Patuxent Aeromodelers Incorporated Constitution

ARTICLE I – PURPOSE AND NAME

SECTION 1

The formal name of this club shall be “PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, INCORPORATED.” It shall also be informally known as the “Patuxent Aeromodelers”, “Patuxent Aeromodelers, Inc.”, “Pax Aero”, or Pax Aero, Inc.”.

SECTION 2

The PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. is formed to foster and advance the operation of radio controlled model aircraft in a setting where camaraderie and safety of operations prevail. The purpose of this club is to promote the building, study, engineering, and flying of all types of model aircraft; to establish an organization dedicated to the encouragement of aeromodeling interests to individuals of all ages; and to promote safety and responsible operation of flying model aircraft.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1

Membership in the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. shall be open to all Open, Extra, and Youth members in good standing of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Park Pilot Program members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics are NOT eligible for membership in the Patuxent Aeromodelers, Inc. Any individual who indicates an interest in model aircraft or in furthering the objectives of the club may apply for membership. Membership shall not be limited because of sex, race, age, creed, color, religious affiliation, mental or physical handicap, national origin, ancestry or marital status.

SECTION 2

Membership shall be divided into the following categories:

A) Regular Members are those members, nineteen years of age or older as of July 1st of the year of application for membership. They shall have full voting privileges, be eligible to hold any club office, and be eligible to serve as committee members.

B) Family Members are those members that reside in the same household as the Regular Member. The Regular Member and all Family Members together shall constitute a Family Membership. All members that reside in the same household shall have full voting privileges.

C) Junior Members are those members who have not attained their nineteenth birthday by July 1 of the year of application for membership. They will not be eligible to hold club office, but shall have full voting privileges and be able to serve as committee members.

D) Associate Members are those members of any age who wish to participate in the sport of aeromodeling and further the objectives of the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc, but do not wish to engage in actual flying operations. They will not be eligible to hold club office, or hold voting privileges, but shall be eligible to serve as committee members. No more than one quarter of the total club membership shall be Associate Members. An Associate Member may change their status to full membership at any time by paying the difference in membership dues and initiation fees for the category in which the individual/s fall under.

SECTION 3

Club membership ends each year on December 31, regardless of the date a membership application is accepted. Dues for new members shall be assessed at the full current rate of the appropriate category. They shall also incur a processing fee at the time of application which is equal to the amount in the category in which they are applying. For new members applying after September 1, dues will be assessed at 1/2 the annual rate for the membership category being applied for plus the processing fee. Renewal of membership shall be at the full current rate regardless of date of renewal, and shall be due at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the New Year. If a member has not renewed by the end of the first scheduled meeting, their newsletter will be withheld and their membership considered no longer valid. A late fee shall be accessed for those that have let their membership lapse which will be accessed at one-half of the category in which they fall under.

SECTION 4

Membership in the club shall be by application and must be approved by a club officer.

SECTION 5

Termination of membership for any reason other than resignation shall require the approval of two-thirds of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting of the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS Inc., and in general will follow the procedures set forth in ARTICLE V of the BYLAWS OF THE ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS. Notice of any such intended action shall be published in the newsletter and on the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. web site prior to that meeting. Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by a two-thirds approval of members present at a regularly scheduled club meeting.

SECTION 6

By reasons of club insurance and liability coverage, and provisions stipulated in the club land lease with the State of Maryland, it is required that all members of the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. who engage in actual flight operations, be members in good standing of the ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS. The club will designate a maximum of (3) “Introductory Pilots” as stipulated in the AMA Introductory Pilot Program and fund their administrative fee. This program is intended to introduce non-AMA members to aeromodeling while providing liability insurance coverage to both the non-AMA member and the club. To assist in monitoring non-club member activity at the field, it is mandatory that club members display both their AMA and club membership cards on the radio impound frequency control board. Club members who are sponsoring guests are to ensure that guests are complying with standing club rules, especially frequency control procedures.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

SECTION 1

Club Officership shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Safety Officer, and Newsletter Editor, and collectively they make up the Executive Board.

SECTION 2

All Officers will be elected by general vote, and shall hold office for a period of one year. In the case of filling a vacated office, he/she shall hold office for the remainder of the period, until the next scheduled election.

SECTION 3

Officers shall be elected by simple majority. [Note that Quorum is required for all Club Votes per Article IV, Section 1]

SECTION 4

Vacancies in any office shall be filled by special election.

SECTION 5

A term limit of two years shall exist for all club officers. Waiver of this term limit may be approved on a case by case basis by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled club meeting.

SECTION 6

Any Officer of the club may be impeached and removed from office for good cause. Such action shall require the approval of two-thirds of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting of the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. Notice of any such action shall be published in the newsletter and on the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS web site prior to that meeting.

ARTICLE IV – A QUORUM

SECTION 1

A Quorum for the Executive Board shall consist of not less than 3 Officers. A Quorum at a scheduled member meeting shall consist of three officers and fifteen members, or 20% of the total club membership, whichever is less. A quorum must be present before an official club vote can be taken, or for the election of Officers.

ARTICLE V – FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

SECTION 1

PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, INC. is designated a non-stock, non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland. The club shall be self-supporting from membership dues and other fund raising activities, and will comply with the provisions of state and federal law governing not-for-profit organizations.

SECTION 2

As a special interest group, no financial support from any military or governmental organization will be solicited.

SECTION 3

In the event of the liquidation of this club, priority shall first be given to paying off all debts incurred by this club, after which all remaining funds will be disposed of as approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled or special club meeting.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

SECTION 1

Executive Board meetings will be at the discretion of the President but usually once a month prior to the regular monthly meetings.   Regular monthly meetings of the PATUXENT AEROMODELERS, Inc. shall be held on the first Thursday of each month. This date may be altered, as directed by the President, to avoid conflicts and ensure maximum opportunity for the membership to attend.

SECTION 2

Special meetings may be called at anytime by the President or, in his absence, by the Vice President.

ARTICLE VII – AUTHORITY IN PARLIAMENTARY LAW

SECTION 1

This organization shall be governed by the rules of parliamentary law as set forth in “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting, provided that the amendment shall have been submitted at the previous regular meeting and published prior to the meeting at which it will be voted upon.

SECTION 2

Adoption of an amendment shall require approval of two-thirds of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting of the club.

Amended: 6 March, 2008