YERO Constitution

Article 1: Name

The name of the organisation shall be the Young European Radio Operators, hereinafter referred to as YERO or "the Club".

Article 2: Aims and Objectives

The primary purpose of YERO is to cultivate a vibrant, active, and supportive community for young amateur radio operators and enthusiasts across Europe. The specific objectives are:

• Connection: To bring together young people sharing an interest in amateur radio, breaking down geographical barriers.
• Activity: To promote active operation on the airwaves through regular club nets, digital activities, and operating events.
• Education: To foster peer-to-peer learning, technical discussions, and collaborative troubleshooting (e.g., software-defined radio, digital modes, antenna theory).
• Inclusivity: To maintain a welcoming, high-energy environment that is friendly and accessible to both licensed hams and unlicensed shortwave listeners (SWLs)/enthusiasts.

Article 3: Membership

• Eligibility: Membership is open to any young person residing in or operating from Europe who has an interest in amateur radio. No person shall be denied membership based on their level of amateur radio license experience.
• Age Limit: As a youth-focused organisation, voting membership is restricted to individuals under 26.
• If a person is in the discord community it does not automatically make them a YERO member.
• Code of Conduct: All members must interact with kindness, mutual respect, and helpfulness, keeping club environments (including online servers/platforms) safe and welcoming.
• Any member under the age of 18 must get parental consent before becoming an official member.

Article 4: The Management Committee

The Club and community shall be administered by the YERO staff team (listed on the discord community and on the website).

Article 5: Meetings and Decision-Making

• Annual General Meeting (AGM): An AGM shall be held once every calendar year. All members shall receive at least 14 days' notice of the AGM. The AGM will review club progress, and potential updates.
• Committee Meetings: The Management Committee will meet digitally as often as necessary to coordinate international events, nets, and community safety.

Article 6: Finances

• Club Funds: Any funds raised via voluntary contributions, grants, or future subscription fees must be used solely to advance the aims of YERO (such as hosting infrastructure, website domains, or club award programs).
• Accountability: The Treasurer shall maintain accurate digital records of all financial transactions. Club bank or digital payment accounts must require the approval of at least two committee members for any major disbursements.

Article 7: Amendments to the Constitution

• This constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds majority vote of the members participating in an AGM or an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) called for that purpose.
• Proposed amendments must be circulated to the membership at least 14 days prior to voting.

Article 8: Dissolution

• If the Management Committee or the membership decides by a two-thirds majority that YERO should be dissolved, all remaining club assets and funds—after the resolution of all valid debts—shall not be distributed to individuals.
• Remaining assets must be donated to a non-profit organisation or national amateur radio society with similar youth-advancement objectives (such as a youth program run by a European IARU member society) or given back to the agency who donated it.

Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

YERO is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all young amateur radio operators and enthusiasts. Because our community connects minors (under 18s) and young adults (18+) across international borders, this policy sets out the mandatory standards of behaviour required to protect all members, particularly children and vulnerable individuals, from abuse, harassment, and exploitation. This policy applies to all YERO digital platforms (including Discord, websites, and group chats), over-the-air (OTA) activities using club callsigns (like G5YEH), and any official YERO-branded in-person events.

2. Digital Space & Online Boundaries

As a primarily digital community, all members must adhere to strict online boundaries to ensure a safe environment:

• No Unsolicited Direct Messages (DMs): Adult members (18+) must not initiate private, non-radio-related DMs with minor members (under 18). Any necessary technical help or club administration must take place in public server channels or group chats with multiple moderators present.
• Appropriate Content Only: All YERO platforms must remain completely free of explicit, adult, or age-restricted (NSFW) content, language, and imagery.
• Visible Age Roles: Where possible on digital platforms, clear role tags or visual identifiers should distinguish minor members from adult members to ensure everyone is aware of who they are interacting with.
• Transparent Moderation: No single adult administrator or moderator shall have unmonitored control over private channels or server logs. A minimum of two administrators must always have full audit-log access to ensure accountability.

3. Over-the-Air & Physical Event Boundaries

• The "Two-Adult" Rule: At least two vetted adults or coordinators must be present at any physical YERO activity. An adult must never be left completely alone or unobserved in a private space with a minor.
• Parental Consent: Written consent from a parent or legal guardian is strictly required for any minor participating in in-person YERO events, contests, or DXpeditions.
• Supervision Ratios: For any official overnight stays or trips (such as youth camps), strict adult-to-youth supervision ratios must be maintained in accordance with national guidelines.
• Control Operation: Any unlicensed youth operating a radio under a YERO club callsign must be directly supervised by a licensed, designated Control Operator who ensures both safety and legal compliance.

4. Code of Conduct & Anti-Bullying

• Zero Tolerance: YERO maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying, cyberbullying, grooming, hazing, sexual harassment, or discrimination of any kind (including based on race, gender, nationality, or licensing level).
• Tone on the Air and Online: Members are expected to mentor, encourage, and help one another with a friendly and supportive tone. Elitism or mocking less-experienced operators is strictly prohibited.

5. Reporting and Response Procedures

If a member feels unsafe, witnesses inappropriate behaviour, or suspects a safeguarding breach, they should follow these steps:

• How to Report: Reports can be made directly to the designated YERO Safeguarding Officer or any trusted member of the Management Committee via the official reporting email safeguarding@yero.club or via a secure, private message on the club platform.
• Confidentiality: All reports will be handled with the highest level of confidentiality, sharing information strictly on a "need-to-know" basis.
• Immediate Suspension: The Management Committee reserves the right to immediately suspend any member facing a credible, serious safeguarding allegation while an internal review or external legal investigation is conducted.
• External Reporting: If an allegation involves illegal activity or severe harm to a child, YERO leadership will immediately report the matter to the appropriate local law enforcement or child protection authorities in the relevant European jurisdiction.