NAMSA Meeting a Huge Success
On Wednesday February 18th a Special Meeting of NAMSA Memberships was held with a quorum of over 50%. At the meeting there were two major issues that were voted on and passed unanimously.
Here are the changes:
1) Dues will be $20 for Individual Membership, which will include a subscription to Catamaran Sailor Magazine (the magazine will allow at least two pages per month for NAMSA News)
Chapter Membership (NAMSA's name for Fleets, Regions, Organizations, Clubs, et al) was set at $50 per Chapter and will include 10 votes for the Chapter. Hopefully, the Chapter Dues will include liability insurance for regattas sanctioned by NAMSA and put on by that Chapter. There may be a small fee above that, but we are trying to keep it there.
2) The Bylaws were changed to streamline voting on issues and officers. As the Bylaws were previously written, it took a quorum of 50% Members before a vote could be taken. Since NAMSA expects to have around 2000 members by next year, that would make it impossible to ever get a vote on anything.., and it would certainly lead to dictatorship of some kind in order to get anything accomplished.
In the new Bylaws NAMSA eliminated quorums for issues and elections. Instead, a simple ballot will be sent to all Individual and Chapter Members with about 30 days to cast their vote. A majority of Yeas required to pass any issues and elections, and 2/3 for bylaw changes.
In other words, you will have a vote!
Please join NAMSA. Send a check for $20 to NAMSA %Robert Earl Blackington
7131 Sand Crest View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Tel 719-532-1092 (w), 719-622-8333 (h), Fax 719-567-9937 (w), 719-622-0737 (h)
E-Mail: lemarindechats@aol.com
Great news, just put my check in the mail!
How do I get my event sanctioned? We won't need any support i.e. work or money, just sailors to come and have fun!
In a very short time we will have a package with sanctioning requirements and suggestions for events.
Stay tuned and thanks, Pete.
It was great to see ya sailing around down at the Tradewinds. Wharram would have been proud of you,
Rick
Just ordered a small spinnaker, planning on racing next time 
Since this site has been so good, I haven't had a CS subscription in years. Even wrote an article on Rough Riders a few years ago you printed. Thanks Again.
If it includes the CS mag, I'll definitely renew my Namsa! 
Todd Bouton
N6.0na +
#111
Thanks, and hope other follow you.
Rick
Rick, In the Namsa package you mentioned are you including the complete NAMSA by-laws? Also, does this package include the benefits for a club to join NAMSA?
As a member of a VERY INDEPENDENT club (Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors, Inc.) I am interested in knowing the legal ramifications for a chapter joining NAMSA. TBCSI has worked hard to maintain its autonomy and I want this autonomy to continue.
I am interested in reviewing the by-laws and other information to determine if joining NAMSA is something I would like to submit to our organization for consideration. Is it possible for you to send me the packet with by-law/benefit information or is it on-line somewhere for me to print and review?
One last questions, if there is a chapter can the individual members of the chapter also become individual NAMSA members and what added benefits would they gain?
Judy & Terry
Terry,
I would suggest that you contact Jake with your questions, or maybe he will answer you here. Rick is gone for the weekend.
Terry,
The NAMSA bylaws are online at www.multihullsailing.org but they have not yet been updated with the latest version we just voted into existence.
I'm riding down the road in my RV to Lake Eustis, FL at the moment and my laptop battery is getting low! I'll try to address your questions this weekend if I can find a plug. 
Hi Terry,
Just got back from some minor heart surgery on Friday and expect to start feeling a bit better by Monday.
Meanwhile, I will get the new Bylaws posted today for starters that you can read on the NAMSA Website.
While reading the Bylaws, keep a very open mind.., because what we did was allow NAMSA to be very diverse -- allowing each and every member to vote, and allowing the Chapters to vote (10 votes per chapter).
In that way even if a number of the Chapter members (Chapter meaning a fleet or organization such as yours or YC, or whatever) do not agree with the feelings of the Chapter they still have their Individual Rights to vote on issue and elections.
On the other hand, this allows the Chapter somewhat more power and can vote according to the concepts of their board.., or if their board is split, they can vote in a split manor.
I think you will find it pretty interesting.
At any rate, I will get back at you.
The NAMSA site is at http://www.multihullsailing.org
Thanks
Rick
Actually, I am going to start a new thread.
Thanks,
Rick