WEATHERFORD AERO MODELING
SOCIETY (WAMS)
CLUB BY-LAWS
Dated 1 January, 2007
Table of Contents
I. General Membership Rules and Regulations
II. Officer Duties
III. Flying Field Rules and Regulations
I. General Membership Rules and Regulations
1. Members of the Weatherford Aero Modeling Society (WAMS) must be members
of the academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
2. Membership will be effective immediately upon receipt of annual dues and proof
of membership in the AMA. Proof of AMA membership may be a Photostatic
Copy of the AMA card or by the President, Vice President, Secretary may sign the
“Sighted By” block on the membership application. Membership period will be
from January 1st through December 31st of each year. Persons who have not
renewed their membership by March 31st, will be dropped from the membership
rolls.
3. Club Meetings:
A. Club meetings will be held monthly, normally on the first Tuesday of each
month. Club meetings will be official if thirty (30) percent of the membership
is present. Corporate or Business Members are excluded from the membership
count in determining the thirty (30) percent attendance. Rule changes,
monetary matters and other significant events must be approved by a majority
of the members present. Only current active members may vote on matters
affecting the club.
B. An Executive Committee consisting of all elected officers, the newsletter
editor, and up to two At-Large Members appointed by the President should
meet informally, monthly at their convenience, but preferably two weeks
before the regular membership meeting. The purpose of this Executive
Committee will include, but not limited to, developing the meeting agenda,
long term planning and other subjects as deemed necessary for the benefit of
the club.
4. Club meeting will be conducted using an informal Parliamentary Procedure.
5. Membership Categories and Dues.
A. Individual membership dues will be thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per calendar
year.
B. Family memberships are available for forty-five dollars ($45.00) per calendar
year. Membership cards will be issued to each family member who is also an
AMA member.
C. Junior memberships are available for youth who have not reached their
nineteenth (19) birthday. The fee for an individual Junior Membership is one
dollar ($1.00).
D. A Senior Membership is available for persons who have attained the age of
sixty-five (65) years. The Fee for an individual Senior Membership is ten
dollars (10.00). A Senior Family Membership is thirteen dollars ($13.00).
E. Persons wishing to join WAMS after September 1st, will have their dues
prorated as follows:
September 1 through 30; twelve dollars ($12.00)
October 1 through 31; nine dollars ($9.00)
November 1 through 30; six dollars ($6.00)
December 1 through 31; three dollars ($3.00)
F. Persons not wishing to be a full member may receive the newsletter by U.S.
Mail for an annual fee of five dollars ($5.00)
6. Any change to the club By-Laws must be submitted to the membership at a regular
meeting and approved at a subsequent meeting. The proposed change must be
published in the WAMS Newsletter prior to a vote being taken. This rule may be
waived if two-thirds of the club’s membership is present to vote.
7. Club Officers will be elected at the January meetings each year. The new officers
will assume office immediately upon the results of the election being accepted by
the members present. The term of office will be for one calendar year.
8. New Club Officers will be nominated by a Nomination Committee, or by petition.
the petition must be in writing, signed by at least five (5) active members and be
filed with the Secretary at least fifteen days before the date of election.
The Nominating Committee will consist of at least three members appointed by the
club President and approved by the members. This committee will be formed each
year before July 15th and the committee will prepare a slate of candidates to be
presented to the members at the last meeting of each calendar year.
If the Nominating Committee is unable to provide a candidate for an office, the
President will accept nominations from the members present. Only members who
have expressed their willingness and ability to serve may be nominated.
9. Should a club member become unable to perform the duties for which he/she was
elected, they must immediately notify the President or Vice President. At the next
club meeting a replacement will be elected or a temporary replacement appointed.
10. No officer or member may make any contact in the name of WAMS, without the
approval of the membership.
11. Any person collecting monies for any activity of WAMS is obligated and should be
prepared to make full disclosure to the membership and to the Club Treasurer.
1. President: Will preside at all monthly meetings. Appoint members to committees
as necessary to serve the needs of the club. With membership approval, conduct
negotiations and enter into contacts on behalf of the club. Act as co-signer on club checks.
2. Vice President: Will preside at monthly meetings in the absence of the president.
May also act as co-signer on club checks. He/she will be responsible for inspection
and maintenance of all WAMS equipment, property, and real estate.
An inventory of all WAMS property will be maintained. Needed repairs and
maintenance will be reported at each meeting.
3. Secretary/Treasurer: May be a combined office unless club size is too large to be
efficiently handled by one member.
Secretary: Duties will include recording the minutes of club meetings and
maintaining them as a permanent record of club activity. Maintaining records
of club membership, issuing membership cards, and handling routine club
correspondence. Maintain all administrative forms, records, and associated
property necessary for performance of the Secretarial Duties. At each meeting,
he/she will give a verbal or written account of the Minutes of the last meeting.
Treasurer: Duties will include keeping records of all monies coming into or going
out of the club treasury. All out-going funds will be by check, which will be
signed by the Treasurer and the Club President or Vice-President. At each
meeting, he/she will give a verbal or written account of all club financial
activities since the last official club meeting, to include a treasury report.
4. Sergeant at Arms: Will keep order as directed by the presiding officer at official
meetings.
5. Field Safety Officer: Will enforce all safety rules prescribed by these By-Laws and
those deemed necessary for temporary enforcement. Also he/she will have the
power to eject from the club flying field any member not abiding by the club rules.
The flying field gate combination will be changed annually or as deemed necessary
by the Field Safety Officer.
6. Frequency Coordination Officer: Will keep club members informed of AMA
Frequency proposals and changes. He/she will also maintain frequency control at
the club flying field during any club gathering, official or unofficial (i.e. Sunday
flying sessions).
7. Upon expiration of his/her term of office, the outgoing officer will surrender to
his/her successor al records, reports, communications, documents, monies, and
other club property. This may be immediate or at a time and place convenient for
both parties.
III. Flying Field Rules and Regulations
1. All AMA Safety Rules will apply, including the requirements to have an effective
muffler system on all engines larger than 0.10 C.I.D.
2. Additional safety rules may be included as required by extenuating circumstances.
3. All club flying sites will be set up to conform to the following minimum
requirements:
A. The pilot flight positions will be at least five (5) feet from the pit side of
the flight runway.
B. The aircraft pitting area will be at least twenty (20) feet from the pit side
of the flight runway.
C. A five (5) foot safety zone will be established behind the aircraft pitting
area.
D. A small fence or designating device will be placed at the rear of the five
(5) foot safety zone.
E. A ten (10) foot clear walkway will be established to the rear of the ten
(10) foot safety zone.
F. A tent area to include seating will be established to the rear of the (10)
foot clear walkway.
4. Each pilot is responsible for his/her staging area. The Safety Officer may amend
this rule as required by special circumstances.