BEALE AFB, CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY of MODEL AERONAUTICS
CLUB # 4790
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1 IDENTIFICATION
Section 1 Name. The name of this club shall be "Beale Blackbirds R/C Club," hereafter in this document may
be referred to as: "The Club" or "BBRCC."
Section 2 The name can only be changed with the approval of 2/3 vote of the entire membership and must be
immediately updated with the Community Activity Center on Beale AFB for accountability purposes.
ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE
Section 1 As a non-profit organization, the purpose of this Club is to:
a) Provide recreational and social activities for the enjoyment of Beale AFB personnel.
b) Provide and maintain facilities for all members to engage in R/C flying activities.
c) Promote and encourage interest in R/C modeling and flying at Beale AFB.
d) Encourage the education and technical development of our youth through building and flying.
e) Provide assistance, guidance, and training to all members to develop building and flying skills.
ARTICLE 3 MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Full club membership shall be open to all Beale AFB personnel, permanent party civilian
contractors, and military retirees with an active interest in model aviation.
Section 2 Affiliate club membership shall be open to all persons with an active interest in model aviation and
only limited by the person�s ability to be granted access to Beale AFB by Security Forces. Affiliate
member access to Beale AFB is contingent upon status of base security measures as determined
by the 9th Reconnaissance Wing Commander.
Section 3 For the purposes of the Constitution and By-Laws, the words "all" and "entire" before the word
"membership" refers to both Full and Affiliate members of the Club. Unless specifically designated,
all other instances of the term "membership" refer to Full members only.
Section 3 All membership may be denied or revoked for noncompliance with the Club's Constitution or By-Laws.
Section 4 All members shall also be a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
Section 5 All members shall read, understand, and agree to abide by the Constitution, By-Laws, and Field
Rules as acknowledged by the member's signature to be kept on file with said member's club
application.
ARTICLE 4 OFFICERS
Section 1 The Club officers shall be:
a) President
b) Vice President
c) Secretary
d) Treasurer
e) Safety
Section 2 Only active duty members stationed at Beale AFB shall be able to hold the offices of President and
Vice President. Other permanent party personnel, to include civilians and dependents may hold the
offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and Safety Officer. Affiliate members will not hold office.
ARTICLE 5 MEETINGS
Section 1 The Club shall hold at least four meetings of the membership per year.
Section 2 Meetings may be set to vote on policy, elect officers and conduct normal business.
Section 3 The day for recurring meetings will be voted upon and adopted by a simple majority.
ARTICLE 6 DUES
Section 1 There will be annual membership dues as determined by the By-Laws.
Section 2 Single member or a family membership will be paid before flying at the Beale AFB Flying Field or
from any of the bodies of water on base.
ARTICLE 7 ASSESSMENTS
Section 1 In the event a special assessment is necessary, a vote will be taken from the entire membership
using the following procedures: The proposed assessment shall be published in the Club
Newsletter located online at the Club Website. All members not subscribing to an internet service
will receive the ballot by mail and will return the ballot for consideration at the next meeting. Passage
shall be determined by a 2/3 majority of the ballots returned at said meeting. It shall be the member's
responsibility to vote using the ballot on the website or return the hardcopy if web access is not
available.
ARTICLE 8 AMEMDMENTS
Section 1 For an amendment to be considered it must be brought to the attention of the club officers. With the
knowledge of the President and Vice President the matter may be brought up for a vote.
Section 2 Any amendment of the Constitution shall require 2/3 vote of the membership. Voting may be
accomplished at a regular meeting, a special meeting, over the telephone or by e-mail. Affiliate
members are ineligible to vote on amendments.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1 ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS (AMA)
Section 1 The Club shall be an AMA Chartered Club
Section 2 All BBRCC members shall be members of the AMA.
ARTICLE 2 MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS
Section 1 Right and Entitlements:
a) Full members in good standing are entitled to:
1) Participate, enter into discussion, and vote on any and all matters
brought before the membership at properly convened Club business
meetings.
2) Use all Club facilities subject to Club rules regarding use of such
facilities.
3) Help, guidance, and instruction in learning to fly until they are
competent to meet the requirements of solo flight.
4) Full participation in all Club social activities and events.
b) Affiliate members in good standing are entitled to:
1) Participate, enter into discussion, but not vote on all matters brought
before the membership at properly convened Club business meetings.
2) Use all Club facilities subject to Club rules regarding use of such
facilities.
3) Help, guidance, and instruction in learning to fly until they are
competent to meet the requirements of solo flight.
4) Full participation in all Club social activities and events except as
noted in Article 3, section 2 of the Constitution.
c) All members not in good standing forfeit their rights as stated above until
they have up-graded their status to "member in good standing".
Section 2 A member in good standing is a member who is in compliance with all
articles of the Club Constitution and not more than 90 days delinquent in any
dues, fees, or assessments. A member not in good standing is a member
who is more than 90 but less than 180 days delinquent in any dues, fees,
assessments, or is not in compliance with the Club Constitution. Members
delinquent in excess of 180 days shall be dropped from the Club
.
Section 3 Members so dropped will not be allowed to re-apply for membership until
past delinquent amounts have been satisfied. They may then re-apply for
membership subject to the same conditions of any new member making
application. Initiation fees (if applicable) apply if the member has been
dropped for more than a year or it cannot be determined when the person
was dropped.
Section 4 A prospective new member shall apply for membership through any club
member. The member will direct the prospective member to the Treasurer at
a regular Club meeting or by e-mail correspondence. A club officer shall
ensure that the prospective member receives and is familiar with the
Constitution, By-Laws, and Field Rules of the Club before granting
membership. New members shall meet with a club officer at the flying field
on the new member's first visit for clarification of the club flying rules and
etiquette.
ARTICLE 3 OFFICERS
Section 1 President
a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and act as
spokesman for the Club in all matters.
b) The President has the power to appoint committees as deemed
necessary.
Section 2 Vice President
a) The Vice President shall act for the President when he is unable to serve.
b) Assist the President in any way directed by the President.
c) The Vice President shall be responsible for coordinating all Club
Activities.
Section 3 Secretary
a) The Secretary shall be required to take accurate minutes of all Club
meetings. Such minutes shall be posted on the Club website for official
record.
b) The Secretary shall handle all Club correspondence.
c) The Secretary shall take attendance at all Club meetings and record
attendance with the minutes.
Section 4 Treasurer
a) The Treasurer shall collect all monies due and shall keep a record of
monies received and monies disbursed by the Club.
b) The Treasurer shall also be responsible to see that all members of this
Club be listed with the AMA on the third party insurance and that the proper
amount be submitted to AMA for said purpose of insurance.
c) The Treasurer shall prove a monthly financial statement showing
monetary assets, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
d) The Treasurer shall maintain a list of members in good standing.
Section 5 Safety Officer
a) The Safety Officer shall promote and increase the safety awareness of all
member.
b) The Safety Officer shall provide a means by which important safety
information can be shared between all members of the Club.
c) The Safety Officer shall act as a liaison between the club and AMA
Headquarters to ensure timely dissemination of safety related material.
d) The Safety Officer must have e-mail access.
ARTICLE 4 ELECTIONS
Section 1 The term of all officers shall be for one year from January 1 through
December 31.
Section 2 The elections shall be held annually at the November meeting. Nominations
shall be opened at the September and October meetings.
Section 3 Voting will be by secret ballots.
a) Ballots will be available in November for download from the club web site
or by mail (if no internet is available) to members in good standing only.
b) Ballots may be mailed or cast in person at the November meeting.
c) The ballots will be tallied by the President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer.
d) The number of valid ballots received must equal at least a quorum of the
entire membership for the election to be valid. If a quorum is not received,
the ballots will be held until sufficient ballots are received to constitute a
quorum.
e) Candidates for each office receiving the greatest number of votes shall
assume that office effective January 1.
Section 4 A vacancy in any office shall be filled by the appointment of the President,
such appointee to serve until the end of the term for which his predecessor
was elected.
ARTICLE 5 MEETINGS
Section 1 Club meetings should be held once a month with the time and place to be
published on the Club website.
Section 2 Purpose of Meetings:
a) The Club meetings are planned to be an evening of fun and education for
newcomers as well as old timers.
b) Convening a business meeting requires a quorum of members present.
A quorum is defined as 1/3 of the members in good standing. Before starting
a meeting, it must first be determined in open forum that a quorum is
present.
Section 3 Procedure for conducting Club meetings shall be the jurisdiction of the
President.
ARTICLE 6 DUES, INITIATION FEES, AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1 Dues and initiation fees for the following year, shall be established at the
October meeting by a 2/3 vote of all members present after a quorum has
been established.
Section 2 Annual dues are payable in advance and are due on January 1st.
Section 3 Assessments shall be levied only according to Article 7 of the Club
Constitution.
Section 4 New member's dues shall NOT be prorated on a monthly basis.
Section 5 There shall be no refund of dues.
ARTICLE 7 EXPENDITURES
Section 1 The Officers are authorized to spend Club funds on general operating
expenses of the Club.
Section 2 Any capital improvement or expense in excess of $100 shall require approval
by 2/3 of all members present at an official Club meeting.
ARTICLE 8 REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
This Article is for the purpose of revoking the membership of all members who have proven to be undesirable to the Club for the following reasons:
Section 1 Failure to comply with applicable AMA regulations regarding sanctioned
clubs. (Automatic revoke)
Section 2 Members delinquent on dues, initiation fees, or assessments for more than
180 days and not on a military deployment. (Automatic revoke)
Section 3 Noncompliance of the Club�s Constitution, By-Laws, and Field Rules.
Section 4 Procedure for revoking any membership as follows (unless automatic):
a) A petition containing 20% minimum of the membership signatures and
explaining reasons shall be submitted to the President. Any member in good
standing may initiate a petition.
b) If the petition is submitted for a safety violation the accused's flying
privileges can be immediately suspended as the President deems
necessary.
c) At the next meeting, following adequate notification of the membership
and accused, the President shall present the petition to the membership.
d) The membership and accused will be notified via special card or
telephone by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee at least 15 days
before the presentation of the petition.
e) In open discussion the petition will be read and discussed. At this time,
the accused member must be afforded adequate time for speaking in his
own defense.
f) A secret vote will be taken and 2/3 majority, of the membership present, is
necessary to revoke any membership.
Section 5 All members that are revoked will be required to turn in their Beale AFB Club
Pass and will be removed from the gate entry lists. Military or contractors
who have base access will be asked not to fly on base and will be escorted
off the field if found operating a model there.
Section 6 All members whose memberships have been revoked will be eligible to
reapply for membership as a new member one calendar year from the date
of revocation.
ARTICLE 9 SAFETY
Section 1 It is the responsibility of all members to comply with the current AMA Safety
Code and Club Field Rules.
Section 2 It is the sole responsibility of each member to insure the safe operation of
his models and equipment in addition to those of his guests.
ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENTS
Section 1 Proposed amendments to Club By-Laws shall be published on the Club web
site. At the meeting following publication, the amendment must be approved
by 2/3 of membership present.
Section 2 There is no voting by proxy.