By-Laws of Largo Flying Club (LFC Inc.)

AMA Charter 3848

Article I

Name of the club

The name of the club is Largo Flying Club Inc. It may be referred to as LFC or “the

Club” as a shortened name as a matter of convenience.

Article II

Purpose

The purpose of the club shall be to provide leadership in the modeling community and

to promote modeling as a hobby/sport, to give flying instruction, to help juniors and seniors

in the hobby sport of model aircraft and to provide and maintain an adequate flying site for

radio-controlled model aircraft.

Article III

The Board of the LFC

1. The Board of the LFC shall include four officers and four directors. The officers shall be

the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Directors shall be four (4)

elected, full members in good standing, specifically for the purpose of serving on the

Board of Directors. Appointed officers shall be Safety Officer, Property Maintenance

Officer, Newsletter Editor, and Chief Flight Instructor.

2. The Board of the LFC will make recommendations to the membership and perform such

duties as specified by the LFC By-Laws.

3. Regular monthly meetings of the Board of LFC shall be scheduled at a time and place

convenient to the majority of board members. Special meetings may be held as needed by

the Chairman of the Board of the LFC. All members of the Board of the LFC will be

notified no later than three (3) days prior to any special meeting.

4. A quorum of the Board of LFC must be present to conduct a meeting. Six (6) members

present shall constitute a quorum for a Board meeting.

Article IV

Membership in the LFC

1. Categories of Membership

a. Associate members are those individuals who have made application to become

a new member and have paid in full all required fees to the LFC.

b. Full members are those associate members who have completed one year of

associate membership in the LFC.

c. Junior members are those individuals who are under the age of 18. Junior

members must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

2. The number of memberships available shall be determined by the members in

good standing at the annual meeting held in January each year.

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3. After recommendation by the Board of the LFC, if a vacancy exists, a person may

become an associate member of the Club after application and the payment of

fees.

4. After a one year probationary period, associate members become full members in

good standing unless an objection is raised by the Board of the LFC.

5. All members shall belong to the Academy of Model Aeronautics (A.M.A.) prior to

acceptance into LFC.

6. Any member operating equipment on six (6) meters at the flying site shall hold a

valid F.C.C. license to cover such operations. Such license number and expiration

date shall be recorded by the club Treasurer.

7. Physical year of the membership shall be January 1 through December 31 of each

year.

8. Dues for the coming year are due by December 31 of the current year. If payment

is not received by the due date, the individual's membership will be considered

open, and his/her flying privileges will be suspended. Dues paid on or before the

December meeting will receive a $5.00 discount.

9. President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Safety Officer, Property

Maintenance Officer, Newsletter Editor, and Chief Flight Instructor shall be exempt

from annual dues after completion of one year of service for one year following the

year of service.

10. Should a vacancy arise, a prospective member not belonging to the A.M.A. shall

make paid application to the A.M.A. along with LFC fees.

11. Non-members can make up to three flying visits. Non-members must be

accompanied by a sponsoring member in good standing. AMA membership is

required for all non-members. After the third visit, membership will be required for

further flying.

12. Temporary membership is available for thirty-day periods. Rates to be determined

by the Board of the LFC. Thirty-day memberships are non-voting memberships.

Article V

Duties of Elected and Appointed Officers

1. Duties of the President:

a. Preside over all meetings, both regular and special.

b. Serve as chairperson of the Board of the LFC.

c. Act as spokesperson for LFC Inc.

d. Appoint all committees and to serve as an ex-officio member of any and all

committees when needed except the nominating committee.

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e. Serve as primary contact for all correspondence with local and state

governments and the AMA.

f. Ensure the club charter is reviewed and paid annually.

2. Duties of the Vice-President:

a. Aid the President in carrying out the duties of the office whenever possible, and

to fulfill the duties of the President in the event of absence at any meeting.

b. Organize raffles, fun-fly’s, contests, and events.

c. Act as chairman of the program committee.

3. Duties of the Secretary:

a. Keep all records, files, and documents of importance to LFC Inc.

b. Send and receive correspondence for LFC Inc. except as otherwise provided or

required.

c. Take minutes of all meetings, both regular and special, and read those minutes

at the next regular meeting.

d. Keep a book with the By-Laws, leaving every other page blank, so that any

amendment may be entered opposite where recorded.

e. Provide a list of officers and directors to all concerned, including A.M.A. at the

beginning of each year.

4. Duties of the Treasurer:

a. Set up and maintain checking and savings accounts and act as a banker for LFC

Inc.

b. Act as accountant for LFC Inc., with guidance, if necessary, of a certified public

accountant retained by the Board of the LFC.

c. Give a report of the financial condition of LFC Inc. at each regular meeting.

d. Act as chairman of the Finance Committee.

e. Provide a copy of the Club By-Laws and Safety Rules to each new member.

f. Have available an up-to-date membership list for the members of the Club by the

April regular meeting each year. This list may be revised from time to time.

g. Prepare and present an annual budget at the October meeting.

5. Duties of the Safety Officer:

a. Assure the Safety Rules and Safety Regulations are posted at the flying site.

b. Make recommendations as to changes and or additions to the Safety Rules.

c. Act as safety monitor and appoint assistant safety officers.

d. Report on safety problems and provide safety information at regular meetings.

e. Ground and temporarily suspend an individual member who violates the safety

rules from operating his/her aircraft at the LFC Inc. flying site. Such member shall

be grounded for a period of up to seven (7) days by the Safety Officer or assistant

safety officers. Suspensions for longer than seven (7) days will be determined by

the Board of the LFC.

f. Monthly reports of safety violations are to be reported to the Board of the LFC.

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6. Duties of the Property Maintenance Officer:

a. Police the flying field, seeing that it is kept clean.

b. See that the field is mowed as required, and that all runways and taxiways are in

safe and flyable condition at all times.

c. See that equipment normally used be in proper repair and available when

needed.

d. Maintain the frequency board and any other structures at the flying site as

required to meet safety and county codes.

e. Maintain first aid equipment.

f. Purchase supplies as necessary for field maintenance (amount to be determined

by the Board of the LFC).

7. Duties of the Newsletter Editor:

a. See that the newsletter is written and available to all members through the

website at least one week prior to the regular monthly meeting.

b. Make the monthly newsletter available to AMA and District Directors through the

LFC website.

c. Help promote the hobby/sport of aero modeling to the general public.

8. Duties of Chief Flight Instructor

a. Approve designated flight instructors.

b. Approve a flight instruction program for new students.

Article VI

Duties of the Board of the LFC shall include:

1. Fixing the hour and the place of the regular monthly membership meeting.

a. Regular membership meetings to be held once a month at a time and place

suitable and convenient for the majority of the members.

b. The January meeting shall be the official annual meeting.

c. Special membership meetings may be called by the President, if deemed

necessary.

d. A quorum must be present to conduct an official meeting. At least ten (10)

members, including officers, must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum.

e. Voting shall be by voice or show of hands, unless otherwise provided, such as

elections or expulsions.

f. When voting by ballot, the President shall appoint two (2) counters who will be

responsible for passing out and collecting ballots to members in good standing,

tabulating and announcing the results of each vote.

2. Expulsion of members who jeopardize the existence or well being of LFC Inc. or its

flying site will be made by secret ballot. A three-fourths majority vote of the Board of the

LFC is needed to suspend or expel from LFC Inc. All fees will be forfeited.

3. Determine fees and assessments, if any, sufficient to the Club treasury.

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4. Appoint officers from members in good standing to serve as Property Maintenance

Officer, Newsletter Editor, Safety Officer, and Chief Flight Instructor.

5. Appoint a Chief Flight Instructor; approve designated flight instructors and a flight

instruction program for new students.

Article VII

Nominations, Elections, and Vacancies

1. Nominations:

a. Nominating chairman to be appointed by the President no later than the

September membership meeting. Nominating committee will consist of a chair

person and two (2) additional full members in good standing, at large chosen by the

chairman.

b. The nominating committee will present its slate of nominees at the November

meeting. At that time, additional nominations will be taken from any individual

member in good standing. At the conclusion of the November meeting, all

nominations will be closed.

c. The slate of nominees shall be published in the November newsletter and/or

posted on the website.

d. The slate shall consist of nominees for the office of President, Vice-President,

Secretary, Treasurer and four Directors.

e. All candidates must be full members in good standing at the time of the

elections.

2. Elections:

a. Take place at the regular membership meeting in December of each year.

b. Voting to be set by secret ballot by members present. In such case as only one

(1) nominee may be running for office, the secret ballot may be dispensed with and

election of that office conducted by a show of hands.

c. Term of office shall be from January 1 until December 31 of each year.

3. Vacancies:

a. If for any reason an office is vacated during the year, the President may appoint

a temporary replacement.

b. Special nominations and elections will be held at the next regular membership

meeting. Notification of the election will be given in the official monthly newsletter

and/or posted on the website preceding the meeting.

c. If a period of less than four (4) months remain in the term, the Presidential

appointment will be good for the remainder of the term.

Article VIII

Grounding and Expulsion

1. Grounding:

a. Grounding is the loss of flying privileges at the Club flying site.

b. A member may be grounded, for good cause, by the Club Safety Officer or

assistant safety officers.

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c. If a grounding period of more than seven (7) days is recommended by the Safety

Officer, a special board meeting will be called.

2. Reasons for grounding:

a. Violation of Club Safety Rules. Knowledge of Safety Rules is member’s

responsibility.

b. Defacing site or Club property.

c. Attempts by student pilots to fly without the assistance of a designated instructor.

d. Operating an aircraft or conducting oneself in an unsafe manner.

e. Failure to observe designated hours of operation.

3. Grounds for expulsion:

a. Flying or attempting to fly at the Club flying site after having been grounded.

b. Providing non-members access to the Club flying site by disclosing the gate

combination.

c. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs at the Club flying site.

d. Night flying at the Club flying site.

e. Consistent disregard of Flying Safety Rules.

f. Member misconduct during any Club activity, including, but not limited to,

hostility, abusive or derogatory speech or action toward another person. This

includes other members and non-members.

4. Expulsion of member:

a. Written Notice and a written Complaint against a member by US Mail, stating the

facts relevant to alleged misconduct of a member shall be made by the President.

A copy of the Notice and Complaint shall be mailed to each member of the Board of

the LFC at the same time. The Notice shall state that the board will conduct a

Hearing on the Complaint on a specific date, time, and place not less than 12 days

following the date that the Notice and Complaint are mailed. On that date, the

Board of the LFC shall convene and hear all relevant evidence relating to the

Complaint. The Complainant will be allowed to attend and speak at the hearing.

The Board of the LFC will provide a written decision on the Complaint to the

President and the member at the time of the Hearing. The President shall enforce

the decision of the Board.

b. An expelled member will forfeit any and all fees.

Article IX

Amendments and Replacement of Officers

These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting after:

1. The recommendation of the Board of Directors and a 2/3 vote of the members in good

standing at that meeting.

2. By a majority vote of the members in good standing present when the proposed

amendment has been discussed at the previous meeting and published in the monthly

newsletter.

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3. Impeachment of an elected officer may take place upon the recommendation of the

Board of the LFC and a 2/3 vote of the members in good standing present at the general

meeting with publication in the official Club newsletter prior to the meeting.

Article X

Dissolution of The Club

The Club may be dissolved upon recommendation of the Board of the LFC and with the

majority vote of the entire membership in good standing, by written ballot, at a special

meeting called for that purpose. All members must be notified in writing thirty (30) days

prior to such vote. Proxy votes must be received prior to the special meeting by the

Secretary. This is the only time a proxy vote is valid.

In the event of dissolution of LFC Inc., all assets shall be distributed as determined by a

majority vote of the members in good standing present at the special meeting, ninety (90)

days after dissolution.

Adopted 1997; Revised: February 8, 2000; August 2001; December 2001; February 2002;

September 2002; August 2003; January 2004; May 2004; November 2010

Largo Flying Club Safety Rules

1. LFC Inc. members only are allowed to fly at the Club field - guests are permitted three (3)

visits. Temporary memberships are available for out-of-town visitors. Exceptions will be

allowed at public-invited events such as open fun-fly's as determined by the Board of

Directors.

2. New Club members are required to demonstrate their flying ability with the Chief Flight

Instructor before flying at Largo Field.

3. Flying hours are 9AM to sunset for internal combustion powered aircraft Monday through

Friday, 10AM to sunset on Saturday and Sunday. No internal combustions engines started

prior to 9AM Monday through Friday, 10AM Saturday and Sunday. Electric aircraft can fly

dawn to dusk Monday through Sunday. No night flying.

4. All transmitters, including those on 2.4 GHz, will be placed in the impound area and not

removed until member’s LFC membership card or guest’s AMA card is on frequency board,

or when the member or guest is leaving the flying site. Fifteen (15) minutes frequency time

per member or guest. Utilize only one frequency at a time, and remove your card from the

frequency board when you are finished using the frequency.

5. Do not turn on a transmitter unless you have the frequency covered with your club card.

6. Radio frequencies must be indicated on the antenna of the 72 MHz transmitter.

7. ALL aircraft must have owner identification including name, address, and phone number

and/or A.M.A. I.D. number.

8. All new or repaired radios and/or models must be ground-checked and safety inspected

before flight by another competent club member.

9. Engines will be run in pit area only, with propellers facing away from spectators. Limit

engine run time in pit area.

10. ALL pilots using gasoline for fuel MUST have their own fire extinguisher on hand at all times.

11. No taxiing is permitted in the pit area. The aircraft must be carried or rolled by hand to the

taxi-way yellow line. When taxiing toward the pit area after landing, engines must be shut

down at the taxi-way yellow line. This includes electric aircraft.

12. All flying will be done from designated flight stations only. Maximum of three (3) persons at

each pilot station at any time (pilot, instructor, observer)

13. Spectators will be allowed on the flight line only as a guest of a pilot. Only LFC Inc. members

are permitted beyond the flight line and onto the active flying area to retrieve aircraft.

14. No walking is allowed in runway zone except to launch or retrieve aircraft.

15. ALL engines/motors must meet decibel requirements of 94 db at full throttle at 10 feet.

16. Learn and observe field boundaries posted at the field. Do NOT fly directly at the flight line

or pit area. No flying beyond the park grounds is allowed.

17. Any crash outside the flying boundaries will result in revocation of Club flying privileges until

a review is done by the Safety Officer. No exceptions.

18. Land and take off in a safe manner, staying with the flow of traffic.

19. Initial turnout after takeoff will always be away from pit or spectator area.

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20. Flying over or behind flight line is NOT permitted.

21. Landings and takeoffs to be called out loud and clear. If a pilot encounters engine failure

during the flight, he/she should call out loudly, “DEAD STICK”, at which time all other pilots

in the air should fly away from the landing pattern until the pilot with the problem calls out

that they are “CLEAR”. Call out “ON THE FIELD” when retrieving aircraft or proceeding

beyond the flight line.

22. If a full-sized aircraft approaches the area, DESCEND IMMEDIATELY and STAY LOW until said

aircraft departs the area.

23. All student pilots must fly under instructor supervision and preferably on a buddy box, at

the instructor's discretion.

24. Workbenches are intended ONLY for ASSEMBLY, DISASSEMBLY, or REPAIRS. DO NOT STORE

AIRCRAFT ON WORKBENCHES.

25. Launch lines for sailplanes must not be laid across active runway zones.

26. Children and pets must be PERSONNALLY and DIRECTLY supervised.

27. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs at the Club flying site shall result in

expulsion from the Club.

28. Helicopter Operation at Largo Flying Field

a. Helicopters include both electric and internal combustion

b. All hover flight with helicopters will be over the designated area.

c. Helicopters will be tested and must meet the same sound restrictions as airplanes.

d. Helicopters and airplanes must share the same frequency control board.

e. Helicopters may fly from the runway only when they follow the active flight patterns.

f. All other membership/guest rules apply to helicopter pilots.

29. Slow-fly airplanes

a. Slow-fly airplanes in hover flight will fly in the designated area.

b. Slow-fly airplanes not just hovering will fly in active flight pattern.

Adopted 1997; Revised: February 8, 2000; August 2001; December 2001; February 2002;

September 2002; August 2003; January 2004; May 2004; March 2010