CONSTITUTION

Adopted April 5, 2003

 ANNAPOLIS CATALINA 27 FLEET 8

 

 

I.    PURPOSE

 

A.        The purpose of the Annapolis Catalina 27 Fleet 8 shall be to promote the enjoyment of sailing, both racing and cruising on the Chesapeake Bay estuary.

 

B.         The Fleet shall accomplish its purpose by:

 

1.   Creating and maintaining an environment that encourages membership by and participation of Catalina 27 owners and crew in Fleet 8 activities, be they racing or social,

 

2.   Establishing and maintaining Catalina 27 one design standards and specifications in order to insure competition between boats of identical design and performance in all the essential areas such as hull lines, weights, and sail plan,

 

3.   Promoting one design class racing under uniform rules and regulations that will test the skills of the skipper and crew,

 

4.   Keeping the cost of acquisition and upkeep of the Catalina 27 sloop within modest limits without sacrificing high standards of performance and seaworthiness,

 

5.   Cooperating and participating with other yachting organizations, especially other Catalina fleets.

 

6.   Creating and maintaining By-laws to govern the operation of the Fleet activities. 

 

II.   MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY IN FLEET 8

 

A.        A REGULAR MEMBER of Fleet 8 is one who owns a Catalina 27, either solely or in partnership, supports the objectives of the Fleet and whose dues are current. He or she has privileges of holding Fleet 8 office and voting on matters related to Fleet 8 as defined in Article VIII.

 

B.         An ASSOCIATE MEMBER of Fleet 8 is any person who supports the objectives of the Fleet and whose dues are current. He or she cannot vote, or hold office, but may participate and benefit from any and all Fleet 8 activities, sailing or social.

 

III. OFFICERS

 

A.        The officers of Fleet 8 shall be the Fleet Captain, Assistant Fleet Captain, Fleet Secretary, Fleet Treasurer, Fleet Measurer, Fleet Racing Officer, and Fleet Cruising Officer. They, along with the immediate past Fleet Captain, shall constitute the Board of Directors. Term of office shall coincide with the racing year as specified in the By-Laws, shall begin immediately upon completion of the meeting in which they are elected and run until the next annual meeting.

 

B.         The duties of the Fleet 8 Officers are:

 

1.   FLEET CAPTAIN shall fix the dates of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Fleet’s annual meeting; he or she shall be a member of the International C27/C270 Association Board of Directors; he or she shall preside at all Fleet meetings, approve annual reports and official actions of other officers, appoint special committees, and perform other functions as may be warranted for the proper management of the Fleet.

 

2.   ASSISTANT FLEET CAPTAIN shall perform such duties as assigned by the Fleet Captain and act in place of the Fleet Captain during his absence.

 

3.   FLEET SECRETARY shall maintain the Fleet 8 minutes, records, and registration lists of fleet members and boats. He or she shall distribute notices of meetings and ballots, and send out notices of dues owed.

 

4.   FLEET TREASURER shall receive dues and fees and deposit funds in the depository approved by the Board of Directors, prepare annual financial statement and budget, and conduct the financial affairs of the Fleet.  Any Regular Member, in good standing of Fleet 8, may inspect all books and financial records for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.

 

5.   FLEET MEASURER shall be the Chairman of the Measurement Committee and as such shall make the actual measurement and recording of measurements on the “Official Certificate of Measurement and Registration,” and verification of compliance with class rules and registration. Rulings on controversial changes or changes that affect the sailing characteristics must be referred to the Chief Measurer of the International C27/C270 Association for evaluation and presentation to the Board of Directors of that Association, if required. Fleet Measurers shall not measure their own boats except under the supervision of a Fleet or Association Officer.

 

6.   RACING OFFICER shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Fleet’s racing activities and for chairing the Race Committee (see Article V). The Racing Officer shall serve as the Fleet’s representative on the CBYRA Cruising One Design Committee.

 

7.   CRUISING OFFICER shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Fleet’s cruising activities and for chairing the Cruising Committee (see Article V). He or she shall cooperate with the Racing Chairman in planning race-cruises.       

 

IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

A.        The above officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting, as prescribed in the Fleet 8 By-Laws.  The Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee and who shall prepare and submit to the membership, prior to the annual meeting, a slate of officers. Others may be nominated from the floor at the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee, with the approval of the current Board of Directors, may propose a slate that combines offices, or does not fill an office, except that the office of Fleet Captain must be filled.

 

B.         The nominee for each office with the greatest number of votes of the Regular Members in good standing present at the Annual Meeting shall be elected.  No nominations are to be presented without consent of the nominee. Proxy voting by a Regular Member shall be permitted.

 

V.  COMMITTEES

 

A.        BOARD OF DIRECTORS shall interpret the Constitution and Bylaws, conduct all business, determine policy of the Fleet, sanction or ban Fleet activities, and move to suspend members guilty of gross violation of the rules or of unsportsmanlike conduct for a period not exceeding the current Board’s term of office (See Article X).  Only the Board of Directors may obligate the Fleet financially.

 

B.         MEASUREMENT COMMITTEE shall serve under the chairmanship of the Fleet Measurer.

 

C.         NEWSLETTER EDITOR shall manage the Fleet 8 newsletter, Telltales, and may form a committee to assure its production, printing and distribution.

 

D.        NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall prepare and submit to the membership, in advance of the Annual Meeting, a slate of officers for the ensuring year. The Fleet Captain shall appoint the Nominating Committee.

 

E.         RACE COMMITTEE shall serve in liaison with the recognized racing associations of the Chesapeake Bay in establishing the race schedule for championship races, perpetual trophy races, tune-up races, mid-winter series, and any other Catalina 27 Fleet races, and shall determine which races or series are to be sailed working sails only and which are to allow spinnakers and Genoa jibs, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  The Race Committee shall govern any class races sponsored by the Fleet. The Race Committee shall determine the necessity and selection of trophies for class racing.  The Race Committee shall arrange for processing the protests in connection with Fleet sponsored races.

 

F.         CRUISING COMMITTEE shall plan, coordinate, and schedule all cruising activities and other social activities of the Fleet.  It shall cooperate with the Race Committee in planning race-cruises.

 

G.         The Fleet Captain as needed may appoint OTHER SPECIAL COMMITTEES.

 

VI. MEETINGS

 

A.        An ANNUAL MEETING of the General Membership shall be held each year, preferably, as close as possible to the close of the racing year. The Annual Meeting shall include reports from all Fleet Officers, a financial report and proposed budget for the coming year, election of officers, and establishment of the racing schedule

 

B.         The Fleet Captain may call other Meetings of the general membership as necessary. The Fleet Captain as necessary may call meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

C.         The Fleet Secretary must send notice to all members of the Fleet at least ten (10) days prior to any general or special membership meeting.  All proposed changes in the Constitution and Bylaws must be described in the notice of the meeting made via electronic media or by US Mail.

 

VIII.  VOTING

 

A.        BOARD OF DIRECTORS – A majority plus one shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of those present voting in the affirmative is required to approve.

 

B.         GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING – One third of the Regular Members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for a general membership meeting. A majority vote of the votes cast, either by proxy or in person, shall be required to approve. Each boat owner, or group of owners in the case of multiple boat owners, shall get one vote. Individual Regular Members, in good standing, who own part interest in a Fleet boat, may vote a partial vote equal to their percent of ownership in the boat. In the case where only one partial owner is a Regular Member of the Fleet, that owner is entitled to the full vote of that boat. Voting may be by proxy and the Board may extend the time period for voting as necessary to obtain votes from a majority of the eligible boats. The Fleet Secretary shall maintain a record of all electronic votes and that is available to any Regular Member.  All Members may raise or speak on an issue and offer proposals or amendments to proposals.

 

C.                 ELECTRONIC POLLING – the Fleet Captain may conduct an electronic email poll of the Membership or the Board of Directors on any issue except amendments to the constitution or By-laws without holding a meeting. When electronic polling is under taken, a majority of all voting boats or Fleet Officers must approve the motion in order to affirm. The Fleet Secretary shall maintain a record of all electronic votes and that is available to any Regular Member.

 

IX. AMENDMENTS

 

A.                 The Constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the number of Catalina 27’s owned by Regular Members, in good standing.

 

X.   SUSPENSION

 

A.        The Board of Directors may move in a meeting of the Regular Membership a motion to suspend or expel any Officer or Member for conduct or action deemed prejudicial or injurious to the Fleet.

 

B.         Any Officer or Member may be suspended or expelled by a three-fourths vote of the voting boats for conduct or action deemed prejudicial or injurious to the Fleet.

 

C.         Considering the gravity of the result, all voting boats must vote or abstain.