RNRC is a cooperative. Its bylaws, policies, and adopted procedures establish how the organization is governed, how costs are shared, and what members can expect from the Cooperative and from each other.
RNRC is designed around cooperative ownership rather than a traditional customer-and-provider relationship. Members participate in a shared organization that owns, operates, and supports the communications network for their mutual benefit.
Members are the foundation of the Cooperative. They participate under the bylaws and adopted policies and share responsibility for supporting the network.
Members exercise the voting rights established in the bylaws, including decisions specifically reserved to the membership.
The Board oversees Cooperative affairs, implements member-approved direction, and exercises the authority assigned to it by the bylaws.
Policies establish detailed rules for areas such as membership, finances, cost allocation, compensation, equipment, and network operation.
Not every operating rule belongs in the bylaws. RNRC uses a combination of governing documents so fundamental organizational rules remain stable while detailed operating procedures can be maintained appropriately.
Establish the Cooperative's core governance structure, member rights, Board authority, voting, meetings, and other fundamental organizational rules.
Establish detailed financial, membership, compensation, equipment, administrative, and operational requirements under the authority provided by the bylaws.
Address specific relationships or operating processes, including site agreements, member arrangements, forms, and technical procedures where appropriate.
Each type of document serves a different purpose within the Cooperative.
The bylaws establish the basic rules of the Cooperative. They define the relationship between the membership, Board of Directors, and organization itself and establish the authority under which more detailed policies are adopted.
Policies provide more detailed rules for recurring Cooperative activities. They allow RNRC to establish clear and consistent procedures without placing every operational detail directly into the bylaws.
Procedures explain how specific activities are carried out, while agreements establish obligations between RNRC and another party for a particular relationship or service.
Current adopted governing documents will be made available here as the Cooperative completes organization and formally adopts its policies.
Core governance document establishing membership, voting, meetings, the Board of Directors, financial authority, and the organizational structure of RNRC.
Document Coming SoonEstablishes eligibility, the application and review process, initial contribution requirements, and admission of new members.
Document Coming SoonEstablishes how systemwide expenses, site-specific expenses, and direct member expenses are allocated among participating members.
Document Coming SoonEstablishes Cooperative budgeting procedures, member enrollment periods, and related financial administration.
Document Coming SoonEstablishes how members and directors may be compensated for authorized work, travel, mileage, equipment use, and other approved services performed for the Cooperative.
Document Coming SoonEstablishes requirements for member-supplied radios and other subscriber equipment used with the RNRC network.
Document Coming SoonMembers should be able to understand the rules governing the organization they participate in and the network they help support.
Publishing governing documents also allows prospective members to review important Cooperative requirements before deciding whether RNRC is right for their organization.
RNRC's goal is to make important membership and financial obligations understandable before an organization becomes a member.
Cooperative governance works by assigning different decisions and responsibilities to the membership and the Board of Directors.
Members exercise the rights and responsibilities assigned to them by the bylaws, including voting on matters that require member approval.
The membership provides the Cooperative's democratic foundation and retains the powers specifically reserved to members.
The Board provides ongoing governance and oversight between member meetings and exercises the authority granted to it by the bylaws and applicable law.
This allows the Cooperative to conduct normal business without requiring a full membership vote for every administrative or operational decision.
RNRC's governing documents may be amended over time as the Cooperative grows, technology changes, or members identify better ways to operate the network.
RNRC can make its principal governing documents publicly accessible without publishing every operational record or piece of technical information maintained by the Cooperative.
Certain records may contain member information, security information, detailed site data, network configuration, financial details, or other information that is not appropriate for public distribution.
The goal is to make the rules governing RNRC easy to find while protecting information that should reasonably remain limited to members, directors, administrators, site hosts, or other authorized parties.
As RNRC's future member portal is developed, additional member-specific documents and records can be made available securely to authorized users.
Review how the Cooperative works, understand the costs and responsibilities of membership, and contact RNRC with questions before applying.