Welcome to the CCA Membership Proposal page - I am glad you are considering proposing a new candidate!  As the quote to the right indicates, we are a group of sailors who love offshore sailing, and want to share it with others.  CCA members have done truly inspiring things when exploring the world by boat, and those exploits have contributed to the sport in so many ways - safety, technology, and adventure publishing, to mention just a few.  You are a part of that group - which is no small feat - and we hope you know other fellow sailors who can join us.  We love to welcome any qualified (and especially young!) new candidates.  The process for doing that is listed below, and it is not difficult.  If you have any questions at all, I hope you will contact your station's Membership Committee Chair.

Please remember that, in order to avoid any potential embarrassment, you should not discuss the proposal with anyone other than your Station's Membership Committee chair and, if the chair agrees, potential Seconder/Letter Writers, nor inform the candidate about the status of your proposal.

Members of the Club Membership Committee, i.e. chairs of Station Membership Committees, chair of the Club Membership Committee, and their close family members shall not propose or second and the chair of the Club Membership Committee and his/her close family members shall not write supporting letters. Club officers, i.e. Commodore, Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, or their close family members shall not propose or second but may write letters. Each Station may determine more strict policy, e.g. regarding proposers or seconders who are members of the Station Membership Committee, close relatives, past officers, Elected Governors, other Station officers.
 

Ernie Godshalk - Club Membership Chair

How do I Propose a Candidate for CCA Membership?

There are 5 Simple Steps...

Step 1:  Share your candidate’s qualifications with your Station Membership Committee Chair by clicking on the link below.  If the Station Membership Committee Chair agrees with your assessment of the candidate, you will be given  a link which is specific to your candidate to an online Membership Proposal Form  that will officially start the process.  The station committee will also assist you throughout the proposal process.

Log in and use the button that will appear to the right of this page to begin your online proposal.

Step 2:  Enter the appropriate proposal info required online.  Add your Proposer's Letter. Send your Seconder and three or more Letter Writers the link for adding online recommendations for the candidate. This link is clearly shown on the online proposal form and again is specific to your candidate.

Step 3:  Submit the proposal to your Station Committee.  When it is fully completed and approved at the Station (twice annually), the Station Membership Committee will post the name of your candidate at the Station level for comments, for 14 days. 

Step 4:  That’s it… you are done with the proposal – Membership will take it from here!  After Station posting, the proposal is reviewed at the next Club Membership Committee Meeting and, upon approval there, your candidate's name is posted to the full Club membership for comments. Your candidate is then presented to the Governing Board for election.  When elected, your candidate will be a full member of the CCA.

Step 5:  Get your new member involved in the CCA!!  Take them to events, introduce them to other members, and ask them to consider working with any of our station or Club committees.  This is just as important as proposing the new member on in the first place!

How do I know if a Candidate will Qualify for CCA Membership?

The CCA Constitution reads as follows:

“A person eligible for membership in the Club must be a sailor and a person of acceptable character and personality who has demonstrated his or her ability to handle or command and navigate and pilot a yacht or small vessel at sea, and who has had sufficient cruising experience.”

When deciding to propose or second a candidate, members should ask themselves these questions:

1. Would you like to take a long passage with the candidate aboard a small vessel?
2. Would you enjoy the company of the candidate in the cabin of a small yacht?
3. In your opinion, is the candidate competent to “handle or command and navigate or pilot a yacht or small vessel at sea”?
4. Would you be willing to have the candidate in command of your yacht for an extended cruise?
5. Would the candidate take a real and active interest in Club affairs?
6. Are other members likely to feel as you do about the candidate?

The document, "Membership guidelines," listed below will guide you and your Station Membership Committee chair in evaluating your candidate's qualifications.