Petition of the Sustaining Members to the Board of Directors of the United States Optimist Dinghy Association July 2009 Whereas the undersigned Sustaining Members of the USODA believe that the governance of the organization should be strengthened; Whereas the undersigned believe that the powers of the Executive Committee of the USODA class under its Bylaws should be more reflective of other one design and sailing organization including the IODA, US Sailing, ILCA Laser, CODA Canada, IOCA UK, International 420 Class, AOA Argentina, INSA Naples Sabot and SCIRA - USA; Whereas the undersigned believe that the ability of the Board of Directors to amend the Bylaws without Sustaining Member approval should be removed similar to other one design and sailing organizations including IODA, ILCA Laser, CODA Canada, IOCA UK, International 420 Class, AOA Argentina; Whereas the undersigned believe that the governance of the USODA should be strengthened with checks and balances that place greater authority in the Board of Directors than either the Executive Committee or the President; Whereas the undersigned believe that process for nominating Directors should include all nominations without specification or prejudice for any particular slate We sustaining members petition the USODA Board of Directors to change the Bylaws to be voted upon by the sustaining members as follows: 1. Require that all changes to the Bylaws be approved by a majority of the sustaining members 2. Require that the Executive Committee report to the Board of Directors and that all Executive Committee actions be ratified at the next Board Meeting. 3. Require that no one officer be allowed to determine compensation for the purchase of any goods or services unilaterally 4. Require that no officer be able to hold more than one office 5. Require that no director be allowed compensation under any circumstance 6. Require that the Nominating Committee include all nominations without specification or prejudice for any particular slate and such nominations shall be presented in alphabetical order to the Sustaining Membership