As Amended October, 2003
BY-LAWS
OF
FORT RODMAN MARINE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
I. GENERAL
1. The name of the organization is Fort Rodman Marine Educational Association, Inc.
2. Its headquarters shall be Fort Rodman (aka Fort Taber) in New Bedford, Massachusetts
and the mailing address shall be Post Office Box 40067, New Bedford, MA. 02744.
3. Its purpose:
a. to operate exclusively for educational purposes and in so doing, to
further the causes of maritime education, including public safety,
knowledge and awareness of sailing, boating, and yachting and racing
as a major sport.
b. to offer to our community, state and government agencies, including
conservation, maritime and educational departments, our support and
encouragement.
c. to promote an awareness and adherence to maritime codes, regulations and
safety requirements.
d. to operate and conduct classes, courses, schools and activities on and off the
water designed to inform promote and encourage knowledge and adherence
of all maritime activities, programs and activities within the organization and
in conjunction and cooperation with other organizations, persons or agencies.
e. to further educational maritime interests through creating, maintaining and
supporting programs designed to introduce and educate our youth to
maritime interests.
f. to form, assist and join with other groups in the furtherance of maritime
interests.
II. MEMBERSHIP
1. The membership shall consist of such persons as have:
a. been proposed in writing by a member of this Association and seconded in
writing by another, and
b. been admitted to membership upon recommendation of the membership
committee with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors, and
c. shall have paid fees and dues, and
d. furnished to the Secretary their full names, addresses and other information
as required by these by-laws.
e. No person shall be denied membership because of race, color, or creed.
2. There shall be five classes of membership with their age determined as of January 1
for the season.
a. Senior Member: any person age 23 or over plus his or her spouse and their
unmarried children under the age of 23. Children of senior members can
become senior members the year they turn 23 or get married, without paying
an initiation fee.
b. Junior Member: any person under the age of 23. Junior members are exempt
from initiation fees and assessments. Members in this classification are
nonvoting members and cannot be members of the Board of Directors.
c. Life members: Any member for more than fifteen years and age 65. Life
members are exempt from annual dues and assessments. Life members
enjoy all privileges of a Senior Member.
d. Eternal Members: Life members who are departed of this world and should
never be forgotten.
e. Honorary Members: Any person the organization may wish to honor for
extraordinary contribution or service to the organization or boating. Each
term of membership in this classification shall be for one year only. A
member may be elected in successive one-year terms by the Board of
Directors. Members in this classification shall be exempt from the payment
or entrance fees or annual dues; but shall not have voting privileges, nor hold
office.
3. Resignation: Any member may resign “ in good standing” from the club, after
payment of dues and all indebtedness to the organization, by written notice to the
Secretary. Such resignation shall, after acceptance by the Board of Directors, operate
as a release and assignment of all interest in the club. Any member who resigns after
May 1st will be responsible for all dues and fees for that year.
4. In the event of divorce, the ex-spouse may apply for a membership in writing within
twelve (12) months of final divorce without paying an initiation fee.
III. GOVERNMENT
1. There shall be within each year, two regular meetings of the members of the
Association; One during the month of October to be called the Annual Meeting, and
the other to be called the Semi-Annual Meeting during the month of April. At the
Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors for the ensuing one year shall be elected
from among candidates proposed by the nominating committee and such as may be
nominated and seconded at the meeting; no member is to participate in nominating or
seconding more than one candidate. There shall be one vote per paying membership.
Other matters concerning the activities of the Association may come before any
regular meeting and the action taken on them shall be binding on the Board of
Directors in the administration of the Association.
2. Special meetings of the general membership may be called by the President/
Commodore or the 1st Vice President/Vice Commodore at any time on their own
initiative and must be called on written request by any five members of the
Association. Notice of special meetings must be mailed to the members at least one
week in advance. Special meetings may deal with specific business for which called,
which shall be stated in the notice.
3. A quorum at any general membership meeting of this Association shall be ten
Members. Majority votes of those in attendance shall govern and there shall be no
proxy voting.
4. At any meeting of general membership, this Association may amend these by-laws.
Provided notice of such amendment shall have been given in the notice of that
meeting but no amendment shall be valid unless recommended by the Board of
Directors and approved by the general membership meeting, in the call of which
notice of such amendment must be given, and no part of these by-laws may be
suspended for any time.
5. All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted following the Roberts
Rules of Order, unless superseded by the By-Laws.
IV. ADMINISTRATION
1. The affairs of this Association between meetings of the members shall be
administrated by the Board of Directors, subject to the action of those meetings and
in accordance with these by-laws. The members of the Board of Directors, elected to
their several offices in accordance with Article III, shall be a President/Commodore
to preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors: 1st Vice
President/Vice Commodore and 2nd Vice President/Rear Commodore to assist him
and to replace him in order, in his absence; a Secretary to keep record of all meetings
of the Association and of the Board of Directors, to have custody of all reports and
documents of the Association except financial, to keep a list of names and addresses
of all members of the Association and of election of membership or to office; a
Treasurer to have control of all funds of the Association and to have charge of the
collection and disbursement of same and to keep a correct record of the financial
condition of the Association at all times accessible at all times to members of the
Board of Directors and to render a full report on the financial condition to the Board
of Directors at the end of each fiscal year; and eight members-at-large, but in any
case, there shall be thirteen members of the Board of Directors.
2. The Ex-President/Past Commodore shall automatically become a member of the
Board of Directors for the two years following his term as President/Commodore.
3. The Board of Directors shall meet within the month after the Annual Meeting
(October) of the Association and at such times and places as the
President/Commodore may decide on his own initiative or on request of at least three
members of the Board of Directors.
4. At it’s meeting one month after the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall
appoint a Nominating Committee of five members, two of who may be members of
the Board of Directors, to nominate a candidate for election to each of the thirteen
places to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in October. The Board of
Directors shall designate the Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
5. At its meeting one month after the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall
appoint an Educational Committee and designate its chairman to have charge of all
educational activities conducted by the Association during the ensuing fiscal year.
The Educational Committee consists of as many members as the Board of Directors
shall decide, any of whom may be members of the Board of Directors.
6. The Board of Directors may also appoint any other committees as it may deem
necessary, and it shall decide the number of members to be on such committees and
may designate the chairman and make replacements when vacancies occur. No such
committees shall serve beyond the next annual meeting after which they may be
reappointed or new ones be appointed. Such committees shall at all times be subject
and responsible to the Board of Directors.
7. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors between annual meetings shall be
filled by a vote or the remaining members of the Board of Directors.
8. The Board of Directors, may at its discretion, cause this Association to be affiliated
with other associations.
9. All committees shall, at all times, be subject and responsible to the Board of
Directors.
V. FINANCIAL
1. Members shall pay dues each year at rates recommended by the Board of Directors
and approved at the Annual Meeting of the General Membership. Dues shall be
payable by March 30th to apply to the subsequent year. Dues for new members who
join after Labor Day shall apply to the subsequent year.
2. The fiscal year for this Association shall commence January 1st.
3. The Treasurer shall expend no funds of the Association without authorization of the
Board of Directors by majority vote.
4. Financial assistance is available to all in need for any dues and or fees provided a
written request is submitted to the organizations Secretary.
5. Members who join the armed services shall be exempt from dues and fees for the
duration of their active enlistment provided a written request is submitted to the
organizations Secretary.
6. The Ways and Means Chairman is to oversee the planning, operations and budget
review of all FRMEA Board approved fundraisers.
7. Any FRMEA Board approved fundraiser that is sanctioned by FRMEA and where
FRMEA is financially responsible for that fundraiser, FRMEA shall retain a
minimum of 25% of the net profits for operation and overhead costs.
BY-LAW NOTICE 10/2008
