ARTICLE 1 - OBJECT
The purpose of the Club is to foster good fellowship, promote and stimulate interest in boating, and to encourage a fuller enjoyment of the advantages of the Manchester Harbor.
ARTICLE 2 - SEAL
The corporate seal shall be a circle formed by the words "Manchester Harbor Boat Club, Inc., Massachusetts". Within the circle shall be the words “Incorporated” and the date “1949”.
ARTICLE 3 - BURGEE
The designating Burgee of the Club shall be a pointed flag having a white and red field with a blue star in the upper portion of the white field near the top of the luff. The red field having a diamond shape, extending from the extreme point of fly midway to luff, a blue V shape bar pointing towards the luff, which separates the white and red fields. The length of the luff is to be 2/3 length of the flag, and the width of the bar 1/12 the length of the luff. The star is to be three inches in from the luff line and top line of the flag.
ARTICLE 4 - OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of the Club consist of a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Section 2: The Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall be owners of boats moored in Manchester Harbor.
Section 3: The Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall be known as flag officers.
ARTICLE 5 - BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Section 1: The Board of Governors shall consist of the Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer, and five other mem-bers. At least five Board Members shall be owners of boats moored in Manchester Harbor. The remaining members shall be owners of boats either moored in Manchester Harbor or owned by Manchester residents. These requirements do not apply to the Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2: A Chairman shall be chosen from among the five elected members by the Board of Governors at its first meeting. He shall serve for the ensuing year or until his successor is elected.
ARTICLE 6 - MEMBERSHIP
Any person over 18 years of age interested in the object of the Club shall be eligible to apply for membership, provided, however, that the number of members of the Club who are non-residents of the Town of Manchester shall be a limited number, which shall be determined annually, each January, by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE 7 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
All officers and the Board of Governors shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall hold office for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 8 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Commodore
Section 1: It shall be the duty of the Commodore to command the squadron and to preside at all meetings of the Club.
Section 2: He shall call a special meeting of the Club at his pleasure and shall do so at the request of the Board of Governors.
Section 3: He shall appoint a nominating committee of three members one month before the annual meeting.
Section 4: He shall appoint such committee as may be necessary.
Section 5: He shall be a member ex-officio of all committees, except the nominating committee.
Section 6: Should any vacancy occur among the officers or Board of Governors, it shall be filled by nominations and election at the next regular meeting of the Club.
Vice-Commodore
Section 7: It shall be the duty of the Vice-Commodore to assist the Commodore in the Discharge of his duties and to act in his absence with the same power as the said Commodore.
Secretary
Section 8: It shall be the duty of the Secretary:a. To have the custody of all Club TrophiesTreasurer
b. To keep a true record of all proceedings of the meetings of the Club and the Board of Governors in a book provided for that purpose.
c. To keep a roll of all members and of all new applications for membership, notifying the member as to their election, suspension or dismissal and otherwise perform the customary duties of this office.
Section 9: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer:a. To collect and receive all monies due the Club and to pay bills of the Club with the approval of the Board of Governors
b. To make a report at the annual meeting of all his receipts and disbursements with a statement of the amount of money then in his hands.
ARTICLE 9 - DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Section 1: The Board of Governors shall meet within ten days after the annual meeting at which they were elected to organize for the ensuing year.
Section 2: The Board of Governors shall meet at the call of the Chairman.
Section 3: Five members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4: They shall have the powers of directors and shall have full authority in the management of the affairs of the Club, and have general control of the property.
Section 5: All appropriations of the funds of the Club shall be made by the Board of Governors.
Section 6: The Board of Governors shall consider and vote on all applications for membership. Two negative votes shall reject any application for membership.
Section 7: They shall have the power to suspend or expel any member for non-payment of dues or for the violation of any rule or regulation relating to the use of the Club property.
ARTICLE 10 – MEETINGS
Section 1: The annual meeting shall be held within the first ten days of November with meeting notices being sent ten days prior to the meeting.
Section 2: Regular meetings of the Club shall be on the first Thursday of each month.
Section 3: At any special meeting of the Club a quorum shall consist of twenty percent of the members eligible to vote. Ordinary matters of business shall be decided by a majority vote of members present at any meeting. Additions or changes to the By-Laws or rules and regulations governing the construction, maintenance and use of Club property shall be voted only by the boat-owning members.
Section 4: No business shall be transacted at a special meeting except that of which notice was given at least ten days prior to such meeting.
Section 5: The meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE 11 - FEES AND DUES
Section 1: The entrance fee shall be determined by the Board of Governors.
Section 2: All membership dues shall be determined by the Board of Governors before the annual meeting.
Section 3: All dues shall be payable in advance and due at the annual meeting each year. Any member failing to pay within 60 days will be suspended and only reinstated upon application to the Board of Governors who shall have the power to affix the penalty for such delinquency.
ARTICLE 12 – AMENDMENTS
The By-Laws may be amended at any regular or annual meeting after due notice in writing at least ten days before such meeting has been mailed to the members of the Club. Amendments may be adopted by a 2/3 vote of all members present who are eligible to vote.
GENERAL
The Float Committee is appointed by the Commodore and serves under the Board of Governors.
The Board establishes the regulations regarding the use of the club pier, floats and tenders.
The Float Committee is responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations, and is empowered by the Board of Governors to take necessary enforcement actions.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in loss of club membership.
CLUB FLOATS
1. Commercial activity, fishing, fish cleaning, and swimming are prohibited.
2. Safety, consideration of other members, and respect for club property and member property is required.
3. Children 12 and under must wear Personal Floatation Devices while on the pier, ramp, float, and club tenders.
4. The float section at the base the ramp is for loading and unloading only (15 minutes). Other float sections may be used for longer
periods (30 minutes).
5. Boats docking at the floats must show the club transom sticker on the stern.
6. Boats must not be left docked at the float unattended.
7. Washing boats should be avoided during periods of congestion at the floats, and water conservation observed at all times.
8. The water hose box should be locked except when the Dock Master is on duty.
9. A key to the water box and club tenders may be obtained from the Dock Master.
10. The Dock Master has jurisdiction over all float activities when he/she is on duty.
CLUB TENDERS
1. Club owned tenders are available to all members, at the club float as well as at the public float at Tuck’s Point.
2. Club tenders shall be used only for transport to and from moored boats, and shall be returned to their respective float positions, oars shipped, and tender secured to the float using the attached cable locking systems. Each use must be limited to a period of 30 minutes, particularly during busy periods.
3. Outboard motors shall not be used on club tenders.
4. Club tenders shall not be used to service moorings.
5. Members assume responsibility for adhering to the posted loading limits, and provision of required safety equipment (i.e., personal floatation devices, flashlights, etc.) when using the club tenders.
MEMBER TENDERS
1. Limited float space makes it necessary for the Float Committee to establish a priority system for assigning spaces.
2 .Each season spaces are assigned to applicants who submit applications on time. When applications exceed available spaces, priority is given to those with the longest membership.
3. At the end of each season, all float spaces revert to the Float Committee for reassignment the following season. No member has a claim on any space by virtue of a prior year assignment.
4. Member tenders are limited to small boats of a pram/dinghy design, having a maximum length of 10 feet and a maximum beam of 4 feet 6 inches.
5. Tenders shall have continuous chafing gear affixed along both gunwales to prevent damage to adjoining tenders.
6. Tenders may be secured to the shore side of the float by line or cable (chain is not permitted) and a scope of 5-7 feet must be maintained, shall be kept bailed at all times, shall not be tied up on the water (front) side of the float, or hauled out on the float.
7. Tenders shall not be left in assigned spaces with outboard motor attached.
8. Current year club permit sticker must be displayed on inside of transom.
