coordination with other emergency organizations is required to make these activities successful. Club members also coordinate with other clubs in the area to help set up modern communication systems.

Member of the Club operate essential ham radio 'repeaters' in the Shenandoah Valley. The club participated in the publication of the area monthly newsletter, "The Monitor' with two other ham radio clubs in the Shenandoah Valley. Recently the Club has started electronically publishing it own newsletter, as "The Monitor' has ceased publication.

PVARC Joins the Monitor Family

The Page Valley Amateur Radio Club has been formally organized, and [meets] at 6:00 pm on the first Friday night of each month at the Page Memorial Hospital in Luray.

Welcome to PVARC hams. The club formally voted to join the MARA and VARA clubs in helping publish the monthly Monitor.

More clubs means more hams. With more hams contributing news stories, announcements, and other material about amateur radio in the Shenandoah Valley, the Monitor will be even more useful. –from the 2009 Monitor, a monthly newsletter serving the HAMs of the Shenandoah Valley.

Where We Are

Previous Club Logo

Meeting Location: Kibler Library

140 E Main St, Stanley, VA 22851

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

Page Valley Amateur Radio Club (PVARC)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the club is fourfold: To support the public good, particularly in times of emergency, through the services of Amateur Radio; to share our experience and

knowledge with each other, within the club and throughout our community; to foster amateur radio through education and public awareness; and to enjoy the comradery of our

amateur radio community. It shall be a goal of the organization to become an ARRL Affiliated Club.

ARTICLE ONE – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Eligibility

There shall be two classes of membership in the organization. Full membership with full voting rights, shall be open to all classes of FCC licensed amateurs. interested in: Amateur Radio communications and experimentation, the establishment of Amateur Radio networks to provide electronic communications in the event of disasters and/or other emergencies; or, the furthering of education in the field of Amateur Radio communications. The terms “member” or “membership” as used in these By-Laws refer to members with full membership, unless otherwise indicated.

Associate (non-voting) membership is available to those not meeting the FCC license criteria, but supportive of the purposes of this organization.

Section 2: Election to Membership

Election to full or associate membership shall be by a unanimous vote of those members present. In the event the applicant’s suitability or qualification for membership is

questioned, a vote will be postponed, and the matter referred to the Membership Committee - who will research the issue and report back its findings to the membership

prior to the vote.

Section 3: Voting

Each member shall have one vote at any membership meeting at which he/she is present either in person or virtually. Proxy voting will not be permitted at any membership meeting or election. Any vote taken at a membership meeting will be considered valid if those in attendance hold full membership and are current in their dues. The outcome (for/against) is determined by a simple majority. At the discretion of the presiding officer, a vote of the full membership may be made via e-mail or other electronic means on important issues to ensure more complete participation in the voting process.

Section 4: Dues

The Board of Directors shall set annual dues. During the month of December, the Secretary/Treasurer or Treasurer shall notify each member of the dues for the ensuing

year. Dues may be prorated for new members joining after the first of the year.

Section 5: Meetings

Annual and Regular Meetings: The annual membership meeting shall be held on the first (1st ) meeting in the new calendar year. Regular meetings shall be held the first

(1st) Friday of each month on a day set by the Board of Directors at the annual election meeting, or as needed to facilitate attendance.

Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the membership. Written notice of such a meeting shall be e-mailed by the Secretary at least five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting, and the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted.

Quorum: The quorum needed for any vote taken at a membership meeting shall be one third twenty percent of the total number of members in good standing.

Place, Date and Hour: All meetings of the Club shall be held within Page County at such a place, date, and hour as may be designated by the person authorized herein to call

such a meeting.

Section 6: Termination of Membership

Resignation: Any full or associate member in good standing may resign from the Club upon written notice to the Secretary, but no full or associate member may resign when in

debt to the Club. Dues obligations are considered a debt to the Club and they become incurred on the first day of each fiscal year.

Lapsing: A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member’s dues remain unpaid 30 days after the first day of the fiscal year, however,

the Board may grant an additional 30 days of grace to delinquent members in meritorious cases. In no case may a person whose dues are unpaid as of the date of a meeting be

entitled to vote at that meeting.

Article Two – Directors and Officers

Section 1: Board of Directors

The Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, (or Secretary and Treasurer) and two (2) Members-at-Large, all of whom shall be members

in good standing and all of whom shall be elected at the annual membership meeting, to serve until their successors are duly elected.

Section 2: Officers

The officers of the Club, consisting initially of the President, Vice-President and the Secretary/Treasurer, shall serve in their respective capacities during regular, special, and

Board of Director meetings. Officers shall be elected for two (2) year terms.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Board, and shall perform other such duties as are incident to his/her office or are properly required of

him/her by the Board of Directors.

The Vice-President shall exercise the authority of the President in his/her absence and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the President or Board of

Directors.

The Secretary, or Secretary/Treasurer, shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the membership and Board meetings, and maintaining other such records as may be

required of him/her by the President or the Board. He/she shall have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify new members of their election to

membership, keep a roll of members with their addresses, and carry out such other duties incident to his/her office as the President may request, or the Board assign.

Until or unless the membership determines that a full-time Treasurer is required to perform these duties, the Secretary/Treasurer shall also collect and receive all monies due

or belonging to the Club. He/she shall deposit same in a bank designated by the Board in the name of the Club. His/her books shall at all times be open to inspection by any

member, and he/she shall report to the Board at every meeting the condition of the Club’s finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the annual

membership meeting, he/she shall render an account of all monies received and expending during the previous fiscal year. If required by law or requested by vote of the

membership, there shall be an annual audit of the books.

Section 3: Members-At-Large

Two (2) Members-At-Large shall be elected to serve two (2) year terms. The terms shall be staggered such that they do not expire at the same time. Each position to be filled

shall be filled by election in alternate years. [To accommodate staggered terms, at the first election one Member-At-Large shall be elected for a term of one year and the other

shall be elected for a term of two years]

Section 4: Elections

The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.

Section 5: Board Meetings

Regular: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held as necessary. The Secretary/Treasurer shall mail or e-mail notice of such meetings at least five (5) days

prior to the date of the meeting.

Special: Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President, and shall be called by the Secretary/Treasurer upon the receipt of a written request signed by

at least two (2) members of the Board. The Secretary shall mail notice of such meeting at least five (5) days and not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting, or

electronic notice shall be filed at least three (3) days and not more than five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. Any such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no

other business shall be transacted.

Quorum: A quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be a simple majority of the Board.

Section 6: Vacancies

Any vacancies occurring on the Board or among the officers during the year shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of the Board at its first regular

meeting following the creation of the vacancy, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by

the Vice-President, and the resulting vacancy in the office of the Vice-President shall be filled by appointment by the Board.

Article Three – Committees

Section 1: Standing Committees

The Standing Committees & Subcommittees are as follows:

Membership Committee

Education/Training Committee

Volunteer Examination Subcommittee

Technical Assistance Subcommittee

School Outreach Subcommittee

Emergency Preparedness Committee

EOC Training Subcommittee

ARRL Field Day Subcommittee

Widow’s Assistance Committee

In addition, the Board may each year appoint special committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as Fund Raising, Public Relations or special liaison. Such

Committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.

Section 2: Replacement

Any Committee appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board upon ten (10) days written notice of the appointee; and the

Board may appoint successors to those appointees whose services have been terminated.

Article Four – General Provisions

Section 1: Calendar

The fiscal year of the Club shall begin on the first (1st) day of January, and end on the thirty-first (31st) day of December in each year.

Section 2: Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution & By-Laws may be made by a majority vote of the membership at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided that thirty (30) days’

written notice is given to the members of any proposed changes.

Article Five – Dissolution

The Club may be dissolved at any time by recommendation of the Board of Directors, with approval in writing by more than at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members in good

standing. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the assets of the Club shall be distributed to any member,

but after payment of all lawful debts of the Club, its property and assets shall be given to charitable organizations of the kind described in Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1954, such organization, or organizations to be selected by the Board of Directors.

(Revised 11/15/2021; Original document changes are struck-out, new wording is in red.)