South Winds Sailing Club
Constitution And By-Laws (August 2000) (Updated March 2009)
Constitution
Article I. Name and Purposes
1. The name of this organization
shall be the South Winds Sailing Club
2. The purposes of this organization
are:
A. To provide its members with opportunities to participate in enjoyable
group activities that enhance the pleasure of sailing.
B. To provide its members with opportunities to increase their knowledge
and improve their skills in sailing and water safety.
C. To provide its members with opportunities to communicate, within the
organization and to individuals, groups, and organizations outside it, on
matters of interest and concern to the membership.
D. To champion the interests of sail-boating on
Article II. Membership
1. There shall be three classes of
membership:
A. Regular Membership: Those dues-paid individuals of families who hold
full or part ownership in a sailboat of any type and who sail that craft on
B. Associate Membership: Those dues-paid individuals or families who
hold full or part ownership in a power vessel of any type, who hold full or
part ownership in a sailing vessel of any type but do not sail that craft on
Lake Allatoona, or who do not hold full or part ownership in any water-borne
vessel but who, for reason of their interest in and support for the purposes of
the organization, choose to become members of it.
C. Charter Membership: Those dues-paid individuals or families who join
the organization on or before September 30, 1981, as either Regular or
Associate Members.
2. No special privilege or benefit
shall accrue to any member of the organization based upon that member’s class
of membership except that only Charter Members shall be authorized to display a
gold star on their membership pennant in recognition of their status as Charter
Members.
3. Individuals or families who apply
as Associate Members and who later qualify for Regular Membership will
automatically be accorded Regular Membership; those who apply as Regular
Members and who later qualify as Associate Members will automatically be
accorded Associate Membership.
4. Membership shall be open to all
individuals or families who complete the membership application form and make
full payment of assessed dues at the time of application.
Article III. Dues
1. Annual dues are assessed by vote
of the membership present and voting at the annual organization meeting and at
an equal level for all classes of membership.
2. Part-owners of any water borne
vessel, whether individuals or families, will be assessed dues at the full
annual membership rate established each year. Membership is
not based, nor are dues assessed, upon degree of boat ownership.
3. Family memberships (immediate
family of spouse, spouses, and unmarried children under age 21) will be
assessed dues at the full annual membership rate established each year.
4. Individual memberships will be
assessed dues at the full annual membership rate established each year. Should
an individual member become eligible for family membership at any time, members
of that family will be accorded full membership status without payment of
additional dues, but without reimbursement of dues previously paid by such individuals.
5. Membership dues are due and
payable in full on or within one calendar month following the date of the first
scheduled organization meeting held each calendar year.
6. Individuals or families who
submit application for membership on or before June 30 of any year will be
assessed dues at the full rate established for that year; those who submit
application for membership after June 30 of any year will be assessed dues at a
rate of one-half of the full rate established for that year.
7. Individuals or families who have
been members of the organization but who, by reason of failure to promptly pay
annual assessed dues, have a lapse in their membership, shall be reinstated
without prejudice upon payment of any and all back dues owed. Exceptions based
on hardship may be approved only upon majority vote of the membership present
and voting at any regular meeting.
Article IV. Voting
1. Official activities of the
organization, the expenditure of organizational funds of over $50.00 $100.00
(amended June 1999) per item, and the election of officers shall be approved by
the membership present and voting at any regular or special called meeting of
the organization.
2. Voting shall be by show of hands
of the membership, except for the election of officers which shall be by secret
ballot, with each dues paid individual membership and each dues paid family
membership having one vote.
3. The delegation of proxy votes is
not permitted.
Article V. Officers
1. Officers shall be the Commodore,
Vice-Commodore (as amended, February 11, 1982), the Purser, and the Yoeman (as amended, January 21, 1982), and the Fleet Captain (as amended March
12, 2009).
2. Duties of the Commodore shall be
to conduct all regularly scheduled meetings of the organization, to call and
conduct such special meetings of the organization as may be essential to
conduct the business of the organization, to appoint the chairpersons of
standing or special committees of the organization, to rule on the voting
status of the members, to tabulate votes of the membership, and to authorize by
signature (jointly with the Purser) expenditures made on behalf of the
organization.
3. Duties of the Vice-Commodore
shall be to undertake the duties of the Commodore in the absence of the
Commodore and serve as Chairman of the Regatta Committee (as amended 1/10/85).
4. Duties of the Purser shall be to
issue dues statements, to maintain adequate fiscal records for the organization
(including income, expenditure, and balance statements), to report on income,
expenditure, and balance on hand at each regular meeting of the organization,
to maintain the official membership files (amended August 2000) and to
authorize by signature (jointly with the Commodore) expenditures to be made by
the organization (as amended, January 21, 1982).
5. Duties of the Yoeman
shall be to record minutes of all regular and called meetings of the
organization, to report those minutes to the membership attending the next
regular meeting of the organization, and to maintain the official membership
files (amended August 2000) and meeting
minutes of the organization for posterity. (As amended, January 21, 1982)
6. Duties of the Fleet Captain (amended March 12,
2009) shall be to undertake the duties of the Vice-Commodore in the
absence of the Vice-Commodore and to assist the Vice-Commodore in those duties
as deemed necessary by the Vice-Commodore. The Fleet Captain shall serve as a member of the
Regatta Committee and shall assume the position of Vice-Commodore at the first
regular meeting of the organization in the new calendar year. (amended July 1999)
7. Officers shall be elected by
secret ballot vote of the membership during the first regular meeting of the
organization each calendar year, from nominations submitted by members in
attendance. The term of office shall be for one year, or until the election of
new officers. Members elected to office shall assume the duties of that office
immediately upon election. Should any officer, for any reason, be unable or
unwilling to fulfill the duties of the office to which elected, a new election
shall be conducted either by the Commodore, the Vice-Commodore, the Purser, the
Yoeman, or the Fleet Captain (amended July 1999, amended March 12, 2009)
(in that order) during the next regular meeting of the organization, to fill
the vacant office thus created (as amended January 21, 1982).
8. No officer may serve more than
two consecutive terms in any one office.
Article VI: Meetings
1. Regular meetings of the full
membership of the organization shall be held on the second Thursday of each
month, at a time and place to be determined by the Commodore based upon the
suggestions of the membership.
2. The organization shall hold its
annual organizational meeting, which shall include the election of officers,
during the regularly scheduled January meeting each year.
3. Special meetings shall be called
by the Commodore at the request of any officer and with the written consent of
any other officer, and with at least 4 calendar days notice to the full
membership. Special meetings shall be called by the Commodore upon the written
request of 20 percent of the dues paid membership, and within 7 calendar days
of receipt of such written request, and with at least 4 calendar days notice to
the full membership. (Amended 2/10/00)
4. A quorum shall be constituted by
the attendance of members in any number at any regular or special meeting of
the organization, providing that adequate notice of special meetings has been
provided to the full membership.
Article VII. Special Assessments
1. The organization will make no
special assessments which are binding upon the entire membership, except for
the annual dues.
2. The organization may vote for
special assessments to be charged to individuals and families to cover costs of
special events, activities, or products, to be paid to the organization by
those voluntarily agreeing to participate in those special events and
activities or to purchase those products.
Article VIII. Guests
1. Members of the organization may
invite guests to attend regular meetings, special meetings, and special events
or activities of the organization.
2. Members of the organization must
accompany their invited guests, and are responsible for the conduct of their
invited guests and the costs associated with the attendance and participation
of their invited guests.
3. Guests who hold full or part
ownership of a vessel of any type and who use that craft on
Article IX. Termination of Membership
1. Membership shall be terminated
automatically upon non-payment of assessed dues, or upon the written request of
the member.
2. Any individual or family
membership can be terminated for good cause by a two-thirds vote of the
membership present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the
organization, upon the motion and second of any dues paid members, and after
full discussion by the membership present, for violation of water safety rules,
for improper conduct toward other members or guests, and/or violation of
federal, state or local statutes.
3. No refund of dues will be made
upon termination of membership.
Bylaws
Article I. Committees
1. Standing committees may be
created by a majority vote of the membership. Chairpersons are to be appointed
by the Commodore, and may then select their own committee in such numbers as
may be necessary to effectively conduct the work of the committee.
2. Standing committees shall
include:
A. The Fog Horn Committee: Chaired by the Chief Toot, this committee is
responsible for contacting the full membership with information about regular
and called meetings.
B. The Ships Log Committee: Chaired by the Chief Scribe, this committee
is responsible for preparing and distributing the organization newsletter.
C. The Captains Mess Committee: Chaired by the Chief Steward, this
committee is responsible for planning and coordinating entertainment events for
the entire membership.
D. The Regatta Committee: Chaired by the Vice Commodore, this committee
is responsible for scheduling and conducting sailing competitions for the
entire membership. (as amended 1/10/85)
E. The Training Committee: The purpose of this committee is to locate,
develop, or otherwise make available training in safety and good seamanship to
club members and non-members. It will attempt to hold at least one public
safety awareness program each year in and around
3. Ad-hoc committees may be created
by vote of the membership in response to prevailing winds. Their chairpersons
shall be nominated by the Commodore, and approved by majority vote of the
membership present at any regular or special called meeting. Each chairperson
may appoint committee members in such numbers as may be necessary to conduct
the work of the committee. Any Ad Hoc committee may be terminated by majority
vote of the membership present at any regular or special called meeting. All Ad
Hoc committees are automatically terminated at adjournment of the first meeting
of each calendar year unless specifically extended at that meeting. Ad Hoc
Committees will provide reports of their activities to the club at each regular
meeting. (Amended 2/10/00)
4. Committee members and
chairpersons serve at the pleasure of the Commodore.
Article II. Amending Process
1. The constitution may be amended
by a two-thirds vote of the membership in any two consecutive (amended July
1999) regular or special called meeting. Amendments may be proposed by the
Commodore or by any four dues paid members.
2. Bylaws may be amended by a
two-thirds vote of the membership in any two consecutive (amended July 1999)
regular or special called meeting. Amendments may be proposed by the Commodore
or any four dues paid members.
Articles I through IX of the
constitution, and articles I and II of the by-laws, were approved by vote of
the membership present and voting during the regular meeting of the South Winds
Sailing Club on Thursday, August 13, 1981.
Amendments:
I.
The
nomination of officers will occur during the regular September and October
meetings each year. Elections will be held during the regular October meeting.
The new officers will take office at a Change of Watch ceremony held during the
regular November meeting, which usually will occur during the annual
Commodore’s Ball. This amendment supersedes any previous sections of the constitution and by-laws
regarding the regular annual nomination, election, or assumption of office by
officers. It has no impact on special elections to remove or replace officers.
(August 2000)
II.
The title and term ‘Rear Vice Commodore’ has been
replaced by the title and term ‘Fleet Captain’ ( March 12, 2009)