WEBSTER SAILING ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1: Change of By-Laws

SECTION 1. The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed only at the annual meeting in the Spring or in September or a specially called meeting of the Association, provided notice has been given of the proposed amendment at least seven days before such meeting, and by vote of two-thirds of the members present at such meeting.

ARTICLE II: Meetings

SECTION 1. The Words "meeting of the Association" mean a meeting of the members of the association either regular or special and a "quorum" means any ten members present at such meeting.

SECTION 2. There shall be two regular meetings per year:
a. An annual awards and elections meeting in September, following the regular seasonal activities.
b. An annual planning meeting at a time to be set by the officers during the Spring months.
c. Additional meetings shall be held at any time at the call of the Commodore or on the written request to the Commodore or any ten members in good standing of any classification.

SECTION 3. At any meeting a quorum may transact business, and all questions shall be decided by a majority of those present.

ARTICLE III: Membership - Dues

SECTION 1. There shall be five types of membership:

A. PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP
This shall be a membership issued to an individual and his or her immediate family for the first year of membership. All definitions and criteria are the same as defined under regular membership. Each probationary membership will become a regular membership upon the vote of the executive committee after one year. If the executive committee does not vote a probationary member to a regular membership, that membership in WSA will cease and the member will be so informed.

B. REGULAR MEMBERSHIP:
This shall be a membership issued to an individual. Such a membership shall include the individual and his or her immediate family. Family is defined to include spouse and all unmarried children living in the same household. Any person sixteen years of age or over, may become a member, except that in a case of a person under eighteen years of age, such membership shall be granted only to such person having obtained the written consent of either parent or legal guardian.

C. SENIOR MEMBERSHIP:
This shall be a membership issued to any individual who has been a member for at least five years, and who in the opinion of the Executive Board, should be granted Senior membership. In granting such membership, the Executive Board shall take into consideration the age and/or retirement status of such individual. Dues for such membership shall be determined by the Executive Board.

D. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP:
This shall be a membership issued to an individual who has evinced particular interest in sailing or in the affairs of the Association, and who may not necessarily then partake therein. It shall be issued only by majority vote made of a quorum of members at a regular or specially called meeting, upon recommendation of the Executive Board. Dues for such membership shall be determined by the Executive Board.

E. LIFE MEMBERSHIP:
This shall be a membership awarded to an individual who has shown extraordinary interest in all aspects of this association. Requirements for this type of membership should meet the following criteria:
1. The individual must have been a member in good standing of the association for a minimum of twenty years.
2. The individual must have served on a committee or Executive committee for a minimum of five years.
3. The individual must be recommended for this type of membership by vote of the Executive Committee.
4. Upon vote of such recommendation by the Executive Committee, this membership shall be acted upon by a motion of an Executive Committee member at a regular or specially called meeting of the Association, and issued only by majority vote made of a quorum of the members present.
5. Dues of this type membership shall be included in the motion by the Executive Committee member making the motion.
F. All classes of membership shall have equal rights and privileges.

SECTION 2.

All members (except as previously stated) shall be admitted upon the approval of a majority of the Executive board, and upon payment of initiation fee, annual dues, boat enrollment fees, as and if such apply.

SECTION 3.

All members shall have a vote and a voice in the affairs of the Association.

SECTION 4.

An admitted member may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board, for non-payment of annual dues or enrollment fees, or conduct and behavior inconsistent with the purposes of the Association.

ARTICLE IV: DUES AND FEES

SECTION 1.
A new member shall pay an initiation fee in accordance with that set from time to time by the Association at any one of its regular meetings.

SECTION 2.
Annual dues (except for Senior, Honorary and Life membership) shall be set from time to time by the Association at any one of its regular meetings.

SECTION 3.
Rules as to boat enrollment fees shall be set from time to time by the Association at any one of its regular meetings. Payment of boat enrollment fee will entitle a member to purchase and display on all boats owned wholly or in partnership with no more than two other persons, such signal, burgee, or other device as may be adopted by the Association as its identification.

ARTICLE V: - DUTIES

SECTION 1.

The officers shall consist of a Commodore, Vice-Commodore (one or more), a Secretary , and a Treasurer, whose duties are herein defined:

A. COMMODORE
The Commodore shall preside at all meetings of the Association and executive committee. He shall have the power to appoint all committees and such officers as are not elective , and to act in emergencies.

B. VICE - COMMODORE (s)

The Vice-Commodore (s) shall perform the duties of the Commodore it the event of his absence or disability, in order of seniority, and shall further perform those duties specially allocated to them.

C. SECRETARY

The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Association, notify the membership of all meetings, receive applications for membership, notify applicants of their membership, notify committees of their appointment, keep all records of the Association, minutes of meetings and proceedings, a list of members with addresses, a record of all boats enrolled in the fleet, race records and results, and sign and distribute such membership cards as are issued by the Association.

D. TREASURER

the Treasurer shall collect, receive, and hold all moneys of the Association and, under the direction of the executive committee, shall pay all bills and make such other disbursements as may be required. He shall submit a full accounting of all moneys and financial records at meetings.

SECTION 2.

In addition to the above officers, an Executive Committee having the power of a Board of Directors shall be constituted, consisting of the elected officers, the appointed Chairman of the Grounds Committee, and not more than three elected members at large.
The Executive Committee shall transact all business of the Association, and shall pass on all memberships. The Executive Committee shall be elected annually, and the meetings of the Executive Committee shall be at the call of the Commodore. Those members of the Executive Committee who shall be the three elected members at large shall also serve as Trustees for "Webster Sailing Association Trust" in accordance with a Declaration of trust so entitled. Said three elected members at large shall serve as such Trustees only for such time as they are members of the Executive Committee and shall be elected annually.

SECTION 3. COMMITTEES:

The Commodore shall appoint a Chairman and members of the following Committees:

NOMINATING COMMITTEE RACE COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION COMMITTEE

PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE GROUNDS COMMITTEE

And such other Committees that may be necessary.

A. NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

The nominating committee shall submit for the annual elections meeting, a slate of candidates for elective office, and shall secure acceptance of all candidates subject to election, and shall nominate such officers as may be required in event of the resignation or absence of any elected officers.

B. RACE COMMITTEE:

The race committee shall establish all conditions under which all racing shall be conducted, including local adaptation of current U.S.Y.R.U. racing rules, establishment of courses, conduct of all races, decision in all cases of protests and general supervision of all racing conducted under the auspices of this association as set out by the Program Committee.

C. PARTICIPATION COMMITTEE:

The participation committee will consist of three regular members to be appointed annually by the Commodore.
In order to more fully distribute the routine maintenance and cleaning work among all members of the association, the committee will:
1. Construct a list of non-exempt members for weekend cleaning duty. The exempt members will ordinarily include senior, honorary, and life member, and all members who are not liable to pay the facilities fee, and all members of the club who chair major committees, and others as determined by this committee.

2. Randomly draw names from the list of non-exempt members and assign these members to weekend cleaning duty at the Anchorage. This weekend duty will be during the sailing season and will consist of cleaning the interior of and exterior grounds around the clubhouse. No member will be assigned more than one weekend per season. Members are allowed to exchange weekends, but it is the individual's responsibility to make such arrangements.

3. Oversee the operation of the weekend cleaning program and impose fines for those members who fail to fulfill their obligations. This fine will be set from time to time by the Executive Committee. Repeated failure to perform this duty may result in loss of membership, if recommended to and acted upon by the Executive Committee.

D. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:

The membership committee will consist of four regular members of WSA, to be appointed annually by the Commodore.
The Committee will:

1. Accept and evaluate all membership applications to WSA. It will seek all necessary background information on applicants and make recommendations to the Executive Committee on individual applications for membership.

2. Schedule and operate several orientation sessions during the season.

3. Oversee probationary members, evaluate their performances during the probationary period, and recommend whether or not to accept them as regular members.

E. PROGRAM COMMITTEE:

This committee shall, early in the year, set up a schedule for approval at the spring Association meeting. It shall be the function of this committee to establish, promote, and carry out such special meeting programs, events, or activities as will be in the best interests of the association in the field of fun, fellowship, education and better understanding.

F. GROUNDS COMMITTEE:

This committee shall be responsible for the orderly operation and maintenance of the Association premises at the "Anchorage".
It shall open and close the premises and be responsible for its cleanliness. It shall be in charge of docking, mooring, and parking of vehicles and trailers. All mooring equipment used shall be subject to the approval of this committee.
In general, this committee shall be held to the safe and orderly operation of the Association premises. In the conduct of its duties, this committee may call on other members for assistance. In the event of infraction of rules of conduct, by any member, this committee may recommend such member to the Executive Board for possible dismissal or such other action as the Executive Board deems best. Although appointed, the Chairman of the Grounds Committee shall sit with and be a member of the executive Board with the voting power of an elected member.

G. OTHER COMMITTEES:

The Commodore shall appoint all other committees as may be desired for either permanent service or special events, activities or purposes.

ARTICLE VI - GENERAL

SECTION 1.

Boats of members of the Association will be restricted by the association. This restriction may be changed from time to time in the best interest of the majority of the membership and within the capabilities of the facilities. No member in good standing will be excluded when new restrictions are voted.
NOTE: (current restriction is maximum length of 20 feet, May 29, 1976)

SECTION 2:

General rules will be established by the Executive Committee from time to time for the operation and use of WSA and its facilities. These rules can be changed by a majority vote of the executive committee.

SECTION 3:

The Executive Board and Executive Committee are one and the same body.