The AYC Board of Directors is proposing two changes to the club bylaws and voting on the changes will happen at the same time as the election of a new Board of Directors.

The two changes are these:

1. To extend the age eligibility for Junior Membership from the current 21 to 25. The intent is to try to draw more Junior Members, including more college students. Junior Members may not vote in elections, but can carry membership cards and enter club races as members.
2. To permit electronic voting in club elections. It’s now possible to conduct secure, online elections, reducing the difficulty and cost of conducting the annual club election, which the bylaws require be done by mail. As of this time, all but two or three club members have email addresses and online access. The change in the bylaws would allow these few members to continue to vote by mail, if they wish.

Here is a PDF of all the changes.

And here is the link to the current bylaws.

The Board unanimously recommends passage of the changes. Mailed ballots will go out after the first of April.

On those ballots we will also have the following candidates nominated by our Nominating committee! POSITION-NOMINEE-NOMINATED BY

• Commodore – Mike Ferring – Sport boat (Ferring)
• Vice Commodore – Decker Williams – Sport boat (Ferring)
• Rear Commodore – Bob Whyte – Sport boat (Ferring)
• Fleet Captain – Greg Woodcock – Spin (Andress)
• Membership (2 year) – Thom Dickerson – Thistle (Dickerson)
• Cruising – Mike Parker Buccaneer – (Davis)
• Staff Commodore (2 year) – Emory Heisler – (bylaws)

And two more volunteers that are scheduled to be nominated and elected by the Board

• Secretary – Peter Lehrach – Sport boat (Ferring)
• Treasurer – Tony Chapman – Sport boat (Chapman)

Thank you one and all!

The Arizona Yacht Club Board of Directors Election Nominating Meeting will be held March 13, 2012 at 6pm immediately prior to the March General Membership meeting.

Eligible members interested in volunteering to run for election to AYC Board of Directors positions, or that would like to nominate eligible AYC members should see their ACTIVE Fleet Captain, Cruising Captain Mike Parker or Commodore Emory Heisler to participate in the Nominating Committee or to submit nominations.

The ELECTION OF OFFICERS and NOMINATING committee and process are defined by the AYC By-Laws as follows:

9.1.2 Election of Officers. The following Club Officers shall be elected annually by the Membership for one (1) year terms: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, and Cruising Captain. Each year the following Club Officers shall be elected by the Membership for two (2) year terms: Membership Director, Junior Staff Commodore (who shall become Senior Staff Commodore in the second year of his tenure).

12.1.2 NOMINATING: All members of the Nominating Committee must be Voting Members of the Club. The Fleet Captain of each active fleet shall notify the Commodore of the Fleet’s representative. The Cruising Captain shall select one (1) member from the ranks of the predominately Cruising Voting Membership and the Commodore shall select two (2) members-at-large representatives from the ranks of the non-racing Voting Members of the Club. Such selections by the Active Racing Fleets, Cruising Captain and Commodore shall not be subject to approval or challenge by any other entity or person. For the purposes of this Article, an “Active Racing Fleet” shall mean a racing fleet which qualified for a separate start and has at least four (4) Voting Members registered to race, in the last completed Fall or Spring Series of the Club’s racing calendar just prior to the Nominating Committee’s first meeting. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be the Commodore of the Club who shall have no vote on the Nominating Committee. No other Officers or Board Members may be on the Nominating Committee. There shall be no requirement for the Nominating Committee to nominate any incumbent Officer or Member of the Board of Directors to any Office or Board of Director Membership. The Nominating Committee shall procure approval of each of its nominations from the person being nominated prior to conclusion of its duties for the year. The Nominating Committee may nominate more than one (1) candidate for each position open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commodore shall automatically be nominated for the position of Junior Staff Commodore.

The Arizona Yacht Club Board of Directors Election Nominating Meeting will be held March 8, 2011 at 6pm immediately prior to the March General Membership meeting.

Eligible members interested in volunteering to run for election to AYC Board of Directors positions, or that would like to nominate eligible AYC members should see their ACTIVE Fleet Captain, Cruising Captain (acting) Mike Parker or Commodore Joe Motil to participate in the Nominating Committee or to submit nominations.

The ELECTION OF OFFICERS and NOMINATING committee and process are defined by the AYC Bylaws as follows:

9.1.2 Election of Officers. The following Club Officers shall be elected annually by the Membership for one (1) year terms: Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Fleet Captain, and Cruising Captain. Each year the following Club Officers shall be elected by the Membership for two (2) year terms: Membership Director, Junior Staff Commodore (who shall become Senior Staff Commodore in the second year of his tenure).

12.1.2 NOMINATING: All members of the Nominating Committee must be Voting Members of the Club. The Fleet Captain of each active fleet shall notify the Commodore of the Fleet’s representative. The Cruising Captain shall select one (1) member from the ranks of the predominately Cruising Voting Membership and the Commodore shall select two (2) members-at-large representatives from the ranks of the non-racing Voting Members of the Club. Such selections by the Active Racing Fleets, Cruising Captain and Commodore shall not be subject to approval or challenge by any other entity or person. For the purposes of this Article, an “Active Racing Fleet” shall mean a racing fleet which qualified for a separate start and has at least four (4) Voting Members registered to race, in the last completed Fall or Spring Series of the Club’s racing calendar just prior to the Nominating Committee’s first meeting. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be the Commodore of the Club who shall have no vote on the Nominating Committee. No other Officers or Board Members may be on the Nominating Committee. There shall be no requirement for the Nominating Committee to nominate any incumbent Officer or Member of the Board of Directors to any Office or Board of Director Membership. The Nominating Committee shall procure approval of each of its nominations from the person being nominated prior to conclusion of its duties for the year. The Nominating Committee may nominate more than one  (1) candidate for each position open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commodore shall automatically be nominated for the position of Junior Staff Commodore.

Meeting Call to order 2/1/2011, 7:13pm, Emory Heisler’s Home

 Attendees: Motil, Heisler, Harlow, Chapman, Pillote, Parker and Guests (see list at end)

 1.       Secretary (Heisler substitute)

• January minutes updated to reflect May 14, 2011 as Commodore’s Ball.  Approved by Pillote motion, Harlow 2^nd, unanimous.

2.       Treasurer Report (Chapman)

• Awaiting final Birthday Regatta expenses for next report.

3.       Membership (Pillote, Sahali)

• Bernie Armstrong nominated. Approved by Heisler motion, Motil 2^nd, unanimous.

4.       Cruising Captain (vacant – Parker substitute)

• Tall Cactus preparations – planning for 40 dinners
•  Details to be posted to web in FebMarch

5.       Fleet Captain (Harlow)

• Fall Series Trophies will be presented at March Membership meeting
• Birthday regatta 1st place trophies to be created – assigned to Heisler
• 3/27/2011 TTL to be cancelled for Dragon Boat Race – Heisler will post to web

6.       Jr. Staff Commodore (Jackson)

•  No items

7.       Sr. Staff Commodore (Parker)

•  No items

8.       Rear Commodore (vacant – Motil substitute)

• GM Meeting topics discussion
• Commodores Ball set for Chart House – McCormick Ranch 

9.       Vice Commodore (Heisler)

• Compass Points near ready for February 

10.   Commodore (Motil)

• No additional items
• Next Meeting Locations:March 1, Lucille’s Tempe Marketplace, April 5, Jackson’s, May 3, Pete’s (Ballot Count), May 14, Chart House, June 7Heisler’s

11.   Other

• After adjournment an open discussion was held with guests about AYC current issues (i.e. open board seats, declining membership) and ideas for improvement (improved communications, non-racing activities).  Participants: AYC BoD attendees, Guests: Tom Ohlin-Former Commodore, Dennis Lynde-Former Commodore, ASF: John Mayal, Greg Dean, Lisa Lake, Leo Baumann, Natalie Harper, George Tingom.

Meeting Adjourned 7:56pm

Submitted: March 1, 2011,  Emory Heisler – Vice Commodore for Vacant Secretary position

Meeting Call to order 7:02, Joe Motil’s Home

Attendees:  Motil-Commodore, Heisler-Vice Commodore, Harlow-Fleet Captain, Pillote-Membership, Jackson-Jr. Staff, Parker-Sr. Staff

Absent: Chapman-Treasurer, Sahali-Membership, Rear Commodore-VACANT, Cruising Captain-VACANT, Secretary-VACANT

Secretary (Heisler-substitute)
- December minutes provided by C. Pillote.  Approved by Heisler motion, Parker 2^nd, unanimous.

Treasurer Report (Chapman)
- Absent. No report.

Membership (Pillote, Sahali)
- Bob Hastings, John Healy nominated. Approved by Heisler motion, Jackson 2^nd, unanimous.

Cruising Captain (vacant – Parker substitute)
- Preparations underway for Tall Cactus, Catalina in July

Fleet Captain (Harlow)
- Birthday Regatta ready
- LP Maricopa County Fees remaining within budget.

Jr. Staff Commodore (Jackson)
- Birthday Regatta ready.  Reviewed volunteer schedules.

Sr. Staff Commodore (Parker)
- No items

Rear Commodore (VACANT-Motil substitute)
- More GM meeting ideas needed
- Commodores Ball set for Chart House – McCormick Ranch

 Vice Commodore (Heisler)
- 2011-2012 Board Planning Meeting ideas discussed.  2/1/2011 meeting will include invited guests of ASF Board, Candidates for 2011-12 AYC Board, Former Commodores for planning.

Commodore (Motil)
- No additional items

Other
- Next Meeting Locations: Feb 1-Heisler’s, March 1-Lucille’s Tempe Marketplace, April 5-Greg Jackson’s, May 3-Pete’s (Ballot Count), May 14-Chart House, June 7-Heisler’s

Meeting Adjourned 8:33pm
Submitted: February 1, 2011,  Emory Heisler – Vice Commodore / Acting Secretary