BY-LAWS of the RIVERTON YACHT CLUB
As amended December 12, 1981; October 20, 1988; November 22, 1992;
and October 29 2005.CONSTITUTION
- Article 1
- Article 2
- Article 3
- Article 4
- Article 5
Section 1.
The name of this organization is the Riverton Yacht Club.
Section 2.
The Riverton Yacht Club is a corporation organized July 1, 1865 and incorporated under the laws of New Jersey, March 9, 1881, under an Act entitled, “An Act to incorporate boat clubs and other associations for the promotion of athletic exercise, approved April 1, 1876, and the supplements thereto.”
ARTICLE II
Section 1. MEMBERSHIP
There shall be six classes of membership; Family Active, Intermediate Active, Junior, Contributing, Honorary, and Special.
Section 2.
A. Family Active Membership
Family Active membership shall include one single or two adults, one of whom shall be over the age of 26 years living together. A family will have one voting privilege. Only one member of the family can hold office at a given time.
Family Active membership shall include all Junior members residing in the same household.
Family membership shall also include a single active member with one voting privilege.
Family Active membership requires a Sponsor.
B. Intermediate Active Membership
Intermediate Active membership is limited to those who have reached their 22nd birthday but not their 26th birthday. Privileges are to be the same as Family Active Membership to encourage persons in this age category to enjoy affordable membership and activities.
Intermediate Active membership requires a Sponsor.
C. Junior Membership
Junior Membership shall be individual persons who have not reached their 22nd birthday in the year of admission. Individuals under age 22 residing in the same household as one or more Family Active members shall be Junior members. They do not have voting privileges and cannot be officers of the Club or have any right, title to or interest in the property or assets of the Club.
D. Contributing Membership
Contributing Membership shall be extended to any person desiring to foster the aims of the Club but who is not actively interested in its operation and is not the owner or co-owner of a boat operated from or stored at the Club. This class of membership does not have voting privileges and conveys only limited use of Club facilities.
E. Honorary Membership
The Board of Directors may award Honorary Membership to a long term active member who has provided consistent and exceptional service and or brought distinguished recognition to the Club and its aims.F. Special Membership
The Board of Directors is authorized to create categories of Special Membership from time to time as deemed appropriate. Privileges for Special Membership shall be defined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. AUXILIARY PRIVILEGES
Any person who is the parent, child, or spouse of an Active Member and who is not the owner of a boat at the Club has auxiliary privileges. These privileges include the use of the float, pier, or other Club facilities. Privileges other than these may be extended by the Board of Directors, but such privileges shall not include the right to vote nor any right, title to, or interest in the property or assets of the Club.
Section 4. ANNUAL DUES
Annual dues and fees shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Every application for membership must be in writing. The application shall include the following: The applicant’s name, name of spouse or other adult as applicable, name(s) and age(s) of all children (date of birth for Juniors), address, occupation of the candidate, the class of membership for which applicant is applying, a complete description of applicant’s boat, if any, and the signature of applicant’s sponsor(s).
The Membership Committee shall meet with each applicant. Upon preliminary approval of the application, they shall circulate the name of the applicant among the Active members of the Club by mail. Dissenting letters must be received by the Membership committee within two weeks from the date of mailing. After this period the Membership Committee may, at its discretion, decide to propose the applicant for membership at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of the Board of Directors present shall be necessary for final acceptance of each applicant.
Section 6.
Unless otherwise provided, membership transfers from one class or status to another must be approved by the Board of Directors. Request for such approval for transfer shall be submitted in writing.
Section 7. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Club may be terminated by action of the Board of Directors;
(a) By voluntary resignation, to be rendered in writing, addressed to the Secretary;
(b) For non-payment if any indebtedness beyond the period allowed by Club rules;
(c) For causes given in Section 8 of this Article. Termination of membership from any cause whatsoever shall operate as a release of all rights, or title to, or interest in the property and assets of the Club, which interest shall thereupon become vested in the Club.
Section 8.
Any person charged with conduct injurious to the good order, peace or interest of the Club, or at variance with its By-Laws or rules shall be cited in writing giving that member five days notice to appear before the Board of Directors, should the Board determine to investigate the matter. Should the Board, after full investigation, determine that the conduct in question of such member is prejudicial to the best interest of the Club, it may, by resolution duly passed, either censure said member or temporarily suspend said member from the privileges of the Club. Or it may, if in its judgment the interest of the Club demands such action, ask that member to resign or it may expel the member. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary for the suspension or expulsion of a member.
Section 9. RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
Any person having resigned his membership or defaulted in payment of dues and wishing again to become a member must be regularly proposed, as when first elected, unless the Board of Directors, upon investigation, shall deem it proper to reinstate him. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary for such reinstatement.
Section 1. OFFICERS
The elective officers of the Club shall be a Commodore; Vice Commodore; Rear Commodore; Secretary; Treasurer; and six Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Commodore, as Chairman; the Vice Commodore; the Rear Commodore; Secretary; Treasurer; and six Directors.
Section 2.
The Officers shall be elected annually. Directors shall be elected annually and shall serve for three years, two Directors being elected each year so as to provide overlapping terms. Members to be eligible for election as Officers or Directors shall be at least 22 years of age and have been a voting member for at least one year.
Section 3.
Vacancies due to other than expiration of term of office may be filled at any general or special meeting; notice of such election having been sent to each member at least five days prior to such meeting. Vacancy may also be filled until the next general meeting by appointment of Commodore and confirmation of two-thirds of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. DUTIES OF COMMODORE
It shall be the duty of the Commodore to preside at all Club meetings; to act as Chairman of the Board of Directors; to enforce the Club Constitution, By-Laws and regulations; and to appoint all Committees not otherwise provided for. The Commodore may call a special meeting of the Club and shall do so at the written request of three members. The Commodore shall be ex-officio, a member of all Committees.
Section 5. DUTIES OF VICE COMMODORE
It shall be the duty of the Vice Commodore to assist in the discharge of the Commodore’s duties, and to officiate in the Commodore’s absence. The Vice Commodore shall be ex-officio, a member of all Committees.
Section 6. DUTIES OF REAR COMMODORE
It shall be the duty of the Rear Commodore to assist the Commodore and Vice Commodore in the discharge of their duties and in the absence of the Commodore and Vice Commodore to officiate in their stead. The Commodore shall designate the Rear Commodore or other board member to be particularly charged with the development of activities of interest and benefit to those enjoying Junior Membership privileges of the Club. The Rear Commodore shall be ex-officio, a member of all Committees.
Section 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Club; to file all documents, records, reports, and communications connected with the business of the Club; to notify the members of all regular and special meetings; to notify each member-elect of their election to membership, and to perform such other relative duties as may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. DUTIES OF THE TREASURERIt shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect all monies due the Club and pay bills contracted by the Club which shall have been approved by the Board; to keep a correct account of the same and to render a full report of the financial condition of the Club at each stated meeting. Treasurer shall also have custody of all funds of the Club unless otherwise instructed by the Board of Directors.
Section 9.
The terms of elected Officers and Directors shall begin on the first day of January following their election except in the case of Officers or Directors elected to fill unexpired terms. The terms of such Officers or Directors shall begin immediately after their election.
Section 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall govern and manage the property of the Club and the appropriation of its funds, authorizing contracts and purchases.
Section 2.
For the better execution of their power and duties, the Commodore, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint such Committees as occasion may require, and they deem necessary and shall define the duties thereof.
Section 3.
It shall be the duty of the Board to prescribe and publish By-Laws and Rules regulating the use, occupancy, care and protection of the Club property.
Section 4.
The Board of Directors shall meet for the transaction of business once each month, for a minimum of 10 monthly meetings, or at the discretion of the Commodore, or of any three members of the Board. Six members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5.
At the Fall General Meeting of the Club, the Board of Directors shall make a full report of their activities during the preceding year and recommend such measures as they may deem advisable.
Section 6.
Any Officer or member of the Board of Directors who shall be absent from three consecutive monthly meetings of the Board, unless that person shall have previously obtained permission from the Commodore to be absent, or shall present a satisfactory excuse for an absence to the Commodore, shall be deemed to have resigned as a member of said Board and so advised in writing by the Secretary. The resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided in Article III, Section 3.
Section 1. GENERAL MEETINGS
General meetings shall be held a minimum of three times a year, one in the spring, one in the summer and one in the fall, at the Clubhouse or elsewhere as provided in the notice of meeting mailed by the Secretary to all members in good standing, not less than five days prior to said regular meeting.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings shall be held at the call of the Commodore who shall also call a special meeting on written request of three voting members. The business of any special meeting shall be strictly confined to the purpose for which it is called.
Section 3.
The annual meeting for the election of the Officers and for the report of the Board of Directors shall be the General meeting held in the fall of each year.
Section 4.
The slate of Officers proposed by the Nominating Committee will be mailed to all Active members not less than five days prior to the Fall General Meeting. Nominations will remain open until the last Board of Directors meeting prior to the Fall General Meeting.
Section 5. ORDER OF BUSINESS
Roll call, Commodore’s statement, reports of Secretary and Treasurer, reports of Committees, unfinished business, new business, election of Officers (at the Fall General Meeting only).
Section 6. PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENT OR ALTERATION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
1. The proposed amendment or alteration must be presented at a General Meeting
2. A majority vote at this meeting must approve the proposal for final consideration.
3. If the preliminary approval is obtained in clause 2 above, final approval must be voted as follows:
a. A special meeting must be called for voting on the proposal.
b. The voting membership must be notified at least five days in advance that a special meeting will be held to vote on an alteration or amendment to the Constitution.
c. To become a part of the constitution, the proposal must be passed by a three-fourth majority of the voting members present at the special meeting.
d. The special meeting will be confined to consideration of the proposed alteration or amendment.