[Board] PYC Membership Question

[Paulette Semprini]

Is there a provision for an adult child of a member ?
I can meet next week.
Thank you
Paulette

On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 9:45 PM PETER DAWSON <poko at comcast.net> wrote:

> Thanks Art for the time you spent in detailing historical discussions and
> definitions (of family (including children)).  With the addition of club
> operations (complications) due to Covid, the use of PYC by children may
> warrant further discussion.
>   The scenerio of an 18yr. old and several  friends out for an afternoon
> of boating could produce problems on their return, including driving away
> from PYC after an afternoon of fun.
>  Is there any plan for a meeting (next) Thursday as we discussed?  An
> email round-table may be easier.
> Best,
> Peter
>
>
> On 07/16/2020 7:46 PM Jeremy Small <jsmall.105 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Back in May of 2019, I asked for a review of the constitution so we could
> allow children age 16-21 of members to access their family boat.  Was this
> ever done?  If not I would like to make a motion at the next board meeting
> in regards to this issue.  Children of members age 16-21 are allowed access
> to parents boats, either in slips or by launch, with written permission
> from the member.  The access would be using only the gate entrance and not
> give access to the club interior or to hang out on the patio.
> [image: image.png]
> Above is from the minutes from the May 9th 2019 meeting.
>
> Unfortunately, it looks like I dropped the ball on continuing this
> conversation which would have avoided the entire situation.
>
> Thank you.
> Jeremy
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 5:47 PM Karen Niland < karen.niland at me.com>
> wrote:
>
> Dear Commodore Dowey, VC Kenepp, RC Dionne, Steward Kat & Capt. J. Small,
>
> I am hopeful the following information will shed light upon the ongoing
> confusion about the definitions of family and membership at PYC. I
> appreciate your attention to the issues and I submit these comments
> respectfully to assist in the process of resolution. Previous
> correspondence with Rear Commodore Dionne are included below.
>
> It saddens me, as this discourse stems from an event in which our son,
> Spencer, did not violate the safety, use or function of the club and did
> not infringe upon the rights or responsibilities of PYC staff or members.
> As a licensed boater and a dependent adult child under the age of 21 living
> in our home, it seems reasonable to assume his right to access our boat
> within the guidelines of the club. Captain Small’s comment in the 2018
> board meeting notes demonstrate this is not an unreasonable assumption,
> however, I do not find evidence of any formal resolution in Club documents.
>
> With all due respect, Rear Commodore Dionne’s statement “children were
> never included” is incorrect. Please see the * attached document* from
> the  PYC Constitution and By-Laws provided in 2015 which states in  ARTICLE
> XI, SECTION 4:
>
> * “Active membership includes individuals or families. Family is defined
> to include spouse and dependent children under the age of 21.”*
>
> Changes to other Constitution Articles explicitly state “Article [ ] r *eplaced
> in entirety by vote...*” where Footnote(7) re: ARTICLE XI SECTION 4,
> states: " *altered and expanded [ ] the definition of family to
> include marital type relationships…”. *Removal of children from the
> definition of family in the Constitution is a substantial change in the
> rules of membership without specifically being addressed in the
> documentation. The intention of Footnote(7) was to update the word spouse
> to be more inclusive. It was created in response to the Supreme Court
> same-sex marriage legislation at that time and it was not written to remove
> children from family membership in ARTICLE XI SECTION 4. If there is
> documentation of discourse and a decision to remove of children from family
> membership, please share. If not, may we please address it at the annual
> meeting?
>
>
> I welcome current or former Board Members to contact me with any insight
> or questions. I hope to better understand the changes to the Constitution
> which have created this confusion and look forward to helping the Club
> clarify the rules with appreciation for the history, legacy and future of
> PYC as an inclusive and welcoming organization.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Karen Niland
> 603-833-7751
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 15, 2020, at 2:21 PM, Arthur Dionne < adjd at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Mrs. Niland,
>
>     As to your first question concerning my email, I was wrong!
>
>     As to your second question, the 2015 footnote is correct, it was made
> to include marital type relationships; however, there was no "removal of
> children in the definition of family" as children were never included.
> Children have never been allowed to use PYC's facilities without having a
> parent present. The Board of Directors reviewed this issue during their
> meeting on August 9, 2018. the following is taken form the Minutes of that
> meeting:
>
> *2.         Membership Designations - Comm. Michael*
> Comm. Michael said that the term "Family Membership" is confusing because
> some members  believe that it means that their children are entitled to use
> club facilities without their parents present.  Conversation ensued about
> the fact that wording in the Constitution is not specific.  Family is
> defined as two individuals living at the same address in a marital or
> marital-type relationship.  The Constitution does not define the family as
> including the children and does not specify the age of the children.  The
> Constitution intends a membership to be a person or a couple. Some Board
> members said they understand there is a problem but that it may not be an
> issue which could be addressed at this time.  PC Coffey said there should
> be a system in place where we could continually educate members about
> rules.  Capt. Small suggested there could be a process where the child of a
> member could access the family boat via the club.  Comm. Michael said this
> should be addressed in the future.
>
> Regards,
> Arthur Dionne, R/C
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karen Niland < karen.niland at me.com>
> To: Kev Niland < kevenn43 at yahoo.com>; Arthur Dionne < adjd at aol.com>
> Cc: pdowey at gmail.com < pdowey at gmail.com>; dave.kenepp at gmail.com <
> dave.kenepp at gmail.com>; frieda.kat5 at gmail.com < frieda.kat5 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Wed, Jul 15, 2020 12:01 pm
> Subject: Re: PYC Membership Question
>
> Dear Rear-Commodore Dionne,
>
> I have a follow-up question regarding Article XI Section 4. Is there an
> amendment in which PYC voted to eliminate children from the definition of
> family?
>
> Your initial email (copied below) implies our dependent child is "a member
> via our membership” and your concerns were regarding our son’s age and
> address; both which fall within ARTICLE XI, SECTION 4 of the PYC
> Constitution and By-Laws from 2015:
> *“Active membership includes individuals or families. Family is defined to
> include spouse and dependent children under the age of 21.”*
>
> The current PYC Constitution and By-Laws (online) denote your reference to
> Footnote (7):
> *"Constitution ARTICLE XI, Section 4: The definition of a family
> membership was altered and expanded by vote at the Annual Meeting of
> October 8, 2015 to include two individuals living at the same address in a
> marriage or marital-type relationship on the date they become members.
> Also, provision for retaining membership if the relationship is dissolved
> is guaranteed to both parties. At the Annual Meeting October 13, 2016,
> reference to the date the living arrangements began were removed so that
> any person living at the same address in a marriage or marital type
> relationship with the original member,regardless of the date when the
> relationship and living arrangement began is considered a member.”*
>
> Presumably, the footnote of 2015 was in response to the Supreme Court
> Legislation recognizing same-sex marriage and prior use of the word
> “spouse” was not inclusive of a “marital type relationship”. The intention
> to *expand *the definition of family to *include*  marital type
> relationships is clear but, the removal of children in the definition of
> family is not explicitly addressed.
>
> Please confirm my understanding or clarify if there is PYC documentation
> to eliminate children from the definition of family.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Karen S. Niland
>
>
>
> On Jul 13, 2020, at 3:55 PM, Arthur Dionne < adjd at aol.com > wrote:
> Hi Keven,
>     We have a little problem. Your son came to PYC alone and took your
> boat out today. Does he live with you and Karen? If he does, he is probably
> a member via you membership; however, depending on his age he may not be
> permitted to be at PYC unless you are with him.
>     Please provide me with any pertinent information.
> Thank you,
> Art Dionne
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jeremy Small
> 603.661.7371
>
>
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