Bylaws

CHAMPLAIN REGIONAL REPEATER ASSOCIATION
c/o Bill Mantell  

219 Vanier Crescent    
Renfrew  ON   K7V 4K6

As stated in the Association’s Charter, the purpose of the Champlain Regional Repeater Association is to operate the repeater VE3STP for the provision of reliable communication encompassing the Upper Ottawa Valley, with emphasis on simplicity within the bounds of the regulations and the state of the art. Communications include, in order of priority, emergency, public service, mobile and ragchew.

The Association carries out its purpose through the following by-laws.BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1. Membership in the Association is open to everyone, whether a licenced amateur radio operator or not.
Section 2. The annual membership fee, which shall be set by the Executive and approved by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting, is payable to the Treasurer.
The membership fee for a year becomes due on January first of that year.
Section 3. The address label used on each official mailing to members will indicate the year for which each member is paid up.
Section 4. The membership list will be revised by the Membership Chairman following the Annual General Meeting, to remove members who are more than one year in arrears. Before removing the member from the list he/she shall be notified by the Membership Chairman of the upcoming action by Email or by Canada Post. This notification shall be made not less than 30 days prior to removal..
Section 5. An individual, whether a member or not, who has, over a long period of time, made significant contributions to either the maintenance and operation of repeater VE3STP or the success and well-being of the Association itself may be granted an honorary life membership.
Following receipt of a written nomination for life membership signed by five members in good standing, the executive, if it approves the nomination, will submit it to the membership at an Annual Meeting.
Upon confirmation by a three-fourths vote the individual will be declared an honorary life member.
An honorary life member shall be entitled to all the privileges enjoyed by any other member, including those of making motions, of voting, and of holding office.
Section 6. Only members in good standing, as indicated by the current membership list, or honorary life members may participate or vote in Association Affairs

ARTICLE II OFFICERS.

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Net Manager. The out-going President shall be appointed automatically to the next executive as Past President. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these by-laws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
Section 2. Every second year at the Annual Meeting the executive shall be elected by ballot from a list of nominees presented to the President by the nominating committee seven days before the meeting. This list will consist of at least one nominee for each of the elected positions.
Section 3. Nominations shall open April 15 and close seven days to the hour before the convening of the meeting. Nominations shall be open no less than two weeks.
Section 4. All nominees shall be announced publicly on the Mini-Net up to the close of nominations. After the close, the entire list shall be repeated at least three times on the Mini-Net in the week before the meeting.
Section 5. The nominating committee shall be selected by the executive and consist of three persons, one of whom will be chosen by the committee before nominations open to act as Chairman.
Section 6. Members of the executive shall hold office for a term of two years or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected
Section 7. In the event that an executive position should become vacant, the executive shall call for nominations for the vacant position and conduct an election by mail to fill the position. If only one nomination is received, the nominee shall be declared elected.

ARTICLE III DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. PRESIDENT   The president shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Association and shall be responsible for the general supervision of the business and affairs of the Association.
Section 2. VICE-PRESIDENT   In the absence of the President, the Vice-Presidents, in order of seniority as determined by the executive, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. The Vice-President shall also perform such duties and exercise such powers as the President may from time to time delegate to him or as the executive may prescribe.
Section 3. TREASURER   The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate books of account in which he shall record all receipts and expenditures of the Association and, under the direction of the executive, shall control the deposit of money, the safekeeping of any securities, and the expenditure of the funds of the Association; he shall render to the Association at the Annual Meeting, or whenever required, an account of all transactions and of the financial position of the Association; and he shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the executive.
Section 4. SECRETARY.   The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all required notices to the Association and the executive. He shall maintain minutes of all proceedings of the Association and all books, papers, records, and documents, excepting those maintained specifically by other officers, and other
instruments belonging to the Association; and he shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the executive.
Section 5. NET MANAGER.   The Net-Manager shall ensure that a sufficient number of net controllers are scheduled to maintain uninterrupted operation of the Mini-Net and shall provide each net controller with necessary report forms; he shall collect activity reports from each net controller and keep detailed
records of the daily activity of the Mini-Net and shall present a full report on the net activity at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE POWERS.

Section 1. The Executive shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the Association except for any business that the Association may specifically reserve to its assembly.
Section 2. All decisions on behalf of the Association shall be made by a quorum of the executive, which shall consist of at least four of its members.
Section 3. The executive shall have the authority to spend, without seeking membership approval, whatever funds are required to maintain normal operation of repeater VE3STP. It shall also have the authority to spend, without seeking membership approval, whatever funds are required to meet an emergency or to carry out any specific mandate of the Association.
Any proposed expenditure not covered by the above must be announced in advance at least three times on the Mini-Net and may not be made for a period of 21 days from the initial announcement in order to provide members who may be opposed to present their objection to the executive in writing.
Either the executive or a group of members may, as described below in Article V, Section 2, request a special meeting to discuss the proposed expenditure.
Section 4. The executive shall appoint a Technical Director to assume responsibility for technical aspects of repeater operation.
Section 5. The executive shall appoint a licencee for repeater VE3STP who shall hold the licence in his or her name. The licencee must be a licenced amateur and a member in good standing.
Section 6. The executive shall ask for the attendance of both the Technical Director and the Licencee at any executive or other meeting that could discuss changes in the repeater operation.

ARTICLE V MEETINGS.

Section 1. The Annual Meeting shall be held each year on a Saturday as close as possible to but not later than the Saturday preceding the May 24th holiday weekend.
Section 2. The president may call a special meeting at any time upon the written request of five or more members submitted at least 28 days in advance. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.
Section 3. A quorum for Annual or Special Meetings shall be a simple majority of the Executive and those members present at the meeting who are paid up for the year in which the meeting is held.

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

Section 1. These by-laws can be amended by a two-thirds vote at the AnnualMeeting following 28 days prior notice to the executive in writing signed by five or more members and read over the Mini-Net at least three timesin the week before the meeting.
Section 2. These by-laws may also be amended by a two-thirds majorityof responses to a motion presented to the membership by mail at any timebetween Annual Meetings. The proposed amendment must have the unanimousapproval of the executive and deal with a matter that cannot await thenormal amendment process.

ARTICLE VII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY.

Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE VIII DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION.

Section 1. In the event that the Champlain Regional Repeater Association ceases to exist and no other organization assumes responsibility for the operation of the repeater VE3STP under the terms of the CRRA By Laws, all the capital assets of the Corporation shall be donated to the Radio Amateurs of Canada. Any cash remaining in the accounts of the corporation shall be used to reimburse members who have paid memberships beyond the year in which the Corporation’s business is wound up.