An open letter to the public regarding being an independent club can be found here.
The first step to becoming an AMAS supported club is (rather ironically) to first regain your club’s independence.
It is important to understand that as an incorporated model aero club (assuming your club is registered with the Department of Fair Trading in your State) your club is its own legal independent entity.
It is not mandatory for your club to join a State or national association (and never has been) however in order to access insurances and other services, joining an association that provides such insurances and services has always made good sense and it still does.
Historically model aero clubs have only had one choice of “service provider” and so, almost automatically, they have continued to affiliate with the same organization, year after year. Clubs effectively have had no choice in the matter and many have even written this “dependency” on that organization into their own club constitutions and rules.
With the emergence of AMAS, clubs and their members do now have a choice.
However before being able to exercise that choice your club has to regain its ability to make that choice and all it takes is some slight alterations to your club’s constitution and perhaps your club’s rules.
Exactly what you need to do is remove any reference in your constitution and club rules to ANY SPECIFIC national association. It’s that simple.
You may do this by editing your existing club constitution or if you prefer, you may wish to use the constitution provided below by clicking on the link.
You may of course edit this document further if you wish to suit your club’s particular needs but fundamentally as long as no specific national association is mentioned in the constitution that is all that is required.
Once your new constitution has been adopted by your membership (generally at a special general meeting or your AGM) your club is then free to affiliate with ANY national association that offers clubs and their members insurance and/or other services, including of course AMAS.
The next step is looking at your club rules. Contrary to popular belief, model aircraft flying is not governed by any State or national association’s rules or procedures, it is in fact governed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Regulations pertaining to model aircraft operation.
Rules or procedures issued by national or state associations regarding flying model aircraft are in fact simply a reflection of those CASA regulations (e.g. operating height restrictions, public displays, 30 metre rule etc) and it is important that your club members know the distinction.
So it is important again to ensure that any club rules you have relating to the safe operation of model aircraft at your club acknowledges that CASA regulations are the legal requirements under which we all fly our model aircraft and your club’s rules should be amended to reflect this fact.
For example if club rules say something like….
“Members must always fly in accordance with all AAAA operating procedures “
this would be more appropriately replaced with …..
“Members must always fly in accordance with the requirements of CASA Regulations pertaining to the safe operation of model aircraft”.
Any other reference to any specific association within your clubs rules should also be looked at and amended if required.
For example if a club rule says something like….
“Only AAAA members shall be permitted to fly at our field and must present their membership card for inspection before being permitted to fly”
this might be more appropriately replaced with …
“Only persons appropriately insured and accredited to fly model aircraft shall be permitted to fly at our field and must provide proof of same for inspection before being permitted to fly”
As you can see altering your constitution and your club rules takes very little time and when it is done it will ensure that your club has regained its independence and can make its own choices.
AMAS is an advocate for clubs and their members having that choice and while we would like to believe we offer clubs and their members great value, it is our belief that model aero clubs and their member should not feel shackled to us or any association who might offer insurance and/or other services to their members.
Clubs should be able to get the best deals for their members and they should have the choice of which association they believe will serve their members needs best. If that happens to be AMAS, great! If it happens to be another organization that’s fine with us too. What is important is that the decision is yours.
So assuming your members have already come to the conclusion that AMAS offers the best option for your club and with your amended (or new) constitution and club rules approved at a club meeting, your club’s registrar can then take the next step and arrange the registration of your members and club, directly with AMAS.
All it takes is a phone call. Memberships are processed quickly and membership cards can either be returned in bulk to the club registrar for distribution to your members by the club or posted individually to your club members.
Flying accreditations held by your members are acknowledged by AMAS and their membership cards will reflect these accreditations.
Club affiliation cost is minimal and this provides the insurances required for your clubs committee, instructors and volunteers when taking part in club related activities. An insurance certificate of currency will also be provided to your club for the information of the landowner of your club field or your local council.
That’s all there is to it. Your club members will continue to enjoy their flying activities and your club can continue to operate as it always has, fully insured and safe in the knowledge that AMAS representatives will be there to provide advice and guidance on any issue your members or your club might come across.
If you have any questions about your club joining AMAS please contact one of our AMAS representatives.