By Laws

The Club House and principal port of the Club shall be at Camden, Maine.

Section 1.  Officers.  The Officers of the Club shall be the following:

Commodore
Vice-Commodore
Rear-Commodore
Fleet Captain
Secretary
Treasurer

Section 2.  Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers of the Club, twelve additional voting members, and any non-voting Honorary members nominated and elected.

The Officers and Directors and Honorary Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting to take office the day after Labor Day. In case no quorum is present at such meeting those in attendance shall have power to and shall adjourn from time to time until a quorum is present and the election shall be held at such adjourned meeting.

Officers elected shall hold office until the next Labor Day or until their successors shall have been elected. No officer, with the exception of the
Treasurer, may hold the same office for more than one additional term.  No person may hold the office of Treasurer for more than six terms.

An officer vacancy may be filled by appointment of the Commodore.

At each annual meeting three Directors shall be elected to hold office for a period of four years and shall not be eligible for re-election until the lapse of a period of one year. For the purposes of the preceding sentence an Officer shall not be considered an elected Director. Any vacancy occurring in the elected Directors due to election as an Officer, resignation or other reason shall be filled by election of a Director for any remaining unexpired term at the annual meeting. Honorary Directors shall be elected to hold office for a period of one year and may succeed themselves.

Section 1.  Commodore.   The Commodore shall take command of the fleet, preside at all meetings of the Club and enforce the Constitution, By-laws and rules. The Commodore shall be a member and Chair of the Board of Directors, and, ex-officio, shall be a member of all committees except the Protest Committee.

The Commodore shall appoint Chairs of Standing Committees unless otherwise specified herein and shall approve members of all committees.

The Commodore shall notify members-elect of their election.

Section 2.  Vice-Commodore.   The Vice-Commodore shall assist the Commodore in the discharge of The Commodore’s duties, and in The Commodore’s absence officiate in The Commodore’s stead. The Vice-Commodore shall be Chair of the House, Grounds and Docks Committee, unless this responsibility is waived by the Officers and Board.

Section 3.  Rear-Commodore.   The Rear-Commodore shall assist the Commodore and Vice-Commodore in the discharge of their duties and in their absence officiate in their stead. The Rear-Commodore shall be member of the House, Grounds and Docks Committee. The Rear-Commodore shall be the advisory member of the Sailing and Racing Committee.

Section 4.  Fleet Captain.   The Fleet Captain shall be Chair of the Sailing and Racing Committee. The Fleet Captain shall assist the Commodore in arranging all Club cruises, including the selection of courses, destination,
conduct of members and complete supervision of the fleet while away from Camden.

Section 5.  Secretary.   It shall be the duty of the secretary:
To keep a true and permanent record of all proceedings of meetings of the Club in a book provided for that purpose.

In case the Secretary is unable to attend any meeting to cause the necessary books and papers to be conveyed to the place of meeting.

To have charge of all documents, reports and communications connected with the business of the Club, excepting those pertaining to the office of Treasurer, and file any report required by law.

To notify each member of every meeting of the membership.

To serve as public relations and communications officer of the Club whose duties shall include the publication of the Club Yearbook, Annual Calendar, Club newsletters and any other publication of the Club; advertising and public relations with the media.

Section 6.  Treasurer.   The Treasurer shall receive all money due the Club and pay all bills contracted by it and shall keep a correct amount of the same. The Treasurer shall be the advisory member of the House, Grounds and Docks Committee.

The Treasurer shall have charge of all documents and reports connected with the financial business of the Club.

The Treasurer shall make a report at each annual meeting, and at such other times as may be requested by the Commodore, showing receipts and expenditures.

The Treasurer shall file any financial report required by law.

The Treasurer shall have overall responsibility for the annual budget.

The Treasurer shall keep a correct roll of all the members.

Section 7. 
Board of Directors.   The Board of Directors shall be constituted as specified in Article III, Section 2, any five of whom, other than Honorary Directors, shall constitute a quorum.

Meetings.   It shall meet at least once during the year before the annual meeting and at other times on twenty-four hours notice by the
Commodore or other officer acting in The Commodore’s place.

General Management.   It shall have full charge of the general management of the Club; it must approve all contracts, leases and proposed extraordinary expenditures made by the Committees of the Club in excess of a maximum amount as it shall fix from time to time before the same shall take effect; it shall have the power to accept any gifts and shall have the full power to sell or convey any gifts of property as in its own discretion it may deem appropriate. In executing any sale or transfer of this nature the Treasurer’s signature shall be affixed to the necessary papers upon being instructed to do so by a vote of the Board of Directors. It shall approve or disapprove any schedule or rules of any committee.

Audit or Review.   Periodically, it may cause an audit or review to be made of the accounts of the Treasurer.

Nominating Committee.   Not later than sixty days prior to The Annual Meeting the Board of Directors shall appoint a committee for the nomination of officers to consist of three members, one of whom shall be a current Officer, one may be a former Officer or Director, and one who is a Director.

It shall be their duty to nominate Officers, Directors and any Honorary Directors for the ensuing year, and they shall post the nominations on the Club House bulletin at least ten days before the meeting of the Club at which action will be taken thereon.

This provision shall not exclude the nomination of any other candidate; but no member shall be eligible for election to any office unless that member’s name shall have been posted as a candidate, together with the name of at least twenty members making the nomination, on the bulletin board in the Club House for at least five days before the election.

Colors.   The Board of Directors shall have the power to designate the Club colors and to issue rules in regard to their size and use.

Dues and Initiation Fees.   The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the initiation fees and annual dues of each class of Members. Initiation fees shall be entered into a capital account. Dues shall be used as general operating funds.

Section 2.  Membership Committee.   The Membership Committee shall consist of the Chair and at least two other members who shall be appointed by the Chair, and approved by the Commodore. It shall be the duty of this committee to consider and examine the qualifications of the candidates for admission to membership as provided in Article VIII.

Section 3.  House, Grounds and Docks Committee.   The House, Grounds and Docks Committee shall consist of the Chair, the Rear-Commodore, the advisory member and at least two other members who shall be appointed by the Chair, and approved by the Commodore.

This committee shall have general supervision of, and responsibility for, maintenance and repair of the Club buildings, grounds, dock, floats and other property. It shall have power to make rules and regulations for the government of said property and shall enforce the same, and shall fix prices for supplies and rentals of Club property for temporary use.

Its duties shall embrace the hiring of employees and buying supplies for the Club unless otherwise provided.

Section 4.  Entertainment Committee.   The Entertainment Committee shall consist of the Chair and at least two other members who shall be appointed by the Chair, and approved by the Commodore.

This committee shall have responsibility for management and direction of all social functions of the Club. The Chair shall be responsible for recruiting the necessary voluntary personnel and employees to perform
the services required by this committee and make recommendations to the Chair of the House, Grounds and Docks Committee with respect to any employment.

Section 5.  Sailing and Racing Committee.   The Sailing and Racing Committee shall consist of the Chair, the advisory member and at least two other members who shall be appointed by the Chair, and approved by the Commodore.

This committee shall take charge and supervise all seamanship and sailboat instruction conducted by the Club and be responsible for the supervision of all racing activities. The committee shall further appoint judges to act independently in the operation and conduct of all duly scheduled races. The Chair shall be responsible for recruiting the necessary voluntary personnel and employees to perform the services required by the committee and make recommendations to the Chair of the House, Grounds and Docks Committee with respect to any employment.

Section 6.  Protest Committee.   The Protest Committee shall consist of three members two of whom shall be appointed by the Chair, and approved by the Commodore.

Section 7.  Gifts Administration Committee.   The Gifts Administration Committee shall consist of a chair and at least four (4) other members who shall be appointed by the Commodore.

It shall be the duty of the committee to receive and administer all gifts to the club, regardless of the nature, source, amount or purpose for which given and to maintain an account for monetary gifts separate from the general and administrative funds of the club.

Gifts are to be acknowledged to the donor where appropriate and to be applied, if feasible, to the purpose for which given.

No voting by proxy shall be counted or allowed.

Any member 18 years of age or older in any classification except Junior member and Honorary member shall be permitted to vote.

Section 2.  Special Meetings.   Special meetings may be called at any time by the Commodore and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of twenty members.

Section 3.  Quorum.   Fifteen members must be present and voting to constitute a quorum at any meeting.

Section 4.  Notice of Meetings.   Notice of all meetings of the Club must be sent by mail to each member at the address on file with the Secretary, at least three days before date of such meeting, and shall also be posted in the Club House.

If the candidacy be favorably acted upon by the Membership Committee, it shall be so reported to the Commodore and Treasurer, except that candidates for Honorary Membership favorably acted upon by the Membership Committee must be elected by unanimous vote of the members present at any meeting held in accordance with Article VII.

A legacy candidate for membership is the child of a current or deceased member; such member having been active in the club for 15 consecutive years.  Legacy candidates will receive priority over non-legacy candidates in the group of names being reviewed for approval by the Membership Committee.  They will not precede candidates who have already been approved for membership and are awaiting openings.

The Membership Committee may, at its discretion, defer to the Board of Directors the decision to approve a candidacy, in which case the Board may at a meeting approve by unanimous vote such candidacy for membership.

On notification of acceptance to membership, a candidate may elect to choose to postpone acceptance to membership or be removed from the waiting list.  If a candidate chooses to postpone acceptance, that candidate’s name will be placed at the end of the current waiting list.  A candidate for membership may only use the option to postpone acceptance one time.  If a candidate is removed from the waiting list, a new proposal for membership would have to be presented to the Membership Committee to initiate reapplication for membership.

No general assessment for any purpose shall be made except by the vote or written consent of three-fourths of the Board of Directors. Such special assessments shall be collected by the Treasurer and used only for the purpose for which the assessments are levied.

Amendments to the Constitution may be made at any annual meeting by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the Members present at such meetings. Such proposed amendments must be approved by the Board of Directors and posted on the bulletin board at the Club House for at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting except that the provisions with respect to posting may be waived by unanimous vote at the annual meeting.

The Constitution shall be the supreme law and rule of the Club. Any By-laws, rule or order in conflict therewith, shall be void.

As Revised August 27, 2005

Section 3.  Should a member wish to bring any matter before the Club, a written notice shall be filed, clearly specifying the substance of it, and the Secretary must include a notice of this in the next call for a meeting.

Section 4.  All meetings shall be held at the Club House unless another place be designated by the Commodore and notice hereof given by the Secretary in the call for the meeting.

Section 1.  The Directors shall have power, by a two-thirds vote, to suspend or expel a member on account of misconduct or other cause provided notice thereof has been given to the Directors in the call for the meeting in writing and by sealed envelope mail. The accused member must have been advised of the charges against him and shall have the right to be heard in person at such Director’s Meeting, but shall not be present when the ballot is cast.

Section 1.  Only members in good standing and free from indebtedness may withdraw at any time by delivering a resignation to the Treasurer.

Section 1.  Termination of membership for any cause whatsoever, shall deprive the member of the right to carry or display the Club burgee and shall operate as a release of all right or title to or interest in the property and assets of the Club.

Section 2.  Any member in good standing, who for good reason resigns, has the one time option to reapply for membership any time after three years, by written application to the Membership Committee.  If approved by the Membership Committee and the Board of Directors, he/she shall be accepted to the full membership subject to the payment of the difference between the member’s original initiation fee and current initiation fee.  He/she will go to the top of the next approved group qualified for membership.  The Board of Directors may make exceptions at their discretion.

Section 3.  In the event of divorce, the membership held by the couple shall terminate and two new memberships shall be created. If both members activate the new memberships, the initiation fee for each new membership shall be one-half of the standard initiation fee. If only one member activates a new membership, no initiation fee for the new membership shall be paid. Memberships created under this section shall not be subject to procedures or restrictions otherwise applicable to new memberships, and may commence and proceed immediately without lapse in seniority.

Section 1. Payment.  Members’ annual dues will be billed in January of each year and shall be due and payable in full by March 15 of each year; any assessment shall be payable at such time as determined by the Board of Directors and notified in writing to the membership; other indebtedness to the club shall be settled monthly.

Section 2. Use of Club.  Only members of the Club with all dues, assessments or other indebtedness paid, shall be permitted to use the club facilities and participate in club events under any circumstances.

Section 3. Posting of Names.  The name of every member who has not paid any form of indebtedness to the club 30 days after the date when due shall be posted on the Club bulletin board.