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Constitution & Bylaws in Word 2003 Format

THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

Name, Objectives, and Purposes

Section 1:  Name.  This organization shall be called The Austin Bass Club.

Section 2:  Objectives and Purposes.  The purposes of the Austin Bass Club shall be to meet and discuss the various problems of fishermen and to help the membership become more skilled in bass fishing. The Austin Bass Club shall attempt to (1) increase enjoyment of bass fishing, (2) promote fellowship among its members, and (3) make bass fishing a more productive sport through conservation and sportsmanship.

ARTICLE II

Membership, Provisions for Membership, and Dues

Section 1: Membership.  Any man, eighteen years or older, who has met the provisions for membership and who has been duly voted into the organization, and who has paid his annual dues may become a voting member in good standing.

Section 2:  Provisions for Membership.  In order to become a new member of the Austin Bass Club, a person must (1) be introduced and have his name submitted for membership at a regular meeting by a member in good standing, at which time a vote may be taken for membership, (2) have a majority of the members present vote in favor of his acceptance, (3) and pay membership dues. A vote will be taken for reinstatement if an old member has dropped out of the club for a period of one year or more. There will be no penalty for reinstatement after one year. If five (5) or more “no” votes are cast for a new member’s admission or for an old member’s reinstatement, they will not be admitted as members.

Section 3:  Dues.  Dues shall be $20.00 per year payable in January and due no later than the last day of February. Membership in the Texas Association of Bass Clubs is strictly voluntary. Members will not qualify for club trophies if their dues are not paid by the last day of February. Dues shall be $10.00 if a member joins after June 30th.

ARTICLE III

 Officers: Election, Duties, Terms, and Vacancies

Section 1:  Officers, The officers of the club shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Tournament Director.

Section 2:  Election of Officers.  (a) The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting by secret ballot during the month of December. Election shall be on a simple majority of those members present. Election for each office shall be held separately in the order listed in Article III, Section 1. Members shall be notified of approaching elections by mail not later than three weeks prior to the elections. (b) Nominations may be made at the last regular meeting prior to the election meeting. Candidates defeated in the election for one office may become eligible for nomination for each succeeding office.

Section 3: Duties of the President. The President shall preside at all meetings and functions of the club. He shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. He may appoint special committees at his discretion.

Section 4: Duties of the Vice-President.  The Vice-President shall in the absence of the President, or at his request, assume all duties of the President. He shall advise with and assist the President, other officers, and committees. He will be responsible for the program at all regular meetings.

Section 5:  Duties of the Secretary.  The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of regular meetings and of meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall handle and write correspondence when called upon by the club to do so and shall keep a file of all such correspondence.

Section 6:  Duties of the Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall keep a record and receipt all dues and other moneys paid to the Austin Bass Club and pay all bills incurred by the club. He shall keep on file a complete list of receipts, bills and canceled checks and shall make such periodic financial reports as directed by the President.

Section 7:  Duties of the Tournament Director.  The Tournament Director shall maintain the record book and receive all tournament moneys paid the Austin Bass Club and shall turn over moneys to the Treasurer at the next meeting following the tournament. He shall perform other duties as directed by the President.

Section 8:  Duties of the Directors.  The Directors shall serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 9:  Term of Office.  All elected officers shall serve for a term of one year beginning on January 1st, or until their successors assumes office.

Section 10:  Vacancies in office.  (a) In the event an office becomes vacant, the Secretary shall notify the membership at least five days prior to the next meeting, that nomination and election to fill the unexpired term will be held at that meeting. (b) In the event that the office of Secretary becomes vacant, the President shall appoint a member to send notifications as provided in Article III, Section 9, (a).

Article IV

Board of Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director, two Directors, and the president of the past year. The two directors are elected annually.

Section 2:  Duties of the Board of Directors.  (a) The Board of Directors shall (1) discuss and offer solutions to problems of the club, (2) make recommendations to resolve any club differences, (3) submit needed policies or policy changes to the club membership for approval. Directors must have unanimous approval of those board members present at the time of the discussion by the board. If unanimous approval is not obtained at the board meeting, the issues at question will be presented for club approval without a recommendation from the board.

Section 3:  Board Meetings.  The Board of Directors shall meet at the request of the President. A simple majority of board members must be present to discuss business as prescribed in Article 4, Section 2.

Article V

 Method of Amending the Bylaws

Section 1:  Bylaws regulating the activities of the Austin Bass Club may be amended by a majority vote of those members present at any regular club meeting.

Article VI

Method of Amending the Constitution

Section 1:  The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided a written notice of the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership at least one regular meeting prior to the vote.

Section 2:  The actual vote shall be recorded by the Secretary.

HISTORICAL NOTE:

            In recognition of the club’s 20th year, the Austin Bass Club, in 1980, granted lifetime membership to the charter members active during 1980. These lifetime members are: Jerry Barnard, Bill Ebert, Jackie Hewlett, Don Kyleberg, and Ed Liesman.

THE BYLAWS

1.  The penalty for late payment of dues shall be $1.00.

2.  A member shall be dropped from the membership roll for the following:

            a. Failure to pay dues. Reinstatement will be made upon payment of dues plus   penalty.

            b. Conviction of a felony.

            c. Failure to comply with Game and Fish Laws.

            d. Any action which would reflect dishonor or disgrace on the club.

            e. Should a problem arise involving (b), (c), or (d) above, the President shall appoint a five-member committee to investigate the problem and report their findings to the club. A hearing will be granted upon request of the member involved with continuing membership contingent upon approval of the club.

3.  A member may sponsor a child as a non-voting junior member at the age of 14 and will be held responsible for that child’s actions. Upon payment of regular club dues, a junior member shall be accorded all rights of a regular member, with the exception of voting rights.

            a. A member may fish a tournament with a junior member and pay a team entry fee.

            b. A member may fish with any child under the age of 18 and must pay a team entry fee.

4.  Rules for Club Tournaments:

            a. A motion may be made at regular meeting to hold a tournament. A majority    vote is necessary for passage.

            b. The club will set tournament weekend dates two months in advance.

            c. The lake, days, time, and weigh-in site will be set at least two weeks prior to the tournament. The tournament committee, if one has been appointed by the President will recommend lakes prior to nominations from the floor.

            d. Once a tournament has been set (date, day(s), lake, times, and weigh-in), it may be changed only by a three-fourths majority vote of those members present at a regular meeting. A tournament may not be changed within two weeks of the original date of the tournament.

e. Only largemouth bass, spotted bass, or smallmouth bass, may be weighed in. The size and bag limit shall conform to state law and be a minimum of 12 inches in length. When a tournament is scheduled on a lake governed by special lake regulations, the club will adhere to those rules for that tournament.

            f. Fish will be measured in accordance with current State law.

            g. All fish must be caught on artificial lures. Trolling with outboard is not permitted.

            h. All Federal and State game laws must be observed.

i. It is recommended, not mandatory, that members wear an Austin Bass Club shirt, cap, or other approved club identification during the tournament.  New members will be given an Austin Bass Club cap.

            j. Fishing is not allowed one hour prior to the start of a tournament.

           k. Members who arrive, launch and cast at a tournament will be required to pay entry fee.  

l. A member must make reasonable effort to find a partner. If he is unable to find a partner, he must notify and obtain permission from a club officer prior to the tournament to fish that tournament alone.  (amended December 2007).

m. Entry fees are $40.00 per team or $20.00 per individual, and must be paid by the end of the weigh-in. The entry fee includes a 10% take, to be deposited into the club treasury and then $2.00 per man toward a mandatory big bass pot. If a club member is delinquent in paying a previous tournament fees, that member is ineligible to fish any club tournament until all tournament fees are paid.  A Club Member that finishes as Top Individual in any one tournament is hereby exempt from paying the $20.00 entry fee. 

n. A non-member will pay an entry fee of $20.00 and is eligible for that tournament bigbass pot only and will not be eligible to compete in the existing bigbass pot.  Should that non-member join the Austin Bass Club at the next regular meeting and is voted in, they thereby become eligible to compete for any existing bigbass pot.  (amended December 2007)

o. A member fishing by himself who pays only $20.00 is eligible for a team trophy or certificate, and all cash prize payouts. In either case, he must have made an effort to team up; and, he must notify a club officer or the tournament director of his intent prior to the start of the tournament. Any exceptions to the above will be ruled upon by the board of directors present at the weigh-in. 

p. A bass must weigh a minimum of 5 pounds to win the big bass pot. If no 5 pound bass is caught at a tournament, then the money collected for the big bass pot will accrue from each subsequent tournament until a bass meeting the 5 pound minimum weight limit is weighted in. A non-member (guest) is not eligible to compete in the big bass pot (except as noted in Section 4(n) above). Paper fish is not eligible for big bass pot.  Only the largest bass is eligible for the money pot, if a guest catches the largest bass then the prior bigbass pot money is not awarded and will accrue.  (amended December 2007)

q. Judges will be appointed by the Tournament Director or club officer to supervise the tournament.

                        (1.) A judge in every tournament to cut off the weigh in line.

                        (2.) A judge to measure all fish weighed in.

                        (3.) A judge to read the weigh in scales.

            r. At least one team member must obtain a weight slip from the Tournament Director or his appointee by tournament cut-off time.  After weight slip is obtained, no more fishing is allowed by that team.  (amended December 2007)

            s. Pooling of fish is not allowed. A member may only weigh in fish that he has caught.

            t. Any violation of the above tournament rules will result in disqualification of a team member or members.

            u. All protests must be made to a club officer and recorded in the tournament book before the tournament results are announced. Protests will be resolved by a vote of those Board members present at the weigh in.

            v. Individuals who fish a tournament are responsible to check in at the weigh in   site when a tournament is doubtful due to weather, etc. A decision on whether a tournament is fished will be by majority vote by members present at the weigh in site.

            w. The club will have a maximum of three two-day tournaments per year.

            x. The results of two tournaments, including tournaments that the member did not enter will be dropped when computing the annual Top Twenty Standing. The intent is to allow a member to miss two tournaments without being unduly penalized.

            y.   Any tournaments with one weigh in will be considered a one-day tournament.

            z.   The club will have a maximum of two road-runner tournaments per year.

aa. The club will have at least one “Draw” tournaments per year. All paper or draw tournaments are for club members only (NO GUEST).

            bb. The club will permit icing of fish at any tournament.

            cc. Club members will be allowed to fish club tournaments with non-members.               A non-member may fish with a member one (1) tournament only during each       calendar year, unless a member obtains approval from the Board of Directors for     additional participation by the non-member.

dd. Trophies or certificates will be awarded for the top individual with the heaviest stringer and the heaviest fish. Trophies or certificates will also be awarded along with a money payout for the top four (4) teams based on the number of teams fishing:

Ø      3 teams or less – first place team heaviest stringer payback (100%)

Ø      6 teams or less - first and second heaviest stringer    (60-40)

Ø      7 through 12 teams - through third heaviest stringer (50-30-20)

Ø      13 or more teams - through fourth heaviest stringer (50-25-15-10)

5.  Rules for Bass of the Month and Bass of the Year Trophies:

• Note: All trophies and or patches to be awarded, including their sizes, will vary depending on funds available. This is to be voted on yearly by members present.

a. At the end of each month a trophy or certificate will be given to the member catching the largest bass during that month. Duplicate trophies or certificate will be awarded in the event of ties.

b. Five additional trophies or certificate will be awarded at the end of each year for the five largest bass caught during the year. Duplicate trophies or certificate will be awarded in the case of a tie for fifth place.

            c. In order for a member to be eligible for a bass of the year trophy, member must be a member in good standing.

            d. In order for a bass to be eligible for monthly or yearly trophies, it must:

                        (1)  Weigh at least five pounds;

                        (2)   Be caught on artificial lure and not be caught by trolling;

                        (3)   Be caught on a lake owned by the public or a public river in the State of Texas;

                        (4)  Be weighed on a registered scale;

                        (5) Within three days after a fish is caught, a “weight slip” for the fish must be turned in to a club officer, or a club officer notified that a member has a weight slip for the fish. (A fish caught during an Austin Bass Club tournament and weighed on club scales do not require a weight slip.)

* Weight slips from other open tournaments will be discussed and voted on by the club on a case by case basis. (Voted in April 4, 1995)

                        (6) A weight slip must contain the following information:

                                    -the date

                                    -the lake

                                    -the name of the person who caught the fish

                                    -the weight of the fish as recorded on a registered scale

                                    -location of the scale

                                    -scale certification number

                                   -signature of the person who weighed the fish and who is                                     responsible for the scales.

6.  The Austin Bass Club may award year end awards for Top Twenty standings and club officers as follows:

            a. Trophies or plaques may be awarded to the outgoing officers.

The current President can choose to pass the gavel to the incoming President or keep it in place of the outgoing award he would receive.

            b. Trophies or plaques may be awarded to the top six fishermen.

Trophies or plaques will be awarded to 7th - 10th when the club has 40 or more paid members.

            c. Patches may be awarded to the top ten fishermen.

The patch for the first place finisher will read:

“TOP FISHERMAN 20__”.

The next five patches will read:

“TOP SIX 20__”

The remaining four patches will read:

“TOP TEN 20__”.

Patches may be awarded to the 11th through 20th place when the club has 75 or more paid members.

These patches will read:

“TOP TWENTY 20__”.

Note: All trophies and or patches to be awarded, including their sizes, will vary depending on funds available. This is to be voted on yearly by members present.

8. Meetings:

            a.   Frequency:  The Club will hold at least one scheduled meeting per month.

b.      Notification: The meeting schedule with date, time and place will be published in the Bass Bulletin (Newsletter).

Last Amended 04 December 2007