BYLAWS

ARTICLE I: Membership and Fees

Dues and initiation fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as needed to cover the Club’s expenses. Adjustments shall be carried out according to the process outlined in Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: There shall be the following classes of membership:

(a)	Captain	Annual Dues: $295. Captain membership covers two immediate family members (spouse, significant other, partner, adult child) with the right to cast one vote per membership.
(b)	Seafairer	Annual Dues $175. Seafarer membership covers one individual, who is unmarried and unattached to a recognized partner of any age, with the right to cast one vote.
(c)	Bosun	Annual Dues: $45. Bosun membership covers one individual age 18-29 with the right to cast one vote. Upon reaching age 30, the Bosun member shall automatically become a Captains member and pay the additional dues, but not be required to pay additional initiation fees.
(d)	Yeoman	Annual Dues: $15. Yeoman membership is considered part of the parent(s)’ membership and covers one individual age 10-18 with no voting rights. Upon reaching age 18, the Yeoman member shall automatically become a Bosun member and pay the additional dues, but not be required to pay additional initiation fees. All Yeoman activities shall be under the control of the Board of Directors.
(e)	Cruising	Annual Dues: $25. Cruising status is available to any member in good standing who is actively engaged in long-distance cruising for six or more months of a calendar year on a boat owned by the member. Cruising members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of their previous classification of membership. Members desiring cruising status must have been a member for two years, must petition the board for cruising status and must notify the Board each year for continuation of this status.
(f)	Admiral	Admiral Members are elected by the Board of Directors for exemplary service to the club. Consideration for Admiral memberships will occur no more than every five years. These members maintain all rights of Captain Members but are exempt from paying dues

Privileges of Membership include:

• One listing on the membership roster to include the primary member’s physical address, email, telephone contact, and one secondary email and telephone contact.

• Membership partners are limited to immediate family members (spouse, significant other, partner, adult children). If multiple members of an immediate family own boats, each must have his/her own membership.

• All hard copy communications will be sent to the physical address listed on the roster. Electronic communications will be sent to up to two email addresses.

• A Yeoman member will receive his/her own membership card. 

• Members who have paid their annual dues prior to January 1 of a new year shall receive:

  • New membership cards

  • New Rosters

  • Communications as noted above

  • Invitations to events (dinner meetings, races, cruises, etc.)

A late fee of $25 will be charged if dues are not received by December 15th of the previous year. Members paying fees after January 1st may not be listed on the Roster.

Section 2: There shall be the following initiation fees:

(a)	Captain & Seafarer	$120.00 plus the annual dues
(b)	Bosun	$35.00 plus the annual dues
(c)	Yeoman	$10.00 plus the annual dues

Section 3: The Club Year shall be from January 1 through December 31. Dues shall be payable as described in Section 1in advance of the beginning of each Club Year. Membership shall be limited to 200 dues-paying Captain Memberships plus not more than 100 Bosun and Yeoman Memberships.

Section 4: Application for membership shall be made on a form supplied by the Club. Applicants must be of good character and interested in boating and shall be sponsored by two members in good standing. Applicants must attend two functions (cruising/racing/dinner meetings) within one year and submit a completed application to the Board of Directors. When the attendance requirement is met, and upon receipt of the application, payment of initiation fee and prorated dues, the Board shall act on the application. Prorating of dues shall be quarterly. Upon receiving a favorable majority vote of the Board members, the applicant shall act upon the application

Section 5: Admiral membership shall be by unanimous vote of the Board based on exceptional contribution to the Club by a member of the Club over a minimum of 10 years as a Captain member.

Section 6: The Board of Directors may, by a majority vote, reprimand or expel a member for unbecoming conduct or actions inimical to the Club.

Section 7: Any member in arrears of his/her dues as of March 31 shall be dropped from the membership. Membership may be reinstated by the Board upon payment of the delinquent dues and late fees.

ARTICLE II: Committees

Section 1: The Commodore shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, chairpersons for such committees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to appoint each year a Nominating Committee of three members in May for the following year. The committee shall select its own chair. No more than one Officer or Director shall be appointed as a member of the Nominating Committee.

Section 3: The Nominating Committee shall act as election judges and certify to the Commodore the successful candidates. The vote shall be by the voice of members present at the election meeting. In the case of multiple candidates for a position, a written ballot will be held.

Section 4: The change of watch ceremony and appreciation awards presentation shall occur at the December meeting.

ARTICLE III: Meetings

Section 1: Monthly meetings of the members of the Club shall normally be held on the third Tuesday of the month.

Section 2: Special membership meetings may be called by the Commodore, or at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors, by giving 10 days’ notice to the members, stating the object of the meeting.

Section 3: The Board of Directors shall meet on the Tuesday 14 days prior to the membership meeting each month or as otherwise called by the Commodore.

Section 4: The business activities of the Club shall be addressed at the Board of Directors meetings or at special meetings. A quorum consisting of a minimum of four members of the Board shall be present for voting. Club affairs, which require a decision by vote, shall be decided by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 5: In December, the Commodore shall schedule a meeting to be held in January to establish a budget for the coming year. The Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Cruise Chair, Race Chair, and Quartermaster should be in attendance, as well as other interested Board members.

Section 6: Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings.

ARTICLE IV: Nominations and Elections

Section 1: The Nominating Committee shall publish nominees in the Rudderpost prior to the election meeting, which shall be the November dinner meeting. The Nominating Committee shall read its selections to the Club at the October dinner meeting and the November election meeting. Additional nominations of consenting members in good standing for a minimum of one year before the election meeting may be made from the floor by any voting member. No members shall be nominated without their consent.

Section 2: Only members in good standing shall be entitled to vote. Absentee voting by written proxy shall be permitted. Only proxies in the hands of the Club Secretary prior to the election meeting will be considered valid.

Section 3: The Nominating Committee shall act as election judges and certify to the Commodore the successful candidates. A voice vote shall be taken by the members present at the election meeting. In the case of multiple candidates for a position, a written ballot will be held.

Section 4: The change of watch ceremony and presentation of appreciation awards shall occur at the December meeting.

ARTICLE V: Burgee and Yacht Owners

Section 1: The Club burgee shall be a blue and white pennant bearing a red seahorse. It shall be flown according to prevailing custom.

Section 2: Boats owned by Club members, or boats in which a Club member has at least a quarter interest, may be enrolled in the Club squadron and may fly the Club burgee.

Section 3: No yacht or boat chartered to a non-member of the Club, or engaged in trading, shall be entitled to fly the Club burgee.

ARTICLE VI: Flags of Officers

Section 1: The Commodore, when afloat, may fly a blue rectangular flag with a white fouled anchor encircled by 13 white stars, according to prevailing custom.

Section 2: The Vice Commodore, when afloat, may fly a red rectangular flag with a white fouled anchor encircled by 13 white stars, according to prevailing custom.

Section 3: The Rear Commodore, when afloat, may fly a white rectangular flag with a red fouled anchor encircled by 13 red stars, according to prevailing custom.

Section 4: Past Commodores, when afloat, may fly a blue rectangular flag with a white fouled anchor and three white stars in a line, according to prevailing custom.

Section 5: The Secretary, when afloat, may fly a blue rectangular flag with two crossed white quills, according to prevailing custom.

Section 6: The Treasurer, when afloat, may fly a blue rectangular flag with an acorn on it, according to prevailing custom.

ARTICLE VII: Property Rights

Section 1: This Club has no capital stock. No member shall have any right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any of the property assets which the Club may have except upon dissolution, according to law.

ARTICLE VIII: Solicitation

Section 1: No member shall use, or release to others, the Club membership roster for any purpose unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that a notice and a copy of the proposed amendments be communicated to each Club member at least 10 days prior to such meeting.

ARTICLE X: Officers & Duties

Section 1: The Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Cruise chair, Race Chair and one Director At Large shall be elected at the annual election meeting for the following Club year.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall consist of the flag officers, Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore; and Immediate Past Commodore, who are to serve for a term of one year, and six other elected members, secretary, treasurer, cruise chair, two directors, and a race chair.

The directors, treasurer, secretary, and cruise chair shall serve a term of two years. One director, and the secretary’s terms shall start on even years. The other director, treasurer and cruise chair terms shall start on odd years. Each person serving may serve a second consecutive term. After two terms, a member shall wait for four years before again holding an office.

The race chair shall serve until a successor is elected.

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the management of the club.

Section 3: The Commodore shall be the senior officer of the Club and shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: The Vice Commodore shall take the place of the Commodore in his or her absence. The Vice Commodore’s principal duties shall include coordination with external organizations, and responsibility for calling meetings, including arranging a venue and speaker for dinner meetings.

Section 5: The Rear Commodore shall take the place of the Commodore in the absence of both the Commodore and Vice Commodore. The Rear Commodore’s principal duties shall include responsibility for membership, including keeping membership records and publishing the roster.

Section 6: The Secretary's duties shall include keeping records of all proceedings of the Club and of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall maintain a record of communications and other matters connected with Club business. The Secretary shall also be responsible for managing the Club’s reciprocal moorage agreements with other clubs.

Section 7: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Club, shall give necessary receipts for money paid to the Club, and shall deposit Club money in the bank approved by the Board of Directors in the name of the Club. Disbursements shall be made by the Treasurer upon the authority of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep suitable books of accounts, shall make reports to the Board of Directors, and to meetings of the membership regarding the financial condition of the Club. The Immediate Past Commodore shall review the books and financial practices with the Treasurer once per year.

Section 8: All disbursements in the form of written checks must be signed by two officers. The amount, payee, and frequency of all electronic disbursements (including debit card transactions, PayPal withdrawals, and electronic checks) must be agreed to by at least two Officers and documented before the transaction is made. The two Officers will normally be the Treasurer and one other Officer.

Section 9: The Commodore, with the advice of the Board of Directors, shall annually appoint the Club delegates or representatives to other yachting organizations.

ARTICLE XI: Appointed Officers

Section 1: The Board shall select members to fill the following positions:

Fleet Captain: Responsible for assisting the Race Chair.

Quartermaster: Responsible for maintaining a record of the Club’s equipment and managing sales of club merchandise.

Rudderpost Editor: Responsible for publishing and distributing a monthly newsletter.

PHRF Handicapper: Serves as the Club’s PHRF handicapper.

PHRF Director: Serves as the Club’s representative at PHRF.

PIYA Representative: Serves as the Club’s representative to the PIYA.

Social Media Chair: Coordinates Facebook postings, and other social media for the benefit of club activities and outreach to the community.

Webmaster: Administers the Club’s information systems such as websites, email systems, databases, and other Internet Services.

ARTICLE XII: Reciprocal Agreements

Section 1: The Board shall annually review and establish reciprocal agreements.