South Land Aero Modelers

ARTICLE 1: CLUB INFORMATION

Name: South Land Aero Modelers
Location: Adel Ga
AMA Chartered Club: 1348
Web Site: sghobbies.com

ARTICLE 2: CLUB OFFICERS

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall act as a spokesperson in all matters pertaining to it.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act for the President when he/she is unable to serve, and is to maintain an accurate record (including place of storage) of all Club assets.

Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary shall record minutes of each Club meeting and handle all correspondence pertaining to Club activities. He/she will also be the Club's contact person with AMA in case of questions, problems or situations and shall collect all moneys due and shall keep a record of moneys disbursed by the Club.

Field Marshall / Safety Officer: The Field Marshall / Safety Officer shall be responsible for establishing "mowing crews" and "field maintenance crews". He/She is to ensure that the field is properly maintained and recommend improvement/changes are implemented. He/She shall be responsible for enforcement of all Club Safety Rules and AMA Rules and Regulations as defined in the current AMA safety manual. This includes processing the grievance forms and following the existing grievance procedure documented in the by-laws.

ARTICLE 3: AUDIT

The Club Officers will make a periodic audit of the Treasurer's books.

ARTICLE 4: TERMS OF OFFICE

All elected officers of the Club shall serve for one (1) year from January 1 to December 31. Officers are to be elected by a vote of simple majority of those present at the regular meeting in the month of November. Mail-in ballots will be made available for those members who have 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 immediately after the December meeting. Nomination of Club officers shall be made at the general membership meeting during the month of October. Nominations for office may be made by any Club member, either in person or by submitting a proxy nomination to an existing officer. All known nominations for office will be published in the newsletter prior to the election.


ARTICLE 5: 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 is predecessor was elected.

ARTICLE 6: COMMITTEES

Any committees of the Club shall be formed as necessary by appointment by the Club Officers and may be approved by a simple majority vote of the members present at a meeting (if a vote is requested).

ARTICLE 7: MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the Club Officers and published in the Club newsletter and on the website. Club Officers may call special meetings with no less than five days prior written notice of a special meeting. The 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. Any member of the Club may initiate a formal request for action by the Club Officers by submitting a written proposal to the President or bringing the topic up for discussion during a regularly scheduled club meeting. The proposal shall include a description of the nature, type, and extent of the action recommended. The President of shall forward copies of the proposal to the other Club Officers for their consideration.

ARTICLE 8: DUES AND MEMBERSHIP

The annual dues to be paid to the Club shall be determined by the Club Officers with the approval of a simple majority vote. Dues are non-refundable, except under extraordinary circumstances, which will be determined by the Club Officers on a case-by-case basis. Dues are to be paid no later than the January Club meeting unless choosing monthly payments. Monthly payments are due at each monthly meeting. Dues must be paid to any of the Club Officers, who will give the dues to the Club Treasurer. 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 five (5) days prior notice along with an explanation of the assessment.
Prospective members must be sponsored by a current member for two meetings before being voted in as a New member. New members who join after July 31st will pay the normal yearly club dues. This will cover the membership dues until the end of the following year. A member shall be in arrears and shall not be considered active if his/her dues have not been paid as provided in Article 7, Section 1. All new members must complete a Membership Application. This is used as a means to provide necessary member information to Club Treasurer and Secretary.
Guests: Any active member may sponsor a guest seven (7) times a year. The guest must be accompanied by sponsor at all times. The guest must also be an AMA member.





ARTICLE 9: MEMBER STANDING

All persons shall be eligible for membership, and shall agree to abide by the Club's bylaws, Club Safety Rules (Article 16), and those of the AMA. The membership shall be divided into the following categories: Full Member: Is sixteen (16) years old or older and has full privileges and voting rights. Dues: Full Member rate plus AMA Membership
Family Membership: Includes all flying members of the immediate family (spouse and children). They have full privileges and voting rights. Dues: One (1) Full Membership (covers entire family) plus AMA Membership for each flying member. Children are included until their 19th birthday and from their 19th birthday until their 25th birthday, provided they remain continuously dependent upon their parents for their principal support. Flying members will be required to hold and maintain a membership card issued by the AMA. All first-time membership applicants, as well as present members seeking membership renewal, must show proof of membership in the AMA. Military members will remain active members in the event of deployment/TDY status. Their dues will not be collected for the duration of this status (if paying monthly). Any member that remains non-active for 1 year will be removed from the club roster. Non-active is; anyone who has not been in attendance for club meetings for 12 consecutive months or has not paid dues for 6 consecutive months.


ARTICLE 10: RESIGNATION, TERMINATION, DISCIPLINARY ACTION, EXPULSION AND REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP

Any member in good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written notice to the Club. If any member ceases to have the qualification necessary for membership in the AMA, his/her flying privileges at the Club field shall terminate, subject to reinstatement upon restoration of eligibility. This section provides for enforcement of the Safety Rules that are related to flying activities. Any other unacceptable behavior by an individual member or members, as defined by the Club Officers, become the responsibility of Club Officers as stated in Article 2, Duties, Section 1 of these Bylaws. Any individual may be expelled from membership by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Club Officers if, in their 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 to the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation. Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Club Officers. The Club Officers 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 11: AMENDMENTS

Amendments may be made to these bylaws at any general meeting of the Club membership, provided the members shall have been notified in writing at least five (5) 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 simple majority vote of the members present, at the regular monthly meeting. Mail-in ballots will be made available for 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 12: SPECIAL FUNDS

The Treasurer of the Club is authorized to receive contributions from any individual or institution, to be applied to the operating expenses of the Club. All expenditures must be approved by no less than a simple majority vote of the members present at the regular monthly meeting. These expenditures will be administered by the Club Treasurer.

ARTICLE 13: DURATION

1. The duration of this Club shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE 14: DISSOLUTION

The Club may be dissolved with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote of the total membership. Upon the dissolution of the Club, all leftover funds in the treasury will be distributed equally to all current club members.

ARTICLE 15: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE (FLIGHT AND GROUND SAFETY RULES)

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 or cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the Club Officers for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form to be filled out and turned into the Safety Officer. At least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form.
Safety Officer - The Safety Officer shall use their judgment in carrying out action on the following:

FIRST VIOLATION
a. Viewpoints of both complainants and accused will be considered.
b. Complainant's name will be disclosed.
c. A verbal reprimand will be given to the accused by the Safety Officer, and this will be recorded in the Club files.





(c) SECOND VIOLATION
a. Complainant's name will be disclosed.
b. The accused has the right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Club Officers.
c. If the Officers so decide, 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
a. The Safety Officer 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.
b. Said expulsion will last for a one-year minimum. (Longer if deemed necessary by the Club Officers).
c. A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present at the meeting.
d. Voting will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting.
e. The expelled member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the expulsion time period.

The three actions will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period of time. 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.

ARTICLE 16: CLUB SAFETY RULES

-All members and guest pilots are required to be a current AMA member.
-All members and guest pilots must abide by all of the AMA rules and regulations.
-All beginners shall have a qualified club member/instructor inspect their aircraft and radio equipment. They must be assisted until they become a qualified flyer.
-New pilots are not be allowed to fly any model aircraft in the presence of spectators (Fun Fly, Contest, Fly-In, etc.) until they become a qualified flier, unless assisted by an experienced member.
-A new or repaired aircraft must not be flown in the presence of spectators (Fun Fly, Contest, Fly-In, etc.) without first having a check out flight to make sure the aircraft is airworthy.
-All aircraft must be operated using only radio control frequencies currently allowed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Only properly licensed Amateurs are authorized to operate equipment on Amateur Band frequencies.
-All transmitters must have a frequency flag that displays the frequency of that transmitter.
-Do not turn on any transmitter without checking the frequency board, and placing either your AMA or club membership card over the appropriate frequency location. Remove your card after flying to allow use of that frequency by other pilots. Do not remove another member's card and place your card on that frequency. Do not place your card on an occupied space on the frequency board.
-A successful radio equipment ground range check must be conducted before the first flight of a new or repaired aircraft.
-All engines must be started with the aircraft directed away from the pit and spectator areas.
-All aircraft may taxi onto the runway but are prohibited to taxi back toward the pits. All engines must be shut off and the aircraft carried back to the pit area.
-All initial turns after takeoff must be made in a direction away from the pit or spectator areas.
-Aircraft will not be allowed to fly over the pit or spectator areas, unless beyond pilot control.
-All low, high speed passes shall be made toward the center of the runway or beyond.

-All members are responsible for enforcing all of the above listed rules and regulations, and are required to make sure that all guests and non-members adhere to the same.