Bylaws

70BY-LAWS
of the
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION, INC.

ARTICLE I: NAME, ORGANIZATION, AND PURPOSE

The name of the corporation shall be the “Central Mississippi
Amateur Radio Association, Inc.,” hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
“Association.”
The Association is organized as a Mississippi not for profit
corporation.
The Association is organized exclusively for educational, charitable,
literary, and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
The Association must not engage in any activities that are not in
furtherance of the exempt purposes under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Upon dissolution of the Association, any remaining assets of the
Association shall be used exclusively for 501(c)(3) purposes.
As part of its educational mission, the Association shall encourage
members of the public to become licensed amateur radio operators and provide
training and assistance to potential licensees.
As part of its charitable mission, the Association shall encourage its
members and other amateur radio operators to participate in public service and
civil defense communications, particularly during events of natural disasters and
other emergencies.
As part of its charitable and public service mission, the Association
shall support the functions of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and
the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) as appropriate.
As part of its educational mission, the Association shall support a
volunteer examiner team to administer amateur radio license testing for all
classes of licenses as provided by and in accordance with the rules of the
Federal Communications Commission and the regulations of the volunteer
examiner coordinating body.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Any person who is the holder of a valid, renewable amateur
operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission shall be
eligible for full membership in the Association.
Any person who is eligible for full membership and who has either
reached 65 years of age or is totally and permanently disabled shall be eligible
for senior membership at one-half of the full membership dues. Likewise, any
person who is eligible for full membership and who is 18 years of age or younger
shall be eligible for membership at one-half of the full membership dues.
Any person who is a licensed amateur radio operator and who
resides at the same residence as a person holding full or senior membership
shall be eligible for family membership by paying half of the full membership dues
for each family member.
Any person who is not licensed but interested in amateur radio
activities shall be eligible for associate membership at one-half the full
membership dues for the remainder of the current year and then at the full
membership dues.
Any person who has paid his or her dues for the current year and
whose membership has not otherwise been cancelled or revoked shall be
considered a member in good standing of the Association.
Full membership dues shall be $20.00 at the time of these by-laws,
but may be changed from time to time by proposal made at a membership
meeting and approved by a majority of those present at the next membership
meeting. Dues shall be due and payable on October 1st of each year.
The membership of any person whose conduct violates the Federal
Communication rules and regulations or whose behavior is disruptive to the
Association or not true to the spirit of amateur radio may be revoked upon three
quarters vote of the full Board of Directors, exclusive of the President. The
person shall be informed of the action and may request that their membership be
considered at the next regular membership meeting, at which time the action of
the Board must be ratified by a majority of those present at the meeting for the
person’s membership to be revoked. Upon revocation of membership, the full
dues for the current year shall be refunded to the former member within a
reasonable time.

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The elected officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-
President for Programs, Vice-President for Special Events, Secretary and
Treasurer, all of who shall be members of the Board of Directors.
In addition to the officers, there shall be two additional members of
the Board of Directors, sometimes hereinafter referred to as “non-officer
directors.” One of the non-officer directors shall be elected in even numbered
years and the other non-officer director shall be elected in odd numbered years.
All officers and directors of the Association shall be licensed
amateur radio operators and members in good standing.
All officers shall serve a one-year term and neither the President
nor the Vice-President for programs may serve more than two consecutive terms
in the same office. However, any officer who is not eligible for re-election as a
result of this limitation is nevertheless eligible for nomination and election to a
different office or as a director of the Association. After a person has been out of
office for at least a year, the person is again eligible for office as if he or she had
never held the position.
The two non-officer directors shall serve two year terms and may
not serve more than two consecutive terms as a director. However, any director
who is not eligible for re-election as a result of this limitation is nevertheless
eligible for nomination and election as an officer of the Association. After a
person holding the position of non-officer director has been out of office for at
least two years, he or she is again eligible for election as a non-officer director as
if he or she had never held the position.
A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the Vice-
President for Special Events or, if that office is vacant, by the Vice-President for
Programs. The unexpired term of any other officer may be filled by majority vote
of the Board of directors. The unexpired term of any non-officer director may be
filled by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Any officer or director may be removed for the same reasons and in
accordance with the same procedure as the revocation of membership
hereinabove. In addition, any officer or director may be removed for failure to
participate and/or carry out the duties of their office, in which case removal shall
also follow the same procedure as revocation of membership.

ARTICLE IV: ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

All officer and the non-officer director up for election in a given year
shall be nominated at the September meeting of the Association.
Additional nominations may be made and elections shall be at the
October meeting of the Association.
Election shall be by majority vote of those present at the meeting
during which the election is held.
Voting shall be by secret ballot counted by a committee of three
members not running for office. The committee counting the ballots shall be
appointed by the President and shall report the results to the membership upon
counting the ballots. Provided, however, that election may be by acclimation for
any position that is unopposed.
In order to vote, members must be present at the meeting in which
the election is held. There shall be no proxy voting.
Only members in good standing who are licensed amateur radio
operators may vote for officers and directors.

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the
Association and shall preside at the membership meetings and serve as
chairperson of the Board of Directors. The President shall not vote on matters
before the membership or board of directors except in case of a tie.
Vice-President for Special Events. The Vice-President for Special
Events shall coordinate the association’s participation in public service events,
field day, and other events as requested by the President. The Vice-President
for Special Events shall preside over the Board of Directors meetings in the
absence of the President and shall preside over the membership meetings in the
absence of the President and Vice-President for Programs.
Vice-President for Programs. The Vice-President for Programs
shall arrange the monthly programs for the association and shall be responsible
for advertising and promoting the programs. The Vice-President for Programs
shall preside over the membership meetings in the absence of the President and
shall preside over the Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the
President and Vice-President for Special Events.
Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the membership
meetings and Board of Directors meetings and provide a copy of the minutes to
the webmaster for publication on the website of the Association. The Secretary
shall also be the custodian of all other official documents and records of the
Association and shall maintain the official membership list of the Association.
Upon resignation, removal, or completion of his or her term of office, the
Secretary shall deliver the minute book, membership list, and all documents and
records of the Association to the newly elected Secretary or, if none has yet been
elected, to the President of the Association.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting
membership dues and all other funds of the Association and depositing the funds
in the Association account or accounts. The Treasurer shall be responsible for
disbursing all funds of the Association and shall maintain detailed records as to
the collection and disbursement of funds. The treasurer shall provide a detailed
financial report to the membership at the June and January meetings each year
and shall verbally provide a balance at all other membership meetings. Upon
conclusion of his term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver all financial records of
the Association to the newly elected Treasurer or, if none has yet been elected,
to the President of the Association.
Non-officer Directors. The non-officer directors shall assist the
officers as requested in the performance of the Association’s business.
All officers and directors shall regularly attend membership and
Board of Directors meetings and are expected to be active participants in the
activities of the Association.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority and duty to conduct
the business of the Association, save and except any matters which require a
vote of the membership under these by-laws.

ARTICLE VI: APPOINTMENTS AND COMMITTEES

The President may appoint such committees and additional
positions as deemed necessary. Provided, however, that such appointed
positions shall not be voting members of the Board of Directors. All positions
and committees appointed pursuant to this Article shall be approved a majority
vote of the Board of Directors, shall serve at the pleasure of the President, and
may be removed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
As long as the Association has repeaters on the air, the President,
shall appoint a repeater trustee for the Association’s repeaters. A committee
may be appointed to assist the repeater trustee in performing his or her duties.
The repeater trustee and committee shall be working positions responsible for
the maintenance and work on the repeaters. All policy decisions regarding the
repeaters shall be made by the Board of Directors. Provided, however, that a
change in repeater trustee may be made only upon resignation or removal by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors.
The President shall appoint a webmaster for the association’s
website and youtube channel.
The President shall appoint a social media officer who shall be
responsible for the association’s facebook, twitter, yahoo groups, and similar
media.
The President shall appoint a committee of two to five people to
serve as the Associations award committee and make recommendations to the
Board for awards given by the Association. All awards must be approved by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Monthly meetings of the membership shall be held on the second
Tuesday of each month at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors.
Each monthly meeting shall begin with the pledge of allegiance to
the flag of the United States of America and an invocation. The remaining order
of business shall be at the discretion of the President or officer presiding at the
meeting.
In the event of a contentious meeting, the President may invoke
Roberts Rules of Order to be followed in handling the business before the
Association.
Monthly meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on the last
Tuesday of the month at a time and place designated by the Board of Directors.
The annual meeting of the Association shall be the regular October
membership meeting.
Board of Directors meetings shall be open to all members and may
only be held in executive session to address matters of a confidential legal matter
or matters which necessarily involve private information of a member.
Upon approval of a majority of the board of Directors, the
November and/or December Board of Directors meetings may be cancelled and
any necessary business may be handled by email.
A quorum of at least four officers and/or non-officer directors shall
be necessary for conducting any Board of Directors meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: EXPENDITURES AND CONTRACTS

The Board of Directors may authorize an single expenditure or any
combination of expenditures which do not exceed $250.00 in any single month.
Any expenditures above this amount must be approved by majority vote of the
membership. All contracts obligating the Association must be approved by the
Board of Directors and signed by the President and Secretary of the Association.

ARTICLE IX: BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The official emblem of the Association shall be the emblem
currently used at the time of adoption of these by-laws but may be changed from
time to time upon majority vote of the members present at a regular monthly
meeting.
All website, youtube, facebook, twitter, yahoo groups, google
accounts, and other social media accounts shall be property of the Association.
All passwords for these accounts shall be provided by the coordinator for that
particular social media, group, or website to the Secretary so that at least two
members of the Association will have the passwords to the accounts.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENT

These by-laws may be amended from time to time in the following
manner. Any proposed amendment shall be submitted in writing and discussed
at a regular monthly meeting of the Association. The proposal shall thereafter
be posted on the Association’s website and/or Yahoo group as the Board of
Directors deems appropriate. A vote shall be held at the next monthly
membership meeting of the Association and any proposed amendment shall be
adopted upon vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing present at the
meeting and voting in favor of the amendment.