Houston Hawks 
Radio Control Soaring Club 
By-Laws

Revised, March 30, 2005

ARTICLE 1
Name and Location

A. The name of the organization shall be the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club, and located in Houston, TX. The location of the club flying field at the time of this document is at the Grassland Sod Farm, in Crosby, Texas as indicated on the web page at http://www.houstonhawks.org/.

B. For approved club purposes only, any officer or member may use the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club’s name or logo whether it be used on clothing, documents, web pages, etc.

C. The AMA is our parent body and as a charter club (AMA # 1698) the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club must adhere to all AMA regulations.

ARTICLE 2
Mission and Vision

A. The mission of the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club will be to promote the construction and operation of radio controlled soaring aircraft in public sport and competition flying events.

B. The vision of the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club is to increase the public popularity of radio controlled sailplanes to include public observation and instruction.

ARTICLE 3
Officers

A. The President shall preside at all meetings or events and shall assume the responsibility of safety officer and field marshal when present at the club location.

B. The Vice President shall assume all duties, powers, and responsibilities of the President in the event of the President’s absence.

C. The Secretary shall assume all duties of correspondence, record keeping and web presence.

D. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and have the power to distribute funds per approved club expenditures. Any officer can approve expenditures of up to $100. The President has the discretionary power to allocate funds up to $300 without club approval. Club expenditures are approved by a majority of membership at a scheduled meeting or event, or by telephone/e-mail vote with the exception that the President or Treasurer may allocate any amount of funds for sole purpose of purchasing awards for a scheduled club event.

E. The election of officers shall be by vote of the membership at a scheduled meeting or event, or by telephone/e-mail vote. Elections shall occur at the scheduled meeting or event in October as designated by the President. Term of office for each officer shall be one year – running from the Election Day to Election Day. Any active member can be nominated for an officer position.

ARTICLE 4
Membership

A. Guest membership may be extended to any person with an active interest in radio controlled soaring. Guest membership is valid for 3 visits to the club location.

B. Active membership may be extended to any person with an active interest in radio controlled soaring who is a current Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) member.

C. Active membership process is outlined on the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club’s web page http://www.houstonhawks.org/. .

D. Dues for active membership will be proposed for the coming year and approved by the membership. Current dues will be payable in the month of January. The Secretary will notify the membership as to the amount due. An active member shall be considered delinquent and dropped from the roster as of the 1st day of April after a reminder for dues payable is sent by the Secretary in the month the March.

E. Spouses and children (under 16) of an active member will be granted a family active membership at no extra charge.

ARTICLE 5
Meetings and Events

A. The Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club will host a meeting or event on the 1st Saturday of every month. The format of the meeting or event will be determined by the officers or membership and posted on the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club’s web page at http://www.houstonhawks.org/. All meetings or events will take place at the club’s location unless changed by the President. If the meeting or event location is changed, then the Secretary shall notify the membership through the club’s e-mail group, which can be joined by sending an e-mail to houstonhawks-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

B. In the case that the 1st Saturday meeting or event is cancelled, the meeting or event will be automatically rescheduled one week later for the following Saturday – 2nd Saturday of the month. In the case that the 2nd Saturday rescheduled meeting or event is cancelled, then the meeting or event is cancelled and removed from the schedule.

C. The Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring Club may host soaring contests from time to time, to include the annual Deep South Soaring Championships during the month of May, but not necessarily during the 1st weekend of May.

ARTICLE 6
Safety

A. The current AMA safety code will be adhered to for all flying events.

B. Radio frequency control will be maintained by use of the frequency control board and frequency pins. No transmitter can be operated unless its corresponding frequency pin is attached either to the transmitter or the pilot operating transmitter. Members’ frequencies will be posted on the web page. Notification of all changes of members’ operating frequencies must be made to the Secretary. If any member operates a transmitter without a frequency pin, which interferes and results in damage of another member’s equipment that has the corresponding frequency pin, then the member without the frequency pin shall reimburse the other for damages.

C. New members shall be monitored by an experienced active member until the club is assured of the safety and frequency control of the new member and his equipment.

D. A guest membership and active membership can be revoked from any person who refuses to adhere to the AMA and club’s safety and operating regulations.

E. It is the duty of all members and officers to make sure that all safety regulations are followed. Any member or officer can notify the President of any safety violation. The President shall follow the following guidelines.
1st violation
a. orally notify the accused of the violation
b. communicate why the action was a violation
c. complainant's name will not be disclosed
2nd violation
a. orally notify the accused of the violation
b. communicate why the action was a violation
c. complainant’s name will be disclosed
d. accused may make a rebuttal
3rd violation
a. President shall notify the accused in writing of the violation
b. The membership shall vote by secret ballot at the next meeting or event for the expulsion of the accused for the remainder of the year.
c. Expulsion will be based on a two-thirds majority of the voting membership at the meeting or event.

F. These three actions will be not enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period of time.

G. Any accused member who retaliates against any complainant will be the subject of immediate expulsion from the Houston Hawks Radio Control Soaring club. This is to include threats, intimidation, physical harm, intentional equipment damage, or any other action deemed retaliatory by any club office.

ARTICLE 7
Amendments

A. Proposals for amendment must be made by any Officer fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or event in which the proposals will be voted to allow sufficient time to inform the membership.

B. Amendments to the By-laws must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership.

C. Active members may vote by phone or e-mail if not able to attend the meeting or event.

END of Houston Hawks Bylaws dated March 30, 2005