The name of this organization shall be the Austin Area Rocketry Group Section 585 of the National Section of Rocketry and Hill Country Tripoli Prefecture #54, hereafter referred to as AARG.
It shall be the purpose of AARG to:
Membership is based on presentation of a signed agreement to abide by the NAR and TRA safety codes, NFPA 1122 and NFPA 1127, payment of dues, and good standing with AARG.
Rights and Privileges:
Dues shall be payable at the start of the calendar year. Dues shall be prorated based on the month in which a member joins.
The amount of Section dues will be determined by the Board of Officers and announced not later than the last regularly scheduled business meeting of the calendar year. These Section dues are separate and distinct from national dues paid to the NAR or TRA.
All dues moneys shall be kept in a General Fund by the Treasurer and shall be paid out by direction of the Board of Directors.
Special assessments may be levied by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any AARG meeting provided notice of such intent is given in writing to each member at least five days preceding such a meeting.
AARG Meetings shall be held at least four times per year at times and places designated by the Board of Officers. The date, time and location of each meeting shall be providing in writing to each member in good standing at least fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting. Operation of the rocket range shall not be considered a meeting. A quorum shall consist of the membership present at the meeting.
The AARG Board of Officers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, NAR Senior Advisor, Tripoli Prefect, and optionally a NAR Junior Advisor.
The Officers shall meet at such time and place as the President shall direct, or at the call of any two (2) other Officers.
A majority of the Officers shall constitute a quorum for transaction of the business of any meeting of the AARG Officers.
Vacancies in the Board of Officers shall be filled by recommendation of the remaining Officers and approval by a majority vote of a regularly called meeting of the voting membership.
All matters of policy shall be presented in writing to the Officers two weeks prior to being submitted to membership.
The Officers shall function as Publisher of the Section newsletter by setting broad guidelines for content and function.
The President represents all members, regardless of their national affiliation. The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership. The President shall also act as official representative of AARG to local, state, and national government officials..
The Vice President shall assist the President and serve in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President is AARG's Operations Officer and manages all flight operations.
The Secretary shall maintain membership records and keep minutes for all meetings.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting funds from membership dues and other activities which may be undertaken by AARG. Funds raised will be used for services and activities deemed beneficial to AARG by the Board of Officers. The Treasurer shall be responsible for disbursing funds for expenses incurred by the Section. He shall maintain the financial records for AARG in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall ensure that AARG files correct and accurate tax returns with all applicable governmental authorities. He shall provide yearly budget information, and budget updates at each meeting of the Board of Officers. He shall provide the fiscal "year-end" financial statement and facilitate the updating of continuity folders according to each Officer's notes. In no event shall AARG incur any debt or obligation not immediately payable from funds on-hand.
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
The Senior Advisor represents the NAR members of the Section. The Senior Advisor will serve as the Section's liaison with NAR HQ. The Senior Advisor will sign the section charter and insurance forms, serve as a source of knowledge for the other officers, and advise the Board and Committee Chairmen. The Senior Advisor will serve as Senior Jurist on the Contest Jury for all Section competitions sanctioned by the NAR.
The Tripoli Prefect represents the TRA members of the Prefecture. The Tripoli Prefect will serve as the Section's liaison with Tripoli HQ.
The Junior Advisor represents the Junior members of AARG.
All officers shall work together in the performance of their duties to coordinate the activities of AARG. All duties shall be performed in a timely manner and in such a way as not to delay another officer or committee in the fulfillment of their duties. Any officer unable to fulfill a specific duty shall notify the President in advance. If the President is unable to perform a specific duty he should notify the Vice President. Each officer, at the end of his term of office, shall turn over all original materials and records of his office to his successor and furnish any records of his office as may be required from time to time to the general membership. These records shall include but not be limited to a continuity folder.
In the event any officer is found lacking in the performance of his duties, his resignation shall be requested by the President. If his resignation is not tendered he may be removed from office with the recommendation of the Board of Officers and a two thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at a called meeting. In the event the President is found lacking in the performance of his duties, his resignation shall be requested by the remaining Board members. If his resignation is not tendered he may be removed from office with the recommendation of the Board of Officers and a two thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at a called meeting.
All officers must be Full Members of AARG in good standing. Due to the nature of certain positions, additional requirements are placed on the following Officers:
NAR Senior Advisor must be a Senior Member of NAR
Tripoli Prefect must be a Senior Member of TRA for at least one
year prior to becoming Prefect
The NAR Senior Advisor and the Tripoli Prefect may also serve in the position of Vice President or Secretary/Treasurer. Neither may serve as President concurrent with their NAR or Tripoli role since the President represents all AARG members regardless of national affiliation.
Elections of officers shall take place at the first/last meeting of the calendar year. All officers and members of the Board shall serve a term of one year. Vacancies in office and on the Board shall be filled by nomination and election of a member to fill the unexpired term of office and shall take place at the AARG meeting at which the vacancy is announced. Nominations for all elections shall be made from the floor, and the candidate having the largest number of votes shall be elected.
There shall be five standing committees of the AARG, plus such additional committees as the Board of Officers may from time to time deem necessary or desirable.
The Sports Launch Committee shall be in charge of operating the Section's sports rocket range and shall construct or otherwise obtain and maintain any equipment required for AARG monthly activities or operations. The Chairman of the Sports Launch Committee shall report to the Vice President.
The High Power Committee shall be in charge of operating AARG's High Power Rocketry range. The Chairman of this committee must be NAR or TRA Level 2 High Power Certified, or must have completed the NAR Trained Safety Officer program and NAR or TRA High Power Level 1 Certification. This committee shall monitor the High Power and experimental technical activities of AARG members, shall assist members in High Power certification, and shall construct or otherwise obtain and maintain any equipment required for AARG High Power activities or operations. The Chairman of the High Power Committee shall report to the Vice President.
The Contest and Records Committee shall be in charge of all arrangements for NAR contests, shall coordinate the contest factors used in NAR competition, and shall monitor all national record attempts by members. The Chairman of the Contest and Records Committee shall report to the NAR Senior Advisor
The Safety Committee shall coordinate all range activities to ensure consistent implementation of all applicable safety codes as well as local, state, and national regulations. This committee shall promote awareness in safety issues. The Safety Committee is co-chaired by the Chairmen of the Sports Launch, High Power, and Contest and Records Committees. The Safety Committee shall report to the President.
The Publicity and Membership Committee shall be in charge of raising public awareness of and appreciation for model rocket activities, conducting demonstration launches, outreach activities, and conducting membership drives. The Chairman of the Publicity and Membership Committee shall be or shall report to the Secretary/Treasurer.
AARG Officers may serve as Chairman of the Committee which reports to them.
The AARG President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
The Austin Area Rocketry Group is chartered by the National Association of Rocketry, and is NAR Section 585. Provisions of the charter require the safe operation of all rocketry related activities by all members. The NAR Safety Codes are to be followed at all times. AARG is an insured section of NAR and will maintain NAR section insurance as part of the section's NAR charter.
The Austin Area Rocketry Group is recognized as a prefecture
of the Tripoli Rocketry Association, and is also known as "Hill
Country Tripoli". The Tripoli High Power Rocketry Safety
Code is to be followed at all times.
These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of those AARG members present and voting at any AARG meeting, providing written notice of the pending amendment has been sent to the membership at least five days in advance of such meeting. No amendment of these bylaws shall be in force until and unless approved by NAR Headquarters and TRA Headquarters.