Palmetto Amateur
Linking System Network Association
(PALSNET)
Constitution and
By-laws
Preamble:
We,
the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and
benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur
Radio, constitute ourselves the
Palmetto Amateur Linking
System Network
(PALSNET) Association and enact this constitution as our governing law.
Said Association is organized exclusively for charitable and
educational purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3)
of the Internal
Revenue
Code.
It
shall
be our purpose to establish the technical standards for the proper
linking of Amateur Radio repeaters,
establish and maintain a system of linked repeaters in
Membership: Article
I
All
licensed Radio Amateurs and persons interested in Amateur Radio
communications* shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall be
by application and election upon such terms as the association shall
provide in its By-Laws.
*
ie
– radio
communications between amateur stations solely with a personal or
emergency
aim and without pecuniary
interest.
Officers: Article
II
Sec. 1. The officers of this
association shall be
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Sec. 2. The officers of this
association shall be
elected for a term of one year by
ballot of the members present
provided there be a
quorum, at the annual meeting.
Sec. 3. Vacancies occurring between
elections must
be filled by special elections at the first regular meeting following
the withdrawal or resignation.
Sec. 4. Officers may be removed by
a three-fourths
vote of the membership.
Duties of Officers: Article
III
Sec. 1. The President shall preside
at all meetings,
and conduct them according to the rules adopted. He/she shall enforce
due observance of this Constitution and By-laws; decide all questions
of order, sign all official documents adopted by the association, and
perform all other duties pertaining to the office of President.
Sec. 2. The Vice-President shall
assume all the
duties of the President in his/her absence. In addition, he/she shall
organize association activities, plan and recommend contests for
operating benefits, and advance association interest and activity as
approved by the association.
He/she shall maintain close
liaison with the
ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator to further association of the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, RACES and Skywarn.
Sec. 3. The Secretary shall keep a
record of the
proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of members, submit membership
applications, carry on all correspondence, read communications at each
meeting, and mail written meeting notices to each member. E-mail is an
acceptable means of notification. At
the
expiration of his/her term he/she shall turn over all items belonging
to the association to his/her successor.
Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall receive
and receipt for
all monies paid to the association; keep an accurate account of all
monies received and expended; pay no bills without proper authorization
(by the association or its officers constituting a business committee).
At the end of each quarter he/she shall submit an itemized statement of
disbursements and receipts. At the end of his/her
term he/she shall turn over
everything in his/her possession
belonging to the association to his/her successor.
Meetings: Article
IV
The By-Laws shall provide
for regular and
special meetings. At meetings, the membership present shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business. Members
who cannot be present may make their wishes known by notifying the
Secretary prior to the meeting.
E-mail is
an acceptable means of notification.
Dues: Article
V
The association shall have
no specific dues,
but may ask that each of the users of the linked repeater system
contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the system.
The actual amount of each
individual’s contribution shall
be left to the individual.
Membership Assistance:
Article VI
The association, through
designated Linking,
Public Relations, and Operating Committees will provide technical
advice to repeater owners wishing to join the PALSNET with information
concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency
observance, clean signals, uniform practice, and absence of spurious
radiation's from the member-stations. The association shall also
maintain a program to foster and guide public relations.
Amendments: Article
VII
This constitution or By-Laws
may be amended
by a two-thirds vote of the total membership. 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 noticed by mail of the intent to amend the constitution and/or
By-Laws at said meeting.
Robert's Rules shall govern
proceedings.
Association Activities: Article VIII
No
substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the
carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence
legislation and the organization shall not participate or intervene in
(including the publishing or distribution
of statements) any
political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Not
withstanding any other provisions of this document. the
organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to
be carried on
(a)
by
an organization exempt from federal income tax
under section 501 (c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the
corresponding section of any future federal code or
(b)
by
an organization, contributions to which are
deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code or
the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Dissolution :
Article IX
Upon
the dissolution of the organization assets shall be distributed for one
or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c )
(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. or
corresponding section of any future federal
tax code. or
shall be distributed to the
federal government or to a state or local government for a public
purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the
Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principle office of
the organization is then located exclusively for such purposes or to
such organizations as said court shall determine which are organized
and operated exclusively for such purposes.
By-Laws:
1. Secretary.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to
keep the constitution and By-Laws of the association and have the same
with him/her at every meeting. He/she shall note all amendments,
changes and additions on the constitution and shall permit it to be
consulted by members upon request.
2. Membership.
Full membership is open to all licensed
amateurs. Associate membership is open to those actively engaged in a
class leading to an Amateur Radio license and all other interested
persons. Full membership includes all association privileges as well as
rights to hold a
association office and to
vote for association officers. Associate membership includes all
association privileges except for the right to hold office and vote for
association officers. Applications for membership shall be submitted at
regular meetings or through the association Secretary between regular
meetings.
3. Meetings.
The annual Regular meeting shall be held
concurrent with the annual PALSNET picnic. Special
meetings may be called by the President upon the request of any five
association members. Notices shall be sent to members concerning
special meetings and the business to be transacted. Only such business
as designated shall be transacted. Such notices shall be sent so that
they arrive not less than 24 hours before the meeting.
E-mail is an acceptable means
of notification.
4. Dues.
Each user of the PALSNET is asked to
contribute in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the
constitution for the purpose of providing funds for expenses of
operation, maintenance and expansion of the linked repeater system. No
part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit
of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other
private persons except the association shall be authorized and
empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to
make payments and distributions in the furtherance of the purposes set
forth in the purpose clause.
5.
Linking committee. This committee shall consist of five members
(appointed by the association President). The committee shall establish
standards for the proper linking of the repeaters that will be used by
the system.
This committee will aid all
new repeater owners in properly linking to the system.
6. Ownership of the repeaters that are part of the system. The ownership of the repeaters used in the PALSNET will remain with the individual repeater owners. The PALSNET Association agrees to help repair and maintain these repeaters in exchange for their use. At any time an individual repeater owner may withdraw from the system, but will be required to return any and all equipments that the association provided for the specific purpose of linking to the system.
Signed
this 20th day of February, 2005.
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