ISRA Bylaws

BYLAWS IDAHO SOCIETY OF RADIO AMATEURS


IDAHO SOCIETY OF RADIO AMATEURS, INC.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

We, the Officers and Directors of Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs, Inc. format and adopt the following Constitution and bylaws.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be and is, the Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs, Inc.

ARTICLE II

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

This is a non-profit incorporated 501(c)(3) organization.  In the event property is acquired and held by this organization, the same upon dissolution, shall become and belong to the American Radio Relay League, Inc., a non-commercial association of Radio Amateurs, incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut, and an exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, and in the event the American Radio Relay League, Inc. shall fail to so qualify, then and in that event, this organization’s property shall become and be the property of the local Chapter of the American Red Cross, also an exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose for which this organization is formed is:

  1. To promote interest and stimulate instruction and training in two-way Amateur communications and experimentation.
  2. To organize or provide two-way communication in the interest of public service to any group needing auxiliary communication.
  3. To maintain affiliation with The American Radio Relay League, Inc. for the benefit which will accrue to this organization.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall be five in number. The Board shall consist of (1) President, (2) Vice President, (3) Secretary-Treasurer, (4) Director, (5) Director.  If need dictates, it shall be possible for the Secretary-Treasurer  seat to become two separate seats.  In this event, there shall only be one director, to ensure The Board is five in number.

  1. The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the organization’s members at the Annual Meeting and each of their term shall be one year.
  2. The Board shall be responsible for, and fix policy, and govern the affairs of this organization. If the organization should own any property or money, the board will control and direct the disposal of same.
  3. The Board of Directors shall meet immediately upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the membership, and at other times called by the President. The Board will also meet by demand of three members of the Board upon 15 day written notice stating the purpose of that meeting.
  4. Three Board members shall constitute a quorum of the Board for the purpose of conducting the business of the board and all matters shall be decided by a simple majority of those present.
  5. The responsibilities of a vacated seat, due to resignation, impeachment, ejection, or other reasons, shall fall upon the Board, until either the Board appoints a person to the vacated seat OR the seat is filled at the Annual Meeting.
  6. Non-elected positions of this organization, other than general membership, as determined by the Board, shall be appointed by the same Board. These positions must be held by a member in good standing.
  7. Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed by a vote of not less than four during any Board meeting called for that purpose.
  8. In order to qualify for sitting on the Board, a person must have been a full member of this organization for at least six months, and be at least eighteen years of age.  This does not apply to the Board which was established January 20, 2015.

ARTICLE V

OFFICER DUTIES

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and will do all other things necessary to carry out the policies set by the Board of Directors.
  2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence, and he/she shall act as Chairperson of Committees whenever so appointed by the President.
  3. The Secretary shall perform the duties of the President and also the Vice President in their absence. He shall also be responsible for the clerical records of this organization including all minutes of all meetings.  After the Annual Meeting, the Secretary shall retain the voting ballots for one year.   He shall ensure that the Board and general members adhere to this Constitution and Bylaws. He shall surrender records to the incoming Secretary immediately upon the successor’s election or appointment.
  4. The Treasurer shall perform the duties of the President, the Vice President, and also the Secretary in their absence.  He shall also be responsible for confirming and counting voting ballots at the Annual Meeting, and be responsible for membership processing.  If the organization owns any property or funds, the Treasurer shall account for the same to the Board of Directors and the Membership in the same manner and at the times he is directed so to do by the Board. He will have all financial and property records, and account for property and funds during each meeting of the Board and Membership and additionally he will surrender the same to the incoming Treasurer immediately upon the successor’s election or appointment. The Treasurer shall have the authority to maintain and secure a petty cash fund not to exceed $50. He shall also issue receipts of membership dues and donations.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERS

Membership of this organization shall be of two types:

  1. Full Member
  2. Associate Member

A full member must hold a valid and non-expired amateur radio license. A full member enjoys full organization benefits and has voting rights in election of club officers and and other organization business.

An associate member is anyone who does not have a valid amateur radio license.  has full organization benefits EXCEPT voting rights for election of officers and other organization business.

A household shall be considered any and all family members living at the same address who wish to be affiliated with this organization.  Each family member, who is a full member as outlined above, will have voting rights.

All members or households must properly fill out, sign, and properly submit a membership application to the Treasurer, and pay annual organization dues as outlined in Article VII.  Each member of a household must sign the membership application.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCES

  1. Membership dues of this organization shall be determined by the board.
  2. The dues amount for an individual or a household shall be the same.
  3. New member or household applying for membership from January 1 to March 31 of each year will pay full dues, with dues term expiring at the end of the same calendar year.
  4. New member or household applying for membership from April 1 to September 30 of each year will pay half of regular dues amount, with dues term expiring the end of the same calendar year.
  5. New member or household applying for membership from October 1 to December 31 of each year shall pay full dues amount with dues term expiring the end of the following calendar year.
  6. Recurring members or households will pay the full dues amount as determined by the Board. Recurring members or households who fail to submit dues before March 1 of each year will be considered delinquent and will have no organization benefits nor voting rights. If the said member or household fails to submit dues prior to May 1 of the same year, the same shall be dropped from the membership roles. Full membership will be reinstated upon properly filling out and signing a membership application and paying full dues amount with dues term expiring the end of the same calendar year.
  7. Membership dues may only be refunded upon written request to the Treasurer AND within 30 days of dues submission.  The Treasurer must refund dues within 30 days after receiving written notice.  Upon dues refund, membership to the organization is cancelled.
  8. No financial obligation may be incurred on behalf of this organization except by authority of the Board of Directors. No organization liability in excess of $100.00 may be paid until approved by the Board of Directors.
  9. All financial obligations of this organization, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in this document,  shall be by check signed by the Treasurer or by one other officer, each to be designated by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

ELECTIONS

  1. Intention and nominations shall be submitted to the Treasurer no later than November 30 of each year.
  2. A voting ballot shall be readily accessible to full members no later than December 15 of each year via e-mail, organization’s website, or, upon request of the full member, via postal mail.
  3. Write in votes will be acceptable on ballots
  4. The voting member must sign the voting ballot for it to be valid.
  5. Ballots must be submitted to the Treasurer at any time PRIOR to the start of the Annual Meeting. Ballots sent via post must be sent with adequate time PRIOR to the Annual Meeting in order for the Treasurer to receive the ballot.   Ballots received AFTER the Annual Meeting will not be counted.
  6. Ballots shall be confirmed and counted by the Treasurer at the Annual Meeting.
  7. In the event of a tie, the tie shall be broken by a coin toss by the President or the Vice-President.
  8. If a seat is unfilled after the Annual Meeting, the responsibilities of that seat fall on the Board until the same Board appoints a person to the seat, or until the next Annual Meeting.
  9. A nominee or write-in candidate may decline to accept.

ARTICLE IX

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

  1. There will be at least one membership meeting in January of each year for the purpose of confirming and counting ballots for the election of officers. Upon succession, the new officers shall immediately fill their seats.
  2. The members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for doing business. All matters, unless otherwise stated elsewhere in this document, may be concluded by a majority vote.  No proxy or absentee vote will be accepted. Each member is entitled to only one vote per matter.
  3. If an organization member wishes to call for ejection of a board member, a meeting must be scheduled for a call of ejection.  This same member must first inform the Board and organization members not less than 15 days prior to the meeting.  Two-thirds of voting members present at the meeting must be in favor in order for  the board member to be ejected.  No proxy or absentee votes shall be accepted at this meeting.
  4. Business at the Annual meeting will include the ballot tallying of the election of Officers and Members of the Board of Directors and any other business properly brought to the attention of the members. Business may also be considered during all other meetings of the Membership.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT PROCESS

If it is found that this Constitution and Bylaws needs amended, there must be a meeting scheduled for a call of amendment.  Organization members must be informed of this meeting not less than 15 days prior to the meeting.  Two-thirds of voting members present at the meeting must be in favor for this Constitution and Bylaws to be amended.  No proxy or absentee votes shall be accepted at this meeting.

ARTICLE XI

This Constitution and Bylaws shall not conflict with the Articles of Incorporation of the organization. If a conflict is discovered, the Articles of Incorporation shall supersede the conflict.

ARTICLE XII

This organization will accept membership from members in good standing of the association commonly known as Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs – Boise Chapter, and these members, if they properly fill out, sign, and submit a membership application will be granted full membership status to this organization, with full voting rights, and will not be required to pay membership dues for this organization for the calendar year 2015.

This article will no longer be valid after December 31, 2015

ARTICLE XIII

In order to honor an agreement made by the association commonly known as Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs, Boise Chapter, this organization will offer a non-dues-paying lifetime membership, with full voting rights and full organization benefits to (1) Larry Smith W7ZRQ, and (2) Robert Ahmann W7SC.

August 2015

Signers:

Kyle Buckley, W7KBX

William Barrus, W7PKL

Gerald Kroenke, AE7RU

Lee Kliman, KF7URE

AMENDMENTS  

Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Idaho Society of Amateur Radio Club (ISRA) shall be listed here.

  • This Amendment 1 to ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS (opening paragraph) was ratified on January 26, 2023.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This Amendment 1 replaces the opening paragraph under Article IV, in its entirety, to read:

The Officers shall consist of at a minimum the following: (1) President, (2) Secretary, and (3) Treasurer.  The Board of Directors may be up to five in number if there is enough interest in serving on the board. In this case, the positions of Vice President and/or Director can be added.  All positions are to be elected by the members of the Idaho Society of Radio Amateurs per this Constitution and Bylaws.

A Ham Radio Club Centered In Boise and the Treasure Valley