Membership Manual - Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club

The Code of Conduct/Ethics for the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc. Including the
Executive Council, AMA Staff, and AMA Volunteers
I. Personal and Professional Integrity
All staff, Executive Council members, and volunteers of the Academy
of Model Aeronautics, Inc. (Academy), act with honesty, integrity,
and openness in all their dealings as representatives of the Academy.
The Academy promotes a working environment that values respect,
fairness and integrity. Each member of the Executive Council
represents the Academy as a whole in Executive Council meetings,
not just the district from which the Council member is elected.
Each member, therefore, should participate in discussions, evaluate
proposed actions, and may vote in a way to promote the Academy, not
just the interest of one district.
II. Mission
The Academy has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved
by the Executive Council, in pursuit of the public good. All of its
programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of
the Academy understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose.
The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served
by the Academy and of value to the society at large.
III. Governance
The Academy has an active Executive Council that is responsible
for setting the mission and strategic direction of the Academy and
oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the Academy.
The governing body:
• Requires that its Executive Council members have the requisite
skills and experience to carry out their duties and that all members
understand and fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit
of the Academy and its public purpose.
• Stipulates that every Council member has an obligation to the
Executive Council and to the members of the Academy to act,
write, and speak responsibly about matters pertaining to the
Academy.
• Requires Council members to take the time and effort to be
informed.
• Ensures that the Academy has a Conflict of Interest Policy that
guarantees that any conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof
are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal,
or other means.
• Is responsible for the hiring, firing, and regular review of
the performance of the Executive Director, and ensures that
the compensation of the Executive Director is reasonable and
appropriate.
• Requires that the Executive Director be given public support
from Council members. It is unethical for Council members
to publicly undermine the Executive Director. Individual
conferences with the Executive Director should be the place to
resolve differences. Matters that cannot be resolved in individual
conferences should be pursued in committee meetings or
Executive Council meetings.
• Requires that the Executive Director and appropriate staff provide
the governing body with timely and comprehensive information so
that the governing body can effectively carry out its duties.
• Recommends that when a constituent or a special interest
group approaches, a Council member should insist on the right
to hear and review all of the facts before making decisions or
pronouncements that may later be regretted.
• Demands that the Academy conduct all transactions and dealings
with integrity and honesty.
• Promotes working relationships with Executive Council, staff,
volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual
respect, fairness, and openness.
• Directs that Council members not interfere in personnel matters.
The Executive Director is charged with personnel matters.
• Requires that the Academy remain fair and inclusive in its hiring
and promotion policies and practices for all Council, staff, and
volunteer positions.
• Ensures that policies of the Academy are in writing, clearly
articulated, and officially adopted.
• Ensures that the resources of the Academy are responsibly and
prudently managed.
• Ensures that the Academy has the capacity to carry out its
programs effectively.
IV. Legal Compliance
The Academy through the Executive Director and legal counsel
must remain knowledgeable of and comply with all laws,
regulations, and applicable international conventions.
Respect Corporate Authority. The only authority a member
of the Executive Council has lies in the corporate action of the
Executive Council. A Council member has no legal authority to
act alone unless the Executive Council or the bylaws delegate an
assignment to the Council member.
V. Responsible Stewardship
The Academy and its subsidiaries manage their funds responsibly
and prudently. This should include the following considerations:
• The Academy spends a reasonable percentage of its annual
budget on programs in pursuance of its mission.
• The Academy spends an adequate amount on administrative
expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls,
competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional
management.
• The Academy compensates staff, and any others who may
receive compensation, reasonably and appropriately.
• The Academy will have reasonable fundraising costs,
recognizing the variety of factors that affect fundraising costs
when soliciting funds.
• The Academy does not accumulate operating funds excessively.
• The Academy will prudently draw from endowment funds
consistent with donor intent and to support the public purpose of
the Academy.
• The Academy ensures that all spending practices and policies
are fair, reasonable, and appropriate to fulfill the mission of the
organization.
• The Academy ensures all financial reports are factually accurate
and complete in all material respects.
VI. Openness and Disclosure
The Academy provides comprehensive and timely information
to the public, the media, and all stakeholders and is responsive
in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All
information about the Academy will fully and honestly reflect the
policies and practices of the organization. Basic informational
data about the Academy, such as the Form 990, reviews and
compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on
the Academy’s website or otherwise available to the public. All
solicitation materials accurately represent the Academy’s policies
and practices and will reflect the dignity of program beneficiaries.
All financial, organizational, and program reports will be
complete and accurate in all material respects.
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