BYLAWS OF THE JOLIET YACHTING CLUB

 

ARTICLE I DESCRIPTION

 

Section One Name

The name of the organization shall be the “JOLIET YACHTING CLUB”.

 

Section Two Location

The location of the club shall be the present site of the Harborside Marina, Wilmington, Illinois.

 

Section Three Colors

The club’s colors shall be red, white, and blue.

 

Section Four Pennant

The club pennant shall consist of the club colors.

 

ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES

 

To promote all boating activities such as planned cruises, competitive power boating, and water sports of all types.

 

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

 

Section One Qualifications

Persons at least twenty-one years of age who are owners of a powerboat or who have the use of a powerboat by lease or permission of an owner and whose character and reputation is satisfactory to the Membership Committee may become a member upon election by said committee and notification of the club Secretary. Members shall enjoy all privileges of the club and be subject to all duties of the club .

Section TwoClassifications

a. Regular members shall be approved by the majority vote of the Membership Committee. Regular membership of a husband or wife shall automatically confer membership on the spouse with no additional initiation fee. Each regular membership, married or a single, is entitled to two votes.

b. Associate members shall be approved by the majority vote of the Membership Committee. Associate membership is available only to an applicant who has been a member in good standing and cannot now be active due to location, health, or other good and just cause. Associate membership of a husband or wife will automatically confer membership on the other. Associate memberships will not have voting power and may not hold any elective office.

c. Honorary membership may be given to persons whom the club wishes to recognize. These persons shall have the privileges of associate members.

d. Additional classifications may be created as the membership deems necessary.

Section Three Application Procedures

a. Application s for membership shall be made in writing on the membership form.

b. Applications must be voted on by secret ballot . A rejected applicant may reapply for membership after a period of twelve months .

c. A majority negative vote of the Membership Committee shall be considered rejection of the application.

d. The Membership Committee shall carefully consider any protestation (in writing or in person) from a member who has just cause for demanding the refusal of admittance of an applicant.

e. If an applicant is rejected, all sums accompanying the application shall be returned immediately.

f. When an applicant is admitted to membership, current dues shall become payable immediately.

Section Four Fees and Dues

a. Regular members shall pay an initiation fee of $ 50 . Initiation fees must be paid in full within thirty days after applicant has been approved or the paid-in balance shall be returned and the application revoked. Membership cards shall be issued only when initiation fees are fully paid.

b. Dues will be $125 per year. Any member joining after July 1 will pay dues of $60.00, and the initiationfee will become payable immediately. Dues for current members will become due at the Annual Meeting in November, which is the start of the Club's fiscal year.

c. Associate membership dues shall be $10 per year.

Section Five Suspension / Expulsion

a.The Board of Directors, by a two-thirds vote, shall censure or suspend any member for conduct unbecoming of a gentleman or lady or for implication in any occurrence detrimental to the good order, peace, or welfare of the club, or at variance with its b ylaws or rules. If the offense warrants expulsion, the member in question shall be permitted to defend himself or herself if desired before the full Board. The hearing shall take place not sooner than ten days or later than fifteen days after the notice has been given.

Members whose dues or other club accounts are sixty days in arrears shall be dropped.

Section Six Reinstatement

Anyone whose membership shall have lapsed either by resignation or for nonpayment of dues for one year or less must pay all accrued dues and assessments for reinstatement. If any membership shall have lapsed for more than one year, current entrance fees and current dues must be paid for reinstatement. Such reinstatement must be passed by the majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS and BOARD of DIRECTORS

 

Section One Names

The club shall be governed by an Officer Staff and Board of Directors. In order of rank they shall be as follows: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past Commodore, and two elected Directors, for a total of seven directors.

Section Two Duties

The duties, authorities, and responsibilities of the Officers and Board of Directors shall be as set forth herein and may include other such duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the parlimentary authority adopted.

a. Commodore

The Commodore shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors and shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Club. In the commodore’s absence, duties shall be performed by the Vice Commodore; in case of the absence of both, duties shall be performed by the Treasurer.

The Commodore shall:

1. Have the primary duty of finding new goals for the c lub and delegate routine tasks to the Vice Commodore in order to pursue this end.

2. Make such appointments as may be necessary for the proper operation of the Club.

3. With the sanction of the Board of Directors, appoint and send delegates or representatives of the Club to any meetings, conventions, or regatta of any association to which the Club belongs.

4. Be a member of the Cruise Committee.

5. B e the custodian of the Corporate Records.

b. Vice Commodore

The vice commodore shall:

1. Be responsible with the Commodore for performing the routine tasks of the club.

2. Be responsible for all goals started by the Commodore.

3. Chair the Finance Committee.

 

c. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall:

1. C ollect dues and fees.

2. Maintain accurate records, which shall become the permanent property of the Club and be available to the members.

3. Provide a report at each regular meeting indicating the financial status of the Club.

4. Receive expense receipts and disburse funds authorized by the Board of Directors. The Commodore and Vice Commodore are also authorized to sign checks, but only one signature is necessary.

5. D eposit funds of the Club in such savings institution as the Board of Directors designates.

6. B e a member of but not the Chairman of the Finance Committee.

7. Maintain title to any property owned by Club.

 

d. Secretary

The secretary shall:

1. N otify members of meetings called by the Commodore as provided in the Bylaws.

2. N otify members of their election, suspension, expulsion, or the acceptance of their resignation.

3. Maintain an accurate and current roster of the members.

4. Record proceedings of club meetings and Board meetings . T hese records shall become the permanent property of the Club.

5. C onduct all correspondence for the Club unless otherwise designated by the Commodore.

e. Bosun

The bosun shall:

1. Have custody of all Club property and be responsible for its proper condition at all times.

2. Be custodian of all trophies and awards until granted.

3. M aintain a roster of all boats by type and technical specifications .

4. Be a member of the Cruise Committee.

f. Directors

The Board of Directors shall propose necessary changes to the Bylaws in order to maintain the essence, propriety, and equanimity of the Club and shall be the governing body of all recommendations and suggestions of the Standing Committees and members.

 

ARTICLE V NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

 

Section One Nominating Committee

Thirty days prior to the annual November election, the Commodore, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of three members who are not members of the Board.

Section Two Nominees

a. The Nominating Committee shall nominate as many candidates (including themselves) for each office as they deem advisable and present them on an official ballot, allowing space for further nominations at the Annual Meeting.

b. Further nominations may be made from the floor of the meeting.

Section Three Balloting

A secret ballot shall be taken to determine the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes.

No member may make a motion, second, or vote on any motion unless current dues are paid.

Section Four Change of Watch

Officers and Directors shall take office within sixty days of the election at the annual Change of Watch.

Section Five Eligibility

No member shall be eligible to hold the office of Commodore or Vice Commodore unless such member shall have previously held an other office of the Club or shall have served actively on three c ommittees of the Club.

Section Six Term

The term of office is one year. There is no limit on the number of times an individual may hold an office.

 

Section Seven Resignation and Removal from Office

a. Resignation

Resignation by an Officer or Director must be made to the Commodore and acted upon by the Board of Directors .

b. Removal from Office

Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time by a two-thirds vote of members present at a meeting, providing all members have been notified of the meeting.

Section Eight Vacancies

In the event of the death, resignation, or expulsion of an officer, the Board of Directors will appoint a member who is qualified to fill the vacancy. ( See Section Five Eligibility)

 

ARTICLE VI MEETINGS

 

Section One Frequency

Meetings will be called at the discretion of the Commodore.

Section Two Annual Meeting

The annual meeting for the election of members to the Board of Directors shall be held during the month of November.

The fiscal year will begin with the annual meeting in November.

Section Three Quorum

A meeting shall be accepted as official when a quorum of the membership is present. A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a majority of the membership.

 

 

ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES

 

Section One Standing Committees

There shall be four major Standing Committees and as many special committees as are necessary to conduct the Club business. The members of the committees shall be selected by the respective chairperson of each committee. The Standing Committees are :

a. The Finance Committee

b. The Membership Committee

c. The Cruise Committee

d. The Entertainment Committee

 

Section Two Duties of Standing Committees

a. Finance Committee

The duties of this committee, with the assistance of the chairman, shall be to prepare the budget for the Club for the year and to recommend to the Board of Directors any change in the membership fees, dues, or special assessments, or changes in any accommodation of the Club. This committee shall consist of the Vice Commodore as chairman, and not less than three other members, one of whom shall be the Treasurer.

The club’s yearly budget , not to exceed ninety percent of the estimated income, shall be prepared by the Finance Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval within sixty days after the Change of Watch .

b. Membership Committee

The duties of this committee are to secure members for the Club, to pass on all applications, and to present recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding membership privileges in the Club. The chairman of the Membership Committee must countersign all applications for membership which are approved by this committee.

c. Cruise Committee

The duties of this committee shall be to promote cruising and water activities. The Commodore shall be a member of this committee. This committee shall provide a program of events for the schedule for the year and shall manage such events as they occur. The committee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom shall be the Bosun.

d. Entertainment Committee

The duties of this committee shall be to arrange for and manage any entertainment of a social nature as will, in their judgment, be enjoyed by the members.

 

Section Three Accountability of Committees

All committees shall be accountable to the Board of Directors. No committee or member shall obligate the Club to a greater amount than appropriated by the Board of Directors or allowed in the budget.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern in all meetings unless in conflict with the provisions of the Bylaws, in which case the provisions of the Bylaws will take precedence.

 

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENTS

An amendment to the Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting, providing the amendment has been proposed in writing to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting.

 

ARTICLE X AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS

The Board of Directors shall appoint an Auditing Committee consisting of three regular members whose duty it shall be to audit the records of the Treasurer and submit their findings to the Board before the Annual Meeting or at their request.

 

ARTICLE XI ASSESSMENTS

 

Special assessments shall be levied only when the Board of Directors find it indispensable. The amount of the assessments shall be decided by the Board and presented to the membership for a vote. A ll members shall be notified at least ten days in advance as to the time and place of the vote and the nature of the assessment. The assessment shall be authorized by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

 

ARTICLE XII MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE

Section One Membership Card

Members in this club shall be issued a membership card.

Section Two Revocation of Card

Should the holder of this card cease to be a member due to expulsion, failure to pay dues, or for any other reason growing out of the fault of the holder, then this card may immediately be declared null and void at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Such member can make no claim against the club for reimbursement of fee.

Section Three Obligations of the Club

The Club assumes no obligation in issuing the card except the sole obligation to carry out the provisions of the Bylaws in good faith.

Section Four Authorization of the Card

All cards shall be signed by the Commodore and a correct record kept thereof.