JAMESTOWN YACHT CLUB

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I Name

The name of this club shall be the Jamestown Yacht Club.

ARTICLE II Purpose

The purpose of the Club is to enhance the freedom its members seek through boating. No rules shall be promulgated which shall corrupt that freedom, within the bounds of safety and courtesy. The Jamestown Yacht Club shall promote boating, shall encourage the exchange of ideas and information among boaters and shall seek to provide an atmosphere for camaraderie among people who believe that time upon the water is an essential part of a free life. To that end, it shall be an intent of the Club to use the waters and shores wisely. A further intent of the Club shall be to not acquire any real estate that is not functional and which does not contribute to its purpose. It shall be the Club's stated intent to promote and enhance boating and entertainment facilities existing in Jamestown wherever possible rather than to compete with them in what is a limited market area.

ARTICLE III Membership

1. Charter.

Any person or recognized family group (hereinafter defined as at least one adult head of household with or without dependent children) may join the Club as a Charter member up to midnight December 31, 1977, for dues of $25.00. In a family group, the adult joint heads of household shall each be entitled to full voting privileges and may hold any office for which qualified and to which elected or appointed.

2. Regular.

After January 1, 1978, any person or family group may join the club with the signed recommendations of two current members, both of whom may not be in the same family group, and upon the payment of an initiation fee and annual dues in an amount designated by the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership. Dues for regular single members without dependent children shall be 20% lower than dues for regular family members. The same voting privileges and right to hold office which apply to Charter members shall apply to regular members. A single member in good standing may upgrade to a family membership without paying an initiation fee.

3. Junior.

All dependent members of family groups shall be considered junior members with no additional membership fees charged. In addition, people under the age of 18 years whose parents do not belong to the club, may become junior members with sponsorship of any two members and upon payment of a fee to be designated by the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership. Dues for Junior members whose parents do not belong to the Club shall be $10.00 annually. Junior members shall not have voting privileges or be eligible to be officers. Any junior member upon being emancipated or reaching the age of 22, whichever occurs first, may become a regular member of the Club within two years and upon payment of the annual dues.

4. Life Members.

Life membership may be granted to any regular member or applicant upon payment of a life membership fee which shall be set by the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership. Regular members may apply for Life Membership after 10 years in good standing. Charter members may apply at any time at 20 times the annual current dues.

5. Honorary Members.

Any person who renders the Club and/or boating extraordinary service may be designated an honorary member. The designation of a person as an honorary member and the term of such membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership on an individual basis. Honorary members shall not have voting privileges or be entitled to hold office.

ARTICLE IV Officers

1. Offices.

The officers of the Club shall be and rank as follows:

Commodore

Vice-Commodore

Rear-Commodore

Secretary

Treasurer

The Commodore, Vice-Commodore, and Rear-Commodore shall be the owner or joint-owner of a boat and shall have been a member in good standing for at least one year. All of the above named shall be considered the Flag Officers.

2. Election.

The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting. A written ballet shall be taken when more than one person is nominated for any office. Vacancies shall be filled as soon as possible after they occur at either a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

3. Terms.

Terms of office shall be for one year, commencing on January 1 of the year following the election meeting. The Commodore, Vice-Commodore, and Rear-Commodore may be elected to the same office for no more than two consecutive terms.

4. Appointed Officers.

The Commodore shall appoint a Fleet Captain to hold office concurrent with his own. The Fleet Captain shall be a Flag Officer.

ARTICLE V Duties of the Officers

1. Commodore.

It shall be the duty of the Commodore to command the Squadron; to preside over all meetings of the Club and the Board of Directors; to call special meetings; to fill temporarily any vacancy by appointment until a meeting can be called to elect a new officer; to appoint chairmen of the committees; to see that any rules and regulations of the Club are enforced and to discipline officers and members as hereinafter provided. The Commodore shall be ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee. The Commodore may at his pleasure appoint at the annual meeting a Master of Arms of the Club to keep order and decorum at meetings, whose term shall be concurrent with the Commodore's.

2. Vice-Commodore.

It shall be the duty of the Vice- Commodore to assist the Commodore in the discharge of his duties, and in his absence or in case of a vacancy to act as Commodore.

3. Rear-Commodore.

It shall be the duty of the Rear-Commodore to assist the Commodore and Vice Commodore in the discharge of their duties and in their absence to act as Commodore.

4. Secretary.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to be custodian of the Club Seal, to keep a true record of all the proceedings of all the regular and special meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors in a book provided for that purpose; to keep a correct roll of all members; to file all documents, records, reports and communications connected with Club business; to notify each member elected of his election; to notify the Treasurer of new members; to notify each member of all meetings and special meetings of the Club; to conduct all correspondence of the Club, and to perform such other duties of the Club as may from time to time be assigned by the Commodore or the Board of Directors. In the case of his inability to attend any meetings, to cause the necessary books and papers to be conveyed to the place of the meeting. In consideration of his/her services, annual dues may be waived during the term of office.

5. Treasurer.

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements of the Club and all monies due it and bills contracted by it; to arrange for the safe keeping of all cash and securities; to make a report at least quarterly and at the annual meeting of the receipts, expenditures and financial condition of the Club. Disbursements from the Club's checking or other accounts shall be by the signature the Commodore, Vice-Commodore, or Treasurer up to the amount of $1,000.00. Amounts in excess of $1,000.00 must be signed by two of the above officers.

6. Fleet Captain.

It shall be the duty of the Fleet Captain to act as Executive Officer to the Commodore; to keep a correct list of yachts of the Club Squadron with the general descriptions of measurements, and also, the names of owners and lessees; and to keep the Secretary posted of any changes as they occur in registration or listing. In addition, he shall be either race committee or cruising committee chairman, as designated by the Commodore; and he will appoint a qualified club member to chair the other committee.

ARTICLE VI Board of Directors

There will be a Board of Directors that shall consist of the Flag Officers, the Chairman of the Membership Committee, the Chairman of the Social Committee and at least one member-at-large who shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. The immediate past Commodore shall be a member of the Board of Directors. The Board shall have full charge of the general management of the Club and shall have general control of the property that belongs to the Club. The Directors may audit the books or examine the books and accounts of the Club Treasurer at any time they deem it necessary and they shall audit the books of all committees and approve all bills of the Club. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall make all rules that they deem necessary and not in violation of the purpose of the Club and shall post the same on a Club bulletin board or otherwise inform the members. The Board shall drop from the rolls any financially delinquent member as hereinafter provided. The Board shall hold meetings at least quarterly at a time determined by the Board and shall hold special meetings at the call of the Commodore or upon the request of three of its members. The Board may purchase or contract for, out of the Club general fund, all necessary materials and services for the ordinary maintenance of the Club property and the general management of the Club, except as hereinafter provided. The Board shall investigate all alleged violations of this constitution or any occurrence detrimental to the Club and shall take such disciplinary action as is deemed necessary as hereinafter provided.

ARTICLE VII Standing Committees

1. Standing Committees.

The Standing Committees shall be a Membership Committee, a Social Committee and a Finance Committee, and any other committee deemed appropriate by the Commodore, the Board or the General Membership. The Commodore shall appoint the Chairmen of the Standing Committees, except the Finance Committee, immediately after being elected to office.

2. Finance Committee.

The Board of Directors shall constitute the Finance Committee which shall meet as necessary or at the discretion of the Board of Directors to estimate all receipts and allocate them in general categories for the promotion and support of the Club's purposes. Committee Chairmen shall be consulted in the preparation of the budget, but the Finance Committee's decisions shall be final, except that 2/3rds of those present and voting may amend the budget at the Annual Meeting when it is presented for ratification. Any donation of tangible property valued in excess of $5,000 shall be subject to ratification of 2/3rds of membership present and voting.

3. Membership Committee.

The Membership Committee shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the Commodore and other members as needed. It shall promote membership in the Club to all interested persons. The Committee shall be a source of information about the Club and shall supply membership forms to all interested persons. Memberships received by the Committee shall be forwarded in their completed form and with required dues and fees to the Secretary.

4. Social Committee.

The Social Committee shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the Commodore and other members as needed. It shall organize and supervise all entertainments sponsored by the Club. The Committee shall have the power to make necessary purchases for the sponsored activities and to set a charge for entertainment with the approval of the Board of Directors. They shall turn over all net profits from the functions to the Treasurer.

5. Race Committee.

The Race Committee shall have the responsibility to coordinate and oversee all Club sponsored races; it will further be their responsibility to oversee purchasing awards with the Board of Directors' approval and to turn over all net profits from fees, collections or any other monies to the Treasurer.

6. Cruising Committee.

It will be the responsibility of the Cruising Committee chairman to coordinate and oversee all Club sponsored cruises. The cruising committee chairman will report directly to the Commodore on all related matters and be present at executive board meetings.

7. House Committee.

The chairman of this committee will be appointed by the Commodore and be present at executive board meetings. It will be his function to maintain a list of all current Club property and the whereabouts of same. The chairman will also be responsible for gathering information on any other future property acquisition as deemed necessary by the Commodore.

ARTICLE VIII Nominating Committee

The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chairman who is to appoint four other members of the Nominating Committee. They shall meet on the second Friday of September of each year to recommend a slate of officers to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Such slate of officers shall be mailed to the general membership at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE IX Elections and Voting

1. Officers

Officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority of those present and voting. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be presented and shall not require a second. Nominations may also be made from the general membership present. The officers shall begin their term of office at their installation and no later than January 1st.

2. Voting.

Only Charter and Regular Members in good standing and Life Members may be entitled to vote in elections or at Club meetings.

ARTICLE X Dues and Assessments

The dues of the respective memberships shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors and ratified by the General Membership. A single member's dues may be established at an amount less than family's membership dues. The Board may be authorized to fix any other charges necessary to the proper support of the Club's purposes. Members who are away from the area for a period of a year or more may be absolved of an annual dues obligation during that time.

ARTICLE XI Meetings

1. The Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting shall be held on the third Friday of October. Ten members, one of whom must be a Flag Officer, shall constitute a quorum.

2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Club shall be called at the discretion of the Commodore, on the request of 3 members of the Board of Directors, at the request of ten members in good standing, or at the request of the majority of the members of any standing committee.

3. Notices.

All notices of annual and special meetings shall be mailed to the members at least seven days prior to the meeting and shall state the purpose of the meeting.

4. Procedure.

Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority in all parliamentary discussions.

ARTICLE XII Resignations, Suspensions & Expulsions

1. Resignations.

Any member may resign from the Club by submitting his/her statement of resignation to the Secretary. The Board will honor any resignation except that of a member in arrears on dues and fees or any other legally incurred costs shall not have his/her resignation accepted until his/her obligations have been honored.

2. Suspensions.

Any member who is 60 days in arrears in his/her dues and fees shall be suspended from all Club activities until such time as he/she is current in all his/her obligations.

3. Expulsions.

Any member who refuses to meet his/her financial obligations to the Club after being notified that he/she is more than 90 days in arrears shall be expelled from membership, provided that the Board may use its discretion in hardship cases (where the Board has been informed in writing by the member of his/her financial hardship) and if it is deemed by the Board that the member fully intends to meet his/her obligations when he/she is financially able to do so. Any member of the Club whose personal conduct is a constant source of embarrassment to the Club, whose conduct of his/her craft upon the water is consistently negligent and of danger to others and who refuses to alter such behavior may be expelled by a 2/3rds vote of the Board of Directors.

4. Relinquishment.

Resignation or expulsion from the Club shall be relinquishment of all rights, title and interest in and to the Club property. Members expelled from the Club may not enjoy or attend any functions of the Club as a guest of a Club member.

ARTICLE XIV Burgee

The Burgee of the Jamestown Yacht Club shall be a white triangle with a white field and blue crossbars with a fouled anchor in the upper left of the field.

ARTICLE XV Guests

Visiting members of other clubs and personal guests of the members in good standing may be extended the courtesies of the Club. Members introducing visitors shall be responsible for the debts and behavior of their guests.

ARTICLE XVI Amendments

This Constitution or any part of it may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of 2/3rds of all the voting members of the Club at any meeting called for that purpose or, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any two consecutive meetings provided the amendment or resolution of repeal, in writing, be posted on the Club bulletin board and mailed to the members one month prior to the final vote.

ARTICLE XVII Interpretation

1. Equality.

At no time in the reading of these by-laws shall the use of a male pronoun be construed to designate that the referred to officer must be a male. Male pronouns in these documents are used as the legal reference to the office and not the gender of the person.

2. Difference.

Any differences between committees or members of the Club in carry out assigned duties shall be resolved by the judgment of the Commodore which shall be final.

---

Go back to the Main Page