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The name of this Association is the Sachem’s Head Yacht Club. Download a PDF

OFFICERS

The officers of the Club shall be a Commodore, Vice-Commodore and Fleet Captain, hereinafter designated the

Flag Officers, each of whom shall, at the time of his election, be the owner or part owner of a yacht enrolled in

the fleet, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Measurer.

DUTIES

It shall be the duty of the Commodore to command the squadron, to preside at all meetings of the Club, and to

enforce its laws and regulations.

It shall be the duty of the Vice-Commodore to assist the Commodore in the discharge of his duties and in his absence

to act in his stead.

It shall be the duty of the Fleet Captain to assist the Commodore and Vice-Commodore in the discharge of their

duties, and in their absence to act in their stead. He shall arrange and superintend all races and regattas of the

Club, with the advice and assistance of the Regatta Committee, and shall be ex officio chairman of said committee.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all meetings of the Club and the Executive Committee;

to keep a roster of the officers and committees, a roll of the members and of the yachts enrolled in the fleet, to

issue all notices hereinafter provided for, and to report to the Club at its annual general meeting and to the Executive

Committee when required.

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and collect moneys due to the Club, to have general charge of its

funds and to make such disbursements therefrom as are ordered or approved by the Executive Committee; to

keep an account of the property and investments of the Club and of its receipts and disbursements and to report

to the Club at its annual general meeting and to the Executive Committee when required.

It shall be the duty of the Measurer to make accurate measurements of all yachts of the fleet, which may be entered

in any race of the Club, according to the rules of measurement adopted by the Regatta Committee; to keep

a true record of such measurements and to calculate therefrom the racing length of each yacht so measured and

certify the same to her owner and to the Secretary. His compensation shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.

The Commodore may at his pleasure appoint a Harbor Master, a Flag Lieutenant, a Fleet Surgeon, and a Chaplain,

to serve during his term of office and to perform such functions consistent with their professional calling,

as he shall require.

PROPERTY

All the property of the Club shall be vested in the Commodore as trustee for the members thereof, under his

official title, and he shall have power to act for and bind the members of the Club, as their agent, in all transactions

relating to such property and duly authorized by the Club or its Executive Committee.

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STANDING COMMITTEES

The Executive Committee shall consist of 13 members, including the Flag Officers, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

Seven members, including at least one the officers, shall be a quorum. All meetings of this committee

shall be called by the Commodore, or in his absence by the officer next in rank. The ranking officer present shall

be chairman of the meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the general control and direction of the policy

and finances of the Club and the election of members thereto. It shall authorize all disbursements and contracts

and audit all accounts and may require all other committees and all officers, except the Commodore, to report to

it when necessary for the discharge of its duties. It shall report to the Club at its annual general meeting and to

any special meeting called for that purpose, as provided in the next article.

The House Committee shall consist of a chairman and eight other members, four of whom shall be women, to

be appointed by the Executive Committee, and shall have charge and control of the Club House and grounds

and the property therein contained. It shall have power to make the necessary rules for the government and use

of the Club House and grounds, shall collect all moneys arising from the use thereof and pay the same to the

Treasurer, and shall report to the Club at its annual general meeting and to the Executive Committee when required.

The Regatta Committee shall consist of at least five members, including the Fleet Captain, and as many more

as deemed practical by the Commodore and the Regatta Committee Chairman; and shall have the charge and

control of all races and regattas held by the Club, with power to make necessary rules and regulations for the

government and management thereof. It shall decide all questions referred to it by the judges and captains of

competing yachts, select and award all prizes offered by the Club, and shall report to the Club at its annual general

meeting and to the Executive Committee when required.

The Membership Committee shall consist of the chairman and six members, to be appointed by the Commodore

and approved by the Executive Committee. It shall have charge of all membership applications. If approved by

the committee, applications will be sent to the Secretary in order that they may be presented to the Executive

Committee for final action.

The Entertainment Committee, consisting of chairman and co-chairman, and as many members as the Commodore

wishes to serve, will be appointed by the Commodore.

MEETINGS

The annual general meeting of the Club shall be held at the Club House on the Friday night before the first

Monday of September in each year, at such hour as the Executive Committee shall direct, and written notice of

such meeting shall be given every member in good standing by-the Secretary and posted conspicuously in the

Club House at least one week before the date thereof.

Special meetings of the Club may be called by the Commodore at his pleasure, and shall be so called upon the

written request of any ten members in good standing. Such meetings shall be held at the Club House if in commission,

and at other times at such place as the Commodore shall direct, as most convenient to the majority of

the members.

Such special meetings shall have power to transact any business which might be transacted at the annual general

meeting and for which they shall have been expressly called.

Fifteen members, qualified to vote and present in person or by proxy, shall be a quorum at any meetings of the

Club.

The Secretary shall mail to every member of the Club in good standing, and post conspicuously in the Club

House, if in commission, at least one week before the date of such meeting, a notice thereof and of any special

business for which it is called.

The Executive, House, Regatta, Membership and Entertainment Committees shall have the power to arrange

and call their own meetings, at such times and places as shall be most convenient, but the Commodore may call

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a meeting of any such committee at any time upon such notice as is above prescribed for a special meeting of

the Club.

ELECTIONS

The Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Fleet Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Measurer, and members of the Executive

Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting in every year by a majority vote of the members present,

to serve for the term of one year from the fifteenth day of September next ensuing and until their successors are

elected.

A Nominating Committee, consisting of three members in good standing, shall be appointed by the Executive

Committee not later than one month before the annual general meeting, and shall meet and nominate officers

and members of the Executive Committee, for election at the annual general meeting. Such nominations shall be

conspicuously posted in the Club House not less than two weeks prior to such meeting.

A vacancy occurring in the offices of Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Fleet Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, or

Measurer, may be filled for the unexpired term of such officer, at an election to be held at a special meeting of

the Club, called for that purpose, upon the same notice of the time and object of such meeting as is hereinafter

provided for amending the Constitution.

In default of such election, the Commodore may appoint an acting officer, with the same powers and duties, to

serve for the unexpired term or until a successor be elected.

The Executive Committee shall have power to fill any vacancy in their own number, for the unexpired term of

such vacancy, and shall appoint the House and Regatta Committee, and have like power to fill vacancies therein.

MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership shall be classified as follows:

• Family – Classes A, B, C, & E

• Single – Classes D & F

2. Family membership shall entitle all dependents of a member residing in his or her house- hold, except persons

23 and over, to the general privileges of the Club House.

3. Membership A, B, C, D, E, & F shall exclusively carry the voting privileges.

4. Ages – All ages shall be determined as of January 1st of the calendar year billed for.

5. Family Membership – Class A: Persons 33 years of age and over. Dues: $770.00 per year. Initiation fee:

$2,300.00.

6. Family Membership – Class B: Persons from 28–32 years of age, inclusive. Dues: $462.00 per year. Initiation

Fee: $1150.00.

7. Family Membership – Class C: Persons from 23–27 years of age, inclusive. Dues: $363.00 per year. Initiation

fee: $800.00.

8. Family Membership – Class E: Available upon written request to members in good standing over 65 years

of age with a minimum of 15 years active membership. Dues for members requesting Class E membership

after January 1, 1982 will be 60% of the Class A membership dues in effect during the year the request is

made. Dues for these members will be fixed at the amount so calculated as long as their Club membership is

retained.

9. Single Membership – Class D: Any unmarried person. Dues: $402.00 per year. Initiation Fee: $1200.00.

10. Single Membership – Class F: Available upon written request to single members in good standing over 65

years of age with a minimum of 15 years active membership. Dues $125.00 per year. Dues for members

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requesting Class F membership after January 1, 1982 will be 60% of Class D membership dues in effect

during the year the request is made. Dues for these members will be fixed at the amount so calculated, as

long as their club membership is retained.

Application for membership must be made in writing to the Membership Committee. Such application must be

signed by the applicant and the proposer, and state the name and address of the applicant, and the class of membership

applied for, and also whether said applicant owns or is part owner of a yacht, and if so, her name and

general description.

When a membership application is presented to the Executive Committee they shall consider and vote upon it,

and a favorable vote of all members present and voting shall be necessary to an election. The number of members

in each class shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Honorary Members may be elected in recognition of special services to the Club, or of distinction in yachting or

naval science, or in public service, by the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee, to be ratified at the next

meeting of the Club.

Members shall pay to the Treasurer within two weeks after receiving notice of their election their annual dues

for the current year together with the initiation fee as billed by the Treasurer, and if such dues are not paid within

one month after receipt of such notice, their election shall become void unless the time of payment be extended

by the Executive Committee.

No initiation fee shall be charged to any dependent of a member who is accepted into membership within one

year after his or her family membership rights are terminated by virtue of having reached age twenty-three (23).

Annual dues shall be payable on the first day of March, and if such dues are not paid by the first day of April,

the Treasurer shall send notice to the member in arrears. If such dues remain unpaid on the first day of May, his

membership may be deemed forfeited and his privileges cease, subject to being renewed by the Executive Committee

on such terms as in their discretion shall be just.

Honorary members shall pay no admission fee or dues.

Any member accused of breaking the rules or regulations of the Club, or of conduct unbecoming a gentleman

or prejudicial to the good order and welfare of the Club, shall be notified in writing of such charges by the Secretary

and given an opportunity to be heard in his own defense before the Executive Committee, and upon such

hearing, or upon his failure to appear, the committee may, if it finds the charges proved, admonish or suspend

such member from any of the privileges of membership, or may declare his membership forfeited.

Such member shall thereupon have the right of appeal to the Club, at a special meeting to be called for that purpose,

and the Club may, by a two-thirds vote of all members present, reverse the action of the Committee and

set aside the penalties so imposed.

Any member who has not paid all sums due to the Club for the immediately preceding season (ending Labor

Day of that year) by the later of December 1, or the 45th day after the charges are first billed, shall forfeit his

membership, subject to being renewed by the Executive Committee on such terms as in their discretion shall be

just.

YACHTS

Any yacht owned wholly or in part by, or chartered to, a member of the Club, and used exclusively as a pleasure

craft, may be enrolled in the fleet, and her owner shall file with the Secretary a description of the yacht, including

her name, ownership, dimensions, rig, and the name of the builder, if known, with a description or diagram

of the owner’s private signal.

Only yachts so enrolled shall be allowed to compete in any race or regatta or for any prize offered by the Club,

except upon special invitation of the Regatta Committee.

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SIGNAL AND PENNANTS

The distinguishing signal of the Club shall be a pointed flag, of dimensions three units on the fly for every two

units on the hoist, divided by a diagonal line running from the head of the luff, red above and blue below the diagonal,

to a point bisecting the lower side.

The Commodore’s pennant shall be rectangular flag, the breadth two-thirds of the length, divided by a diagonal

line running from the head of the pennant, red above and blue below the diagonal, and bearing three white stars

in line horizontally from luff to leach.

The Vice-Commodore’s pennant shall be the same as the Commodore’s but bearing two white stars, similarly

placed.

The Fleet Captain’s pennant shall be the same as the Commodore’s but bearing a white foul anchor instead of

the stars, placed midway upon and perpendicular to the said diagonal line.

By resolution of the Executive Committee the flag Lieutenant, when afloat on official business, is authorized to

carry a distinguishing pennant, consisting of the Club signal, bearing a white arrow, placed horizontally, point

inward, three-fourths the length of the signal.

The pennant of all members of the Executive Committee and all standing committee heads shall be a pointed

flag of dimensions three units on the fly for every two units on the hoist, divided by a diagonal line running

from the head of the luff, red above and blue below the diagonal, to a point bisecting the lower side, bearing a

single white star placed midway upon the diagonal line.

AMENDMENT

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present in person or by proxy, at any

general meeting of the Club or any special meeting called for that purpose. Such amendment shall be proposed

in writing addressed to the Secretary, who shall give notice thereof to the Commodore in writing. The Commodore

shall thereupon, if he deems it for the interest of the Club, or if requested in writing by any ten members

thereof, in good standing, call a special meeting of the Club to consider and vote upon the said amendment, unless

the annual general meeting is to occur within one month after the proposal of such amendment. At least one

week’s notice of the place and time of such meeting and of the object for which the same is called, with a copy

of the proposed amendment, shall be mailed or delivered by the Secretary to every member of the Club, and

shall also be conspicuously posted in the Club House, if in commission.