American Helicopter Society Montreal-Ottawa Chapter
The American Helicopter Society (AHS) International is the world’s premier professional vertical flight technical society.
Since its inception in 1943, AHS has provided an international forum through which to expand the body of knowledge of vertical flight. The Society is the global resource for information on vertical flight technology.
Each year, the Society organizes or co-sponsors several regional and international conferences that facilitate the advancement of the theory and practices of helicopter and other VTOL aircraft technology, and publishes their proceedings. The Society publishes a well-respected general audience quarterly magazine,Vertiflite, as well as the world’s only technical vertical flight publication, The Journal of the American Helicopter Society (JAHS). The society advocates on behalf of rotorcraft technology to the public and to government bodies. AHS also awards $50,000 in annual scholarships and sponsors an annual student design competition for undergraduate and graduate student teams. In addition, AHS presents two dozen annual awards to members of the vertical flight technical community for scientific and technical accomplishments, inspiring rescues, and promoting the goals of the Society.
The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter of the Society was founded in 1987. Since those early days, the Chapter has made significant contributions to the advancement of aerospace technology in our region. In addition to organizing numerous technical meetings and presentations, the Chapter was instrumental in bringing the annual AHS International Forum to Montreal, for the first time in 1999, then again in 2002 and 2008, and will once again in 2014. The Chapter also played a leading role in establishing the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) initiative, the inaugural symposium being held in Montreal in 2005. With over 300 members, Montreal-Ottawa is the largest international AHS Chapter.
Bylaws of the American Helicopter Society (AHS) International, Inc. Montreal-Ottawa Chapter
Article I: Purpose and Scope
(1) Purpose
The purpose of AHS International is to engage in educational and scientific activities, consistent with the non-profit requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, that advance the theory and practices of the science of vertical flight aircraft. The AHS Montreal-Ottawa Chapter seeks to support this by promoting vertical flight technology within its geographic area.
(2) Scope
The scope of AHS Montreal-Ottawa Chapter activities includes the following:
(a) Join together AHS members in the geographical region of the Chapter (hereafter referred to as “members”) of diverse backgrounds, including engineers, pilots, technicians, educators, students, and operators who all have a common interest in rotorcraft and V/STOL technology.
(b) Sponsor events to provide members with an opportunity to listen to speakers on a variety of topics in the field of vertical flight and to meet and interact with fellow members.
(c) Organize International Technical Meetings, when sanctioned by the AHS Board of Directors, in the field of vertical flight.
(d) Support the AHS International staff in holding the AHS Annual Forum in Canada, when approved by the AHS Board of Directors.
(e) Provide the Lichten Technical Paper Competition as a means for younger members to gain experience and visibility in the field.
(f) Conduct activities that promote education and motivate students to become involved in vertical flight technology, such as supporting the Vertical Flight Foundation (VFF) and other university and pre-university efforts.
(g) Other activities deemed appropriate by members and the Executive Board that further the purposes of the AHS in accordance with these bylaws and the bylaws of AHS International.
Article II: Membership
(1) AHS members are generally assigned to the chapter in which they reside when they join AHS or update their mailing preferences. The Americas Regional Vice President may redefine the geographic area as new chapters may be established or disestablished within the region. The boundaries of the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter currently include the whole of Canada.
(2) There are different types of membership with membership dues set by the AHS Headquarters.
(3) Both members and nonmembers are welcome at events sponsored by the AHS Montreal-Ottawa Chapter; however, cost of participation may depend on membership status.
(4) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter is prohibited from charging local membership fees or dues.
Article III: Governance
(1) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter will be governed by an Executive Board consisting of the following officers, who have voting power at all meetings:
(a) President – Supervises the affairs of the Chapter, appoints standing and special committees as required, chairs meetings of the Executive Board, and submits reports as required.
(b) Vice President – Assists the President as well as Chairing the Dinner Meetings and Technical Standing Committees.
(c) Secretary – Records and issues minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board, retains a permanent record of meeting minutes for the current year and all previous years, submits reports of Chapter activities to the Regional Vice President and AHS International headquarters as required.
(d) Treasurer – Keeps records of Chapter financial activities, submits reports to the Executive Board, the Regional Vice President, and AHS International headquarters as required, and handles Chapter’s financial obligations for trips, speaker expenses, etc. At dinner meetings, collects dinner fees, pays venue, and keeps record of attendance.
(e) Past President – Provides continuity of leadership through advice, counsel, and support for Chapter activities.
(2) In addition, the following Directors and Committee Chairs (non-voting positions) will be elected by a majority vote of the Executive Board:
a) Directors – Provide advice, counsel, and support for Chapter activities. Carry out special assignments as requested by the Chapter President.
(a) Publicity Chair – Prepares notices of Chapter activities, sends these to AHS International for distribution, arranges for special mailings as required, posts notices at appropriate locations, keeps a permanent record of publicity notices, and contacts press and photographers when appropriate. Provides AHS International headquarters with information on Chapter activities for use in membership-wide publications.
(b) Membership Chair – Promotes activities to enroll new members, encourages current members to maintain their active status and to participate in Chapter activities, checks lists of those registering for Chapter events for current membership status when necessary. Coordinates with AHS International Director of Membership.
(c) Education Chair – Liaises and supports Student Chapters in the region, communicates Chapter activities within the local universities and other educational establishments, promotes the Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarship program, and handles activities associated with the annual Lichten Award competition.
(3) Election Procedures and Terms of Office
(a) The Chapter President will appoint a Chair and a Nominating Committee by April 1 of each 2nd year to nominate Executive Board officers for the succeeding 2 years. The Chapter President will serve on this committee, and the Chair of the Nominating Committee may appoint additional committee members.
(b) The Nominating Committee will submit for approval to the Executive Board by April 15, a slate of Officers for the Chapter. The Nominating Committee will obtain the consent of each person nominated.
(c) Upon approval of the nominees by the Executive Board, a ballot (paper or electronic) will be sent to all eligible voting members (all members in good standing, excluding Student Members and members who received a free membership). Space will be provided on the ballot for write-in candidates for each office. The ballots will be sent no later than May 1, with a deadline for return of no more than 30 days. The deadline will be established by the Executive Board.
(d) The winner of the election for each position will be the candidate receiving the majority of the valid votes cast for that position.
(e) All members will be notified in writing of the results of the election within 30 days of the deadline for return of ballots.
(f) The terms of office shall be two years, beginning on June 1.
(g) The Executive Board, by majority vote, may declare a vacancy of any position, and at any time by reason of:
i) Two or more consecutive unjustified absences from scheduled Board meetings.
ii) Failure to properly carry out assigned duties.
iii) Resignation of a Board member by delivery of written notice to the Board.
(h) Vacancies will be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Article IV: Limitations
(1) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter will conduct all operations in keeping with the AHS International bylaws.
(a) The Chapter may not engage in any activities that offer goods, facilities or services that do not further its non-profit purposes.
(b) AHS International headquarters has the right to veto changes to the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter bylaws if it deems that the Chapter is operating outside the bounds of the AHS International bylaws.
(c) If the Chapter is non-compliant with the requirements set forth in this Article, AHS International headquarters may revoke the charter for the Chapter.
(2) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter will conduct all operations in keeping with applicable Provincial and Federal government requirements for a non-profit organization.
(a) No Chapter Directors, Trustees or Officers may receive compensation for discharging their Chapter duties. No part of the earnings of the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, any of its Directors, Trustees or Officers. Payments to other entities of reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the non-profit purposes is allowable.
(b) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. No contributions to political activities are permissible.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by a non-profit organization in Canada.
Article V: Chapter Committees
(1) Standing Committees
(a) The Montreal-Ottawa Chapter Standing Committees are the following:
• Dinner Meetings
• Technical
• Membership
• Publicity
• Education
(b) The Vice President will serve as the Chair of the Dinner Meeting and Technical Committees. The Chair of each committee shall determine the number of people on that committee and appoint the personnel.
(2) Special Committees: Special Committees may be formed by the Montreal-Ottawa Chapter President or the Executive Board to act on specific projects or problems. The Chapter President will appoint the Chair of each Special Committee and may appoint personnel to each committee. Additional members of the committee may be appointed at the discretion of the Chair. The Nominating Committee is covered under Article III Section 4.
(3) Responsibilities and Duties
(a) Committees shall report to the Executive Board. Actions taken by Committees shall be subject to ratification by the Executive Board.
(b) Duties of the Standing Committees shall correspond to the duties of their respective Chairs as described in Article III. Duties and terms of Special Committees shall be determined by the Executive Board or Chapter President.
Article VI: Meetings
(1) Annual General Meeting: A General Meeting of the membership will be held at least once per year, usually in the form of a dinner meeting.
(2) Executive Board Meetings: The Executive Board shall meet at least four times a year at the call of the Chapter President.
(3) The Chapter Secretary will forward to the Americas Regional Vice President a report of each meeting held.
(4) The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Revised will govern at all Montreal-Ottawa Chapter meetings in all cases where they are applicable and not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with the Bylaws of AHS International.
Article VII: Voting and Quorums
(1) A majority of the voting members of the Executive Board constitutes a quorum for meetings of the Board. Acts of a majority of the voting members of the Board present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be recognized as acts of the Board.
(2) A quorum for the Annual General Chapter meeting will be 20 percent of the membership or 40 members, whichever is least.
(3) The Executive Board may order the submission of any question to the general membership by ballot. Members may also order the submission of any question to the general membership by letter ballot by obtaining a majority vote of those present at any General Chapter meeting at which a quorum is present, or by a petition signed by 20 percent of the membership or 40 members, whichever is least.
(4) In any matter to be decided by a ballot, including elections of officers, a quorum shall consist of the number of valid votes cast.
Article VIII: Fiscal Year
The Chapter’s fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31. The end of the fiscal year report must be submitted to AHS headquarters no later than March 31 each year.
Article IX: Fees and Dues
No membership fees or dues shall be assessed by the Chapter. Members are responsible for fees and dues as required by AHS International.
Article X: Amendments
(1) Amendments to these Bylaws may be initiated by any member by submitting the proposed amendment to the Executive Board. The Board will review the proposed amendment and decide if it should be submitted to the membership for a ballot.
(2) The Executive Board may itself initiate amendments to these Bylaws.
(3) The membership may propose an amendment for vote by ballot without approval of the Executive Board by submitting a written petition. This petition shall be signed by 20 percent of the members or 40 members, whichever is least, and will be in the form in which the amendment is to be presented for ballot. The amendment will be sent along with a ballot to all Voting Members within 30 days of its receipt by the Executive Board with a deadline for return.
(4) Amendments shall be adopted when they have been approved by the voting membership by ballot, and the Board shall immediately cause such amendments to be appropriately implemented.