Gratiot County Amateur Radio Association
Constitution
Preamble
Wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly
interested in Amateur Radio, we organize ourselves as the Gratiot County Amateur Radio Association
(hereinafter referred to as the GCARA or club) and enact this Constitution as our governing law. It shall
be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote
radio knowledge, fraternalism, and individual operating efficiency, and to conduct club programs and
activities that advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in the community. The
GCARA, through training, drills, and Field Day participation, will maintain a high level of emergency
preparedness in order to provide emergency communications to the local, state, and/or the federal
government including private agencies such as the American Red Cross in times of need.
Article I
Membership
All persons interested in Amateur Radio communications and meeting the eligibility requirements of the
By-Laws shall be eligible for membership. An interested individual can apply by written request on a
form available from any club officer; and, existing members can accept this application by majority vote
at the first available meeting.
Article II
Officers
The officers of the club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers
shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot of the members present, provided there be a quorum, at the annual September meeting. By unanimous consent, a voice vote may be taken.
Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special elections at the first regular meeting
following the withdrawal or resignation.
Officers may be removed by a three-fourths vote of a quorum present at a regular meeting.
Article III
Duties of Officers
The President shall preside at all meetings and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He/she shall
enforce the observance of this Constitution and By-Laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official
documents adopted by the club, and perform all other duties pertaining to the office of the President.
The Vice-President shall assume all duties of the President in his/her absence.
The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a list of members, and keep a
record of meeting attendance. The President and/or Secretary shall process all correspondence, read
communications at meetings, and distribute meeting announcements by e-mail or by other written
correspondence.. The Treasurer shall receive and issue receipts for all monies paid to the club; keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended, and pay no bills without proper authorizations by the club or its
officers. At the end of each quarter he/she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and
receipts. All club officers are responsible for helping to organize club activities, plan meeting programs, and
advance club interests. At the end of his/her term, a club officer shall turn over everything in his/her
possession belonging to the club to his/her successor.
Article IV
Emergency Coordinator
The GCARA shall maintain the position of a club Emergency Coordinator (EC) that may be filled by
any paid member holding an amateur radio license of Technician or higher. The EC shall oversee and
assist the club and its individual members to maintain a high level of emergency preparedness. The EC
shall be the interface between the club and the Amateur Radio Relay League’s (ARRL) Michigan
Section Manager; the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES); the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES); local, state, and federal agencies; and, other emergency service organizations.
Article V
Meetings
The By-Laws shall provide for regular and special meetings. A quorum is required to conduct business
at a regular meeting or special meeting. A quorum is defined to be the number of officers present plus an
equal or greater number of regular members having voting privileges.
.Article VI
Dues
The club, by a majority vote of the quorum present at any regular meeting, may levy upon the general
membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization.
Article VII
Committees
The President may create Interference, Public Relations, and Operating Committees.
The President may appoint members to an Interference Committee to direct investigations, invite proper
inquires, establish technical facts and testimony, and report its findings to the club.
The President may also create a Public Relations Committee to promoted amateur radio in the local
community and/or appoint members to an Operating Committee to provide technical assistance to
members to insure clean signals, uniform practices, and the mitigation of spurious radiations from
member stations.
Article VIII
Amendments
This Constitution or By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of absentee ballots
returned combined with the quorum present. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a
regular meeting and shall be voted on at the next following regular meeting, provided all members have
been notified by written communication or email of the intent to amend the Constitution and/or By-
Laws at said meeting. The meeting notification shall also include an absentee ballot containing the
wording of the proposed change or changes, the date by which the absentee ballot shall be returned, and
the address as to which it should be mailed.
Robert’s Rules shall govern all club proceedings.