CENTRAL TENNESSEE BASS CLUB BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - NAME & PURPOSE
SECTION I – NAME
This chapter shall be called CENTRAL TENNESSEE BASS CLUBof Franklin, Tennessee.
SECTION II – PURPOSE
A. To actively participate in matters of constructive conservation which concern fishing waters.
B. To enhance the transfer of invaluable fishing information to individual members.
C. To encourage instruction and development of fishing skill of the membership.
D. To afford the opportunity to engage in friendly competitive tournament fishing.
E. To promote and support youth fishing.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION I – NUMBER OF MEMBERS
The chapter will begin with and maintain at least six (6) members and will be limited to a maximum of fifty (50) members.
SECTION II – REQUIREMENTS FOR REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
To become a chapter member, a person shall
A. Express a genuine interest in the principles of the club.
B. Be in agreement with the bylaws.
C. Be sponsored by an active member.
D. Be encouraged to become a member of B.A.S.S. and/or FLW Outdoors (see Article X for affiliation requirements).
E. Be accepted by the membership by a ¾ majority vote of those members voting. The president shall notify the applicant of his acceptance or rejection if he is not present at the meeting at which the vote is taken.
F. Be sixteen (16) years of age. Prospective members under the age of eighteen (18) must have a parent or guardian sign a consent and release form.
G. If accepted for membership, pay the annual dues as spelled out in Article II Section IV and Article X.
H. The members are encouraged to seek and select persons 16 years of age and older who are of good moral character, and extend to them an invitation to join the club. The member shall secure a printed application form from the secretary. The person invited to join shall complete and sign the application and liability disclaimer before they can participate in any club activity.
I. Each boating member shall provide proof of liability insurance ($300,000 minimum coverage required) prior to participating in their first tournament of the year and maintain proof of insurance throughout the tournament year.
SECTION III – REQUIREMENTS FOR JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP
To become a junior member of an adult chapter, a person shall
A. Express a genuine interest in the principles of the club.
B. Be in agreement with the bylaws.
C. Be sponsored by an active member.
D. Be at least 14 and under 16 years of age.
E. Have a parent who is a member of the club.
*Junior members are not required to pay national membership dues and are not entitled to the benefits of a regular member. Acceptance of junior members will not affect a club’s liability insurance policy. Junior members are not covered by the accidental death and dismemberment policy. Junior members may not hold office in an adult club nor may they be voting members. Junior members may only fish in club tournament events in which a parent club member has entered. At age 16 they may continue membership by joining the club as a regular member. Junior membership ceases on a person’s 16th birthday.
SECTION IV – MEMBERSHIP DUES
Chapter dues shall be $25.00 annually. In addition, B.A.S.S. members are required to pay Tennessee B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation and B.A.S.S. Federation Nation dues at the current rate. FLW Outdoors members are required to pay Tennessee Bass Federation and The Bass Federation, Inc. dues at the current rate.
SECTION V – MEETING OF MEMBERS
The membership shall hold regular meetings at pre-determined times.
SECTION VI – REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
1) A member shall be dropped from the membership rolls for the following reasons:
A. Failure to pay the membership dues. A member dropped under this provision will have ten (10) days to pay his dues and be automatically reinstated. Member will automatically be dropped pending Board of Directors notification.
B. Disqualification for any reason from participating in FLW Outdoors or B.A.S.S. sponsored events, including disqualification for use of drugs or alcohol. Member will automatically be dropped pending Board of Directors notification.
2) A member shall be dropped from the membership rolls following a resolution meeting with the Membership Director, a recommendation from the Board of Directors, and a ¾ majority vote of the membership for the following reasons:
A. Flagrant and continuous actions or expressions demonstrating a belief inconsistent with and contrary to the purpose of the club.
B. Any action which would reflect dishonor or disgrace on this chapter, FLW Outdoors or B.A.S.S.
SECTION VII- REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE
A. A complaint must be documented and complaint must be submitted to the Membership Director.
B. The Membership Director will hold a private resolution meeting between the party responsible for the complaint and the member which the complaint has been raised against.
C. The Membership Director is responsible for making every attempt to promoting reconciliation and promoting friendship.
D. If reconciliation fails it is the responsibility of the Membership Director to make a recommendation to the Board of Directors and subsequently the general membership for the final disposition.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS, ELECTIONS, VACANCIES AND ELIGIBILITY
SECTION I - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
A. President: Presides over all meetings and directs all official business, He is responsible for Roberts Rules of Order procedures and the enforcement thereof. He is to supervise all Club functions. He is also to see that all other directors and committees fulfill their duties. He may also appoint special project committees.
B.Vice-President: Shall assume all duties of the President in his absence. He shall also be in charge of all meeting programs including providing a schedule of educational and/or entertaining films, speakers, seminars, etc. He may appoint a committee for assistance with these duties with the approval of the board of directors.
C.Secretary:Shall record in a suitable permanent ledger the minutes of each meeting and reads
them at the next regular meeting. He is to conduct all club correspondence including newsletters and be in charge of the general membership ledger containing current information. He may be called upon to perform the duties of the Treasurer in his absence. He may also appoint a committee to assist in his duties and projects with the approval of the board of directors.
D. Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer are to collect all membership dues, fines or assessments, and keep an accurate record of each member's account. He shall receive all monies due the association.
He shall establish a petty cash fund in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) to pay small incidental purchases and small bills. He shall keep a record of all payouts and shall replenish said fund by check when needed.
All expenditures shall be by check (except that paid from petty cash) after the expenditures have been approved by the membership. Emergency expenditures may be paid between meetings with the approval of the President and Secretary.
He shall deposit all monies collected in a checking account in the name of the club. It shall be deposited at a bank approved by the board as soon as possible after said collection.
If he feels there is an excess amount of money in the checking account (with the approval of the board) he may transfer an amount agreed upon to a savings account. Any withdrawal from said account must be signed by both the President and Treasurer. Any interest or dividend earned on said account must be credited to the account, or show as an income to the club.
He must keep an accurate and pertinent account of all receipts and expenditures. He shall make a report to the membership at each meeting of the receipts, expenditures, and balance on hand. He must make a financial statement and release his books to the board for audit at least once each ninety (90) days.
E. Tournament Director: He is charged with arranging the lakes chosen by the general membership into a working tournament schedule with the four (4) tournament committee members voted in by the general membership. Dates and launch ramps, along with tournament times and any special rules that will apply will be the responsibility of the tournament director and the tournament committee.
It will be the policy of the tournament director’s office to follow these priorities in this order when setting the tournament schedule:
1. Safety and general benefit of the club.
2. National holidays.
3. Consideration of all factors relative to providing the best possible tournament should be the primary concern and consider other popular tournaments as a secondary concern. All consideration should be given to C.T.B.C. tournaments to avoid being scheduled in conflict with our national affiliated tournaments. I.E. the BFL – Music City Division and the BASS Weekender Series – Tennessee Central Division 3. No C.T.B.C. tournament shall be scheduled in conflict with any Federation tournaments which our members are representing the C.T.B.C.
4. Consideration of individual conflicts when possible.
5. Recurring seasonal weather conditions.
6. The first tournament of the season shall not occur until after the March C.T.B.C. meeting.
F.Public Relations Director:Shall establish and provide a system of information that is newsworthy to all area newspapers concerning club events and tournament results. He is charged with maintaining a favorable public view of the club and is empowered to create a committee to achieve the goal with the approval of the board of directors. This office shall be responsible for the establishment and procedure for at least one civic project per year. These projects are to be scheduled in conjunction with the tournament committee.
G.Membership Director:Shall be in charge of all duties concerned with soliciting, qualifying, and the orientation of new members. He will act as the membership liaison to the board of directors (direct voice). Any concerns, questions, discrepancies, or individual protests or grievances should be filed with this officer within a thirty (30) day limitation, who will then conduct a private resolution meeting with all parties involved in complaint. He will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors and the general membership for final resolution. He is to provide an answer promptly in writing to the Board of Directors after the situation is addressed.
H. Board of Directors: Approve all committees, rule on all problems and protests that occur. Consists of members as follows: President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director, Membership Director and Public Relations Director.
I. Tournament Committee Members:This committee shall be comprised of four (4) members with the following affiliations are to be elected by the general membership. No member of the Board of Directors shall serve on the Tournament Committee.
1) Non-federation boater 2) Non-federation non-boater 3) Federation boater 4) Federation non-boater
In the absence of the ability to fill any of the positions with the appropriate affiliations, a member shall be elected from the general membership to fill the open position.
Their duties are as follows:
1. To meet with the tournament director on both scheduled and called meetings.
2. To assist in the scheduling of all tournaments and projects.
3. Assist in the gathering and providing of all pertinent information in relation to tournament events (i.e. ramp location and directions, limits, special regulations, water conditions, etc.).
4. Follow club policies in interpreting any rule questions or violations.
5. Be present at meetings to assist in entry fee collections and drawing procedure.
6. Be available at tournament weigh-ins to assist under the Tournament Director's supervision.
J. Conservation Chairman: Serve as liaison between the Chapter and State and National conservation/environmental agencies and coordinate club conservation projects.
K. Youth Chairman: Organize all youth activities and programs.
SECTION II - ELECTIONS
A. Elections shall be held during November of each year. Election for each office shall be held separately in the order listed in Article III.Each officer and director shall hold office until his successor has been duly qualified and elected, or until his death or resignation, or removal from office.
SECTION III - ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE
A. Each active member in good standing is entitled to one (1) vote on all issues brought before the club.
SECTION IV - TERMS OF OFFICE
A. Officers will be elected for a term of one (1) year.
SECTION V - VACANCIES
A. In the event of an office becoming vacant, this vacancy will be filled by an appointment made by the officers and Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
SECTION VI - ELIGIBILITY FOR HOLDING OFFICE
A. To be eligible for office, a member must have been a member for a minimum of six (6) months.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS AND TOURNAMENTS
A. During tournament months, a regular monthly meeting will be held prior to the Saturday tournament. At this meeting a drawing will be held to pair boaters and non-boaters.
B. A majority of membership present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
C. All tournaments will be held on a Saturday. A tournament schedule shall be set by the Tournament Director and adopted annually by majority vote of the membership present.
D. These meetings and tournament schedules may be changed by the Board of Directors and officers, if conditions require such action.
E. It is the intention of the club that all members fish in the yearly Classic Tournament. There are three (3) rules for eligibility:
1. Club members must have fished a minimum of the regularly scheduled points tournaments. Minimum participation is defined according to the following schedule: 5 of 9, 6 of 10, 7 of 11, or 8 of 12.
2. Members must accumulate 60% of non-tournament participation points (meetings, youth events, fund raisers, etc.).
3. The entry fee to the classic is calculated based on the number of scheduled points tournaments times the breakdown classic fee described in the Central Tennessee Bass Club Tournament Rules. Club members earn credit for each scheduled points tournament. If the club member has met all other classic tournament qualifications, he or she must pay the difference between earned tournaments and the classic entry fee.
Example:
Ten points tournaments are scheduled for the year. 10 X $5 (classic fee) = $50.00 classic entry fee. Joe has fished 7 scheduled points tournaments. 7 X $5 = $35.00. If Joe meets all other classic qualifications, he pays to fish the classic: $50.00 - $35.00 = $15.00 due.
ARTICLE V - RULES AND PROCEDURES
A. Any special meetings will be designated by the Board of Directors.
B. Ruling on the bylaws is the responsibility of the Board of Directors and their decision is final.
C. Ruling on the tournament rules is the responsibility of the Tournament Director and the Tournament Committee and their decision is final.
D. The Board of Directors and committees will conduct a separate meeting prior to each club meeting, if necessary.
E. All meetings will be conducted by the President or Vice president. If both are absent, then the meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
F. If, in the future of the club, it shall choose to dissolve, the treasurer at such time shall pay all outstanding debts and any remaining amount will be donated to an organization of similar purpose at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI - ACTIVITIES
A. Interclub activities will be planned by the committees and voted on by the membership.
B. The club will have a minimum of nine (9) official tournaments. The number of tournaments will be decided by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII - TOURNAMENTS
SECTION I - TOURNAMENT AWARDS
A. Cash awards will be paid based on the number of boats in the tournament. Theofficial payoff schedule is included in the tournament rules. The amount of cash awarded at each tournament will be determined from the entries at the monthly meeting held the Tuesday of the month immediately preceding the tournament. The determination of the amounts of tournament awards will be the responsibility of the Tournament Director and Treasurer. Junior members may submit, with the permission of their parent club member, tournament entry fees and be eligible for tournament awards. Junior members may elect to fish in club events and not compete for tournament awards.
SECTION II - TOURNAMENT SCORING
A. Scoring shall be done by total pounds (to the nearest hundredth) of the fish weighed in, less 0.20 pounds for each fish that is dead at weigh in. Only five (5) fish that meet the state established size limit for the lake on which the tournament is held may be weighed in.
B. The scoring schedule is listed in the tournament rules. Fisherman with no fish at weigh in will receive fifty (50) points for participation in the tournament.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
A. These bylaws can be amended by the members if the amendment is approved at two (2) consecutive club meetings by at least three quarters (3/4) of the members present.
B. Bylaw changes will be implemented between the beginning of each calendar year and prior to the first tournament of the year.
ARTICLE IX - POLICY
A. All fish weighed in a tournament must be released alive when possible.
B. Sportsmanship.Safety and conservation is demanded of each club member. Any infractions of these principles will be deemed cause for disqualification from a tournament and expulsion from the club.
C. Cheating during any tournament will be cause for automatic disqualification from the tournament in which the infraction occurs and immediate expulsion from the club. Cheating is defined as any proven violation of tournament rules, any intentional action taken to cause other club members to be disadvantaged, and failure to abide by the club bylaws.
D. Non-boaters will assist boaters with operating expenses. The tournament director and tournament committee will establish the "Split" fee for each tournament and the non-boater must pay the boater prior to participating in the tournament. Providing that a boater has reported a failure to receive a split fee, as stated in CTBC Tournament Rule #8 and the non-boater does not pay the split fee payment within 30 days, the CTBC will pay boater the owed split fee and non-boater will forfeit membership to CTBC.
ARTICLE X – AFFILIATION
A. Each club member will be encouraged to maintain an individual membership with B.A.S.S. and/or FLW Outdoors.
B. B.A.S.S. members will submit a chapter membership roster to Tennessee B.A.S.S. Federation Nation once each year. The names and addresses of new members will be submitted to B.A.S.S. as they occur. B.A.S.S. members will designate a representative to maintain a regular liaison with the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation and B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. B.A.S.S. members will support its youth and conservation programs. They will be subject to any additional requirements that the state federation establishes and must maintain active membership in CTBC in order to participate in state federation-sponsored tournaments. B.A.S.S. members will determine the method of selection of team members for the state tournament (spring) based on the club tournament points list of the preceding year. B.A.S.S. members will determine the method of selection of team members for the state team tournament (fall) based on the club tournament points list of the current year just prior to the registration deadline. B.A.S.S.
C. FLW Outdoors members will submit a chapter membership roster to the Tennessee Bass Federation once each year. The names and addresses of new members will be submitted to the Tennessee Bass Federation as they occur. FLW Outdoors members will designate a representative to maintain regular liaison with the Tennessee Bass Federation and The Bass Federation, Inc. FLW Outdoors members will support its youth and conservation programs. They will be subject to any additional requirements that the state federation establishes and must maintain active membership in CTBC in order to participate in state federation-sponsored tournaments. FLW members will determine the method of selection of team members for the state tournament (fall) based on the club tournament points list of the current year just prior to the registration deadline.
D. Each FLW- TBF group and each B.A.S.S. Federation Nation group shall select a Group Captian. The Group captain shall be elected by the members of each individual group.
Group Captain’s duties to include:
1) Attend all federation meetings and report back any changes, dates, etc. to the general membership. Group Captains may designate another group member to attend in their absence.
2) Organize and designate which group members will represent club at tournaments.
3) Handle all aspects of entry forms, entry fees, reservations, and coordination of all group members participating in the above tournaments.
4) Report tournament activities and results.
5) Each group captain will report to Club President and the general membership at monthly club meetings regarding federation activities and information.