2025 Election

As a bond holder and member of Fairway Farms Tennis & Swim Club, you are entitled to vote on proposed Bylaw amendments and in the election of Board Members. Please note that only one vote per bond is permitted. If multiple votes are submitted for the same bond, all associated votes will be disqualified.

Please complete and submit your ballot either before or during the General Membership Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, August 21st at 7:00 PM. The meeting will take place in person under the large pavilion.

For each director position below, vote for one candidate.

The proposal is to amend the Bylaws to set a limit of 25 Empty Nester memberships.  Currently, the number of Empty Nester memberships is left to the discretion of the Board of Directors.  If approved, a membership vote would be required to increase empty nester memberships beyond the maximum of 25.

The membership of the Club should be involved in every decision to add new owners.  Increasing membership can significantly impact the club experience, including the ability to obtain lounge chairs and picnic tables on busy days.

If accepted, the Bylaw would read as follows:

Article VI, Section 1: “The Membership of the Club shall be of three (3) classes, Active, Empty Nester, and Associate. Active memberships shall be limited to a maximum of three hundred fifty-five (355). Empty Nester memberships shall be limited to a maximum of twenty (25). Associate memberships shall be limited to a number determined by the Board of Directors.” from time to time in its discretion.

The proposal is to amend the Bylaws to resolve conflicting information regarding dues. Currently, the Bylaws specify that annual dues are $585, with no discussion of Empty Nester or Associate memberships.  The Bylaws also state that the Board of Directors may not increase dues and fees by more than 10% in any given year without membership approval, and by no more than 25% in total over any five-year period.

The proposed solution would remove the annual dues in the Bylaws to eliminate ambiguity.  Information about dues for each membership class will be added to the Rules and Regulations.

If accepted, the Bylaw would read as follows:

Article VII, Section 1a: “At the beginning of each year, the Board of Directors shall establish dues and fees for each class of membership for the upcoming season. The annual dues of Fairway Farms are $585. These dues, along with the capital assessment fee as described in Article VII, Section 1(g) are due by March 15 of each year…”

Article VII, Section 1b: “At the beginning of each year the Board of Directors shall establish dues and fees for each class of membership for the ensuing year. However, Without the approval of the membership, the Board of Directors may not increase the dues and fees for any year by more than 10% from the immediately preceding year and in any case by more than 25% in the aggregate in any 5 year period.”

The proposal is to change the term “active member” to “standard member” throughout the Bylaws to eliminate confusion.  This wording has caused some confusion, leading to the mistaken belief that Empty Nesters are not “active members” of the Club and therefore lack certain rights, such as voting privileges.

To eliminate this confusion, the proposal is to change the term “active member” to “standard member” throughout the Bylaws. 

The Swim Team Coordinator position is listed as a Standing Committee in Article IX – Committees, Section 1, but unlike other positions, (e.g. B&G, Social, Concessions, Membership in sections 2-5), responsibilities are not defined.  Additionally, the roles of League Meet Co-Chairs are not formally addressed in the bylaws.

This proposal would amend Article IX to formally define the Swim Team Committee by outlining responsibilities for the Swim Team Coordinators and establish a designated position for League Meet co-chairs.  This update would eliminate the need for a three-year swim coordinator term specifically tied to hosting the League Meet.

If accepted, the new Bylaw would read as follows:

Article IX – COMMITTEES, Section 7

The Swim Team Committee shall exercise supervision over all Swim Team Activities

1. Swim Team Coordinators are responsible to plan, coordinate, and execute all Swim Team activities for the regular season – all home and away dual meets.
2. League Meet Co-Chairs are responsible to plan, coordinate, and execute League Meet when Fairway Farms is Hosting.  The Co-Chairs will be appointed by the Board in June of the year prior to Fairway Farms hosting League Meet (for League Meet 2029, appointment would be in June of 2028).  The term ends at the conclusion of the season in which Fairway Farms hosting League Meet. This position does not have voting rights on the Board, does not have an attendance requirement for Board Meetings, but must keep the Board up to date on their activities.  The compensation for this position will be unlimited guest passes during the year of League Meet.  This position is not eligible to receive complimentary membership dues the year following their term. 

This proposal will also amend Bylaws to remove references for Swim Team Coordinator term be 3yrs during Hosting of League Meet.

ARTICLE III – GOVERNMENT, Section 2

At each annual meeting of the Active Members of the Club, the Vice President and alternatively, one-half of the other directors shall be elected each year from among the Active members. The President and Vice President shall each serve a term of one year and all the other Directors shall serve for a term of two years (except as otherwise provided in Article VIII, Section 6) and until their successors have been chosen. The two Swim Team Coordinator positions shall be elected together and shall serve a term of two years in 2021 and 2022, 2023 and 2024, and 2025 and 2026. The next Swim Team Coordinator term shall be for three years in 2027, 2028 and 2029 and shall continue to alternate on two year then three-year terms. Any person elected to the Board of Directors for a particular office or committee shall not be entitled to serve a successive term for the same office or committee unless such person was elected to fill a vacancy in such office or committee or no one else in standing for election to such office or committee and the Board of Directors asks such person to serve again, in which case, such person can serve a successive term.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Section 11

In consideration of service to the club, outgoing Board Members who have served a two year term and have attended 80% of the scheduled Board meetings during their term, shall receive complimentary membership dues the year following their two year term. The past Board Member shall be responsible for the Capital Assessment Fee. The Swim Team Coordinators who are serving on a three year term shall receive complimentary membership dues following the first two years of their term provided they attend 80% of the meetings during the first two years. The Swim Team Coordinators shall also receive complimentary membership dues after serving as coordinators during the season which Fairway Farms hosts League Meet and provided they attend 80% of the meetings during that season. They shall also be responsible for the Capital Assessment Fee. No other compensation shall be received by any Board Members.