(Revised 2001)
ARTICLE
I - Name and Location
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the ILLINOIS VALLEY YACHT & CANOE CLUB.
Section 3. The Club colors shall be red, white, blue and green, and the pennant shall be a green ivy leaf on a white background, as shown on the sketch of the official Club pennant, in the custody of the Secretary.
ARTICLE II - Objective
The objective of the Club shall be: (a) to promote and forward all activities pertaining to water sports; (b) to promote sociability with the purpose of fostering close relations with other sportspersons; and, (c) to stimulate and encourage good moral and instructive entertainment.
ARTICLE III - Membership and Dues
Section 1. Any person above the age of thirty-five (35) years, whose character and reputation are deemed to be satisfactory to the Board of Directors may become a Senior member upon election by said Board of Directors and notification by the Secretary or the Club Manager.
Section 2. There shall be seven classes of membership, namely:
1. Life 5. Junior
2. Super Senior 6. Non-Resident
3. Senior 7. Honorary
4. Associate
Section 3. No life memberships shall be issued after March 1, 1976, and the memberships of present life members shall expire with the death or resignation of the present holders thereof. Life members shall pay no dues, but shall pay all taxes, assessments and other charges levied upon or payable by Senior members.
Section 4. Senior members shall be limited to 300 in number. Senior members shall pay a membership fee of $1250.00 and monthly dues as shall be set from time to time after voting thereon at a properly called Special Meeting of the voting Members pursuant to ÒArticle VÓ of this Constitution, together with any taxes assessed upon such fees and dues. No assessments shall be imposed on Life, Super Senior or Senior members except after a vote conducted in accordance with the provisions of ÒArticle VÓ of this Constitution. The time and manner of payments of such fees and dues shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of said Club is hereby authorized and empowered to incur debt for the renovation, remodeling, improvement and expansion of the Club facilities and properties, and for the retirement of any present secured indebtedness, subject to the following restrictions:
(a) The aggregate secured indebtedness of the Club shall not exceed $1300,000.
(b) The Board shall not undertake any expansion of debt without membership approval, unless it is confident that such additional debt can be retired without increased dues or assessments, and without extending the termination date of previously approved assessments.
In order to provide for the retirement of any secured indebtedness so incurred, monthly improvement charges may be assessed from time to time on the various classes of membership after voting thereon at a properly called Special Meeting of the voting Members pursuant to ÒArticle VÓ of this Constitution. These charges shall become effective the first of the month next following the date that the Club obtains financing for the above priorities. All proceeds from the above monthly charges shall be paid into and credited to the Capital Improvement Account.
The Treasurer will certify at the annual meeting of the voting members that all monies collected for Club improvements have been deposited in said special account at such Peoria Area Lending and/or banking institutions as shall be from time to time authorized by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Board of Directors shall be authorized to increase, decrease or to waive all or a portion of the membership fee and/or initiation fee from time to time as it shall deem appropriate in order to attract new members.
Section 5. The ownership of all property of the Club, both real and personal, shall be vested in the Life, Super Senior and Senior members subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors and Officers of the Club. Only Life, Super Senior and Senior members in good standing shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at meetings of the members.
Section 6. Except as hereinafter provided in Section 9 of this Article, the number of members, eligibility, privileges, fees, dues and rules applicable to all classes of membership other than Life and Senior memberships shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. The form of applications and manner of applying for all classes of membership shall be specified by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. All outstanding certificates of membership, except those held by Life Members shall remain revoked and cancelled, provided, however, each Super Senior or Senior Member who joined the Club on or before May 31, 1971, as well as those who joined between June 1, 1971 and March 1, 1975, and who paid a $500.00 initiation plus membership fee shall be given a new certificate having a value of $200.00, at no additional charge.
Certificates and the memberships they represent shall be neither inheritable nor transferable except to the Club in the event of the death, divorce, resignation or expulsion of the holder thereof Membership certificates issued after March 1, 1975 shall have no face value and shall not be redeemable by the Club.
The Board of Directors shall fix the time and manner for surrender of such certificates in either of said events and if such certificates are so surrendered, they shall be redeemed by the Club at not less than 75% of the face value of said certificates.
Section 9. A Senior member may move to Super Senior status by meeting the following three requirements:
(1.) He or she joined the Club before January 1, 1996, and has been a member for a continuous period of at least ten years,
OR
He or she joined the Club on or after January 1, 1996, and has been a member for a continuous period of at least twenty years.
(2.) Has attained the age of 65 years during the period of continuous membership described above.
(3). Has applied in writing to the Club Manager for this change in status.
The dues of Super Senior members shall be less than those of Senior members, their amount being set from time to time after voting thereon at a properly called Annual or Special Meeting of the voting Members pursuant to ÒArticle VÓ of this Constitution.
ARTICLE IV - Officers and Directors
Section 1. The Club shall be governed by a Board of Directors elected by the voting members in the manner fixed by the By-Laws, consisting of no less than twelve or more than thirteen Life, Super Senior or Senior members and one Associate member (who shall be under age 34 when elected). The Commodore, the Vice Commodore, and the Rear Commodore shall be Super Senior, Senior or Life members, shall be members of the Board, and shall be elected as provided in Section 2 hereof. Nine of the other Super Senior, Senior or Life members who are members of the Board of Directors shall be divided into classes of three each, so that three Directors shall be elected annually to serve for three years.
In addition, the immediate Past Commodore of this Club shall serve on the Board of Directors during the term or terms of his or her immediate successor.
The Associate Member of the Board of Directors shall serve for one year.
If a Director dies, resigns, vacates his or her position, or is otherwise unable, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, to continue in such capacity, the Board of Directors shall elect by majority vote at its next regular meeting a replacement from the general membership to complete the term of said Director. If an Officer dies, resigns, vacates his or her office, or is otherwise unable, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, to continue in such capacity, said Officer shall be replaced in the manner provided in the By-Laws of this Club; or, if not provided in said By-Laws, the Board of Directors shall elect by majority vote at its next regular meeting a replacement from the Board of Directors or from the general membership to complete the term of said Officer.
Section 2. The following officers shall be elected annually by the voting members as provided in the By-Laws, each to serve for one year and until his successor is elected, namely: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore,
The Board of Directors may annually elect a Secretary and a Treasurer, together with such other members as, in the judgment of the Board, shall be necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Club. The Commodore shall be the chief executive officer of the Club and the other officers shall have such duties and responsibilities as the By-Laws provide and as the Board may from time to time delegate to them.
ARTICLE V - Meetings
Section 1. The annual meeting of the voting members for election of officers shall be held on the second Thursday of November at a place and hour designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of the voting members may be called by the Commodore or by the Board of Directors, or at the request, in writing, of twenty or more voting members of the Club in good standing.
Section 3. Twenty voting members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the members. A majority vote cast by the voting members present, or by any duly authorized and received proxy, at any such meeting, on all matters voted upon shall prevail, unless otherwise provided.
Section 4. At least ten daysÕ written notice of the time and place, and in the case of special meeting, the purpose, shall be given by mail by or on behalf of the Board of Directors to all voting members in good standing prior to any meeting of the members.
Section 5. For purposes of this Article and of ÒArticle VIÓ hereafter, the date of any such notice shall be the postmarked date on the notice sent to the voting members by first class mail.
ARTICLE VI - Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be made, or a new Constitution adopted, by a two-thirds vote of the voting members at any annual or special meeting of members, provided the same has been proposed in writing and a written notice thereof mailed by or on behalf of the Board of Directors to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII - By-Laws
This Constitution may be implemented from time to time by the ClubÕs adopted By-Laws, so long as said By-Laws are consistent with the provisions of this Constitution. Said By-Laws shall continue in effect to the extent they are consistent with the provisions of this Constitution and its Amendments, until modified or repealed by the Board of Directors. The Board shall have full power to adopt, amend, modify or repeal any By-Laws so long as its action is consistent with the provisions of this Constitution and its Amendments.
ARTICLE VIII - Effective Date
This Constitution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption in the manner provided in the present Constitution and/or By-Laws.