LA CROSSE SAILING CLUB BY-LAWS

Adopted May, 1968

Latest Revision Ratified May 3, 2008

 

ARTICLE 1 GENERAL

1.1     This organization shall be known as the La Crosse Sailing Club, hereinafter referred to as the Club.

1.2     The purposes of the Club shall be to promote sailing as a recreational activity and amateur sport, and to conduct activities commensurate with these purposes.

1.3     Additions, deletions or changes to the By-Laws of the Club may be submitted by any member in good standing in writing at any membership meeting and shall be voted upon at the next following membership meeting.  Modifications to the By-Laws shall require a favoring vote by two-thirds of the members in good standing, present and voting, or by signed proxy.  Modifications shall be presented in the notice of the meeting at which they will be voted upon.  The Club shall be dissolved only by a favoring vote of two-thirds of members in good standing, at a membership meeting, where notice of said purpose has been provided.

1.4     In addition to these bylaws the club directorship shall establish rules that must be followed by all members for use of club facilities, and for docking or dry storage of boats. A written policy shall also be established for the purposes of managing and administering wait list(s) for assignment of slip, lift, beach, rack, and trailer locations. These documents shall be published annually and made available to all club members and prospective members. Additions, deletions, or changes to these documents shall be the responsibility of the directorship subject to approval of the membership at a membership meeting.

1.5     Upon dissolution of the Club, all assets will be equally divided among members in good standing as of December of the previous year subject to compliance with applicable state laws.

ARTICLE 2 MEMBERSHIP

2.1     Family Membership

2.1.1     The requirements for family membership shall be non-discriminatory. All persons 18 years of age or older on or before June 30 of the membership year shall be considered eligible.

2.1.2     Any eligible person applying for family membership shall be considered elected upon majority vote of the Membership Committee.

2.1.3     All family memberships shall be permitted full and complete use of all club facilities, except unauthorized use of those properties specified by the directorship to be preserved for official purposes.

2.1.4     A family membership entitles the member to one slip or lift location, and one rack, trailer or beach location. Availability and assignment is subject to the wait list policy and payment of docking fees per section 2.4.  Any additional slip or lift locations require that a second membership fee be paid. This is subject to approval by the club directorship. Availability and assignment is subject to the wait list policy and payment of docking fees per section 2.4.

2.2     Associate Membership

2.2.1     In addition to family membership there shall be a category of associate member.

2.2.2     The category of associate member shall be open to all past members of the club, retroactively, subject to the following conditions:  1. Associate members will not be allowed to have any  ownership in boats at the club. 2. An associate member will not be allowed to vote on club business.

2.2.3     An associate member will have all the privileges of article 2.1.3

2.3     Group Membership

2.3.1     The requirements for group membership shall be non-discriminatory.

2.3.2     Any eligible group applying for group membership shall be considered elected upon majority vote of the entire club membership at a membership meeting.

2.3.3     All group memberships shall be permitted full and complete use of all club facilities, except unauthorized use of those properties specified by the directorship to be preserved for official purposes.

2.3.4     There shall be one vote for each group membership.

2.3.5     The category of group membership allows for multiple dockage space allocations along the bulkhead and on the beach.  Availability and assignment is subject to the waitlist policy and payment of docking fees per General Club Rules, Docking/Storage Rules and Space Assignments & Waiting List Policy.  The number and location of slips, lift locations, and dry storage is subject to approval by the club directorship.  

2.4     General

2.4.1     All Members are required to place their boat in the assigned space each year by the date established by the directorship, approved by the membership in a membership meeting and shown in the published club rules. Failure to do so may result in loss of the assigned space as described in the published docking rules. Any deviations from this policy require approval of the properties chairman acting on behalf of the directorship.

2.4.2     All dues fees and other financial obligations to the club must be paid in full each year by the date established by the directorship, approved by the membership in a membership meeting and shown in the published club rules. Any membership in arrears on or after that shall lose its good standing, right to docking and dry storage space, and voting privileges. Officers who have not paid their dues by this date are  subject to replacement by special election. The next ranking officer will automatically assume authority.

2.4.3     The fees for dockage, storage, membership, and initiation for all classes of membership and types of boats are set annually by the directorship subject to approval of the membership at a membership meeting.

2.4.4     Workday credit is set annually by the directorship subject to approval of the membership at a membership meeting.  This credit is applied to the next years membership fee, and is based on a member’s (or their designee’s) participation at workdays during the year, and/or completion of other tasks approved by the properties chairman.

2.4.5     The initiation fee is charged once to a new family of group member.

ARTICLE 3  OFFICERS

3.1     All officers of the Club shall be members in good standing selected by a majority ballot vote of those members in good standing, present and voting, or by signed proxy, at the Annual Meeting.

3.2     At least one nominee for each office except Fleet Captains shall be presented in the form of a Yes or No ballot by the Nominating Committee. In the event of a majority No vote, the Nominating Committee shall similarly present an alternate candidate until the office is filled.

3.3     The terms of all offices shall be one calendar year beginning on January 1 of the year following election.

3.4     Commodore shall be elected first.  The Commodore is eligible to succeed himself in this office for a maximum term of three successive years.

3.5     A Vice-Commodore shall be elected next.  The Vice-Commodore is eligible to succeed himself in this office for a maximum term of three successive years.

3.6     A Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected next. The Secretary/Treasurer is eligible to succeed himself in this office for a maximum term of three successive years. As compensation for the duties, the Secretary/Treasurer shall have membership and dockage fees waived during his years of service.

3.7     Fleet Captains shall be nominated and elected next. Each fleet Captain shall be nominated and elected only by and from the owners of his fleet craft.  Each Fleet Captain is eligible to succeed himself in this office without limit.

3.8     No person shall be elected to more than one office position concurrently.

3.9     Vacancies shall be filled by special election at the next following membership meeting to complete the un-expired term of the office vacated.

3.10            Officers may be removed from office by two thirds vote of the membership in good standing present and voting, or by signed proxy, at a membership meeting.

ARTICLE 4 DIRECTORSHIP

4.1     The Directorship of the Club shall consist of three officers and the Fleet Captains. In the event there are fewer than five bona-fide fleet captains the executive committee shall appoint, from the membership, interim captains to bring the directorship to the designated strength.  Interim at-large appointments are only for those years when the membership falls below five.

4.2     The presiding officer of the Directorship and the Club shall be the Commodore, or in his absence, the Vice-Commodore.

4.3     The Directorship shall meet, irregularly, upon notification to all officers by the Commodore or Secretary/Treasurer.

4.4     51% of the Directorship present shall constitute a quorum.

4.5     The Directorship shall be responsible for the administration of the business of the Club, consistent with these By-Laws.

4.6     A majority vote of the Directorship, present and voting and by signed proxy, shall be required to approve any resolution presented for vote.

4.7     The Executive Committee shall be composed of the three elected officers.

ARTICLE 5 MEETINGS

5.1     Each membership meeting of the Club shall be called by mailed notice to all members by the Secretary/Treasurer.  Notice shall be postmarked not less than 14  days previous to the date of the meeting and must include an agenda for the meeting.

5.2     Fifteen members in good standing, present, shall constitute a quorum.

5.3     It shall be mandatory to call two membership meetings per year. The first shall be designated as the Organizational meeting and shall be held in the First Quarter of each year. The second shall be designated as the Annual Meeting and held during the fourth quarter of each year.  The Annual Meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing officers for the coming year and to discuss any recommended new procedure or general business for the consideration of the new Board of Directors.

5.3.1     The Directorship shall call other membership meetings at its pleasure and convenience.

5.3.2     Upon receipt of a petition requesting a membership meeting and signed by 10 or more members in good standing, a meeting shall be called within 30 days.

5.4  A majority of those members in good standing, present and voting, or by signed proxy, shall be required to approve any resolution presented for vote, except as provided in Articles 1.3 and 3.10

ARTICLE 6 BUSINESS

6.1     A proposed budget for each calendar year shall be prepared by the Directorship and presented to the membership with the notice of the Organizational Meeting for approval at that meeting.

6.2     A proposed budget shall indicate the following:               

A.   Detailed expenditures for the previous year.

B.    Current cash condition and allocation to general and reserve accounts.

C.    Proposed schedule of dues, fees and assessments.

D.   Outstanding accounts receivable.

E.    Total estimated income for the calendar year.

F.    Detailing of proposed expenditures for the calendar year.

G.   Estimated general and reserve fund balances and the end of the year.

6.3     Funds budgeted in the reserve fund may be used only for those expenditures specifically authorized by the membership at a membership meeting.

6.4     The Directorship is authorized to make appropriations without membership approval for emergency expenditures only, the total of which shall not exceed the amount of the general fund.

6.5     The Directorship is authorized to dispose of Club properties without membership approval only if the value of such property does not exceed $150.00.  All other disposals shall be subject to approval by the membership at a membership meeting.

6.6     Funds remaining at the end of each year may be added to the reserve fund subject to approval by the membership at a membership meeting.

6.7     Other proper and appropriate business may be presented before any membership meeting by the Directorship or by any member in good standing.

ARTICLE 7 COMMITTEES

7.1     The Commodore shall appoint a chairman and the members to all committees except the Nominating Committee.  Committee chairmen and members shall be appointed for each calendar year from the membership of the Club.  A member of the Directorship may not serve as chairman or member of any standing committee, except that Fleet Captains shall serve on the Nominating Committee.

7.2     The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Fleet Captains.  This committee shall act without a chairman.  The Executive Committee appoints a convener at a board meeting prior to the annual Organizational Meeting.

7.3     Standing Committee appointments shall be announced at the Organizational Meeting.

7.4     Standing Committees shall consist of three members including the chairman.  The standing committees of the Club shall be:

A.   Properties Committee

B.    Social/Membership Committee

C.    Nominating Committee

7.5     Special committees may consist of any number of members.

7.6     Committee chairmen may appoint sub-committee members and chairmen.

7.7     The duties, responsibilities and authority of each committee shall be assigned to that committee by the Directorship.

ARTICLE 8 FLEETS

8.1     A Fleet shall consist of any group of four or more boats of the same or similar class or design who choose to group together for the purpose of representation on the Board of Directors.

8.2     Intentions of Fleet organization may be presented to the officers at any time along with the name of the designated Fleet Captain.

8.3     The proposed Fleet shall be given status in the Club by the officers if it meets the above requirements.