NUTS? Who says we're NUTS?

A question that came up at the board meeting on Monday was "How can we get more of our members to contribute?" The officers wondered if we should do things differently to get more of our ladies at Tuesday play and more volunteering for leadership roles in the club.  

We know that golf is a game of individuals.  Occasionally, we play games within that general game which emphasize teamwork.  Yesterday's Lake Tamarisk Invitational best two scores per hole handicapped format allowed each player within the foursome to contribute to the team.  It was a perfect way to add team spirit to a mixture of players from our own club and those from Blythe, Indio, and Tri-Palms. Thanks to Tournament Director Patti Cockcroft for an excellently conceived and executed round of competitive golf.  Everything ran smoothly from preparing the cards to announcing the winners.  I call Patti "Her Awesomeness" for good reason.  But an even better example of great teamwork was the way the entire Lake Tamarisk Ladies' Golf Club chipped, pitched, and putted in to make the Invitational a success. Sandy Haeger and her gang of volunteers put on a festive luncheon without the benefit of getting to play.  The  majority of the breakfast and the lunch salads and sandwiches were homemade in the kitchens of our members. One member who shall remaining unnamed but usually plays nine holes and has a daughter serving as club scribe and party planner,  played even when she found out that she wasn't just signed up to offer her cart but had to actually drive it and be part of the tournament.  Raffle baskets were donated by club members.  Jim Coy and Art Futa graciously computed the scorecards.  Volunteers from the Men's Club carried golf clubs to carts and Ken Stamp and Walt Gamble made certain that our long putts were correctly measured. Even the course restrooms were "Spiffed" by volunteers. 

The board didn't bring the discussion of involvement to a conclusion on Monday and some questions remain unanswered.  But I'd say from what I observed yesterday, we've got pretty lovely bunch of coconuts as is. Thanks, ladies.

ps Check out the bulletin board.  We will be voting on a new constitution. There are no major changes but it puts us a bit more in compliance with current practices. The new draft is printed below for your reading pleasure. Questions?  Concerns?  Talk to your board to join the constitution committee.

New Constitution

Suggested by board March 4, 2013

To be voted on at the March 26th Business Meeting which will follow club play

Article I- Name

The name of this organization shall be Lake Tamarisk Ladies’ Golf Club.

Article II- Purpose

a.     Our first purpose shall be to promote the interest of golf among the women of Lake Tamarisk and surrounding areas.

b.     Our second purpose shall be to provide weekly competition November through April according to USGA rules.

Article III- Government

The management and full control of affairs and property of the Lake Tamarisk Ladies’ Golf Club shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of the following:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Chair, and Social Chair.

Article IV- Officers

a.     Duties

i)     The President shall preside at all organization business meetings and board meetings.  She shall oversee the implementation of the Rules and Membership Directory.

ii)    The Vice-President shall perform the duties of any absent board members and assist with the board member’s requests.

iii)  The Secretary shall keep full and accurate account of all business and board meetings and present copies of the same to the President prior to the next business or board meeting.

iv)  The Treasurer shall keep a full and accurate accounting of all monies received, and shall deposit the same in the organization bank account.  She shall disburse funds as directed by the President or majority vote of the membership.  The Treasurer’s accounts shall be audited yearly, prior to the April business meeting, by a committee appointed by the President.

v)    The Tournament Chair plans, schedules, and conducts all organization golf competition.  She selects and purchases with board approval all yearly prizes.  She may appoint and instruct monthly play of the day coordinators, side game coordinator or coordinators, and chairs of organization tournaments.  In addition, she is responsible for all competition rules and regulation interpretation unless a specific Rules Chair is appointed.

vi)  The Social Chair arranges, supervises, or delegates responsibility for all organization social functions and informs members of the same.        

b.     Elections

i)     The board shall appoint a nominating committee to prepare a slate of nominations for offices to be presented to the membership at the March business meeting.  Additional nominations may be made from the membership at the meeting. 

ii)    The election will be held following nominations and shall be by voice, unless there is more than one candidate for an office, in which case the election for that office shall be by written ballot.

iii)  Any vacancy in office shall be filled by a majority vote of the board with a majority approval of members present at the following business meeting.

iv)  New officers shall assume duties at the April business meeting.

Article V- Changes to the Constitution

The constitution may be changed or amended by approval of two-thirds of the organization members present at any business meeting provided that written notification of said changes or amendments be presented at a previous business meeting.  Members not able to attend the meeting where the vote is taken may provide prior written instructions to the President as to how their votes shall be cast.

Article VI- Procedures

a.     Business meetings shall be governed by a simple interpretation of Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, as they pertain to this organization.

b.     General organization operating procedures shall be explained in the Rules and Membership Directory.

c.      Changes in organization operating procedures may be suggested to the board for consideration or presented at a regular business meeting for membership vote.  Approval by the majority of organization membership is required for a vote on operating procedures to pass.