bylaws

SMIRK BYLAWS

Six Meter International Radio Klub

(SMIRK)
By Laws
As Amended September 23, 2000

I. Background & Purpose

The Six Meter International Radio Klub (SMIRK) was organized in 1973 by a small group of San Antonio, Texas area amateurs active on the 50 to 54 MHz amateur band. The purpose of SMIRK then, and remains, the promotion of operation on that band. This promotion takes several forms:

1. Provide technical and promotional material concerning SIX meter operation, including information on propagation phenomena and suitable equipment.

2. Sponsor contests to take place on SIX meters a least once per year.

3. Sponsor various awards for SIX meter operation.

4. Provide financial and/or equipment support for worthy Dxpeditions which emphasize six meters in their operations.

5. Provide mentoring to those considering SIX meter operation, especially those in countries with little or no six meter presence.

6. Provide suitable SIX meter equipment to deserving operators in countries outside the U.S, with little or no six meter presence who express a serious desire to operate the band but for whom economic or other factors have prevented them from doing so

. 7. Encourage and promote good operating practices among SIX meter operators.

8. Invite to membership, qualified licensed amateurs and issue each such qualifying person a lifetime SMIRK membership.

Since its inception, SMIRK has grown in membership such that as of summer 2000, more than six thousand SMIRK Numbers have been issued.

II. Membership

A. Classes of Membership

There shall be three classes of SMIRK membership:

1. Member

2. Participating Member

3. Associate Member

B. Becoming a Member of SMIRK

To become a Member of SMIRK each applicant must:

1. Be a licensed radio amateur in their country with a license grade that permits operation on the SIX meter band.

2. Submit to the Secretary a list of six (6) SMIRK members contacted on SIX meters, along with notations as to the call letters of each member, their SMIRK number and the time and date of each contact.

3. Enclose with the above, payment of Six Dollars U.S. (US$6.) by check written on a U.S. bank, a cashiers check, postal money order or, in the case of those living outside the U.S. or Canada, SIX International Reply Coupons (IRCs) issued by a national postal authority. Cash sent through the mail is not encouraged.

Upon completion of the above, the Secretary, by the issuance of a SMIRK Membership Certificate bearing a unique SMIRK number, will inform that person that he or she is henceforth a lifetime SMIRK Member. The number issued to that individual is permanent and will never intentionally be re-issued to anyone else.

C. Becoming a Participating Member of SMIRK

To become a Participating Member of SMIRK, a person must accomplish the above and also pay an annual sum determined by the Board of Directors in a manner that they shall also determine. In addition a Member may gain the status of Participating Member for his or her natural life, by paying an amount determined by the Board.

D. Becoming an Associate Member

Anyone can become an Associate Member of SMIRK by paying the amount stated in II, B, 3 above. Associate Members will be upgraded to Participating Member on meeting the requirements stated in IIC above.

E: Rights and Privileges of SMIRK Members, Participating Members and Associate Members

1. SMIRK Members

a. All SMIRK Members shall have the right to take part in all SMIRK activities such as contests and to compete for various SMIRK awards.

b. All SMIRK Members are permitted and encouraged to use their SMIRK number during on-the-air contacts and include the number and SMIRK logo on printed material such as letterhead and QSL cards.

2. SMIRK Participating Members

a. SMIRK Participating Members have the following privileges in the organization in addition to those available to stated above for SMIRK Members.

1. Right to hold elective offices in SMIRK

2. Right to participate in Board of Directors nominations and elections.

3. Receipt of written communications via mail.

3. SMIRK Associate Members

a. SMIRK Associate Members have the following privileges in the organization.

1. Receipt of written communications via mail

2. Right to upgrade the higher level of membership upon qualifying in accordance with IIC above.

III. Administration

The affairs of SMIRK shall be administered by the Board of Directors and the Officers.

A. Board of Directors

1. The SMIRK Board of Directors shall consist of SEVEN Members and TWO Alternates, all of whom shall be SMIRK Participating Members.

B. Nomination and Election and Terms of Board Members

2. Nominations for the SMIRK Board of Directors may be made by any THREE Participating Members. To be valid, each such nominating petition must be received by the Secretary by 15 March of each year and contain the names, calls and SMIRK numbers of each person nominated, along with a signed statement by the nominee(s) stating a willingness to serve including an expectation that he or she will attend at least one in-person Board meeting each year as well as participate in telephone and E-Mail Board activities; all at that Board member's own expense.

3. Following receipt of nominations, the Secretary, in the presence of one or more disinterested people, shall certify the nominations and make public the list of those nominated. He or she shall then see to it that mail notification including a ballot is mailed to each Participating Member by 1 May. (The intent is to include the ballot as part of a regular SMIRK Newsletter which may be sent to Participating Members one or more times per year. But, if no Newsletter is produced, the Secretary shall see that ballots are mailed to each Participating Member.)

4. To be counted, ballots must be in the hands of the Secretary by 15 June. He or she will then, in the presence of one or more disinterested persons, check each ballot with a list of current Participating Members and count each such valid ballot. For the year 2000, the SEVEN receiving the most votes shall be declared elected as Board members and the ONE receiving the next highest number of votes shall be declared the First Alternate. The one receiving the next highest number of votes shall be declared the Second Alternate. The Secretary shall then inform these people of their election as soon as possible. For succeeding years, the number elected shall be in accordance with Paragraph 5 below.

5. Each Board member shall serve for TWO years except for the special provision applicable to the Board members elected in the year 2000. In 2000, SEVEN Board positions will be filled. For those Board members, the FOUR nominees receiving the most votes shall serve TWO year terms. The next THREE shall serve for ONE year.

6. After the year 2000, elections for FOUR Board positions will be held each odd numbered year and for THREE positions each even numbered year.

C Board of Directors Meetings

1. Annual Meeting

a. It is intended, although not mandatory, that the SMIRK Board will meet in person at least once each year. An attempt will be made to hold the meetings at functions Board members might normally attend, such at the Central States VHF Society Conference or the Dayton Hamvention.

2. Other Meetings

a. It is intended to conduct as much of the Board's business as possible via E-Mail, but when considered necessary by the President, telephone conferences or specially called in-person meetings will be called. The cost of Board meetings conducted via telephone conference calls will be borne by SMIRK, but a voluntary donation may be solicited.

3. Conduct of Board Meetings

a. All SMIRK Board meetings shall be conducted by the Chairman or his or her designated substitute who shall be a sitting Board member.

b. Except when declared otherwise by the Chairman, or Acting Chairman, all in-person SMIRK Board meetings shall be open to all, SMIRK Members or non-Members as observers. Observers may make comments and suggestions at the behest of one or more Board members.

c. Board meetings shall be generally informal but customarily accepted rules of procedure shall be used when making motions and taking votes.

d. Participation in Board meetings in terms of making motions and voting shall be limited to the sitting Board members present or participating via telephone if unable to attend in person. If a single Board Member is unable to attend either in person or via telephone, the First Alternate shall act in place of that member during that meeting. If the First Alternate is unavailable, the Second shall act in place of the absent member. If TWO Board Members are unable to participate, the First and Second Alternates shall also be called upon to act during that meeting.

e. A quorum shall consist of FIVE Board Members including Alternates if attending the meeting in place of a missing Board Member.

D. Officers

1. The officers of SMIRK shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Secretary and Treasurer may be one person, but all of the other Officers must be separate people. The President shall be an elected Board member and shall act as Chairman of the Board. The Vice President shall also be an elected Board member and shall serve in the absence of the President or the President's inability to serve or resignation. Upon incapacitation or resignation of the Secretary or Treasurer, the President shall, as soon as possible, appoint a successors(s) to serve out the remainder of that term.

E. Election of Officers and Terms of Office

1. The Officers shall be elected by the Board at its Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting held at the call of President or THREE current Board members.

2. The Officers shall serve for ONE year following their election.

F Other Positions

1. The President, upon consultation with the Board may, at his or her discretion, appoint SMIRK Members, or Participating Members, to such other offices and positions as he or she may deem necessary or desirable to facilitate the carrying out of the objectives of SMIRK. However, the Board at a Special or its regular Annual meeting may remove any such Presidential appointee or eliminate the office or position altogether.

IV. Amending the By Laws

These By Laws can be amended by a simple majority vote of the full Board of Directors (7 persons) which in, the absence of one or more Directors, may include Alternates. Before becoming effective, such amendments must be communicated in writing to the Participating Members. If fewer than TEN Percent of those members communicate in writing an objection to the amendment withing SIXTY days of the mailing, the amendment becomes effective. If more than TEN percent of the Participating members register an objection, the matter shall be re-considered by the full Board as above. The Board may, then, either rescind the amendment or, if it decides to proceed with it, the matter must be put to vote of the Participating Members via a mailed ballot. If a majority of the Participating Members voting, vote in favor of the amendment; it become effective immediately. Otherwise, it is rejected.

Updated 16 October 2000