I.A.C.A. Constitution

The International A Division Catamaran Association Constitution

The Final Draft of the new IACA Constitution

Is available in Adobe Acrobat® Portable Document Format for high quality printing and viewing

IACA Constitution Final Draft

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TITLE

The full title of the Association shall be The International A- Division Catamaran Association (I.A.C.A.).

OBJECTS

The objects of the I.A.C.A. are to promote and further the interests of the A- Division throughout the world including:

a. To maintain the restricted design character of the A- Division Catamaran.

b. To co-ordinate and manage the affairs of the Division.

c. To make recommendations on the control of the Division to the International Yacht Racing Union.

d. To encourage and co-ordinate National and International competition within the Division.

HEADQUARTERS

The headquarters of the Association shall be rotated and between World Championships be established in the host country responsible for the forthcoming world championship.

MEMBERSHIP and VOTING RIGHTS

a. I.A.C.A. membership shall be given to the National Association of a country upon payment by the Association of the prescribed subscription fee. At the time of payment of the subscription, the National Association shall submit details of each Fleet membership (names and addresses).

b. At a General Meeting of I.A.C.A. every member nation may exercise one vote per 10 registered boats.

c. Written delegation of the right to vote is accepted.

d. I.A.C.A. aims at the membership of all National Association fleets.

SUBSCRIPTION

The annual subscription shall be set at 7 Swiss Francs per registered yacht and be due and payable on the 1st January each year.

MANAGEMENT

a. COMMITTEE

1) The affairs of the I.A.C.A. shall be managed by the Association Committee which shall be the only body with power to make recommendations to the International Sailing Federation for changes in the measurement rules.

2) The Committee shall consist of the following who must all be financial members of their National Association.

a) President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to five others.

b) National Fleet representatives may be nominated by fleets to participate on the Committee. These members shall not have voting rights unless elected under 2(a) above. Any representative may be co-opted as necessary.

c) A delegate capable of clear English communication shall be appointed as the A class representative to the ISAF. If required this delegate will attend ISAF meetings at the committee's request. This delegate shall be an unbiased representative and have no commercial interests in the A-Division.

3) The Committee shall be elected at the WORLD GENERAL MEETING and each Committee Member shall serve until the conclusion of the following W.G.M.

4) In the event of vacancies occurring on the Committee for any reason whatsoever the Committee shall have the power to co-opt replacements.

5) Each Committee member shall have one vote. Decisions shall be reached by a simple majority and in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman of the Meeting shall have an additional vote.

6) Three members of the Committee with voting rights shall form a quorum.

7) Fourteen days notice of Committee Meetings must be given to all Committee Members. The notice of meeting shall include an agenda.

b. GENERAL MEETINGS

1) The W.G.M. of the I.A.C.A. shall be held at, and during each World Title, at a date, time and place being at the Committee's discretion.

2) Business at a W.G.M. shall comprise:

a) President's Report.

b) Secretary's Report.

c) Treasurer's Report and presentation of accounts.

d) National Association and Fleet Reports.

e) Election of Officers and Committee.

f) Election of Hon. Auditors.

g) Consideration of proposals, with the exception of those concerning Division rules, of which written notice has been received by the Hon. Secretary 3 months prior to the W.G.M.

3) Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the Association Committee or shall be called by the President upon receipt by the Hon. Secretary of a request in writing signed by not fewer than 2 member nations of the Association.

4) At least four weeks notice together with a copy of the Agenda shall be given to all member nations of any General Meeting.

5) At any General Meeting decisions shall be by a simple majority except on matters concerning the alterations or amendments to the Constitution or A-Division Rules.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

The I.A.C.A. shall arrange World, Continental and National Championships of the Division as may be required. The I.A.C.A. Committee may delegate the organisation and running of such championships.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

All International fleet meetings will be conducted under the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and the I.A.C.A. championship rules. The helmsman of each boat taking part in an International event must be a paid up member of his National Association.

NATIONAL FLEETS

a. Fleets may be formed by Association Members in any region on application to the I.A.C.A. Committee.

b. The I.A.C.A. Committee shall have the power to approve, disband or amalgamate fleets.

c. Fleets may form their own constitutition provided that it has been submitted to the I.A.C.A. Committee for approval.

d. Fleets shall nominate a Secretary or other Officer to be responsible for the affairs and conduct of the Fleet to the I.A.C.A. Committee.

e. Fleets may organise such local sailing and social activities as they find necessary within the objects of the I.A.C.A.

f. Fleets may levy a subscription on their membership to cover their operating expenses.

g. In special circumstances the I.A.C.A. Committee may approve separate fleets for different areas of a country.

A DIVISION RULES ALTERATIONS or AMENDMENTS

a. Proposals for any alterations or amendments to the A-Division rules shall be submitted to the I.A.C.A. Committee in writing and shall be signed by at least one financial member nation.

b. Appropriate ballot rules and an appropriate ballot paper shall be prepared by the Committee and circulated to all FINANCIAL FLEET MEMBERS. Each financial fleet member shall have one vote. The financial fleet member shall himself return the completed ballot paper to the Returning Officer. To be valid, the completed ballot paper shall be received by the Returning Officer within ten weeks of the date of original circulation and comply with the ballot rules.

c. Proposals shall be deemed carried if two-thirds of votes cast are in favour. The results of the ballot shall be circulated by the Association Committee to all member nations forthwith including a statement by the Returning Officer of the votes cast.

d. The findings of any such ballot on the A-Division rules shall be passed by the Association Committee to the International Sailing Federation for confirmation.

IACA CONSTITUTION ALTERATIONS or AMENDMENTS

a. Proposals for any alterations or amendments to the IACA Constitution shall be submitted to the I.A.C.A. Committee in writing and shall be signed by at least one financial member nation.

d. The findings of any such ballot on the IACA Constitution shall be passed by the Association Committee to the International Sailing Federation for confirmation.

NOTICE OF MEETING AND POSTAL VOTES

a. Notice of meetings or ballot papers shall be deemed to be served if posted (by air mail if overseas) to the last known address of the member.

b. Non receipt of notices or ballot papers by members, or of postal votes by the Hon. Secretary shall not invalidate the proceedings of meetings or the result of a postal ballot.

DISSOLUTION

The dissolution of I.A.C.A. may be required on a 3/4 majority vote at a General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting called by the President to discuss such a matter. The distribution of I.A.C.A. funds (if any) shall be equally proportioned to all member nations.

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