The name of this Association shall be the Lake Erie Catalina Owners Association.

The objective of this Association shall be to encourage the sport of boating; to encourage the members to become familiar with and adhere to the rules and laws of navigation and seamanship; and to promote and encourage sociability and friendship among its members.

The membership of this Association shall be classified as follows; Active, Charter, Associate and Honorary Members.

The officers of this Association shall be the Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers and the immediate Past Commodore shall serve on the Executive Committee.

There shall be an Annual Meeting of this Association in December of each year. General Meetings shall be held at such other times as specified by majority vote of the Executive Committee or the Membership, but in no case shall there be less than three (3) General Meetings per year.

There shall be no suspension of any part of this Constitution, although proposed Amendments to this Constitution may be submitted in writing to the Secretary following which the proposed Amendment shall be read and discussed at the next Annual or General Meeting. The proposed Amendment shall then be made known to the Membership through the Bulletin. At the next following General or Annual meeting the proposed Amendment may be accepted by a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the ballots cast at that meeting or earlier by absentee ballot and received prior to the meeting.

Section 1 - Active Membership. Active Membership in this Association shall be open to all persons who are owners of Catalina sailboats regardless of sex, race, creed, religion or national origin, and shall be extended and granted pursuant to written application on forms prescribed and provided by the Association. An Active Membership shall include an Applicant and a First Mate, and they shall individually and collectively hereinafter be referred to as "Active Member." An application for Active Membership shall be automatically accepted by the Executive Committee unless said application is rejected by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active and Associate Members voting at the next scheduled General or Annual meeting. Active Membership shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of the Association.

Section 2 - Charter Members. A Charter Member is an Active Member who was present at the organizational meeting of this Association on June 24, 1997.

Section 3 - Associate Members. Associate Membership may be extended to those individuals who initially join this Association as Active Members, and subsequently dispose of their Catalina sailboat but desire to retain their Membership in this organization. Associate Members shall enjoy all of the rights and privileges of Active Members except the right to hold office. Associate Members shall be elected by a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members voting at a General or Annual Meeting.

Section 4 - Honorary Members. Honorary Membership may be granted to a person who has rendered important and distinguished service to the Nation, State or this Association. Honorary Member shall have all of the rights and privileges of Active and Associate Members except the the right to hold office or vote. Honorary Members shall be elected by a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Active and Associate Members voting at a General or Annual Meeting.

Section 5. Any Member may resign from membership in the Association by sending written notice thereof to the Secretary. The First Mate of a deceased Active Member shall continue such membership in his or her own name. A Member who has lost his or her membership through nonpayment of dues shall be readmitted to membership following payment of any dues that are in arrears.

Section 6. A Member may be expelled or disciplined by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee for nonpayment of dues or for willful violation of the Constitution, By-laws or for conviction of a felony in the State of Ohio or the United States.

Section 1 - Election. Officers in this Association shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by the Active and Associate Members voting at the meeting or by Absentee Ballot received prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting. A Member who receives a majority of the ballots cast shall be considered elected. If no person receives a majority vote on any ballot, the candidate who receives the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and the election shall be continued until a candidate is elected.

Section 2 - Nomination. Nomination for Officers may be made by (a) the Executive Committee, or, (b) any Member by written submission of a name to the Secretary, or, (c) by any Member at a General Meeting of the Association. An individual nominated for office must accept said nomination prior to the election. If no individual is nominated for an office prior to the Annual Meeting, nominations for said office may be accepted at the Annual Meeting. No individual may be nominated for more than one (1) office.

Section 3 - Notification. The Secretary shall notify the Members of the date and place of the Annual Meeting at least 14 days prior to the meeting, and shall provide a list of candidates for office and an Absentee Ballot for the use of those Active and Associate Members who may be unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Absentee Ballots shall be returned to the Secretary prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting.

Section 4 - Voting. Each Active or Associate Member and their First Mate shall be entitled to one vote for each office. An Active or Associate Member may cast a written proxy vote for an absent First Mate (or visa versa). All voting for a contested office shall be by a show of hands, except any Member may request that a secret ballot be taken for a contested office. Officers elected shall hold office for the succeeding year or until their successors are duly elected.

Section 5 - Vacancy. If an Officer is unable to fulfill the term of office, the nomination and election of a replacement shall be held at the next General Meeting of the Association providing notification of this election has appeared in the Bulletin.

Section 1 - Commodore. The Commodore shall preside at all meetings, sign all written instruments as authorized by the Executive Committee, and in general perform all the duties usually incident to the office. The Commodore shall enforce the Constitution and By-laws of the Association, appoint all Committee Chairpersons and shall be authorized to sign the banking and investment accounts of the Association.

Section 2 - Vice Commodore. The Vice Commodore, at the request of the Commodore, or in the event of the Commodore’s absence or disability, may perform any and all of the duties of the Commodore.

Section 3 - Secretary. The Secretary shall record the business of the Association at all Executive, General and Annual Meetings, receive and answer all communications, and together with the Commodore sign all written instruments of the Association. The Secretary shall keep minutes at all meetings and shall have the minutes present at all subsequent meetings. On expiration of the Secretary’s term of office, the Secretary shall deliver all records of this Association to his/her successor or to the Commodore.

Section 4 - Treasurer. The Treasurer shall oversee the finances of the Association, and together with the Commodore shall be authorized to sign the banking and investment accounts of the Association. The Treasurer shall maintain all records of the Association revenues and expenses and shall be prepared to present a financial report at any Executive, General or Annual Meeting of the Association. The Treasurer shall allow sums of money for petty cash expenditures as shall be determined by the Executive Committee. On expiration of the Treasurer’s term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver all funds, books and other records of this Association to his/her successor or to the Commodore.

Section 5 - Executive Committee. All elected Officers and the immediate Past Commodore shall serve on the Executive Committee as voting members. The Executive Committee shall approve and control all business of the Association, allot to various committees such sums of money as are deemed advisable, formulate the executive and administrative policies of the Association, and take such action and decisions as may be necessary for the good of the Association. Decisions made by the Executive Committee shall be subject to review by the Membership at any subsequent General or Annual meeting. Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all Members, who shall be permitted an opportunity to speak on any issue under discussion, but only the Executive Committee members shall be allowed to vote at the meeting.

Section 1 - Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of this Association shall correspond to the calendar year.

Section 2 - Budget. The Executive Committee shall recommend a budget for the forthcoming year at the Annual Meeting, at which time the Membership shall approve or revise the recommended budget by majority vote.

Section 3 - Dues. The Executive Committee shall recommend a dues amount for the forthcoming year sufficient to cover the recommended budget at the Annual Meeting, at which time the Membership shall approve or revise the recommended amount by majority vote. Dues shall be payable by January 31 of any year.

Section 4 - Nonpayment of Dues. Any Member in arrears for nonpayment of dues for a period of three (3) months or more may be recommended for expulsion or discipline in accordance with Article I, Section 6 of these By-laws.

Section 1. The Commodore, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint chairpersons to the following Standing Committees; Audit, Bulletin and Rendezvous.

Section 2. The Commodore, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall establish ad-hoc Committees and Chairpersons as needed.

Section 3 - Audit. The Audit Committee shall consist of three Active or Associate Members who shall annually review the financial records of this Association in accordance with normally accepted accounting procedures, and shall report their findings to the Executive Committee and Membership. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall appoint the two additional Members.

Section 3 - Bulletin Committee. The Bulletin Committee shall be responsible for the timely transmittal of information to insure the Membership is aware of meeting, activities and other important events. The Bulletin Chairperson shall coordinate the efforts of the Bulletin Committee with the needs of the Association as determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 4 - Rendezvous Committee. The Rendezvous Committee shall be responsible for planning and scheduling yearly sailing and other activities in accordance with the desires of the Executive Committee and the Membership.

Section 1. Ten percent (10%) of the Members eligible to vote shall constitute a Quorum for the transaction of business at any General or Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Three Officers shall constitute a Quorum for an Executive Committee meeting.

There shall be no suspension of any part of these By-Laws, although proposed Amendments to these By-Laws may be submitted in writing to the Secretary following which the proposed Amendment shall be read and discussed at the next Annual or General Meeting. The proposed Amendment shall then be made known to the Membership through the Bulletin. At the next following General or Annual meeting the proposed Amendment may be accepted by a favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the ballots cast at that meeting or earlier by absentee ballot received prior to the meeting.

Robert’s Rules of Order - Revised shall be the parliamentary authority in all matters not specified in the Constitution, By-laws, or the rules and regulations of the Association as may be established from time to time by the Membership.