Society By-Laws

This page contains the text of the BCARS Bylaws, adopted July 2nd, 2015 by a 2/3 majority vote of members. Please see the PDF copy of the official version.

Sec. 01: MEMBERSHIP: Applicants for membership in the society shall indicate their wish to apply for membership by letter or in person at a regular meeting of the society. The President, hearing no objections to the applicant, will then declare them members of the society.

Full Members shall be license-holding members of the society having filed an approved standard application form and, having paid the current assessment of the society, shall be entitled to all the privileges of the society without exception.

In the absence of a station license, a candidate may apply to be an Associate Member, such membership to be good for a period of one year and renewable upon payment of annual dues. Associate Members shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of regular Society Members save voting or holding office and shall not be counted in the determination of a quorum at meetings or in the number of Society Members.

From time to time, the society may grant individuals an Honorary Membership. The Honorary Members shall be non-paying members entitled to all the rights and privileges of regular Society Members save voting or holding office and shall not be counted in the determination of a quorum at meetings or in the number of Society Members.

Inactive individual membership in this society may be conferred by the executive committee of this club on any individual member requesting an extended absence from society meetings, or who wishes to maintain individual membership without regular attendance at Society meetings. An individual member may also be classified as inactive for continued absence without notice. An inactive individual member shall be restored to active individual membership by the society executive committee, provided the individual member attends and participates in regular society meetings and having has paid the current assessment of the society

Inactive individual members shall not be counted toward a quorum of the society membership.

Sec. 02: MEETINGS—Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of each month at such place and time as the President shall order. Special meetings may be called by the President with the concurrence of two other officers. Notices shall be sent to all members informing them of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. Such notices shall be sent via acceptable methods so they shall arrive at least twenty-four hours before the time therein set for the meeting. Only such business as is designated in the said notice shall be transacted at such special meetings.

Sec. 03: DUES: An annual assessment of ($20.00) twenty-dollars per member is hereby assessed in accordance with Article V of the Constitution for the purpose of providing funds for operating expenses. Alternatively, the society will accept a one-time lifetime membership assessment of ($400.00) payable in quarterly payments over two years.

Sec. 04: EARNINGS AND ACTIVITIES: No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the Society shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of section 501(c)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Society shall not participate in, or intervene in(including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these by-laws, the Society shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a Society/Association exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code(or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code) or (b) by a Society/Association, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.)

Sec. 06: OTHER COMMITTEES: The President shall, from time to time as the occasion may arise, appoint other committees for technical information, program and entertainment, publicity and special committees for special work at his discretion to be deemed in the best interest of the society.

Sec. 07: SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM: The society will maintain a donation based sponsorship program. The details of this sponsorship program will be maintained in a separate document entitled “Bedford County Amateur Radio Society Donation and Sponsorship Program”. Changes to this document may be amended by ballot of the members present provided there be a quorum at a regular meeting.

Sec. 08: DISSOLUTION: Upon dissolution of this Society, 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.

The assets of the society will be distributed in the following manner; (1) All equipment owned by the society would be turned over to the Bedford County

Commissioners as part of an emergency amateur radio station to be located in the Emergency Operations Center of Bedford County. (2) All cash located in checking or savings accounts will be turned over to the Bedford County Commissioners to maintain and improve the emergency amateur radio station in the County’s Emergency Operation Center.