Constitution
Last updated 15/04/07
For a downloadable PDF version of the Constitution click here. 
1.1 The name of the Class Association is 'The Yeoman/Kinsman Association' and the class flag shall be international 'Y'.
1.2 The object for which the Class Association is formed is to promote the interests and administer the affairs of the Yeoman/Kinsman Class.
1.3 The Class Association shall be affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association.
2.1 The Class Association shall be made up of owners, part owners or crew.
2.2 Any group of 5 boats sailing in the same waters shall be eligible to apply to the Class Association for recognition as a fleet.
2.3 The Class Association shall control the measurement rules, and the issue and re-validation of registration certificates. The Class Association shall maintain a national membership list and shall collect annual subscriptions to the funds of the Class Association.
3.1 Full membership shall be open to any owner, or part owner or crew of a Yeoman or Kinsman.
3.2 Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person on the recommendation of the Class Association Committee and which is confirmed by the Class Association in general meeting.
3.3 Every member on joining the Class Association impliedly undertakes to comply with the objects and rules of the Class Association.
3.4 It is condition of membership that all owners have appropriate insurance for their boats.
3.5 Membership of the Association shall be deemed to constitute consent by every member to the holding of relevant personal data for the purpose of the Data Protection Act.
4.1 The subscription year shall be a calendar year commencing on 1st January annually.
4.2 The rate of subscription for the year shall be determined by the Class Association at its Annual General Meeting.
4.3 No subscriptions already paid will be refundable on retirement during the subscription year
4.4 Any person whose subscription shall remain unpaid after 31st May in any year shal cease to be a member.
4.5 No member shall be entitled to exercise any rights or participate in any privileges of membership during any part of a year that their subscription remains unpaid.
4.6 Any new member joining after 1st September in any year will have valid membership until the end of the following subscription year without further charge.
5.0 Class Association Committee
5.1 The Class Association shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be the officers of the Association and one nominated member appointed by each fleet. There shall be no maximum number of Committee members.
5.2 The quorum shall be three and each Committee member shall have one vote. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
5.3 All officers of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Class Association, and the nominated member representing each fleet shall be accepted at the same meeting. All Committee members shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting.
5.4 Candidates for election as officers to the Class Association Committee shall be those officers retiring who may offer themselves for re-election and such other members of the Class Association whose nominations duly proposed and seconded by members of the Class Association in writing which shall have been received by the Honorary Secretary at least twenty eight (28) days before the Annual General Meeting at which the election will take place.
5.5 If an officer is unable or unwilling to act, the Committee shall appoint a suitable replacement to act until the next Annual General Meeting.
5.6 If the number of candidates duly proposed and seconded exceeds the number of vacancies to be filled the election shall be held by ballot.
5.7 If a fleet nominated member is unable to attend a Class Association Committee meeting, the fleet concerned may appoint a substitute to attend who shall have all the rights of a member of the Committee as if he were the nominated member.
5.8 The Class Committee shall manage the affairs of the Class Association according to the Constitution and shall apply the funds of the Class Association at their discretion to the objectives of the Class Association.
5.9 The Chairman shall not be eligible for more than three consecutive terms of office as such without a succeeding interval of at least one year.
5.10 Measurers appointed by the Association may attend committee meetings by invitation, they shall not have voting rights.
6.1 It shall be the responsibility of the Honorary Treasurer to keep a complete and accurate account of the Class Association's finances.
6.2 The treasurer shall report upon the financial state of the Class Association at the Annual General Meeting each year and shall at the time produce an audited account and balance sheet for the financial year ended at the previous 31st December.
7.1 The Class Association shall appoint an Honorary Auditor at its Annual General Meeting each year. If the Honorary Auditor is unable or unwilling to act, the Association Committee shall appoint a suitable replacement.
7.2 The Honorary Auditor shall audit the accounts and records of the Class Association annually.
8.1 each fleet shall be responsible for their own fleet committee organisation, which shall be created as appropriate. The Committee shall consist of at least a Fleet Chairman and a Fleet Secretary. Other members shall be elected as appropriate.
8.2 Fleet Committee members shall be elected annually at a Fleet Annual Meeting, and at the same time the representative to the Class Association Committee for the forthcoming year shall be elected.
8.3 Fleet Committees shall manage the affairs of the fleet according to the rules and shall raise whatever funds they may decide by subscription from their members and shall apply such funds to the objectives of the local requirements of the fleet.
8.4 Before any fleet or group Committee sanction the production of any material, they should advise the Association Secretary of their intention with a view to being sensitive to current legislation as it may well have to be referred to our liability insurers.
9.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Class Association shall be held at the place, date and time decided by the Class Association Committee. The meeting shall be held within the United Kingdom and take place between the 1st April and the 30th September each year.
9.2 The Honorary Secretary will at least twenty eight days (28) before the meeting, circulate to each member a notice convening the meeting, the agenda and a copy of the audited accounts of the Class Association.
9.3 All proposals and alterations to the constitution and rules which are to be put to a General Meeting shall be in writing to the Secretary eight weeks before the Annual General Meeting and shall be promulgated in the Agenda of the meeting. No proposal on any new subject will be taken at a General Meeting, but amendments to properly proposed motions will be allowed at the discretion of the Chairman. Each fully paid up member of the Class Association shall have a vote. All proposals will be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast except those proposing changes to the Class Association Constitution and Measurement Rules, which shall require a majority of two thirds of those voting.
9.4 Postal votes for a proposal at a General Meeting will not be permitted unless the Class Association Committee decide that a ballot is warranted because of the importance of the subject of the proposal. Such postal votes will be valid if returned on the official ballot forms to reach the Honorary Secretary at least seven clear days before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be taken.
9.5 Honorary members shall have no voting rights but shall be allowed to attend any General Meeting of the Class Association.
9.6 In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
9.7 The Quorum shall be 12 members present in person.
10.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Class Association may be called on the request in writing of the Committee or any one or more fleets, or on request in writing of at least 12 members, or by the Committee of the Class Association.
10.2 Those seeking such a meeting shall notify the Class Honorary Secretary in writing of the motion of matters for discussion.
10.3 The secretary shall within 21 days of such a request, notify all members concerned of the time and place of the meeting and the matter or motion giving at least twenty eight (28) days (but not more than forty two (42) days) notice of the meeting.
10.4 The rules of voting shall be as for an Annual General Meeting.