IMCA WORLD COUNCIL - WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK

The 2005 IMCA World Council AGM will take place on 28 October. The AGM is vitally important to the smooth running of the class so we thought we’d take this opportunity to explain how the World Council works, what it does and what you need to do if you want the World Council to consider your views.

The International Melges 24 Class is run by the owners for the owners. The Melges 24 is an ISAF recognised International Keelboat Class and as such its administration is based on guidelines provided by ISAF to ensure fair and practical management.

IMCA management is handled at World and National levels with the addition of a District (regional) fleet network in the USA in recognition of the country’s vast size. Every owner of a Melges 24 who pays his/her membership dues has voting rights at their National Class AGM where they elect their national class management committees and make decisions about national regatta schedules, local class management, submissions to the IMCA for class rule changes, requests to host future international events, etc.

Each National Class management committee elects an officer to represent their class at the IMCA World Council AGM. The date and location of the IMCA World Council AGM varies but is always set to encourage the maximum attendance by National Class represenatives. For 2005 it will take place on 28 October in Hyeres, France (in association with the Novembre a Hyeres regatta).

The notice for the World Council AGM is published at least 3 months in advance of the meeting and at that point National Classes are asked to confirm the names of those attending on their behalf and to submit items for the agenda. These items include proposals for hosting future World and Continental Championships, Class Rule and Constitution Changes, nominations for officers of the IMCA Executive Committee (elected by the World Council to manage day to day class business on their behalf) and any other requests and suggestions they require the World Council to consider.

Each National Class is entitled to send one official representative to the World Council AGM plus one or more observers. In addition the IMCA Executive Committee, Technical Advisor (David Chivers), Administrator (Fiona Brown) and Builder’s Representatives are also invited to attend although the Technical Advisor, Administrators and Builder’s Representatives do not have voting rights. If a country is unable to send a representative for any reason it is requests to ask another national representative to act on its behalf at the meeting.

When it comes to decision-making the majority of items can be decided by vote at the AGM. Each World Council member shall have one vote. In addition, each World Council member appointed by an NMCA shall have one vote for every five boats owned by members of their respective NMCA and for which the IMCA has issued a yearly sticker. No NMCA shall ever be allowed to cast more than 42.5% of the total votes available at that meeting. There are however some items that can only be decided by a full class vote and these concern rule changes that could seriously affect either the cost or performance of the boats. In such cases the World Council must instruct the Executive Committee to organise a ballot of all current full members of the class to decide the matter.

If you have an item you want raised at this year’s AGM now is the time to act. Contact your National Class Secrtary immediately with details of your proposals and ask for them to be reviewed by your National Class management committee. If they agree with your proposal they have until early September to submit the details to the IMCA Secretary, Guenter Tzsechlock, who will add it to the agenda. If your proposal relates to a rule change the details will also be sent to the IMCA Technical Committee who will review the proposals prior to the meeting and prepare any supporting technical submissions that might be required.

At the meeting each National Class will make a brief report on its status and plans for the forthcoming year; when necessary elections for positions on the IMCA Executive Committee will be held; the Treasurer will present a financial report and the budget for the forthcoming year will be agreed; reports will be received from the Administrator, the Technical Advisor and the Builders; proposed changes to the Class Rules and Constitution will be discussed and voted on; plans for forthcoming World & Continental Championships will be discussed and where possible dates and locations for the coming two years will be agreed; and finally another other business raised by the representatives will be discussed.

For practical reasons it is only possible for the World Council to meet once a year and so it delegates the majority of the day to day management of the class to the IMCA Executive Committee which consists of a Chairman, Vice Chairmen for North America and Europe, Members for North America and Europe, the Treasurer and the Class Secretary. The Technical Advisor and Administrator are co-opted (non-voting) members of the Executive Committee.

So now you know how it works and why you need to be involved so if you have an item you want to see included on this year’s AGM agenda get in touch with your National Class Secretary now and get the ball rolling!

View a copy of the IMCA Constitution for more details about class administration.