Bylaws

<= span style=3D'font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"'>&nb= sp;

THE BYLAWS

OF THE

TEXAS CANOE RACING ASSOCIATION

(CURRENT as of 08/24/2006)

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES STRUCTURE=

<= /p>
SECTION 1

Membership shall c= onsist of individual, family, business and honorary as defined below:

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS= HIP is available to any person age 18 as of January 1 of the membership year. Privileges include the right to ho= ld office and cast one vote on association business matters.=

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP = shall consist of the members of a household.&nbs= p; The household dependents other than the parents or guardians must be less than 18 years of age as of January 1 of the membership year. Dependents age 18 as of January 1 of the membership year must obtain their own membership. Privileges include two vo= tes per household and the right to hold office*.

YOUTH MEMBERSHIP is available to any person under 18 years of age as of January 1 of the member= ship year. Privileges include the = right to cast one vote on association business matters.*

BUSINESS MEMBERSHI= P is available to any organization and includes the privilege to advertise throu= gh T.C.R.A. publications and will include one free listing per year, if desired. No voting privileges= or rights to hold office are allowed.

HONORARY MEMBERSHI= P is available to any individual/organization approved by consensus of the execu= tive officers. No voting privilege= s or rights to hold office are allowed.

*Members must be at least 16 years of age to vote and hold office.

SECTION 2

Membership is valid for one year upon receipt of dues; renewable annually in January.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Dues paid after October 1 will app= ly to membership in the current year and the subsequent year. Current members who do not renew in January will receive a separate mailing in February. Delinquent members will be drop= ped from the rolls and will not receive the April or subsequent newsletters if = dues are not received by March 15.

DUES:

Individual Membership     &nb= sp;            =     $15.00

Family Membership     &nb= sp;            =         $20.00<= /p>
Youth Membership        =             &nb= sp;        $ 5.00

Business Membership     &nb= sp;            =     $25.00

Honorary Membership     &nb= sp;            =     Complimentary

ARTICLE II<= /b>

ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

<= /p>
SECTION 1

The Board of Directors shall be elected yearly as follows:

In the June newsletter, members will be asked to run if they wish to run for t= he board. They will submit their= names to the Secretary-Treasurer. T= he Secretary-Treasurer will prepare the ballot for the newsletter. It shall include the slate of cand= idates and voting instructions. This= slate of candidates is not exclusive and voters may vote for any member. The ballot shall be published in t= he August newsletter and sent to all dues paying members. This ballot is to be filled in wit= h ten (10) members’ names and returned to the Secretary/Treasurer no later = than the date specified on the ballot. This deadline shall be three weeks prior to the September general meeting. The Secretary/Treasu= rer shall count the ballots and the ten members receiving the most votes shall = be elected to the board of directors and the two members receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected as alternate members of the board. The President will not= ify all newly elected board members to confirm their election two weeks prior to the next general meeting.

Duties of an alternate will be the same as a board member in the absence of a board member.

At least one member of each sex shall be represented on the board. If not elected, the minority sex receiving the highest number of votes shall become the tenth member of the board.

SECTION 2

Results of the election = of board members will be announced at the general membership meeting in September at which time officers of the club will be elected. All TCRA members in good standing = and who are in attendance at the general membership meeting may vote in the off= icer elections.

The officers are President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. Officers ma= y be selected only from the members of the new board. The Newsletter Editor will be appo= inted by the board at the time elections are held. The Newsletter editor need not= be a board member.

ARTICLE III=

DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND APPOIN= TED POSITIONS

<= /p>
SECTION 1

President - Represents the Club, calls and presides at meetings.

Vice President - Assists the President in discharge of all duties and presides in absence of the President.

Secretary/Treasurer - Collects all monies due, has charge of the funds of the organization, kee= ps a correct record and account of all monies received and paid out, maintains membership rolls and transcribes all minutes of meetings. Minutes of all meeting will be mai= led or emailed to all board members whether present or not.

Newsletter Editor - Prepares and distributes newsletters.

Committees- The president shall appoint members to Chair working committees and members for special assignm= ents as needed.

ARTICLE IV<= /b>

MEETINGS

<= /p>
SECTION 1

There shall be one annual membership meeting (generally held in September).<= /o:p>

SECTION 2

There shall be an organizational meeting held after the election of the board as previously stated in Article II, Section 2.

SECTION 3

There shall be periodic board meetings as determined by the President or by a majority vote of the Board. Notification of regular board meetings is to be published in the newsletter or with at least two weeks notice to all board members.

SECTION 4

Emergency meeting will be held when normal notification procedures are impossible. Attempts should be made to contact= all board members prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE V

RECOGNIZED CANOE CLASSES=

<= /p>
SECTION 1

FLOTATION - Canoes must = have securely fastened or permanently built-in flotation to provide buoyancy when filled with water. Float or a= ir bags can be used in kayaks only. Securely fastened: Whe= n a canoe is turned upside down or submerged the floatation stays in place.

COMPETITION CRUISING CLASS (C-2) - The TCRA accepts any boat meeting the specifications= for the cruising class accepted by the United States Canoe Association.

COMPETITION CRUISER CLASS (C-1) - Specifications for the C-1 class is the same as Cruis= ing Class with the exceptions of one paddler with a single blade paddle.

EXPERT CLASS (proboat)- A canoe with a maximum length of 18 feet 6 inches a= nd a minimum width of 27 inches at the 3-inch waterline and 33 inches at the gunwale lin= e. Teams consist of two people with single blade paddles. Self bailers and foot pumps are allowed, electric bilge pumps are not allowed. Covers are allowed= .

STANDARD CLASS – A canoe with a maximum length of 18 feet 6 inches and a minim= um width at the four- inch water line is 15% of its length. Bow and stern with= a 16 ½ inch minimum height Self bailers and foot pumps are allowed, electric bilge pumps are not. No minimum weight is required.

K-1 - The United States = Canoe Association recognizes a kayak meeting International Canoe Federation specifications. Such a kayak = can be no more than 17.1 feet in length and may employ a rudder or skeg. One paddl= er with double blade paddles.

TCRA accepts any canoe o= r kayak meeting the specifications for the above classes which are accepted by the = USCA.

ALUMINUM CLASS - An alum= inum canoe with a maximum length of 17 feet 3 inches and a minimum width of 34.5 inches measured at the gunwales at the midpoint. There shall be no exterior hull modifications, e.g., any rounded bottoms, filed rivets, or exterior caulkin= g. The only legal exterior hull modifications will be to repair obvious damage. Teams consist of two people with s= ingle blade paddles.

UNLIMITED CLASS - Human muscle powered crafts with any number of paddlers.=

UNLIMITED CLASS SOLO - Same as the Unlimited Class with the exception of only one paddler.

ARTICLE VI<= /b>

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP=

<= /p>
SECTION 1

RACE DATE (s) - The Texas State Championship races will be recommended by the Ra= ce Committee and will be definitely decided by the current Board of Directors = by March 10. The State Champions= hip Races may he held on separate dates for different boat classes. However, th= ere will be only one state championship for each class of boats.

SECTION 2

RACE COURSE/FORMAT - The race course (s) and format (s) will be recommended by t= he Race Committee and decided by the current Board of Directors by March 10.

SECTION 3

JIGGING OF BOATS - All competitors should have their canoes or kayaks measured befo= re the races start. If the craft passes inspection, the competitor will be put on an official list. If the boat fails the inspection, = the competitor will be allowed the opportunity to make the necessary repairs or alterations so that the boat will pass inspection (not affecting the race start). The first 3 canoes/ka= yaks are to be measured immediately after the races to ensure compliance with T.C.R.A. rules and specifications. If a listed boat is found to have problems in passing inspection aft= er the race is over, the matter will be referred to the Race Committee. The Race Committee will then make a judgment decision and this decision will be final. If a competitor does not have the = boat inspected and listed before the race and the boat is found to be illegal, t= he boat and the competitor will be disqualified immediately. Their problem will not be referred= to the Race Committee for any action.

ARTICLE VII=

EXPULSIONS<= /b>

<= /p>
If any member or participant is charged with improper conduct, with violating = the provisions of the Constitution or Bylaws of the Club, or with breaking the rules of the Club, such charges shall be brought before the Board of Direct= ors for review. If such charges a= re found to have sufficient weight, the member shall be notified of the charge= s by the Secretary/Treasurer, at least one week before the next meeting of the C= lub and the member shall be allowed to appear at such meeting and show cause why he/she should not be censured, deprived of the privileges of the Club or expelled from membership in the Club. If found guilty of the charge against him, the member shall upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors present, be censured, be deprived of the privileges of the Club or be expelled from membership in the Club. Any participant or member so censu= red shall not be allowed to race in the State Championship race or and T.C.R.A. sponsored event for the period of one year.

&nb= sp;

ARTICLE VIII

RULE INFRACTIONS/RACE PROTESTS=

SECTION 1

Pro= tests can be filed at all TCRA Championship races or races that are run and spons= ored by TCRA.

Pro= tests may include un-sportsmanlike conduct, canoe or kayak specification infracti= ons, safety infractions, and race course infractions.

SECTION 2

Written protests must be filed by a race contestant no later than 1 hour after the contestant completes the race or prior to the awards ceremony which ever comes first, = and must be accompanied by $10 non-refundable fee. Protests also can be filed verbally by the race director or any race official. All boats that are elig= ible to place should remain at the race site for 30 minutes following completion= of the race. All decisions on protests will be made by the Arbitration Committ= ee and will be final.

In a protest, prior to a decision being rendered, each side will be allowed to v= oice their position. If the offending party leaves the race site, the Arbitration Committee will render a decision based upon available evidence. Also, the committee may call other contes= tants or TCRA members to provide additional information concerning the infraction= .

When protests are upheld, a time penalty, place penalty, or disqualification may= be rendered. The Arbitration Committee may not require a penalty in cases where the infraction is minor.

SECTION 3

ARBITRATION COMMITTEE- The committee will consist of the TCRA President (Chairman), Vice-President, Secretary /Treasury and R= ace Director. In the absence of any of the named TCRA officers, the Chairman or= the Race Director (if the Chairman is absent) will recruit TCRA Board members to serve for named members.

If the Chairman cannot recruit a combination of thre= e TCRA Board Members and/or three TCRA members to serve on the Committee, the prot= est will be dismissed and no action will be taken.

    =             &nb= sp;            =

A c= ommittee member cannot participate in an arbitration of a protest if they are one of the principals in the disput= e.

The chairman votes only in the case of a tie and a simple majority of the commi= ttee is needed.

ARTICLE IX<= /b>

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPETITORS

&nb= sp;

Section 1

FLEDGING I= - Any paddler 5 to 7 years of age as of January 1 of the current year.=

FLEDGING II - Any paddler 8 to 10 years of age as of Jan= uary 1 of the current year.

BANTAM - Any paddler 11 or 12 years old as of January 1 of the current year.<= /o:p>

JUVENILE - Any paddler 13 or 14 years old as of January 1 of the current year.<= /o:p>

JUNIOR - Any paddler who has not reached age 18 before January 1 of the current year.

MASTER - Man or Woman at least 40 years of age as of race day.

*Note: Juniors may race in adult events. Women may race in men's or mixed events. Mixed teams may race in men's events. For Masters, paddlers must meet or ex= ceed age requirements. In youth events, age classification is determined by age = of the older youth.

&nb= sp;