Photo Credit: FRIED ELLIOTT / friedbits.com

Rules of the ISCYRA Part 1

Rules of the ISCYRA Part 1

ISCYRA RULES 
PART 1 

1. Name

The name of the Association shall be the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA).

2. Insignia

The emblem of the Star Class shall be a five pointed red star.

3. Object

The object of the ISCYRA shall be to promote, develop and govern Star Class racing throughout the world, under uniform rules, and is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501 C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The ISCYRA is the Association of Star Sailors and shall be the world’s pre-eminent One-Design Keelboat Class for International Racing.

4. Policy

It shall be the policy of the ISCYRA:

4.1. To co-operate with all other sailing organizations, in return for which observance and enforcement of the rules of the ISCYRA are expected.

4.2. To keep the Star Class within the financial reach of the person of moderate means without handicapping ability or encouraging neglect in conditioning yachts.

5. Organization

5.1. Member. The individual shall join through the fleet on whose waters the individual normally sails. The power to accept or reject applications for membership is vested in each fleet, subject to refusal, for cause, by the Class Management Committee (CMC). An individual which was accepted by a fleet is called an ISCYRA Member.

5.2. Fleet. The Fleet, a territorial branch or unit, is open to all eligible persons within its territory, elects its own officers, which must include a Fleet Secretary and a Fleet Captain, and is self-governing in local matters not conflicting with ISCYRA rules. The Fleet Captain of a fleet can be the Fleet Secretary of the same fleet at the same time.

The Fleet Captain and Fleet Secretary are the Fleet Officers of a fleet. A Fleet Captain must be a member of the Fleet and an ISCYRA member (STCR 9). A Fleet Secretary need not be a member of the Fleet. There shall be a Fleet Secretary for each fleet. If there is only a Fleet Captain named he or she has also the roll of Fleet Secretary.

5.3. Districts. Groups of fleets in distinctive localities constitute Districts.

5.4. Hemisphere. Districts are assigned to two Hemispheres.

5.4.1 Western Hemisphere. There is one Hemisphere which is named “Western Hemisphere“:

Located between longitude 20 degrees W and 160 degrees E.
The Western Hemisphere shall include Districts 1-8, 11, 12, 18-21.

5.4.2. Eastern Hemisphere. There is one Hemisphere which is named “Eastern Hemisphere":

Located between longitude 160 degrees E and 20 degrees W.
The Eastern Hemisphere shall include Districts 9, 10, 13-17.

Jurisdiction

6.1. The ISCYRA has jurisdiction over all Star activities and the use of properties of the Class.

6.2. The powers of the ISCYRA shall be vested in and administered by its International Governing Committee (IGC).

6.3. The Star Class Association Rules (STCR Part 1 of the Rules of the ISCYRA) and the Rules Governing Star Class Sanctioned Events and Fleet Qualifications (STCR Part 2 of the Rules of the ISCYRA) are binding upon all members and fleets and govern all ISCYRA sanctioned events and fleet qualifications. Each member of the Class agrees:

a) To be governed by these rules,

b) To accept the penalties imposed and other action taken under these rules, subject to the appeal and review procedures provided in them as the final determination of any matter arising under these rules, and procedures provided in them as the final determination of any matter arising under these rules, and

c) With respect to such determination, not to resort to any court or other tribunal not provided by these rules.

7. ISCYRA Responsibilities

7.1. Language. The official language of the ISCYRA shall be English.

7.2. Obligation. It is the obligation of the ISCYRA to prepare and distribute the forms by means of which the business of the ISCYRA is conducted.

7.3. Boat Numbers. The ISCYRA shall assign a permanent official number to each new boat upon application. This number shall be displayed on both sides of the mainsail and cut into or permanently affixed to the keelson or hull. Hull numbers shall be issued only in sequential order.

7.4. Liability. The ISCYRA shall not be liable for any debts contracted by its fleets, officers or members other than expenditures authorized by the budget or by written order of the International President, in accordance with the approved budget.

8. Fleet Responsibilities

8.1. A new Fleet may be granted a charter upon application to the appropriate Continental First Vice-President by five or more owners or prospective owners of five or more Star boats not within the locality of an organized Fleet.

8.2. Application should be filed by the Continental Vice-President with the cognizant International Vice-President. New charters are conditional until ratified at an annual meeting of the ISCYRA.

8.3. Each fleet shall hold an annual meeting by the end of January.  Each Fleet shall file the date of the fleet meeting with the Central Office by 1 January of that year.

8.4. Results of election of fleet officers shall be filed promptly with the ISCYRA.

8.5. Each fleet shall collect its members’ Association dues or direct its members to join directly with ISCYRA.  Fleets that collect dues shall forward these each month to the ISCYRA together with the registration form.

8.6. Each fleet shall file an annual report with the ISCYRA during January.

8.7. It is the obligation of each fleet to maintain a minimum quota of three life and/or active members in good standing, and a minimum of three eligible Stars.

8.8. The charter of any fleet shall be suspended on March 1 for failure to have filed an annual report with dues for at least three such members, listing ownership of at least three eligible Stars, or for other adequate cause. Suspended fleets cannot be reinstated until all requirements of the ISCYRA have been fulfilled. Suspended charters are subject to revocation at an annual meeting of the ISCYRA.

8.9. Each fleet shall be responsible:

8.9.1. For making suitable provision covering local races.

8.9.2. For governing the use of sails.

8.9.3. For the measurement of sails, spars, rudders, skegs and positions not included on the Measurement Certificate.

9. Membership

9.1. Classes of membership. There shall be different classes of membership.

9.1.1. Active. An active member may hold office, vote, and skipper a Star boat except as modified in Rules Governing Star Class Events and Racing regardless of age, sex, race or creed. He must be an owner, part owner, designated syndicate representative, or bona fide charterer of a Star. If he ceases to be a Star owner, part owner, designated syndicate representative, or bona fide charterer, he shall retain his membership status until the end of the calendar year. Solely for purposes of qualifying for the right to sail in a Gold or Silver Event pursuant to STCR 29.1, an Active Member shall also have sailed in a representative number of races (at least five) in his own home waters (either Fleet or District) during the 12 months prior to the entry deadline of the event and registered with the ISCYRA with current annual dues paid.

9.1.2. Life. A life member is entitled to all the rights and privileges of an active member, regardless of ownership status, except as modified by skipper eligibility rules. There shall be not more than 100 life members. Applicants must have reached the age of 21 and have been members of the ISCYRA for at least one year. When the quota of 100 is filled, new life memberships will be granted by the Class Management Committee in order of application whenever a vacancy occurs.

9.1.3. Associate. An associate member is a Corinthian non-owner of a Star, who may represent his fleet as a crew. He cannot vote, hold an ISCYRA office, or represent his fleet as a skipper. An associate members can act as a Fleet Secretary.

9.1.4. Isolated. An isolated member is one who meets all the requirements of active or associate membership except that he does not sail in or near the territory of a fleet in good standing. If he owns a Star he is entitled to all privileges of an active member except fleet representation.

When five or more isolated members own and sail Stars in the same locality, they shall apply for a fleet charter or renewal of charter and become active members.

9.1.5. Supporting. A supporting member is one who because of his support and interest in ISCYRA, is elected to membership by the CMC. A supporting member shall have all the rights of an associate member. The CMC has the power to admit different categories of supporting members in relation to their financial support of the Class.

9.1.6. Age Groups

All Star sailors (as described above in 9.1.1 to 9.1.5) are combined in Age Groups depending on their birthday in the current year as follows:

Youth [not reached 20th birthday (< 20 years)

Junior [reached 20th birthday but not reached 30th birthday (>= 20 years < 30 years)]

Senior [reached 30th birthday but not reached 50th birthday (>= 30 years < 50 years)]

Master [reached 50th birthday but not reached 60th birthday (>= 50 years < 60 years)]

Grand Master [reached 60th birthday but not reached 70th birthday (>= 60 years < 70 years)]

Exalted Grand Master [reached 70th birthday (>= 70 years)]

9.1.7 Age Group Responsibilities

A Youth member is one who has not yet reached his or her 20th birthday. A Youth member shall have all the rights of an Associate member, and in addition may also represent his or her fleet as a skipper. If a Youth or Junior member qualifies for a Gold or Silver level championship he or she shall upgrade to Junior Active membership in order to be eligible to compete. Each Fleet is encouraged to sponsor one Youth or Junior member per year.

A Junior member is one who has not yet reached his or her 30th birthday. A Junior Active member shall have all the rights of an Active member.

Only Youth and Junior members are eligible to skipper a star during sanctioned J (J-Gold and J-Silver) Events.

9.1.8. Retired. A retired member is one who:
              a) is not actively sailing Star at the moment or anymore, or
              b) served the class (e.g. a wife of a sailor as a Fleet Secretary) or was related to a member actively sailing Star.


A retired member shall have no rights of an associate or active member, and in addition may also not represent his or her fleet as a crew or skipper. If a retired member wants to qualify for a Star class event, he or she shall upgrade to active or associate membership in order to be eligible to compete. The retired member is informed about all ISCYRA activities only via email or e-Starlight by the Central Office. There are no ISCYRA dues for this membership status.

9.2. A member cannot belong to more than one fleet at a time. A member may change fleets at any time by paying fleet dues to the new fleet. He immediately becomes eligible to compete in local races of that fleet. His eligibility to represent that fleet is governed by Rule 26.

10. ISCYRA Dues

10.1. ISCYRA dues and taxes shall be fixed by the IGC.

10.2. The IGC shall establish the dues each year for active, associate and isolated members in amounts not exceeding the maximum provided under 10.3. Dues for junior members shall be 25% of Active membership. Dues for Junior Active members shall be 50% of Active membership.

10.3. All members must register annually. Annual dues, payable on registration, shall be established from time to time by the IGC, provided that the dues for each membership category for any calendar year shall not exceed the dues for such membership category during the preceding calendar year by more than 25% unless such increase is approved by majority vote at the annual meeting of the Class.

10.3.1 Dues for junior members under twenty-five years of age shall be a maximum of twenty-five dollars.

10.4. Dues for supporting members shall be not less than dues for active members.

10.5. Annual dues are payable in January in US Dollars in Annapolis, MD USA.

10.6. When an application for life membership is approved, the new life member shall make a single payment equal to 20 times the active dues in effect at the time.

10.7. Fleet dues, if any, shall be fixed by the fleet.

10.8. ISCYRA and fleet dues must be paid before a member can be in good standing.

11. ISCYRA Officers

ISCYRA Officers shall be elected annually by mail vote of the membership and serve terms, as prescribed below, beginning in the ensuing calendar year or until their successors qualify.

11.1. International Officers. International Officers, (in charge of ISCYRA business) when elected, shall serve terms of four years, but may serve no more than a total of eight years in such office. The election of the International President and Secretary shall occur at a two year interval to the election of the International Vice-Presidents and Treasurer. (Such interval was established by an election of the International Vice-Presidents and Treasurer in the year 2003.)

11.1.1. International President. The International President (IP) is the Chief Executive of the ISCYRA.

He shall preside at meetings and serve as chairman of the CMC. He shall rule on procedure and jurisdiction, summarize decisions, and appoint special committees. He together with one International Vice President has sole authority to pay or authorize payment of accounts.

The names of former International Presidents, with dates of tenure of office, shall appear in the LOG beneath the name of the International President but in smaller type. All former International Presidents shall retain their title and sleeve stripes, but not their gold stars.

11.1.2. International Vice-Presidents. There shall be two International Vice-Presidents (IVP), not from the same hemisphere.

The International Vice-President having the greater seniority shall perform the duties of the President in his absence. If both IVP.’s have been in office for the same period of time, the IGC, by ballot, will select the successor.

Each IVP shall supervise the work of the Continental officers and act as chairman of the Continental Committees of his hemisphere. The Vice-Presidents are empowered to grant charters if for any reason a continent is temporarily without Continental officers. Each IVP shall be elected by the entire active membership.

11.1.3. International Secretary. The International Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings and supervise the ISCYRA’s system of forms and records for all members.

11.1.4. International Treasurer. The International Treasurer is the custodian of the financial assets of the ISCYRA. He shall keep the ISCYRA’s books, financial records, and securities, and shall place funds in a depository approved by the CMC. He shall disburse funds only on the order of the International President.

The International Treasurer shall deliver an annual financial statement at the annual meeting to all members. This annual financial statement will be published exclusively for all members.

11.1.5. International Governing Committee. There shall be an International Governing Committee (IGC) consisting of nine (9) members constituted and having the duties as set forth in Rules 14.1-14.1.6.

11.2. Continental Officers. Continental Officers, when elected, shall serve terms of four years.

11.2.1. First Vice-President. There shall be one First Vice-President for each continent, who is the chief officer of this continent. He shall preside at an annual meeting in the absence of all International officers, officiate at continental events and appoint their race committees and juries, and have general supervision of the work of district secretaries within his continent and adjacent islands. Each FVP, when elected, shall serve terms of four (4) years, but may serve no more than eight (8) years in such office. In calculation of term limit, only periods of time to which the officer was elected (as opposed to periods during which the officer served out another incumbency) shall be counted. First election shall take place December 2013 for First Term of 2014-2018.

11.2.2. Second Vice-President. There shall be one Second Vice-President for each continent, who shall officiate in the absence of the Continental FVP and generally assist him in the performance of his duties.

11.2.3. If a vacancy occurs in the office of First Vice President, the Second Vice President for this continent will automatically fill the vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Second Vice President, the IGC shall appoint an acting Second Vice President for the remainder of the term.

11.3. Commodores. There shall be one Commodore who shall serve a term of four years, two Vice-Commodores and three Rear Commodores, each of whom shall serve a term of two years. The ranking Commodore present shall be in charge of all social functions, shall be toastmaster at such functions, and shall make the opening address at annual meetings.

Each Commodore, Vice-Commodores or Rear Commodore has the right to participate at any ISCYRA meeting - with no vote in the meeting and no right to speak other than upon invitation.

The names of former Commodores, with dates of tenure of office, shall appear in the LOG beneath the name of the active Commodores but in smaller type. All former Commodores shall retain their title and sleeve stripes, but not their gold stars.

11.4. All the International Officers, in connection with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Sailing, must work in a coordinate way to maintain the “Olympic Status” for the Class, as pointed out in Rules 23.5.1, 23.5.6 and 40.

12. District Officers

The following District Officers shall be elected bi-annually by mail vote of the active membership of each district and shall serve for the ensuing two calendar years or until their successors qualify.

12.1. District Secretary. The District Secretary (DS) shall have general supervision over all Star activities in his district, be responsible for checking entries in sanctioned events and approving Star race committees conducting championships of his district.

12.2. Assistant District Secretary. The Assistant District Secretary shall assist the DS, serve in his absence as chairman of special race committees, and automatically become DS for the remainder of the unexpired term should that office be vacated.

13. Election Procedure

13.1. Nominations. Each fleet shall be sent nominating forms for Commodores and for International, Continental and District officers at such time as may be ordered by the Class Management Committee, returnable to the Central Office at a specified date.

Commodores must be nominated by at least two fleets.

Continental officers must be nominated by at least two fleets, which must be in different districts if the continent has more than one district.

International officers must be nominated by at least two fleets not within the same district.

District officers must be nominated by one fleet.

If a continent has three or less fleets, nominations may be received from only one fleet.

13.2. Eligibility. A candidate for office, before his name can be placed on the ballot, must certify in writing that he is willing and able to serve if elected. A candidate for the office of International President, Secretary or Treasurer must be in a position to attend Class Management Committee meetings at the Central Office of the ISCYRA at frequent intervals.

A candidate for any office on the ballot must be an active, life or boat-owning isolated member of the ISCYRA and so recorded on the date when nominations for that office close. If any officer’s membership is not renewed by March 1, the Class Management Committee shall have the power, thirty days after serving notice upon him to his last recorded address, to declare the said office vacant.

13.3. Voting. Each life, active and boat owning isolated member will receive a ballot on which he shall record his votes. This ballot must be returned to the office of the International Secretary or such place as the Class Management Committee may designate on or before December 10 or the 90th day after the annual meeting, whichever is later. The ballots may be sealed. In the case of joint or syndicate ownership, a boat shall be entitled to only one vote, the vote cast by the first of the two or more names of joint owners appearing on the records of the ISCYRA.

13.4. Election. The ballots shall be opened and counted on December 10 or the 90th day after the annual meeting, whichever is later (or the first weekday following if this date falls on a holiday) at such hour and place as the CMC may designate.

The votes shall be tabulated by three or more inspectors of election, who are not candidates for office and who are, if possible, members of different fleets.

The candidate for each office receiving the greatest number of votes shall be considered elected, except that the two candidates for Vice-Commodore receiving the greatest number of votes, who are not on the same continent, shall be considered elected, and the three candidates for Rear Commodore receiving the greatest number of votes, not two of whom are on the same continent, shall be considered elected.

Except for members of the IGC, a candidate cannot be elected to more than one Association or District Office at the same time; he/she shall be considered elected to the higher of such office.

14. Standing Committees

14.1. International Governing Committee. The powers of the ISCYRA are vested in the IGC subject to the limitations imposed by these Rules. The IGC shall consist of the International President, the two International Vice-Presidents, two of the four First Continental Vice-Presidents and four Members at Large, each of whom is now or has been an Association officer, designated by the International President to serve for two calendar years.

The International President may designate alternates from each region. An alternate may participate in the deliberations of the IGC but shall not vote except in the absence of a regular member from his region. The International President shall designate the priority of each region’s alternates to fill the voting seats of regular members who are absent.

The IGC shall meet at least once a year, at the time and place of the World’s Championship, and at such other times and places as it may determine.

The IGC shall elect its own chairman. Between meetings the Chairman, the International President, and a third member elected by the IGC shall constitute the Executive Committee of the IGC and may act, if necessary, on any matter within the IGC’s powers even though its action may affect a period of time beyond its term of office. The Executive Committee may act either at a meeting or by, a unanimous written consent signed by each of its members. Any meeting of the Executive Committee may be held by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as all three members can hear one another, and all such members shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

Alternatively, the full IGC may act between meetings by a unanimous written consent signed by each regular member of the IGC, or, in the case of the election of the Chairman of the IGC and third member of the Executive Committee, by mail ballot by majority vote. The Chairman and the third member of the Executive Committee shall not be members of the CMC. Not all three members of the Executive Committee shall come from the same continent. Upon taking office the IGC is empowered to:

14.1.1. Determine questions of policy.

14.1.2. Suspend members or impeach officers for cause and subject to the provisions of STCR 17.

14.1.3. Fill vacancies, including vacancies on the IGC except as otherwise provided by the Star Class Association Rules.

14.1.4. Appoint the Chairman of the IRC and the President of the IJ and approve their members.

14.1.5. Fix or alter territorial boundaries of districts, and decide all inter-fleet disputes.

14.1.6. Act upon any other matters not otherwise provided for by Star Class Association Rules.

14.1.7. Permit the Class to sail in a World Sailing-sponsored World Championship sailed under World Sailing and/or International Olympic Committee (IOC) Rules. The decision of participation is made by the IGC.

14.2. Class Management Committee.

The Class Management Committee shall have charge of the daily affairs of the ISCYRA and shall consist of the International President as chairman, the four other International Officers and two district officers appointed by the International President with approval of the IGC, with terms corresponding to their elected terms of office. The Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board and Marketing Manager shall be members of the CMC without vote. It shall meet at frequent intervals. Its actions and decisions shall be reported to, and be subject to veto by, the IGC.

The composition of the Executive Committee of the Class Management Committee shall be the International President, International Treasurer, a member of the CMC designated by the International President, and a member of the CMC designated by the CMC. The Executive Committee will have the authority to resolve the matters of the CMC during the time between two meetings of the Class Management Committee.

Upon taking office the CMC is empowered to:

14.2.1. Transact all the daily business of the ISCYRA.

14.2.2. Purchase and sell securities.

14.2.3. Approve of depositories.

14.2.4. Act upon other administrative and procedural matters not otherwise provided for by the Star Class Association Rules.

14.3. Continental Committees. The Continental Committee for each continent shall consist of an International Vice-President as chairman and the Vice-Presidents of that continent. A majority vote shall decide all questions.

The Continental Committee shall sanction events and grant charters, and shall immediately report such actions to the Central Office of the ISCYRA.

The Continental Committee may act upon continental matters not connected with dues, finances or other fiscal business of the ISCYRA. It shall have no power to take any action conflicting with the rules or principles of the ISCYRA, but it may submit recommendations to the IGC or CMC. It shall approve race committees and juries for Class Silver Events.

14.4 Communication with Class Members
All Standing Committees (specifically the IGC, CMC and CC) inform on matters in their responsibility per established means of communication at least as follows: in the Star Class LOG – annually; e-starlights or designated email – frequently; on the ISCYRA website – as required; on a quarterly basis and at least after each annual meeting (AGM) defined in Rule 16.

15. Appointed Positions and Committees

The following positions and committees shall be appointed by the International President and ratified by the CMC and serve for one calendar year (except for the Judiciary Board)

15.1. Executive Director.
The Executive Director maintains necessary communication with the fleet secretaries, handles and channels forms, receives and routes correspondence, maintains central office records, issues boat numbers, keeps the register of Star boats, is responsible for maintaining the mailing list, acts as secretary of the President, assists the Treasurer by keeping the cash book and making bank deposits, answers routine and semi-routine correspondence, keeps the central office supplied and inventoried and administers other details connected with the operation of that office. The CMC has the authority to revise and adjust the description of duties of the Executive Director.

15.2. Technical Advisory Board.
The Technical Advisory Board (TAB) shall be responsible for clarifying, interpreting and advising the membership and the builders and suppliers on questions pertaining to the Plans, Specifications and Measurement Rules. It shall maintain the clear and informative statement of the Plans and Specifications and in accordance with STCR 18.1 review all resolutions involving changes in the Plans and Specifications and incorporate the amendments passed by the membership. In addition it shall conduct such special studies as may be designated by the IGC.

The TAB shall establish and maintain the measurement standards, forms and techniques and ensure an appropriate measurement procedure. The Chief Measurer shall instruct and supervise the Certified Measurers, grant or reject Measurement Certificates and organize the corresponding administration.

The Chief Measurer or Co-Chief Measurers will be appointed by the Chairman of the TAB.

The Chief Measurer or Co-Chief Measurers shall report to the chairman of the TAB.

15.2.1. Chief Measurer. The Chief Measurer or Co-Chief Measurer will be appointed by the Chairman of the TAB, and report to the Chairman of the TAB. The Chief Measurer shall supervise all certified measurers, grant or reject measurement certificates, issue duplicates, collect transfer fees, sell plans and specifications, and answer questions on measurement rules. Subject to the approval of the TAB, he shall establish and maintain measurement standards, forms and techniques. He shall maintain liaison with the TAB, and may recommend to that board changes in Plans and Specifications.

The Chief Measurer, with the final approval of the CMC may appoint continental measurers. The continental measurer has the power to act on behalf of the Chief Measurer at any Gold, Silver or Blue event.

15.2.2. Co-Chief Measurer. There can be more than one Co-Chief Measurer appointed.

15.2.3. Continental Measurer. Names of continental measurers are listed on the ISCYRA website.

15.3. Marketing Manager. The Marketing Manager shall advise the CMC on all matters pertaining to advertising, promotion and publicity and shall work with the Communications Director as requested by the CMC. It shall take whatever action is appropriate to develop new fleets and shall maintain contact with all isolated members for that purpose.

15.4. Editor. The Editor is responsible for the monthly publication of Starlights and the compiling and editing of the annual LOG.

15.5. This paragraph is void.

15.6. Judiciary Board. The Judiciary Board (JB) shall consist of five members and one alternate, none of whom shall be an International or a Continental Officer. Four constitutes a quorum. A majority vote decides all questions. JB decisions are binding and cannot be appealed.

The CMC subject to IGC veto, shall each year appoint one member to serve for five years, and shall designate one of the members as chairman for the calendar year. If a vacancy occurs during the year a replacement shall be appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term.

The JB shall:

15.6.1. Decide all appeals properly brought before it in accordance with Rules 38 and 39, including all Fleet decisions and any action affecting an individual’s membership in the ISCYRA.

15.6.2. On request of a member of the IGC, the CMC or a CC, interpret any conflict or ambiguity in the Rules of the ISCYRA.

15.6.3. Conform the Rules of the ISCYRA to incorporate all amendments passed by the membership.

15.6.4. Clarify the wording of the Rules of the ISCYRA at any time without changing their intent or meaning.

15.6.5. Resolve any questions of authority arising between the International and Continental officers.

15.6.6. Advise the delegates at an annual meeting or the membership if it considers a proposed resolution to be improper.

15.7. Regatta Manager. The Regatta Manager, in cooperation with the Chief Measurer and others as required, shall take all actions necessary to improve the quality of all sanctioned events. The Regatta Manager shall prepare race management manuals and model instructions and conditions for use in sanctioned events. Sailing Instructions and conditions for Gold and Silver events must be submitted to the Regatta Manager for approval.

The organization of Gold and Silver events, including facilities on land and on the water, measurement, transport and social events shall be reviewed by the Regatta Manager. Wherever possible the Regatta Manager shall visit the venue of a Gold or Silver event to inspect and approve the organization of the event, such visit to take place not later than sixty days before the first race of the event.

15.8. Reserved

15.9. Other. Special officers or committees may be appointed at any time by the IGC.

15.10. Star Class Central Office. The Star Class Central Office is there to serve the International President and organize the work for the ISCYRA. The Star Class Central Office is run by the Executive Director. The location of the Central Office is determined by the CMC.

16. Annual Meeting

16.1. An annual meeting shall be held at a time and place fixed by the IGC, which shall be during the period of and in the vicinity of the World’s Championship. If an annual meeting predicts a situation where any fleet or International Officer cannot assure fair representation, the IGC may elect to postpone or reschedule the annual meeting. Any rescheduling of the annual meeting shall be posted on the Class website no sooner than 90 days prior.

16.2. Each fleet shall be responsible for the selection and instruction of a delegate or proxy, who shall present the fleet’s views and cast its votes. Alternate delegates or proxies may be named, but an order of preference must be specified, and only the highest present is entitled to vote.

16.3. The fleets present at an annual meeting shall constitute a quorum. Fleets answering the roll call shall be deemed present throughout the meeting.

16.4. Each fleet shall be entitled to cast one vote for each Star boat enrolled in that fleet and properly recorded with the ISCYRA by a separate active member in good standing. Membership books close ten days before the meeting or as ordered by the IGC. Any member may be heard; but only properly accredited delegates and proxies, duly authorized and certified, and isolated members shall vote on motions and must vote unless excused by the chair. Except when otherwise specified in the ISCYRA Rules a majority of the votes present shall decide all questions. In the event of a tie the chair shall cast the deciding vote.

16.5. The chair may fix a time limit on speakers and debate.

16.6. The order of business at an annual meeting shall be:

16.6.1. Call to order.

16.6.2. Reading of minutes.

16.6.3. Reports of ISCYRA Officers.

16.6.4. Ratification of the IRC and IJ.

16.6.5. Ratification and revocation of fleet charters.

16.6.6. Unfinished business.

16.6.7. Proposed amendments.

16.6.8. Other new business and open discussion concerning current subjects of interest.

16.6.9. Adjournment.

16.7. Each delegate to annual meeting is entitled to vote on his own fleet’s behalf and for no more than 10 other fleets for which he holds properly granted proxies. IGC and CMC members are entitled to vote only on behalf of their own fleet.

17. Suspension, Expulsion and Impeachment

17.1. Suspension. A member may be suspended by the IGC for gross violation of the rules or for unsportsmanlike conduct, or, after due warning, for willful and persistent disregard of rulings. The duration of a suspension is fixed by the IGC, but may not exceed the IGC’s own term of office unless the suspension is extended by the succeeding IGC Notwithstanding the foregoing, a suspension may be terminated by majority vote at an annual meeting.

17.2. Expulsion. A member may be expelled only by 3/4 vote at an annual meeting.

17.3. Impeachment. Any officer may be impeached by the IGC for a willful and unjustifiable act of commission or omission detrimental to the Star Class or to its members.

18. Amendments

18.1. ISCYRA Rules, Rules Governing Star Class sanctioned Events and Fleet Qualifications, and Plans and Specifications can never be suspended but may be amended, except as specified in STCR 18.2, by the following procedure: an amendment can be proposed only by a fleet meeting advance notice of which must have been sent to all its voting members. When the proposed resolution is sent to the Star Class Central Office, a copy of the letter of advance notice to fleet members must accompany the resolution. Also a statement as to how many voting members attended the meeting signed by fleet captain and secretary.

Each proposed amendment must next be filed with the CMC at least 120 days prior to the date of the next annual meeting. It will then be automatically submitted by the CMC to the JB for review. The resolution will then be published on the ISCYRA web page no later than 45 days before the next annual meeting, in order to be put on the agenda of or considered by that annual meeting.

The proposed amendment must then be approved by the majority vote at the annual meeting. It shall then be submitted to the active membership for vote. Enactment shall be by ballot of the active and life members and shall require a 2/3 vote of the members voting on the amendment. An enacted amendment shall take effect January 1st of the ensuing year, or 91 days after the annual meeting, whichever is later. Voting eligibility regulations are those of Rule 13.3 Members or groups, including IGC, for or against an approved resolution may set forth their views in Starlights.

Exceptions:

18.1.1. An annual meeting itself can order the required advance publication of a proposed amendment for consideration the ensuing year.

18.1.2. An amendment to the Plans and Specifications shall require approval by the TAB before publication; but such an amendment disapproved by the TAB may be filed again the following year and shall then be published, and if it is approved by two successive annual meetings, shall be submitted to the active membership as hereinafter provided.

18.2. The basic principles of STCR 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the ISCYRA Rules cannot be changed. No amendment can be passed which would render ineligible a yacht or an active member whose eligibility has been established under existing rules and whose status could not be changed to conform with the proposed amendment. An amendment retroactively affecting active members’ or fleets’ existing rights can be enacted only by a 3/4 vote of the total voting strength of the active membership.

18.2.1 The IGC may, upon a majority vote of the IGC, waive or suspend a specific Star Class Rule within STCR 23 through 35, STCR 37 and STCR 40. Such waiver or suspension of Star Class Rules shall be approved by the IGC and published on the Star Class web page not less than 90 days prior to any test Event and shall be effective only for a single Event.  Such waiver or suspension of Star Class Rules may be repeated for subsequent events at the discretion of the IGC if appropriately approved and published but no longer than 24 months from the first test event to the last test event.  STCR 18.2.1 shall not be used to waive or suspend Star Class Rules 1 through 22, STCR 36, STCR 38 or STCR 39.

19. Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the ISCYRA, the IGC shall, after making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the ISCYRA, dispose of all the assets of the ISCYRA exclusively for the purposes of the ISCYRA in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable educational, religious or scientific purposes, as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 C (3) of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law) as the IGC shall determine. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the court of general jurisdiction of the country in which the principle office of the ISCYRA is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

20. (This number is reserved for future use)