(Tentative, pending review by Oakland County Legal Department)

BYLAWS OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY

AMATEUR RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS

December, 2007

ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1: Name The name of the organization shall be the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corp. (OCARPSC).

Section 2: Purpose:  The purpose of the Organization is to promote and provide amateur radio service for communication activities through the Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P) or other authorized organizations.

Section 3: Authorization:  The OCARPSC operates under the auspices of the Oakland County, Michigan, Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness.

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership The membership shall consist of three types and two classifications.

Types:

a)     Full Membership: Available for all licensed Amateur Radio Operators who are 18 years of age or older and who have successfully passed the Oakland County Criminal Background Check.

b) Associate Membership: Available for those licensed Amateur Radio Operators who are    under 18 years of age and have met all other requirements.

c)  Outside Agency Liaison Membership. This is an interface between outside agencies and Oakland County ARPSC. (Outside agencies are defined as federal, state or local governmental agencies and local amateur radio clubs.) These persons may also be regular members of Oakland County ARPSC.

Classifications:

a) ARES Membership: ARES membership shall be limited to those who are members of the Oakland County ARPSC.

b) RACES Membership: Races membership shall be limited to members of Oakland County ARPSC who have completed the appropriate Federal and State requirements and successfully passed an Oakland County Sherrif’s Criminal Background Check.

Section 2: Identification Cards: Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness will issue appropriate membership cards for qualified ARES and RACES personnel.

 Section.3: Membership Records: The Membership Coordinator shall keep a current membership list showing type of membership, name, call sign, address and other pertinent information.

Section 4: Voting Rights: Each member and Associate member shall have one (1) vote. Section 5: Dues: There shall be no membership dues assessed.

Section 6: Termination:  

a)                          A member ceasing to meet eligibility requirements or who shall resign shall be removed from the membership records.

b)                         B) Members who are inactive for more than one (1) year may be placed on the inactive membership list and if inactive for two (2) consecutive years may be dropped from the membership record.

c)                         Members who currently have not passed an Oakland County Sherrif’s Criminal Background Check.

d)                         A member may be removed with due cause by a majority vote of the ARPSC Executive Board membership.

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS

Section 1; Regular Meetings: Meetings shall be held at least semi-annually for the general membership. Notice of the regular meetings shall be sent at least ten (10) days in advance.

Section 2: Executive Board Meetings: Meetings shall be held on the First Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm for the Executive Board members. Notice of regular Board meetings shall be sent at least five (5) days in advance. Meeting days and times may be changed by a vote of the Executive Board.

Section 3: Quorum: A quorum of the Executive Board shall be at least three (3) members of the Executive Board as designated in the Officer Description section.

Section 4: Procedure: The agenda and procedure of all meetings shall be governed by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Members holding the positions of Emergency Coordinator, Assistant Emergency Coordinator and Specialty Officer will make up the Executive Board.

Section 1: Officers: The officers shall include an Executive Board consisting of an Emergency Coordinator, Assistant Emergency Coordinators, and Specialty Officers as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Section 2: Emergency Coordinator: The Emergency Coordinator shall preside at all meetings and have the authority to appoint committees and task forces as deemed necessary. The Emergency Coordinator shall have and exercise general charge and supervision of the affairs of the Organization.  The Emergency Coordinator will coordinate activities with the Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness.

Section 3:Assistant Emergency Coordinator: Shall act as operational assistant to the Emergency Coordinator during disasters/emergencies. Coordinates with all other ARPSC groups within Oakland County. At the request of the Emergency Coordinator or in the event of the Emergency Coordinator's absence, an Assistant Emergency Coordinator shall perform the duties and possess and exercise the powers of the Emergency Coordinator.

Section 4: Specialty Officer for  Logistics:  Shall coordinate the purchase of new equipment with the County, Shall assist in the maintenance of the existing communications equipment. Shall coordinate the placement and operation of necessary equipment for disaster communications (generators, antennas, & etc). Shall maintain an equipment inventory list.

Section 5: Specialty Officer for  ARPSC Net Management:  Coordinates, supervises and schedules the Thursday night Net operations. Recruits and trains additional Net control Operators.  Shall maintain Net operations and records.

Section 6; Specialty Officer for Severe Weather Warning Siren System: Coordinates, supervises and schedules the monthly siren checks and training as appropriate.

Section 7: Specialty Officer – Secretary: The Secretary shall take minutes of meetings, maintain records of meetings and other activities as required.

Section 8: Specialty Officer for Membership: Shall keep and update as necessary a current file of members in the organization. Shall review all new applications and coordinate with Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness on the issuing of ID cards  Shall coordinate and may activate telephone calling tree for disaster notification.

Section 9: Specialty Officer for Training:  Shall develop, coordinate and implement membership training.

Section 10: Specialty Officer for  National Traffic System:  Shall maintain a liaison with the National Traffic System. Shall coordinate incoming and outgoing traffic stations during disasters. Shall coordinate an active listing of trained traffic handling amateur operators who can interface with local nets. Coordinates with the Training Coordinator on message handling training.

Section 11: Specialty Officer for Volunteer Agency Liaison:  Shall maintain liaison between ARPSC and other volunteer agencies. Shall supervise and establish communication links between ARPSC and other volunteer agencies (i.e., Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc).  including local Amateur Radio clubs.

Section 12: Specialty Officer for Packet:  Shall establish standards and protocols for the use of packet message handling during disasters and training exercises. Shall act as an advisor for packet radio use for Oakland County ARPSC.

 Section 15 Specialty Officer for Hospital Radio Systems:  Works with hospital staff and EOC staff for installation of radios.  Programs all hospital radios to common frequencies. Establishes and maintains participants for hospital radio net system.

 Section 16. Emergency and Assistant Emergency Coordinator Tenure:

Members appointed to the Executive Board positions will hold these positions for a period of two years. At the end of this period, they may re-apply for their same position, or for any other position for which they feel qualified. All positions are to be submitted to the Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness Officer after being approved by the Emergency Coordinator.

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS

The Oakland County ARPSC may amend, alter, or repeal any of the Bylaws at any general membership meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, providing that notice of the proposed amendments is submitted to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. This material must also be submitted to the professional staff of the Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness in a timely manner.

 Procedure for submission:

1.     submit changes to Executive Board for review and approval

2.     submit changes to ER&P staff for review and approval

3.     request changes, comments, etc., at next regular Board meeting

4.     submit for vote at general membership meeting.

The Oakland County ARPSC may amend, alter, or repeal any of these Bylaws at any general membership meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of eligible members present, provided that notice of the proposed amendments is provided at least ten (10) days in advance to the general membership, its officers and the Oakland County Office of Emergency Response and Preparedness.