By Laws

Southern Para Pilots BY LAWS
(Revised 10/2011)

• ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
  
• Section 1. The name of the Club is SouthernParaPilots, hereafter referred to as the
  Club.
  
• Section 2. The primary purpose of the Club is to promote the sport of paragliding, to encourage participation through proper training, to promote safety, the acquisition and
  maintenance of flying sites, and to have fun.
  
• ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
  
• Section 1. Classes of membership shall consist of Full Member, and Family Member.
  Services, privileges and annual dues for each class of membership shall be provided in
  these bylaws and as established by the Board of Directors.
  
• Section 2. Members will have use of all Club controlled mountain flying sites, and may
  vote as provided for in these bylaws.
  
• Section 3. The annual dues will be $60. A member of the immediate family of a member
  may become a Family Member upon payment of 50% of the full membership dues. A
  Family Member receives the same benefits as a member.
  
• Section 4. Anyone under the age of 18 must have the written consent of his/her parents
  or guardian before flying at any Club controlled site.
  
• ARTICLE III: MEETING OF MEMBERS
  
  Because of the diversity in home addresses among Club members, meetings are not
  expected to be attended by the majority needed to conduct business. Matters requiring
  member input and/or approval will therefore be handled by e-mail whenever necessary.
  A quorum for the conduct of business shall be 75%.
  
• ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  
• Section 1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of four members: The President,
  Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
  
• Section 2. The duties and powers of the Board shall be to deal with all routine business
  which comes before the Club, draft an annual budget, evaluate and present to members
  all matters of special concern, and to report all actions of the Board to members.
  
• Section 3. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
  
• Section 4. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be filled by a special election by
  the members.
  
• Section 5. Each member of the Board of Directors shall serve without compensation or
  reward, except as otherwise provided by these bylaws.
  
• ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
  
• Section 1. The Officers shall be elected by the voting members at the first meeting to be
  held each year, and shall hold office for 12 months or until their successors are elected.
  If the necessary 2/3 members are not present for this meeting, the remaining members
  may cast their votes by email or other means deemed acceptable by the board and
  communicated to the members.
  
• Section 2. The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committee chairmen
  with the approval of the Board of Directors, sign and execute all contracts in the name of
  the Club when authorized to do so by the Board of Directors, and shall have general supervision over the management of all affairs of the Club.
  
• Section 3. The Vice President shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform the
  duties of the President in the case or absence or disability of the President, and shall
  perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the Board of Directors.
  
• Section 4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, be responsible for all
  meeting notices and keeping of historical records for the club, and shall perform other
  duties as may be incident to the office of Secretary.
  
• Section 5. The Treasurer shall keep the membership records, receive and deposit all
  funds, execute all checks for expenditures authorized by the Board of Directors, account
  for all receipts, disbursements and balance on hand each month, and perform other
  such duties as may be incident to the office of Treasurer.
  
• ARTICLE VI: SUSPENSION, EXPULSION AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
  
  A member may be removed from office, suspended for a period of time, or expelled for
  cause, such as violation of any of these bylaws, or flight regulations, or other rules of the
  Club or for conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Club. Such action shall require
  a two thirds (2/3) vote of all voting members, provided a statement of the charges has
  been provided to all members, and that the member will have had an opportunity to present
  a defense.
  
• ARTICLE VII: FINANCES
  
  The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31. Dues will be paid not later than
  April 30. The initial payment of dues on joining the Club will be pro-rated from the first
  day of the following month.
  
• ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS
  
  Amendments to these bylaws may be made by two thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members.
  Amendments to be considered may be presented by members at any time, and
  will be duly considered by the Board.
  
• ARTICLE IX: SITE MANAGEMENT
  
• Section 1. Except as noted below, all paraglider pilots flying at Club controlled sites
  must be a member of the Club, hold a USHPA Novice (P2) or higher rating, and fly in a
  safe manner at all times.
  
• Section 2. Prior to being accepted for Club membership, pilots must demonstrate to a
  Club Officer, or designee, that he/she is a safe pilot, with flying skills sufficient for flying
  the sites.
  
• Section 3. Student Pilots may fly at Club controlled sites only when under the direct supervision of a USHPA Certified Instructor.
  
• Section 4. Pilots must fly at all times with a reserve chute, helmet, adequate back protection,
  radio and suitable foot wear.
  
• Section 5. Flying hours are from sunrise to sunset. Sunset set is defined as the time
  when the sun sets behind the mountains.