ARTICLE 1: NAME and PURPOSE
Section 1.A: Name – The name of this club shall be 'Wasatch Aero Modelers' hereinafter to be referred to as 'WAM'.
Section 1.B: AMA Affiliation – WAM is an affiliate of AMA and its governing authorities and rules. The rules and regulations of the Academy of Model Aeronautics as incorporated shall be followed when not consistent with the rules and regulations of WAM.
Section 1.C: Location – On West Gentile, in Davis County, Utah. Legal description of the land is lots 0034, 0035 of section 27, T4N, R2W, Salt Lake Meridian, Davis County, Utah. WAM privately owns the flying field hereinafter referred to as Pitkin Field.
Section 1.D: Purpose – As a non-profit organization, the purpose of this club shall be: (1) Provide a safe, fun, friendly environment. (2) Promote Radio Controlled model aircraft activities. (3) Encourage the education and technical development of our youth through building and flying model aircraft. (4) Provide assistance, guidance, and training to all members and to develop building and flying skills.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP and DUES
Section II.A: Eligibility – Membership shall be open to persons with an active interest in radio control model aircraft. Persons who pledge to follow all rules and regulations outlined in these documents and upon payment of dues are encouraged to join and participate.
Section II.B: Dues – Regular membership $200.00 per year. Junior membership $15.00 per year. AMA dues are required to be paid and current to be an active member of WAM. Field Marshal and webmaster(s) are waived the yearly dues for the year in which they serve. Dues and one-time joining fee may be changed from time to time.
Section II.C: Classes of Membership – Regular – Pilots who have reached their 19th birthday prior to January 1st of the current year. Junior – Pilots who have not reached their 19th Birthday prior to January 1st of the current year.
Section II.D: Membership Requirements – WAM members must have a current AMA membership and be current in their WAM Dues. Dues shall be paid yearly, covering January 1st to December 31st. Dues are due before flying that year.
ARTICLE III: OFFICERS and ELECTIONS
Section III.A Executive Officers – The Executive Board consists of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Safety Officer. The 5 Executive Board members shall have official voting rights at officer meetings, with the president only exercising his voting right in case of a tie.
Section III.B: Auxiliary Officers – Auxiliary officers may be elected at the needs of the club and may consist of: Field Marshal, Assistant Field Marshal, Training Officer, Events Director, and Web Master.
Section III.C: Eligibility – Officers must be WAM club and AMA members in good standing with a desire to serve.
Section III.D: Officer Elections – Officers shall be elected by majority vote. Nominations shall be submitted between November 1st and November 15th. The top 3 nominees for each position will be placed on the ballot. Voting will occur between November 20th and the last day of November. Results are to be announced in December.
Section III.E: Term – Executive Officers shall serve for 1 year with a term limit of 3 years for the President and Vice President. Terms begin January 1st and terminate December 31st.
Section III.F: Vacancy – If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office for the remainder of the term. Vacancies in any other office shall be filled by a special election.
ARTICLE IV: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section IV.A: President – Preside at meetings; represent the club; vote only in case of a tie; appoint committee chairpersons subject to approval of the Executive Board; serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
Section IV.B: Vice President – Preside in the absence of the President; serve as chairperson of the Program Committee.
Section IV.C: Secretary – Record meeting minutes; keep a file of the club's records; maintain a current membership roster; issue notices of meetings; incorporate any duly enacted amendments; assume duties of the President in the absence of the President and Vice President.
Section IV.D: Treasurer – Receive all funds and process requests for payment. Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures. Any expenditure between $250 and $1500 must be approved by 3 board members. Expenditure in excess of $1500 must be approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of those attending.
Section IV.D: Safety Officer – Develop, promote and encourage a climate of safety awareness within the club and report all serious accidents to AMA. Report to the club president those members who continuously and flagrantly disregard the safety of others.
Section IV.D: Field Marshal – Responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the flying field grounds, maintenance equipment, structures and buildings. Responsible for organizing member volunteer work parties to maintain the grounds.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
Section V.A: General Membership Meetings – Regular meetings shall be held at least four (4) times per year.
Section V.B: Executive Board Election Meeting – To be held in November for ballot counting.
Section V.C: Executive Board Meetings – Held under the direction of the president as deemed necessary. Two thirds (2/3) board members must be present for any items to be legally transacted.
Section V.D: Special Meetings – More meetings may be called as deemed necessary by either the President and/or the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VI: ACTIVITIES
Section VI.A – WAM shall engage in activities organized for radio controlled model aircraft and shall provide safe and fun activities with the purpose of helping to grow WAM membership and participation.
Section VI.B: Activity Voting – All yearly organized activities shall be approved by two thirds (2/3) voting members attending the announced membership meeting.
Section VI.C: AMA Sanctioned Activities – Each club activity that is an AMA sanctioned event shall have an appointed contest director as outlined in the AMA handbook.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
Section VII.A – Committees shall be established at the direction of the President and/or Executive Board. If an elected committee will affect the general membership, it must have at least a two thirds (2/3) majority vote by the general membership.
Section VII.C: Assisting Committees – Constitution and By-laws Committee (at least 3 members); Nominating Committee (at least 3 members); Program Committee (at least 3 members with the Event Director as chairperson).
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS and FORMAL VOTING
Section VIII.A – Amendment levels: (1) Declarative decisions – legal/law binding actions WAM must comply with. (2) Strategic decisions – long term decisions requiring 2/3 majority vote of general membership. (3) Tactical decisions – short term decisions made by the Executive Board with 2/3 majority vote. (4) Operational decisions – day-to-day items made by elected Executive Board Officers.
Section VIII.B: Formal Voting – All WAM members will be notified of items for vote at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting.
Section VIII.D: Constitution Amendments – All items within the Constitution and By-Laws are considered Strategic decisions. All changes must be executed only after the Formal voting method has been followed and a two thirds (2/3) majority vote by membership.
ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION and ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Section IX.A: Pitkin Field Ownership – Pitkin Field is owned by WAM. Pitkin Field shall not be sold or leased to any other party without a 2/3 majority vote of the club membership.
Section IX.B: Notice – In the case of dissolution, all members shall receive advance notice at least fifteen (15) days prior to any official action.
Section IX.C – All members of WAM must read and certify their complete understanding and agreement of the Constitution and By-Laws by signing their annual membership application form.
BY-LAWS
Article I – WAM By-Laws and any future amendments shall become effective upon adoption by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote by the general membership.
Article II: Membership Identification – All authorized club members shall be issued a club membership identification card annually and must be worn on their person when engaged in flying activities.
Article III: Flying Field Facilities – The flying field and its facilities are available for use by all club members. All members shall be responsible for the actions of their dependents and guests and for cleaning up after themselves.
Article IV: Flying Field Maintenance – Flying field maintenance shall be under the direction of the Field Marshal. Operational use of equipment such as riding lawn mowers must be authorized by the field marshal. Riding mowers shall only be utilized by senior members.
Article V: Flying Field Privileges – Privileges to use the flying field are accorded to all members equally. Any Executive Board member may deny flying privileges for a period of one day. The first offense shall be a verbal warning. The second offense shall require a written notice. The third may include denial of flying field use or revocation of club membership.
Article VI: Visiting Pilots – All visiting pilots must be a current AMA member and must be accompanied by a WAM member. Local visiting pilots may fly for a maximum of three flying days, after which they are required to join the club.
Article VII: New Pilot Qualification – All pilots new to flying or new to Pitkin Field shall be checked out by a senior member, including a flying safety demonstration and demonstration of flying skills.
Article VIII: Flying Field Rules – WAM shall establish, enforce, and maintain Flying Field Rules at Pitkin Field. All persons using Pitkin Field shall be subject to these rules. These By-laws may be amended at any quarterly meeting by a 2/3 vote of members in attendance.
Article IX: Frequency Control – WAM shall maintain Frequency Boards for 72mhz and 2.4ghz transmitters. All pilots using 72mhz transmitters must attach their AMA card to the appropriate pin when flying. The frequency control shall be run on the honor system.
FLIGHT SAFETY RULES
- All WAM pilots must complete a certification flight demonstrating basic skills necessary to operate their aircraft safely.
- All flight operations must be conducted south of the east-west entrance road fence at the north end of the airfield.
- Pilots who have not completed certification flights are required to fly with a certified pilot spotter at the flight line.
- The safety fences and areas north of the east and west pavilions are not to be used as pilot stations. Approved pilot stations are only allowed at the safety fences in front of and to the south of the main pavilions.
- Pilots are strongly encouraged to take off to the south and approach landing from the south unless there are unsafe contrary winds.
- Maiden flights MUST take off to the south and land from the south.
- East-west flight to the south of the pits area is permitted, but must be clearly announced.
- Any crash at or north of Gentile or in an occupied parking lot, spectator area, pavilion, pits area, or pilot stations will be reviewed by the club officers and safety committee.
- Student pilots are required to fly under the supervision of a WAM qualified instructor.
- Visitors flying at a club event must be made aware of and comply with the flight boundaries and pilot rules, and shall use a WAM spotter.
FLYING FACILITY RULES
1. Flying Facility – All pilots must be valid WAM club members and current AMA members. Flying under the influence or having alcoholic beverages or drugs at this facility is prohibited. No unsupervised children allowed in the pit area or on the runway. All pets will be leashed at Pitkin Field.
2. Pilot Stations – Flying from both sides of the flying field at the same time is strictly prohibited. Summer: East side used April 1–August 31 until 3:00pm, then West side. Winter: East side used November 1–March 31 until 2:00pm, then West side.
3. Transmitter Frequency Control – All transmitters and frequencies must be valid AMA equipment. Pilots using 72 MHz transmitters must call out their frequency to ensure it is clear.
4. Model Aircraft Set-up – Pilots are strongly urged to use the club's model safety benches. There shall be no excessive noise caused by lengthy engine runs in the pit area.
5. Model Aircraft Flight – All safety incidents shall be reported on the WAM club safety incident report form. It is strongly encouraged all pilots use a safety observer or spotter while flying. Taxiing of models behind the pilot barrier fence is prohibited.
6. Flight Training – All flight training shall be performed with a Trainer Buddy Box System.
7. Helicopters – Helicopter pilots shall operate beyond the twenty-five (25) foot safety line and use the designated helicopter pad locations.
8. Turbine Aircraft – Turbine powered aircraft shall not operate or fly out of Pitkin Field.
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