The following are the by-laws of the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association. For a downloadable Word document please click here.
ARTICLE 1: PRINCIPLES
Section 1 – Name
1.1.1 The club’s name shall be the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association, and may be called HARA [pronounced: ‘hãra]
Section 2 – Preamble
1.2.1 The Huntsville Area Rocketry Association herein referred to as HARA is a non-profit volunteer organization of professional, technical, educational and lay persons engaged in the promotion, creation, and implementation of sport rocketry.
Section 3 – Purpose
1.3.1 To develop the educational spirit of the members and to promote sport rocketry as a tools towards the understanding of mathematics and the physical sciences.
1.3.2 To provide opportunities for development of leadership, managerial, engineering and aerospace science skills through firsthand experimentation and research.
1.3.3 To encourage the spirit of learning, unity and cooperation among members, other organizations and the community.
1.3.4 To promote technical excellence in the community through HARA-related civic activities.
1.3.5 To have fun and provide a safe environment for sport rocketry activities.
ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – Eligibility
2.1.1 All Interested persons are eligible for membership and participation in HARA activities.
Section 2 – Types of Memberships
2.2.1 Members of HARA shall be defined as one of two types: Individual or Family.
2.2.2 An Individual is sixteen (16) years old or older, and has full privileges and voting rights.
2.2.3 A Family includes all flying members of the immediate family (spouse and children). They have full privileges but count only as one vote. Children are included until their 19th birthday, and from their 19th birthday until their 25th birthday, provided they remain continuous dependent upon their parents for their principal support.
Section 3 – Member Responsibilities
2.3.1 All HARA members will conform to and conduct all rocket activities in compliance with the Codes, Standards, Safety and Procedures set by the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) and any higher State and/or Federal agency having jurisdiction.
2.3.2 High Power Rocket flying members will be required to hold and maintain a membership and appropriate certification level issued by NAR or TRA.
2.3.3 Low Power Rocket (LPR) flying members do not require a NAR or TRA membership.
Section 4 – Exclusion
2.4.1 This article provides for the enforcement of the safety rules that are related to flying activities and any other unacceptable behavior by and individual member or members, as may be determined by the HARA officers.
2.4.2 Any member or officer may be summarily dismissed from the rights and privileges of HARA by joint recommendation and three-fourths majority vote of the listed membership.
2.4.3 The HARA officers shall have discretionary authority to provide for and to impose disciplinary action for such acts or omissions, which do not justify expulsion from membership.
2.4.4 Any member who is expelled from membership may be reinstated to membership only by two- thirds vote of the HARA officers.
ARTICLE 3: OFFICERS
Section 1 – Officers:
3.1.1 The officers of HARA shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, NAR Advisor, and TRA Prefect.
3.1.2 All officers shall serve one year terms beginning on February 1 of each year.
Section 2 – Eligibility:
3.2.1 Any nominee for officer, with the exception of the position of President, shall have been a member of HARA for not less than one year, and be a NAR or TRA member in good standing.
3.2.2 Any nominee for the position of President shall have been a member of HARA for not less than two years, and be a NAR or TRA member in good standing.
3.2.3 Any nominee for the position of NAR Advisor or TRA Prefect may also serve in the position of Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. Neither may serve as President concurrent with their NAR or TRA role since the President represents all HARA members regardless of national affiliation.
3.2.4 Any nominee for the position of TRA Prefect must be a member of TRA for not less than one year and in good standing prior to becoming Prefect, and hold no lower than a level two certification.
3.2.5 Serving as an elected officer of any National Rocketry Organization does not, by itself, limit the eligibility to serve as an officer in HARA.
Section 3 – Duties of Officers:
3.3.1 HARA President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside over regular HARA meetings, represent HARA in regards to local, state, and national events, educational engagements, and demonstrations. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, and perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.
3.3.2 Vice-President: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside in the absence of the President, and serve as an ex-officio member of the annual sport rocketry launch committee known as Southern Thunder on years that the responsibility of organizing the event belong to HARA.
3.3.3 Secretary: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record the minutes of all meetings, keep a file of the club’s records, and maintain a current roster of the club’s membership.
3.3.4 Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to maintain the records of the HARA bank account, approve all monetary transactions, and deliver a yearly ‘Statement of Account’ at either the January or February meeting. The treasurer shall serve as an ex-officio member of the annual sport rocketry launch committee known as Southern Thunder on years that the responsibility of organizing the event belong to HARA.
3.3.5 NAR Advisor: It shall be the duty of the NAR Advisor to serve as the primary liaison between HARA and NAR Headquarters, ensure that NAR policies and safety codes are followed, assist HARA members in finding and utilizing available NAR resources, and provide NAR with information regarding HARA as requested. Additionally, the NAR Advisor will promote involvement in NAR activities, properly certify other NAR members, diligently report exam results and certification advancements. The NAR Advisor will agree to act in the interests of NAR at all times and will remember that he/she represents NAR, its policies, and its Trustees.
3.3.6 TRA Prefect: It shall be the duty of the TRA Prefect to properly certify other TRA members, to diligently report exam results and certification advancements, and to see that all HARA launches designated as TRA launches follow the TRA Safety Code. The Prefect will agree to act in the interests of Tripoli at all times and will remember that he/she represents Tripoli, Tripoli’s policies, and Tripoli’s Board of Directors.
Section 4 – Vacancies of Officers:
3.4.1 Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by a nomination and two-thirds vote at a regular or special meeting called for said purpose.
ARTICLE 4: DUES AND FINANCES
Section 1 – Dues
4.1.1 Dues for the membership year for individuals and families shall be fixed at the first HARA meeting of the calendar year by the incumbent officers and approved by a two thirds vote of those HARA members present and voting.
4.1.2 Dues are separate and distinct from those monies paid for memberships to NAR or TRA.
4.1.3 Membership renewals are always the amount of the annual dues.
4.1.4 The membership year will run the first of March to the end of February.
4.1.5 Dues are payable at the first of March 1 of each year.
Section 2 – Finances
4.2.1 HARA shall maintain a checking account for the purpose of paying club expenses.
4.2.2 A savings account may be established for the purpose of capital purchases and must be approved by quorum prior to its establishment.
4.2.3 All bank accounts must be held by FDIC insured institutions.
4.2.4 All HARA expenses shall be paid by check, debit card, or other reputable payment methods. All such payment methods will ultimately draw funds from the Club’s checking account.
4.2.5 Budgeted expenses are considered to be pre-approved and do not require quorum approval provided they do not exceed the total amount for that budget item.
4.2.6 All non-budgeted expenses must be approved by a quorum.
4.2.7 All expense reimbursements shall be approved by quorum and must be accompanied by transaction receipts.
4.2.8 Checks shall only be written for the documented amount on the receipt or invoice.
4.2.9 All checks will be drafted by the HARA treasurer. In the event, the treasurer is unavailable, the president may, in an emergency, draft checks for the Club.
4.2.10 Cash may be withdrawn via check or debit card for a maximum total of $100.00 and only with prior quorum approval. The cash must only be used for making change and must be re- deposited with the other received funds.
ARTICLE 5: COMMITTEES
Section 1 – Committees
5.1.1 Committees may be formed as deemed necessary to perform a special function.
5.1.2 Each committee shall be headed by a Chair who reports to the officers of HARA.
5.1.3 The Chair shall be responsible for preparing an initial budget to be approved by quorum.
Section 2 – Southern Thunder Launch Committee
5.2.1 HARA shall host an annual sport rocketry event, known as Southern Thunder, every year in the month of June.
5.2.2 A Chair shall be appointed to plan and manage Southern Thunder.
5.2.3 The Chair shall present a final accounting of all funds received and fees paid to the HARA Treasurer within 30 days of the close Southern Thunder.
Section 3 – Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) Workshop
5.3.1 HARA shall to the extent reasonable host TARC workshops open for local schools.
5.3.2 A chair shall be appointed to plan and carry out TARC workshops.
ARTICLE 6: ELECTIONS
Section 1 – Nominations
6.1.1 Eligible candidates shall be nominated at the last meeting of the calendar year and the first meeting of the new calendar year for regular elections.
6.1.2 Nomination for all elections shall be made from the floor.
Section 2 – Proceedings
6.2.1 HARA shall hold elections for officers at the first regular meeting of the new calendar year.
6.2.2 A candidate shall be elected to office if he/she receives a majority of votes cast by HARA members present.
6.2.3 Votes shall be cast by show of hands. No voting by proxy or absentee ballot shall be permitted on any matter presented to the HARA membership for a vote.
Section 3 – Special Elections
6.3.1 Vacancies in office shall be filled by nomination and election of a HARA member to fill the unexpired term of the office at the regular meeting which the vacancy is announced.
ARTICLE 7: MEETINGS
Section 1 – Regular meetings
7.1.1 Regular HARA meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of every month.
7.1.2 Time and place is to be specified clearly in advance and posted to the HARA website.
Section 2 – Special Meetings
7.2.1 Club Officers may call special meetings with no less than 5 days prior written notice, and the purpose of the special meetings shall be stated in the written notification.
Section 3 – Quorum
7.3.1 A majority of the HARA officers shall constitute a Quorum for the transaction of all HARA business.
ARTICLE 8: CHARTERS
Section 1 – NAR Charter
8.1.1 HARA is chartered by the National Association of Rocketry, and is NAR Section Number 403. Provisions of the charter require the safe operation of all rocketry-related activities by all members. The NAR Safety Code is to be followed at all times.
Section 2 – TRA Charter
8.2.1 HARA is recognized as a prefecture #80 of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. Provisions of the charter require the safe operation of all rocketry-related activities by all members. The TRA Safety Code is to be followed at all HARA designated as TRA commercial or research launches.
ARTICLE 9: AMENDMENTS
Section 1 – Amendments
9.1.1 These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of those HARA members present and voting at any HARA meeting.
9.1.2 Written notice of the pending amendment shall be sent to the membership not less than seven days in advance of such meeting.