OUR STORY

Contributer Larry E. Price - W4RA- Slient Key

When I moved to Statesboro 45 years ago there was a radio club, the Georgia Southern College Radio Club with Ms. Beth Hardy of the Math department as the faculty advisor. Since Beth (now retired) was not a radio amateur and I was, I became the faculty advisor. The name was changed to the Georgia Southern AREA amateur radio club to signify it was open to all in the community and surrounding area, not just GSU. Meetings were held on campus though and not many came who were not directly connected with GSU (ok, it was then GSC). One reason given was parking problems, another was it made non-GSU folks feel ‘second class.’ The colors of the radio club then were Blue and White, same as the athletic teams. It was the GSU radio club that became the sponsor of message handling and amateur radio display at the Ogeechee Fairgrounds every fall. The FCC issued special call signs for many of those events such as: WC4GSC - October 1968 and October 1969. KF4GSC - October 1970. KY4CD - October 1971. KT4OF - October 1972. The club also operated WE4SUN from the roof of the Fine Arts building on March 7, 1970 during the rare total Solar Eclipse which cut a swath across the Southeastern United States. Parker Bishop (retired GSU professor of Physics, now N4PB) was one of the roof-top operators. All of our operations were sanctioned by the GSC public relations department who paid for printing our QSL cards, for mailing literally thousands of cards from our special operations and for printing and mailing our newsletters. We also created a popular on-the-air operating award called W-10-U for QSLing 10 University club stations. We issued over several years quite a few of this nicely printed 8 x 11 inch Goes engraved certificate complete with the gold seal of the club. Smitty, then WA4SSC, was an employee of the GSC plant department and in charge of helping us set up special operations. J. Curtis Lewis (owner of WJCL-TV in Savannah) [mentioned last night by the STARS guest speaker] donated surplus coax and some miscellaneous parts to the club (I personally went to the TV station on Abercorn and picked up the donated material). But, we didn’t have 2 meter repeaters in the club. STARS was formed, as I recall, by a group who thought repeaters were cool and that the club should not be on-campus. So, there is a long history of amateur radio in Statesboro before STARS. Since I am not a native, someone like Marshall ( ex- K4MEF, now W4IS) would have to fill in the blanks of life before STARS. Larry, W4RA Trustee: N4ITU, Trustee W4YM

CONSTITUTION

We, the undersigned, wishing to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons commonly interested in Amateur Radio, constitute ourselves the Statesboro Amateur Radio Society and enact this Constitution as our governing law. It shall be our purpose to further the exchange of information and cooperation between members, to promote radio knowledge, fraternalism and individual operating efficiency, and to so conduct club programs and activities as to advance the general interest and welfare of Amateur Radio in our community.

Article I: MEMBERSHIP

All persons interested in Amateur Radio communication shall be eligible for membership. Membership shall be by application and election upon such terms as the club shall provide in its Policy Manual.

Article II: OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of this Society, constituting the Board of Directors, are as follows: a) President, b) Vice-President, c) Secretary, d) Treasurer, e) Directors as defined in the Policy Manual.
Section 2: The officers of this Society shall be elected for a term of one (1) year by ballot of the members present, provided there is a quorum, at the annual meeting.
Section 3: Vacancies occurring between elections must be filled by special election at the first regular meeting following the withdrawal or resignation.
Section 4: Officers may be removed by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the membership.

Article III: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: PRESIDENT: Shall be the chief executive officer; shall, in general, supervise and control the business of the society. Shall preside at all Board and Membership meetings; be empowered to sign, together with another officer, any instruments authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 2: VICE PRESIDENT: In the absence or inability to serve of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice-President shall also perform such duties as are assigned by the President or the Board of Directors and any duties as stated in the Policy Manual.
Section 3: SECRETARY: The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, keep a roll of members and any other duties as stated in the Policy Manual.Section
4: TREASURER: Shall give notice and collect monies due to the Society, depositing the same in such bank as designated by the Board of Directors; shall pay all legitimate bills, by check; shall perform all such other duties as are normally expected of the office or as assigned by the President, Board of Directors, and the Policy Manual.
Section 5: BOARD OF DIRECTORS: These officers shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the President, Board of Directors, and Policy Manual.

Article IV: MEETINGS

The Policy Manual shall provide for regular and special meetings. At meetings, a minimum of one fourth (1/4) of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article V: DUES

The Society, by majority vote of those present at any regular meeting, may levee upon the general membership such dues or assessments as shall be deemed necessary for the business of the organization. Non-payment of such dues by March 1 of each year shall be cause to be removed from the membership roll.

Article VI: MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE

The Society, through designated interference, public relations and operating committees, will provide technical advice to members concerning equipment design and operation to assist in frequency observance, clean signals, uniform practice and absence of spurious radiations from club member-stations. The Society shall also maintain a program to foster and guide public relations.

Article VII: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total membership. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing at a regular meeting, provided all members have been notified by mail of the intent to amend the Constitution at said meeting.

POLICY MANUAL

1. SECRETARY:

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society and have the same with him/her at every meeting. He/she shall note all amendments, changes and additions on the Constitution and shall permit it to be consulted by members upon request.

2. MEMBERSHIP:

Full membership is open to licensed amateurs. Associate memberships are open to those actively engaged in a class leading to an amateur radio license and all other interested persons. Full membership includes all club privileges as well as rights to hold a Society office and to vote for Society officers. Associate membership includes all club privileges except for the right to hold office and vote for club officers. Applications for membership shall be submitted at regular meetings.

3. MEETINGS:

Regular meetings shall be held on the second (2nd) Thursday of each calendar month. Special meetings may be called by the President upon the written request of any five club members. Notices shall be sent to members concerning special meetings and the business to be transacted. Only such business as designated shall be transacted. Such notices shall be sent so that they arrive not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.

4. DUES:

An annual assessment listed in the scale below shall be collected from each member. The assessment shall be due on the first day of January of the year in which the dues will be current. Dues not paid by the end of that same month will be delinquent. This by-law shall be in accordance with Article V of the Constitution for the purpose of providing funds for expenses.

a. Full Membership $25.00 per year

b. Full Membership, under 18 years $12.50 per year

c. Associate Membership $12.50 per year

d. Multi-Family Membership:

First (1st) Family Member $25.00 per year

Second (2nd) Family Member $12.50 per year

Additional Members $5.00 per year

5. INTERFERENCE COMMITTEE:

This committee shall consist of five members (appointed by the Society President). The committee shall direct investigation, invited proper inquiries, establish technical facts and testimony and report its results to the Society.

6. APPOINTMENTS AND COMMITTEES:

It shall be the right of the President to appoint a person or group of persons (committee) to perform certain official duties. Persons chosen by the President must be Full or Associate members in good standing. All appointments and/or committees shall remain in effect for as long as the President deems necessary but not to exceed the current term of office of the President.

7. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS:

In accordance with Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, there shall be an annual meeting held for the purpose of electing officers for the Society. This annual meeting shall be held on the second (2nd) Thursday of the month of March of each year.