By Laws
 

Year 2009 up dated
Approved, 9/8/2009

Constitution and Bylaws of the
Greater Lansing Area Soaring Society
  
ARTICLE I:      
 
Name A. Name and Location 		 
    Greater Lansing Area Soaring Society
AMA Chartered Club # 2164 		 
  B. Definitions    
    The name of this club will be the: Greater Lansing Area Soaring Society  
ARTICLE II: Purpose    
  A. Mission    
    To facilitate growth in the art of design, construction and flying of radio controlled soaring planes, gliders and electric model airplanes.  
  B. Vision 1. To serve fairly and in proper balance those people with interests in radio controlled soaring, whether their interests are thermal soaring, slope soaring, electric model airplanes, competition or sports flying for personal achievement.  
    2. To promote soaring contests open to all members of the AMA soaring community and have club sponsored contests/events run in a manner which will consider the needs and desires of all our members.
 
  C. Objectives    
   
1. To promote safety while flying radio controlled models. 		 
    2. To provide assistance to individuals interested in learning soaring.  
   
3. To gather and disseminate information on glider design, construction and soaring techniques, kit evaluation, and launching techniques.
 
ARTICLE III: Membership    
  A. Qualifications    
    1. Any individual who indicates an interest in the building or flying of radio controlled sailplanes, gliders or electric models or in furthering the purposes of the club shall be eligible for membership. There will be only one type of membership, namely: Individual Membership. All members must submit a completed membership application along with proof of their AMA membership and thereby agree to support and adhere to the bylaws of this club and those of the AMA.  
 
B. Dues and Assessments 		   
    1. The annual club membership dues shall be $15.00 for each club member per year. Dues are not refundable for any reason.  
    2. The definition of one (1) year of membership dues, shall be the period from January 1 to the following December 31 of the same year.  
    3. There will be no Initiation or New member fees charged to any new club member's dues.  
    4. Club membership dues are to be paid in the month of January.  
    5. When a new member joins the club their dues payment will be applied in full to their following years membership dues.  
    6. There will be no special assessments levied upon the club membership unless a 2/3 majority vote of club members approve of the special assessment.  
    7. Any member that lives 40 miles or more from the flying field their dues are $10,00  
8-12-09      
  C. Resolution of Grievances    
    Any grievance must be communicated to the club membership at a regular club meeting in either a verbal or written manner. All grievance settlements shall be by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting when the grievance is reported. Voting may be suspended until the next regular club meeting so that further research into the details of the grievance can be investigated.  
  D. Resignation    
    A verbal or written notice of resignation may be given to any one of the club officers, but is not required. After learning of a resignation, a club officer will contact any resigning member to thank the member for his/her past club membership.  
  E. Disciplinary Action    
    . All issues concerning disciplinary action will be reported, addressed and resolved at regular club meetings, by a simple majority vote of all members present.  
  F. Expulsion
 
    1. All instances deemed appropriate enough to warrant expulsion, will be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors.  
    2. The Board of Directors, by a majority vote will decide if expulsion of a member is necessary.  
  G. Reinstatement    
    1. The expelled person must submit a letter to the Board of Directors stating their wish to be reinstated into the club.
 
    2. The Board of Directors will vote on reinstatement, with a vote of majority needed for reinstatement.  
ARTICLE IV: Officers    
  A. Responsibilities    
    Officers will accept the responsibility for one or more specific club activity, club related function, club business area or any other named or unnamed duty or responsibility related to their elected position, as needed. Officers will perform their duties with an honorable and impartial viewpoint in all club related matters.  
  B. Number of Directors    
    1. The number of people on the Board of Directors shall be five (5).  
    2. The following club officers will make up the Board of Directors:  
    Club President  
    Vice-President  
    Secretary  
    Treasurer  
    Safety Officer  
 
C. Terms of Office 		   
    1. All elected officers of the Club shall serve for a two (2) year date of election. Officers are to be elected by a vote of simple majority vote of those club members present at the regular meeting in the month of January. The next election of club officers will be in January 2004.  
    2. There will be no mail in ballots for club officer elections.  
    3. Newly elected officers will take over their positions immediately after the end of the election, and perform their duties and responsibilities until the next election, two years later.  
    4. Nomination of club officers will be either by another club member or a person may volunteer themselves for nomination to any elected officer position they wish to hold.  
  D. Duties    
    1. Board of Directors: the management of the affairs of the Club shall be vested in the Board of Directors who shall have the authority to establish and administer its policies. Official decisions may be made by a 60% majority vote at a Board of Director meeting. A quorum shall consist of 60% of the current Board members. Official decisions shall be consistent with the Stated purposes and objectives of the AMA as set forth in its Bylaws and, where those Bylaws are not specified, vested in the sound discretion of the Board of Directors.  
   
2. President: The president shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall act a spokesperson in all matter pertaining to it. 		 
    3. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act for the President when he/she is unable to serve, and is to maintain an accurate record (including place of storage) of all Club assets.  
    4. Secretary: The Secretary shall record minutes of each Club meeting and
handle all correspondence pertaining to Club activities. He/she will also be the Club's contact person with the AMA in case of questions, problems or situations. 		 
    5. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect all the moneys due and shall keep a record of moneys disbursed by the Club.
 
    6. Safety Officer: The Safety Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that safety procedures are enforced
 
   
 
  E. Appointed Officers    
   
Will be selected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
 
  F. Financial Arrangements
   
    1. The treasurer of the club is authorized to receive contributions or specially obtained funds from any individual or institution, to be applied to the operating expenses of the club.
 
    2. The President will have discretionary spending, of up to $300.00 without requiring Club approval. H. Vacancies Vacancies in any office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining officers, such appointee to serve until the end of the term for which the predecessor was elected.  
ARTICLE V: Meetings    
   
1. Regular club meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by a simple majority vote of the members present at a previous general membership meeting. Any changes of the meeting location or the time of the meeting will be provided to the club membership by either E-mail or a telephone call.
  
   

2. Meeting dates will be selected and chosen at a regular club meeting by a majority vote of the members present. Regular club meetings may be suspended during the mid summer months by a simple majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting.
 
   
3. Club officers may call a special meeting if a situation or problem arises
 
    4. At any Club meeting a simple majority shall be over 51% of the members voting at the meeting. 5. Any member of the Club may initiate a request for action by the Board of Directors, by either a verbal communication at a regular club meeting or by using a written proposal directed toward the club President.
 
ARTICLE VI: Record Keeping    
    A. The secretary will keep the club records and the meeting minutes during his/her term of election.
 
    B. The treasurer will keep a record of the financial records of the club during the term of his/her election.
 
ARTICLE VII: Committees    
    The committees of the Club shall be appointed by the President and may be approved by a simple majority vote of the members present at a meeting (if a vote is requested), to serve throughout the term, or less of his tenure of office.  
    A. Standing Committees There will be no Standing Committees.
 
    B. Special Committees The President may appoint someone or a group of individuals to investigate specific issues or problems. The Special Committee will report to the club membership the results of their findings.
 
    C. Committee Membership Open to any member of the club who volunteers or is appointed.
 
ARTICLE VIII: Nomination,    
    Elections and Recall Nomination  
    Nomination will be by another club member or a person may
volunteer themselves for nomination. Election All elections are to be by a vote of simple majority of those club members present. There will be no mail in or absentee voting. Recall Recall of club officers or committee members will be by a simple majority vote of those members present at a regular or special meeting.
 
ARTICLE IX: Miscellaneous Provisions    
    A. Roberts Rules The club will hold its meetings under Roberts Rules.  
    B. Automatic Recall There will be no automatic recall of a club officer or committee member.
 
   
C. Mailings by Newsletter Since there is no club Newsletter, the secretary will send out an E-mail to the club members with the minutes of club meetings and any other activities or information related to the club.
 
  D. Transfer of Records    
    1. The secretary will give all of the club records in his/her possession to the newly elected club secretary at the end of his/her term of election.
 
   
2. The treasurer will pass all of the club financial records to the newly elected treasurer at the end of his/her term or election.
 
  E. Suspension of Bylaws Provisions
   
    Will be decided by a majority vote of the club members present during a regular meeting.  
  F. Use of club Mark and Logo    
    There is no existing club Mark or Logo, any change in this matter will be decided by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  
  G. Standing Rules    
    1. All members will follow the existing AMA safety code.  
    2. All members will abide by the bylaws of the AMA and the bylaws of the club.
 
  H. Dissolution of club.
   
    1. If the club is dissolved, all of the club owned equipment will be collected, inventoried and sold at a private auction for club members only.
 
   
2. All of the club owned equipment to be auctioned will be listed as individual items or as a package of two or more related items.
 
    3. Only current club members who are in attendance at the auction will be able to make or place bids, there will be no absentee or mail in bids.
 
   
4. The bidding will be by sealed bids, one bid per envelope.
 
    5. A member will only be able to make one bid per auction item or package.
 
    6. The Board of Directors will decide the date, location and time of the auction and provided the club membership with this information by either an E-Mail or a telephone call.
 
    7. The auction will be supervised by the Board of Directors, and they alone will have the final decision in any matter that may arise during the auction not so listed or described by these bylaws, by using a vote of simple majority of those Board Members present at the auction.
 
    8. All of the funds raised from the auction, less any expenses, will be combined with the balance of the club treasury at this time. The total funds and savings of the club will then be donated to the League of Silent Flight (LSF).
 

ARTICLE X:

Amendment of these Bylaws
   
    1. Proposals of amendments to the bylaws will be made at any club meeting.
 
    2. Any amendments made to the bylaws will be by a vote of majority of those members present at the meeting when the amendment is proposed.
 
  Grievance Procedure ( Flight and Safety Rules )  
    Any grievance must be communicated to the club membership at a regular club meeting in either a verbal or written format.  
    All grievance settlements will be by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting when the grievance is reported. Voting may be suspended until the next regular club meeting for research into the details of the grievance.  
ARTICLE XI:
By-Laws    
   


This Society shall adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with the Constitution embodying additional provisions for the government of this Society. Such By-Laws may be amended as therein Provided.


  
ARTICLE XII:   1. This constitution and any supplements or attachments, may be altered, amended, deleted or replaced by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board of Directors and subsequently by a simple majority of the votes cast by the members.  
       
   

2. Proposed amendments submitted to the members must allow a minimum of 30 days from date of E-Mailing for notification to the membership. Voting can take place by returning the e-mail ballot with a yes or no vote to three of the board officers President, Vice President and Secretary. Votes will be added to the vote from the members at the next meeting.

  
       
    3. Proposed Amendments may be Submitted to the members no more than one time in a calendar quarter
and no more than two (2) times in any calendar year.		  
       
ARTICAL XIII Contest    
    An Active Member of GLASS who has their CD certification may apply to the AMA for a GLASS Dual Soar- in Sanction event. Must Be in coordination with the Michigan Soaring League (MSL) contest and the AMA/LSF National Contest (NATS).  
  Other Contest    
    Other AMA Sanctioned contests may be Authorized by the Board of Directors to be held at GLASS's field, which promote the purpose of the club.