Vote: Clarifying Board Member Term as 1 Year

TLDR: Vote to more clearly define Board member terms as 1 year. Voting will open Sept. 28, and close on Oct. 13.

When voting opens, you can vote here: https://www.carolinacanoeclub.org/2025-member-vote-clarify-board-member-terms/

In prior versions of the bylaws, the text included:

1.(c) The officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the annual meeting in December and shall serve for a term of one year and the election of their successors.

When the Bylaws were rewritten in 2023, the text for terms was significantly revised:

Section 4. Terms. The Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the annual meeting in December in the year they are elected. The Member-at-Large shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Each Officer shall hold office until his or her death, resignation, retirement, removal, or disqualification or until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.

The 2023 bylaws update lost the definition of how long a “term” is. According to the NC Statute:

“In the absence of a contrary provision in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the term of each director shall be one year, and directors may serve successive terms.”

We propose to revise the bylaws to clearly return to the prior intent and align with the NC Statute:

Section 4. Terms. The Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the annual meeting in December in the year they are elected and shall serve for a term of one year and the election of their successors. The Member-at-Large shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Each Officer shall hold office until his or her death, resignation, retirement, removal, or disqualification or until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.