Silent Knights Soaring Society

THE BYLAWS OF THE SILENT KNIGHTS SOARING SOCIETY

 

AMENDED APRIL 10, 2004
(Amendment made to Article V)

AMENDED NOVEMBER 2013
(Amendment made to Article IV)

AMENDED SEPTEMBER 2014
(Amendments made to Articles IV and V)

AMENDED MARCH 2016

(Amendment made to Arricle V)

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Article I. Name and Type
The official name of the organization shall be SILENT KNIGHTS SOARING SOCIETY, and it shall be incorporated in the State Of Delaware as a non-profit non-stock corporation; hereinafter designated SILENT KNIGHTS.

 

Article II. Objective
The objective of the SILENT KNIGHTS will be to promote the sport and hobby of radio controlled (R/C) sailplanes and electric powered aircraft and to encourage personnel advancement and general public interest in radio controlled sailplanes and electric powered model aircraft.

 

Article III. Affiliation
The SILENT KNIGHTS shall be affiliated with the ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS (AMA), and members shall abide by the OFFICIAL AMA SAFETY CODE.

 

Article IV. Administration
    A. The affairs of the SILENT KNIGHTS shall be administered by an Executive Committee (E/C) consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Safety Coordinator and Membership Chairman. These positions shall be filled by election annually to serve a term of one year. Candidates will be nominated at the October general membership meeting and elections will be held at the November general membership meeting. Elected officers will assume duties in January. Elected Officers may serve consecutive terms, provided that if an Officer has served two consecutive terms and there is another member or members nominated for that office the incumbent shall withdraw his/her nomination In order to run for a previously held office, a one-year wait must ensue.

    B. Vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President. (*) Vacancy in the office of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer will be filled by appointment by the President. Such appointment will be voted on at the next general meeting. If the appointee fails to receive a majority vote by the members present at the general meeting, the President will make a second appointment and the vote by the members present at a general meeting will be repeated for the second appointee. This process will continue until an appointee is approved by a majority vote of the members present at a general meeting. * A Vice President will be elected at the next general meeting if the incumbent Vice President succeeds to a vacancy in the office of President.

    C. The President is the Chief Executive Officer and has the responsibility to preside over general meetings. The President is spokesman for the SILENT KNIGHTS and has authority to appoint any special committees. The President will also maintain liaison with the Department of Parks & Recreation of the State of Delaware to obtain any permits required for special events, to renew any agreements, and to respond to any requests from the State. The President also has authority to make final decisions regarding disputes.

    D. The Vice President shall perform duties as suggested by the President. The Vice President may also, at his or her discretion, be a member of one or more special committees.

    E. The Treasurer receives and disburses all funds of the SILENT KNIGHTS and is responsible for preparation, and dissemination to club members, of a semiannual financial report. (To provide continuity of operation in event of the Treasurer’s absence, the President has authority also to sign checks drawn against the SILENT KNIGHTS bank account.) Other responsibilities of the Treasurer include keeping membership rolls, informing new members of appropriate club rules and facilities access procedures, keeping records of radio frequencies in use by respective members, The Executive Committee has responsibility for authorization of the expenditure of SILENT KNIGHTS club funds.

    F. The Secretary is responsible for recording general membership meeting minutes, for receiving from the editor, reproducing and mailing the Newsletter to the membership, and making special reports.

    G. The Safety Coordinator’s primary purpose is to promote increased safety awareness on the part of all members, improve the public perception of modeling as a safe and desirable sport, and provide a means by which important safety information can be shared between clubs. This person will act as a communications liaison between the club and AMA Headquarters to ensure timely distribution of safety related material.

    H. The Membership Chairman will collect membership dues and keep a roster of members along with their contact information. He will also keep a list of members names and the serial numbers of their State Park Annual Parking Passes. He will send members names and parking pass serial numbers to the White Clay Creek State Park Superintendent as necessary. He may occasionally contact members who have not purchased their Annual Pass to remind them of their responsibility to obtain an Annual Pass. The Membership Chairman will work with the Treasurer and coordinate any division of fiscal duties that are necessary for the operation of the club.

    I. The President may appoint, as required, other members of the SILENT KNIGHTS to positions such as Public Relations, Education Director, Contest Director, etc. These positions are temporary, and serve at the discretion of the President.

    J. Every effort will be made to offer all SILENT KNIGHTS members an opportunity to participate at some time as club officers.

 

Article V. Membership

    A. A current membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics and a FAA sUAS registration are required.

    B. An aspiring member must make written application to the SILENT KNIGHTS, testifying that he or she has read, and will abide by any rules of the SILENT KNIGHTS then in effect, such as Club Rules, Safety Rules, Field Rules, Bylaws, and Contest Rules. This, along with the membership fee, will entitle the applicant to membership status.

    C. The annual membership fee will be due by January 1 of each year. Membership expires January 1 each year unless renewed prior to that date. (Except that, new members who join the club on or after September 1 of any year will be considered as paid up for the following year.)

    D. A member who flagrantly shows disregard for the AMA safety code or the SILENT KNIGHTS rules, or whose actions are deemed not in the best interest of the SILENT KNIGHTS shall be so accused. The accused must respond to the Executive Committee, which must then dismiss the charges or decide upon disciplinary action. Authority for such action requires the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee. (See also Article XI Grievance Procedure)

    E. Members of the SILENT KNIGHTS agree to fly sailplanes (electric powered or unpowered) or electric powered planes exclusively during club flying hours. The home field of the SILENT KNIGHTS shall be the Big Pond Field located in White Clay Creek State Park, and rules for use of the field shall conform to the executed agreement between the SILENT KNIGHTS and the Division of Parks and Recreation for the State of Delaware.

 

Article VI. Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two thirds of the Executive Committee and subsequent simple majority vote by the members present at a general membership meeting.

Article VII. Archives
The incumbent President for the SILENT KNIGHTS shall keep an archive. It shall contain past meeting minutes, official documents, photographs, newsletters, memorabilia and anything pertaining to the SILENT KNIGHTS deemed worthy. A retiring President shall pass on the archive to the successor to the office of President.

 

 Article VIII Discontinuance
The SILENT KNIGHTS may disband and cease to exist after approval of such action by 2/3 of the members in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting, followed by approval of such action by 2/3 of the Executive Committee.

 

Article IX Disposition of Assets
In event that the SILENT KNIGHTS shall disband or cease to exist for any reason, any outstanding corporate debts shall be paid, and the physical assets of the corporation shall be liquidated in a manner to be prescribed by the then Executive Committee. The proceeds of that liquidation, together with any remaining monetary funds then in the SILENT KNIGHTS Treasury, shall be distributed in equal parts to each of the then SILENT KNIGHTS members. The aforesaid liquidation of physical assets shall not be in violation of any then existent agreement between the SILENT KNIGHTS and the Department of Parks and Recreation of the State of Delaware.

 

Article X Resignation, Termination, Disciplinary Action, Expulsion and Reinstatement of Membership

  1. Any member in good standing may resign his/her membership by giving written notice to the Club.

  2. If any member ceases to have the qualification necessary for membership in the AMA, his/her membership in the Club shall thereby terminate, subject to reinstatement upon restoration of eligibility.

  3. This section provides for enforcement of the Safety Rules that are related to flying activities. Any other unacceptable behavior by an individual member or members, as defined by the Executive Committee, become the responsibility of the Executive Committee as stated in Article IV Administration in these Bylaws. Any individual may be expelled from membership from the Club by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Committee if, in the Executive Committee’ determination, such individual willfully commits any act or omission which is a violation of any of the terms of these Bylaws, or the Rules of the AMA, or which is detrimental the Club, the AMA, or to model aviation.

  4. Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Committee.

  5. The Executive Committee shall have the discretionary authority to provide for and to impose disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which do not justify expulsion from membership.

 

Article XI Grievance Procedure (Flight and Ground Safety Rules)

  1. Purpose
The grievance procedure provides a mechanism to enforce existing safety rules by providing a progressive disciplinary system when needed. Although most complaints can be resolved informally, if a complaint is serious or cannot be resolved informally, the matter should be referred to the Executive Committee for its consideration by means of a Grievance Form to be filled out and turned into the Executive Committee Chairman. At least one witness is required to sign the Grievance Form.

  2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall use its judgment in carrying out action on the following:
(a) A grievance form (see attached) will be filled out and turned into the President. At least one witness is required.

 (b) FIRST VIOLATION
  a. Viewpoints of both complainant(s) and accused will be considered.
  b. Complainant’s name will be disclosed.
  c. If deemed appropriate, a verbal reprimand will be given to the accused by the Executive Committee, and this will be recorded in the Committee files.

 (c) SECOND VIOLATION
a. Complainant’s name will be disclosed.
b. The accused has the right to a written rebuttal, to be reviewed by the Committee.
c. If the Committee so decides, the flying privileges of the accused will be suspended for thirty (30) days. Written notice of this shall be issued and a copy published in the Club newsletter.

 (d) THIRD VIOLATION
a. Committee will notify the accused in writing and the Club members via the Club newsletter that the Club will vote on the expulsion of the accused at the next meeting.
b. Said expulsion will last for a one-year minimum. (Longer if deemed necessary by the Executive Committee).
c. A member may be expelled from the Club only upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present at the meeting.
d. Voting will be by secret ballot at a regular monthly meeting.
e. The expelled member may reapply for membership after the expiration of the expulsion time period.

 (e) The three actions will not be enforced unless they are accumulated within a two-year period of time.

 (f) Any member receiving a Grievance, who directs any retaliation action against the person filing said Grievance, will be subject to immediate expulsion from the Club. This is to include threats, intimidation, physical harm, intentional equipment damage, or any other action deemed by the Executive Committee to be retaliatory toward the complainant.