SHRIMPER OWNERS ASSOCIATION

AIMS, ORGANISATION & MEMBERSHIP

 

1. Aims of the Association

 

The Shrimper Owners Association (SOA) exists to promote the sailing of Cornish Shrimper 17,19 and 21 class boats.  It aims to provide support and add value for those members who either own, may own or may have owned a Shrimper.  It remains an informal organisation without a written constitution and the organisation of local area groups can be as simple or as complicated as they wish.

 

2. Organisation of the SOA

 

The National Organisation consists of an Honorary National Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer, an Honorary Membership Secretary and a Technical Officer who also controls the Association’s website.

 

Volunteer members also undertake the following roles: -

 

1. Editing the Association’s magazine, The Shrimper.
2. Managing the collection and display of photographs on the website.
3. Managing the publication of Passage Logs.
4. Managing the ‘For Sale’ pages on the SOA website

 

The delivery of the aims of the Association are achieved, in large part, through the establishment of local area groups, each led by an Honorary Secretary.

 

It is accepted that some areas with lower member numbers will not benefit from a formal local group and a local Honorary Secretary.   Should a significant number of members in such an area consider a new local group to be feasible and appropriate they should approach the National Secretary with their proposal. The four national officers will consider the proposal and determine if such a group has their support.  There is no financial support for local area groups.

 

3. Membership Types

 

There are four levels of membership:-

 

1. Full Membership

 

This is granted to any owner of a Shrimper who has completed and submitted an application form, been accepted into membership and paid the requisite, and currently one-off, subscription. Crew, partners and immediate family members are welcome to participate in SOA events in the registered boat but there is only one Full Member in any such grouping.

In the case of joint ownership, the first named owner is the only Full Member. The other joint owner has no specific benefits unless they choose to join the Association in their own right.

The membership ceases when the owner sells their Shrimper however, membership can be retained in the following circumstances

 

• The owner immediately purchases another Shrimper in part exchange or purchases another Shrimper within 24 months of the sale of the first boat owned.
• The owner sells a share of the Shrimper to another person or persons in a joint ownership deal.
• The owner transfers to Associate Member status.

 

1. Associate Membership

 

This is open to any individual who wishes to purchase a Shrimper, crews on a Shrimper or has previously owned a Shrimper. There is an annual subscription for joining Associate Members, set out on the application form.

 

1. Honorary Associate Membership

 

Honorary Associate Membership may be extended to any individual who, in the opinion of the four National Officers, merits such membership. Such membership is free of subscription and has a duration appropriate to the reason for the initial appointment.

 

1. Honorary Life Membership

 

Honorary Life Membership is a benefit bestowed on a member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the aims of the Association. National Officers or Local Honorary Secretaries may nominate such candidates but the ultimate appointment rests with the National Officers.

There is no subscription applicable to this grade of membership.

 

4. Payment of Subscriptions

 

1. Full Members

 

Full members pay a one-off fee to join the SOA. The level of this fee is set by the national officers and currently stands at £45.

Members changing boat pay a one-off fee of £10 for the registration of the new or additional boat. A member registering a second boat only gets full membership benefits related to the second boat if they pay the full membership fee.

 

1. Associate Members

 

Associate Members joining the SOA pay a £20 subscription in year 1 and £10 each year thereafter. Payments become due on 1 January each year.

Anyone joining after the publication of the Autumn magazine (usually October) will pay the £20 joining fee but will then only need to pay the next £10 in the January of the subsequent year. (e.g Join November 2024, pay £20 immediately, pay £10 January 2026).

Full Members changing to Associate member before the publication of the Spring magazine will pay £10 to cover the year’s publications. Those transferring between the publication of the two magazines will pay £5. Anyone joining after the publication of the Autumn magazine will only need to pay £10 in the January of the following year.

 

1. Changes to Rules and Subscriptions

The SOA reserves the right to change any of these membership rules.

Increases in Full and Associate Membership subscriptions will be advertised in the Autumn Magazine and come into effect from the 1 January in the following year.