Ipswich Outboard Club

March 12, 2013 -Special Meeting Minutes

The Ipswich Outboard Club Board of Directors held a special meeting at The Ipswich Masonic Temple, 70 Topsfield Rd,  Ipswich, Ma. Commodore Clapp called the meeting to order at 7 pm. All IOC officers and directors were present except for Dwight Thompson. 28 regular members also attended.

Commodore Clapp:

• Introduced the IOC Board and the Bylaws special committee.
• Thanked everyone for attending and requested that only regular members holding the green voting cards should speak.
• Announced past history of bylaw amendments and the actions the bylaw special committee went through.
• Turned the meeting over to John McGrath for the bylaw proposed amendments.

John McGrath:

• Mentioned the members of the bylaw committee and thanked everyone for their efforts.
• “If it isn’t broke, why fix it”? John McGrath mentioned things change over time and the bylaws need to be looked at and changed if necessary.
• All the proposed bylaw changes were presented in detail. There were some minor changes made and new copies were distributed.
• The floor was opened up for questions.
• Q: Why is there a change in the bylaws tonight without a 5 day notice? A: Amendments may be presented from the floor at the meeting with regards to proposed amendments. No new amendments can be presented without a 60 day notice to the IOC Board.
• Q: Why is article 7 taken out and replaced? A: Bylaws can be altered at any meeting with a 2/3 vote and it was also seen as redundant. Interpretation was discussed.
• Q: Why are these changes necessary? We are a simple club that runs very well. A: Times change, laws change, and the club changes. It was mentioned by the bylaw committee chairperson that the bylaws should be simple and leave everyday business up to the IOC Board.
• A motion was made to amend the bylaw for article VII be added in to allow the bylaws to be amended or altered by a 2/3 vote at any meeting of the club, seconded and approved by a 28-0 vote
• Q: Article VII-The IOC Board shall have full and final say on all bylaws. A lengthy discussion ensued. Many expressed concerns for and against. Examples were given. John McGrath said the IOC Board should have the final say just as a court does.
• A comment was made that the bylaws are fine and do not need to be changed. He felt the meeting was unnecessary.
• Q: Junior members- must be on over 18 and a junior member for 4 years to become a regular member. This is being put in place to avoid circumventing the waiting list.
• Motion made to make article VII now article VIII, and article VIII now article IX. Seconded and approved by a 28-0 vote.
• Motion made to accept all proposed by law changes and amendments presented this evening, seconded, and approved by a 28-0 vote.
• Motion made to adjourn the meeting at 8:10pm, seconded, and approved.

Attest: David Morin, Secretary
Donald Clapp, Commodore