CONSTITUTION OF THE MID-EASTERN SHORE STAR FLEET OF THE I.S.C.Y.R.A.
Article I: Charter:
The International Star Class Yacht Racing Association charters the Mid-Eastern Shore Fleet. It's emblem, object and policy are to be set forth in Article II through IV of the Constitution of that Association. Any section or part of this Constitution and its By-Laws, which does not conform therewith, shall be considered void until properly amended. The Fleet's objective is to encourage sailing on the Miles River.
Article II: Types of Members:
1. Active Member ...An Active Member must be an Active or Starboat owning Life member of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. in good standing. Privileges: a) To hold office in the fleet b) To vote on all matters. c) To qualify in all racing events held under the auspices of the Fleet, except as modified in the I.S.C.Y.R.A rules governing World Champion ships. d) To represent the Fleet in sanctioned I.S.C.Y.R.A. events as a skipper or crew.
2. Associate Member ...Associate member musts be an active crew and an Associate Member of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. in good standing. Privileges: a) To vote on intra-fleet affairs only. b) To represent the Fleet in sanctioned B-2 or higher I.S.C.Y.R.A. events as a crew. c) To serve as Committee Chairman on any Committee other than the Executive Committee (mentioned in Article IV) d) To hold office as Fleet Secretary or Treasurer only.
3. Supporting Member ...Supporting members may join the Fleet as non-voting members. Privileges: a) To participate in Fleet activities and social functions. b) To serve on committees. c) To hold the position of Fleet Recorder/Web Master
4. Novice Member ...Novice members may join the Fleet for a one (1) year trial bases and only pay the appropriate Fleet dues. Privileges: a) To participate in Fleet activities and social functions. b) To sail in the Wednesday Night Series and other non-sanctioned I.S.C.Y.R.A events.
Article III: Officers:
The Executive Committee shall appoint a nominating committee to nominate a slate of three officers at least one of whom shall have been an officer the previous year. Nominations form the floor can be made for any and all of the Fleet Officers by any member eligible to vote. The new officers will then be elected by a majority of all members eligible to vote and present at the Annual Fleet Meeting. Proxy votes of eligible members, who are not present at the Annual Fleet meeting, will be accepted on an individual basis, if the majority of those eligible vote in favor. The officers shall serve until the next Annual Fleet Meeting.
1. Fleet Captain ...Chief Executive Officer. He shall preside at meetings of members and of the Executive Committee and shall be ex-officio member of all committees. He shall present a report to the members at the mid-season and annual meetings.
2. Fleet Secretary ...Ex-officio secretary of the meeting of the members and of the Executive Committee. He shall keep records of the proceedings of all such meetings. He shall give written notice to all members of each fleet event. He shall handle the system of forms as required by the I.S.C.Y.R.A., including Fleet and Association registrations.
3. Fleet Treasurer ...He shall deposit funds in a depository approved by the Executive Committee, keep the financial books and securities and other Fleet property, and disburse funds only as authorized by the Executive committee. He shall submit a report of all receipts, expenditures and balances at the Annual Meeting. Vacancies occurring during the term of office among one or more of the Fleet Offices will be filled, until the next Annual Meetings, by appointment of a member eligible for the vacancy by the remaining members of the Executive Committee.
Article IV: The following committee shall serve for the calendar year. Executive Committee ...shall consist of the Fleet Captain, Fleet Secretary, Treasurer, the Past Fleet Captain and a member-at-large. It shall exercise the powers of the fleet, including the interpretation of the Constitution and By-Laws and the making of plans for all fleet activities. It shall prepare a budget to be submitted to the members. It shall fill vacancies in office.
Article V: Meetings:
1. Time and Place ...the Fall Annual Meeting shall be held within the Fleet territory after completion of the regular racing season, but before the last Wednesday of October. The Spring Annual meeting shall be held before the 1st spring sailing event of the year, ideally the 1st Wednesday of April. The exact time and arrangements are to be determined by the Executive committee.
2. Quorum ... A quorum shall consist of a number of Active Members equal to one-half of the number of qualifiers during the preceding calendar year eliminations, but no less than five Active Members. In the event of an odd number of qualifiers, discount one and take one-half of the remainder.
3. Votes ...All votes shall be show of hands, unless any member present, who is eligible to vote, requests a secret ballot.
4. Proxy votes ...proxy votes may be used for all fleet business but cannot be used to constitute a quorum.
5. Motions and Resolutions ...The annual Meeting may pass motions (by majority vote of those members eligible to vote and present at the meeting, or represented by proxy) within the restrictions of this Constitution and By-Laws.
6. Special Meetings: The Executive Committee may call a special meeting for any purpose that it so desire, and written notice be given to all members in advance, if possible.
Article VI: Order of Business at annual Fleet Meetings (to be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order).
1. Call to order.
2. Roll call of Active and Associate Members in good standing.
3. Reading of minutes of previous year's meeting.
4. Secretary's report.
5. Treasurer's report.
6. Executive Committeešs report.
7. Other officer's reports and committee chairman's reports.
8. Unfinished business.
9. New Business.
10. Election of officers.
11. Fleet Captain's acceptance of office.
12. Re-opening of meeting to new business.
13. Adjournment.
Article VII: Amendments:
An Active or Associate member may propose amendments to this Constitution and By-Laws at any Annual Fleet Meeting. If passed by a majority of those eligible to vote and present at the meeting, or represented by proxy, they shall be submitted to all of the Active and Associate Members by mail within thirty days. If approved by a simple majority of all of the above members, they shall become a part of this Constitution and By-Laws.
BY-LAWS OF THE MID-EASTERN SHORE STAR FLEET OF THE OF THE I.S.C.Y.R.A.
1. Dues: Fleet dues will be as follows:
Dues per spring 2006 meetingActive dues $75.00Associate $50.00
2. Special Assessments: Special assessments may be levied if approved by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee, and approved by a majority of voting members. If an assessment is levied, all active members must pay this assessment or be considered as no longer in good standing.
3. Eligibility of Yacht: A yacht shall be eligible for qualifying in any intra or inter fleet event only if it conforms to the I.S.C.Y.R.A. measurement rules and has been properly registered and measured. Additionally, the yacht has to be owned by a qualified Active or Life member recorded at the time as in good standing* with the Fleet and I.S.C.Y.R.A. A yacht that obtains its measurement certificate during the season shall be eligible for prior intra fleet events. *Good standing implies dues paid prior to the first race of a series.
4. Qualifications of Skipper: The skipper of a Star in any intra or inter fleet event must be an Active Member (definition in Constitution, Article 2, Section 1) and his boat must qualify according to Article 3 of the By-Laws in order to qualify for any fleet prizes or to represent the fleet in sanctioned I.S.C.Y.R.A. events. The skipper shall be responsible for his primary crew joining the Fleet as an associate member, but is allowed to substitute for intra fleet events.
5. Rules: The rules of the ISAF modified by those of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. and fleet rules, which do not conflict therewith, shall govern all events. Protests are to be determined as stated in the I.S.C.Y.R.A. rules governing sanctioned events.
6. Fleet Champion/Elimination Series: There shall be an annual Fleet Champion and/or Elimination Series of a number of races established by a prior annual Fleet Meeting, but in no event shall be less than five (5) races.
7. Order of Representation: The winner of the Fleet Elimination shall have first choice of representing the Fleet in any one I.S.C.Y.R.A. events that he chooses, provided that he is eligible under I.S.C.Y.R.A. rules. The remaining skippers, who qualify in the eliminations, shall have their choices in their order of finish for any sanctioned I.S.C.Y.R.A. event. Skippers who are Active Members of the Fleet who did not qualify in the Fleet Eliminations, may represent the Fleet in any sanctioned I.S.C.Y.R.A. event if there are vacancies for representing the Fleet after all skippers who did qualify in the Eliminations have been contacted. The non-qualifying skippers shall be decided competitively, or if this is not possible, then by the Executive Committee.
8. Postponement or Cancellation of Races: No regularly scheduled race may be canceled or postponed unless there are fewer than three (3) entries, the weather is bad, according to the opinion of the Executive Committee, or the sponsoring regatta or event committee cancels or postpones the race.
9. Scoring; The members at the Spring Annual Meeting shall determine scoring, and the system adopted shall remain in effect until the next Annual Meeting. a.) St. Michaels Wednesday Night series shall be scored in accordance with the MES latest sailing instructions. b.) I.S.C.Y.R.A. sanctioned events shall be scored in accordance with I.S.C.Y.R.A. rules. c.) The Elimination Series shall be scored in accordance with I.S.C.Y.R.A. rules.
10. Trophies: Trophies shall be awarded for those events and positions, which shall be determined at the Annual Meeting. In addition, the Executive Committee can also award special trophies.
11. Special Races: The members at the Annual Meetings shall determine special races for guest skippers, crews, juniors and any type of special race. These special races may be augmented by the Executive Committee, but may not be canceled without the consent of the majority of the eligible members present at a Special Meeting.
12. Committees: Among the special committees that the Executive Committee may appoint are as follows: a.) Special Regatta Committee and sub-committees such as; committee boats, housing, lunches, event coordinators, sign in, etc. b.) The members at the Annual Meeting may also establish Special project committees.
13. Fleet Recorder/Webmaster: The Executive committee shall appoint a Fleet Recorder/Webmaster. He shall keep records of the racing history of the Fleet. He shall report the results of each event to the Executive Committee for approval before forwarding to the I.S.C.Y.R.A. He shall maintain the Fleet web site in a format and content that is approved by the Executive Committee.
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Presented by Bob Bradford, Fleet Secy.
Approved unanimously by MES membership vote .....23 October 2002 at the MRYC