SOARESSS Club Officers

As described in the bylaws, there are a number of officers of the SOARESSS club. There are six regular Board members and At-Large Board member. From these Board members shall be elected the President and Vice- President. A Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected from the General voting membership.

At this time, we have the following folks serving terms as officers:

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SOARESSS Club Bylaws

ARTICLE I – NAME - DESCRIPTION

1. The name of this organization shall be "Southern Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Services and Scientific Society" Hereafter Called SOARES.
2. This club is to be “non-profit or not for profit” and so by nature should be considered a non-profit organization under IRS 501(c)(3).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

1. To promote interest in amateur radio.
2. To provide a voluntary auxiliary communications service for the public in general and especially for those Local, State and Federal agencies so desiring our assistance.
3. To promote amateur radio knowledge, scientific experimentation, public demonstration and individual operating proficiency.
4. To maintain and operate an amateur radio station (HAM) on those occasions as they may arise to benefit in any type of an emergency.
5. To train for and actively participate in any types of emergency in our area. Our area shall be generally south from the McClain County, Garvin County line along I-35 south to the Red River. Counties include but not limited to; Bryan, Carter, Garvin, Johnston, Love, Murray and Marshall.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section I - Eligibility:

1. a Full Member must possess a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
2. Any Specially trained person who does not possess a valid license as specified in Section I. A of Article III shall be eligible to become an associate member.
3. Anyone who does not meet the requirements of Section I.A and I.B of Article III, whether the possessor of a valid license as specified in Section I.A of Article III or not, shall be eligible to become an auxiliary member, except as provided in Section III.D of Article III.
4. Only Full Members will be allowed voting privileges.

Section II

Section III - Cancellation of Membership:

1. A person's membership may be canceled provided a simple majority of the board vote in favor of the cancellation.
2. Such a vote to decide whether or not a person's membership is to be canceled shall be taken only after the person whose membership is in question has been attempted to be served formal written notice of the impending vote at least two weeks prior to the date the vote is to be taken. Such written notice shall be served by registered mail, and only upon the recommendation of at least a majority vote of all board members of the club present at the meeting. The person whose membership is under consideration shall be afforded an opportunity at the meeting during which his membership is to be voted on to show cause why their Membership should not be canceled. Absentee voting for cancellation of membership shall not be allowed.
3. A person whose membership in the club has been canceled shall not have a claim on the club for return of any dues and/or fees or properties.
4. Any person whose membership in the club has been canceled in the manner provided for in Sections III.A and III.B of Article III may reapply for membership, provided they then meet the eligibility requirements of Section I of Article III, no sooner than one full years time after the date of cancellation of membership, auxiliary members must wait six months (182 days). In reapplying for membership they must set forth reasons supporting the reapplication. They shall then be granted membership by the club only if a majority of the full board members of the club vote to grant him/her membership.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section I

Section II - Duties of Officers

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club, decide all questions of order, sign all official documents that are adopted by the club, enforce the constitution, and perform all customary duties pertaining to the Office of the President.
2. The Vice President shall assume all duties of the President in the absence of the latter, and shall in addition be responsible for the duties outlined in Section II.A of Article VI.
3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of each meeting, call and record the roll, verify and record members amateur radio license's, notify all members of special meetings, and take care of all correspondence. They shall also receive and receipt all moneys paid to the club, keep an accurate account of all moneys received and expended, and perform all other duties required of him/her by the board. The Treasurer shall, at the end of his/her term of office, turn over to his/her successor all records, moneys and property in his/her possession belonging to the club.

Section III - Qualifications for Office

1. The Board members, At-Large Board member, and Secretary/Treasurer must be a full member of SOARES.
2. Nominees for the board must be full members of SOARES for no less than one full year before being considered.
3. Nominees for At-Large Board member are not bound by the one full year membership requirement.

Section IV - Terms Of Office

1. The term of office for Board members shall be three (3) years.
   1. Elections for two (2) Board seats will be held each year
2. The term of office for the At-Large Board member shall be one (1) year.
3. The term of office for the Secretary/Treasurer will be one (1) year.
4. The term of office for President and Vice-President shall be one (1) year.

Section V – Method of Election

1. Nominations for the available Board seats, At-Large Board member and Secretary/Treasurer shall be made at the October meeting of each year.
2. Voting shall be held at the November meeting of each year.
3. All full members of the Club shall be allowed to vote for Board members, President , Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer.
4. Only Non-Board members of the full membership shall be eligible to vote for the At-Large Board member.
5. The election of the President and Vice-President shall be held at the November meeting after the election of the Board members and At-Large Board member.
6. All voting for Board members, At-Large Board member, President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer shall be by secret ballot.
7. Votes shall be counted by two (2) Board members whose seats are not up for election and one (1) full member that is not a candidate for office.
8. Absentee voting shall be allowed up to the day of election with proper identity verification by the Secretary/Treasurer.

Section VI - Removal from Office

1. An Officer may be removed from office by a unanimous vote of all board members other than the one being considered for removal.
2. Such a vote shall be held at a regular meeting of the club and only after the officer in question has been served written notice of the impending vote. The person whose removal from office is under consideration shall be afforded a limited opportunity at the meeting during which his office is to be voted on to show cause why they should not be removed from office.
3. Any officer shall be automatically removed from office in the event that he/she is for any reason no longer able to meet the qualifications for office as specified in Section III of Article IV. Written notice shall be given to such removed officers.
4. Absentee voting for the removal of officers shall not be allowed.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Section I

Section II

Section III

1. Any person whose membership is under consideration may not vote on the question of their membership as provided in Section III.A of Article III.
2. If an odd number of board members, excluding the President, are present at a meeting, the President shall/may abstain from voting.

Section IV

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

Section I

Section II - Chairperson and membership of Committees

1. The chairperson of the Activities Committee shall be the Vice President of the club; the President shall appoint the Publicity chairperson and Technical committee chairperson.
2. The Chairperson shall select the members of the committees.
3. The President of the club shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

Section III - Duties of Committees

1. The Activities Committee shall organize and direct all activities and programs for the club and for regular club meetings.
2. The technical Committee shall:
   1. Be responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of all amateur radio equipment operated by the club and shall insure that it is installed and used legally, safely, and in the best interest of the club.
   2. Determine which equipment, if any, the club will borrow from members willing to loan their equipment to the club. Upon receipt of loaned equipment the club shall document the condition of the equipment and determine a mutual agreement for the security of the equipment.
   3. Insure that privately owned amateur radio equipment loaned to the club for the use of its members is installed and used legally, safely, and in the best interests of the club and the owners of said equipment, and that no maintenance or modifications shall be performed on said equipment without the expressed written approval of the owner/s of said equipment.
   4. Insure that before operating any piece of club equipment, each member is instructed in its operation and has proven their ability to operate said piece of equipment properly.
   5. Determine an operating schedule when full and associate members of the club will be present in the shack.
3. The duties of the Publicity Committee are to inform club members and the public of the activities of the club and amateur radio in general.

Section IV

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Section I

1. All members shall be assessed yearly dues in the amount of $20 for a single member, and $25.00 for a family membership. (Family being described as persons living in the same household) All membership applications will be held from vote until the treasurer receives dues, if a pending membership application is for whatever reason denied by the board, the applicant’s money shall be returned in full.
   1. Only Single member Lifetime memberships shall be available, computed at the rate of Current yearly amount of dues multiplied by twenty-five.

      Monthly installments, not to exceed 1 year, may be made on lifetime memberships.

      If a payment is missed on a monthly lifetime membership installment plan, the lifetime membership application is void and payment monies received shall be applied to member’s normal yearly membership. No dues shall be refunded.

   2. Lifetime memberships may be granted free of charge to certain persons so voted by the board.
2. All auxiliary members shall be assessed three dollars per year in dues.

Section II

ARTICLE VIII - TRUSTEE

1. The trustee shall be the holder of all amateur radio station licenses issued to the club, and shall be responsible for all duties required of him by the Federal Communications Commission.

ARTICLE IX - OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT

Section I - Who May Operate

1. Club members whom are duly licensed shall be permitted to operate all radio equipment in possession of the club with the limitations imposed by law and subject to the restrictions outlined in Section III.B.3 of Article VI. Club members must show their valid amateur radio license to the Secretary or Control Operator before they may use amateur band transmitting equipment.
2. Club members, who are not duly licensed, and non-members may not operate any radio equipment in possession of the club, except under the direct guidance of a full or associate member.

Section II

Section III

1. Any privately owned equipment loaned to the club for the use of its members shall be returned to the owners.
2. Any equipment donated shall be accompanied by a signed letter describing the equipment, and any serial numbers if available, and stating that it was donated and the individual gives up any rights or claims to said property forever. Letter shall be dated and signed by the person making the donation and at least 2 board members.

Section IV

ARTICLE X - RATIFICATION

Section I

Section II

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Section I

Section II

ARTICLE XII – VETO POWERS

Section I

ARTICLE XIII DISSOLUTION

1. Upon Dissolution of SOARES all properties and funds shall be disbursed to one or more charitable or like kind 501(c)(3) organizations.

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