Florida Repeater Council

• ARTICLE I - Name
• ARTICLE II - Purpose
• ARTICLE III - Members
• ARTICLE IV - Voting
• ARTICLE V - Board of Directors
• ARTICLE VI - Officers
• ARTICLE VII - Meetings
• ARTICLE VIII - Audit
• ARTICLE IX - Binding Actions
• ARTICLE X - Disbursement of Funds
• ARTICLE XI - By-Law Amendments
• ARTICLE XII - Requirements

ARTICLE I - Name (Article Index)

Section 1.1 This organization shall be known as the Florida Repeater Council., hereinafter referred to as FRC.

ARTICLE II - Purpose (Article Index)

Section 2.1 The FRC is a non-profit corporation whose sole purpose is frequency spectrum management and repeater coordination under the Amateur Radio Service-Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations for the HF, VHF, UHF and Microwave Amateur Radio bands in the State of Florida. To set the technical and operational standards and policies required to operate amateur radio Repeater stations in the State of Florida. To minimize, within current technology, radio interference between and among repeater stations. To fairly and equally represent the owners and users of repeater stations throughout the State of Florida. To interface with the Federal Communications Commission, American Radio Relay League, and other such government agencies, as necessary.

ARTICLE III - Members (Article Index)

Section 3.1 Members of the FRC shall be those persons licensed in the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 of the Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission to operate an Amateur repeater station which holds a valid coordination issued by the FRC.

Section 3.2 Eligible persons as defined in Section 3.1 of these By-Laws, shall become members upon the submission of an application to the President or his designee and the payment of the first annual dues as specified in section 3.4. Once admitted such person may be referred to as "member". To maintain membership, each member must adhere to the annual repeater information filing requirements as specified by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.3 The annual dues to the FRC payable to the FRC by members shall be in such amounts as shall be in such amounts as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Dues shall be payable for the first year on admission to membership and annually thereafter at such time or times as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. At the option of the Board of Directors, semi-annual dues may be authorized when appropriate.

Section 3.4 There shall be no limit on the number of members the FRC may admit.

Section 3.5 A member of the FRC shall not be solely or partially, because of such membership, be personally liable for the debts, obligations, or liabilities of the FRC.

Section 3.6 Neither membership in the FRC, nor any rights in the membership, may be transferred for value or otherwise.

Section 3.7 The membership of any member of the FRC shall be terminated for any of the following reasons:

(a) Upon receipt of such member's written, signed request for such termination.

(b) Failure of any member to pay dues within sixty (60) days of due date.

(c) Failure to abide by the By-Laws of the FRC or the conditions set by the sanction of the repeater coordination. Said member shall be given thirty (30) days written notice of the termination stating the reasons and a timely opportunity to be heard on the termination. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the last known address in the records of the FRC. The opportunity to be heard may , at the election of said member, be in person or in writing.

(d) For the convictions for a violation of Amateur Radio Service Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission's rules and regulations involving an Amateur repeater.

(e) For the loss of one's operating license under the Amateur Radio Service Part 97.

(f) For the conviction of any felony.

Section 3.8 Neither membership in the FRC, nor the payment of membership dues shall be a prerequisite for repeater coordination or listing in the ARRL Repeater Directory.

ARTICLE IV - Voting (Article Index)

Section 4.1 The term "vote" in ARTICLE IV shall refer to the process of electing a director from all respective districts.

Section 4.2 Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote.

Section 4.3 Members entitled to vote may authorize in writing another FRC member to exercise a Proxy on their behalf.

ARTICLE V - Board of Directors (Article Index)

Section 5.1 The Board of Directors for the FRC shall consist of a minimum nine (9), not to exceed thirteen (13), as representatives. The term of office for all Directors shall be two (2) years.

Section 5.2 The Districts for the Board of Directors have been segregated by Counties and repeater number density. Click HERE for a district listing and map

Section 5.3 The Board of Directors shall be responsible for administering the FRC's activities in accordance with the needs of the membership subject to the responsibilities and restrictions contained in these By-Laws and the FRC's Coordination Policy.

Section 5.4 Election of Directors.

(a) The term for a director of the Board will be two (2) years. An election of eligible members of the Board will be held each January. The odd-numbered Districts will elect in even-numbered years, while the even- numbered Districts will elect in odd-numbered years.

(b) Each candidate for Director who wishes to be considered for election shall submit a nominating petition stating the candidate's name, call sign, and the District in which he is a candidate. The District Director must reside within the District in which he is a candidate. This petition shall be signed by the candidate. Additionally, there shall be five (5) other signatures and call signs representing FRC members in good standing within the same FRC district who support the nomination of the petitioning candidate. These additional signatures can be on the same or separate documents providing the nominating petition is submitted with all the required names and signatures in one package.

(c) The completed nominating petition must be submitted to the Secretary of the FRC no later than November 30, immediately prior to the scheduled election.

(d) Nominees must be bona fide licensed Amateur radio operators with interest in maintaining a cohesive and organized structure to the Amateur spectrum utilization plan set by the FRC's Coordination Policy.

(e) Only one director shall be elected for each district. Ballots will be sent to each member in good standing and returned to the Secretary. The secretary shall have the ballots counted in such a way that assures fairness. The winner of the election of each District shall be elected by plurality.

(f) In the event that no nominating petitions are received from a District in the time frame required in the year scheduled for the election of it's director, then the president shall present the name of a qualified member from that District for election by the Board at the next Annual Meeting.

Section 5.5 In the event a Director is unable to complete his/her term for any reason, the President shall appoint a temporary director who will serve until the next scheduled district election is to be held.

Section 5.6 A Director shall be removed from office:

(a) Upon presentation of petitions to the Board of Directors signed by at least 51% of the members of that district to generate a new election in the respective district,

(b) Upon a 2/3's vote of the remaining Directors,

(c) Upon revocation or suspension of an Amateur radio license, conviction of any felony, or any long term disability that prevents a Director from carrying out his/her duties for a period greater than six (6) months.

Section 5.7 A Director shall appoint a Vice-Director. The Vice-Director shall have no vote or arbitration power at any meeting of the FRC. However, in the absence of the Director, the Vice-Director will have the authority to represent the respective Director at any meeting of the FRC and carry the proxy vote of the respective Director.

Section 5.8 The Board of Directors will be responsible for conducting all of the business of the FRC. All business, arbitration, and coordination policies enacted by the Board of Directors will be by a majority vote of the Directors.

ARTICLE VI - Officers (Article Index)

Section 6.1 The officers of the FRC shall be the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 6.2 The President will be an appointed position, and this appointment will be by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the annual meeting.

(a) A nominating committee chairperson will be selected by the President. This appointment will take place no earlier than one-hundred eighty (180) days and no later than ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting.

(b) The Chairperson shall be responsible for selecting a committee of not less than three (3) individuals to collect the nominations for President.

(c) The list of nominees shall be presented in writing to the Board of Directors not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. Upon presenting the list of nominations for President to the Board of Directors no further nominations will be accepted.

Section 6.3 All appointments made by the President shall be subject to a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 6.4 The President shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) The President will appoint the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Database Manager and Frequency Coordinator(s), within thirty (30) days of his/her appointment. The officers of the previous administration, excluding the President, shall remain in office during the thirty (30) day overlap period until new officers are appointed.

(b) The President is the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the FRC and will control and conduct all of the meetings of the FRC.

Section 6.5 The President shall be a member of the Board of Directors , however the President shall have no power to vote except on the event of a tie vote by the seated Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII - Meetings (Article Index)

Section 7.1 Annual Directors Meeting.

(a) The FRC shall hold an annual Directors meeting within one hundred twenty (120) days of the beginning of the FRC's fiscal year (January 1st). The time & place for the annual directors meeting will be established by the Board of Directors and called by the President of the FRC. (Section 7.1(a)As amended 10 September 1994)

(b) Notice shall be given to the general membership at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting. The notice will be posted on the main page of the council website.

(c) A Quorum (a majority of Directors plus the President or Vice-President) must be present for a meeting to be held.

(d) The Robert's Rules of Order, as may be amended from time to time, shall govern the meeting of FRC members insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in conflict with these By-Laws, the Articles of Incorporation, or the law.

Section 7.2 Board of Directors Meetings:

(a) The FRC President or any three Directors may call a meeting at any time that it is deemed necessary.

(b) Notice will be given each Director at least thirty (30) days prior to a Board of Directors meeting that has been called, except in emergencies.

ARTICLE VIII - Audit (Article Index)

Section 8.1 It shall be required that an audit committee be appointed by the Board of Directors from the membership to audit the financial records at least once per fiscal year. A report of the books authenticity shall be presented by the committee at the annual Directors meeting.

ARTICLE IX - Binding Actions (Article Index)

Section 9.1 All actions passed by a vote of the FRC within the authority if these By-Laws shall be considered binding on all members as the policy of the FRC.

ARTICLE X - Disbursement of Funds (Article Index)

Section 10.1 Should the FRC dissolve the corporation or disband, the remaining funds from the treasury shall be donated to the American Red Cross, Florida Chapter.

ARTICLE XI - By-Law Amendments (Article Index)

Section 11.1 These By-Laws may be amended by a seventy-five (75) percent vote of the Board of Directors provided that appropriate notification of intent to amend the By-Laws has been included in the meeting notice.

ARTICLE XII - Requirements (Article Index)

Section 12.1 A print out of the FRC repeater database shall be sent prior to the deadline to the A.R.R.L., annually.

Latest update: 12 February 2001