Sandia Soaring Association Bylaws

Bylaws of the Sandia Soaring Association, Inc.

Article I. Membership

A. Classes. The Corporation shall have the following classes of membership. Their respective rights are as follows:

1. Full Membership includes the right to vote on Corporation affairs, hold office and, upon qualification, have the right to fly at SSA controlled sites. A subscription to the newsletter is included.

2. Associate members will receive a subscription to the club newsletter and are permitted to attend all club functions.

3. Temporary membership is available to visiting pilots on a weekly basis

B. Admission. All applicants for full membership must also be members of the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA). An applicant shall be admitted to full membership in the Corporation only upon making application therefor, meeting those requirements set by the officers, and payment of dues. Applicants for associate membership shall be accepted upon payment of dues.

C. Suspension, expulsion and removal from office. A member may be removed from elected or appointed office, have his or her membership suspended for a period, or be expelled from the Corporation for cause, such as violation of any of these Bylaws or violation of flight regulations or other rules of the Corporation or for conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the Corporation. Such action shall require a two thirds (2/3) vote of all the voting members at a regular meeting, provided that a statement of the charges and a notice of the time and place of the meeting have been mailed to the member at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting, and that the member will have an opportunity to present a defense at the meeting.

D. Transfer of membership. Membership in the Corporation is not transferable or assignable.

E. Termination of membership. Membership shall terminate on the death or resignation of a member or three (3) months after expiration of the annual dues. On such termination, any right, title, or interest of the membership in or to the property and assets of the Corporation shall cease.

Article II. Dues

A. Annual dues. Membership shall determine from time to time the amount of the initiation fee, if any, and the amount of annual dues payable to the Corporation by full and Associate members. Dues shall be published each year in the newsletter.

1. Full Members: $25.00 per year if paid by 01/31, after which dues increase to $30.00 per year

2. Associate Members:12.50 per year

B. Payment of dues and fees. Annual dues shall become payable on the first day of the calendar year. For new members, the dues shall be prorated to encompass the period from the date of acceptance by the Corporation through the end of the calendar year.

Article III. Meetings of the members.

A. Annual meeting. An annual meeting of the members shall be held on the first Wednesday in the month of October in each year beginning with the year 1990, at the time announced in the newsletter, at the regular location, for the purposes of electing officers and Mountain Committee members, and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the election of officers shall not be held on the day designated herein for any annual meeting, the officers shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the members as soon thereafter as conveniently may be done.

B. Regular meetings. Monthly meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time in the months from May through November and at 7:00 PM Mountain Standard Time in alternating months from January through April and at a regular location established by the officers.

C. Quorum. Full Members represented in person at a regularly scheduled meeting, with a minimum of five (5) shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter to voted upon by the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption thereof unless a greater proportion is required by the articles of incorporation of the bylaws.

D. Notice of members' meetings.

1. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or by the Bylaws, written notice stating the place, day, and hour of the meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than five (5), nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary/Treasurer, or the officers or persons calling the meeting, to each member entitled to vote at the meeting. If mailed, the notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice of meetings may be given as announcements in the SSA website or forwarded announcements delivered by e-mail.

2. Attendance at any meeting by a member shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except where a member attends a meeting for the expressed purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Article IV. Board of Directors.

A. Directors. The Directors of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Vice-president, a Secretary/Treasurer and a Newsletter Editor.

B. Election and terms. The President, Vice-president, Secretary/Treasurer and Newsletter Editor shall be elected by a majority of the voting members of the annual meeting and shall hold office for a period of twelve (12) months or until their successors are elected. There shall be no limit to the number of terms each officer may serve.

C. President. The President shall be the principle executive officer of the Corporation and shall in general, supervise and control all the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the members. He or she shall also attend all meetings of the Mountain Committee. He or she may sign any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments that the officers have authorized to be executed. In general, he or she shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Corporation.

D. Vice-president. The vice-president shall be in charge of parliamentary procedure at all regular Corporation meetings. He or she is the co-chairperson of all Association committees except the Mountain Committee. In the absence of the President or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the vice-president shall perform the duties of the President and shall have all the powers of and be subject to any and all restrictions on the President.

E. Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these bylaws or as required by law, be custodian of the Corporation records, keep a register of the post office address of each member and, in general, perform all duties that may be assigned by the President. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trusts, companies or other depositories as shall be selected by the officers, and shall perform such other duties as may be incident to the office of Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall provide an annual financial report at the January meeting. The Secretary/ Treasurer shall provide new members within the first month of membership the bylaws, rules, and a current membership list.

F. Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for the collection and compilation of any news and information that shall be of interest to the members. This shall include, but not be restricted to notice of Corporation meetings, results of elections, officers meetings, committee meetings, club activities, applicable Federal, State and City actions that may have bearing on the Corporation, safety information and news from other flying organizations around the world. In addition, the Editor shall select articles submitted by the members that are deemed satisfactory for publication. He or she shall have the right and duty to edit said articles to conform with standards of propriety, legality and validity. The newsletter shall be published on a schedule in accordance with Article III, Section D of the Bylaws pertaining to notice of meetings for the Members. Funds for the publication will be provided from the club treasury upon receipt of invoices or documentation meeting the Secretary/Treasurer's approval

Article V. Contracts, Checks, Deposits, and Funds

A. Contracts. The President may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation in addition to the officers so authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of an on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

B. Checks, drafts or orders for payment. All checks, drafts or orders for payment of money, notes or other evidence or indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officers or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as from time to time be determined by the officers.

C. Deposits. All funds of the Association shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Association in such banks, trusts companies or other depositories as the officers may select.

D. Gifts. The directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest or device for the general purposes or special purposes of the Corporation.

Article VI. Identification Cards

The Corporation shall provide for the issuance of identification cards evidencing membership in the Corporation. These cards shall be in such form as may be determined by the officers. Information included on the cards shall include the member's name, corporation number, USHGA number, USHGA rating, Corporation ratings, and expiration date. All cards shall be consecutively numbered to correspond to the Corporation records. If any card shall become lost, mutilated or destroyed, or if new information contained on the original is out of date, a new card may be issued on such terms and conditions as the officers may determine.

Article VII. Amendments and Attachments

A. Amendments. The Bylaws of this Association may be amended, repealed, added to or new Bylaws may be adopted by the vote or written assent of a majority of the members entitled to vote or a two thirds (2/3) majority of a quorum at a regular Corporation meeting.

B. Attachments. Copies of all current rules and guidelines as recommended by the Mountain Committee and approved by the Membership shall be permanently attached to these Bylaws. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for updating these copies as the situation demands.

Article VIII. Miscellaneous

A. Controlling Law. These Bylaws shall be interpreted, governed and construed under the laws of New Mexico.

B. Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws or any part thereof is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such action shall not affect the validity of these Bylaws, and the remainder of these Bylaws shall remain in full force and effect according to the terms of the remaining provisions or parts of provisions hereof.

Attachment A.

Sandia Soaring Association, Inc.

Sandia Peak Pilot Guidelines

  • Pilot qualifications to fly Sandia Peak

  • Current USHGA Advanced Rating.

  • Current Sandia Soaring Association member (Visiting out-of-town pilots excluded).

  • 100 hours logged mountainous flying experience.

  • 100 foot launched flights.

  • Helmet, parachute, airworthy glider. Note: New pilots must be guided by a rated Peak Guide Pilot for a minimum of 10 flights before a Peak Rating is obtained.

  • Qualification to be a Sandia Peak Guide.

  • Current Sandia Peak rated pilot (minimum two years).

  • Either 50 Peak launched flights over a 2 year period for non-Crest Guides or 25 flights over a 1 year period for current Crest Guides.

  • Acknowledgment and acceptance of responsibilities as indicated by signature below.

  • Approval of three current Peak Guides who have flown with the pilot and recommend that they be given the responsibility of Peak Guide.

  • Guidelines for Sandia Peak Guides.

  • Verify qualifications of guest pilot

  • Preview landing areas with guest pilot

  • Discuss Tramway rules and etiquette with guest pilot

  • Insure that instructions from Tram personnel are obeyed.

  • Review weather conditions with guest pilot

  • Review Peak Manual with guest pilot

  • Review terrain with guest pilot

  • Have guest pilot sign Peak waiver of liability (first time)

  • Log guest pilot and Guide pilot with Tramway cashier

  • Guide pilot must preflight, hang check, and launch guest pilot

  • Review flight with guest pilot after landing

  • Qualifications for Sandia Peak Rating

  • Minimum of 10 logged and guide initiated Peak flights

  • Minimum of two different guide pilots used for Guide flights

  • Member of Sandia Soaring Association

  • Recommendation and approval of both guides that pilot is qualified

    •  

    Sandia Crest Pilot Guidelines

  • Pilot Qualifications to Fly Sandia Crest

  • Current USHGA Advanced rating. Exception allowed for local SSA members with Intermediate rating

  • Visiting USHGA Intermediate rated pilots with:

  • 150 logged foot launch initiated flights

  • 50 logged hours

  • Sponsorship of an instructor or observer

  • Current Sandia Soaring Association Membership

  • Helmet, parachute, airworthy glider. Note: New pilots must be guided by a Crest Guide pilot until qualifications have been met.

  • Qualifications to be a Sandia Crest Guide

  • Current USHGA Advanced rating

  • Current Sandia Soaring Association Member

  • Current Sandia Crest rated pilot

  • 50 hours Sandia Mountain flight experience over a minimum one year period

  • Acknowledgement and Acceptance of responsibilities as indicated by signature below

  • Recommendation and approval of 3 current Sandia Crest guides that pilot is qualified

  • Guidelines for Sandia Crest Guides

  • Verify qualifications of guest pilot

  • Preview landing area with guest pilot

  • Review weather conditions with guest pilot

  • Review terrain with guest pilot

  • Guide pilot must hang check and launch guest pilot

  • Review flight with guest pilot after landing

  • Guide must preflight guest pilot's glider

  • Qualifications for Sandia Crest Rating

  • Minimum of 10 logged and Guide initiated Crest flights for intermediate rated pilots

  • Minimum of two Guide pilots used for Guide flights

  • Recommendation and approval of both guides that pilot is qualified

  • Be a member of Sandia Soaring Association

  • Advanced pilots with 500 logged hours of mountain flying and 5 guided flights

  • Peak rated pilots require a minimum of 3 guided Crest flights

    • 5. Sandia Crest Tandem Requirements

  • Pilot in command must be a full SSA member

  • Pilot in Command must be a Crest Guide pilot

  • Pilot in Command must sign the SSA Tandem Responsibility Acknowledgement

  • Pilot in Command must follow all USHGA Tandem requirements

  • Pilot in Command must hold the appropriate USHGA Tandem rating for the passenger's skill level

  • Tandem 1= rated pilots

  • Tandem 2= Novice pilots

  • Tandem Instructor = Student pilots

  • Passenger must be a member of USHGA

  • Passenger must sign the SSA Tandem Liability release

  • Sandia Peak Tandem Requirements

  • Pilot in Command must be a full SSA member

  • Pilot in Command must be a Peak Guide pilot

  • Pilot in Command must sign the SSA Tandem Responsibility Acknowledgement

  • Pilot in Command must follow all USHGA Tandem requirements

  • Pilot in Command must hold a USHGA Tandem rating for the passenger's skill level

  • Passenger must hold a USHGA Advanced (IV) rating

  • Passenger must sign the SSA Tandem Liability Release

    • Novice (Hang 2) Instructor / Guides

  • Instructor / Guide must be a full local member of the SSA

  • Instructor / Guide must be an SSA Crest Guide pilot

  • Instructor / Guide must be a current USHGA Certified Advanced Instructor

  • Instructor / Guide must have had direct involvement in the instruction of the Novice pilot

  • Instructor / Guide must sign the SSA Instructor /Guide Responsibility Acknowledgement

    • Novice Pilot must meet the following requirements:

  • Current SSA full member

  • Minimum of 10 personally logged flight hours

  • Pass USHGA Intermediate tests, both oral and written

  • Sign the SSA Novice Pilot Liability release

  • Fly within the following limitations

  • Prior to or following significant thermal activity

  • Wind speeds at launch of less than 12 mph

  • Maintain radio communication between pilot and guide

  • May not fly if there is any storm activity in the vicinity

    • These Bylaws were adopted by Sandia Soaring Association, Inc. at the September 1993 meeting.

    Amended/Revised January 31, 1996

    Peak Guide requirements revised September 4, 1996

    Crest/Peak Tandem rules added September 4, 1996

    Crest Instructor/Novice rules added September 4, 1996

    Annual Meeting changed from June to October. Revised March 5, 1997

    Redefinition of a quorum adopted November 4, 1998

    Meeting and Newsletter publication schedule modified November 4, 1998

    Increase of dues after 01/31 to $30.00 adopted January 3, 2001

    Use of e-mail and website for Fliers adopted Jan. 3, 2001

    Mountain committee eliminated Jan 3, 2001

    New pilot/ guide rating process adopted Jan 3, 2001