S.W.A.R.M. Bylaws
1. Name
1.1. The name of this organization shall be the “South Western (Ontario) Association of Rocket Modellers” or S.W.A.R.M.
2. Purpose
2.1. It shall be the purpose of this organization to:
2.1.1. Stimulate the progress of hobby rocketry and astronautics
2.1.2. Hold meetings and events to aid and encourage all those interested in the hobby
2.1.3. Operate and maintain a hobby rocket range
2.1.4. Encourage and stimulate the hobby of rocketry as an educational tool by providing static displays, active demonstrations, seminars, and classes for interested groups.
3. Membership
3.1. Membership shall be open to all persons interested in hobby rocketry.
3.2. Members whose dues are not “current” may not participate in organization activities and are not considered members in good standing.
3.3. Members 15 years of age and under are Junior Members and are not required to pay dues.
3.4 Members 16-20 years of age are Leader Members and are required to pay a reduced amount of dues.
3.5. BOD members are lifetime members and are not required to pay dues.
3.6. All other members are considered Senior Members.
3.7 Members who are not also members of the National Association of Rocketry, the Canadian Association of Rocketry, or Tripoli Rocketry Association must sign a "hold harmless" agreement prior to participating in any club activities.
4. Meetings
4.1. The organization shall hold meetings as the Board of Directors or Officers deem necessary.
4.2. Meetings shall be presided over by a BOD member or Officer.
5. Board of Directors (BOD)
5.1. The Board of Directors shall consist of:
5.1.1. Chair and Treasurer: Chris Halinaty
5.1.2. Senior Advisor: Mark Halinaty
5.1.3. Senior Advisor: John Brohm
5.2. Summaries of meetings and activities of the BOD shall be reported to the membership.
5.3. Board of Directors is a free lifetime membership, not open to election. BOD manages their own positions.
5.4. BOD positions may not be appointed, created, omitted, duplicated, or modified by officers or members unless unanimously approved by the BOD.
5.5. The BOD reserves the right to create or dissolve affiliate organizations.
6. Officers
6.1. The following Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the membership:
6.1.1. President
6.1.2. Vice-President
6.1.3. Secretary
6.2. Officers have the responsibility of creating or omitting committees required for the operation of the organization.
6.3. All Officers are required to be organization members in good standing.
6.4. All Officers are required to be NAR members in good standing.
6.5. All Officers must conduct themselves with decorum and fulfill their responsibilities to the organization.
6.6. Elections shall be held in person during September of each year to determine positions for that year (September to August).
6.7. Elected positions of the organization are to serve a one calendar year term.
6.8. If an elected position becomes vacant prior to an election, the BOD may appoint a temporary Officer until such elections may be held.
7. Committees
7.1. Committees and their responsibilities may be created and defined by the Officers.
7.2. Committees may not interfere with the responsibilities and function of the BOD without unanimous approval of the BOD.
8. National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Affiliation
8.1. S.W.A.R.M. shall be a chartered NAR section (#752)
8.2. S.W.A.R.M. members are encouraged but not required to be NAR members unless responsible for launches. See 3.7.
8.3. S.W.A.R.M. Officers must be NAR members.
8.4. All S.W.A.R.M. activities shall be governed by the current NAR guidelines.
8.5 All S.W.A.R.M. members must be current NAR members to participate in launch activities.
9. Organization Money
9.1. Use of the organization money shall be to fund operations of the organization.
9.2. “Routine Expenses” which do not require membership approval for disbursement are:
9.2.1. Section charter fees
9.2.2. Emergency equipment repair/replacement
9.3. Dues:
9.3.1. The membership shall determine the set fee amount for dues.
9.3.2. The Treasurer shall collect all dues.
9.3.3. The Treasurer shall give a detailed report of the current financial status of the organization to the membership quarterly at an organizational meeting or when asked by the Board of Directors, Officers, or 3 members in good standing who make a signed request in writing.
9.4. All disbursements which are not “routine expenses” shall be paid at the direction of the membership by vote or by direction of the BOD.
10. Discipline
10.1 Any member deemed to be acting outside the best interests of the club may be disciplined by the BOD as follows:
10.1.1 A warning may be issued that the behaviour must cease. Further occurrences may result in loss of membership.
10.1.2 A loss of membership for one year may be issued. No dues will be refunded. The member thus disciplined may re-apply for membership after a period of one year.
10.1.3 A permanent loss of membership may be issued. No dues will be refunded.
10.2 All disciplinary actions are at the sole discretion of the BOD. There are no appeals. All disciplinary decisions made by the BOD are final.
11. Amendments and Changes to the By-laws
11.1 Amendments and changes to any by-law must:
11.1.1 Be proposed in writing by a member in good standing.
11.1.2 Be seconded by a member in good standing at a regular meeting.
11.1.3 Be approved by a two-thirds majority of the membership.
11.1.4 Be approved by the Board of Directors.
11.2 BOD may make amendments and changes to the by-laws when they deem necessary without vote by membership.
12. Organizational Launches
12.1 Launches will be held on a regular basis as determined by the Board of Directors and Officers.
12.2 All members are asked to help with launch duties as they are able.
12.3 One BOD member or Officer must be present at any launch.
13. Equipment
13.1 Equipment purchased with organization money or donated is owned by the organization.
13.2 Use of equipment outside of regular club activities must be approved by the BOD.
1.1. The name of this organization shall be the “South Western (Ontario) Association of Rocket Modellers” or S.W.A.R.M.
2. Purpose
2.1. It shall be the purpose of this organization to:
2.1.1. Stimulate the progress of hobby rocketry and astronautics
2.1.2. Hold meetings and events to aid and encourage all those interested in the hobby
2.1.3. Operate and maintain a hobby rocket range
2.1.4. Encourage and stimulate the hobby of rocketry as an educational tool by providing static displays, active demonstrations, seminars, and classes for interested groups.
3. Membership
3.1. Membership shall be open to all persons interested in hobby rocketry.
3.2. Members whose dues are not “current” may not participate in organization activities and are not considered members in good standing.
3.3. Members 15 years of age and under are Junior Members and are not required to pay dues.
3.4 Members 16-20 years of age are Leader Members and are required to pay a reduced amount of dues.
3.5. BOD members are lifetime members and are not required to pay dues.
3.6. All other members are considered Senior Members.
3.7 Members who are not also members of the National Association of Rocketry, the Canadian Association of Rocketry, or Tripoli Rocketry Association must sign a "hold harmless" agreement prior to participating in any club activities.
4. Meetings
4.1. The organization shall hold meetings as the Board of Directors or Officers deem necessary.
4.2. Meetings shall be presided over by a BOD member or Officer.
5. Board of Directors (BOD)
5.1. The Board of Directors shall consist of:
5.1.1. Chair and Treasurer: Chris Halinaty
5.1.2. Senior Advisor: Mark Halinaty
5.1.3. Senior Advisor: John Brohm
5.2. Summaries of meetings and activities of the BOD shall be reported to the membership.
5.3. Board of Directors is a free lifetime membership, not open to election. BOD manages their own positions.
5.4. BOD positions may not be appointed, created, omitted, duplicated, or modified by officers or members unless unanimously approved by the BOD.
5.5. The BOD reserves the right to create or dissolve affiliate organizations.
6. Officers
6.1. The following Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the membership:
6.1.1. President
6.1.2. Vice-President
6.1.3. Secretary
6.2. Officers have the responsibility of creating or omitting committees required for the operation of the organization.
6.3. All Officers are required to be organization members in good standing.
6.4. All Officers are required to be NAR members in good standing.
6.5. All Officers must conduct themselves with decorum and fulfill their responsibilities to the organization.
6.6. Elections shall be held in person during September of each year to determine positions for that year (September to August).
6.7. Elected positions of the organization are to serve a one calendar year term.
6.8. If an elected position becomes vacant prior to an election, the BOD may appoint a temporary Officer until such elections may be held.
7. Committees
7.1. Committees and their responsibilities may be created and defined by the Officers.
7.2. Committees may not interfere with the responsibilities and function of the BOD without unanimous approval of the BOD.
8. National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Affiliation
8.1. S.W.A.R.M. shall be a chartered NAR section (#752)
8.2. S.W.A.R.M. members are encouraged but not required to be NAR members unless responsible for launches. See 3.7.
8.3. S.W.A.R.M. Officers must be NAR members.
8.4. All S.W.A.R.M. activities shall be governed by the current NAR guidelines.
8.5 All S.W.A.R.M. members must be current NAR members to participate in launch activities.
9. Organization Money
9.1. Use of the organization money shall be to fund operations of the organization.
9.2. “Routine Expenses” which do not require membership approval for disbursement are:
9.2.1. Section charter fees
9.2.2. Emergency equipment repair/replacement
9.3. Dues:
9.3.1. The membership shall determine the set fee amount for dues.
9.3.2. The Treasurer shall collect all dues.
9.3.3. The Treasurer shall give a detailed report of the current financial status of the organization to the membership quarterly at an organizational meeting or when asked by the Board of Directors, Officers, or 3 members in good standing who make a signed request in writing.
9.4. All disbursements which are not “routine expenses” shall be paid at the direction of the membership by vote or by direction of the BOD.
10. Discipline
10.1 Any member deemed to be acting outside the best interests of the club may be disciplined by the BOD as follows:
10.1.1 A warning may be issued that the behaviour must cease. Further occurrences may result in loss of membership.
10.1.2 A loss of membership for one year may be issued. No dues will be refunded. The member thus disciplined may re-apply for membership after a period of one year.
10.1.3 A permanent loss of membership may be issued. No dues will be refunded.
10.2 All disciplinary actions are at the sole discretion of the BOD. There are no appeals. All disciplinary decisions made by the BOD are final.
11. Amendments and Changes to the By-laws
11.1 Amendments and changes to any by-law must:
11.1.1 Be proposed in writing by a member in good standing.
11.1.2 Be seconded by a member in good standing at a regular meeting.
11.1.3 Be approved by a two-thirds majority of the membership.
11.1.4 Be approved by the Board of Directors.
11.2 BOD may make amendments and changes to the by-laws when they deem necessary without vote by membership.
12. Organizational Launches
12.1 Launches will be held on a regular basis as determined by the Board of Directors and Officers.
12.2 All members are asked to help with launch duties as they are able.
12.3 One BOD member or Officer must be present at any launch.
13. Equipment
13.1 Equipment purchased with organization money or donated is owned by the organization.
13.2 Use of equipment outside of regular club activities must be approved by the BOD.