Hoofer Sailing Club

Here you can find information on contacting the administration of our club. All e-mail addresses are @hoofersailing.org unless otherwise noted.

Board of Captains - Administration:

Board of Captains - Fleet Captains:

Education Contacts:

Shop Contacts

Support Staff:

ARTICLE I Identity

Section 1. Name

The name of this organization used in the usual course of its operations shall be the Hoofer Sailing Club.

Section 2. Burgee

The Sailing Club burgee shall be a blue triangle of a fly-to-hoist ratio of 16 to 9, with a red W superimposed between the hoist and the mid-point of the fly so as to divide the blue field into four sections, each representing one of the Four Lakes, and with a white star superimposed on the opposing half of the fly, representing the Sailing Club's location on Lake Mendota.

ARTICLE II Purpose

As stated in the Hoofer Sailing Club Constitution

ARTICLE III Membership

Section 1

The membership of the Sailing Club shall be divided into proficiency classes determined by rules set up by the Board of Captains.

Section 2. Dues Waivers

1. Exemption from full or partial dues may be granted by the Commodore, with approval of the Board of Captains, for service to the Sailing Club.
2. The dues waiver may be revoked by a majority vote of the Board of Captains for failure to meet the terms of office, or unsatisfactory performance.

ARTICLE IV Board of Captains

Section 1. The duties of the Commodore shall be as follows:

1. Shall be responsible to Hoofer Council for the efficient operation of the Sailing Club.
2. Shall represent the Sailing Club, or appoint a Sailing Club representative to serve, on Hoofer Council.
3. Shall organize, schedule and preside over all regular Sailing Club meetings.
4. Shall call a special meeting if requested by a petition of ten members of the current membership. He/she must hold such a meeting within two weeks of the request and post at least three days notice of the meeting on the Sailing Club bulletin board.
5. Shall be responsible for all financial matters pertaining to the Sailing Club. Shall prepare and submit a yearly operating budget by the time designated by Hoofer Council. This budget, as well as all major financial matters, shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Captains.
6. Shall appoint the members of the board of Captains to represent a cross section of the Sailing Club, and as set forth in Article IV, Section 2 of the Sailing club Constitution.
7. Shall be responsible for adequate supervision of all Sailing Club activities.
8. Shall inform the general membership of the Sailing Club of all decisions of the Board of Captains by posting the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Captains on the Sailing Club bulletin board.

Section 2 - Selection of the Board of Captains

Qualifications

1. The candidates for commodore and vice-commodore must be general members of the Sailing Club.
2. The Board of Captains shall be selected from among the general membership of the Sailing Club.

Elections

1. The election of the Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall take place as stated in Article IV Section 1 of the Sailing Club Constitution
2. Any member wishing to be on the ballot for Commodore must announce his or her desire to fill the post at least one week prior to the election meeting. Announcement means notifying the club secretary or Commodore in writing (or by email) of that desire. Write-ins will be permitted.
3. Candidates on the ballot for Commodore may submit a resume and position paper (not exceeding 2400 words) in electronic form which shall be posted on the club's web site. Copies of said documents shall also be posted in the Memorial Union in a location frequented by members of the Sailing Club.
4. The week during which the elections will take place shall be posted at least a month in advance.
5. Written ballots must be used.
6. No proxy or absentee ballots shall be allowed.
7. The candidate receiving the majority of votes from the general membership attending said meeting is elected.

Replacements

1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Commodore, the Vice-Commodore shall act as Commodore.
2. The Commodore may take a leave of absence not to exceed four weeks. The Vice-Commodore shall then act as the interim Commodore.
3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Commodore and Vice-Commodore, a special election for Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall be held within two weeks. There shall be at least ten days posted notice of the election, and the Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall take office immediately. The election shall be conducted as otherwise outlined in the Sailing Club Constitution and By-Laws. The remaining members of the Executive Committee, as defined by the By-Laws, shall assume the duties of the day to day running of the club until the elections.
4. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Captains, exclusive of the offices of Commodore and Vice-Commodore, the Commodore shall appoint a replacement to serve the regular term of the vacating officer.
5. The Commodore may appoint interim replacements for Board of Captains members taking a leave of absence.

ARTICLE V Race Committee

Section 1. Membership

The Race Committee shall consist of five voting members, each of whom shall be or shall have been active in sailboat racing, selected from the general membership by the Fleet Captains, and appointed by the Board of Captains. The Race Committee shall have the power to designate additional, non-voting committee members from the Sailing Club general membership to carry out its duties.

Section 2. Duties

The Race Committee shall be the race management authority for all races and regattas sponsored by the Sailing Club, and shall be responsible for all Committee work attendant to the staging of Sailing Club-sponsored races and regattas including, but not limited to, establishing rules and courses, tabulating and reporting the results, and awarding trophies and prizes.

The Race Committee shall establish a set of rules, consistent with the bylaws and rules of the Sailing Club, to govern its operation. These rules may establish such subsidiary officers and committees as it requires to carry out its duties.

ARTICLE VI Definitions and Miscellaneous

Section 1. A regular meeting shall be:

1. A general membership meeting to be held at least quarterly. There shall be at least one week posted notice of such a meeting.
2. A Board of Captains meeting to be held at least monthly. There shall be at least three days posted notice when feasible.

Section 2. The sailing season shall be defined as follows:

1. Fall season shall be from the first day of fall classes until the end of the first semester.
2. Spring season shall be from the first day of spring classes until June 1st
3. Summer season shall be from June 1st until the first day of fall classes.

Section 3. Membership

1. The general membership shall consist of all people who have been members of the Sailing Club within the past 12 months.
2. The current membership shall consist of all people who have paid dues, or have been granted full or partial dues waiver, for the current sailing season.

Section 4. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Commodore, Vice-Commodore, secretary, treasurer, education representative, and maintenance representative.

Approved by Hoofer Sailing Club BOC (3/12/90, 5/21/90) Hoofer Council (3/26/90, 5/21/90) Union Council (5/7/90)

The name of this organization shall be the Wisconsin Hoofer Sailing Club of the Wisconsin Union of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, herein referred to as the "Sailing Club".

The purpose of the Sailing Club shall be to promote sailing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by providing the organization, equipment, instruction, and financing necessary to encourage recreational and competitive sailing.

Section 1

Any person who is a member of the Wisconsin Union or faculty/staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison may join the Sailing Club upon payment of dues.

Section 2

Dues, as prescribed by the Board of Captains, shall be paid by all Sailing Club members except the Commodore, Vice-Commodore, past Commodores, and the current Board of Captains. Others may receive full or partial waiver of dues as outlined in the By-Laws.

Section 1

The Commodore and Vice-Commodore shall be Sailing Club members and UW- Madison students. They shall be elected individually by a majority vote of the general membership present at a regular Sailing Club meeting which shall occur within the first two weeks of August. They shall take office four weeks after the elections.

Section 2

The Commodore shall appoint to the Board of Captains a secretary, treasurer, education representative, maintenance representative, and others not to exceed a total of 22 people (including the Commodore and Vice-Commodore). The Commodore shall define their duties at the time of appointment in accordance with the purpose of the Sailing Club as stated in Article II, Section 1 of this Constitution. All Board of Captains members shall serve a term concurrent with that of the Commodore.

Section 3

The executive, legislative, and judicial powers of the Sailing Club shall be delegated to the Board of Captains.

Section 1

Any member of the Board of Captains, other than the Commodore or Vice- Commodore, may be removed from the Board of Captains by the Commodore for failure to meet the duties of the office. Such an action may be overturned by a 2/3 majority vote of the Board of Captains exclusive of the member being voted upon.

Section 2

Any member of the board of Captains, other than the Commodore or Vice- Commodore, may be removed from the Board of Captains by a 2/3 majority vote of the board of Captains exclusive of the member being voted upon.

Section 3

Any member of the Board of Captains, including the Commodore and the Vice- Commodore, may be removed from the Board of Captains by a 2/3 majority vote of the general membership present at a regular Sailing Club meeting at which at least 10% of the current membership or 45 members of the Sailing Club (whichever is greater) are present.

Section 4

Notice of any recall vote shall be posted on the Sailing Club bulletin board at least one week prior to the vote.

Amendments to this Constitution not inconsistent with the Hoofer Constitution or the Constitution of the Wisconsin Union may be proposed by a petition of ten members of the current membership of the Sailing Club. The amendment shall take effect when it is approved sequentially by a majority vote of the general membership present at regular Sailing Club meeting at which at least 10% of the current membership or 45 members of the Sailing Club (whichever is greater) are present, the Board of Captains, Hoofer Council, and Union Council.

By-Laws not inconsistent with this Constitution, the Hoofer Constitution, or the Constitution of the Wisconsin Union may be adopted or amended by a 3/4 majority vote of the Board of Captains, and when approved by Hoofer Council.

This Constitution shall go into effect when approved sequentially by a 3/4 majority vote of the Board of Captains and when approved by Hoofer Council and by Union Council.

The sailing club is run by an executive board entitled the Board of Captains. As stated in the Club By-Laws, the BOC is responsible for all executive, legislative and judicary aspects of the club. The Board is appointed by the Commodore and serves for a concurrent term.

The Commodore and Vice-Commodore are the two elected leaders of the club. The Commodore and Vice-Commodore are elected in an election, open to the entire populace of active members, usually held at the end of August.

The Board of Captains includes the following positions:

• Commodore
• Vice-Commodore
• Treasurer
• Events & Volunteer Coordinator
• Marketing & PR Chair
• Secretary
• Maintenance / Shop Representative
• Education Representative
• 420 Fleet Captain & Sailing Team Representative
• Tech & Badger Sloop Fleet Captain
• Keelboat Fleet Captain
• J-Fleet Captain
• Laser Fleet Captain
• Scow Fleet Captain
• Snow Kiting Fleet Captain
• Windsurfing Fleet Captain

To contact any of the members of the Board of Captains, click here.