Contents

1. Statement of Purpose

2. Membership

3. Offices and Officer Elections

4. Meeting and Voting Regulations

5. Bylaws

1 Statement of Purpose   | top of page |

1.1 Name, Goals, and Objective

This organization is named The University Rowing Club, hereafter referred to as the Club. The purpose of the Club is to promote the sport of rowing, for recreation and competition, at Carnegie Mellon University.

1.2 Opportunities

The Club will seek to provide its members with access to equipment, expertise, training, and experiences for the safe enjoyment of recreational and competitive rowing.

1.3 Events

The Club will engage in the following activities:

- rowing for recreation and personal enjoyment,

- competition within the club, among local clubs, and at United States Rowing Association (USRA) sanctioned events,

- fitness and skills training, both on and off the water,

- safety testing and instruction,

- purchase and maintenance of rowing and training equipment,

- pursuit of the establishment of men’s and women’s varsity rowing teams,

- maintenance of a liaison with one or several sanctioning bodies for the sport of rowing, as determined by the President,

- organization of social events for club members and their invited guests, and

fund raising, as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

This list is not exhaustive; the Club reserves the right to engage in other activities, not listed here, in support of rowing.

2 Membership   | top of page |

2.1 Eligibility

Club membership is open to all faculty, staff and Activities Fee-paying students, undergraduate and graduate, of CMU. The Board of Directors may also name Honorary members, not necessarily drawn from this pool.

2.2 Categories, Privileges, and Responsibilities of Membership

2.2.1 Categories

There are three categories of membership: Student, Supplemental and Honorary. Student members are all those who are registered, Activities Fee-paying undergraduate and graduate students, as designated by the CMU Registrar. Supplemental members are those who are faculty or staff. Student and Supplemental members together shall be called General Members.

From time to time, the Board of Directors may wish to honor members of the community at large for their contribution to rowing at CMU or in general by declaring them Honorary Members. Honorary Membership is at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and carries with it only those privileges and the responsibilities as the Board may vouchsafe. Honorary members may not vote or hold office, and are not required to pay dues.

2.2.2 Privileges and Responsibilities

All General members are required to attend the two General membership meetings, as described below, and to pay required membership dues at those meetings. The level of membership dues will be determined by the Board of Directors. Supplemental members are in addition required to pay the Allocation described in section 17b (Allocations) of the Student Senate Fiscal Policy.

All General members, who have paid their dues, hereafter called Members in good standing, will be entitled use of Club equipment, at such times and obeying such guidelines as determined by the Board of Directors.

2.2.3 Suspension and Removal of Members

Rowing is a water sport, and carries inherent risks of equipment damage, bodily injury, and drowning. In an effort to reduce these risks, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to suspend members, as follows. For any reason, including failure to pay dues owed, failure to attend meetings of the membership on a regular basis, or behavior that the Board of Directors deems grossly unsafe, negligent or irresponsible, members may be suspended by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Suspended members have no club privileges and no voting rights, and may be reinstated only by majority vote of the Board. In like fashion, members may be removed at any time by a majority vote of all members at a duly called and convened meeting of the membership. Suspended or removed members will not be refunded their dues.

3 Offices and Officer Elections   | top of page |

3.1 Listing of Offices; Office Terms

The Club officers and captains will consist of the Clubs Board of Directors, constituted as follows

- the President,

- the Vice President,

- the Treasurer,

- the Secretary, and

- the chairmen of each of the Standing Committees

- mens and womens team captains

The Standing committees are Fundraising, Public Relations, and Crew Concerns. The Board of Directors may modify this list from time to time, except that at no time may the board of Directors consist of more than twelve (12) or fewer than five (5) members.

The term of each member of the board of Directors shall be one (1) year. The same person may occupy more than one position on the Board; however, each Director will have one and only one vote at Board meetings, regardless of the number of offices held.

3.2 Eligibility for Offices

Only student members may hold office. Officers may succeed themselves any number of times. No student may be elected to an office when entering his/her final semester of study.

3.3 Nomination and Election of Officers

Officers shall be nominated and elected annually at the first duly constituted spring semester General membership meeting. Nominations and elections are for particular offices on the Board of Directors, and not for the Board at large. Nominations are by voice declaration and must be seconded; no candidate may nominate or second himself; the candidate, nominator and seconder must all be General members in good standing. A majority of votes must bewon; only General members in good standing may vote. In the event that no candidate receives a majority, the winner will be determined by a run-off election between the two candidates with the most votes. Newly-elected officers will take office at the end of the annual elections.

3.4 Vacancy of Offices; Newly-Created Offices

In the event of a vacancy of office, the Board of Directors may, with the members consent, designate a member in good standing to assume the duties of this office. The vacancy must be filled by a proper election, at the next duly constituted General membership meeting. A newly-created office will be treated as a vacant office.

3.5 Duties of Officers

The duties of the officers of the club will include the following:

President - Lead the Board of Directions and the Club. Be visible in the Club and the community. Maintain contact with groups outside the Club.

Vice President - Help the President in his/her duties. Act as advisor on short and long term goals of the Club. Be a permanent member of the Fundraising committee.

Treasurer - Perform all functions required of the Treasurer of a Funded Organization, as stipulated by Student Senate Fiscal Policy. Advise the Board of levels of dues for various categories of membership. Formulate requested and working budgets under direction of the Board. Maintain financial records and hold and disburse Club funds through the form of official Club accounts.

Secretary - Keep written records for the Club including statistics, club and individual registrations, and minutes of meetings. Keep file of information on rowing, coxing, and training.

Fundraising - Lead the Club in on and off campus fundraising. Come up with new fundraising ideas. Solicit fundraising ideas from the Club.

Public Relations - Act as publicity person for the club. Maintain all forms of communication for the Club including Tartan articles, the Rowers Oar, and newsletters to members and alumni.

Crew Concerns - Delegate other tasks and responsibilities not taken on by other officers. (i.e. act as safety and equipment director.)

Mens and Womens Team Captains - Lead the members of the respective teams in their pursuits of rowing related activities.

3.6 Resignation and Removal of an Officer

An officer may resign at any time during his or her term. The resigning officer must contact the board to announce their resignation two weeks before the planned resignation. The resigning officer will be required to provide any materials necessary for his or her job to the board upon resignation or the appointment of a new officer for that position, whichever occurs first.

An officer may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of the board at a meeting called by the president or if the president is in question, the other members of the Board of Directors. If a member who is not on the board requests the removal of an officer, a current board member is obligated to sponsor their request. That member may attend the board meeting to explain why the officer should be removed. The officer in question must be notified at least 72 hours before the meeting of the situation, and must be given sufficient time to provide a defense before the vote takes place.

Vacancies in either case will be handled according to Section 3.4.

3.7 Disclaimer of Liability

No officer of the Club shall be personally responsible for monetary damages as such for any action taken, or any failure to take any action; provided, however, that this provision shall not eliminate liability (a) for (i) any breach or failure to perform the duties of his or her office under Section 8363 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (as these duties may be modified by Act 57 of 1986, Section 8332 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues), and (ii) where such breach or failure to perform such duties constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness; (b) pursuant to any criminal statute; or (c) for the payment of taxes pursuant to local, State or Federal law. The provisions for this section will also apply to any member of the Club, or any employee of Carnegie Mellon or its assigns, acting under any resolution of the Board of Directors which may be passed from time to time.

4 Meetings and Voting Regulations   | top of page |

4.1 Meetings of the General Membership

4.1.1 Frequency of Meetings

There will be at least two meetings of the General members a year; one in each semester. These must be held while the university is in session, within three weeks of the start of the semester. An exception to this rule is that the very first General membership meeting, which will be determined by the Board of Directors.

4.1.2 How Meetings are Called and Announced

General membership meetings are called by the Board of Directors, and must be announced at least (7) calendar days in advance, by a newspaper advertisement or by leaflets.

4.1.3 Quorum and Voting Rules

A quorum shall consist of one-half (1/2) of the General members of record in good standing on the day of the meeting, as determined by the Board. If this is not a whole number, the next larger whole number of members will suffice. Each member will have only one vote; only General members in good standing may vote. At all duly constituted meetings, a majority of those present and eligible to vote will suffice to carry a motion. The President has the authority to break tie votes.

4.1.4 Who May Attend and Participate

General membership meetings will be open to all members of the CMU community and their guests. However, only Club members in good standing may participate in Club business.

4.2 Meetings of the Board of Directors

4.2.1 Frequency of Meetings

The Board of Directors will meet at least once each month, except for the months of June, July and August.

4.2.2 How Meetings are Called and Announced

Meetings are called at the discretion of the President. The President is responsible for announcing the date of each meeting to the Board of Directors; it suffices to announce the date of the next such meeting at the close of the current one, or at any General membership meeting.

4.2.3 Quorum and Voting Rules

A quorum shall consist of three quarters (3/4) of the members of the Board of Directors. If this is not a whole number, the next larger whole number of Directors will suffice. Each Director will have one vote. Only Directors who are members in good standing may vote. At all duly constituted meetings, a majority of those present and eligible to vote will suffice to Carry a motion. The President has the authority to break tie votes.

4.2.4 Who May Attend and Participate

Meetings of the Board of Directors are open only to Directors and their invited guests. Only Directors who are members in good standing may vote.

5 Bylaws   | top of page |

5.1 Rights of Members

In compliance with procedures and guidelines set forth in this Constitution and by the Board of Directors, all General members of the Club in good standing shall have the rights to

- training to levels of satisfactory enjoyment of rowing,

- use of Club equipment and facilities,

- enjoyment of all privileges, facilities and equipment that accrue to the Clubs General membership through the Clubs liaisons with any sanctioning body,

- participation in all rowing events for which their abilities qualify them,

- participation an any standing or ad-hoc committee, at the discretion of the committee chairman,

- participation in all social events, and

- participation in all General membership meetings, and all other activities open to the General membership.

 5.2 Amendments to the Constitution

This Constitution may be amended, or repealed and a new Constitution adopted, at any duly called and convened General membership meeting, provided that two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present at such meeting vote in favor of the change, and provided that the members of record have been given seven (7) calendar days written notice of the proposed action, and the form or substance of the amendment.

5.3 Determination and Collection of Dues

The Board of Directors, acting on the advice of the Treasurer, will determine dues for each category of members. The Fundraising Chairperson will collect all dues and give them to the Treasurer. Dues are levied on a per-semester basis, payable at each semesters general membership meeting.

5.4 Issues Not Covered by this Document

All issues concerning the governing of the Club that are not covered by this document are the purview of the Board of Directors, to be resolved as they see fit in duly constituted meetings of the Board.

Club History