Tonight at 7PM, at the National Weather Service Office in Calera, AL, the Alabama Emergency Response Team will review officer nomination recommendations from the nominating committee. Additionally, there will be a vote on a Bylaws amendment.

Don’t miss it!

Other topics may be covered, as time permits.

ALERT Voting Membership (Operational Members and Support Members):

The Board of Directors has approved the following proposed amendment to go to a discussion/vote of the membership.

The purpose of this amendment is to better define and outline actions that ALERT’s Board of Directors would take, in the unlikely event that disciplinary action might need to be taken with one of its own. In the spirit of amateur radio’s commitment to furthering good-will, we are also seeking to make it fair to members if such a controversy ever occurs, with appropriate levels of response.

ByLaws Excerpt for Process:
Article XV, Section 1.
The ByLaws of ALERT may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, provided the following has been observed:

1. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors and read by the secretary at a regular meeting.
2. Written notice of at least one month has been given to the voting membership.
3. The proposal then shall be discussed and voted on at the next regular meeting.

Proposed Amendment 7, as approved by the Board of Directors (to be read at the April 10 meeting; this is part of the written notice requirement):

Amendment 7

Section 1

All members shall at all times comply with the Rules and Bylaws of the Alabama Emergency Response Team, local, state and federal laws or the norms of civilized conduct.

Section 2

Should members be charged with misconduct, as defined by the Rules and Bylaws of the Alabama Emergency Response Team, local, state and federal laws or the norms of civilized conduct, they shall be held accountable to a formal review by the Board of Directors.

Section 3

If after review by the Board of Directors it is recommended that action should be taken, dependent on the severity of the offense, the following actions will be taken:

1. The member shall be approached by two or three members designated by the Board of Directors and discuss the situation with that member.
2. If the member continues to act inappropriately, the member will be sent a formal Letter of Reprimand from the Board Of Directors, informing the member that should said behavior continue, that member will be expelled from membership from ALERT.
3. If after review by the Board of Directors it is recommended that action should be taken, upon Board vote that member will be disaccommodated, that member shall be expelled from ALERT and lose the privilege to operate as an ALERT member and be banned from the National Weather Service.
4. If the offense is of a severe nature Subsection 1 or 2 may be bypassed and summary dismissal action may be taken by the Board of Directors.

Good evening!
Per ALERT’s By-Laws, it’s election season!

At our March meeting, we appointed a nominating committee (Dale Chambers, Justin Glass). Please be sure to provide him your thoughts on the next year’s elected officer nominations soon as you can, should they reach out to you.

The elected positions are: President, VP/Membership, Treasurer, Secretary, NWS Liaison.
Current officers for each of the above: Casey Benefield, Lloyd Palmer, Bill Rodgers, Justin Glass, Russell Thomas.

Appointed positions, for the incoming president to choose: Operations, Training, Public Information Officer.

By-Laws Excerpt: “Election of Officers shall be held at the regular meeting in May. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of 2 voting members at the March meeting. The Nominating Committee shall post its report at the April meeting for all the voting members to review. Nominations from the floor will be accepted at the meeting of the elections.”

Have a great week!
Casey Benefield, NZ2O