BYLAWS

BYLAWS OF THE

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY BASSMASTERS,

A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 1989 IN THE CITY OF MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA

Updated June 16, 2008

 

ARTICLE I. – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1 – Name

This chapter shall be called the South Orange County Bassmasters of Mission Viejo.

Section 2 – Purpose

To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport. To offer our state conservation department our organized moral and political support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards. To detect and report any polluter and call public and political attention to this crime. To improve our skill as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of expert bass-catching techniques and ideas, and to promote and encourage youth fishing, and a love for this great recreation. To function as a dynamic and effective link with other chapters of the State B.A.S.S. (Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society) Federation Nation and The Bass Federation (TBF, Inc.) through FLW Outdoors.

ARTICLE II. OFFICERS AND GOVERNING BODY

Section 1 – Executive Board

1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director, and One member at large.

a. In the event where a President is not elected, the remaining Board Members will collectively act as President, or as a Presidential Council, and rotate Presidential duties on a monthly basis.

Section 2 – Officers and Duties

The duties of the elected officers shall be as follows:

1. The President shall preside over all general meetings and board meetings.

a. The President shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote by the membership.

2. The Vice President shall assume all of the duties of the President in the event the President is unable to attend a meeting or club function.

a. The club Vice President shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the by-laws and tournament rules on a bi-annual or required basis.

b. The Vice President is responsible for all publicity and informational news.

3. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall be responsible for all official club communications.

4. The Treasurer shall maintain all financial records of the club.

a. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of membership dues, tournament fees and all other funds collected by the club.

b. The Treasurer shall collect any fines and/or penalties imposed. All said revenues shall be added to the general fund.

5. The Tournament Director shall be responsible to insure that all club tournaments are conducted according to the club tournament rules and regulations.

a. The Tournament Director or his designee shall maintain the clubs point standings.

b. The Tournament Director, with the approval of the majority of the board members, shall have the authority to cancel or change tournament dates.

c. The Tournament Director must inform all tournament participants of any change of tournament site at least 24 hours prior to the tournament date.

Section 2 - Nominations

1. The officers are to be nominated at the August meeting and elected at the September meeting.

Section 3 - Elections

1. Installation of newly elected officers shall take place during the first meeting in the month of September.

2. Elected officers shall serve in their respective positions for a period of one year.

3. In the event the President is unable to complete his term, the Vice President shall assume the position vacated by the President and a new Vice President shall be elected. Officers other than that of the President which are vacated shall be filled by a special election.

ARTICLE III. - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - General

All members and prospective members shall abide by all state and federal regulations, all club tournament rules, and any lake rules which are in effect at the time of the tournament.

1. Any alleged violations shall be brought before the Board of Directors where it shall be decided whether the person or persons shall be fined, disqualified, or asked to resign.

2. Any person found to be in violation of the rules shall be notified.

Section 2 - Number of members

1. The chapter shall begin with and maintain at least six charter members. During the chapter's first six months of existence, total general membership shall not exceed thirty members. After six months, this number can be altered by amendment.

Section 3 - Requirement for membership

To be a member, a person shall:

1. Be sixteen years of age or older.

2. Must comply with all club rules and regulations.

3. Attend two general meetings and two tournaments.

a. Both tournaments are to be fished with a member who is in good standing.

b. Entry into the club by membership vote can be delayed for just cause i.e. not at meeting or prior tournament partner not available for report.

c. Entry into the club must be approved by 100% of attending members.

4. Must be voted into membership prior to their third tournament.

5. Be required to join B.A.S.S. and FLW Outdoors within thirty days of acceptance into the club. (See ARTICLE VII for affiliation requirements).

6. Purchase a club shirt, and hat within sixty days after obtaining full membership status.

Section 4 - Member Recruitment

Members in good standing who recruit new Members are entitled to one tournament entry paid out of clubs treasury not including any side pots i.e. big boat.

Membership dues shall be $50.00 per year, prorated accordingly, payable upon being voted into membership, $12.00 of which is for insurance. All members must be current members of B.A.S.S. and FLW Outdoors.

Section 6 – Meetings

The membership shall meet 12 times annually at a prescribed date, place, and time.

Each attending member will be rewarded an additional .5 pounds in that months tournament for attending that months meeting.

ARTICLE IV. IMPOSITION OF FINES AND PENALTIES AND PARTICIPATION STATUS

Section 1 - Fines

All fines and penalties shall be imposed by the President.

1. The President has the authority to impose fines and penalties during any general meeting.

Section 2 - Penalties

The fines and penalties are as follows:

1. Payment of tournament fee at tournament site will incur a $5 penalty that will go to the general fund.

Section 3 – Participation Status

All members must be in good standing to participate in any club function or tournament. Club members shall be considered not in good standing for any of the following:

1. Failure to pay dues by the second meeting of the tournament calendar year.

2. Failure to pay fines, tournament fees and trip expenses.

3. Members who have not fulfilled a grievance settlement.

4. Failure to attend at least one of the two prior month’s meetings.  Example:  If a member wishes to fish a March event, they would have needed to attend either the January or February meeting.

ARTICLE V. – AWARDS, TROPHYS, ELIGIBILITY

Section 1 - Awards

Awards shall be presented on a yearly basis for the following categories:

1. Overall Points Leader

2. Top Boater

3. Top Non-Boater

All based on total accumulated points throughout the tournament season, with each member's two lowest scoring tournaments thrown out.

4. Big fish for the year

5. Most improved fisherman

Section 2 - Trophy Bass

1. Any member who catches a Largemouth Bass weighing ten pounds or over, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass weighing six pounds or over in tournament competition, and who wishes to mount their fish, shall be entitled to collect 50% of the cost of mounting their fish from the general fund.

2. Limited to $100.00 (club cost).

Section 3 - Award Eligibility

1. A member must be a "member in good standing" with the club to be eligible for a year-end award.

2. The club must hold at least one tournament a month, except for December, and a member must participate in at least eight of these to be eligible for a year-end award.

3. The Angler of the Year Award will be decided on a Points basis, the angler with the most points at the end of the year.

The Angler of the Year Award is not to exceed $150.00 from the club treasury.

4. Big Fish of the Year will be entitled to the angler with the single largest Bass of the tournament year. Big fish award is a plaque.

5. Most Improved Angler will be deemed by the executive officers.

ARTICLE VI. - LIABILITY

Section 1 - Participation

All members of South Orange County Bassmasters will be required to participate in the TBF’s liability insurance program.

ARTICLE VII. - AFFILIATION

Section 1 - Requirements For Affiliation

2. Update B.A.S.S.  and TBF with a Chapter membership roster once each year, immediately following election of Chapter Officers and Directors.

3. Names and addresses of new member joining the Chapter during the year must be submitted to B.A.S.S. and TBF as they occur. The necessary forms are included in the B.A.S.S. and TBF Web sites.

4. Maintain 100% B.A.S.S. and FLW membership.

5. Support State Federation conservation and youth programs. Any requirements that the State Federation establishes for chapters, such as membership dues, attendance at meetings, etc., would be necessary in order for the chapter to participate in the State Federation qualifying tournaments, and any other federation sponsored tournaments or events.

ARTICLE VIII. - STANDING COMMITTEES

All Standing Committees will serve for one year or until a new committee is appointed. The term of the committee members will coincide with that of the other club officers.

Section 1 – Executive Board

The Executive Board will consist of five members: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Tournament Director.

1. The President will call all meetings of the Executive Board and preside at such meetings.

2. The Secretary will record the minutes of these meetings.

3. The Board will decide all protests and rules on all violations.

4. Develop agenda for the monthly meetings.

Section 2 - Youth Committee

1. The purpose of this committee shall be to plan, organize and implement a Chapter Youth Project.

a. To introduce young people to the goals of B.A.S.S and FLW Outdoors.

b. To give them a basis for respect of our national heritage, an appreciation of the basic rules of honesty, integrity, fair play, and good sportsmanship, and to give them a introduction to the sheer joy of fishing.

Section 3- Conservation Committee

The purpose of this committee shall be to protect our natural environment from harmful change, to document and report to the proper authorities violations of local, state and federal laws.

a. To take political action to improve our environment, and to take legal action where appropriate.

b. To undertake informational and educational programs to bring public awareness to threats to our environment and to take a leadership role in repairing the harm that has already been done to the water of our country.

ARTICLE IX. - REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Removal

A member shall be dropped from the membership roster for the following:

1. Failure to pay dues.

2. Any action, which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on this chapter.

ARTICLE X. - METHOD OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

Section 1 - Amending the Constitution and Bylaws

1. All amendments are to be made and voted on in the November meeting only and are to be effective for the following calendar year (January through December).

2. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a 2/3 vote of the members present, provided written notice of the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership at least one regular meeting prior to the vote.

We the undersigned charter members, do hereby agree to the above By-laws and the commencement of this chapter on the 27th day of February, 1989.