PREAMBLE

We the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, do hereby constitute ourselves the Madison County Amateur Radio Club. Inc. and do enact this constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to facilitate the exchange of information and general cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism, and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct Club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of amateur radio in the general community.

ARTICLE I NAME

Section 1.
The name of the corporation shall be the Madison County Amateur Radio Club, Inc.

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.
All persons interested in Amateur Radio shall be eligible for membership.*

Membership shall be by application or such terms as the Club shall provide in the By-Laws.

* An individual interested in radio techniques solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

ARTICLE III OFFICERS

Section 1.
The officers of the Club shall be: President, Vice-president, Secretary/Treasurer, Activities Manager, Newsletter Editor, W9VCF Trustee, and Chairman of the Technical Committee, all of whom shall be considered the Board of Directors.

Section 2.
The officers of the Club and two (2) additional members of the Technical Committee shall be elected for a term of one year by a majority of ballots cast.

Section 3.
In case of a vacancy in any office, the successor for the remainder of the year shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.
Officers may be removed on motion by a three-fourths vote of the membership.

ARTICLE IV DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.
The president shall preside at all meetings of the Club and conduct the same according to the rules adopted. He/She shall enforce due observance of this Constitution and by-laws, decide questions of order, sign all official documents that are adopted by the Club, and none other, and perform all customary duties pertaining to the office of President.

Section 2.
The Vice president shall assume all the duties of the president in the absence of the latter.

Section 3.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of members, read and answer all correspondence, and read a summary of all communications taken place since the last meeting. In addition, he/she shall keep the Constitution and by-laws of the Club and have the same available for reference at all regularly scheduled meetings as well as any special meetings which may ensue. He/She shall cause all amendments, changes, and additions to be noted thereon, and he/she shall permit consultation there on by any and all members upon his/her request. Furthermore, he/she shall receive and receipt all money paid to the Club. He/She shall keep an accurate account for all money received and expended. He/She shall pay no bills without proper authorization (by the Club or its officers, constituting a business committee). At the end of the year, he/she shall submit to the Club an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. At the expiration of his/her designed term in office, he/she shall turn over all applicable documentation and equipment in his/her possession belonging to the Club to his/her successor.

Section 4.
The Activities Manager shall organize Club member activities, plan and recommend contests for operating benefit, and advance the general Club interest. He/She shall maintain close liaison with the American Radio Relay League. He/She shall be kept informed by questionnaires or other means of the equipment, normal operating habits, and the type of operation of the Club members to help in the planning of activities. He/She shall encourage new stations in reporting activities to the Club and to the SCM of ARRL. All of these things to make the reputation of the Club and Amateur Radio activities in the community as outstanding as possible. He/She may appoint traffic committees or assistants to aid him/her in specific branches of activity.

Section 5.
The Newsletter Editor shall publish and mail a newsletter each month.

Section 6.
The Trustee shall maintain the W9VCF Club call letters and coordination of the Club’s repeaters.

Section 7.
The Technical Committee shall consist of a Chairman and two (2) elected members. The Chairman has the option of appointing additional members/helpers to the Committee. The Technical Committee shall be responsible for maintaining all Club equipment, and Membership assistance according to Article Vl of the Constitution. The Technical Committee shall be responsible to offer for sale (with Membership approval) all unused or outdated equipment, and recommend to the Membership acquisition of new, state-of-the-art equipment, within reason.

ARTICLE V DUES

Section 1.
The Madison County Amateur Radio Club, by majority vote of those present at any regular meeting, may levy upon the general membership such dues or assessment as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization within its objectives as set forth in the Preamble thereof. Non-payment of such dues of assessments for three (3) months shall be cause for expulsion from the Club within the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE

Section 1.
This Club shall enact appropriate rules to minimize interference in operation between stations of its members. It shall formulate adequate plans for disposition of any cases of interference to other radio services where reported as caused by any amateur station operation in the area of Club jurisdiction The Club, through designated technical committees, interference committees, public relations committees, and operating committees will provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice, and absence of spurious radiation from Club member stations. The Club shall also maintain a program to foster and guide public relations in those channels favorable to amateur work.

ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS

Section 1.
This Constitution or the by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Club members at a meeting, providing all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution and/or by-laws at a specified meeting. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting and may not be voted upon until the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE VIII RULES

Section 1.
Robert’s Rules (or Cusings Manual) shall govern proceedings.

The Madison County Amateur Radio Club Inc. was started in the late 1940’as the Anderson Radio Amateurs Club.The name was changed and the club incorporated in 1952.The club call was W9EJH.  Late in 1976, the club call was changed to W9VCF as a memorial to the late Jack Riley who was president in 1974 and a long time member of the club.Through the years the most active amateurs in Madison County have participated, giving rise to many activities including “Field Day”, “Code and Theory” classes, and the well known “Hidden Transmitter Hunts” of the early 1960’s.
The present Club continues the tradition of maintaining the communications club room and holding “Code and Theory” classes taught by competent instructors. Present club members also hold VE testing on a regular basis.Field Day is a yearly function that is always well attended (Usually in June) and a hamfest/flea market is held in August.The Club usually has a booth at the Ft. Wayne hamfest.Also, a Christmas party has become an annual event where the Most Active Amateur Award is presented.
All Amateurs and interested persons are invited to attend the regular monthly meetings held the first Monday of each month at 7 PM.  A “get-together” is held at the club room on the Thursday before the Monday meeting at 9 AM. It allows those who can’t make Monday night meetings to voice their concerns and comments, but is not a regular meeting.All are welcome.