Molalla Radio Control Association

Molalla, Oregon

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By-Laws of the Molalla R.C. Association     2003

AMA Chartered Club # 4004          Dated 3/14/03

1. Name: The club shall be called "Molalla Radio Control Association".  It shall be located in Molalla, Oregon.

2. Definitions:

   • Model Airplane: Miniature heavier-than-air, fixed wing aircraft

   • Model Helicopter: Miniature heavier-than-air, rotary wing aircraft.

   • Model Rocket: Small non-explosive, expanding gas powered, non-winged aircraft.

   • Model Boat: Miniature marine craft.

   • Radio Control: Electronic devices used to provide guidance of the model.

   • Field: Land operational site for launching and recovering of models.

   • Pond: Water operational site for model aircraft and water craft.

Article II

1. Mission - The mission of the Molalla Radio Control Association is to provide sites for the operation of model aircraft and model watercraft.  To provide an organization to assist the membership in building, operating, and skillfully maneuver models using radio control.

2. Vision - It is hoped that through providing a place to improve the modeler's operational capabilities, with practice and judged competition, public exhibitions, and media attention, radio controlled modeling will be encouraged as a practical, reasonable, recreational activity.

3. Objectives - To provide a quality site for practice and competition.  Provide competition of regional and national recognition, to enhance public approval of recreational radio control.  To provide community, benefit of the skills and capabilities of our membership, thus demonstrating the worthiness of our members to actively pursue this endeavor.

Article III - Membership

1. Qualifications - Membership is open to all members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, for this organization is a chartered club or chapter of this national organization.  All club members are required to provide proof of "A.M.A." membership.

2. Dues and Assessments - Dues will be based upon a calendar year, without discount or amortization for partial calendar year use.  Fee for dues shall be set by the club officers prior to the January 1 renewal date, based upon prior years expenses and projected operational needs.  General membership dues shall not be less than $100 for adults, and $1.00 for juniors.  Selected memberships may be given as recognition with out fee, for promotion of club goals.  Once such membership gift has been the recognition of home state model airplane manufacturers, videographers, importers, and distributors.  This membership class is awarded at the discretion of the club officers.

3. Resolution of Grievances - Any member having disagreement of club operations or actions may request a review of actions to the club officers.  They will review the grievance and hopefully provide satisfaction to the member.  Failing to provide satisfaction, the member may then take it with a proposal for action to the general membership for a vote.  The proposal will require a two-thirds (2/3's) majority of votes cast to overturn a decision of the officers.  Voting shall be limited to members in good standing, and all dues and fees current.  The balloting shall be performed by the club Secretary, votes accumulated and the counted at a special meeting called expressly for this purpose and so noted in a mailed notice to each member.  Results of the ballot will be final and immediate.

4. A member may resign or quit the club at any time without penalty.  Officers will be excused with a thirty-day notice to provide an opportunity to find a replacement.  The retaining officers may waive the thirty-day notice with cause.

5. Termination - Membership in the club is on an annual calendar year basis.  If a past member fails to renew his membership within 90 days of the new year, or fails to provide proof of current membership in the AMA, the member shall be terminated and dropped from the club roster.

6. Disciplinary Action - Disciplinary action can be required when a member's activity is found to be extraordinarily risky, or whose actions or behavior is socially unacceptable.  The officers may restrict membership privileges for a time.  The officers may direct the offending member to receive refresher flight training as needed.

7. Expulsion - Any member can be terminated for cause by a vote of the club officers.  This should not be done lightly, but only when an individual has caused such disharmony within the club, or whose actions have grossly endangered or threatened the club or individual members, and when no other recourse is acceptable.  Termination shall take effect upon a two-thirds (2/3's) vote of the officers.  The member slated for termination shall be granted the option of resolution of a grievance under Article III, Section C, for a period not to exceed thirty days.  If the member chooses to appeal termination by the officers, membership privileges may be suspended until a vote of the membership.  Annual dues will be returned within 30 days of expulsion, in full.

8. Reinstatement - Any member who has been terminated for non-payment of dues may be reinstated by payment of all dues and fees.  Any member who has been terminated for not showing proof of AMA membership may be reinstated by showing proof of AMA membership and paying any delinquent dues or fees.  Any expelled member may be reinstated by a two-thirds (2/3's) vote of the officers, showing proof of AMA membership, and paying any delinquent dues or fees.  Expelled members will be reinstated; if the member chooses to appeal; the officers vote; and the results of the membership ballots cast overturn the officer's decision

Article IV - Officers

1. The required officers of the Club shall be a President and a Secretary-Treasurer.  Other officers may be elected from time to time as needed to fulfill the goals and objectives of the club.  They may include but are not limited to; a Vice-President; Safety Officer; Publications Manager; Director of Field Operations; Contest Chairman; Education and Training, etc.

2. Duties - The duties of the President shall be to represent the club at activities, manage the club affairs, schedule meetings of the officers, and conduct all meetings of the club.  The President may designate a member to act in his place if he is unavailable.  If the club has a Vice-President, the Vice-President shall act in the place of the President if the President is unavailable for a scheduled meeting.  The Vice-President shall assume the office of President when and if the President is permanently unable to continue in office, or resigns.  The Vice-President shall keep the roster of membership, collect dues, fees, and all financial income, deposit in a local bank and keep records all transactions.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall make payment of all fees, bills, and encumbrances on behalf of the organization as approved by a vote of the officers.  The Secretary-Treasurer will assume the office of President in the absence of a Vice-President.  The remaining officers shall serve at the discretion of the President and follow the duties as described at the time of the appointment or as described hereafter.

3. The term of office shall be from the conclusion of the annual meeting to the conclusion of the next annual meeting.  In the case of appointed officers, they shall serve from their time of appointment until the end of the next annual meeting.

4. Appointed officers shall be those required to fulfill the needs of the organization and of the elected officers or as needed or required.  They will serve a term not to exceed one year, and may be reappointed annually by the elected officers.  Their duties will be described at the time of their appointment.  Examples may but are not limited to, flight instructor, contest coordinator, activity coordinator, banquet chairman, public relations office, photographer, etc.

5. Financial arrangements shall be made that all income is deposited in the selected financial institution's club's checking account.  All disbursements will be made by check.  Checks may be signed by the President or Secretary-Treasurer, and can only be used for official club business.  No loans or fees may be paid to a club officer.  Reimbursements of expenses on behalf of the club are allowed only with the approval of the officers and proof of expense.

6. Vacancies will be filled from the list of officers at the time of the vacancy, or appointed by the President.  The newly appointed officer shall fill the balance of the replaced officer's term.

Article V - Meetings

1. Business meetings shall be called by the President of all elected and appointed officers.  They shall be open to all members.  A record of the meeting shall be kept by the Secretary-Treasurer of any actions taken by the officers.

2. An annual meeting of the general  membership will be held for the election of officers.  It will be held at the flying field.

Article VI - Record Keeping

1. Records of all financial income and expenses shall be kept by the Secretary-Treasurer.

2. Records of all passed motions of the officers shall be kept by the Secretary-Treasurer to accurately reflect the actions of the club's officers.

Article VII - Committees

1. The officers may from time to time appoint special committees to further the goals and objectives of the club.  These may be standing committees that serve for continuous actions by the club or special or sole purpose committees that are established for one activity or for brief periods.  A committee may be a committee of as few as one.  Each committee shall have a chairman,  and shall report to the officers as described when the committee is appointed.

 Article VIII - Nominations, Elections and Recall

1. The retiring officers shall designate a list of  needed offices for the following year.   They will also serve as a nominating committee to seek out possible candidates, willing and cable of serving the organization.  Nominations will also be accepted at the time of the general meeting.   Nominations will not require a second.  All persons nominated must declare their willingness to serve. A ballot may not be counted in favor of a candidate without his acceptance of candidacy.

2. Election of officers will take place at the flying field at the annual meeting. 
   The newly elected officers shall assume their duties at the conclusion of the meeting.

3. Recall of an elected officer of the organization may take place by the petition of  10% of the membership.  The recall election  will take place by mail ballot and will require 2/3 of the responding ballots to be made for the recall of the elected officer.  The ballots for recall will be made by the petitioners and mailed at their expense to the names appearing on the current club roster.  The ballots will be counted at an open meeting held at a time and place convenient to the membership and listed on the ballot.  This is a serious event and those undertaking this must do so only if no other  remedy is possible.  If the recall is successful, the officer recalled shall, within ten days, turn over all club records, accounts, or property acquired while an officer of the club.  Grounds for recall may be but are not limited to, neglect or failure to perform duties, convicted theft or deception, public activity that may be unacceptable or that would place the clubs membership at risk.

 Article IX - Dissolution of Organization

1.  By a 2/3 membership vote, all club assets will be sold at fair market value, or given to another model related club, and remaining monetary sums, given to a community non-profit organization acceptable to the officers or as directed by the members.  A member will not profit or benefit from the sale or dispersal of assets at the time of dissolution.

Article X - Ratification, Amendments

1. The by laws will be voted upon and approved at a general membership meeting called for the purpose of by-law acceptance. A majority vote of those present  will be required for acceptance.  A copy of the by-laws and proposed meeting date will be posted at the field prior to the meeting.  Proposed by-laws may be amended at the meeting.

2. By law changes may be made by a vote of 2/3 of current members at a meeting called specifically for by-law review and amendment.  Proposed changes and meeting date will be posted at the field prior to the meeting.

Members Code of Conduct

1.  Have fun.  Help others have fun.

2.  Members and guest will secure a frequency pin before accessing their transmitter.  If for any reason a member or guest causes damage to a plane by powering a transmitter without  first securing the frequency control device, the offender shall be responsible for damage done.  The offender shall make whole any losses immediately.        

3.  Point  engines and propellers in a safe direction when starting.

4.  No more than 3 aircraft will be flown at one time without the consent of all participating pilots.  Give student pilots and aircraft with special needs, i.e.. first flight, museum scale, IMAC,  rockets, sail planes, courtesy.  Respect the time that others may have to fly.

5.  Concurrently flying pilots should not monopolize sections of the airspace, and must use the wind sock to determine the direction for take off and landing.

6.  Pilots will loudly and clearly, announce their intention of using the runway, i.e. “LANDING!” , “Touch and go!”, “On the field! “, “Taking off to the east!” ,etc.

7.  Persons using the facility will be responsible for the trash or garbage that they may bring with them or generate at the site.  If you bring it, take it home.  Have a dog? Clean it up!

8.  When flying at the pond site, first secure the frequency control device at the main field, leave a note in the pins location, advising  that you are at the pond, and date it.  If you have a cell phone, place your number on the note.  This will allow others to contact you to share the frequency.  If you are not comfortable with this, it will be "first come, first served".

9. When either bringing food to the field or going to town to get food or beverage, always bring extra, or ask if you can bring something back for those at the field. 

10.  Keep the field green.  Fuel kills the grass.  When fueling your plane, catch  the overflow.  Remember fuel expands when warmed, full tanks expand and often overflow killing the grass.  Also exhaust can burn and kill spots, try to prevent dead spots by deflecting the exhaust. or using a fueling mat.

11.  Fly your plane as if your aunt lived next door,  keep it quiet, keep it here.

12.  Model aircraft shall not carry fuel to allow flight duration longer than twenty minutes.

13.  Be courteous.  Make certain others fly first, and you will not out fly your welcome.

14.  If you are the last to leave, see that the flag is stored, the coffee pot is off, and all gates are locked.