North County Bass Constitution and Bylaws

Article I. Name

Section 1.1 This club shall be known as North County Bass and hereby referred to in this document as Club.

Article II. Scope

Section 2.1 Scope – The objective of this Club is to promote the sport of bass fishing. The Club will support the advancement of its members through education, skill development, good sportsmanship, fellowship and the exchange of ideas and techniques. This Club will also endorse all agencies, affiliations and organizations dedicated to the improvement and conservation of the sport of fishing.

Section 2.2 Whenever possible guest speakers will be invited to talk, teach and lecture on various subjects and aspects of the sport of bass fishing.

Section 2.3 Club members are encouraged and welcome to lecture on various subjects associated with the sport of bass fishing to further promote the fellowship and scope of this Club.

Article III. Membership and Eligibility

Section 3.1 Membership shall be open to persons 18 years old and older. A prospective member will be introduced at a regular Club meeting. The prospective member will participate in a paid tournament with a Club member in good standing. A prospective member will be voted on at the next regular Club meeting. A unanimous vote of all members in good standing present at that meeting is required for acceptance as a Club member.

Section 3.2 Junior Applicants – Application to the Club is open to those persons under the age of 18 years old. Junior Applicants may become Junior Members through sponsorship of the Junior Applicants parents, legal guardian and/or an adult Club member in good standing. The Junior Applicant SHALL NOT become a Junior Member until the following procedures have transpired. Submit a written release of liability signed by the parents or legal guardians of the prospective Junior Member that allows the participation of the prospective Junior Member in all specifically named Club functions. The release of liability shall name this Club and its members as not liable and blameless for the improper, inappropriate, indecent and/or any other violation of these Constitution and By-Laws, Club tournament rules, state laws, city or county lake rules, CDFW rules by this Junior Member at any specifically named Club function. The specifically named Club functions are hours spent during pre fishing for tournaments, Club fishing tournaments, picnics, meetings and/or time spent in support or sponsorship of this Club. The release of liability shall be renewed each year until the prospective Junior Member turns the age of 18 years old at which time the rules of eligibility under Section 3.1 will be enforced. Those parents or legal guardians of Junior Members that do not wish to participate in Club functions will be made Honorary Members as specified in Section 3.3. A unanimous vote by all members of this Club is required for a prospective Junior Applicant to become a Junior Member. A release of liability shall be a statement that will be formed of local, State and Federal guidelines for the protection of all parties concerned.

Section 3.3 Honorary Membership – Honorary Membership may be granted to any eligible person by a unanimous decision of the Club members in good standing present at that meeting. The vote shall be by secret ballot. Honorary members are not eligible for the Tournament of Champions and the Top Six Tournaments. Honorary members need only to pay for tournament entry fees. An Honorary Member is defined as a previous Club member in good standing unable to meet the requirements as set forth in Section 3.4. or as prescribed and defined by this Club. Those parents or legal guardians of Junior Members that do not wish to participate in Club functions will be made Honorary Members to help assure the Junior Members participation of Club functions, payment of fees and dues, strengthen the release of liability and give surety to Club insurance obligations.

Section 3.4 A member in good standing is defined as a person who has paid all required fees and dues. A member in good standing shall participate in over 50% of official Club functions as defined as 7 Club tournaments and attend 13 Club meetings during the Club calendar year. A member in good standing must abide by all by-laws and tournament rules. On approval by club officers, exceptions may be made for hardship cases.

Article IV. Dues

Section 4.1 Dues shall be (20) twenty dollars per year. Dues are to be paid the first meeting of the Club calendar year and are delinquent after that date. Dues may be pro-rated as to a members date of entry into Club membership. Dues may change. Dues may be changed with a two thirds majority decision of Club members in good standing present at any scheduled meeting where all Club officers are present. Dues are non-refundable.

Article V. Meetings

Section 5.1 Meetings are the first and third Tuesday of each month. Meetings may be altered or deleted due to conflicts with nationally recognized holidays or as otherwise determined that the date is in conflict and should be altered or deleted.

Section 5.2 Special Meetings – Special Meetings may be called in cases where the welfare, benefits, interests and/or safety of the Club and its members requires immediate attention. No changes of these Constitution and By-Laws or Tournament Rules shall be made at a special meeting unless; 1) the special meeting has been called to perform such a function, and 2) a two third majority of all Club members in good standing are present, and 3) all rules pertaining to amendment changes are adhered to as defined in Article XI, Section 11.1.

Section 5.3 Special Meetings to change previously arranged Tournament Dates and/or Tournament Lakes - A previously arranged tournament lake and/or tournament date shall not be changed unless agreed upon by a two-thirds majority vote of members in good standing present at a normally scheduled Club meeting. If a normally scheduled Club meeting does not fall (14) fourteen days prior to the previously arranged tournament date and/or tournament lake requesting to be changed then Club members in good standing will be notified of a special meeting to be held at a place and time as specified by the Tournament Director. The special meeting and vote shall be conducted not less than (10) ten days prior to the previously arranged tournament date and/or tournament lake.

Section 5.4 All meetings and Club procedures will be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VI. Officers

Section 6.1 The Club shall consist of officers nominated and elected to specific offices with specific duties and responsibilities. The Club officers shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director and Sergeant-at-Arms.

Section 6.2 Duties and Responsibilities of Club Officers

President – The President shall preside over all meetings, direct all official Club business, appoint committee chairpersons, facilitate all club grievances and supervise all Club functions.

Vice-President – The Vice-President shall direct and supervise all committee functions and report to the Club officers on those matters. The Vice-President shall assist or assume the duties of the President in their absence. The Vice-President shall assist the Tournament Director with the weighing in and recording of weights of fishing contestants at each tournament.

Secretary – The Secretary shall make a written record of all Club meetings. This record shall become part of the permanent Club record. The permanent Club record shall be maintained by the Secretary and be available to the Club members for reference. The Secretary shall keep a complete record of membership and provide an updated roster to the membership as changes occur.

Treasurer – The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the Club and maintain such funds in an official Club bank account. The Treasurer shall retain a complete and accurate record of all financial matters and render a report at each meeting and be available to the Club officers and members for reference. All disbursements are subject to the approval of the Club membership.

Tournament Director – The Tournament Director shall preside over all Club fishing functions. The Tournament Director shall collect and disburse all Club tournament fees and prize money. The Tournament Director shall keep an accurate record of each participants place and points. The Tournament Director shall provide a score sheet available to each Club member showing tournament updated results and standings. The Tournament Director shall give a report after each tournament at the next scheduled Club meeting.

Sergeant-at-Arms – The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be responsible to observe and report all Club rule infractions. These infractions will be reported to the elected officials present at the Club function so that applicable fines or disciplinary action may be imposed.

Article VII. Committees

Section 7.1 Committees may be utilized as determined necessary to assist in the operation of specific Club functions. Committee chairpersons shall be volunteers or be designated by the President. Committee chairpersons are free to designate club members in good standing to assist in their duties. Committees designated to provide findings to promote the advancement of this Club, its members or changes to its existing rules shall first report its findings and recommendations to the elected officials of this Club. The President shall report these findings to the Club members.

Article VIII. Elections

Section 8.1 Nominations for elections shall be open to the general Club membership beginning two (2) months prior to the end of the Club calendar year. Elections shall be held at the last meeting of the Club calendar year. The newly elected officers shall be installed at the first meeting of the new Club calendar year.

Section 8.2 The requirements for eligibility as an officer in the Club are: 1) you must be a member in good standing and 2) a member of the Club for not less than six (6) months.

Section 8.3 Voting shall be by secret ballot. All members in good standing are allowed to vote. The Secretary shall collect and count the ballots. The Secretary is allowed to appoint non-nominee Club members to help count the ballots. The results shall be presented to the President for announcement. Voting shall be completed for one office at a time. Voting for officers shall be completed in this order: 1) Sergeant-at-Arms, 2) Tournament Director, 3) Treasurer, 4) Secretary, 5) Vice-President and 6) President.

Section 8.4 Voting by proxy is not permitted.

Section 8.5 A majority shall elect a nominee to office. The term is for one year or until a successor has been elected or appointed. In the case of only one nomination for an office, the President shall declare a unanimous ballot in favor for that nominee. In case of no nomination for an office, the officers shall appoint nominees made up of members in good standing to be voted upon.

Section 8.6 In the event of a vacancy of an office, the remaining officers shall appoint a Club member in good standing to serve out the vacant officers term.

Section 8.7 In case of a tie, a new vote will be taken and continued until such time as a nominee has received a majority of votes and can be installed to that specific office.

Article IX. Delinquencies, Disciplines and Termination

Section 9.1 The following conditions are considered a violation of Club rules and may result in a Club member being disciplined or terminated:

Section 9.2 Any member may be disciplined and/or terminated from membership by a unanimous decision of the Club members in good standing present at that meeting. This action shall result in cases where violations continue after fair warning has been served.

Article X. Insurance

Section 10.1 The Club shall purchase liability insurance to protect the Club for fishing tournaments and other Club functions. The liability will be in an amount as set forth by a two-third majority vote by the Club members in good standing present at that meeting but not less than required by State of California mandates.

Section 10.2 A minimum onetime fee of thirty (30) dollars is required by each Club member for insurance dues. This payment may increase due to availability of funds, the number of Club members at the time the payment is due or the cost of the liability insurance.

Section 10.3 No Club member shall depend on the Club liability insurance for their personal liability insurance. All Club members will be insured with a current liability policy in their name for their vehicle, boat, trailer and personal property as required by State of California liability mandates.

Article XI. Amendments

Section 11.1 Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of this Club may be made by any member of the Club in good standing. The submission shall be made in writing, submitted to the President, announced and discussed at the time of submission. The change or revision shall be voted on at the next scheduled meeting. A two-third majority vote is required to approve the change or revision by Club members in good standing present at that meeting.

Section 11.2 The Constitution and By-Laws shall be reviewed by the newly elected officers for possible change or revision within (30) thirty days of their taking office.

Section 11.3 All amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be completed as governed by Roberts Rules of Order.

Article XII. Awards

Section 12.1 Awards shall be presented to Club members that have achieved the following accomplishments:

Article XIII. Affiliations

Section 13.1 This Club is affiliated with the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs.

Section 13.2 Club members are encouraged and eligible to fish other tournament circuits. It is strongly encouraged to represent North County Bass, Club members and all other sportspersons and contacts with the utmost respect, courtesy and distinction.