NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER CRUISER ASSOCIATION

BY-LAWS

 Revised Spring Meeting 2007]

ARTICLE   I

NAME

            The name of the Association shall be the Northern California Power Cruiser Association.

ARTICLE   II

PURPOSE

            The purpose of the Association shall be to promote power cruiser contests by arranging for sponsors, handling entries, and carrying on the actual mechanism of the contest as provided for in these by-laws and the Contest Rules of the Association.

ARTICLE   III

MEMBERSHIP

            Membership of the Association shall consist of any yacht club or association in Northern California that has been in existence a minimum of one year prior to application.  Application for club membership may be made by filing with the Secretary the following:

SECTION 1            -            CLUB MEMBERSHIP:

            A.            An outline of its ability to contribute to the interests of yachting.

            B.         Its headquarters and/or stations, list of officers, and the number of members and member boats actively on its roster.

            C.        An application in writing signed by the senior officer of the club accompanied with a $50.00 fee to be applied as dues for the year of its acceptance.  Upon its acceptance by a majority of the delegates at an annual or special meeting, or by a poll of the delegates by the Commodore, said club shall become a member.

SECTION 2            -            INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP:

            A.            Regular member - in accordance with Article XIII of these by-laws, a regular member will be a member in good standing of a member club and will meet all the requirements and be afforded the privileges set forth in Article XIII, Paragraphs 1 thru 5.

            B.            Life members - life member privileges are set forth in Article XIII, Paragraph 7.

            C.        Associate member - A person desiring to be associated with the organization to be a checker, to assist with contest committee work and to participate as a crew member on a vessel with a regular member as described in Article III, Section 2-A and Article XIII.  The normal Association yearly dues will be reduced by 2/3, and associate members will receive the Flat Start news letter but not the special mailings, i.e., new contest information, changes, and/or additions.

The associate members will be issued a membership card with the words "ASSOCIATE" placed after their name and are welcome to attend any and all dinners, meetings, and functions, but will not be allowed to participate as a regular member contestant in any contest.

ARTICLE   IV

REPRESENTATION OF MEMBER CLUBS

            Each member club in good standing shall be entitled to two delegates and each delegate will have one vote regardless of the size of the club.  Every vote shall have equal weight.  Each member club shall furnish the Secretary of the Association with the names and addresses of their delegates no later than the Spring Delegates Meeting in the year they are to serve.

ARTICLE   V

MEETINGS

            There shall be semi-annual meetings held each year at a time and place selected by the  Executive Committee.  The first meeting, i.e., spring meeting, shall be held no later than March 1st nor earlier than January 15th.  The second meeting, i.e., fall meeting, shall be held not more than two weeks after the last contest of the season.

            A.            A special meeting may be called by the Commodore or by a written request signed by two members of the Executive Committee, or by written request signed by one delegate from each of ten member clubs.

            B.            A quorum for the purpose of conducting a meeting of the delegates shall consist of representation from ten member clubs.

            C.            Except where otherwise provided a majority of the delegates present at a meeting voting affirmatively shall be necessary to pass any motion.

            D.            The order of business at a meeting shall be as follows:

1.            Roll call of member clubs and their respective delegates.

2.            Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting.

3.            Communications.

4.            Report of officers.

5.            Report of committees.

6.            Unfinished business.

7.            Election of officers (Fall meeting only).

8.            New Business.

9.            Good of N.C.P.C.A.

10.            Adjournment.

ARTICLE VI

DUES AND FEES

            Dues shall be $50 annually for each member club, payable at the first of the season year and shall be considered delinquent after July 1st of said year.  No additional levy or assessment shall be made against any member club or member clubs without the consent of three-quarters of all member clubs.

            A.            A sponsorship fee shall be set by the delegates and paid not later than thirty days after the contest sponsored by the club.  

            B.            All boat owners holding numbers issued by the Association shall be required to register them annually by payment of an annual fee, which will be recommended by the Treasurer and approved by the delegates at the first meeting of each year.

            C.            An entry fee is to be paid by all contestants of each race to cover cost of contest instructions and other expenses with the amount set by the Association.

ARTICLE   VII

OFFICERS

            The officers of the Association shall be the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer.  These officers shall be elected by the delegates of member clubs at the Fall Delegates Meeting and shall serve for one year, or until their successors are elected.. The officers of the Association shall function as an executive committee whose duties are hereinafter designated.

ARTICLE   VIII

DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

SECTION 1            -            COMMODORE

            The Commodore shall preside at all meetings and have the power to call any special meetings either by his/her own judgment, or as covered under Article III, Section 1, C and Article V, A. of these by-laws.

            He/she shall have the power to appoint committees and designate the chairmen thereof, except as otherwise provided for in these by-laws.

            He/she shall issue all numbers and shall provide a current and complete list of these to the  Contest Manager.

SECTION 2            -            VICE COMMODORE

            The Vice Commodore shall assist the Commodore and preside at meetings in the absence of the Commodore.

SECTION 3            -            REAR COMMODORE

            The Rear Commodore shall assist the Commodore and in the absence of the Commodore and Vice Commodore shall preside at the meetings.

SECTION 4            -            SECRETARY

            The Secretary shall keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association in a book provided for the purpose, keep a correct roll of the member clubs and their delegates and their addresses, notify the delegates of the semi-annual and special meetings, and notify the delegates of the member clubs of the report of the nominating committee at least one week prior to the annual meeting.

SECTION 5            -            TREASURER

            The Treasurer shall collect all monies due to the Association and pay all bills contracted by it only upon the approval of the Executive Committee, keeping a correct account of the same in a book provided for that purpose.  He/she shall make a report at each annual meeting and at such other times as the delegates or the Executive Committee may direct of all the receipts and expenditures and of the amount of money remaining on hand.

ARTICLE   IX

DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

            The Executive Committee shall act as financial committee approving or rejecting all bills of the Association, prepare a budget for the Spring meeting to be approved by the majority of the delegates, recommend the fee for sponsors of a contest, and make recommendations to the delegates for the season's contest schedule as to sponsorship, dates and locations.  The Executive Committee shall not at any time permit the Association to be obligated for money greater than the actual balance in the treasury.

            The Executive Committee shall appoint a Contest Manager who shall hold office at the will and pleasure of the Executive Committee.

            The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominating Committee from the delegates, or past officers who retain active NCPCA registration, composed of a chairman and four others, at least thirty days before the fall meeting.  The Nominating Committee shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Association for officers to be elected, at least two weeks before the fall meeting.

            Nothing in this article shall prevent additional nominations to be made from the floor at the annual fall meeting.

            No paid employee of the Association shall be eligible to serve as an officer or on any committee.

ARTICLE   X

CONTEST COMMITTEE AND DUTIES

            The Commodore, Vice Commodore, and Rear Commodore* or Contest Manager shall act as the Contest Committee to hear and act on protest, and see that Contest Rules of the Association are distributed to each member club and to each new contestant, and that these rules are observed at all times.  No member of the Contest Committee shall be eligible to participate in any contest.  However, this shall not prohibit a Contest Committee member from making his or her boat available for use by another contestant to participate in a contest under that person's official contest number. *The Rear Commodore may be either a contestant or a member of the Contest Committee for each contest.

            The Contest Committee shall prepare the contest rules of the Association and submit them to the delegates who by majority vote shall approve or revise them at the Annual Spring Meeting.

            The Contest Committee shall lay out all courses, inform the contestants of start times, compute the time of the contestants to determine the winners, keep a record of each contest boat, and prepare all instructions, entry blanks, etc., necessary for each contest.

            The Contest Committee shall have sole responsibility for determining the legality of a contest, number of check points, etc., and their judgment shall be final.

            The Contest Committee shall mail to all members any contest course revisions at least six (6) weeks prior to the respective contest.  The contest course instruction sheet shall include the chart numbers along with the respective editions and dates.

            The Contest Committee and/or Contest Manager shall submit to the Treasurer an accurate inventory and location of the contest equipment owned by the Association, at the end of each season.

ARTICLE   XI

DUTIES OF THE CONTEST MANAGER

            The Contest Manager shall lay out checkpoints and assign checkers as verified by the Contest Committee.

            He/she shall report checker information to the Contest Committee at the end of each contest.

ARTICLE   XII

RULES OF CONTEST SPONSORSHIP

            A.            Contest sponsorship selection shall be by majority vote of club delegates at a regular meeting or at a special meeting called by the Commodore.  A letter detailing the options shall be mailed by the Secretary to the delegates at least two weeks prior to the special meeting date.

            B.            Only an Association member club - who may have a co-sponsor - can sponsor an NCPCA contest.

            C.            A club's initial request to sponsor a contest shall be filed by its Commodore in writing with the NCPCA Secretary. Requests will be given consideration based upon the order received.

            D.            Clubs sponsoring contests shall, from year to year, retain first preference for their contest.  However, final authority for sponsor selection shall be vested in a majority vote by the delegates at a regular meeting.

            E.            A club accepting a contest sponsorship shall approve a contest date, pay the standard fee set by the NCPCA Executive Committee, have available adequate facilities, and provide suitable trophies.

ARTICLE   XIII

PRIVILEGES

            A.            Contest privileges are extended to any boat owner or skipper of a boat of any member club in good standing with the Association and whose boat will qualify as a power cruiser.

                        1.            A power cruiser is hereby designated as any boat whose propulsion plant is stationary and mounted inboard of the vessel's extremities.  It shall have two stationary bunks, a permanent head, and galley facilities.  No other type of boat may be entered into any contest of the Association.

                        2.            An official racing number will be issued by the Commodore to the respective contestant, under which he/she will participate.  This number shall remain the property of the member as long as he/she is registered and in good standing with the Association.  After three (3) years of non-payment of registration fees, the number shall revert without refund to the Association to be reissued by the Commodore.

                        3.            Fees for contests and registration are covered under Article VI of these by-laws.

                        4.            Numbers issued to Past Commodores shall be theirs in perpetuity.

                        5.            Contestant means:  Any person or designated companion who has been issued an official contest number, who is in good standing with the Association, and who is aboard the participating vessel displaying his or her contest numbers.

                        6.            Individuals who are members in good standing of a member club are eligible to become club contestants for any contest, one time only.

a)            Club contestants shall compete in power cruisers as defined in Article XIII, A., 1.

b)            Club contestants shall pay the entry fee for that contest.

c)            Official racing numbers shall be issued by the NCPCA for the contest only.  The numbers shall be returned to the NCPCA Commodore by the club contestant the evening of the sponsor club race.

d)            Club contestant privileges shall only be extended to individuals who have never been issued an official NCPCA contest number.

e)            Contestants will be eligible for contest trophies, excluding perpetual trophies and NCPCA burgees

                        7.            Life member:  Any contestant who by virtue of distinguished service to the Association shall be eligible for life membership.  Life members shall have all the privileges of regular contestants but shall not pay an annual registration fee.  Candidates for life membership shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and approved by a majority vote of the delegates at any regular or special meeting.

                        8.            Affiliated contestant:  Any member in good standing with a Northern California yacht club or association is allowed to be an affiliated contestant in any contest as long as their vessel meets the requirements set forth in Article XIII, A., 1.

a)            Contestants shall pay a special entry fee for each contest as set by the contest committee.

b)            Temporary racing numbers shall be issued by the NCPCA and shall be returned to the Commodore after the contest.

c)            Contestants will be eligible for contest trophies, excluding perpetual trophies and NCPCA burgees.

d)            To be eligible for season trophies, perpetual trophies, and NCPCA burgees, the contestant must become a regular member of the Association and the contestant's club or association must join as a member club.

            B.            Burgee privileges:

1.            The burgee of the NCPCA may be displayed only by a boat owner or skipper who is a regular member and has taken a first place in any Associations contest or who has won a season's first (over all first place).

2.            The burgee shall also be displayed by the flag officers of the Association in complement with their respective flags.

3.            Past Commodores of the Association may also display the burgee with three (3) white stars in its field to designate them as a Past Commodore of the Association.

4.            White chevrons may also be placed in the field of the burgee to designate more than one first place win and gold chevrons for each season's over-all win.

5.            Once earned, the burgee may be flown by any NCPCA member.

ARTICLE   XIV

BURGEE

            The flag of the Association will be a pointed burgee, whose length is one and one-half (1.5) times its hoist.  It shall have a blue field with a red border other than the hoist which will be white and a red diamond with a white border with white stripes emanating from each point of the diamond through the field of blue.  The red diamond will favor the hoist.

ARTICLE   XV

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

            Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority for all rules of order not herein provided for.

ARTICLE   XVI

AMENDMENTS

            These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present of the member clubs at a regular or special meeting, provided that a draft of the proposed amendment shall have been filed with the Secretary twenty-one (21) days before the meeting and that a true copy of such proposed amendment has been set forth in the notice of the meeting.