House of Delegates
What is it?
The US SAILING House of Delegates is a constituent based organization intended to serve as an “avenue” and “voice” for member sailors. The House membership consists of delegates from the fifteen councils within US SAILING and the chairs of the five US SAILING Divisions. Councils are organizations representing various types of sailors at the grass roots. Divisions are groupings of the various operating committees within US SAILING. The House is often referred to as the “council of councils”. Meetings of the House provide the forum where the various constituencies within US SAILING may, together in one place, debate the issues and formulate opinions on these issues. Members of the US SAILING Board of Directors often attend these meetings as observers in order to hear the debate.
Guidebook for Council and Committee Chairs
What Authority Does it Have?
US SAILING Bylaw 221 describes the purpose & authority of the House:
The purpose of the House is – “to serve as a forum for members and member organizations to debate and advise the Board on policies, performance, governance, and other pertinent matters”.
The House has the following authority:
- “Receive written and oral reports from the President, and from each of the Division Chairs. Such reports shall review performance since the last report, and introduce recommendations or resolutions, which may be presented to the Board for action.”
- “May receive written or oral reports from such Committees and Council Chairs who have who have recommendations or resolutions that will be presented to the Board for action.”
- “May issue non-binding advisory resolutions to the Board of Directors on the recommendations of the Councils and Committees.”
- “Nominate three members of the Board of Directors according to the schedule of staggered three year terms as determined by the Nominating and Governance Committee.”
The House meets for two sessions during the year, the first during the US SAILING Spring Meetings and the second during the US SAILING Fall Meetings (commonly termed the “AGM”). Special meetings may be held when and where as needed, and meetings by telephone conference are permitted. The House may also conduct business by email as long as the conditions described in the House Bylaws are met.
The House receives written and oral reports from the President and the five Division Chairs. These should include “recommendations or resolutions which may be presented to the Board for action” so that the House may advise the Board on the issue.
Councils and committees may make reports to the House if they desire to do so, and request that the House issue a “non-binding advisory resolution” to the Board relating to business that will be presented to the Board by said council or committee. These “non-binding resolutions” can be to - a) endorse the proposal, b) endorse the proposal with a suggested amendment, c) oppose the proposal, or d) take no position on the proposal. In the interest of helping proposals along, the House may suggest that the proposal is not ready for the Board, and therefore needs more work by the presenting organization, with perhaps some suggestions that might be considered.
As a practical matter, the House places each council on its meeting agendas for comprehensive reports and requests for advisory opinions to be passed on to the Board.
There is nothing that prevents a council or committee from going to the Board regardless of the position of the House, or even bypassing the House and going straight to the Board.
In the case of “bypassing the House”, the Board may handle the matter if it wishes, or direct that the matter be taken to the House, or may itself refer the matter to the House for comment.
With the authority to ”advise the Board on policies, performance, governance, and other pertinent matters”, the House has the ability to carry out this ”purpose” even on matters not put before it by outside bodies.
The House nominates one-third of the nine elected members of the US SAILING Board of Directors. The House of Delegates Nominating Committee during the Spring Session presents names for consideration by the House for these positions.
The House (and the Board of Directors) requests that action items be submitted using the “Action Item Form” following these instructions.