Club Bylaws
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CONSTITUTION OF THE RIVERSIDE BOAT CLUB

ARTICLE I. Name and Principal Office The name of this club shall be "Riverside Boat Club of Cambridge" and its principal office shall be at 769 Memorial Drive, City of Cambridge, County of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 02139, the site of its original, founded in 1869.

ARTICLE II. Objective The objective of this club shall be the encouragement and furtherance of aquatic and athletic sports among amateurs, more particularly the instruction and improvement in, and enjoyment of, the art of rowing and the promotion of a friendly and social spirit among its members.

ARTICLE III. Membership The club shall consist of the following classes of members who shall be entitled to clubhouse privileges.

1. Life Members.

Life membership shall generally be reserved for the purpose of honoring persons who shall have been of lasting and outstanding service to the club or to the sport of rowing. It shall not be awarded as compensation for specific services rendered. Life members shall have all the rights all privileges and responsibilities of senior members, but shall not be liable for any dues and fees. A person shall be elected to life membership only by unanimous vote of the Membership Committee and the Board of Directors present at the meeting at which membership is proposed A nomination for life membership may be submitted by any senior member.

2. Senior Members.

Any person who shall have attained the age of eighteen years shall be eligible for election as a senior member after a period of one year as a provisional member or as a junior member. Senior members may hold office in the club and shall be entitled to cast one vote at any meeting of the club at which said member is present. Senior members shall be elected by two-thirds vote of those Senior members present at the meeting to which application is made.

3. Provisional Members.

Any person who shall have reached the age of 18 shall be eligible for election as a provisional member after, except in the case of a junior member, having been a guest of a senior member for a period of four weeks. Provided that a novice at either sweeps or scull must also log a minimum of 50 miles or rowing under the supervision of the host member prior to application. A provisional member may apply for senior membership at any time after twelve months as a provisional member and will continue as a provisional member if that application is denied. Provisional members shall be elected by a simple majority of those present at the meeting to which application is made. The Membership Committee, by unanimous vote, may designate a person a provisional member temporarily until the next meeting to which an application for such membership is presented.

4. Junior Members.

In order to provide the opportunity for younger persons to engage in rowing under the supervision of club members, any person under the age of eighteen may be eligible for election as a junior member after having been a guest of a senior member for a period of four weeks, provided that a novice at either sweeps or sculls, must also log a minimum of 50 miles or rowing under the supervision of the host member prior to application. Junior members shall be elected by two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting to which the application is accepted. A junior member may not hold office in the club and shall have no vote. At age eighteen, and after at least a year as a junior member, a junior member may be eligible for senior membership. If not so elected, such junior member shall become a provisional member.

5. Supporting Members.

Upon application, a person age 18 or over may be elected as supporting member by a two-thirds vote at a meeting to which application is made. A supporting member may not hold office in the club and shall have no vote. A senior, provisional, family, or junior member may be transferred to and from supporting membership status. A supporting member may be reinstated to provisional member status upon payment of appropriate dues and fees. A supporting member will have limited access to club facilities as established by the Board.

6. Family Membership.

Any senior or provisional member with a spouse or with children under the age of 18, or 22 if a full-time student, with an interest in rowing may apply for a family membership. Each family member shall be elected by two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting to which application is made. A senior member who is part of a family membership shall retain his/her right to vote and hold office. However, only one vote per family membership shall be allowed.

7. Program Membership:

The purpose of this membership shall be for enabling individuals and groups to participate in competitive training programs offered by the Club. The terms of Program Membership, including privileges and fees shall be determined by the Board of Director and by two-thirds vote of those present at a meeting of members at which the Board's recommendation is presented.

8. No guest shall be permitted to log more than 50 miles without being proposed for junior or provisional membership.

9. Voting upon applications for membership shall be by secret ballot unless waived by unanimous consent.

10. All persons holding comparable memberships in the club prior to the adoption of these By-Laws shall continue as Life, Senior, or Supporting Members as the case may be.

ARTICLE IV. Board of Directors and Officers

1. Unless otherwise directed by the membership or otherwise specified by the By-Laws, all matters of governance of the Club in every respect shall be determined by the Board of Directors including without limitation the setting of dues, fees, assessments and numerical membership limits, the maintenance of order, the protection of Club property, the handling of Club funds, the discipline of members and all other matters incident to successful continuation of the Club into the future in accordance with its objectives. The Board of Directors shall have no power to render the Club liable for any debt exceeding the amount of money which shall, at the time of contracting such debt, be in the treasury and not needed for the discharge of prior unfunded debts or liabilities of the Club. A decision of the Board of Directors may be overruled only by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting called for that purpose on two weeks notice. At such a meeting each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote on the issue in question.

2. The Board of Directors shall consist of eight members as follows; the President; the Vice President; the Secretary; the Treasurer and the Captain, plus three Trustees elected at the Annual Meeting. To ensure continuity, at the first election following adoption of these By-Laws, one Trustee shall be elected for a 1 year term; one Trustee shall be elected for a 2 year term and one Trustee shall be elected for a 3 year term; and thereafter one Trustee shall be elected for a 3 year term at each subsequent annual meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet not less frequently than once a month and five members shall constitute a quorum.

3. Terms. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Captain shall take office immediately upon their election at the annual meeting and shall serve for a term of one year and until successors are duly elected. Officers are eligible for re-election. Vacancies in any office may be filled for the balance of the term by the Board of Directors.

4. President. The President shall be the chief officer of the club and shall preside at meetings of the club and of the Board of Directors. S/he shall be a member ex-officio of all committees. S/he shall communicate to the club such matters and make such suggestions as may in his opinion tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the club, and shall perform such other duties as necessary incident to the office.

5. Vice President. The Vice President shall perform all duties of the president during the absence of the president. S/he shall be a member ex-officio of all committees and shall be chairman of the Membership Committee.

6. Secretary. The Secretary shall issue all notices, keep a record of the meetings of other members of the club, the proceedings of the Board of Directors and of other matters concerning which a record shall at all reasonable times be open to the inspection of any senior member of the club. The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence pertaining to the office and shall have custody of the seal, if any, of the club.

7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and expended for use of the club and shall make disbursements authorized by the Board of Directors. All sums received shall be deposited by him in a bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors, and s/he shall make a report at the annual meeting or when called upon by the president. Funds may be drawn only on the signature of the treasurer. The duties of the treasurer, under the approval of the Board of Directors, may be delegated to an assistant treasurer. The funds, books, and vouchers in his hands shall at all times be subject to verification and inspection by the elective officers of the club. At the expiration of his term of office, the treasurer shall deliver to the successor all books, money, and other property of the club.

8. Captain. The Captain shall have charge of the Club's boats and the placement of members' boats and their use and storage under the direction of the Board of Directors, shall see that proper repairs are made and equipment furnished, and shall enforce the rules of the club relating thereto. S/he shall ex-officio be a member of the Regatta Committee.

ARTICLE V. Election of Officers

1. The elections of Club Officers shall take place annually at the time and place of the annual meeting. Any senior member who has been such for at least 2 years shall be eligible for office. Any senior member who has been a club member for at least 1 year may also be eligible if two-thirds of the voting members present approve such a nomination. Only senior members shall be entitled to vote.

2. An officer may be removed from office only by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, followed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting specifically called for such purpose on two weeks notice. The person charged shall have no vote on such issue.

3. Nominations and Elections: Nominations are held for Club Officers/Trustees at the October general meeting. A nominee has one week to accept or decline the nomination. An official list of nominees for all positions will be posted after the meeting. At the Annual Meeting in November the election of Club Officers/Trustees will be held. Each candidate has five minutes to give a campaign speech, followed by a question and answer period to be controlled by the election monitor.

ARTICLE VI. Meetings

1. The Annual Meeting of the club shall be held on the second Tuesday of November in each year, unless adjourned by the Board of Trustees, for election of officers and trustees, receiving reports, and the transaction of other business. Monthly meetings may be held on the first Tuesday of any other month by decision of the Board of Directors or by the membership at a previous meeting.

2. The President may at any time, and upon written request of eight senior members, the secretary shall call, a special meeting with two weeks notice to the membership.

3. The presence of one-third of the total number of senior and life members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

4. The order of business at the Annual Meeting shall be as follows:

a. Call to order

b. Reading of minutes from previous meeting

c. Reports

d. Election of officers

e. Unfinished business

f. New business

g. Adjournment

5. The order of business may be altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the senior members present. The usual parliamentary rules as laid down by Robert's Rules of Order shall govern when not in conflict with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VII. Committees

1. The club shall have at least two standing committees: a Membership Committee of five persons and a Regatta Committee of five persons. Additional standing committees may be established from time to time by the Board of Directors. Members of these committees shall he appointed by the Board of Directors which shall, unless otherwise provided herein, also designate the chairperson of each committee. Three-year terms shall be staggered so that one or more expire each year. No person shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Elected officers and trustees may also be appointed to these committees. Appointments may be re-voked at any time by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

2. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall be re- ponsible for screening prospects for all classes of membership and reporting its recommendations to the membership for action not less often than quarterly. It shall be established and publish its ruling regarding applications which are not inconsistent with these By-Laws. The Vice President shall be chairman ex-officio.

3. The Regatta Committee. The Regatta Committee shall be responsible for the planning and supervision of all regattas for which the club is host, and in cooperation with the captain and individual competing members, for coordinating participation of the club and its members in regattas and other competition hosted by sister organizations. It shall establish and publish rules regarding such activity which are not inconsistent with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VIII. Liabilities Nothing herein shall constitute members of the club as partner for any purpose. No member, officer, agent, contractor, or employee shall be liable for the acts or failure to act of any other member, officer, agent or employee of the club. Nor shall any member, officer, agent, or employee be liable for his/her acts or failure to act under these By-Laws, excepting only acts or omissions arising out of his/her willful malfeasance.

ARTICLE IX. Mail Vote When in the judgment of the Board of Directors, any question shall arise that should be put to a vote of the membership, and when it deems it inexpedient to call a special meeting for that purpose it may, unless otherwise required by these By-Laws, submit the matter to the membership in writing by mail for vote and decision, and the question thus presented shall be determined according to a majority of the votes received by mail within two weeks after such submission to the membership, provided that in each case votes of at least fifty percent of the senior members shall be received. Action taken in this manner shall be as effective as action at a duly called meeting.

ARTICLE X. Expulsion If any member shall be charged by any other member, in writing addressed to the Board of Directors or any member thereof, with conduct injurious to the good order, peace, or interest of the Club, or at variance with the requirements of the By-Laws, the Board of Directors shall there-upon inform the member charged in writing. If upon inquiry the Board of Directors shall be satisfied of the truth of the charge, and that the same demands such action, the Board of Directors shall request the charged member to resign, and if such charged member declines to do so, shall refer the matter to a regular or special meeting (notice of the purpose of which shall be given to the membership two weeks in advance of such meeting), and the club, after the presentation of the case, and hearing the person so charged if such person desires to be heard, may proceed to expel such person. A motion for expulsion shall be decided on a secret ballot, and the vote of two-thirds of the members present shall be necessary to expel. The person charged shall have no vote on such issue.

ARTICLE XI. Amendment Articles of these By-Laws (except Article XII) may be amended repealed by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, provided that notice of the general character of such amendment or re-peal shall have been given at the preceding meeting.

ARTICLE XII. Club House Privileges No intoxicating beverages shall be allowed in the premises without express permission of the Board of Directors.