CATALINA R/C MODELERS BY-LAWS (Rev. January 10, 2009)
1. GENERAL:
The Catalina R/C Modelers is operated as a Social/Recreational Club in accordance with IRS 5019 (C) (7), non-profit rules and regulations.* These BY-LAWS are the definitive rules governing the CATALINA R/C MODELERS, a non-profit organization, herein called THE CLUB. All special or local enterprises of the club shall conform to the policies of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and to the rules and regulations of the AMA covering such functions.
1.1 MEETINGS:
The general membership meetings shall take place at the flying field on the second Saturday of each month. In case of severe weather the board may elect to move the meeting to an indoor location or to postpone the meeting to the following Saturday. Notice to be posted on the entrance gate.
A general membership meeting requires a minimum of four board members.
MEMBERSHIP:
Any person who is active in model building and flying, or is genuinely interested in learning to do so, may apply for membership at any regular meeting or to any club officer. Upon meeting the requirements of the club BY-LAWS and payment of the fees required in these BY-LAWS, the applicant will become a member in good standing of the club.
2.1 APPLICANTS:
Who are not current members of the AMA and the Club are required to apply for membership to both organizations and will not be permitted flight privileges at the club flying site until proof of membership is shown to any club officer. This includes all beginners after their first lesson.
2.2 CLUB DUES:
The annual dues shall be determined during the October General meeting. The current dues are following:
a. Open membership: $75.00 b. Junior membership: $3.00 These fees are due by January 31st of each year or the member will be dropped from the roster.
2.3. NEW MEMBERS: New member applicants joining at a time other than January 1st may pay from the closest past quarter. January thru March $75. April thru June $60. July thru October $50.
2.3b. New members joining in the month of November or December may do so by paying the following year dues.
2.4 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT:
The General Membership may initiate a special assessment on all members for extraordinary expenses. Members may be dropped from the roster if they fail to pay the special assessment within thirty days.
* If the clubs gross receipts are less than $25,000. Per year, we are required to file form 990N annually on or before May 15th.
Denotes a change made since the last revision. Rev 01-10-09
2.5 MEMBER CLASSIFICATION:
a. Open member: 19 years or older
b. Junior member: 18 years or less
2.6 CURRENT YEAR AMA MEMBERSHIP:
Proof of application for current year AMA membership must be shown to the Club Secretary or Treasurer by January 31st of each year. Failure to do so will result in loss of flying field privileges.
2.7 SAFETY:
Safety is the responsibility of every member of the Club. All club members are expected to study the official current AMA safety rules and club safety rules as outlined in section 7 of the club by-laws and consciously practice those rules while operating model aircraft.
2.8 REMOVAL:
Removal from membership rolls, proceedings may be initiated against any member who compromises his fellow members or brings disgrace upon the club or injury to its reputation or violates its established BY-LAWS. Such proceedings shall require a majority vote of the ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
3.0 ORGANIZATION:
The elected executive officers and members of the club shall consist of a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Two members at large, and Chief Instructor Pilot.
3.1 Other elected non-executive officers shall consist of: Editor, Safety Officer, and Contest Director (CD). Other positions shall be established on an as needed basis by the Board of Directors.
3.2 The Board of Directors: Shall consist of the elected club executive officers.
ELECTIONS:4.0
All Officers of the club shall serve a one year term, from January 1st to December 31st. The annual nominations shall take place during the November meeting and the elections shall take place during the December, meeting.
4.1 ELIGIBILITY:
For all elected officers is restricted to open members.
4.2 All members, regardless of membership classification, are eligible to vote in officer elections and on all regular club business. Voting will be based on the one person one vote rule. No absentee ballots will be permitted.
SPECIAL ELECTIONS:
4.3 A meeting to recall club officers or fill vacancies in club offices may be called by the Board of Directors. Such special elections shall be advertised in the club newsletter as priority agenda items and provisions of section 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2 shall prevail.
4.4 PRESIDENTIAL VACANCIES:
The office shall be assumed by the Vice President. A special election shall then be held to elect a new vice president, as per sec 4.3.
Rev 01-10-09
OFFICER DUTIES:
5.0 PRESIDENT:
The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and shall act for the club in all matters pertaining to the club. He shall also make all appointments to committees and shall have full audit authority over the club treasury. The President also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
5.1 VICE PRESIDENT:
The Vice President shall assume the duties and exercise all authority of the President in the event the president is absent or unable to fulfill those duties. Also all other duties as assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors.
5.3 SECRETARY:
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all club meetings including attendance rolls. He or she shall also maintain and update the BY-LAWS as it becomes necessary due to changes voted on and approved by the membership. He or she shall also be responsible for all club correspondence including but not limited to all communications between the club and the AMA and the webmaster.
5.4 TREASURER:
The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all Moneys of the club and keep an accurate record of all club transactions. He or she shall provide a financial report to the membership at regular monthly meetings. Treasurer is subject to an audit at any time by the club President.
5.5 EDITOR:
The Editor will prepare and distribute to each club member club newsletter at least once a month, and at least one week prior to the next monthly meeting. The newsletter shall contain a minimum of time, date, and place of the next club meeting.
5.6 SAFETY OFFICER:
The Safety Officer shall supervise and enforce all club safety rules as stated in section 7 of the BYLAWS. (Effective Jan 1, 2009 the position of Chief Instructor Pilot and Safety Officer shall be combined. The new title shall be Chief Instructor Pilot and Safety Officer.
5.7 CHIEF INSTRUCTOR PILOT:
The Chief Flight Instructor (C.F.I.) shall set minimum standards for solo flight privileges. The C.F.I. will test anyone wishing to become an instructor. The C.F.I. may appoint qualified pilots to the position of Instructor. The position of all Instructors shall expire on the last calendar day of the year. The Chief Flight Instructor may appoint or reappoint instructors beginning in January of each year.
5.8 CONTEST DIRECTOR:
The Contest Director (CD) shall be in charge of all contests, Fun flies, etc, sponsored by the club in accordance with the current AMA rules and regulations.
6.0 CLUB BUSINESS
Decisions of the club including amendments to the BY-LAWS shall be decided by a majority vote of the membership present at regular advertised monthly club meetings.
Rev 01-10-09
6.1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
The Board of Directors shall provide management and leadership to the club. They are responsible for presenting plans, projects and providing directions to and for club activities and business. They must approve all nominations as submitted to them for Flight Instructor by the Chief Instructor Pilot by a majority vote.
6.3 RECURRING BILLS:
Recurring bills, such as repairs, landscaping, office supplies, and port-a-potty may be paid at the Presidents or Treasurers discretion provided the bill does not exceed the limit set forth in the established budget.
6.2 URGENT ACTIONS:
Any urgent actions, particularly changes in safety rules, review of Safety Officer decisions requested by club members, or any club business deemed too urgent to wait for the next club meeting may be decided and acted upon for the club by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall call a special meeting of the Board for urgent action as deemed necessary by the Chairman, or the chairman may employ the telephone or other means to contact the Board members. Any expenditure made as a result of these actions shall be limited to $400.00.
SAFETY/FIELD RULES:
7.0 All AMA safety rules and regulations shall be in effect at all times.
7.1 No consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs of any kind will be allowed at the Club flying field. No person under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs shall be permitted to fly.
7.2 Absence of the elected Safety Officer during flying sessions shall be filled by the first open member arriving at the field and shall continue until the elected Safety Officer arrives or until the temporary Safety Officer is relieved by a club officer. Such temporary Safety Officer shall act with all authority designated to the elected Safety Officer.
7.3 No instructor or other pilot may perform reckless or high stress maneuvers with a student pilot’s aircraft. However, aerobatic instruction, dead stick landings, and short field landings and any other beneficial flight instruction, may be taught to a willing student who has demonstrated that they are ready for such instruction as determined by their instructor. **NOTE** these maneuvers are only to be performed after the aircraft has been determined airworthy on the ground and in the air.
7.4 No instructor shall allow a student pilot to fly without using a buddy cord before the student pilot has demonstrated that he or she can safely taxi, take off, fly and land without assistance.
7.5 PILOT QUALIFICATIONS:
Pilot qualification for solo flight by club members shall consist of a successful demonstration of the pilot skill in performing the maneuvers of the Chief Instructor Pilots training program.
7.6 AIRCRAFT QUALIFICATIONS:
Consist of a thorough airworthiness inspection including, but not limited to, airframe structural strength, alignment, balance and proper operation of radio controls. All new or extensively rebuilt aircraft are subject to an airworthiness inspection by a Flight Instructor before air operation.
7.7 WORK PARTIES:
Work parties may be called at any time at the discretion of the Safety Officer or the Board of Directors. During such periods, the field shall be closed to all operations and all members using the field shall help accomplish the tasks directed by the Safety Officer or Board of Directors.
7.8 VIOLATIONS:
Violations of the safety/field rules should be brought to the attention of the person committing the violation immediately by the observer of the violation. Repeated safety violations are due cause for loss of field flying privileges, or removal from the club membership rolls as outlined in Section
2.7. Rev 01-10-09
7.9 CHILD AND ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY:
It is the responsibility of any member of the club who brings his child or pet to the flying field to see that his child or pet is staying within the spectator area where they will not hurt or distract other flyers. The club cannot and will not be responsible for injuries suffered by children or pets running and playing in the pit area or on the runway.
7.10 GENERAL FIELD RULES:
These rules are in addition to the official AMA Safety Code. Courtesy and common sense is expected from all members and users of the club flying field.. Pick up your own trash, props, broken aircraft parts, rubber bands, rags and other items. Mufflers are required on all engines in order to reduce the noise level emitted from our field. The Safety Officer has the authority to ban any aircraft that in his opinion is exceeding reasonable noise levels. The last person leaving the field shall be responsible for locking the gate. The last person leaving the field should scout the area for lost articles. That person should bring the found articles home and promptly notify the Club President. ALL SPECTATORS MUST REMAIN IN THE SPECTATOR AREA.
7.11 FREQUENCY CONTROL:
Transmitters will not be operated unless you have your AMA card in the proper slot of the Club Frequency Board. You then control the frequency. If you turn on your transmitter and do not have control of the frequency and your action causes a pilot who has control of the frequency to crash his aircraft, YOU must offer to replace each and every damaged and broken part with a new part of comparable quality. Pilots ready to fly have priority on the frequency board. Range checks, engine test runs etc., must not be made, even with the transmitter antenna removed unless you have frequency control. These operations should be kept to a minimum at the field since they tie up frequencies used for flying.
7.12 PIT AREA:
All pit operations must be conducted behind the safety fence. Prolonged engine runs/ break-in or extended engine runs to adjust throttle controls in the pit area is prohibited. Such runs may be conducted in the engine test area. When starting or running engines on the ground point the tail of your aircraft away from other aircraft, people, and vehicles. When starting or adjusting the engine, do not place your head or body in line with the spinning prop. Pieces of rock, dirt or pieces of a broken prop can easily penetrate your eyes or skin and cause serious injury.
7.13 FLYING:
Unsafe and reckless flying is prohibited. All flight operations will be conducted with the pilot standing behind the flight line safety fence. Except any pre-authorized exhibition flights. On Take-off your initial turn must be directed away from the pit area. Avoid flying aircraft over spectators, the pit area and vehicles. Intentional flying over these areas is prohibited. The area of the Sewage Plant and the Sports Park is a NO-FLY ZONE. If your engine quits in the air or if you have a glider on final approach, call out DEAD STICK loudly. All pilots must give right-of-way to this Dead Stick call until the aircraft is on the ground and clear of the flying area. The take-off and landing area must be kept clear at all times. If it is necessary to walk on the runway to recover a powerless or damaged aircraft, the retriever must call out loudly ON THE FIELD. All other aircraft should remain in the air if possible, or remain motionless on the runway. The runway should be cleared as soon as possible. The call CLEAR can then be used. Pilots test flying new or extensively rebuilt aircraft will inform the safety officer. All field operations, including engine test runs, will be stopped while the aircraft is test flown. Club pilots or club instructors who agree to test fly someone’s new or rebuilt aircraft are not to be held responsible for damages incurred to the aircraft.
7.13 FLYING LIMITS:
A maximum of four Airplanes may be flying at one time. The pilot of the fourth airplane must have a designated spotter watching out for all four pilots.
Rev 01-10-09