Constitution

Constitution of the (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) Sailing Club

Article I. Name
This society shall be known as the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Sailing Club, hereafter referred to, in this constitution, as the "Sailing Club".

Article II. Purpose
The purpose of the Sailing Club shall be to encourage and promote nautical activities in the interest of education, recreation and good seamanship among the Worcester Polytechnic Institute community. To this end it shall provide both recreational and competitive sailing opportunities to the WPI community. This organization will be a member of the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) and its parent organization the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association of North America (ICSA). In the tradition of this great Institution, the Sailing Club harbors and values experience based learning and leadership skills that lead to life long learning.

Article III. Membership
1. Membership in the Sailing Club is open to all WPI undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty.
2. The Sailing Club will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status or national origin.
3. Members have the freedom to discontinue their membership at any time.
4. The Sailing Club will ensure that its membership will abide by Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Anti-Hazing policy.
5. To be a member, a membership agreement must be signed, where the member agrees to fulfill the membership requirements, sign the assumption of risk forms and pay dues.
6. Membership may be suspended or revoked by the Executive Board for deliberate and/or repeated violation of this constitution or other club regulations.
7. Undergraduate and graduate students must be making good academic progress with Worcester Polytechnic Institute to be in good standing with the Sailing Club.
8. The membership of the club shall be divided into two categories with the following requirements:
A. 'Recreational Membership'
i. This is open to all Sailing Club members.
ii. All members will be so designated upon admission to the Sailing Club.
B. 'Racing Membership'
i. This is open to all undergraduate Sailing Club members, who have:
1. Completed the necessary training to be eligible to complete in NEISA and ICSA regattas, and
2. Completed at least two (2) hours of maintenance at Regatta Point Community Sailing Club.

Article IV. Officers, Duties and Requirements
1. The officers of the Sailing Club shall consist of a Commodore (President), a Vice Commodore (Vice President), Rear Commodore (Boatswain), Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. Any congress of four (4) of the five (5) officers and the faculty advisor shall be considered a meeting of the Executive Committee. All Officers have voting privileges on the Executive Committee.
3. The duties of the offices are as follows:
A. Commodore
i. Preside as chairperson over all meetings;
ii. Represent the Sailing Club for all Institute activities;
iii. Ensure that all elected and assigned officers perform their duties; and
iv. Bear responsibility for all actions of the Sailing Club and its members at Sailing Club functions.
B. Vice Commodore
i. Assume the responsibilities of the Commodore in the Commodore's absence;
ii. Maintain full and complete records of the current Membership, member classification, and member participation; and
iii. Manage membership cards.
C. Rear Commodore
i. Be responsible for handling all interaction between the Regatta Point Community Sailing Club and the Sailing Club; and
ii. Be responsible for the publicity and social programming of the Sailing Club.
D. Secretary
i. Take minutes at all meetings;
ii. Maintain organized archives of all past minutes and membership records; and
iii. Be responsible for Sailing Club alumni relations.
E. Treasurer
i. Collect all dues;
ii. Dispense Sailing Club funds as approved by the Executive Board;
iii. Keep current financial records of Sailing club operations; and
iv. Prepare a yearly budget as outlined by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Student Government Association.
4. All officers must be Sailing Club members in good standing.

Article V. Meetings
1. Meeting must be held at lest twice (2) per academic term.
2. The Commodore or three Sailing Club members in good standing have the right to call for a general or executive committee meeting.
3. Quorum for any business shall be defined as fifty (50) percent of any current Sailing Club members in good standing.
4. Unless suspended by a vote of the two-thirds (2/3) majority is passed to suspended the rules of order, Robert rules of order shall be used to conduct all meetings.

Article IV. Elections & Officer Replacement/Removal
1. Nominations for officers will be obtained during the first meeting of C-term.
2. Elections shall take place during the last meeting of C-term.
3. Officers will be elected in the following order: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer.
4. All offices shall be elected by at lest a fifty (50) percent majority of those present.
5. The tenure of the Offices shall be one full year, starting on the first day of D-term following the election, and one term as an officer emeritus directly following the term of office.
6. An officer can justly be removed from office if the officer in question has repeatedly failed to carry out the responsibilities of their office and/or is not longer in good standing with the Sailing Club.
7. The motion must be made known to the membership seven (7) day before the date of the meeting for removal. A vote of three-quarters (3/4) of the members assembled at a general meeting.
8. In the event of an officer vacancy, an election will be held at the next general meeting and will follow the rules for election set forth in Article IV, with the expectation that tenure will be the remainder of the pervious officers term.

Article VII. Judicial Action (Optional)
1. The Executive Committee will server as the Sailing Club's judiciary body.
2. Any decision of the Executive Committee can be applied to the general membership at the next general meeting.
3. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present at a general meeting is required to overturn the Executive Committees decisions.

Article VIII. Finances
1. Dues shall be set forth in the in the Sailing Clubs By-Laws.
2. The Sailing Club will apply for a budget from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate Student Government Association as a Class II origination.

Article IX. Advisor
1. There must be a faculty or staff member of the Sailing Club.
2. A faculty advisor is nominated, by the Commodore, and confirmed by a vote of affirmation before the end of D-term, every other year.
3. The faculty advisor shall hold a voting postion on the Executive Committee.

Article X. Amendments/Revisions
The Executive Committee shall review all amendments to the Sailing Club consition within two (2) weeks of the receipt of the proposed amendment by the committee. All proposed amendments shall require two (2) general meetings before adoption. The proposed amendments shall be made public at least five calendar days prior to reaching the general meeting. The proposed amendments shall need a majority vote of the Sailing Club in order to pass and be brought before a general meeting for a second hearing. A two thirds (2/3) vote of the Sailing Club during the second hearing shall be necessary for adoption.Article XI. SOC Enabling ClauseThe Worcester Polytechnic Institute Sailing Club agrees to abide by the policies of Worcester Polytechnic Institute as well as all federal, state and local laws. Any changes to this constitution and/or bylaws will follow, in word and spirit, all WPI policies and all federal, state and local laws.