ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

The Constitution sets out only FOUR offices by name all of whom are elected annually by the Members at the A.G.M. 

The President:  Gives his annual address to the Members at the A.G.M. but may attend Committee Meetings on an ex officio basis.

The Chairperson:  Is, effectively, the Chief Executive and chairs the Committee which has day to day control of Association affairs.

The Hon. Treasurer:   Whose annual accounts are audited by Accountants and presented at the A.G.M. For convenience Membership Records are held on his Computer Database. With payment of annual subs. linked, this provides an accurate Paid up” Membership Database generating an accurate Magazine Mailing List. There is also liaison with the Dinghy Park Officer on paid up rentals.

The Hon. Secretary:    Calls monthly Committee and Annual General Meetings plans and circulates their Agenda, records and circulates Minutes and deals with Correspondence. Supervises Newsletter Mailing and liaises with the Editor on content  

Committee Vice-Chairperson:  Unlike the above, is elected not at the A.G.M. but by the Committee Members themselves at their first meeting after it. (In May) 

Committee Members:  Are, effectively, unlimited in number as the Committee has powers of co­option over and above the maximum of 15 laid down in the Constitution. However, it is now an established and effective practice to give everyone joining the Committee a clearly defined area of operation, together with the appropriate title. This has the advantage that those with particular skills or interests can have them appropriately channelled and ensures its operation as a working committee, Each Officer gives a report on his or her sector at the monthly meeting under’ Officers Reports” if they have anything to pass on.. 

Current Offices are......     Sailing Secretary, Offshore Race Officer, Dinghy Sailing Officer, Social Secretary, Magazine Editor, Rally Officer, Dinghy Park Officer, Medina Watchdog, Bosun, Scrubbing Berth Supervisor Maintenance Officer. Etc.

Work Parties:   are called by Committee for various purposes and Members are invited to take part when advertising them.

MONTHLY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Are held at Folly H.Q. at 1930 hours on the First Monday of the Month unless this falls on a Bank Holiday or for some other reason when this is varied by agreement the date of the next meeting is confirmed as the last item on the Agenda and shown in your Minutes which are posted to you

We have a convention that, wherever possible, the meeting closes at or before 2130 hours.

 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held in April, usually at the Riverside Centre, Newport around the second or third Thursday in April. There is no rule obliging Officers or Committee Members to retire after a certain run of service and all stand for re-election annually by the members, with the exception of the President. No provision has been made in the Constitution in respect of this office but in the event of any change. Due to death or resignation, this would be by a recommendation and Proposal from the retiring President, Seconded by someone and voted for at the next A.G.M.

 The Chairman, Hon Secretary and Hon. Treasurer give formal reports on MMA activities over the past year and the Hon Treasurer presents the Accounts. After the meeting is closed it is thrown open to the floor for a debate on any relevant matters for the guidance of the incoming Committee.

However, it must be noted that no proposals or amendments from the floor are accepted during the AGM unless presented to the Committee in advance, supported by the minimum number of members (see Constitution and included on the Agenda. There is no “Any other business “at an A.G.M.

 This is the correct and usual practice but has been queried from the floor in the past. The reason is simple. It is to prevent a group of members attending with the intention of pushing through an unannounced proposal at a perhaps poorly attended AGM by weight of numbers without giving the rest of the membership the right to make special attendance ( if holding strong views against it ) or to exercise their right to a proxy vote. It also diminishes the status of the Committee, who are elected under the Constitution to run the Association, by not giving them prior opportunity to debate the motion and to recommend acceptance or rejection by the members.