Charter

Tornado Alley Sailing Club was founded in 1999 and organized to serve and promote small boat sailing in the Memphis Tennessee area. TASC conducts sailboat races, promotes sailing and fosters sportsmanship, camaraderie, and Corinthian yachting.

TASC is a trailer sailing club and as such is not tied to a particular lake, but sails wherever the club's needs are met. The TASC racing seasons are oriented around Spring and Fall, with breaks in Summer and Winter. TASC places primary emphasis on people and sailing, and not on facilities ownership or heavy responsibilities. TASC is a "sailing club on wheels" for people who love sailing and sailboat racing. TASC is committed to always remain very affordable; the basic annual membership fee should never cost more than a dinner for two.

TASC is committed to the racing enjoyment of it's sailing members and places emphasis on maintaining a high level of credibility, fair officiating and organized rules of engagement. Therefore TASC strives to govern all racing in accordance with the International Yacht Racing Rules, the prescriptions of the US Sailing, the principles of Portsmouth handicapping and the rules of the various boat classes which participate. Enjoyment is maximized when fair play and good sportsmanship are held in high regard, and consistently implemented.

 

Constitution and By-Laws

ARTICLE I - IDENTITY

Section 1 - NAME AND PURPOSE
The name of this organization shall be the "Tornado Alley Sailing Club". It's purpose is defined in the Club Charter.

Section 2 - CLUB FLAG
The Club Flag shall be a swallowtailed burgee, the hoist being two-thirds its length. It shall be white with a royal blue border and a black tornado image centered on a white field at the hoist. The tail is divided vertically, with a red field filling the upper half of the swallowtail, and a blue field filling the lower, as in this example:

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS

Section 1 - MEETINGS
The Club shall have an Annual Meeting during the month of January. Special meetings of the Club shall be called by the Secretary at the discretion of the Commodore, or three Club Members. Any business within the power of the Club may be transacted at the Annual Meeting. Officers shall be elected only at the Annual Meeting.

At a Special Meeting, no other business shall be transacted than that specified in the notice of the same. A notice stating generally the purpose of any meeting of the Club shall be sent to each member.

Upon questions directly affecting Racing Rules and the government of boats and regattas, only Members in whose names boats have been registered with the Club Secretary at least two weeks before any meeting called for these purposes shall vote.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS

Section 1 - OFFICERS
The Officers of the Club shall be:

  • Commodore
  • Vice Commodore/Secretary/Treasurer
  • Race Committee Chairperson
  • (optional) Social Committee Chairperson

The officers shall be Members in good standing. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a show of hands. An electoral quorum for this purpose shall be two-thirds of the Club Members.

Any vacancy among Club Officers shall be filled for its unexpired term by having the other Club Officers remaining in office appoint a qualified replacement from among the Members of the Club; some officers may hold two or more titles at any given time as necessary, and as approved by the club membership at the time of election. 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICER DUTIES

Section 1 - COMMODORE
The Commodore shall provide the "vision" for the Club, command the squadron and preside at all meetings of the Club and shall perform all other duties required of him by this Constitution and By-Laws. He will serve for one year starting the first day of February following election.

  • The Commodore shall be ex-officio a member of all committees.
  • The Commodore shall use proper discretion in making decisions when it is not practical to consult with the Club Membership.

Section 2 - VICE COMMODORE/SECRETARY/TREASURER
This elected officer serves for one year before an automatic promotion to the office of Commodore. The Vice Commodore serves as an assistant to the Commodore in all of his duties, and serves as acting Commodore when the Commodore can not be present.

As Secretary, the Vice Commodore shall:

  • Give notice of the meetings of the members in accordance with Article II, Section 1, and shall keep the records of membership enrollment.
  • Keep the minutes of Club meetings.
  • Handle all general correspondence.
  • Schedule pre-season executive meetings for scheduling and general planning.
  • Select and appoint someone to keep the website uptodate and relevant.
  • Shall have the custody of agreements and evidence of property belonging to the Club and all other business papers.

As Treasurer, the Vice Commodore shall:

  • Serve as member ex-officio and have general supervision of the financial affairs of the Club. He/she shall collect all monies payable to the Club and pay all bills contracted by the Club and all other expenses of the Club. All bills and expenses so paid shall, as required by the Treasurer, be certified as correct by any committee which has contracted for any such expense by virtue of an appropriation of club membership. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the cash funds, notes, and bonds. Checks shall only be drawn on regular blanks bound in book form with a stub upon which shall be retained a copy of said checks. Except as aforesaid, or by express authorization by the Club Officers, the Treasurer shall not make or endorse any checks, drafts, or notes, or draw, accept or endorse any drafts or bills of exchange.
  • Purchase supplies, equipment, trophies, etc. for club activities.
  • Keep or cause to be kept a regular set of books containing the accounts of the Club showing all monies received and disbursed. The Treasurer shall keep a separate account as Treasurer of the Club, and shall deposit in the name of the Club in such bank or banks, all monies of the Club, which shall not be drawn out except for the use of said Club. Said books and accounts of the Club shall be open at all times to the inspection of the Club Officers.
  • The Treasurer shall prepare an annual account of expenditures and receipts for the year to date to be laid before the Club at its Annual Meeting and at other times when requested to do so by the Club Officers.

A Treasurer who becomes mentally incompetent or goes bankrupt shall be removed from office by the other Club Officers, who will immediately make arrangements to revoke his/her signing privileges.

Section 3 - RACE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
It shall be the duty of the Race Committee Chairman to:

  • Schedule all races and regattas and make arrangements for and to take charge of, and appoint judges for all races held by or under the authority of the Club. (Clear our sailing schedule for Patriot lake with Shelby Farms Park management)
  • Ensure that all participants have completed and signed Registration forms including "Hold Harmless" clauses, each year, prior to participating in races.
  • Keep tally sheets and award prizes and keep all records on permanent trophies.
  • Provide the web master (as appoimted by the VC) with the necessary scoring information to keep the results current.
  • Arrange for boards of review to rule on protests in conformity with the Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association, and the rules of boat class in question, with such exceptions as they shall see fit, all questions that arise respecting such races, and disqualify a contestant who shall have violated any of the above named rules. He/she may postpone any race or order it to be recontested.
  • Establish provisional ratings for boats not listed in the Portsmouth list.

He/she may appoint, in his/her absence, a member or members of the Club to act in his or their place.

Section 4 - SOCIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
Whenever this position is filled, the Social Committee Chairperson shall:

  • Help initiate, organize, and coordinate picnics, parties, fun sails, and phone trees, etc.
  • Serve as the point person for all club social functions.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Any Club Member may attend and participate in all official and social Club functions. A Club Member who is married and/or has children is entitled to the privileges of Family Membership. A Family Membership entitles the immediate Family Members of the individual Club Member to attend and participate in all official and social Club functions. Significant Others will be considered Family Members for the purposes of said Family Memberships.

However, the individual in whose name the Family Membership is held is only entitled to one vote at official Club functions, and is only entitled to enter one boat in Club races whose final race standing is eligible to be recorded in the Club Racing Record, and is eligible to place for a trophy. If a second Family Member wishes to enter a second boat with full official Club recognition and participation, that person must also hold a separate individual membership.

Any person may become an Honorary Member of the Club upon recommendation of an existing member and be so designated by the unanimous vote of the members present at the meeting during which the name is submitted. Honorary members shall have all the privileges of the Club except voting and holding Office.

Dues-paying official Club members are entitled to:

  • Vote on all matters of official Club business.
  • Have their placement in Club races and regattas recorded in the Club Racing Record.
  • Receive trophies or ribbons for appropriate performance in Club races and regattas.
  • Fly the Club burgee from their masthead or starboard shroud.
  • Display the name "Tornado Alley Sailing Club", or "TASC" on the transom of their boat in a fitting manner.
  • Carry a TASC membership card.
  • Invitations to all members-only events.

Section 2 - DUES
The dues for Membership in Tornado Alley Sailing Club and other fees shall be regulated and fixed from time to time by a hearing and vote of Club Members and Club Officers.

Annual dues shall be $40.00 for Club Membership. There is a Junior Membership available for persons eighteen years of age and under for $25.00 per year.

The Club Officers shall have full authority over all matters connected with the billing and payment of annual dues and other charges and the posting of members for delinquency, and action consequent thereon.

No Member may compete as a full member in Club-sponsored races until his dues are paid and boats registered.

Membership renewals and dues collections occur each January 1 for all members. Notices will be sent out. Dues may be paid in half, effective for the remaining portion of the year, if a new Member joins between the Spring and Fall Racing Series.

Section 3 - INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Part of the essence of TASC is openness to new members. Exclusivity is strongly discouraged by the Club. All new applicants will be granted membership upon paying of membership dues, unless there is a reasonably justified objection by existing Club Member(s) to the contrary, which is heard and agreed to by a majority of the Club Officers.

Section 4 - GUESTS AND RACE PARTICIPATION
Races conducted by TASC are open to all sailors, who may arrive and participate completely unannounced. However, such guests are expected to sign registration forms and be required to abide by all of the pertaining rules and regulations of racing as prescribed by the Race Committee, Article VII of these by-laws, and the Sailing Instructions. Such guests also are NOT eligible to have their finish standings recorded in the Club Racing Record, or to receive any trophy or other official recognition for their performance in the race. These privileges are reserved for Club Members.

Special guest privileges will be extended to visiting yachtsmen who are members of other Yacht Clubs or Sailing Associations who have properly registered for TASC hosted regattas. Such guests are entitled to full recognition for placement and trophies in stand-alone events as is otherwise reserved for TASC Club Members.

Section 6 - DISCIPLINE
If any member shall be charged in writing, respecting any occurrence injurious to the welfare of the Club, or of a violation of any provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws, or Rules, the Club Officers shall thereupon cause a statement of such charge, together with a notice of not less than five (5) days of the time and place where they will meet for consideration thereof, to be served on the person making the charge and the person so charged. The Club Officers shall make the necessary rules respecting its hearing. At the time and place specified in the notice, the Officers shall hear and consider the evidence offered by both parties. If the Officers shall be satisfied of the truth of the charge, they may censure or suspend such member for a period of not to exceed twelve (12) months, from any or all privileges as they deem proper. Their decision shall be final. Should a majority of the Officers, however, deem that such discipline would be inadequate, they shall make a report in writing of their findings and recommendations and submit the same, together with the evidence taken, to the next general meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose, for any action the Club may desire to take in respect thereto, and they may in like manner suspend such member pending the determination of the matter by the Club.

ARTICLE VI - STANDARD CLUB RACING PRESCRIPTIONS

Section 1 - PORTSMOUTH HANDICAP
TASC encourages maximum participation in its races and regattas by every small boat sailor who can participate. TASC will accomplish fair racing in these circumstances by utilizing the Portsmouth Handicap System for dinghies, as updated by US Sailing. As necessary, the Race Committee chair shall establish a provisional rating for boats not listed.

Section 2 - ONE-DESIGN
Separate starts in the same race for one-design classes may be given by the Race Committee if both of the following conditions are met:

  • Three or more boats of a given class are participating.
  • There are also at least three other boats remaining in the race which will race under the Portsmouth Handicap System.

Section 3 - When five or more boats are participating in any club race, one skipper shall function as the Race Official. This duty will rotate among all recently active participants, unless a qualified volunteer steps up to perform the duty.

ARTICLE VII - BOATS

Section 1 - BOAT OWNERSHIP
The boats of all members must be duly enrolled upon the records of the Club and must be registered with the Race Committe Chairperson to be entered in a Club race.

ARTICLE VIII - LEGAL

Section 1 - INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND ACTING CLUB REPRESENTATIVES
To the extent permitted by applicable law now or hereafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was at any time a director or officer of the Club shall be indemnified by the Club for judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with or as a result of such action, suit or proceeding. Indemnification hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an Officer of the Club and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
No section of this Constitution and By-Laws shall be repealed, amended, or added to except at the Annual Meeting, the regular meeting, or at a special meeting duly called for the purpose. By a vote of two-thirds of the members the proposed change shall be made.

No motion to change the Constitution and By-Laws shall be made or voted upon unless notice of the intent of the proposed change is contained in the notice for the meeting in which the vote occurs. Such notice is to be sent to all Members and posted on the TASC website at least two (2) weeks prior to such meeting.