CLUB BYLAWS
From the Copilot’s Seat
By Randy Cameron, AMA Executive Vice President | flyrc@modelaircraft.org
Are your club bylaws up to date? I strongly advise you to review your bylaws and make any necessary revisions/changes.
Why are bylaws important to your club? They are the most important legal document of any organization. They outline in writing the day-to-day rules of your club and provide comprehensive guidelines to keep things running smoothly.
Bylaws are used to guide the officers’ and board of directors’ actions and decisions. They are helpful in preventing or resolving conflicts and disagreements. They protect your club from potential problems by clearly outlining rules around authority levels, as well as the rights and expectations of members. They can protect the club if it is taken to court.
Bylaws are not static. The club officers/board members should regularly review them. I recommend that new club officers and/or board members review the club bylaws before accepting the position.
States have different statutes that apply to bylaws. Some have specific provisions, while others give more general guidelines. Find your state’s regulations from your secretary of state’s office or your state attorney general’s office. This might be especially important if you are a nonprofit organization.
Throughout the years, AMA has represented several clubs concerning some unique legal issues. Problems have arisen when club bylaws are poorly written, don’t exist, or contain outdated information, leaving the club and AMA in a quandary.
Because of these types of issues, the AMA staff and the AMA Executive Council believe it is important for clubs to have bylaws. This has resulted in the development of guidelines, with the goal of putting clubs in a better position to handle their own business and give AMA an easier way to represent clubs if and when the need should arise.
Whenever your club bylaws are changed, you need to send the revisions to AMA Headquarters. Bylaws recommendations can be found on the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/sites/default/files/535-a.pdf.
TRUST
I am sure that by now most of you know that the FAA’s The Recreational UAS Test (TRUST) has been defined and is available. It is a very simple test, and yes, I have completed mine. Most will not even need to read the training that goes along with it because we live it as we fly our aircraft. I do encourage all members to take it. There is no minimum age limit (parents/grandparents can help Youth members) and all recreational pilots are now required to complete it.
AMA National Fun Fly
I hope that I got to see you at the AMA National Fun Fly, and thank you to all who made this a successful event.
Fly safely and most of all, have fun!
