PGISLANDERS BURGEE PGISLANDERS NAME

PGISLANDERS BYLAWS

(Adopted June 7, 2001; Revised January 1, 2008)

Article 1: Name & Purpose

Section 1: The name of this organization is PGIslanders Cruising Club, a boating club operating within the sanction and authority of the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association (PGICA).

Section 2: The purpose of this Club is to create camaraderie among our members through the fun and enjoyment of boating.  The Club will sponsor extended cruises, day cruises, boating education, social activities and other related activities.

Article 2: Membership & Dues

Section 1: Members must be current adult members of the PUNTA GORDA ISLES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, (PGICA) who own a boat, located and operated in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. No member may go longer than six months without owning a boat. Dinghies, canoes, personal watercraft, etc. do not qualify. The Board of Directors may make exceptions to this requirement on an individual basis upon application.

Section 2: Membership is targeted at 250 people so that members may develop the camaraderie inherent in smaller groups. The actual membership limit shall be set by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Section 3:

  1. Membership dues, fees and special assessments shall be recommended from time to time by the Board of Directors. Such recommendations are subject to the approval of the general membership. Dues shall be specified as an amount to be paid annually by each individual member and shall be due and payable by December 31st of each year. Members joining after June 30th of any year shall pay one half of the annual dues for the balance of the year.

  2. A membership year is defined as a calendar year (Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st) regardless when the member joins the club. New members are expected to meet all participation requirements their first year.

  3. Membership shall be terminated as of December 31st for any member whose dues remain unpaid. Any member so terminated may apply to the Board of Directors for reinstatement for good cause shown.

Section 4: Simultaneous membership in the PGIslanders and any other PGICA sponsored boating club is not permitted.

Section 5: Applications for membership will be submitted to the Membership Director on established forms.  The Membership Director will recommend, after evaluation, acceptance/rejection of the candidate(s) to the Board of Directors who shall have final authority to approve/reject candidates. The Board of Directors may terminate the membership of any member, at any time, for good cause. Written notice of intent to consider termination shall be given to such member at least ten days before the meeting at which such termination is to be considered and such member shall have the right to attend and speak at such meeting.

Section 6: Written application for non-voting alumni membership status may be submitted to the Board of Directors in the same fashion as for active members as in Section 5.  Members who have been in good standing for a minimum of five years and who no longer own a qualifying boat would qualify. Former members who resigned from the club prior to January 1, 2007, who did so because they no longer own a boat, may apply for Alumni membership.

Alumni members must remain members in good standing of the PGICA, shall pay dues, and have the same participation requirements as active members except for cruise participation.  They shall be eligible for all club activities except as limited by the Operating Policies. The target cap of Alumni membership shall be capped at 20% of the active members.  The total of such membership shall not be counted in determining the club's membership limit.  If alumni members obtain a qualifying boat again, they are required to apply for active status and shall be placed at the top of the membership waiting list.

Section 7: The Club membership information is to be used solely for Club purposes and is not for general distribution.

Article 3: Meetings

Section 1: General Membership meetings will be held on the first Thursday of each month, unless from time to time another meeting date is set by the Commodore. In such event, notice shall be given to the members in a timely manner.

Section 2: Board of Directors meetings shall be held on the Monday preceding the scheduled General Membership meeting, unless changed at least two weeks in advance of the meeting by the Commodore upon notice to the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Club members may attend but not vote at meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: The Commodore or a designated alternate will preside at all general meetings and meetings of the Board of Directors.

Section 5: The primary purpose of the November General Membership meeting (Annual Membership Meeting) is the election of the Board of Directors for the following year. The Board of Directors may change the date of this meeting for cause

Section 6: Nominations for Board of Directors positions may be made from the floor only at the October General Meeting each year, provided that each nominee has agreed to serve if elected.

Section 7: Those elected at the Annual Membership Meeting shall take office on January 1 of the following year.

Section 8: Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Commodore, a designated alternate or by the Board of Directors.

Section 9: A quorum to conduct Club business of the general membership shall be 20% of the members entitled to vote (each member having one vote).  A quorum to conduct business of the Board of Directors shall be five members of the Board of Directors with each office or directorship having one vote.  A simple majority of the voting members present at any meeting shall be required to carry the question on any issue except changing the Bylaws which requires two thirds majority vote of the members present.  Voting may be by voice, show of hands or ballot as deemed appropriate by the presiding officer.

Article 4: Organization

Section 1: The activities of the Club shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of four principal officers (Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer) and six directors, one each with responsibility for Membership, Communications, Cruising, Social, Education and Webmaster. Two or more persons may share an office or directorship, but each office or directorship shall have one vote.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to carry out the purpose of the Club as stated in Article I in accordance with these Bylaws, rules or Operating Policies as adopted from time to time.

Section 3: The general duties of each officer and director are:

  1. The Commodore is the chief executive officer of the Club.  The Commodore, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors, and he/she shall have all powers ordinarily exercised by the president of an organization subject to the limitations imposed by the Board of Directors.

  2. The Vice Commodore shall, in the absence of the Commodore, perform all duties of the Commodore and, when so acting, shall have the powers of the Commodore as authorized by the Board of Directors. 

  3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of Board of Directors meetings and those other meetings or activities required to be documented by these Bylaws.  The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the Bylaws or as required by law, shall be the custodian of all Club official records and perform all duties incident to the office of a Club secretary. The Secretary shall keep a separate register of all rules and Operating Policies adopted and see that the current Bylaws and Operating Policies are posted on the Club’s website.

  4. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Club and shall deposit the same in banks or other depositories selected by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall render an account of the financial condition of the Club at all Board of Directors and membership meetings and in general perform all duties incident to the office of a Club Treasurer. The Treasurer will prepare an annual budget of income and expenditures based on requirements of the various Directors and/or committees.  The Treasurer will present a tentative budget plan to the Board of Directors for review at its November meeting.  The Board of Directors will review the plan and present a final budget recommendation to the membership for a vote at the regular December meeting.

  5. The six Directors shall be accountable for the efficient and effective operation of those functional responsibilities under their jurisdiction.  They sit and are entitled to vote at all Board of Directors meetings and shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or Commodore.

  1. The Membership Director shall have the responsibility for maintaining membership records of members and for any other membership matters prescribed by the Board of Directors.

  2. The Cruise Director shall have the responsibility for the overall boating activities of the Club. The Cruise director may appoint individual Club members to take charge of certain cruise activities.

  3. The Social Director shall have the responsibility for overall social activities of the Club.

  4. The Education Director shall have the responsibility for overall boating education activities of the Club membership.

  5. The Webmaster Director shall be responsible for the updating and publication of the PGIslanders' Web site.

  6. The Communication Director shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate email address list for all current members. He/She shall direct emails to all Club members as the situation may require.

Section 4: In the case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Commodore, with approval of the remaining Board members, shall appoint an eligible Club member to serve the remaining term of the vacant position.

Section 5: The Board of Directors may make rules and Operating Policies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or advisable provided that no such rules and operating policies shall be inconsistent or in conflict with these Bylaws. Any such rules and operating policies shall be binding on all Club members and will be recorded by the Secretary and on the Club’s website.

Section 6: All positions on the Board of Directors will coincide with the calendar year.

Section 7: Voting by the general membership shall be required for approval of (a) Bylaw changes, (b) the annual election of Board of Directors positions, (c) financial budgets, and (d) expenditure of funds for any one unbudgeted item in excess of $500.00.  Each member present is entitled to one vote and a simple majority will prevail, except for a Bylaws change, which require two thirds majority of the vote. (See Article 7, Section 1)

Section 8: Members are expected to participate in Club activities each year.  This participation may take the form of leading cruises, planning social events, planning educational programs or other function participation.  The Board of Directors may adopt minimum participation requirements from time to time, as a basis for continued membership. Any such participation requirements shall become effective only upon approval by a majority vote of the general membership. Any Club member who is unable to comply with participation requirements due to circumstances beyond his/her control may submit a written request asking that the Board of Directors waive said requirements.  The Board, at its discretion, will review each situation individually. Members regardless of status (i.e. regular, associate, alumni) who are dropped from the club due to lack of participation must wait at least a year to re-apply for membership. Reapplications will be taken the beginning of the calendar year following the one year hiatus in membership. Reapplications will be placed on the wait list according to the date received

Article 5: Committees

Section 1: There shall be the following Standing Committees:

  1. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of three members and chaired by the most recent Past Commodore available to serve.  The other two committee members, not current office holders, shall be appointed by the Commodore with the approval of the Board of Directors no later than August 1st each year.  The Committee shall select and place into nomination one Club member in good standing for each Board position.  Each nominee must have agreed to serve if elected.  At least one week before the October General Membership meeting each year, a report of the Committee will be published detailing the slate of nominees.

  2. There shall be an Audit Committee appointed by the Commodore, with approval of the Board of Directors and, consisting of a Chairperson and two members.  This committee shall have responsibility for reviewing all books of the Secretary and Treasurer, all financial transactions of the Club and any other information necessary to determine the financial well-being of the Club.  The Audit Committee will become effective on or before January 31st to carry out their inspection for the previous fiscal year and will issue a written report of their findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors by the March Board meeting.  A summary report will be made at the March General Membership meeting.

Section 2: The Commodore shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

Section 3: With the approval of the Board of Directors, special committees may be appointed by the Commodore as deemed necessary for the operation of the Club.

Article 6: Rules of Order

Robert's Rules of Order, latest revision, shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the members and Board of Directors.  The presiding officer may appoint a Parliamentarian for interpretation or clarification of any rules should the need arise.

Article 7: Communications

Section 1:Written communications from the club shall be in electronic form via club emails and/or website announcements. It is the club members’ responsibility to access this information and to keep their email address current with the Membership Director. Any member interested in receiving the Board Minutes may contact the Commodore or Secretary.

Article 8: Revisions to the Bylaws

Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership attending any general meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. Any such special meeting shall not take place until at least two weeks has elapsed from the giving of notice as provided in Article 3, Sections 1 & 8.

Section 2: Electronic notice shall be given to the membership of any proposed amendment(s) no later than the general meeting preceding the meeting at which the proposed amendment(s) are to be considered and voted upon.

Article 9: Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of the PGIslanders, the remaining net assets of the Club shall become the property of the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association.

ADOPTED: JUNE 7, 2001
REVISED:  JANUARY 1, 2008