Section 1 - Classes of Membership. The classes of membership are as follows:
Resident
Active
Resident Single Active Members
Resident Joint Active Members
Social
Resident Single Social Members
Resident Joint Social Members
Junior
Resident Junior Members with Senior Privileges (JSP)
Resident Junior Members
Emeritus
Single Emeritus Members
Joint Emeritus Members
Non-Resident
Active
Non-Resident Single Active Members
Non-Resident Joint Active Members
Social
Non-Resident Single Social Members
Non-Resident Joint Social Members
Junior
Non-Resident Junior Members with
Senior Privileges
Non-Resident Junior Members
Special
Complimentary Members
World Class Tennis Player Members
Junior Development Members
There shall be no distinction between single and joint membership within any class except for certain guest privileges, the minimum food charge and voting powers, which are specifically set forth in Article VII herein. The number of members within each class shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Trustees at its discretion.
The abbreviation "JSP" as used herein refers to Junior Members with Senior Privileges. Each reference herein to a "member" or "Member" refers to an individual who is a member of the Club as described herein (whether or not such individual is considered a "member" of the Club under applicable law); each reference herein to a "membership" or "Membership" refers to either a Single membership or a Joint membership, with the two individuals that are members by way of Joint membership constituting a single "membership." References to a class or category of membership that do not specify either Resident or Non-Resident refer to both Resident and Non-Resident memberships of that class or category. The abbreviation "RCW" as used herein refers to the Revised Code of Washington as modified from time to time, and a reference to a particular provision of the RCW includes a reference to any successor provision.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 141, 141 and 242.
Section 2 - Manner of Election of Members. All new applicants for Active and Social membership shall be proposed and seconded by eligible Active members. All procedures for the proposal and processing of such applicants shall be determined by the Board of Trustees and their election shall be by ballot of the Board of Trustees. Two adverse votes shall exclude an applicant. Members may transfer between Resident and Non-Resident membership of the same class under Guidelines and Policies prescribed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. Junior members and JSP members derive and, in the case of Junior members, retain their membership through parents who are Active members under Guidelines and Policies prescribed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. Emeritus memberships shall be available as described in Section 5. Junior Development membership may be extended on an annual basis by the Board of Trustees to outstanding junior tennis players upon recommendation of the Tennis Committee. Complimentary members shall be elected by the Board of Trustees. Spouses and registered domestic partners of single members may be elected to joint membership status under procedures set forth in Guidelines and Policies prescribed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. "Registered domestic partners" has the same meaning as "state registered domestic partners" in RCW 26.60.020, and also includes persons who have substantially similar status under the law of their state of residence and domicile (if not Washington).
Links to quotations in Chapter: 141, 142, 142, 142, 144, 146, 147, 240, 240 and 240.
3/17/10: Amendment expanded joint membership to include registered domestic partners, rather than only spouses. The primary effect was to make joint membership available to same-sex couples, who before 2012 could not be married under Washington law, but could be registered domestic partners. Note that all Washington single-sex domestic partnerships were converted to marriages after 2012. Currently, under Washington law, registered domestic partnerships are limited to couples (same- or opposite-sex) over 62 years old. Such couples remain eligible for joint membership.
Section 3 - Qualification for Membership of Each Class. All applicants to be elected as Active or Social members shall be persons of good character who have attained 21 years of age. Only individual persons may be members of the Club. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity may not be a member of the Club. The derivative status of Junior members shall be extended to the children of Active members who are between the ages of 9 and 21. The class of JSP is available only between the ages of 21 and 25 to (i) Junior members who convert to JSP at age 21, (ii) children of new Active members who become JSPs at the time a parent or parents are admitted as Active member and (iii) individuals who are married to JSP members, in each case in accordance with the Club’s Guidelines and Policies. Junior Development members shall be accepted between the ages of 9 and 21 and may remain in such status until age 21 upon the continued demonstration of satisfactory tennis performance. Guidelines and Policies for retention of each of the classes of junior membership and the transfer from one class thereof to any other class of membership shall be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. Non-Resident members must maintain their permanent residence and domicile outside a radius of 50 miles from the Club property. Complimentary membership shall be of a temporary nature granted to distinguished individuals under terms and conditions that the Board of Trustees may prescribe on an individual basis. Emeritus membership shall be available as described in Section 5. World Class Tennis Player memberships may be given to World Class Tennis Players who are deemed worthy of such recognition by the Board of Trustees, such memberships to cease upon the player reaching age 35.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 142, 144, 144, 144, 146, 147, 240, 240, 240 and 240.
Section 4 - Rights of the Members of Each Class. In addition to rights enumerated herein, Active members shall have full privileges and use of all facilities of the Club. Social members shall have the use of only the restaurant, bar, social rooms and spectator viewing areas, and also such other facilities as may be approved by the Board of Trustees, subject to limitations imposed by the Board of Trustees. Junior members, JSP members and Junior Development members shall be entitled to use of such Club facilities as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-Resident member shall be entitled to use of the Club facilities only for limited periods of time under Guidelines and Policies prescribed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. Emeritus, Complimentary and World Class Tennis Player members shall be entitled to full use of all Club facilities. Each class of member shall be entitled to certain guest privileges, the extent and limitations of which shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 111, 114, 141, 141, 141, 141, 141, 141, 141, 146, 241 and 241.
Section 5 – Emeritus Memberships. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws (including without limitation the other Sections of this Article):
(a) Eligibility. A current member shall be eligible to convert to Emeritus membership when he or she:
(i) reaches 80 years of age;
(ii) has been an Active or Social member for at least 40 continuous years; and
(iii) has been a Resident Active member for at least 20 years.
For this purpose, time as a member with the benefit of a dues waiver for military service and time as a Joint Emeritus member are included toward both the 40- and 20-year thresholds. A member shall be eligible for Emeritus membership only if he or she, by himself or herself, meets all three of the tests described above. However, the spouses and registered domestic partners of Emeritus members may become Joint Emeritus members without any other qualification or approval, but subject to subsection (d). Emeritus members may transfer to Active membership, and Active members who are eligible to convert to Emeritus membership may transfer back to Emeritus membership, from time to time in accordance with rules prescribed by the Board of Trustees, but without payment of any transfer or similar fee.
(b) Privileges. An Emeritus Member shall be entitled to full use of all Club facilities and guest privileges.
(c) Dues and Charges. No dues or assessments shall be charged to Emeritus members. No initiation or transfer fee shall be payable upon conversion to Emeritus member.
(d) Death and Surviving Spouse or Partner. Upon the death of a Joint Emeritus member, the surviving spouse or domestic partner must transfer within one year to another appropriate membership category and resume payment of the applicable dues and assessments unless the surviving spouse or domestic partner is or becomes eligible for Emeritus membership himself or herself within that one year period.
(e) Other Matters. As more fully set forth elsewhere in these Bylaws, Emeritus members: (i) shall not be entitled to vote in elections of the Board of Trustees, or to vote on any other matter; (ii) may not be members of the Nominating Committee; (iii) may not be voting members of any committee and may not be members of any "committee of the board" referred to in Article VI, Section 15; (iv) may not be members of the Board of Trustees or officers of the Club; (v) may not propose or second applicants for Active or Social membership; and (vi) shall not be entitled to any distribution of assets upon the dissolution of the Club.
(f) This Section Controls. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other Section or part of these Bylaws, this Section shall control.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 142 147, 210, 212, 213, 229, 250 and 270
3/15/23: Amendment added Section 5.
Section 6 - Membership Fees. The Board of Trustees shall fix from time to time the amount of initiation fees for the various classes of membership, and the terms and conditions upon which such fees shall be paid. Initiation fees shall include the charges, if any, for the transfer from one class of membership to another – for example, the change from JSP membership to Social or Active. However, once a member has transferred to another class, the fee prescribed at the time of transfer for such transfer cannot be increased nor may the terms of payment be made more burdensome.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 220 and 220.
Section 7 - Dues and Assessments. The Board of Trustees shall fix from time to time the dues and propose assessments to be paid by the members in each class, and the terms and conditions of payments. Dues may be revised and amended at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Dues, when approved by the Board, and assessments, when approved by the membership, shall accrue on all classes of membership until the end of the month in which written resignation is received by the Board of Trustees.
Links to quotations in Chapter: 115, 220 and 220.
Section 8 - Membership Interest. The assets of the Club – real, personal or mixed – are vested in the Club, under the control of the Active members. Membership shall not be transferable or assignable. The effect of divorce and death shall be covered by the membership guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees. Upon dissolution of the Club, the assets of the Club available for distribution pursuant to applicable law shall be distributed to the Active members, with an equal amount being distributed to each membership (whether Single or Joint), provided that, for the purpose of this sentence, any individual who was ever a Single or Joint Emeritus member shall not be considered to be an Active member, notwithstanding a conversion to that class before dissolution.
Link to quotation in Chapters: 140, 145, 229
3/15/23 Amendment added last sentence.
Section 9 - Membership Guidelines and Policies. The Board of Trustees shall have the power to adopt and to amend from time to time supplemental Guidelines and Policies not inconsistent with these Bylaws which shall govern the detailed aspects of application for, election to, transfers within, and the maintenance and enjoyment of the several classes of membership provided for herein.
Link to quotation in Chapter: 140.