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Bylaws of the DFW Bassmasters 2012 ARTICLE I- Club Name The club shall be known as the DFW Bassmasters. We are based out of the Dallas/ Fort Worth metro area in Northeast Texas. We also have members that are affiliated with the Texas Chapter of The Bass Federation (TBF), Inc. ARTICLE II- Club Purpose The general purposes of this nonprofit chapter club are: (a) To facilitate the organized support, protection, education, and encouragement of sport fishing, youth, and conservation at all levels and to "partner" with other like minded groups to do the same. (b) More particularly stated, purposes of the club include the following; To establish and maintain an organization for the support of sport fishing, and all related recreational and educational fishing, youth and conservation activities conducted in a safe manner. To stimulate the public awareness of angling as a major sport. To educate the public upon the positive economic impact of angling at the national, state, and local levels. To offer our state fish and wildlife agencies our organized, conservation feedback, input, political and legislative support and assistance. To promote full adherence to conservation codes, clean water standards, and industry accepted practices which impact the sport of fishing. To support and demand adequate water quality standards, fisheries habitat and fisheries resource management. To protect and guard anglers right's and demand unfettered, responsible access to all public waters and facilities, built, supported or otherwise funded in whole or in part by public funds. To detect and report polluters or violators of fish and wildlife conservation laws and to expose violators publicly and focus political or legal attention upon such violations. To encourage, facilitate and promote youth fishing activities and education and a love for this great recreation. To work to improve our skills as anglers through fellowship and camaraderie of friendly exchanges of fish catching techniques. To teach and promote safe boating and on the water practices. Our club will function as a dynamic and effective link with our affiliated State Federation and other like-minded groups. (c) From time to time to sponsor fishing tournaments for the purpose of stimulating interest and to promote healthy competition between club members and between this club and other clubs of a like nature. ARTICLE III- Membership Section 1. Minimum Number of Members The club shall begin with and maintain at a minimum at least six members that are at least 16 years of age or older. Section 2. Requirements for Regular Membership To become a DFW Bassmasters club member, a person shall;
Section 4. Membership Dues The regular club membership dues shall be $15 annually for new members and for existing member per year. If you are age 65 and over on Jan 1, 2012 your membership dues will be $5. Your regular club membership includes you, your spouse, and your kids 17 years old and under. For our TBF Federation members you will have another $65 due per person. There are no pro-rations. Section 5. Membership meetings The membership shall hold regular meetings at pre established locations and times about once a quarter. Section 6. Membership Duration Membership shall be by calendar year. Section 7. Guests Any person that fishes any regular club tournament that is not a member may fish with the invitation of a member no more than 3 times per year. If that guest decides later to become a member we will count all of his tournaments for the year in standings and will be eligible for end of the year awards. ARTICLE IV- Officers Section 1: Eligibility for Holding Office To be eligible for an office a member must;
Nominations for officers will be accepted at our 3rd quarter meeting. The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of December. Election shall be by simple majority of members present. Section 3: Eligibility of Vote Each member of the club in good standing is entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are not permitted. Section 4: Term of Office The term of office is for one year, which shall begin on Jan 1, and end on Dec 31st or until the successor assumes office. Section 5: Vacancies In the event of an office becoming vacant, nominations shall be asked for and an election held to fill the un-expired term of the individual vacating the office. Section 6: Officers and Their Duties
All Standing Committees will serve for one year or until a new committee is appointed. The terms of the committee members will coincide with that of the president. Each committee shall elect a chairman.
(2) The secretary will record the minutes of these meetings. (3) The board will decide all protest and rule on all violations of the tournament rules and bylaws of the club when appropriately received.
Section 1. Removal of Membership A member shall be dropped from the membership roll for the following reasons;
Any membership can be recalled by a 2/3 majority vote of the membership. At any time, for any reason. ARTICLE VII - TBF Federation Members Section 1: Requirements for TBF members
Section 1. Amending the Bylaws The bylaws may be amended only at our 4th quarter meeting of each year and will require 2/3 majority vote. The amendments must be put in writing at least by November 1 so that it can be published to all members or presented at our 3rd quarter meeting. The amendments will be in effect the following calendar year. ARTICLE VIIII. MONTHLY CLUB TOURNAMENTS A. TOURNAMENT FEES, EXPENSES, AND PAY OUTS 1. FEES a. Entry fee for each tournament is $30.00 per male member. The entry fee for women is $20 unless she has fished in more than 2 events paying an entry fee of more than $250 each in the last 5 years, in which case she will pay the $30.00 entry fee The entry fee is due and payable prior to the event unless you have made arrangements with the tournament director b. (Optional) Entry fee for the “Calcutta 6 # pot” award is $2.00 per tournament to be paid to the first (1st) person weighing in a fish of six pounds (6#) or better in a club tournament. Members only wishing to enter Calcutta after initial month must back pay prior months of entry. Once the calcutta gets up to $200 their will be noone else that can get in it until it is won. Once the calcutta gets up to $500 we will no longer collect the $2 until it is won. If more than one (1) bass over six pounds (6#) is weighed, largest takes all. All money must be paid prior to tournament start. Winner must be a member to be eligible. In case of a tie, money will be split 2.. PAY OUTS a. The club will keep $5 of all entry fees. The remaining will be dispersed as follows;
c. In the event of a tournament in which only one person or team weighs fish, They will only get the 40% and the remainder will carry over to the next tournament. If only 2 weigh fish, then 20% (30% if more than 25 entries) will roll over into the next tournament. If only 3 catch fish and we have 16 or more 5% will carry over(15% if over 25 entries) d. In the event of a tie, the moneys will be split evenly. B. TOURNAMENT DATE & LAKE SELECTION 1. The Tournament Director will set the dates and times for the upcoming year at the December meeting. Every effort will be made to avoid conflicts with other area tournaments. He will also chose the tournament headquarters for each tournament. 2. The members of the club will have responsibility of lake selections for the next calendar year. They will fill out the membership form and turn it in by the December meeting whether they pay next years dues or not so long as they are a current member or new member. 3. Just in case a chosen lake if not accessible or unsafe we will use the next lake selection that scored the most points. In case of tie, we will flip a coin. 4. No lake may be fished more than 2 times in any given year. 5. Any lake may be selected within a 125 mile radius of the intersection of SH360 and IH30 or for the 2 day tournament 250 mile radius but must remain in the state of Texas. C. TOURNAMENT RULES 1. ELIGIBILITY A. All state, federal, and local laws must be obeyed at all times otherwise you will be disqualified for that day with the exception of illegal sized bass.. B. A non-club member may only fish in a tournament as a guest of an individual member no more than 3 times per year. C. Contestants will abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages until after tournament hours. 2. SAFETY A. Each contestant is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life preserver anytime the boat is on plane. B. The kill switch (if equipped) must be attached to the boat operator any time the boat is on plane. C. Due to inclement weather, the tournament director may shorten the tournament hours or cancel it for the safety of its members. 3. FISHING AREAS & HOURS A. Starting time shall be a specific hour, i.e. 6:15 AM All boats must remain in the launch area until designated start time. Each tournament must be at least 8 hours with the only exception being the second day of a two day tournament. The tournament director may also modify and split particular days hours to prevent fish suffering or for other reasons. B. Members may launch from any public or private ramp on the tournament lake with legal public access, however you must remain in the launch area and not cast until the official start time. Trailering to the weigh-in site is permitted if your live well system is adequate to maintain fish in a healthy condition. The tournament director may also modify that for certain tournaments. C. No fishing or being on the water is allowed from 6:00 PM the night before until you launch your boat the tournament morning no more than 1 hour before tournament start time. D. No fishing is allowed from outside your boat or within 50 yards of an anchored or tied boat with its trolling motor in the stored position without the express permission of its occupants unless they are blocking a right of way. 4. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT A. Only artificial lures may be used, the only exception is pork rinds. B. Only one rod per person may be in use at any one time. Each cast must be completed before another is made. C. Trolling with the main engine is NOT allowed. 5. WEIGH-IN & CONSERVATION A. The bag limit for each tournament shall be five fish per day per man, or lake limit, if less than five. B. All tournament contestants must be at the weigh-in site at the time of weigh-in. A late penalty of 1 lb per minute will be assessed on his tournament weight up to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes his total catch will be disqualified. You will receive show up points only, even if your total weight is below 0. If disqualified, you will not be eligible for big bass or any winnings. If you are 4 minutes late and you only have 1 fish at 9 lbs, you will only receive credit as if it was 5 lbs. If you have more fish and are 4 minutes late, for instance you have a 9 lber, a 1 lber, and a 2 lber, we will subtract the 3 pounds from your smaller fish and 1 lb from your larger in which case you will have an 8 lber for big bass and $2 Calcutta winnings. If your penalty results in less than 6 lbs for big bass, you will not receive the Calcutta winnings. C. All fish must be transported to and from the weigh-in line in a bag filled with water. D. No white-gilled fish will be weighed. Dead fish may be put on ice in order to maintain color of gills. A penalty of 8 oz per dead fish weighed will be assessed against the individual members weight. If the big bass to be weighed is dead, the 8 oz penalty will be subtracted from the big bass weight. No culling of dead fish. E. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass will be weighed. State and lake rules apply to the size limit. “Pro Rule” will be the official measuring board used by the Tournament Director. Fish will be measured with the mouth closed and tail compressed. We will fan the tail and its longest point will be the length. We will not turn the fish over. Illegal sized fish will be assessed a 1 lb penalty. 6. TEAM TOURNAMENTS A. There will be one team tournament per year. You choose your partner or ask someone else to find you a partner. B. In cases of hardship and cant secure a partner, a member may fish solo. The entry fee per person is still $30; however he can only have 5 fish. C. The creel limit per team will be 6 fish per day. Once you catch 1 more than your limit you must cull immediately. D. Points for both team partners will be the same. 8. 2 DAY TOURNAMENT A. There will be one 2 day tourney per year and the mileage limit will be extended to 250 miles. B. The Tournament Director may split the tourney into a total of 2 or 3 weigh ins over the 2 days. We will count only your best weigh in out of the 2 days unless their is a 3rd weigh in in which case we will count your best 2 weigh ins. The tournament Director may also change the creel limit for this tournament. ARTICLE X. TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT A. EXPLANATION 1. Members who fished in at least 4 events and place in the top ten for the yearly total heavy stringer or points, win first place heavy stringer at any club tournament, big bass of the year, and the lady angler of the year are eligible to participate in the Tournament of Champions held the following year. Their will be no entry fee for each participant and the Club will contribute an amount of $200 Pay out will be 1st Place – 50%, 2nd Place 30%, 3rd Place 20% and no big bass pay out. 2. The tournament will run alongside our regular club tournament in the spring or summer of each year. ARTICLE XI. NON-CLUB SPONSORED TOURNAMENTS
1. The Web Master shall maintain and publish individual club standings on the web site. 2. Standings will be determined as follows:
1 The Club Champions for each division shall be determined as follows: A. The Champion shall be the member who amasses the greatest total number of points using his best 9 tournaments. 2. Awards. To be eligible for annual awards you must be a member and fish at least 4 tournaments for that year except for youth. The officers of the club will figure out how much money is available for the purchasing of awards and will also decide what the award will be. For 2009 and 2010 and 2011 the award was Angler of the year $100 gift card, 2nd thru 6th and Big Bass all will receive $50 gift cards. A Awards for Club Champion and for Lady Angler of the Year. B Awards for places 2-6 for members with highest in standings. C Certificates may be issued for places 7 thru 10 D. Youth Trophy (15 and under) for youth angler of the year but must have weighed a legal sized bass. E Award for Big Bass of the Year ARTICLE XIV. MEETINGS A. Standard meeting time, place, and dates will vary B. Meetings for the general membership will be held quarterly and will be communicated in the newsletter. C. The President of the club may call for special meeting throughout the year for various reasons. D. The members present shall constitute a quorum E. Nominations for the next year’s officers will be done at the 3rd quarter meeting. F: Voting for the nominated officers by the members present will be done in the 4th quarter meeting and Installed then or at the Annual Awards Banquet. ARTICLE XV. OTHER A. From time to time the club may purchase apparel or hats and distribute or sell to the members of the club at cost or less.
ARTICLE XVI- State Federation Tournaments 1. The DFW Bassmasters will send as many of our TBF members to the state tournament as allowed by the Texas TBF, Inc. They will have to pay their entry fee. 2. We will attempt to send 50% as boaters with the highest in rank having first choice to be a boater. In the event we have an odd number, we shall take that boat and we may or may not be able to use it. 3. All boaters will be required to have liability insurance in the amount required by the TBF, Inc. 4. All non- boaters will be required to bring your own life jacket. All non-boaters will have control of the boat for 1/2 of the day and will be required to tip your boater for fuel/oil (usually $30)
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