Proposed organizational bylaws.

These proposed bylaws provide an operating framework for Clinton Amateur Radio Club while it is being organized. Members should review, discuss, amend if needed, and formally adopt them at a recorded meeting. They are not a substitute for advice from a Missouri attorney, accountant, or nonprofit professional.

Article I

Name and purpose

The organization is known as Clinton Amateur Radio Club, referred to in these bylaws as “the Club.”

The Club exists to promote amateur radio, technical education, experimentation, fellowship, emergency preparedness, public service, and responsible communication. Club activities shall be conducted for the benefit of members and the wider amateur radio community, consistent with applicable law and Federal Communications Commission rules.

Article II

Membership

1. Eligibility. Membership is open to people who support the Club’s purpose and agree to follow these bylaws and applicable operating rules. An amateur radio license is encouraged but is not required for general membership.
2. Operating authority. A member may transmit on amateur frequencies only with the license privileges and station authorization required by the FCC. Membership alone grants no authority to transmit.
3. Annual dues. Dues are $15 per member, per year, unless changed by a vote of the membership after reasonable notice.
4. Good standing. A member is in good standing when required dues are current and the member is not under suspension. Only members in good standing may vote or hold elected office.
5. Private DMR access. Club membership does not automatically grant Private DMR access. Network access requires separate identity and license verification and remains subject to network rules.
6. Discipline. A member may be warned, suspended, or removed for serious or repeated misconduct after notice of the concern and a reasonable opportunity to respond. Removal requires a two-thirds vote of the members present at a properly noticed meeting.

Article III

Meetings and voting

1. Regular meetings shall be announced through the Club’s normal communication channels. Meetings may be held in person, online, or in a hybrid format.
2. Special meetings may be called by the President or by any two officers, with the purpose included in the notice.
3. Each voting member in good standing has one vote. Proxy voting is not permitted unless later authorized by a formally adopted policy.
4. A quorum is 25 percent of voting members in good standing, but never fewer than three voting members. If the Club has fewer than three voting members, all voting members constitute a quorum.
5. Unless these bylaws require a greater vote, a motion passes by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting with a quorum.
6. The Secretary shall preserve minutes showing attendance, motions, and voting results.

Article IV

Officers and duties

The elected officers are President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers serve one-year terms and may be reelected. Elections shall be held annually at a meeting announced at least 14 days in advance.

An officer vacancy may be filled for the remainder of the term by majority vote at a meeting with a quorum. An officer may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote after notice and an opportunity to respond.

Article V

Committees and administrators

The President or membership may establish committees and appoint technical or system administrators. Appointments may be changed or withdrawn when needed. Administrators must protect credentials, personal records, and network security and must act within policies approved by the Club.

Article VI

Financial stewardship

1. Club funds shall be used only for activities consistent with the Club’s purpose.
2. The Treasurer shall maintain a record of income, dues, donations, expenses, receipts, and account balances and shall report to members at least quarterly.
3. Payments must be authorized by an adopted budget, a membership vote, or a documented approval process established by the officers.
4. Any temporary third-party payment-processing arrangement must be documented, reported transparently, and reconciled to Club records.
5. No earnings or assets shall improperly benefit an officer or member. Reasonable reimbursement for documented Club expenses is permitted when authorized.

Article VII

Stations, networks, and member conduct

1. Members shall comply with FCC rules, license privileges, control-operator requirements, and the policies of every station, repeater, or network they use.
2. The shared VHF and UHF repeaters listed by the Club are not owned or operated by the Club. Access is by permission and may be changed or withdrawn by the owners.
3. The Clinton ARC Private DMR network is a separate system and is not connected to the shared VHF or UHF repeaters.
4. Club membership does not create a right to access any privately managed system. Administrators may take immediate, limited action to protect safety, security, or system stability, subject to later review.
5. Members shall communicate respectfully and shall not use Club systems for harassment, unlawful activity, intentional interference, credential sharing, or conduct that damages the Club or another operator’s station.

Article VIII

Records, privacy, and conflicts

The Club shall keep minutes, membership status, financial records, and adopted policies. Sensitive records—including identification documents, contact information, credentials, and security details—shall be limited to people with a legitimate administrative need and retained only as long as reasonably necessary.

An officer or member with a financial or personal conflict involving a proposed transaction shall disclose it and abstain from the related decision unless the disinterested voters determine otherwise after disclosure.

Articles IX & X

Amendments and dissolution

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at a meeting with a quorum when the proposed amendment was provided to voting members at least 14 days before the vote.

If the Club dissolves, remaining assets shall first satisfy lawful obligations. Any balance shall be transferred as approved by the membership and permitted by law to an amateur radio, educational, public-service, or other qualifying nonprofit purpose. No remaining assets shall be distributed for the private benefit of members or officers.

Organizers may wish to compare this draft with Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 355 ↗ and have it reviewed by a qualified professional before adoption or incorporation.