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By-Laws
BASS CHASERS OF SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
2003 BY-LAWS
1. The by-laws will be effective as of the February meeting.
2. A minimum of three board members must be present to hold a business meeting.
3. A revision of the by laws must be brought before the membership, and a vote of 2/3 of the quorum is needed to make such a revision.
4. By-law revision will be held annually at the February meeting.
1. Meetings will be held the first Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Summer meetings will be held at the tournament site on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
2. Membership is limited to twenty five (25) members.
3. All members must be a member of B.A.S.S.
4. New members must be sponsored by a member in good standing. Membership acceptance shall be gained upon 2/3 majority vote of the board.
5. All members must attend at least 7 meetings a year. If a member missed three (3) meetings in a row, he/she will be asked why they shouldn’t be dismissed. A member must be notified of any action taken by the board of directors.
1. All members are required to pay dues of $45.00 which must be paid at the November meeting. Additionally, tournament fees of $50.00 must be paid no later than the May meeting.
2. Dues and fees not paid by the November or May meeting will be brought to the attention of the board which will then take necessary action.
3. All new members must pay an initial fee of $5.00.
4. If a member does not fish a tournament he/she shall be refunded the sum of $6.25 per tournament, provided proper notification is given as described in Attachment “A”; paragraph H.
5. Dues will increase as needed.
6. Refunds for tournaments not fished will be given at the end of the season provided that proper notification was given prior to missing the tournaments.
1. The elected officers are: President, Vice-President/Environmental Director, Secretary, Treasurer and Tournament Director.
2. The term of office for elected officers shall be two (2) years beginning January 1.
ELECTIONS
All nominations will be accepted from the floor at the October meeting. A member may not be nominated for more than one office.
Elections are to be held during the November meeting every two (2) years.
Voting will be done by written ballot if two people are running for the same office.
If an elected officer resigns during his/her term, a special election will be held to elect a replacement.
The board of directors will consist of President, Vice-President/Environmental Director, Secretary, Treasurer and Tournament Director.
A club member can be dismissed only by 2/3 vote of the board members, and then approval of the quorum.
Any action taken by the board of directors has to be approved by the club as a whole.
President
A. To insure the purpose and rules of this club are upheld.
B. To chair all club meetings and activities.
C. To call and chair all executive committee meetings.
D. Form committees for special events, socials, or any situation that is not covered by this document.
Vice President
A. To insure the purpose and rules of this club are upheld.
B. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
C. Assist the Tournament Director at all tournament weigh-ins.
D. Assume the duties of the Tournament Director in his/her absence at any club meeting or tournament.
E. Environmental Director
Secretary
A. To insure the purpose and rules of this club are upheld.
B. To maintain attendance records at all tournaments, record tournament points, and supply the Tournament Director with this information.
C. Maintain and distribute a current point standing list at each monthly
meeting accompanied with any new club or neighborhood news.
Treasurer
A. To insure the purpose and rules of this club are upheld.
B. To collect all dues and inform the club at the December meeting of all members in good standing.
C. To secure all trophies and awards.
D. To keep accurate records of club funds and report the club operating fund balances at every monthly meeting.
Tournament Director
A. To insure the purpose and rules of this club are upheld.
B. To present all trophies and awards at each monthly meeting.
C. To direct all tournament activities including;
1.) The accurate measuring and weighing of all fish.
2.) The care and health of all fish.
3.) Maintain the weigh-in equipment insuring the fish have the least amount of stress.
4.) Insure the scales and other club tournament assets are properly maintained and protected.
5.) Insure the tournament procedures in the procedure section of this document are followed.
Committees ( All committee members must be in good standing ).
A. Committees may be formed at any regular meeting for any specific activity or issue. Such as fund raising, social activities, rules or any situation not covered in this document.
B. All committees report to the President.
C. All committees are automatically dissolved upon completion of the activity or situation.
Each member may submit one (1) new lake at the October meeting.
The tournaments will be picked by the Tournament Committee consisting of President, Vice-President, Tournament Director and alternates being the Secretary and/or Treasurer.
The Tournament Committee will choose from the current list of suitable tournament lakes, three 2 day and two 1 day tournaments.
The selected lakes will be for the following years tournaments.
Lakes must be 1,000 acres minimum.
Our tournaments are team tournaments with both members combining a maximum catch of five legal fish (14 inches) for total weight. We encourage communication between partners so each may improve individual angling skills.
All members are subject to the tournament rules as outline in Attachment “A”.
Total entry fee for the State Championship will be paid for the top three (3) men/women of the season.
The horsepower of boats used in club tournaments must comply with the rating plate of the boat and the boat must conform to State watercraft rules and regulations.
You must observe all State and local fishing regulations.
Boats must be equipped with an operating kill switch.
Boats must be a minimum of 14 feet in length.
ATTACHMENT “A”
Participation in this tournament is by invitation only to members of Bass Chasers who are 16 years of age or older.
A properly completed and signed application form for each tournament must be completed prior to each tournament. $1.00 of each tournament fee will go to the State Federation Scholarship Fund.
Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation is expected from each participant.
Any infraction of these sporting principles will be cause for disqualification.
NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in boats or at the weigh-in site.
Only artificial lures may be used. No live or prepared bait except pork rind will be permitted.
Other rigs as specified may be in the boat, rigged and ready to use.
NO trolling will be allowed.
All bass must be caught live in a conventional sporting manner.
No rods longer than eight (8) feet will be used.
Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all.
Each competitor is required to wear a coast guard approved chest type life preserver. It must be snapped, strapped, zipped securely and maintained in that condition when the boat is on pad.
Violation of this rule shall be reason enough for disqualification.
It is recommended that all competitors use a Type II or Type III life preserver or the new style Type IV floatation device.
E. BOAT OPERATION & EXPENSES
A full discussion shall be held between both partners prior to the departure as to the schedule of boat operations.
This schedule must permit each partner the opportunity to fish selected waters an equal number of hours.
It is suggested that the non-owner partner at least assume all cost of gas, oil and launch fees for the competition day.
In the event that there are an odd number of members fishing a tournament, the odd man may fish alone, or bring a non club member buddy.
Fishing on the tournament waters will be determined by the tournament board on the day of the tournament.
NO fishing is permitted within 50 yards of another competitors boat which was first anchored with the electric motor in the raised position.
Partners must remain together at all times in sight of each other and each others catch.
Both largemouth and smallmouth bass may be weighed in.
Teams are allowed 5 bass per day, 14 inch minimum length.
No culling will be allowed at the weigh-in site.
Weight will be determined by the pounds and 1/100 method for each days catch.
A penalty of 5/10 will be assessed for each fish dead at the weigh-in.
Under sized fish will be penalized one pound from the remaining legal size fish. This penalty will carry from tournament to tournament during the season until a catch is made to cover the penalty pound.
In case of a tie by weight, the winner will be the contestant with the longest fish.
Each team must present their own catch at the weigh-in site.
Any contestant who for any reason leaves the tournament after the official start will be disqualified at the tournament committee’s discretion.
Each contestant must release all fish caught with the exception of one trophy fish.
A fish will be considered alive if brought to the scales alive.
All fish will be measured with the mouth closed.
In the event of an end of season tie, the winner will be determined by the maximum number of fish for the season.
H. STARTING & QUITTING
You must be at the tournament site 30 minutes prior to the set starting time.
A one pound penalty will be assessed to each member late to the blast off site. This penalty pound will carry over from tournament to tournament during the season until a catch is made to cover the penalty pound.
Any member not on time at the blast off MUST contact a club member prior to fishing in the tournament.
Boats are to be checked prior to blast off.
Starting will be by draw with 10 second intervals.
Competitors not on time at the official weigh-in will be penalized one pound for being late up to 3 minutes, two pounds for being late 3 to 10 minutes and more than 10 minutes late will be grounds for disqualification. In the case of a breakdown, one team member may weigh in fish for both competitors.
If you cannot make a tournament, you must notify a club member or board member before the tournament.
The Tournament Committee will determine if a tournament should be delayed because of inclement weather conditions such as fog, darkness or lightning.
I. Any protest must be brought before the Tournament Committee’s attention before the weigh-in slips are signed. A disqualification may be appealed by certified letter to the Tournament Committee within 7 days after the disqualification.
J. Any violation of State and or local fishing regulations may be cause for disqualification, to be determined by the Tournament Committee. Actions taken by the tournament committee are final.
K. Not signing the weigh-in slips at the site of the tournament will result in a one pound penalty and will be carried from tournament to tournament until this penalty is made up.
Every boat must have required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it must have live well space to adequately maintain a live limit catch of bass by both fisherman using the boat. Boats must be a minimum of 14 feet in length.
ATTACHMENT “B”
CLASSIC
A. ELIGIBILITY
You must finish in the top half of the club standings according to the club roster as of May 1st of each year. (Rounded to the next number up) There will be no substitutions.
B. LAKE SELECTION
The current Tournament Committee will choose the Classic Lake.
C. RULES
The same rules shall apply that are in effect for the standard club tournaments, with the addition that this lake will be off limits to all club members 30 days prior to the practice day (the day before the tournament).
D. FUNDING
We will pay the first place only with a minimum of $100.00 in the Classic Fund. We will pay two places with a minimum of $150.00, $100.00 to first place, $50.00 to second place. We will pay three places with a minimum of $200.00 and above, percentages of 62.5%, 25% and 12.5% respectively. $151.00 to $199.00 will be split 70/30 amongst the two winners.
E. ONE MAN PER BOAT
BASS CHASERS STANDING RULES
COURTESY
1. Be aware of other people’s feelings while at the campsite.
2. Try to avoid any excessive foul language.
3. Keep tempers under control.
4. If you have any complaints, bring them up to a board member right away. Don’t wait until the next meeting.
5. Follow all camp rules.
SPORTSMANSHIP
1. Obey speed laws.
2. Obey all NO-WAKE areas. No passing in no-wake areas.
3. Watch out for the other guy.
4. Be careful of the other guy’s equipment while in his boat
5. If your partner looses something such as a hat or other personal item while traveling across the water, go back and get it.
6. When entering heavily fished areas, slow down so that you don’t cause an unexpected accident.
REMEMBER THAT EACH PERSON IN THIS CLUB IS A REPRESENTATIVE NOT ONLY OF THIS CLUB BUT EACH AND EVERY BASS CLUB IN MICHIGAN AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IT ONLY TAKES ONE INDIVIDUAL’S IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS TO PUT A BLACK MARK ON THE NAME OF HIS/HER CLUB, AND THE NEXT CLUB AND SO ON DOWN THE LINE UNTIL THE ENTIRE SPORT OF COMPETITIVE BASS FISHING IS FROWNED ON BY ALL SECTORS OF THE POPULATION, AND IT COULD VERY WELL BOIL DOWN TO LAWS BEING PASSED PROHIBITING ANY TYPE OF COMPETITIVE FISHING.