Bylaws of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Amateur Radio Support Network
(LCMS-ARSN)
Article I.
The name of this organization shall be the Lutheran Church –Missouri Synod Amateur Radio Support Network, hereinafter referred to as LCMS-ARSN.
Article II. Purpose/Mission
The LCMS-ARSN’s mission is to provide a vital disaster communications link between our congregations and disaster relief organizations like LCMS World Relief and Human Care and the local affiliate of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) . It will add communications capacity to the already existing disaster communications infrastructure, and it will provide additional communication connections to disaster stricken communities in the event of natural and man-made disasters.
As a communications arm of the overall LCMS Disaster response plan, the ARSN carries out its work as part of the Church’s response to disaster. That response represents a commitment and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the Gospel that compels us to assist those affected by a disaster by providing immediate relief and long-term recovery assistance.
Functioning in collaboration with Synod's Department of World Relief & Human Care, the ARSN helps fulfill the LCMSWRHC mandate to provide guidance and direction to districts and congregations as they reach out to their communities through—
• On Site Needs Assessment
• Emergency Disaster Relief Response
• Spiritual Care for professional church workers and church members
• Debriefing for professional church workers, DDRCs, & DDRTs
Also, because we are an association of Amateur Radio operators, the LCMS-ARSN is interested in the advancement of the radio art. We are committed to the improvement of the operator’s skills in communication as well as the technical aspects of the radio art. We wish to increase and foster more efficient and reliable handling and relaying of traffic and exist to assemble an active, reliable group of proficient Amateur Radio operators capable of handling communications during such emergencies as may disrupt other lines of communications.
In furtherance of these purposes; the LCMS-ARSN shall provide educational opportunities and technical advice to members regarding equipment, operating practices and observance of federally mandated operating requirements. It shall maintain a program for public relations and for public information regarding Amateur Radio and it shall assist those wishing to become Amateur Radio operators by helping them find local licensing resources and provide technical information/suggestions as requested, to the extent available among the knowledge pool of its membership.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. General conditions of membership.
A. The LCMS-ARSN does not discriminate against any person based on any basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
B. Members have the freedom to discontinue membership at any time.
Section 2. Classes of membership.
There shall be the following classes of members:
A. Regular members. Regular members have an association with an LCMS congregation and hold a valid and active Amateur Radio license as issued by the Federal Communications Commission. They shall be considered active in the programs of the LCMS-ARSN by participating in at least six EchoLink nets during the course of a year. Regular members have all the rights of membership.
B. Auxiliary members. Auxiliary members are those who have an interest in the purposes of the LCMS-ARSN, but do not have an association with an LCMS congregation or have not as yet acquired their Amateur Radio license. They shall be considered active in the programs of the LCMS-ARSN by communicating their desire to be an auxiliary member via Email to the Secretary or designated representative. Auxiliary members shall be non-voting members.
Section 3. Qualifications for membership.
Those having an association with a congregation of the LCMS while being in sympathy with the purpose and mission of the LCMS-ARSN shall be eligible for regular or auxiliary membership. Those not having an association with a congregation of the LCMS shall be eligible for auxiliary membership.
Section 4. Removal and resignation.
A. A member in good standing may resign in good standing by sending a letter of resignation to the secretary.
B. Members not connecting for at least six EchoLink Nets in a calendar year shall be automatically dropped from membership in the LCMS-ARSN.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Officers.
The elected officers of the LCMS-ARSN shall be president, vice-president,
secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2. Duties.
A. President.
The president shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the LCMS-ARSN, both regular and special;
2. Appoint chairmen to all committees, except as stated in these bylaws;
3. Be an ex officio member of all committees;
4. Perform such other duties as assigned by the LCMS-ARSN.
B. Vice President.
The vice-president shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the LCMS-ARSN in the absence of the president;
2. Be the program chairman, which includes the duty of arranging a virtual location for the general membership meetings;
3. Perform such other duties as assigned by the LCMS-ARSN.
C. Secretary.
The secretary shall:
1. Keep a record of the proceedings of the virtual and real meetings of the membership and the executive board;
2. Produce and distribute all publicity for LCMS-ARSN events;
3. File and preserve all publicity materials from past events;
4. Make available a copy of the minutes of the LCMS-ARSN and executive board meetings to the president in a timely manner;
5. Write official LCMS-ARSN correspondence under the direction of the president;
6. Perform such other duties as assigned by the LCMS-ARSN.
D. Treasurer.
The treasurer shall:
1. Receive all moneys belonging to the LCMS-ARSN and deposit the same in its account;
2. Pay bills approved by the executive board and render a written report at LCMS-ARSN and executive board meetings;
3. Present copies of all financial reports to the president and secretary;
4. Sign all warrants.
5. Perform such other duties as assigned by the LCMS-ARSN.
Section 3. Election of Officers.
A. Qualifications.
The LCMS-ARSN shall have only people who are members in good standing of LCMS congregations as its officers. Good standing shall be defined as having the written endorsement of their pastor.
B. Timing.
The officers shall be elected by ballot at a virtual meeting held in December of each year to serve for one year or until successors are elected and assume office. Their term of office shall begin on the first day of January the
following year.
C. Quorum.
The quorum for election meetings of the LCMS-ARSN shall be three regular members. Any candidate receiving a simple majority shall be considered elected.
D. Additional ballots.
In the event that a candidate does not receive a majority of the votes cast, a second ballot listing only the two candidates receiving a plurality of the votes cast will be conducted. A majority shall elect.
E. Affirmation.
If there is only one nominee for an office, election may be by affirmation.
Section 4. Vacancy in Office.
A vacancy in office shall be filled, by a majority vote, at a regular or special meeting, for which notice of the vacancy has been given, except the office of president, which shall be filled by the vice-president.
Section 5. Term of Office.
No member shall hold more than one office at a time and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. Any part of a term in excess of four months shall be considered a full term.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings shall be held every week on EchoLink, January through December, unless otherwise ordered by the membership. Connection with the meeting shall be through use of one of the following nodes:
| Node |
Call/Name |
Location |
| 426188 | KD7HLQ-L, Rick Scholz, | Anthem, AZ |
Alternate connections:
| ++++++ |
++++++ |
++++++ |
| 396696 | KI6SMN, Philip Zabell, | Artois, CA |
| 396541 | K4AFN, Charles Campbell, | Sierra Vista, AZ |
These meetings shall consist of the ARSN Em Comm Net held according to regular Amateur Radio protocol except for those times when a specific item of business requires the vote of the membership.The president shall determine the time of these virtual meetings.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Special virtual meetings may be called by the president or upon the written request of five (5) members of the LCMS-ARSN. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. Except in cases of emergency, at least five (5) days’ notice shall be given to all members by Email. Except when indicated via Email notification, the meeting connection shall be the same as that of the regular meetings.
Section 3. Annual and Semi-annual Meetings.
The annual meeting will be held in December of each year with the primary purpose being that of electing officers for the upcoming year and to set the rate for the regular membership and auxiliary membership dues. The semi-annual meeting will be held in June and address whatever business is needed at that time.
Each of these meetings will be conducted according to the more formal agenda which follows, while the regular NETs and special meetings will be less formal in nature.
1. Call to order, including an opening prayer
2. Conducting of a NET "check-in" by the Secretary to verify those in attendance and to establish a quorum.
3. Call for identification of any visitors.
4. Reading and approval of the minutes of either the annual or semi-annual meeting as well as any official actions conducted during one of the regular NETs or special meetings which have taken place during the interim. This shall be accomplished by referring to the printed minutes which have been Emailed to the membership prior to the meeting.
5. Presentation of the treasurer’s report noting the balance of funds available as well as notation concerning funds expended in excess of $200. This shall be accomplished by referring to the report which has been Emailed to the membership prior to the meeting.
6. Reports from the Executive Board
7. Reports from any committees
8. Receiving of new regular and associate members.
9. Old business (including unfinished actions from the NET or special meetings)
10. New business
11. Election of officers if it is the annual meeting
12. Induction of officers if it is the annual meeting
13. Program presentation, if any
14. Adjournment with a closing prayer or benediction by the person appointed to that duty.
The above sequence may be modified at the discretion of the presiding officer.
Section 4. Quorum.
The quorum for regular meetings, special meetings, and annual and semi-annual meetings of the LCMS-ARSN shall be three regular members, provided that at least two officers have checked in to the NET.
Article VI. Executive Board
Section 1. Composition.
The executive board shall consist of the elected officers of the LCMS-ARSN.
Section 2. Responsibilities.
The executive board shall have the power to conduct the business of the organization except that which is retained by the membership as provided by these bylaws.
Section 3. Meetings.
A. Regular meetings. Executive board virtual meetings shall be held at least once a month using the same means of connection as described in Article V, Section 1 unless circumstances require an alternate means. Should an alternate method be employed, executive board members will be notified via Email as soon prior to the meeting as is possible. Examples of alternate means would be telephone conference call or over the air HF connection. These would be employed when there is substantive reason for not using the regular EchoLink connection.
B. Special meetings. Special meetings of the executive board may be called by the president or any two other officers. Except in cases of emergency, at least five (5) days notice shall be given to all executive board members by Email.
Section 4. Quorum.
A majority of the executive board members shall constitute a quorum.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1. Creation.
Standing or special committees may be created by the membership and by the executive board as necessary.
Section 2. Appointment.
Except as provided elsewhere in these bylaws, the president shall appoint the chairmen and members of standing and special committees with the approval of the executive board.
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LCMS-ARSN in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the LCMS-ARSN may adopt.
Article IX. Dissolution
Section 1. Should the LCMS-ARSN acquire any assets and it be necessary to cease and dissolve operation, those assets shall be distributed to Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Relief and Human Care. In the case where this is not possible, those assets shall be distributed to a 501c3 organization as defined by that section of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.
Article X. Amendments/Revisions/Review
Section 1. Amendements.
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote providing the amendment has been submitted to the membership via Email at least two weeks prior to the virtual meeting where the amendment is being considered for adoption.
Section 2. Effective date of amendment.
Amendments to these bylaws shall take effect at the adjournment of the virtual meeting at which they are adopted unless otherwise provided.
Section 3. Bylaw Review.
Every other year, at the semi-annual meeting, these bylaws will be reviewed as a reminder to the membership of their content and to verify they continue to represent the actions and purpose of the LCMS-ARSN.
