By-laws
Küttigen, February 8, 2014
Notice: The terms and functions listed in these by-laws are intended for both genders even if masculine terminology is used.
Section 1
Name, Legal address and Purpose
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Article 1
Name
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The HELVETIA TELEGRAPHY CLUB (hereafter referred to as the HTC) is club as defined in Article 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code. The HTC is an association of individuals with a common interest in amateur radio and who promote the use of Morse Code.
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Article 2
Legal address
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The home of the presiding president is also the legal address of the HTC |
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Article 3
Purpose
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The purpose of the HTC is to promote and encourage the use of Morse Code as an operating mode in amateur radio through, among other things: |
| a) | Operation of a club station. | |
| The license for the operation of the club station is administered by the President. | ||
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b)
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Training broadcasts and courses that make it possible to learn and improve Morse Code skills
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c)
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Observance of license rules and regulations plus IARU rules.
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d)
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Maintaining camaraderie and fellowship, in particular "ham spirit" in its traditional meaning.
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e)
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Exchanging knowledge and mutual assistance to get hams excited about homebrewing
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| f) | (building and modifying radios is a special privilege given to amateur radio operators). | |
| Protecting the interests of Morse Code in amateur radio. |
Section 2
Bodies within the HTC
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Article 4
Annual General Meeting
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The Annual General Meeting is the supreme authority of the HTC. It takes place annually in the first quarter of the calendar year.
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Article 5
Convening
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The Annual General Meeting is called for in writing by the Board of Directors or if at least one-fifth of all members demand one, and at least one month beforehand the agenda must be announced
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Article 6
Responsibilities
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The Annual General Meeting handles the following business:
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a)
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Approval of the annual reports from the members of the Board of Directors and
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| releases them from further responsibilities in those matters. | ||
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b)
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Approval of the Treasurer's Report and the Audit Report and thus releases those
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| c) | Changes in membership | |
| d) | Election of the members of the Board of Directors, the Auditors and the delegates to | |
| the USKA Delegates Meeting. | ||
| e) | Determination of the membership dues. | |
| f) | Discussing and making decisions regarding other motions of the Board of Directors | |
| g) | USKA business: This is merely discussed for the purpose of forming an opinion, without a resolution / recommendation. Only members who are also USKA members are entitled to vote on USKA matters. These HTC members exercise their voting and election rights via the USKA votation. | |
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Article 7
Submission deadline
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Motions from members to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting must be submitted to the President in writing by December 15.
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Article 8
Board of Directors
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The Board of Directors consists of these offices: President, Secretary, Treasurer, ECM (EUCW Communications Manager) and Webmaster. As required, the Board can be expanded or reduced in size by a decision of the Annual General Meeting
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Article 9
Running business
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The Board of Directors conducts running business. For tasks with short deadlines, working groups consisting of members of the club can be formed to support the Board of Directors.
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Article 10
Signing authority
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The Board of Directors have dual signing authority; normally the President and another member of the Board of Directors.
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Article 11
Auditors
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The members at the Annual General Meeting elect two Auditors from among the members. The Auditors review the financial records of and accounting for the HTC and submit a report to the Annual General Meeting.
The term of office for an Auditor is four years. Auditors may be re-elected.
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Section 3
Membership
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Article 12
Application for membership
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An application to join the club is made by submitting a request to join or by filling out a registration form on the HTC website. A member may join at any time of year.
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Article 13
Membership classes
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The HTC has the following classes of members:
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a)
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Full Members
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b)
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Foreign Members
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c)
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Honorary Member
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Article 14
Full Members
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Full Members are radio amateurs and SWLs with a mailing address in Switzerland or Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Full Members have the right to vote for officers and on issues brought before the club. Full Members who are also USKA members also have full rights to vote for offices and issues related to USKA. Full Members have full access to HTC-internal content on the HTC website.
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Article 15
Foreign Members
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Foreign Members are radio amateurs and SWLs who live outside Switzerland and have no mailing address in Switzerland or Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Foreign Members do not have the right to vote for officers or issues brought before the club. Foreign Members have full access to HTC-internal content on the HTC website. |
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Article 17
Exclusion
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Applications for membership can be deferred or denied without providing any reasons.
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Article 16
Acceptance
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Acceptance of applications for Full Members and Foreign Members are processed by the Board of Directors and these are confirmed at the Annual General Meeting. | |
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Article 18
Membership number
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Each member receives a membership number. Once a number has been assigned, it remains with that individual and cannot be reassigned.
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Article 19
USKA membership
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The HTC is a section of USKA. Individual HTC members are free to choose if they wish to be USKA members or not.
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Article 21
Honorary Members
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Honorary Members are those individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the HTC or to promote CW as an operating mode within amateur radio.
Honorary Members normally do not normally have the right to vote on officers or issues brought before the club although Full Members who are elevated to the status of Honorary Member retain their right to vote.
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Article 22
Appointment
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Honorary Members are appointed at the Annual General Meeting following a motion by the Board of Directors.
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Article 23
Termination of membership
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Membership is terminated upon:
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a)
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A written declaration of intention to leave the club sent to the Annual General Meeting.
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b)
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An expulsion decision made by the Board of Directors for non-payment of the membership fee or by a gross violation of ham spirit and the goals of the HTC.
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c)
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An expulsion requested by the Board of Directors must be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting.
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d)
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Members who leave or have been expelled from the club have no claim to any of the club's assets.
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Article 24
Appeals
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Applicants who are denied membership as determined by the decision of the club members can appeal the decision in writing within one month, sending this to the Board of Directors and to be addressed at the next Annual General Meeting. The decision of the members at the Annual General Meeting is final and cannot be appealed.
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Section 4
Funds and Obligations
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Article 25
Club funds
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The funds needed to operate the HTC are acquired through:
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a)
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Annual membership dues from Full Members and Foreign Members
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b)
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Donations
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c)
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Proceeds from events
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d)
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Income from club assets
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e)
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Sale of property that has been handed over to the HTC Compensation to those who donate equipment or other capital assets is made according to internal HTC guidelines.
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Article 26
Exemptions from membership dues
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Members of the Board of Directors, Honorary Members and the two Auditors are not required to pay membership dues. For members living in the same household, the first pays the dues as a Full Member and the others pay 50 percent.
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Article 27
Liability
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The maximum annual membership dues may not exceed CHF 80.00. Liability for the club's obligations consists solely of the club's assets. Any personal liability or reserve liability on behalf of the members is excluded.
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Section 5
Revisions to the by-laws or dissolution of the HTC
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Article 28.
Changes to by-laws, dissolution of the club
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The members at the Annual General Meeting can, at any time and with a three-quarters majority of votes from members present, revise the by-laws or approve the dissolution of the HTC if a motion has been made to do so.
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Article 29.
Regulations concerning successor organization
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If the HTC is dissolved, once all obligations have been covered, any remaining assets are handed over to USKA for safekeeping. If a successor organisation with identical goals as recognized by USKA is not established within five years of the formal dissolution of the HTC, half of the remaining assets are to be turned over to USKA and the other half to the Swiss Red Cross.
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Section 6
Final provisions
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Article 30.
Entry into force
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These by-laws were approved at the Annual General Meeting on February 8, 2014, and entered into force immediately.
They supersede all previous by-laws.
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Küttigen, Februar 18, 2023
IN THE NAME OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
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President
Hugo Huber
HB9AFH / HTC056
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Cashier
Robert Sutter
HB9KOG/ HTC1003
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