Adopted March 18, 1954

Amended March 14, 1968 • Amended November 11, 1976 • Amended November 11, 1978 • Amended July 12, 1979 • Amended February 14, 1980 • Amended March 13, 1986 • Amended April 9, 1987 • Amended October 13, 1988 • Retyped January 2, 2005 • Amended March 1, 2005 • Amended February 6, 2007 • Retyped April 1, 2013 • Amended February 9, 2023

Preamble

We, the undersigned, being desirous to secure for ourselves, the pleasures and benefits of the association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, by furthering better cooperation among its members, developing individual efficiency, furthering the interest of Amateur Radio in the general community, do hereby constitute ourselves “The Mankato Area Radio Club” and do enact this constitution as our governing law.

Article I — Membership

Sec. 1 Membership requirements are: a genuine interest in Amateur Radio; a desire to cooperate with the club in its aims and purposes; and a willingness to work for the betterment of Amateur Radio.

Sec. 2 Duties of the members: to study the subjects under consideration by the club; to perform committee work assigned; to engage in emergency or other similar activity in the event of disaster or emergency situations; to attend club meetings regularly and pay dues promptly when due.

Sec. 3 Privileges of members: to attend club meetings; to participate in all club activities; and vote on all general matters.

Sec. 4 Membership privileges may be suspended, upon recommendation of the club officers, for good and sufficient reasons, by action of a two-thirds majority of quorum at any regular club meeting.

Article II — Officers

Sec. 1 The officers of the club shall be President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Past-President.

Sec. 2 All officers shall be holders of a valid FCC Amateur license, be eighteen years of age or older, and be a member in good standing.

Sec. 3 All officers shall be elected at an annual meeting and continue in office for one year.

Sec. 4 A majority of votes of those members present shall be necessary to constitute an election.

Sec. 5 Nomination and election of officers: The President shall appoint a nominating committee whose duty is to select nominees for each office. The annual election shall be held at the regular meeting in March. Nothing herein shall preclude the nomination from the floor of additional candidates for all offices at the annual election meeting.

Sec. 6 There is no prohibition to an individual succeeding himself in the same office, or holding a different office, if duly elected.

Article III — Duties of Officers

Sec. 1 The regular term of office of all officers elected shall commence at the adjournment of the March annual meeting at which they were elected.

Sec. 2 The President shall preside at all meetings of this club and conduct the same according to the rules adopted; the President shall enforce due observance of this constitution and by-laws; decide all questions of order; sign all official documents that are adopted by the club. The President shall supervise the affairs and activities of the club.

Sec. 3 The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the latter. The Vice-President shall maintain close liaison with the ARRL Emergency Coordinator, or SEC, who has jurisdiction. This is to ensure the fullest possible club participation in the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

Sec. 4 The Treasurer shall receive and receipt for all monies paid the club; he or she shall keep an accurate account of all monies received and expended. At the end of each accounting period, he or she shall submit an itemized statement of disbursements and receipts. The Treasurer shall also maintain the books for the club. He or she shall keep a roll of members. He or she shall at the end of his term, turn over everything in his or her possession belonging to the club, to his or her successor. In the absence of the Vice-President or if the Vice President must conduct the meeting for the President, the Treasurer shall act as recorder for the meeting.

Sec. 5 Any officer of the Mankato Area Radio Club may be removed from office for good and sufficient reason by a two-thirds majority vote of quorum, at any regular meeting.

Article IV — Meetings

Sec. 1 The regular March meeting shall be the annual election meeting and shall be called the annual meeting.

Sec. 2 Regular meetings shall be held on the first Tuesday of each calendar month, at such place, as the President shall order. Meeting notification shall be by e-mail. Special meetings may be called by the President upon written request of 10% of the club members. Notice shall be sent to all members informing them of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. Only such business as is designated in the said notice shall be transacted at such special meetings. Headquarters will be within Mankato or North Mankato.

Article V — Quorum

Sec. 1 One-fourth of the membership of the club shall constitute a quorum, but at no time shall the lack of a quorum prevent those present from proceeding with the program of the day. However, lacking a quorum, no club business shall be transacted.

Article VI — Amendments

Sec. 1 The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of quorum.

Article VII — Dues

Sec. 1 The annual dues for the forthcoming year shall be determined by a club vote at the December meeting. Membership dues shall run on a calendar year basis.

Sec. 2 The club, by majority vote of those members present at any regular meeting, may levy upon the general membership, such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization within its objectives as set forth in the preamble thereof. Nonpayment of such dues or assessments shall be cause for expulsion from the club within the discretion of the membership.

Sec. 3 Dues are payable in advance, on an annual basis to the Treasurer and are due by the First of January.

Article VIII — Committees

Sec. 1 The MARC and members shall maintain the following committees: MARC Repeater Committee, Emergency Services Committee. The President shall have the power to appoint and disband any other committees as needed to effectively service the club membership.

Sec. 2 The Mankato Area Radio Club (MARC) shall maintain a MARC Repeater Committee. This committee shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of club repeaters or similar type equipment and/or systems. This committee shall remain in force as long as repeaters or similar equipment are maintained by the club for the use and enjoyment of MARC members. The Repeater Trustee shall serve on the MARC Repeater Committee, be approved by the MARC membership, and be a member of the MARC. The Repeater Trustee will be required to: direct the observance of FCC regulations, direct the formulation of user guidelines which specify user etiquette, represent the MARC Repeater Committee at meetings of the Minnesota Repeater Council and maintain all final decisions on regulatory matters. Codes, tones and any control information shall be relayed to the trustee, within 30 days of any change. Any member of the MARC may volunteer to serve on the MARC Repeater Committee. The committee shall bring all expenditures for repairs, maintenance, upgrades and equipment purchases to the general membership for approval. All new repeater installations, upgrades, and/or changes shall be brought to the general membership for approval at its regular monthly meeting. In the event of the dissolving or disbanding of the MARC, all assets shall be given to the Minnesota Chapter of the Courage Handi-Hams, or alternately the American Radio Relay League, without recourse.

Sec. 3 The Emergency Services Committee shall be responsible for all emergency related activities. These will consist of, but are not limited to: ARES, RACES, Field Day, and the weekly MARC Emergency Services Net. Any member of the MARC may volunteer to serve on the Emergency Services Committee.