Section 1: Officers, Boards, and their duties

     1.1 President

          1.1.1 The President shall administer the affairs of the American Model Yachting Association (AMYA) according to the Constitution and By-laws and with the advice and counsel of the Executive Board.

          1.1.2 The President may create ad hoc and permanent committees and appoint Members as required.

          1.1.3 The President shall appoint an Editor for the official publication.

          1.1.4 The President shall appoint a Membership Secretary and supervise his/her duties.

          1.1.5 The President shall appoint a member with competitive International radio sailing experience as the “IRSA Liaison” who will represent the AMYA on issues under the purview of the International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA).

          1.1.6 The President shall comply with regulatory and financial reporting requirements as required by Local, State, and Federal laws.

     1.2 Vice President

          1.2.1 The Vice President shall be the acting President in the absence or incapacity of the President, communicate with Class Secretaries, manage the Hall of Fame Nomination and Selection programs, and other duties as specified by the Executive Board.

     1.3 Executive Secretary

          1.3.1 The Executive Secretary shall administer elections and referenda and report their results, maintain a registry of Sanctioned Clubs, and certify new Classes, Special Interest Groups, and Class Owners Associations (COA).

          1.3.2 The Executive Secretary shall maintain a registry of class Members for the purpose of determining eligibility to vote in AMYA elections.

     1.4 Treasurer

          1.4.1 The Treasurer shall control the collection and disbursal of all funds of the AMYA.

          1.4.2 The Treasurer shall prepare and present an annual financial report to the Board of Directors and publish this report in the AMYA official publication.

          1.4.3 For all un-budgeted expenses, Treasurer shall obtain approval from either the Executive Board or the Board of Directors, depending upon whether the expense is greater than or less than a threshold amount that shall be set by the Board of Directors.

          1.4.4 If the amount is less than the threshold set by the Board of Directors, approval must come from the Executive Board.

          1.4.5 If the amount is greater than the threshold set by the Board of Directors, the approval must come from the Board of Directors.

          1.4.6 The Treasurer shall keep all AMYA funds in bank accounts in the name of the AMYA. Only the President, Treasurer, and additional persons authorized by the Treasurer shall have withdrawal rights for these accounts.

          1.4.7 Any persons authorized by the Treasurer to have withdrawal rights on AMYA accounts must be by a majority of the Executive Board.

          1.4.8 A candidate for Treasurer must be able to use the AMYA accounting system and a statement of capability will be included in that candidate’s nomination
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     1.5 Executive Board

          1.5.1 The Executive Board consists of the President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer.

          1.5.2 The Executive Board shall advise and counsel the President and share the responsibility for the management and administration of the AMYA.

     1.6 Directors

          1.6.1 Regional Directors for each of the geographic regions (see Class Owners’ Association 3 below) shall be elected biennially.

          1.6.2 Regional Directors shall represent the best interest of the AMYA and the clubs in their Regions while serving as the primary liaison between those clubs and the AMYA. Directors may appoint non-voting Associate Directors to help them in their duty to maintain contact with the clubs in their respective Regions and other assignments.

     1.7 Board of Directors

          1.7.1 The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, and Regional Directors.

          1.7.2 Members in appointed positions may advise but not vote on matters deliberated by the Board of Directors.

          1.7.3 A majority vote of the Board of Directors is required for passage of deliberated issues.

          1.7.4 The Board of Directors shall determine a cost threshold for unbudgeted expenditures below which require Executive Committee approval and above which require Board of Directors approval.

          1.7.5 The Board of Directors shall establish and maintain a Policy and Procedure Manual for the operation of the AMYA and the classes of yachts it sanctions. This Policy and Procedures Manual shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, then published for the benefit of AMYA Members.

     1.8 Class Secretaries and Class Owners Association Presidents

          1.8.1 Class Secretaries shall be elected by registered Members of their respective class of yacht.

          1.8.2 The ranking Officer of a Class Owners Association (COA) will be considered the AMYA equivalent of a Class Secretary for that class of yacht.

          1.8.3 Class Secretaries and COA Officers are expected to actively participate in the management of their respective classes and keep the Executive Board apprised of the general and financial state of their class on an annual basis.

          1.8.4 Class Secretaries and COA Officers are shall ensure that their class regattas are conducted in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing and ideals of Corinthian competition.

     1.9 Succession and temporary replacement of Officers

          1.9.1 President: If the President is incapable of serving the Vice President shall serve as President Pro Tem. If the Vice President is incapable of serving as President Pro Tem, any member of the Board of Directors may be nominated to serve as President Pro Tem. If more than one person is nominated to serve as President Pro Tem, a vote (in person or electronic) of the Board of Directors shall be held within 30 days of the second nomination. The President Pro Tem shall serve until the President returns or until the next regular election cycle for President. The President Pro Tem shall have the full authority of the President.

          1.9.2 Vice President, Executive Secretary, or Treasurer: The President (or President Pro Tem) may appoint a temporary replacement for the aforementioned positions. The replacement Officer shall serve until the absent elected Officer declares a readiness to return or the next regular election cycle for that office and shall have the full authority of that office.

          1.9.3 Regional Director: The President (or President Pro Tem) shall appoint temporary Regional Directors. The Replacement Regional Director shall serve until the absent elected Officer declares readiness to return or the next regular election cycle for that office and shall have the full authority of that office.

Section 2: Membership Secretary

    2.1 The Membership Secretary shall maintain a registry of Members of the AMYA and collect dues and fees pertinent to the operation of the AMYA.

Section 3: Regions

     3.1 Regions are defined as follows:
          --Region 1 - Northeastern: RI, ME, NH, VT, MA, CT and NY except Zip code areas beginning in 100 through 119.
          --Region 2 - Eastern: PA, MD, DE, NJ, NY City area and Long Island including Zip code areas with first three digits beginning in 100 - 119.
          --Region 3 - Southern: DC, VA, W.Va., NC, SC, TN, MS, AL, GA
          --Region 4 - Midwestern: MI, OH, KY, IN, IL, WI, MN, ND, SD, NE, KS, IA, MO
          --Region 5 - Southwestern: UT, CO, NM, AZ, OK, TX, AR, LA and all Foreign Countries
          --Region 6 - Western: WA, OR, CA, NV, ID, MT, WY, AK, HI
          --Region 7 - FL and all US Territories.

     3.2 For the purposes of voting only, votes from AMYA Members who reside in Foreign Countries shall be included into Region 5 and votes from AMYA Members who reside in US Territories shall be included into Region 7.

Section 4: Nomination of Officers, Class Secretaries, and Regional Directors

     4.1 Nominations shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary in accordance with the schedule appearing in the AMYA calendar for inclusion in the AMYA official publication.

     4.2 Only Members in good standing are eligible to submit nominations.

     4.3 Nominees must be individual Members in good standing.

Section 5: Election of Officers, Class Secretaries, and Regional Directors

      5.1 Only Members in good standing may vote.

      5.2 The President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by majority vote of the Members.

      5.3 One Director from each geographical region shall be elected by majority vote of Members residing within that Region.

      5.4 Each Class Secretary shall be elected by a majority vote of class Members.

      5.5 Officers: the President and Vice President cannot be from the same Region.

      5.6 An Officer or Director cannot be prevented from serving his/her full term due to reapportionment of Regional boundaries.

      5.7 For purposes of electing Regional Officers, a Member’s Region shall be determined by the primary address, not any alternative addresses.

Section 6: Terms of Office

      6.1 Elected Officers, Class Secretaries, and Regional Directors must maintain their AMYA Membership in good standing to remain in office.

      6.2 All Officers, Class Secretaries, and Regional Directors will serve two-year terms or until their successor is elected. In order to provide administrative continuity, elections for approximately half of the positions will be held in even numbered years and the remainder will be held in odd numbered years.

      6.3 Officers, Class Secretaries, and Regional Directors can be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors.

      6.4 The Executive Secretary will maintain an election schedule that will be published in the AMYA publication annually.

      6.5 Election of a Class Secretary will occur in the year following recognition of a new yacht class unless the new class is administered by a COA in which case the rules for election of the presiding Officer of the COA shall apply. The presiding Officer of a COA shall serve in the capacity of a Class Secretary in terms of interactions with the AMYA.

      6.6 The President may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms in that office.

      6.7 Newly elected Officers shall assume their duties on January 1st immediately following the election.

Section 7: Membership

     7.1 Membership in the AMYA is open to anyone. We do not discriminate.

     7.2 There shall be three classes of membership: Individual, Family and Junior. Family membership shall include the primary member, spouse, and children less than nineteen years of age, and full time students. Junior membership shall include ages 18 and under.

          7.2.1 Lifetime Membership is granted, without dues, to all AMYA Past-Presidents and individuals inducted into the AMYA Hall of Fame.

     7.3 Benefits of Membership include but are not limited to:

           7.3.1 Voting in any AMYA or AMYA-Sanctioned Class ballot.

           7.3.2 Nomination of AMYA Officers, Directors, and Class Secretaries (of those Classes within which they are registered).

           7.3.3 Competing in any AMYA sanctioned regatta, subject to that regatta’s entry requirements.

           7.3.4 Receiving any AMYA published material.

           7.3.5 Participating in any ad hoc AMYA committee.

           7.3.6 Participating in any online AMYA event.

           7.3.7 Contacting AMYA Officers and Boards regarding the conduct of the AMYA’s business.

     7.4 The Board of Directors shall have the authority with a majority vote to terminate the membership of any member who, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, has conducted themselves in a manner not in the best interest of the AMYA and its membership.

     7.5 Membership is obtained by filing a membership application and one year’s dues to the Membership Secretary.

     7.6 Membership is terminated if dues are unpaid by the end of his/her anniversary calendar quarter.

     7.7 The Executive Board may designate other persons or organizations as “Associate Members” to receive complimentary communications from the AMYA. An Associate Member does not have nomination, competition, or voting privileges.

Section 8: Suffrage

     8.1 Individual, Junior, and Lifetime classes of membership are entitled to a single vote each.

     8.2 Family memberships are also entitled to a single vote each, irrespective of the number of individuals contained within that family.

Section 9: Diversity Statement

     9.1 The AMYA values diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate for any reason.

Section 10: Dues and Fees

     10.1 Annual dues shall be established by the Board of Directors.

     10.2 Member’s dues year shall begin the month that the membership application is received by the Membership Secretary and approved and shall continue for the following four consecutive calendar quarters.

     10.3 For yacht classes administered directly by the AMYA or by a COA, a onetime registration fee for new yachts and a yacht ownership transfer fee will be charged, the amount for which will be established by the Executive Board.

     10.4 Special assessments may be levied on the membership by a Majority vote of the Board of Directors. Any such assessments shall be limited to no more than the equivalent of one year’s dues.

Section 11: Sanctioning Clubs, Yacht Classes, Class Owners Associations, and Special Interest Groups

      11.1 The AMYA may sanction relationships with Model Yacht Clubs, Model Yacht Classes, Class Owners Associations, and Special Interest Groups.

      11.2 Applications for Model Yacht Club sanctions shall be made in writing to the Executive Secretary.

      11.3 The AMYA will sanction a Model Yacht Class represented by 20 or more AMYA Members who are owners of a particular yacht class. Applications for Yacht Class sanctions shall be made in writing to the Executive Secretary.

     11.4 The AMYA will recognize a Class Owners Association that represents 20 or more AMYA Members who are owners of a particular yacht class, providing the COA’s governing documentation is acceptable to the AMYA Board of Directors. Applications for Class Owners Association sanctions shall be made in writing to the Executive Secretary.

     11.5 The AMYA may recognize a Special Interest Group that represents 20 or more AMYA members bound together by a common special interest. Applications for Special Interest Group sanctions shall be made in writing to the Executive Secretary.

Section 12: Official Publication

     12.1 The AMYA shall establish an official publication, which shall be designated by the Executive Board. This publication may be hard copy or electronic. Through it the AMYA will provide information for the benefit of the Members concerning the AMYA’s activities as well as notices of important meetings and other business of the AMYA.

     12.2 The Executive Board shall set closing and publication dates for each issue. It shall also provide the Editor with guidelines for edition size, production budgets, quality standards, general content, etc.

     12.3 The publication will sell advertising space for marketing of equipment, supplies and services for model yachting. Any advertisement may be rejected by the publication’s editor for due cause. Such rejections shall be documented by the Editor and reported to the Executive Board.

     12.4 Campaign advertising is not permitted.

Section 13: Insurance

     13.1 The AMYA shall offer “Pond Insurance Policies” (to be purchased by AMYA sanctioned clubs) to protect the owners of ponds upon whose waters AMYA sanctioned clubs sail.

     13.2 The AMYA shall purchase insurance for its Officers and Directors, to cover liability while performing AMYA activities and duties.

Section 14: Conduct of Meetings

     14.1 Regular and special meetings of the AMYA shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order. Meetings may be conducted electronically.

     14.2 The presiding Officer at the AMYA meetings shall be the President, or in his absence, the Vice President. In the absence for both, the Executive Board will appoint a Director to chair the involved meeting.

     14.3 The President may call a special meeting of the AMYA Officers for the conducting of AMYA business at a time and location of his choice.

Section 15: Amendments to the Bylaws

     15.1 These Bylaws may be amended by written or online ballot after publication of the proposed amendment in the official publication at least three months in advance of the ballot date. A two- thirds vote shall be required to implement the change.

     15.2 Changes in the Bylaws enacted as prescribed above shall take effect on January 1 following the ballot.

Section 16: AMYA Calendar and Publication Schedules

     16.1 Publication schedules shall be established by the Board of Directors.

     16.2 Established schedules shall be published in the official publication of the AMYA.

     16.3 All motions for Bylaws changes, Class Rule changes, and nominations for Officers for a given year that will be published in the official publication shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary no later than March 1st of that year.

     16.4 All motions for Bylaws changes, Class Rule changes, and nominations for Officers that appear in the official publication shall be published twice prior to the vote, once in the issue prior to the ballot issue and again in the ballot issue.

Section 17: Recall of an Officer

     17.1 Any elected Officer, Class Secretary, or Director may be removed from office by 2/3 vote of the AMYA Board of Directors.

Section 18 Dissolution of the Organization

     18.1 The AMYA can be dissolved by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors and as set forth by the Illinois Corporation Act.

     18.2 Dissolution will be in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Illinois Corporation Act for a 501c organization chartered in Illinois.

Section 19 Voting

     19.1 Voting shall occur electronically from the first day of the calendar quarter until the 15th day of that month. Results will be published via email by the end of the respective month.

Proposals for changes to bylaws, class rules, etc will be submitted to the Executive Secretary via email at any time throughout the year. Those submitted items will be published via email at the beginning of the second month of each quarter. Comments will be received by the Executive Secretary during the second month of the quarter and will be published via email during the first half of the third month of the quarter. Approved changes will take effect the beginning of the following quarter.

Nominations for officers for the following calendar year will be received by the Executive Secretary during the month of August and shall be published during the first half of September. Voting shall occur electronically Oct 1-15. Results will be published via email by the end of the month. Changes will take effect Jan 1 of the following year.