Constitution and Bylaws

October 4, 2018

CONSTITUTION:

Promote flying as a sport in the region by:

1. Promoting respect for fellow members, Oil Region Aviator’s property and the airport.

2. Encourage safe operational practice and encourage continuing education for each member.

3. Providing the best value for students to gain their license and advanced ratings.

4. Providing the best value for existing pilots to enjoy the sport.

5. Recruiting new student members and helping them gain their pilot’s license thereby increasing the number of pilots to assure a vibrant future for general aviation.

6. Promoting and providing opportunities for the public, scouts and school students to experience the sport.

BYLAWS:

ARTICLE ONE: Membership:

Section 1: There are members and flying members. Membership is effective when the following steps have been satisfactorily completed:

A. The applicant is sponsored by an existing member and is of good character and reputation.

B. The sponsor introduces the applicant to the members at a meeting and applies for membership.

C. The applicant signs a statement that they have read and agree to abide by the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of the club. Next the applicant is interviewed by the Executive committee. They deny the application or recommended the applicant for membership to the club at the next meeting with the applicant present.

D. The club accepts the application by a unanimous vote of those present at a meeting.

Section 2: A Member abides by the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of the club. A flying member is authorized to fly the club plane and is current in paying all the dues, flying time and any special assessments.

Section 3: All members are eligible to vote on all matters of the club business and to hold office in the club, but only if their monthly dues, flying time and special assessments are not delinquent. The vote on receiving members, canceling any membership, the election of officers, and any matter which may be deemed delicate by the President, is by secret ballot. Members may cast absentee ballots on matters which they know are to come before the club in their absence, provided that the absentee ballot shall be in the hands of the Secretary at or before the time of the meeting at which such a vote is to be taken. No absentee ballots will be accepted, unless proof is given that all members have been notified of the matter being voted on and given the opportunity to cast an absentee ballot. The Secretary is responsible for notifying all members.

Section 4: In the event any member becomes wholly unacceptable to the other members for reasons in addition to section five, the club may cancel their membership upon a three-fourths vote of the total membership of the club eligible to vote. All members must be notified of this issue and given opportunity to vote. The Secretary is responsible for notifying all members before the time of the meeting at which such a vote is to be taken.

Section 5: Violation of the terms of the Bylaws or Rules of the club shall constitute grounds for the forfeiture of membership. Investigation of such violations shall be made by the club’s Executive Committee, and its recommendation submitted to the club. Actual forfeiture shall be only by decision of three-fourths of the total membership.

Section 6: Any limitation on the club’s numbers shall be fixed by vote of the club and set forth in it's rules.

ARTICLE TWO: Officers:

Section 1: The officers are President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Maintenance Officer and Community Encouragement Officer (CEO). These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the club.

Section 2: The President presides at all regular and special meetings and at meetings of the Executive Committee, appoints all necessary committees authorized by the club or its Executive Committee (unless otherwise provided for), is authorized to sign all checks issued in the name of the club, to sign (with the Treasurer) all contracts legally entered into by the club, to see that officers carry out their proper functions, and to represent the club, as the occasion may arise, at public functions. Calls special meetings with agreement of the majority of the Executive Committee.

The Vice-President of the club discharges the duties of the President whenever the President shall be absent or unable to serve and to discharge any other executive duties in the club assigned by the club or the Executive Committee.

The Treasurer of the club receives all funds of the club, properly records, accounts for, and deposits the same, and pays all authorized expenditures of the club by check signed by him and /or the resident. The Treasurer keeps a fair and accurate record of all the club’s financial transactions and reports at each meeting on current expenses, transactions and budget standing. The Treasurer displays club records to authorized persons, notifies members of delinquency in dues or flying time, or both; notifies the club at each regular meeting the status of the membership, signs all contracts legally entered into by the club. The Treasurer prepares a yearly budget for the annual meeting. It compares the actual and proposed budget from the previous year for comparison to the proposed budget for the next year. The budget is approved at the February meeting.

The Secretary of the club keeps a true and accurate record of the proceedings, actions of the club’s meetings, Executive Committee meetings, keeps such records in a safe place and permanent form and displays them to authorized persons. The Secretary notifies members of all meetings and notifies members of the Executive Committee of meetings of that body; keeps the club informed of matters needing further or continued attention, carries on the necessary correspondence of the club.

The Maintenance Officer performs the necessary measures needed to solve all maintenance issues by the appropriate persons. Only the Maintenance Officer is allowed to perform any maintenance duties (unless delegated by he or another officer). Downtime for maintenance or repair of the aircraft takes precedence over any member’s reservation. Except in case of off-field emergency, all maintenance and repairs must be approved by the Club or Executive Committee.

The Community Encouragement Officer is responsible for keeping the club focused on its purpose. The CEO promotes respect for each member, the club’s property, the airport and the community. The CEO promotes safety, student recruitment, continuing education and events for club and advancement of aviation in the region including fly-ins, seminars, and airport events.

Each officer is encouraged to recruit other members to assist them and fill in when needed. This builds leadership and redundancy in the club.

ARTICLE THREE: The Executive Committee:

The Executive committee is responsible for the establishment of club policy of a regulatory nature. All decisions rendered by the Executive Committee are by majority vote of the members present at any committee meeting.

The Executive Committee meets as requested by the President or a majority of the members. A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting is four officers present. Matters are decided by majority vote.

The Executive Committee is responsible for recruiting a slate of officers for the next year. The President will present the slate of officers at the February meeting.

ARTICLE FOUR: Meetings:

Section 1: Regular meetings are held each month. Other meetings will be held from time to time as the Executive Committee sees fit, or as requested by four or more members.

The annual meeting of the club will be held on the regular club meeting date and hour in March and shall be the monthly meeting for March.

The Secretary and CEO report on the club’s activities of the previous year and proposed activities for this year to advance the purposes of the club.

The Treasurer presents actual expenditures compared to last year’s budget and the proposed budget compared to last year’s budget.

Section 2: The President presents the proposed slate of officers the month preceding the annual meeting. Ample opportunity shall be given for additional nominations from the floor for each office. If nominations from the floor are made, then at the annual meeting the election of each officer shall be determined by a majority of the votes, cast in a secret ballot at the annual meeting, otherwise the proposed slate of officers may be elected by acclamation.

Section 3: The terms of all officers shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting and shall last for one year.

Section 4: The date of the Annual Meeting is only changed by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the previous monthly meeting.

ARTICLE FIVE: Change of Bylaws:

Bylaws are only changed by two votes at two successive regular meetings by a three-fourths majority of total membership.

ARTICLE SIX: Financial Principles:

The Club will operate on the principle of pay as you go and avoid debt. Borrowing to buy the initial plane and 1st engine overhaul is acceptable.

Monthly expenses are to keep the plane ready to fly. They will include the annual, insurance, hanger rental, and other fixed costs.

The hourly flying rate is to pay for the expenses of flying the plane, which includes general maintenance, fuel and a new engine fund.

New member initiation fees are used to pay off the initial debt and fund the engine fund.

ARTICLE SEVEN: Dissolution of the Club:

No part of the net earnings of the Club shall ensure to the benefit of, or be distributed to the Club’s directors, officers, shareholders or other private persons except that the Club shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered to and make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the CONSTITUTION hereof. No part of the activities of the Club shall be the carrying of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Club shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Upon the dissolution of the Club, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Club, dispose of all the assets of the Club exclusively for the purposes of the club in such a manner or to such organizations or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall be at the time qualifying as exempt organizations or organizations under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as the Executive Committee shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, or of the County in which the principal office of the Club is then located exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations or organizations as said Court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.