What a year it has been, and continues to be!
We’ve all learned some new skills and diversions/adaptations to cutting out many of our large group gatherings in this COVID and politically infested new world. That’s not even behind us as we face the new year of 2021 but for myself I can say I’ve learned a lot about Zoom and hosting virtual meetings. It has been wonderful to see and hear from many of you as we’ve travelled virtually to Idaho and Mexico and revisted old haunts across the U.S. and in Texas.
In my local neighborhood I’m surprised to see Christmas and year-end decorations already shining brightly. We look forward to having something to smile about and enjoy and Houston Canoe Club wishes to be part of that. Depending on weather and the state of the pandemic we are planning a socially distanced December celebration for Sunday, December 20 at Cedar Hill Park near the shores of beautiful Lake Charlotte. Details are being worked out but so far it looks like it will be a bring your own meal, and your boats too, and we will get together, socially distanced, to share year-end cheer.
Our long term Webmaster, Harmon Everett, wishes to pass on his electronic baton and we would love to have YOU step forward to fill his e-shoes. If you have ideas you’d like to share and implement as far as an updated Web page design, and its interface with Club Express (the software that runs the club’s website), we would love to hear from you. Please self nominate or suggest the name of someone you believe would be a willing and knowledgeable candidate.
My own curiosity as to the composition of the Board and the participation or not of the previous Commodore precipitated a stimulating discussion on appropriate wording in our Constitution, ergo, an amendment has come to light. Currently the Constitution describes an 8 member Board with that eighth member “ExOfficio Immediate Past Commodore. Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one (1) vote. A simple majority vote of the Board members present at a Board of Directors meeting shall be required for making decisions or policies. The ExOfficio Immediate Past Commodore shall serve for one year.”
The proposed change states “…The ExOfficio Immediate Past Commodore MAY serve for one year.”
The requirements for this Amendment to take place are: Article XI: Amendments
"The Constitution and By-Laws of the Club may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members present at a General or a Special Meeting or by a U.S. mail vote obtained by the Commodore, provided the proposed amendment has been sent to each Member at least two weeks before being voted upon. The current Constitution and By-Laws shall be posted on the Club's web site and distributed in printed form to any members who so request."
So, once again, since we have had so much fun with the Poll feature of Zoom at our November elections, you can expect we will do it again in January 2021 at the General Meeting for this important constitutional amendment.
Enough from me, let’s all bid 2020 adieu from the lake shore and look forward to a vastly improved new year in 2021.
Natalie Wiest
HCC Commodore