EAST ARM ROWING CLUB

BACKGROUND, LANGUAGE AND HOW TO CHANGE THESE BYLAWS

Background

The club was started in a different form in 1988 as a sculling club, and this non-profit New York corporation was formed in 2001, accommodating both sweep and sculling rowers. It acquired its property the same year by means of lender donations and notes, and by a mortgage against the property. It has now has a fully fledged Junior, Womens, and Mens sweep program, together with active recreational and racing sculling programs. About 40 adults and some 20 juniors comprise the membership. Some members are taken on a “discount” basis after rowing the annual regatta. Fully fledged members pay $350 per annum plus boat storage fees if they own boats. The vast majority of rowers rely on the club to provide boats, which are purchased by way of member donations primarily, and also through club funds. The club has significant maintenance costs including service of a mortgage.

Clear simple language

The language of these bylaws attempts to comply with the strong movement within the American Bar Association to avoid legalese, and to have documents which are clear, easily readable and usable by non-lawyers. The language is therefore colloquial, but as precise as this allows.

How to change these bylaws

(Guidelines: You want to be sure bylaws cannot simply be changed by a small number of people – it’s the club’s constitution- so a “super majority” is needed. On the other hand the bylaws should be changed when some provision is clearly getting in the way. So make the bylaws easily available (on the clubs website eg)).

BOARD MOTION The clubs bylaws, or any changes to them, must be approved by 67% of the full board, not just the quorum of a meeting. Such change shall be circulated to all members by email or similar method, 7 days in advance of such approval vote.

MEMBER MOTION: A motion approved by 67% of all voting members (see below) with 7 days notice of a meeting of members to approve the stated bylaw change, may also be used.

PURPOSE OF CLUB

The specific purpose of this club is to be a non-profit agent for the fostering of community, recreational and competitive rowing. If the activities of this club fall outside this definition (for example if the members decide to sell real estate) the club shall be dissolved and assets distributed according to a formula set forth below.