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BYLAWS OF THE AEA SCUBA CLUB

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ARTICLE I

NAME

The organization shall be known as the AEA SCUBA Club.
 
 

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES

Section 1 - To promote interest in diving by providing interesting speakers, seminars, and presentations to members and non-members alike throughout the company.

Section 2 - To provide a means for furthering the enjoyment of its members in scuba diving as a member of a group.

Section 3 - To provide all possible means for increasing the safety of its members while diving.

Section 4 - To promote cooperation and fellowship among members and to promote good public relations with other diving groups.

Section 5 - To abide by the rules imposed by the California Department of Fish and Game as applied to diving.

Section 6 - To advise and assist novice divers in safe diving practices.
 
 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - MEMBERS.

 Any employee of The Aerospace Corporation is eligible for membership in the AEA SCUBA Club. Membership privileges shall be extended upon the payment of dues.

Section 2 - ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

 Any military or civil service person assigned or attached to LAAFS, or the spouse of any club member or associate member, is automatically eligible for associate membership. Any other person whose membership is felt to be in the best interest of the club and who is sponsored by a member may become an associate member. Associate membership privileges shall be extended upon payment of dues. Associate members who are military or civil service personnel will have full membership privileges. All other associate members may not vote in the election of officers or the disbursement of funds, nor may they hold club office.

Section 3 - DUES.

 The club shall establish dues for the fiscal year at the annual business meeting. The dues for the associate members shall exceed the dues for members by at least the amount set by the AEA. Dues are payable on the first day of the fiscal year. No proration of dues shall be made. A ninety day grace period will be provided following the first day of the fiscal year during which those members and associate members whose dues payment is delinquent shall retain all membership privileges with the exception of trip participation.

Section 4 - EXPULSION.

 Willful failure to abide by the club rules and Bylaws, or conduct detrimental to the club, or showing a disregard for the club interests or property, or for the safety or welfare of other members, shall be grounds for the summary suspension of any member or associate member. Final action will be taken by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board on the basis of a prompt hearing.
 
 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1 - The officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Equipment Manager. The term of office shall coincide with the first of the fiscal year. No officer shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 2 - The duties of the officers shall be:

(a) PRESIDENT. The President shall be responsible for the coordination of all club activities, and shall preside over all club activities and meetings. The president shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Board.

(b) VICE PRESIDENT. The Vice President shall be responsible for planning and coordinating diving trips. He shall assume the responsibilities of the President in his absence.

(c) SECRETARY. The Secretary shall be responsible for providing written minutes of each meeting. He shall also be responsible for preparing all correspondence which is required for the conduct of club business. He shall be responsible for the distribution of club information and magazine subscriptions and circulation.

(d) TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the handling of monies of the club and will keep records of all monetary transactions. He shall prepare an annual report for the AEA and shall present it at the annual meeting. He shall assume the duties of the Vice President in his absence.

(e) EQUIPMENT MANAGER. The Equipment Manager shall be responsible for the purchase, maintenance, and rental of all club equipment.
 
 

Section 3 - The elected officers shall serve as the Executive Board to expedite the business of the club by taking all necessary actions consistent with the express desires of the club. Each officer shall also accept any additional duties delegated to him by the Executive Board.

Section 4 - All actions of the Executive Board must be taken by a vote of a majority of its members. The secretary shall keep minutes of the Executive Board meetings and these shall be available to the membership. Among other actions, the board shall be specifically authorized to order disbursements of the club funds and to fill vacancies of the Executive Board.
 
 

ARTICLE V

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - An annual meeting will be held each year for the purpose of business and elections. At this meeting, nominations will be taken from the floor.

Section 2 - The officers shall be elected by a majority of the members eligible to vote and voting at the annual meeting or by mail ballot prior to the meeting.
 
 

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

Section 1 - Unless otherwise ordered by the club or the Executive Board, regular business meetings will only be held as needed. Regular monthly meetings will be held when a presentation, speaker, or other seminar is available.

Section 2 - The last meeting of the fiscal year shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of installation of officers, for receiving annual reports of officers and committees, for setting dues for the next fiscal year, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 3 - Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board and the Secretary must attempt to notify all members by any means possible in the time allowed. The notice for the special meeting shall state the purpose for which the meeting is called and that only special business will be discussed.
 
 

ARTICLE VII

COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS

Section 1 - The function of committees will be to plan, organize and administer specific club events as established by the Executive Board.

Section 2 - The chairpersons of the committees shall be appointed by the Executive Board. Membership on committees is open to all members or associate members of the club.
 
 

ARTICLE VIII

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Section 1 - The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, revised edition, shall govern all meetings of the club when applicable and when not inconsistent with the Bylaws.

Section 2 - The fiscal year shall begin on 1 October.
 
 

ARTICLE IX

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND LIMITATIONS

Section 1 - No contract or other document obligating the SCUBA Club shall be entered into except by the President or Vice President with the consent of the Executive Board or by persons so authorized by the President or Vice President with the consent of the Executive Board.

Section 2 - No officer or member of the SCUBA Club shall, as such, have any personal liability for acts of AEA, the AEA Council, the Executive Board, the SCUBA Club, or any activities supported by AEA or any such council or club other than as a member.
 
 
 

ARTICLE X

TRIPS

Section 1 - The club shall sponsor two types of dive trips: those requiring the use of a boat, and those where no boat is used.

Section 2 - Persons of all ages may participate in club trips. Participation shall be subject to the following rules:
 

(a) Priority for spaces on all trips will be given to club members. All non-club members wishing to participate in a club trip will, whenever it is deemed necessary by the Executive Board, be put on a standby basis until three weeks before a trip is scheduled. If at this time there is a space available the non-members will be given a trip space according to the order in which they appear on the standby list.

(b) Participants may not violate federal or state laws while on a club trip.

(c) Minors must be accompanied by a parent or adult SCUBA Club member or associate member who will accept responsibility for the minor. All minors going on dive trips must be either associate members or one of their parents must be a member or associate member of the club. In addition, all minors not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian must have a medical release signed by a parent or legal guardian before they will be allowed to go on any club diving trip.
 

Section 3 - The Executive Board or its designee shall establish a cost per individual to cover trip expense. The cost shall be equal for all participants, except as follows:

(a) If multiple options are offered, each will be priced separately.

(b) A surcharge, specified in advance by the Executive Board, will be levied on guests if deemed necessary.
 

Section 4 - The Executive Board or its designee shall establish a payment schedule for the trip. This schedule shall be comprised of a minimum deposit to secure the reservation and a final installment due before the actual trip. All payments received will be deposited with the club Treasurer. If a full installment is not received by the scheduled date, the reservation is subject to immediate cancellation. For refund purposes, this cancellation shall be interpreted as occurring after the payment date.

Section 5 - The person deemed in charge of the trip shall accept reservations and fill available spaces on the trip upon receipt of the specified deposit and a written request describing the number and type of reservations requested. Trip spaces will be filled in the order the reservations are received. The person in charge shall maintain a standby list for those persons in excess of the trip capacity who have requested reservations. Payments by those persons on standby shall not be accepted until they can be accommodated on the trip. In the event that the appropriate person on the standby list cannot be contacted within a reasonable amount of time, the space will be assigned to the next eligible person who can be contacted. The person bypassed shall retain his position on the standby list. Written confirmation shall be made by the trip chairman to those holding firm reservations and those that are on standby. Notification of a change in status from standby to firm reservation constitutes a demand for immediate payment equal to the past due payment. Written confirmation of the reservation shall be made when the payment is received.

Section 6 - Cancellations of reservations will be accepted only in writing. The order of cancellation shall be determined by the order in which cancellations are received by the trip chairman. Cancellations will be subject to the following refund policies:
 

(a) If the vacancy is filled, a full refund will be made when the replacement’s payment is received by the Treasurer. If there is no standby list, the responsibility for locating a replacement rests solely upon the person who cancels. Written notice that a particular person constitutes a replacement must be submitted by the canceling person within (5) days of the replacement.

(b) If the vacancy is not filled, the club will refund only the recoverable trip expenses, at such time as they are received by the club.
 

Section 7 - Safe Diving requirements:

(a) All participants on a club dive must be certified.

(b) All participants on a club dive must sign a release form for that dive trip.
 

 

ARTICLE XI

EQUIPMENT AND RENTAL PROCEDURES

Section 1 - The SCUBA Club will purchase and maintain equipment for the use of its members.

Section 2 - The equipment will be maintained and rented out by the Equipment Manager.

Section 3 - The equipment will be serviced as specified by manufacturer and/or by the period specified by law. A record of service will be kept.

Section 4 - The equipment will be rented under the following rules and conditions:
 

(i) The equipment will be rented for the amount decided by the Executive Board.

(ii) The member renting the equipment must show a c-card to show proof of certification.

(iii) The member must have a waiver signed.

(iv) Additional rules and regulations can be added at any time if deamed necessary by the Executive Board.
 

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - The Bylaws may only be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at a regular business meeting.

Section 2 - The proposed amendment must have been submitted to the membership prior to the meeting at which the vote is taken.

Section 3 - The meeting notice to the members must include the notice of the proposed action to amend the Bylaws.