Proposed Amendment to Fleet 27 Bylaws Re: Standing Race Committee

[MattAdministrator]

This suggested amendment, consisting of changes in two areas of the bylaws, would further strengthen the Fleet 27 bylaws with regard to the Standing Race Committee:

1. 1. Add another “bullet” to Article VII, Section 2 (Standing Race Committee), something similar to the following:

• Provide for the maintenance and upkeep of the Fleet’s race committee equipment, including electronic devices, signal flags, marks, and ground tackle.

1. 2. Change Article IV, Section 1, Paragraph c to read as follows:

The Race Officer shall lead the Standing Race Committee in the execution of its duties. The Race Officer shall chair all Standing Race Committee meetings. The Race Officer shall determine the number of positions on the Standing Race Committee and shall fill these positions from the Fleet Membership. While not an exhaustive nor prescriptive list, the following are typical positions the Race Officer may consider for membership on the Standing Race Committee:

• Race Gear & Marks – Chair
• Scorer
• Protest Committee Chair
• Lobster Bowl Regatta Chair.

The Race Officer shall be responsible for obtaining any and all required marine event permits from the United States Coast Guard. The Race Officer shall perform such other duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the bylaws and the parliamentary authority adopted by the Fleet and/or as duly directed by the membership.

Discussion: Change #1 codifies activities that are currently being performed. Since the bylaws are by their nature “restrictive” laws (in other words, in general the organization is not empowered to act without specific membership authorization unless the bylaws permit the action), this change makes this task a part of regular order and authorizes and directs the Standing Race Committee under the leadership of the Race Officer to maintain the fleet’s race committee equipment without requiring specific membership approval.

Change #2 does not really change much of anything, but simply amplifies what is intended by the bylaws and provides some guidance. You can argue that this is superfluous for the bylaws and would be better presented in a handbook or set of lower level procedural rules for the organization. Since we don’t have such a document, this is the only place to put it. The Race Officer can opt not to have any other members of the Standing Race Committee and do all the tasks him/herself. Or, the RO can enlist volunteers to take on as many of these, or other, roles as desired.

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