H A L F
Houston Area Light Flyers Bylaws
Houston Area Light Flyers, hereafter referred to as HALF or Club, is a non-profit membership club dedicated to the promotion of sport aviation, aviation safety, the sharing of flight knowledge, and meeting with other like-minded aviators in social settings.
Membership is open to anyone who is interested in aviation, and the promotion of aviation safety while being part of a social group.
Application should be made to the Treasurer and yearly dues paid at the time of application. Dues paid are non-refundable. With the payment of dues, the member is entitled to receive the monthly newsletter, attend Club functions, and be eligible for other opportunities provide by Club members as appropriate.
Membership dates are for a calendar year starting in January thru December. New members joining from October thru December of the previous year will be considered their dues paid until the end of the next calendar year.
Members of the Board of Directors, who are elected each November, will serve without compensation except as noted in these Bylaws.
The Board of Directors should lead the Club membership; ensure a recording of Club meeting and actions, and provide the membership a financial accounting at each monthly membership meeting.
A member of the Board of Directors may be removed by a written petition from the majority of the Board and voted on by Club Membership at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting. This petition should be published in the newsletter prior to the monthly meeting where the vote on the petition will take place.
The Board of Directors will be made up of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
All Board members are elected to their positions for one year. No person may hold the same office on the Board of Directors for more than five consecutive years without a special vote of HALF members attending the Annual Meeting, to suspend this Bylaws clause each year just prior to the election of Officers.
The November regularly scheduled membership meeting will be considered HALFŐs Annual Meeting. During the meeting, elections for the Board of Directors will take place; the Treasurer will deliver an annual financial position report; and all other yearly reports from Committee Heads will be accepted. Nominations for the Board of Directors election will be accepted in October. Nominations for positions on the Board of Directors can also be accepted during the election process, provided the nominated person is present and accepts the nomination. All individuals nominated will be published where possible in the monthly newsletter or other distribution method prior to the November HALF Annual meeting.
The newly elected Board of Directors will assume their positions at the December meeting for the following year.
Vacancies within the Board of Directors will be filled by nomination and approved by election; by the membership at the next monthly membership meetings.
President: Is the Chief Executive Officer of HALF, and should be responsible to the HALF members for the operation of the Club. The President should preside over the monthly membership meetings, and any Board of Director meetings.
President will work with the Secretary and Treasurer to conduct the day to day operations of HALF. The President should have check signing authority.
Vice President: Will assume the duties of the President in the event when the President is unable to perform the duties of the office. If this should continue for more than 60 consecutive days, it will be assumed the President has resigned and the Vice President should assume the Presidency. The Vice President should have check signing authority.
Treasurer: Be financially responsible for the Clubs monetary assets. The Treasurer should draft all checks. Checks will need two Board of Directors signatures to be valid. The Treasurer should report on the ClubŐs financial position at monthly membership meetings. The Treasurer shall have check signing authority.
Secretary: Keep the records of the Club (other than financial). The Secretary should record all actions the HALF membership conducted at the monthly membership meetings; and whenever the Board of Directors meets. The Secretary should present minutes from the prior membership meeting for approval at the following monthly membership meeting. The Secretary should ensure the minutes are published in the monthly newsletter.
The Club should hold monthly membership meetings. All Club business should be transacted at that time. The meeting should be organized using Roberts Rules of Order. Suspension of RobertŐs Rules of Order may be entertained at any meeting. It is up to the President to keep the meeting orderly and on track.
A quorum is required to conduct Club business. A quorum shall be constituted by having at least two officers and a total of ten members present. If after two successive monthly meetings without the necessary quorum to conduct business, the preceding quorum rule may be suspended at the following monthly meeting by voice vote, in order to conduct Club business with prior notice to the membership.
Any expenditure of funds must be voted upon by the membership present at regular club meetings except where noted.
Any increase in Club dues must be brought up and voted upon (and passed) by the membership in two successive monthly membership meetings. The increase must be noticed in the monthly newsletter prior to each of these two monthly meetings.
Any single expenditure over $500.00 must be voted upon and passed by the membership at two successive monthly membership meetings. The expenditure must be noticed in the monthly newsletter prior to each of these two monthly meetings.
The ClubŐs operating year will be based on the calendar (January through December).
The President should have a fifty dollar ($50.00) discretionary spending limit without prior approval of HALF membership. All discretionary expenditures should be disclosed at the following monthly membership meeting.
These Bylaws should be reviewed on periodic bases. The Bylaws should be reviewed and revised by a committee appointed by the President of HALF. The committee should be comprised of at least one Director and two other non-director members of HALF.
Any proposed changes should be voted upon (and passed) by the membership in two successive monthly membership meetings. The revised Bylaws should be published in the monthly newsletter prior to each of the monthly meetings.