AMENDED BYLAWS OF THE
SEATTLE AREA SOARING SOCIETY
Effective April 23, 2014
Article 1
Name and Location
Section 1. The full name of the organization is Seattle Area Soaring Society. The abbreviated name is SASS.
Section 2. SASS is headquartered in the Seattle, Washington area. The address of the organization will be the address of the member of the Board of Directors currently serving as Treasurer.
Article 2
Purpose
To provide a government for the advancement of the sport of flying Remote Control Sailplanes, the maintenance and preservation of the flying sites at 60 Acres and Carnation Farms and to prepare for the future by planning and managing budgets and funds to ensure locations to fly into the future.
This activity is funded thru dues from members and hopes of receiving charitable donations in the future.
In addition to the above, SASS conducts informative monthly meetings, provides a website to provide public information, assists new pilots getting started building and flying RC gliders and sailplanes, education of the public about the sport through demonstrations, talks, displays and the news media and to provide a forum for flying contests.
Article 3
Membership and Dues
Section 1. Membership shall be extended to any interested party provided that they hold a current membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and satisfy any restrictions imposed by Camp Korey.
Section 2. The membership fee shall be as established by the SASS Board of Directors. Membership fees are collected yearly to cover the calendar year of January 1st through December 31st inclusive. The membership fee for anyone who has not previously been a member of SASS who joins on or after July 31, shall pay one-half the yearly membership fee. For previous members the membership fee shall be the full yearly amount with no consideration for the date of payment. A member may resign from the club at any time, but no refund of their membership fee will be made.
Section 3. There is currently one class of membership - Family. Each family membership shall cover the head of household, their spouse and all dependents under the age of 21 living in the same household. The Board may establish additional classes of membership, as it considers appropriate.
Section 4. All membership dues shall be placed in the SASS general fund for disbursement as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. A member is considered to be in good standing only if their dues have been paid in full for the current year.
Resignation, termination, disciplinary action, expulsion, and reinstatement of membership are subject to the following conditions.
Section 6. Any member in good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written notice to the Club.
Section 7. If any member ceases to have the qualifications necessary for membership in the AMA, his/her membership in the club shall thereby terminate, subject to reinstatement upon restoration of eligibility.
Section 8. This section provides for enforcement of the safety rules that are related to flying activities. Any other unacceptable behavior by an individual member of members, as defined by the board of directors, become the responsibility of the board of directors as stated in article 12 of these bylaws. Any individual may be expelled from membership from the club by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors if, in the board of directors determination, such individual willfully commits any act or omission which is a violation of any of the terms of these bylaws, or rules of the AMA, or which is detrimental to the club, the AMA or to model aviation.
Section 9. Any member who is expelled from the membership may be reinstated to membership by two-thirds majority vote of the board of directors.
Section 10. The board of directors shall have the discretionary authority to provide for and to impose disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which do not justify expulsion from membership.
Article 4
Books and Records
Section 1. SASS shall keep correct and complete books and records of accounts. The SASS fiscal year shall correspond with the calendar year. At the first Board of Directors meeting of each year the Treasurer shall present for the Boards approval a financial report covering the preceding year. The approved financial report shall be published in the next issue of the newsletter.
Section 2. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any subcommittees of the Board. Copies of approved meeting minutes shall be made available to any SASS member in good standing who requests them.
Article 5
Meetings
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once quarterly. Any SASS member in good standing may attend the board meeting at the discretion of the Board. The meetings shall be called by the President with sufficient written or verbal notice to all Board members.
Section 2. At least one meeting of the general membership shall be held quarterly. The meeting date shall be announced in the newsletter.
Section 3. The voting body at membership meetings shall be all SASS members in good standing. All issues duly moved and passed by simple majority at the membership meeting shall be mandates to the Board to carry out the approved actions.
Article 6
Nominations and Elections
The Board of Directors for the following year shall be nominated and elected at a general membership meeting by the last general membership meeting of the year. The SASS membership shall be notified by newsletter, email, website or other written notice of the date of the general membership meeting at which the next year’s Board will be nominated and elected. Any SASS member in good standing may nominate any other SASS member in good standing. Each nomination requires a second. Only SASS members in good standing attending the designated general membership meeting at which the Board election is to take place are eligible to vote. Each person covered under a family membership may cast one vote. The election shall be held by secret ballot.
Article 7
Board of Directors
Section 1. The governing body of SASS shall be a Board of Directors consisting of five (5) elected members. Each Board member must be a member in good standing of SASS. Board positions and their typical duties are described below:
BOARD COMPOSITION |
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Position |
Typical Duties |
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1. Club President |
Handles public relations. Schedules, arranges and runs meetings, plans club directions, performs overall coordination of club activities |
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2. Vice President |
Assists Club president as necessary. Responsible for public relations activities such as literature distribution. |
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3. Treasurer |
Keeps club books, pays bills, manages bank accounts, deposits receivables, prepares financial reports, etc. Primary contact to the AMA. Manages membership drive. |
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4. Secretary |
Prepares meeting minutes for Board and general membership meetings. Handles routine correspondence. |
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5. Field Safety coordinator |
Maintains awareness of field and frequency issues/problems and keeps the club informed. Ensures field reservations and other such arrangements are completed. Primary liaison with Camp Korey, LWYSA and King County. |
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Other duties, including but not limited to the following may be done by board members but are duties typically reserved for individual SASS members:
Field mowing and it related maintenance and fuel.
Maintenance of SASS equipment.
Building improvements.
Contest or event director or coordination.
Yearly schedule.
Section 2. The Board members are elected “at-large” rather than to a particular position. The Board members are responsible for reaching consensus on the distribution of the above positions. This shall be done at the first meeting of the new Board before any other business is addressed. The Board may agree by consensus to redistribute these positions at a later date. However, the Board must have the agreement of the members whose positions will be changed.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall make decisions using teamwork and consensus. Only as a last resort shall voting be used.
Section 4. The typical duties as listed above may be reallocated to another Board position by the consensus of the Board, without prior authorization of the general membership.
Section 5. The Board shall make no official decisions at board meetings where there is less than a quorum present. A quorum shall consist of four (4) Board members.
Section 6. Decisions of policy shall be consistent with the stated purposes and objectives of the SASS Bylaws.
Section 7. Any SASS member in good standing may initiate a formal request for Board action. The request must be submitted in writing to the President, and must be signed by the originator. The President shall distribute copies to the other members of the Board. The President will place the matter on the working agenda.
Article 8
Official Publications
Section 1. SASS shall assemble and maintain a web site. The web site shall contain news and information typically found in a monthly newsletter, event or contest information, calendar information, and member information
Section 2. Non-commercial advertising for model related goods may be placed on the website SASS members in good standing at no cost. Placement of commercial advertising on the website by vendors is at the discretion of the SASS Board of Directors. Charges, if any, for commercial advertising shall be determined by the Board.
Article 9
Order of Business
The order of business for each Board of Directors meeting and for each general membership meeting shall be determined by the Board President. The President or his designated representative shall be the meeting chairman. The rules governing the conduct of meetings shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article 10
Amendments
Amendments of these bylaws may be made by a simple majority vote of the board, followed by a simple majority vote of the general membership attending the next regular general membership meeting.
Article 11
Dissolution
Section 1. SASS will be dissolved if all of the following conditions are met, in order.
1.1. A Board member submits an argument in favor of dissolution to the Board in writing.
1.2. The Board unanimously approves SASS dissolution.
1.3. The argument in favor of dissolution is submitted by the Board to all club members in writing.
1.4. A complete accounting of all SASS assets is submitted to all club members in writing.
1.5. A vote date that allows for a minimum 60-day discussion period is announced to all club members in writing.
1.6. All club members have the opportunity to participate in the 60-day discussion period using the SASS email group and club meetings.
1.7. A vote is held using the online method then currently in use for other major club decisions such as Board elections.
1.8. SASS will be dissolved only by a yes vote of at least 90% of all eligible club members.
Section 2. After dissolution, SASS assets will be disposed of as follows, within 30 days.
2.1. Monies remaining from the 2009 King County grant held by Friends of Camp Korey will be donated to the Northwest Soaring Society (NWSS). If NWSS no longer exists or refuses the donation, the monies shall be donated to the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
2.2. Monies held by SASS will be distributed to current members prorated based on years of membership going back to and including 2009.
2.3. Club property will be auctioned to SASS members using a method determined by the Board.
2.4. Remaining club property will be sold via public auction or sale, with cash proceeds distributed to club members prorated based on years of membership going back to and including 2009.
Article 12
Grievance Procedures
Section 1. The grievance procedures provides a mechanism to enforce existing rules by providing a progressive disciplinary system when needed. Although most complaints can be resolved informally, if a complaint is serious or cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the Board of Directors. Notice to the Board of Directors for consideration of a grievance shall be by written notice submitted to the Board. The Notice shall state the date, location and nature of the grievance and a short discussion of rule or rules violated.
Section 2. The three violations discussed below must accumulate within a two-year period of time.
Section 3. Any member receiving a grievance, who directs any act of retaliation against the person filing the grievance, will be subject to immediate expulsion from the Club. This includes threats, intimidation, physical harm, intentional equipment damage, or any other action deemed to be retaliatory by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Board shall use its best judgment in carrying out an appropriate response to the written grievance.
FIRST VIOLATION
The accused party shall be provided a copy of the written grievance and will be asked to respond in writing to the allegations.
Either party may request a hearing before the full Board.
Statements and evidence of both parties will be considered by the Board.
The findings of fact and conclusions of the Board will be recorded in the Club files.
If appropriate, a verbal reprimand along with what could have been done to avoid the violation will be given to the accused, and this will be recorded in the Club files.
SECOND VIOLATION
The accused party shall be provided a copy of the written grievance and will be asked to respond in writing to the allegations.
Either party may request a hearing before the full Board.
Statements and evidence of both parties will be considered by the Board.
The findings of fact and conclusions of the Board will be recorded in the Club files.
If the Board so decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be suspended for 30 days for all club events and use of equipment privileges will be revoked. Written notice will be published of the finding and conclusions of the Board and a copy will be published on the Club website.
THIRD VIOLATION
a. The accused party shall be provided a copy of the written grievance and asked to respond in writing to the allegations.
The Board shall notify the accused in writing and the Club Members by email or Website that the club will vote on the expulsion of the accused at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
At the meeting, the Board shall provide the nature of the violations, the findings and conclusions of the board and the accused shall be given a chance to address the membership.
The membership shall by secret ballot vote on the expulsion of the accused. Expulsion will require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at the meeting.
All expulsions shall be for a minimum of one-year. The expelled member may apply for membership at the end of the expulsion period.