Rockland Yacht Club

Bylaws

Members | Bylaws | Membership Application

Rockland Yacht Club
BY-LAWS
Revised: 2/10/2003

Article I
The name of the organization shall be The Rockland Yacht Club.

Article II
The purpose of the Club is to promote recreational boating in the Rockland area and work with the community to develop the waterfront of Rockland Harbor, particularly for the recreational boater.

Article III
There are two categories of members - members and associate members.

The qualifications to be a member are to have an interest in the purpose of the Club, pay the current dues, and comply with the rules of the organization. It is not required that members own a boat, but they should have a sincere interest in boating and an awareness of the need to keep boating safe and pleasurable. Members shall have the rights and privileges as set in the by-laws.

The requirements to be an associate member are to have been a member for at least five years or to have been an elected officer of the Club, be a non-boat owner or a boat not in Maine waters, have a continued interest in Club activities and goals and pay the annual administrative fee.

Article IV
The officers of the Club shall be:

Commodore (President)
Vice-Commodore (Vice-President)
Rear Commodore (Sergeant-at-Arms)
Secretary
Treasurer

All officers shall be elected by the majority of members submitting ballots at the annual election meeting and will serve a term of one year, or until the next annual election meeting.

COMMODORE: Will preside over all meetings. Will act as coordinator of all activities and see that the goals of the Club are pursued and realized as much as possible within his or her ability.
Specific Duties:

Set date, time, and place of each Club meeting.

Conduct all meetings in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

Cause a newsletter to be published monthly, except those months when meetings are not held, to insure all members are informed of club activities.

Appoint committee chairpersons and committee members as deemed necessary.

Maintain a supply of Club burgees and officer flags for sale to members.

Convene an Executive Committee meeting on a regular basis to help in achieving the goals of the Club.

Maintain liaison with committee chairpersons.

In coordination with the Club secretary and treasurer, maintain proper records and files of Club activities.

VICE-COMMODORE: Will assist the Commodore in the discharge of his or her duties.
Specific Duties:

Preside at Club activities or meetings in the absence of the Commodore.

Will be a member of the Executive Committee.

REAR-COMMODORE: Will assist the Commodore and Vice-Commodore in the discharge of their duties.
Specific Duties:

Preside at Club activities or meetings in the absence of the Commodore or Vice-Commodore.

Research and compile information on possible new projects and activities, check viability of such, and present them to the Club for consideration.

Act as the Club historian.

Will be a member of the Executive Committee.

SECRETARY: Will record and keep available at all information which is discussed at regular or special meetings.
Specific Duties:

Take minutes of each official meeting and make them available to the Commodore.

Advise the Commodore on Roberts Rules of Order in conducting a meeting.

Maintain files of all documents, reports, and communications connected with the business of the Club.

Assist the Executive Committee in the conduct of Club officer elections.

Type the monthly newsletter for distribution to Club members.

Assist all officers and chairpersons in the area of secretarial needs as deemed necessary.

Will be a member of the Executive Committee.

Will have all the powers and duties of the Club Treasurer if needed.

TREASURER: Shall receive all monies due the Club and pay the bills contracted by it.
Specific Duties:

Maintain a financial program that will insure funds are available for Club activities.

Coordinate all financial activities with the Commodore, Club officers, and committee chairpersons.

Make an annual financial report at the end of the fiscal year to be presented to the members at the first meeting of the year and/or when requested by the Commodore.

Will be a member of the Executive Committee.
The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Will pay Post Office Box rent.

Will pay for office supplies.

Will maintain a separate account known as "Reserve Fund". The amount of dues paid into this Fund and expenditures from this Fund will be approved by the membership in accordance with provisions of Article VIII of these by-laws.

Article V
Temporary Officers - If the Commodore is unable to serve the full term of office, the Vice-Commodore shall assume the position of Commodore until the next annual meeting. If both the Commodore and Vice-Commodore are unable to serve their terms of office, the Rear Commodore will assume the position of Commodore until the next annual meeting.

If the Vice-Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, or Treasurer are unable to serve their full terms, the Commodore, with the approval of the majority of other officers, shall appoint a successor to serve until the next meeting.

Article VI
COMMITTEES:

Nominating Committee - An ad hoc committee appointed by the Commodore prior to the annual election meeting. The Nominating Committee shall present the Executive Committee with a slate of nominees for election as officers for the coming year.

Membership Committee - The Membership Committee will coordinate the collection of annual dues, supply membership information to prospective members and publish an annual membership roster and boat listing.
Activities Committee - The Activities Committee shall plan social activities and advise the Commodore on any programs to be presented to the membership for consideration.

Cruise Committee - The Cruise Committee shall establish a cruise schedule each spring for the coming summer's on water activities. They will publish said schedule and insure the information is communicated to the Club membership.
Race Committee - The Race Committee shall organize any racing activities desired by the membership. This may include handicapping of boats and judging the conduct of individual races.

Special Committees - The Commodore may appoint members to committees established for special tasks.

Executive Committee - The Executive Committee shall be comprised of all Club elected officers, the immediate past Commodore and no less than three members of the general membership designated by the Commodore. The Executive Committee will act as an advisory group to insure the goals of the Club are maintained, protocol and procedures are correct, and to assist the Club officers and committee chairpersons in accomplishing their responsibilities. In conjunction with the Nominating Committee, conduct the annual officer election.

Article VII
Meetings - Regular Club meetings will be held monthly on the third Sunday of each month except during the months of July and August. Certain social functions such as dinners and picnics may be designated by the Commodore as a monthly meeting. The annual election will be held at the first meeting after the summer recess.

Article VIII
Amendments to the by-laws shall be made at any general membership meeting by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at such meeting, providing that notice of the proposed amendments is mailed to the membership at least ten days prior to the meeting and a quorum of 20 percent of the membership is present at the meeting. Each attending member may present one written proxy from an absentee member to be counted against the quorum and to be voted only towards amendments to the by-laws. Expenditures from the Reserve Fund and allocation of dues income to the Reserve Fund shall be authorized at any general membership meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present at such meeting, providing that notice of the proposed expenditures from the Reserve Fund or proposed change in allocation of dues income to the Reserve Fund is mailed to the membership at least ten days prior to the meeting. Mailing of the notice of meeting may be by inclusion in the monthly newsletter, e-mail, U. S. Mail, or other mail delivery service.

Article IX
The Officers of the Club shall prepare an annual spending budget for the coming year to be presented to the membership for approval at the regular January meeting. Upon approval of the budget by a majority of members attending the meeting, the Commodore is authorized to direct the Treasurer to expend funds within the Budget parameters. The Vice-Commodore may act in the absence of the Commodore. If expenditures are expected to exceed the total budget amount at any time during the year by an amount greater than ten percent, the Officers of the Club shall notify the membership at the next regular meeting and shall give notice of the budget variance at least ten days prior to that meeting. A vote by a majority of members attending the meeting shall determine the action to be taken to resolve the budget variance. Mailing of the notice of meeting may be by inclusion in the monthly newsletter, e-mail, U. S. Mail, or other mail delivery service.

CLUB BURGEE
Hoist two-thirds fly. Blue edge one twentieth the fly in width. Blue center three-fifths the fly in length. Edges of blue center to be parallel to the edges of flag. Three red, five pointed stars, such as would be circumscribed by circle, of diameter one-twelfth the fly of the burgee. One star to be located on white portion of the burgee, apex up, at a point on the center line of fly, two-thirds of way from hoist. Two other stars to be located, apex up, on white portion of burgee at points distant one-tenth of fly, from hoist, one star to be at the top and one at bottom of flag. Only members of the Club are entitled to carry or display the burgee. Burgees can be ordered through the Commodore.