ARTICLE I  NAME
(1) The name of this club shall be “Heart of Texas Soaring Society.”
ARTICLE II  PURPOSE
(1) This club is formally dedicated to soaring competition.
(2) The purpose of this club shall be to consistently facilitate the art, design, and construction of radio-controlled sailplanes.
(3) To serve fairly and in proper balance those people with interests in slope and thermal soaring, competition or sport flying for their own personal achievement.
(4) To concentrate our efforts to bettering our hobby by striving to stimulate interest among the general public, by conducting ourselves in a most exemplary manner, by displaying a spirit of comradeship and good sportsmanship at all times that we may earn the respect of all who observe us.
ARTICLE III  GOVERNING BODIES
(1) We recognize the Academy of Model Aeronautics as the official organization governing model aircraft operation in the USA.
(2) We recognize the League of Silent Flight (LSF) as the only national and international searing accomplishments program.
ARTICLE IV  DUTIES OF OFFICE
(1) President: The President shall preside at all meetings and assume all other duties pertinent to his office.
(2) Vice President: The Vice President shall assume all the duties and powers of the President and shall serve as such in his absence. The Vice President is a member of all special and standing committees.
(3) Secretary:  The Secretary shall assume all duties of correspondence for the Club, keep and maintain in good order an accurate record of all membership rosters, and shall upon request of any club officer or member, attend to any duty deemed important to the Club.
 
(4) Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall have custody of all club funds or holdings and shall have the authority to disburse these funds for anything deemed essential to the Club.  The Treasurer will be limited to expenditures of $150 or less - any expenditure over this amount can only be made with the approval of the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting.  In an extreme emergency occurring between meetings, the Club President, with the agreement of a majority of the other officers, may authorize expenditures greater than $150.

(5)  The Safety Officer shall see that all flying and field guidelines as stated in the Constitution are observed at all times. He shall have the right to appoint a deputy or deputies to help him carry out his duties. If he or his deputy(ies) observe any unsafe flying or conduct, or if it is brought to his attention by other club members, it is his responsibility to see that the flying field is a fun, yet safe place. It is also his responsibility to keep an updated flying release form on each member.
ARTICLE V  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(1)    In addition to their duties as described in Article IV, the Officers shall form a Board of Directors, herein after referred to as the Board.  At the discretion of the Club members, a number of at large members elected annually by the membership may be added to the Board.  The number of at large members shall be one (1) per ten (10) paid members.
(2)   The purpose of the Board is to act in behalf of the Club in emergencies occurring between regularly scheduled Club Meetings.  The Board may not take action in situations that can be resolved at the next Club meeting. 
(3)   The Board shall have the following authorities and duties:
a.       Act in the name of the Club for any decision requiring action before the next regularly		 scheduled meeting.
b.      Interpret the meaning and intent of the Organization’s Constitution, or any amendment to		 the Constitution.
c.       Report all actions taken by the Board to the Club at the next scheduled meeting.
(4)   Three Officers, one of which must be the President, and one at large member, if any have been elected, shall constitute a quorum for the Board.  If a quorum be present, then a majority of the Board may decide any question before such a meeting of the Board.
 ARTICLE VI  ELECTION OF OFFICERS
(1) Election of officers will be by vote of the membership by means of nomination and secret ballot. The membership shall conclude election of officers during the November business meeting. Club officers will serve for a period of 1 year. Term of office commences effective with the December business meeting.
ARTICLE VII  MEMBERSHIP
(1)  Membership will be open. Anyone who desires to become a member and agrees to abide by our rules and bylaws will be accepted. All members will participate in 50% of the approved club activities and attend 50% of all club meetings. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by the club officers.
(2)  Being an A.M.A. chartered club, we must adhere to the A.M.A. policy of requiring all new members to join A.M.A. prior to bringing them to full membership in our club. We will, however, never refuse to help, advise, or grant guest flying privileges to anyone with a current A.M.A. membership. Guests flying privileges will terminate after four flying sessions at our club site if the guest elects not to become a member, however, a person may obtain a temporary month to month membership for not more than 3 months at a monthly rate of 1/3 of annual dues.
(3)  Persons under sixteen (16) years of age may join our club only if accompanied in joining with a parent or if sponsored by a senior member. A sponsoring member assumes total responsibility for the conduct and training of the junior member.
a. Family members under ages of 18 may join at 1/2 price of full membership. These memberships 	will be non-voting.
(4)  The club size shall be limited to approximately FIFTY (50) senior (18 yrs & up) and ten (10) junior members.
(5)  Any person interested in the purpose of the Organization and committed to participation in the same, may become a member upon completion of the following requirements:
a. All persons desiring membership in the Organization will be required to complete a membership application. If there is a waiting list of applicants, then each new applicant’s name will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list and applicants will become members in the order of their application date. The applicant will then be furnished a packet containing all requirements for membership.
b. The Board may, at its discretion, waive the completion of a membership application.
 c. All applications for new membership will be reviewed by the Board for rejection or approval. Such rejection or approval shall not be made on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, or sex; but, shall be made on the basis of character, sportsmanship, and interest in the modeling hobby. Action of the Board will be final and all in attendance must cast a vote by proxy or ballot. All applicants will be advised by the President as to the decision of the Board.
(6)  A member shall be in good standing so long as he fulfills the following:
a. Maintains his payments of Organizations dues (A.M.A., Heart of Texas Soaring Society).
b. Observes all courtesies of safe flying, exhibits good sportsmanship on flying field, & observes all Organization’s flight classification and flying guidelines.
(7)  The Board shall warn in writing any member who fails to comply with any of the aforementioned responsibilities of membership. Any member, so warned, who continues to fail to comply with the aforementioned responsibilities of membership shall be asked, in writing, to appear before the next scheduled meeting of the Board to give reason why his membership should not be terminated. Failure to appear before the Board shall be construed to mean the member does not contest termination of his membership.
 ARTICLE VIII  DUES
(1) The Dues rate and Initiation Fee(s) shall be determined for the next fiscal year by a majority vote of the paid membership at the July meeting.  
(2) Dues will be collectable during August. A member will be considered delinquent after the last day of August and shall no longer be considered a member. However, before any membership is terminated, the Secretary shall inform the President of the situation. The President has the responsibility to review the circumstances including contact with the individual either direct or through a designee to assure that no membership is ever terminated due to any circumstances of finance or other problem. These proceedings will be held in strict confidence.
(3)  Prorated dues will be granted for the first year plus the initiation fee.
ARTICLE IX  AMENDMENTS
(1)  Proposals for amendments will be presented to all members as a part of the newsletter prior to the next business meeting for approval or non-approval.
 ARTICLE X  MEETINGS
(1)  Regularly scheduled business meetings will be held monthly on the third (3rd) Monday of each month. The time and place will be published in the newsletter. If the third (3rd) Monday falls on a legal holiday or is in conflict with an event related to our club, it will be at the option of the officers to reschedule the business meeting to be held within one (1) week of the original date.
(2)  Special meetings of the Organization may be called as necessary by the Board.
(3)  The privilege of holding office, introducing motions, debating and voting, shall be limited to members in good standing.
(4)  In order to conduct a monthly meeting or a special meeting, there must be a quorum of at least one officer and one—third (33%) of the club membership in attendance.
 ARTICLE XI  SAFETY
 (1)  The standard code of safety as set forth by the A.M.A. will prevail within the club and repeated violations of safety and/or field guidelines will result in censure or expulsion from the club.
(2)  Frequency control will be by a means of frequency board and coded pins. These guidelines will be in effect at all times and strictly adhered to.
(3)  Junior members under the age of 14 must be accompanied and supervised by their parent or sponsor while flying at the club field and must have an A.M.A. license.
ARTICLE XII  L.S.F. PROGRAM
 (1) As we consider the LSF program one of the most important factors in improving our skills as sailplane pilots, we will adhere to all its concepts. We will attempt to progress to higher levels being at all times honest in our program.
(2) We will give all assistance possible to our fellow members who are working for higher levels-especially in the contest tasks program.
(3) We will make all competitions a personal challenge and strive to win as much for the honor of the club as for ourselves. We will conduct ourselves as ladies and gentlemen and display an esprit de corps that will gain our club respect and admiration from all we meet.
 ARTICLE XIV  FIELD GUIDELINES
(1) No person other than club members in good standing will be permitted to fly at HOTSS field, except temporary membership. See Article VII, paragraph 2.
(2) Club members are the only ones to retrieve a downed sailplane.
(3) No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the field grounds by anyone.
(4) No flying over the pit area under 100 feet altitude.
(5) All flying must be done while standing in an established area, a safe distance away from the launch area. It will be left to the discretion of the Field Marshall or his deputy(ies) as to where pilots may stand during a competitive event.
(6) All members must make proper use of all frequency control equipment which includes transmitter flags, pins, and sticks.
(7) Any member who violates the constitution of the Club shall be subject to suspension from the Club.
ARTICLE XV  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Robert’s Rules of Order or Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all meeting of the Club.

Adopted: 19 August, 2002.
Amended: 15 October, 2007

Secretary/Treasurer