Here are the changes. Am trying to also attach them as a doc file.
Rick
1. The name of the organization:
a. North American Multihull Sailing Assn., Inc (NAMSA)
2. Objective:
a. To provide a medium of exchange of information among all multihull sailors and to enhance the enjoyment of these all multihull sailboats and all Associations in North America.
b. To promote and develop all multihull racing and sailing under uniform rules, regulations, directives and suggestions.
c. To provide advocacy and sanctioning in issues affecting multihull sailing and racing.
3. Membership and Voting:
a. There shall be two different membership types:
i. Association, Club, Fleet or Organizational Membership (herein referred to as Associate Membership). Membership within a NAMSA-affiliated organization (Association Member) precludes Individual membership. Each member of a NAMSA-affiliated organization carries full membership rights.
ii. Individual Membership. If it is not feasible to belong to NAMSA from within an Associate Membership, Individual Memberships are available with full membership rights.
b. Any individual whose NAMSA dues are paid for the current year, either as Individual or through Associative Membership, is entitled to:
i. One vote on NAMSA issues, cast either in-person, by absentee, or by proxy. If voting either absentee or by proxy, members must inform the Secretary 30 days in advance via e-mail or in writing.
ii. Competition in NAMSA-sanctioned major events.
iii. Eligibility to hold NAMSA office, including Boards and Committees.
c. Membership is for one (1) fiscal year (Jan 1-Dec. 31). Dues for the next year shall be set each year at the annual meeting by a simple vote, quorum as described below. If quorum is not met, dues shall remain the same as the prior year.
i. Individual Membership dues will be set at $30 per year, subject to change as noted above.
ii. Associate Membership dues are assessed at $10 per member of each Association, per year, subject to change as noted above.
4. Meetings:
a. At least one Annual Meeting shall be held on the first night of the Championship. In the absence of a Championship, the meeting will be held at the discretion of the NAMSA President
i. Special meetings may be held from time to time and can be done electronically (web site posting) with 15 days notice
ii. Board meetings may take place from time to time for the purpose of discussing NAMSA business and establishing NAMSA policy.
b. Quorum: Shall consist of at least 50 percent of paid membership including absentee ballots and proxy votes
i. If quorum is not met, an informational meeting of the membership in attendance may take place with no official business being conducted.
ii. Absentee ballots must be in the Secretary's possession by the beginning of the meeting.
c. Order of Business: The order of business at the NAMSA meeting shall be as follows
i. Sign in
ii. Minutes
iii. Officer reports
iv. Committee reports
v. Old business
vi. Elections
vii. New Business.
(1) New motions.
(2) Vote on rule or bylaw changes
viii. Adjournment.
d. The Board Officers and Rules Committee members shall be elected by simple majority vote, including absentee ballots and proxy votes, at the Annual Meeting. Terms of Office are effective upon introduction of " New Business" during the Annual Meeting.
i. If no quorum, the existing President in-office may appoint officers and committee members.
5. Officers:
a. The Board Officers of NAMSA, and their responsibillities, shall consist of:
i. President
(1) Presides at all general meetings.
(2) Oversees the activities of the Board Officers and Committees.
(3) Should a position become vacant, may appoint a substitute until the next scheduled election for that position
(4) Creates and makes appointments to Committees.
(5) Holds NAMSA elections and votes (except rules committee activities).
(6) Decides on NAMSA event locations and dates (3 member committee vote) with input from Committee members and Membership.
ii. Vice President
(1) Shall promote NAMSA
(2) Substitutes for the President if unavailable.
(3) Interfaces with the Association Members and Individual Members .
(4) Decides on NAMSA event locations and dates (3 member committee vote) with input from Committee members and Membership.
iii. Secretary
(1) Be responsible for minutes of NAMSA Meetings
(2) Maintains membership information.
(3) Maintains records.
(4) Receive NAMSA membership receipts and transfers them to the Treasurer.
(5) Determines NAMSA official mailing address.
(6) Is in charge of any NAMSA mailings, web site postings and membership notifications.
(7) Assigns fleet numbers to any Association by request.
(8) Collects, counts and reports absentee and proxy votes as scheduled.
iv. Treasurer
(1) Is custodian of NAMSA funds and is accountable to the Board Officers and general membership.
(2) Submits a complete annual financial statement to NAMSA no later then January 31 of the following year.
(3) Provides periodic financial updates to the Board.
(4) Is responsible for timely filing of all required financial paperwork and timely payment of debts accrued by NAMSA.
(5) Prepares an annual budget
v. Rules Chairman
(1) Acts as a single voice of the Rules Committee to the Board and Membership, except where noted.
(2) Presides over the Rules Committee meeting.
(3) Monitors rules and recommends changes to the Board and Membership
(4) Decides, along with Rules Committee, locations of NAMSA national and international events.
(5) Authorizes the Notice of Regattas (NOR's) and approves Sailing Instructions (SI's) for NAMSA events
(6) Votes, in conjunction with the Rules Committee, on whether to submit a rule change to NAMSA.
(7) Keeps current on all Associate's events that are NAMSA sanctioned.
(8) Decides on NAMSA event locations and dates (3 member committee vote) with input from Committee members and Membership.
vi. Associates Chairman
(1) Acts as a single voice of the Associates Committee to the Board and Membership, except where noted
(2) Presides over the Associates Committee meeting
b. The term of office shall be two (2) year terms and officers shall be eligible for reelection. Elections shall be held on even numbered years.
c. Any officer, serving on either board or committee, may be removed from office by a simple majority vote of the officers and Rules Committee membership for willful and unjustified gross acts detrimental to NAMSA or its general membership.
d. Vacancy of any Board Officer or Committee member shall be filled by NAMSA Presidential appointment, by the president, for the balance of that position's term.
e. Committees
i. Associate Membership Committee - Shall consist of one representative of each member Associate. The Associate Committee is responsible for:
(1) Receive NAMSA membership receipts and transfer them to the NAMSA Treasurer.
(2) Interface with other member Associates
(3) Resolve issues between Associates
(4) Make suggestions for event locations
(5) Make suggestions for rules changes
(6) Advise NAMSA toward improvements in its overall purpose.
ii. Rules Committee - Shall consist of a Rules Chairman and an Event Coordinator. The purpose of this committee:
(1) Monitoring rules as they apply to NAMSA racing/sailing and to multihulls in general
(2) Propose rule changes to the Membership, as necessary.
(3) Solicit national and international event locations.
(4) Make temporary rule changes as the situation arises.
(a) Job Descriptions:
(i) Rules Chairman (is a Board Officer, duties and term of office outlined above)
(ii) The Event Coordinator is responsible for:
1) Solicitation and receipt of petitions for events.
2) Timely presentation to the Rules Committee lists of locations under consideration for NAMSA events.
(b) Term:
(i) Rules Chairman - See above
(ii) Event Coordinator, a. 4 year term
iii. Nominating committee
(1) Maximum 3 (three) members, appointed by the NAMSA President at the previous election. Its responsibility shall be to solicit and receive nominations for Board Officer and Committee member positions, and to create vote ballots.
iv. Any other committee that may be necessary.
(1) All newly created Committees must have:
(a) A specific purpose
(b) Report its finding to the Board by the annual meeting
(c) Must have an end date upon creation
6. Amendments:
a. Changes to the bylaws
i. May be made at any regular or special meeting, providing there is a quorum, by a two-thirds vote of the membership present including absentee ballots or proxy votes.
ii. Proposed changes must be presented to the NAMSA (via web site posting or in writing) at least 30 days prior to the vote and must be seconded by at least ten (10) current members.
iii. Become effective during the "New Business" section of the current meeting, unless specified in the motion.
b. Changes to the Rules:
i. Proposed permanent rule changes shall be submitted, by any Member to the Rules Chairperson, for consideration at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting. Upon consideration of the change, the rules committee may either:
(1) Recommend the change.
(2) Reject the proposed change.
(3) Modify the proposed change.
ii. Upon b.i.1 or b.i.3 above
(1) Web site posting shall occur stating the proposed change, at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
(2) "YES" vote by two-thirds votes of the membership present, providing there is a quorum at the annual meeting shall be sufficient to change the NAMSA rule.
(3) Changes take effect on March 1st of the following year.
7. Dissolution - Should, for whatever reason, NAMSA needs to be dissolved:
a. A special meeting shall be held expressly to consider dissolution.
b. Provided a quorum is present, consenting vote of two-thirds is necessary for NAMSA dissolution.
c. After payment of all NAMSA debts any remaining NAMSA funds shall be contributed to (in order):
i. Any newly formed association most closely resembling or replacing NAMSA.
ii. Any charitable sailing-promotionalorganization for the benefit of promoting sailing as selected by the outgoing Board and Committee Members.