BYLAWS

Preamble to the By-Laws of the
WESTERN NEW YORK - SOUTHERN ONTARIO REPEATER COUNCIL

By agreement made this 25" day of September, 1982, by and between Amateur Radio Operators recognizing this agreement:

WHEREAS it is the stated purpose of the parties hereto to coordinate the effective use of Amateur Radio repeater frequencies within the Western New York and Southern Ontario region; and

WHEREAS to accomplish this goal, it is deemed in the best interest of Amateur Radio repeater operations that an association, to be known as the Western New York - Southern Ontario Repeater Council, or WNYSORC, be formed; and

WHEREAS the parties hereto believe that a council of licensed radio amateurs is the most effective means of maintaining efficient use of the radio spectrum, as applied to Amateur Radio repeater operation, in a fair and equitable manner.

NOW THEREFORE, it is agreed that the following BY-LAWS be adopted:

1. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this council shall be open to any licensed radio amateur.

2. REPRESENTATION

While membership is open to any licensed radio amateur, pyramiding of voting power will not be allowed. One club, repeater, or repeater association is entitled to one vote, and non-repeater licensees or representatives will be allowed one vote each provided they are not a member of an already represented club or repeater association. In the case of an individual or group which sponsors more than one repeater, voting power is not increased by the number of repeaters sponsored.

3. MEETINGS

The WNYSORC shall meet regularly for the conduct of business, at least two times per year at a mutually agreed upon location and date as determined at the previous meeting. Meetings shall be held as regularly throughout the year as is practical. Special meetings may be called by the Council Chair when necessary. Notice of meetings will be made by mail by the secretary-treasurer in sufficient time to reach all members prior to the meeting. Notice of meetings will be sent to all repeater sponsors who maintain a current mailing address with the council.

4.CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. The Council Chair shall be the final arbitrator in all disputes of order.

5. GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

The region of prime concern of this council shall be within a circle of 150 miles in radius, centred over Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and including areas in Ontario and New York. Specific boundaries shall be defined by mutual agreement with adjacent frequency coordinating bodies.

6. OFFICERS

This council shall have a Council Chair who shall be a duly-licensed Radio Amateur. The Council Chair's duties shall include:

A.	Presiding at all meetings;
B.	Appointing committee heads; and
C.	Acting on behalf of this council between official meetings as necessary.

This council shall have a Secretary-Treasurer who shall also be a duly-licensed Radio Amateur whose duties shall include:

A.	Recording minutes of all meetings and maintaining them on file;
B.	Maintaining a mailing list as necessary and distributing meeting notices and meeting minutes accordingly;
C.	Maintaining a treasury of funds and associated record keeping; and
D.	Conducting correspondence on behalf of the council.

7. ELECTIONS

Officers shall be elected at the final meeting of the year and shall take office at the first meeting of the new year. Nominations for election shall open at the meeting prior to the last meeting of the year, and shall be closed at the same meeting. Terms of office shall be for three years. An officer may not serve three consecutive terms. The office of secretary-treasurer shall overlap the office of council chair by one year.

In the event of an office becoming vacant before the term has been completed, a by-election will be held as soon as possible, and not later than the second meeting after the office becomes vacant. In the interim period, the remaining officer shall appoint to fill the vacant office.

8.STANDING COMMITTEES

The Council Chair shall appoint the head of the following standing committees: FREQUENCY STUDY COMMITTEE - whose purpose is to:

A.	Accept written requests for frequency coordination;
B.	Assign frequencies in accordance with council guidelines;
C.	Review frequency assignments. Maintain a database containing the technical specifications of the repeaters as required for coordination purposes.
D.	Prepare frequency assignment listings for distribution to the membership; and
E.	Coordinate and assign confidential link and control frequencies of a point-to-point nature.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE - whose purpose is to:

A.	Provide assistance to new repeater sponsors if assistance is requested; and
B.	Recommend solutions to existing problems; and
C.	Recommend antenna patterns where omni coverage is not required (i.e., over water) or where an interference problem exists.

9. GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT OF FREQUENCIES

In order to provide equal and fair consideration for each frequency assignment, the Council requests that each prospective licensee comply with the following requirements:

A.	That the frequency study committee receive a written request for frequency assignment from the potential repeater licensee. The following information must be included in this request: repeater callsign; band of operation; location (place name, latitude and longitude); height of ground level above mean sea level; height of antenna above ground level; effective radiated power (halfwave dipole reference); transmitter power output; antenna radiation pattern; proposed coverage area; repeater licensee's or owner/trustee name and address.
B.	That the frequency assignment be activated and maintained following Council guidelines.
C.	That the Council be notified of any changes to the repeater which may affect coverage characteristics prior to implementation, for revalidation of the assignment coordination.
D.	That the repeater licensee agrees to cooperate with the Council, its' committees, and policies for the duration of the repeater's presence.

10. EXPIRATION OF ASSIGNMENTS

All frequency assignments expire according to council guidelines.

11. BAND PLANS

The Council shall endeavour to follow all repeater band plans as established by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and Industry Canada (IC). In some instances, however, conditions may dictate a variation from this "national" band plan. Any variations are subject to Council approval.

12. DUES

In order to finance the operation of the council, annual dues shall be levied. Dues shall be generally due at the first meeting of the new year. The dollar amount of these dues for the ensuing year shall be determined by vote of the council body at any regular meeting.

13. VOTING

Issues shall be decided by simple majority vote of the members present. The Council Chair shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tied vote. Voting on council policy issues and on amendments to these By-Laws shall be delayed until the meeting following their presentation to allow notification of the entire membership through the meeting notices.

14. BY-LAWS REVIEW

Review of these by-laws shall be conducted as deemed necessary or amended in accordance with voting policy.

Original By-Laws passed at September, 1982 regular meeting.

Amendments to the By-Laws

Note: Amendments are listed in reverse chronological order - most recent first.