View Ridge Swim and Tennis Club
Membership Policy

1. Eligibility

Any person over the age of 18 residing in Seattle within the View Ridge Membership Area bounded on the north by Northeast 110th Street, on the west by 25th Avenue Northeast, on the south by the Lake Washington Ship canal, and on the east by Lake Washington is eligible to purchase a membership in View Ridge Swim & Tennis Club (VRSTC). “Reside”, for the purpose of this policy means to occupy a house, condominium or apartment, as one’s legal domicile with the present intent to remain in that residence.

A person does not have to reside within the View Ridge Membership Area to place their name on the waiting list, but they must reside in the View Ridge Membership Area at the time a membership is offered and accepted. A membership application form must be filled out and a $50 fee will be assessed to each prospective member. A copy of this policy will be provided to each new wait list member.

In the event that a membership becomes available, it shall be offered, first to inactive members who have indicated to VRSTC in writing that they intend to become active members, and then in turn to persons in chronological order on the wait list as maintained by the Membership Chairman. (with Llongest on list offered first). A person on the wait list shall have seven (7) days to complete all elements of the transfer, after it is offered by the Club to him/her. An offer shall occur when communicated to the applicant; however, an offer will be deemed to be rejected if it cannot be communicated to the applicant within fourteen (14) days after the first attempt by the Club. If the transfer has not been completed within seven (7) days of the date the offer is communicated to the prospective member, the membership offer shall lapse and it shall be offered to the next applicant in order of application date. A person offered a membership may request a one year extension regarding their decision on membership, but must join or decline at the expiration of that one year extension. A form will be sent to those requesting a one year extension, which must be filled out and returned within 2 weeks of said request to the club. If it is not returned, the extension will lapse.

A new member’s form will be sent to the new member upon acceptance of the membership, which must be filled out and returned with fees due and owing within one week of acceptance of membership.

A person will become a member upon return of the new members form and payment of the current membership fee, payment of the current club transfer fee, the annual dues, any other fees due and owing, and certification, if requested, that the person resides in the View Ridge Membership Area. The Board will have final approval authority over the new club members as provided in the By-Laws. New members will receive a membership certificate and a copy of the By Laws. The number of memberships, club transfer fee, the membership fee, annual dues, and any other fees shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the By Laws.

Each member shall have the same interest, rights and privileges as any other member to club facilities and their use and shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the club regarding their use. There shall be no capital stock or other evidence of any interest in the net earnings or surplus of this corporation by any person.

2. Termination

A membership may be terminated by voluntary withdrawal or expulsion in accordance with the VRSTC Bylaws. In all cases of termination the membership must be sold back to the corporation at the current membership value, in which case the corporation will offer the membership to the next eligible applicant who is first on the waiting list.

3. Transfer of Membership

In general, only the View Ridge Swim and Tennis Club may transfer membership in the club.

However, a member may transfer their active membership with the sale of the member’s residence, if that residence is within the View Ridge Membership Area. A member may transfer his/her club membership to the purchaser of said residence, subject to payment to the corporation of all of the prescribed transfer fees and annual dues and approval of the new club member as provided in the By-Laws. Such transfer and payment of transfer fee must be completed by closing of the sale of the residence.

Any member may also transfer his or her active membership to the member's child if the child is older than 18 years of age and lives resides within the View Ridge Membership Area. This transfer is also subject to payment to the corporation of the prescribed transfer fees, annual dues, and approval of the new club member as provided in the By-Laws.

4. Inactive Status

A member, after at a minimum of one year’s active membership, may request to go inactive in their membership. This request must be made to the Club in writing. Approval of the member’s inactive status will be made by the Board and will be subject to review at 2 year intervals by the Board for a maximum of 3 years out of every ten years thereafter. The inactive member’s membership will then be sold to a prospective member. Inactive members will pay 1/3 of the then current annual dues annually each year to maintain their status.

When an Inactive member desires to reactivate his/her membership, the club must receive notice, preferably in writing. Once notice is received, the inactive member will be placed first in line on the membership wait list, and when a vacancy among active members occurs, will reactivate his/her membership by paying the full amount of annual dues plus any other assessments then due and owing to the Club.

Inactive members must reactivate their memberships in order to sell their memberships either back to the club, to a purchaser of their house (if they live in the View Ridge Membership Area) or to an eligible child. If the inactive member desires to terminate his/her affiliation with the Club, the Club will refund the member’s equity.

Those years spent on inactive status will not count toward the years required for alumni membership.

5. Alumni Guest Status

All members with a total of 25 years of active membership, who return their membership for sale pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of the By-Laws to the next available person on the waiting list shall have the option to elect alumni guest status for an annual charge equal to one-third of the then current membership dues. Such status must be selected immediately upon return of the membership, in writing and by payment of the annual charge in full on or before April 1. Such status must be renewed annually by payment of the annual alumni membership dues in full on or before April 1 of each successive year in order to be maintained. If not renewed annually as described above, such status and guest privileges shall be lost and not subject to reinstatement or re-selection in any subsequent years. Such alumni guest status shall entitle the alumni guest to unlimited utilization of the club facilities, including the right to bring additional guests at the then current guest charges assessed to members who bring guests.

6. Suspension and Expulsion

Pursuant to notice and hearing, any member may be suspended or expelled from membership for violation of the By-Laws, rules, or this membership policy of the club. The Board of Trustees may order suspension of a membership for a period not exceeding three months if approved by a vote of two-thirds of the Board members present at a regular Board meeting or special meeting called for such purpose. A member may be expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board if all members are present at the meeting at which expulsion is ordered.

Violation of the VRSTC bylaws, rules or policy by any person in the member's family may be considered the violation of the member in determining the member’s suspension or expulsion. Failure by a member to pay for damage to club property caused by the member, a person in the member’s family, or a guest of the member is cause for suspension or expulsion of the member. Failure to pay membership and other fees is also cause for suspension or expulsion of the member. Other possible causes for suspension or expulsion could include repeated violation of club rules. The club manager may suspend a member not to exceed thirty days without prior approval of the Board. Such suspension shall be reported in writing to the President and the Board of Trustees within 24 hours after such suspension is made.

7. Divorce

a. When a divorce or permanent separation occurs between the partners in who hold a VRSTC membership, the partners must decide which partner will retain the membership. The partner who retains the membership has full use of the facility and will be responsible for payment of all fees and dues incurred for that membership, including guest fees. The partner who does not retain the membership can use the facility free of charge so long as the children of the partnership are present and so long as the membership remains active and all dues and fees obligations are otherwise current. This decision will be conveyed to the Club in writing in declaration or affidavit form and be signed by both partners. A copy of the applicable pages of the divorce decree plus either the partners’ or judge’s signature page will be sufficient in lieu of an individual affidavit or declaration.

b. The Club will not act as judge in situations where a divorce or separation decree does not determine which partner retains the membership. When such a question exists, it will be presumed that the partner residing in the house that has been the address of ownership owns the membership and is responsible for all dues and fee obligations. In the event that both partners reside at new addresses, the entire family will be barred from participation in membership privileges until there is agreement on who owns the membership.

c. The partners may subsequently agree that the non-retaining partner will become the retaining partner provided that the Club is informed of the decision in writing signed by both partners in affidavit or declaration form.

d. The partners must sign an agreement signifying compliance with these terms.

e. This policy applies with equal force to the administration of the wait list when a divorce occurs before membership is offered.

f. The terms “partner” and “family” are used herein without regard to the present or future legal definition of “marriage.” The Club does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, age, or sexual orientation and endeavors to recognize a “family” as those persons residing together as one familial unit (parents and children) regardless of the gender of the family members