Gig Harbor Kayak Club is the name of this organization. The word "club" will refer to the Gig Harbor Kayak Club in these By Laws below.

The Gig Harbor Kayak Club is a non-profit organization of kayak enthusiasts that have come together to share the joys of the sport of kayaking.

The purposes of the Gig Harbor Kayak Club are:

To promote kayaking and kayak safety among the club members as well as within the local community;

To enable the members to enjoy kayaking with other kayak enthusiasts;

To coordinate a calendar of kayak trips and events;

To maintain (a) a club roster of members so that any member can use it to contact another members and (b) a roster of other related kayak organizations that members can reference: and

To promote and support club and community social and civic events where the water and human-powered water craft are featured.

Any person or family, who wishes to support the club and its purposes, can become a member of the Gig Harbor Kayak Club.

Any member is a member in good standing that (a) has paid due within the last 12 months, (b) supports the club and its purposes, (c) has signed the club statement of liability, and (d) is willing to comply with club safety rules for club sponsored trips and events.

All club members are required to sign the club’s Statement of Liability before they or their families can participate in any club trips or events.

The annual membership dues will be $20 per year for both single and family membership. Payment may begin any month and continues for the next 12 months.

The club will maintain a Club Roster that will be made available to all active members upon request.

The Club Roster will not be given to any commercial organizations for commercial purpose. However, the Club Roster will be given to other clubs and organizations that promote kayak related activities in which club members might be interested.

The club may add new potential members to the Club Roster for a period of 90 days. If they have not paid club membership dues by that time, they will be dropped from the roster.

An active member will be removed from the active Club Roster 60 days after failure to pay the annual membership dues.

Club business will be managed by the Board of Directors (refer to Article 5) in accordance with these By Laws.

Club business can be conducted at any club meeting that is attended by a quorum: at least two Board members in attendance.

There are two types of club meeting at which club business can be conducted: (a) the Monthly Club Meeting and (b) Special Club Meetings. All meetings will be open to any active club member.

The Monthly Club Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. The Club President will notify the members where it will be held via the Newsletter.

Special Club Meeting can be scheduled via the Newsletter as appropriate. These meetings are normally setup to coincide with Club social activities like presentations, potlucks, or picnics. A Special club meeting can take the place of the monthly club meeting for that month.

Club meetings may not take place during a scheduled club kayak trip.

All club meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

Any club member that has paid dues within the last 12 months may vote: one vote per single membership and two votes per family membership.

Any club expenditure of funds over $250 must have two Board member signatures on the check for payment.

Any vote to amend the By Laws must comply with Article 9.

Any club member may request a "call for a vote" on any matter of club business.

The Club President is the only Board member that may speak officially for the Gig Harbor Kayak Club. The Club President is responsible to represent the club within the local community.

The Club President will schedule and preside over all club meetings.

The Club President is responsible for the overall conduct of the Club: its policies, its programs, and its activities.

The Club President is an elected Board member.

The Club Treasurer is responsible for setting up the club’s checking account. The Club Treasurer will report at every club meeting on the status of club finances.

The Club Treasurer will preside over club meetings, when the Club President can not attend.

The Club Treasurer will maintain the Club Roster.

The Club Treasurer will prepare and maintain a Membership Packet for new members. It will contain the description of the club, Statement of Liability Form, Membership Application Form, and Explanation of Trip Rules.

The Club Treasurer is an elected Board member.

The Club Event Coordinator is responsible that the Club Paddle Calendar of trips and events is prepared and distributed via the Newsletter.

The Club Event Coordinator is responsible that all events are conducted in a safe and friendly matter in accordance with Article 9 below.

The Club Event Coordinator is responsible to be sure that trip paddle coordinators lead trips in accord with Article 8. below.

The Club Event Coordinator is an elected Board member.

The Newsletter Editor is responsible for the Newsletter (refer to Article 7.).

The Newsletter Editor is responsible for mailing of the Newsletters.

The Newsletter Editor is an elected Board member.

The elected Board members may sponsor additional Board positions, called Chairpersons, as needed.

These positions serve at the pressure of the elected Board members.

Special Chairpersons would chair major club events or projects, for example: fund raisers, local community event participation, safety & training program, picnic, multiple-day club sponsored trips, etc.

Special Chairpersons are expected to attend all club meetings.

Special Chairpersons are not elected Board positions.

The Past-President from the previous year is an advisory Board member to the next president.

The Past-President’s sole responsible is to assist the current president as directed by the current Club President.

In the event that an existing Board member (elected or sponsored) can not meet their current responsibilities, the remaining Board members will select an existing active club member to that vacant position for the remainder of the term.

Any Board member can resign their Board position by submitting a written letter to the Club President stating the reasons for the resignation and who might be a good choice for replacement.

The elected Board members (President, Treasurer, Event Coordinator, and Newsletter Editor) are members of the Nominations Committee.

The Nominations Committee will present the list of Board nominations to the membership at the October Special Club Meeting.

The club will elect the President, Treasurer, Event Coordinator, and Newsletter Editor at the October Special Club Meeting.

Nominations for the four elected positions may be made by any active club member at the October meeting just prior elections. These nominations will be accepted provided that (a) a second is made and (b) the person nominated agrees.

If no nominee is found for any elected position, then the current elected Board member will continue to serve the following year.

The Club Newsletter is the primary communication vehicle for members.

The Club Newsletter will report club news, meeting schedules, and trip and event schedule, and articles of general interest to the club membership.

The Club Newsletter will be distributed to all active club members and potential new members. The Newsletter will also be made available to commercial shops for distribution as a means for finding new club members. The Club Newsletter will be mailed during the second week of the month.

The five Club Newsletter will be mailed each year: October, January, March, June, and August. Additional Club Newsletters can be mailed as required to inform the membership of club news.

The Club has established the following dates for paddle trips so that the membership can plan:

Local Paddle -- 1st Saturday or Sunday of the month. This is normally a local paddle within easy driving distance of Gig Harbor. Normally, this paddle will occur on Sunday except when Saturday is needed due to tides and other factors.

Night Paddle -- 1st Friday night following the 1st Sunday of the month. This is normally scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Weekend Trip -- 3rd weekend of the month. During the summer months, these trips are scheduled as over nights so that paddlers can link up with the group on Saturday or Sunday or both.

Other Trips -- Other trips can be scheduled at the request of a trip leader.

(1) Each paddler wanting to participate in a club paddle is responsible to estimate their own abilities.

(2) Each paddler is responsible for the decision to paddle or not paddle.

(3) The trip leader is simply a paddler that has agreed to share their knowledge about the location and the route -- nothing more.

(1) Have paddled in the area at least once before.

(2) Provide a brief description of the location, route, and difficulty.

(3) Identify the place to met.

(4) Have the basic supplies that the club has made available in the "trip bag".

(5) Prior to launching, have the group agree on a preferred rescue method.

(1) Assessing their own skill and ability

(2) Contacting the trip leader for information regarding the trip

[Note some trips might be canceled, if the leader does not know that anyone else is going.]

(3) Checking the tides, currents, wind, and water conditions to assess their personal safety

(4) Bringing the minimum required equipment:

self rescue skills (demonstrated)

a PFD

a pump

a self rescue float

a signal device (a whistle or flares)

drinking water

extra clothes in a dry bag

food appropriate to the trip

Any club member can request a change to these Club By Laws.

Any change to the Club By Laws:

(1) The amendment must be explained to the membership at the next club meeting

(2) The amendment to the By Laws must be published in the next Club Newsletter; then

(3) At the following club meeting , the vote of the membership is taken. Any change to the Club By Laws will require a simple majority of the voting members.

These Gig Harbor Kayak Club By Laws were approved by the club membership on this 3rd day of December of 1997.

James M. Davis