Handbook

2009-2010

Constitution and Bylaws

Chartered since 1977

www.southfloridabasspros.com

Mission Statement

Our purpose is to improve our skills as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchanges of techniques and ideas. We pledge full adherence to all Federal and State conservation codes and regulatory standards. We offer our organized moral and political support to our State conservation department, and do all in our power to maintain adequate water standards.

Article 1 - Constitution

Section A

This organization shall be known henceforth as, "South Florida Bass Pros?" voted unanimously on the 4^th day of October 1977.

The South Florida Bass Pros? is a not-for-profit organization. Any dues collected as stated in said bylaws will be used for purchasing food, peripherals and awards for the end of the year function and any other items for the club or its members that is agreed upon by a majority vote of members present at a meeting.

Section B

The fiscal year will start in September and end in August. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month and a fishing tournament will be held the following Saturday or Saturday and Sunday.

Section C

The meeting day and/or location may be changed one month in advance by a vote of 75% of the members present at the meeting. The tournament day and/or location may be changed at the meeting prior to the tournament (4 days) by 75% of the members present at the meeting. It is the responsibility of an officer of the club to notify any members that are affected by either change.

Article 2 - Prospective Members

Section A

New members must voluntarily express an interest in club membership and must have attained an age of at least 18 years old.

Section B

After acceptance as a prospective member, the individual will face a 60 to 90 day probation period. During this time the prospective member must attend two meetings and fish in two club tournaments.

Section C

Voting on a new member will be conducted by a secret ballot of the club members present at the time of the vote. An affirmative acceptance into the club will consist of no more than two negative votes being cast. The votes will be tallied with no less than two members in attendance as witnesses.

Article 3 - Membership / Dues

Section A

Membership will consist of two categories:

· Active membership

· Standard (Inactive) membership

Active membership requires that you participate in at least four (4) or more tournaments throughout the fiscal year and fulfill the other requirements (dues, attendance, etc.) set forth in the bylaws. Active members shall not exceed thirty (30) at any given time.

Standard (inactive) membership has no requirements for meetings and/or tournaments, just the requirement of dues ($10 per month). Maximum of five (5) standard (inactive) members will be allowed. Increasing the member limit(s) will require 75% approval from active members.

A list of members (as defined above) and prospective members will be kept by the Sergeant at Arms. The ratio of boater/non-boater active members will be at the club's discretion, but 60% boater will be the general rule (18 boaters, 12 non-boaters).

Section B

If an active member takes a leave of absence and wishes to remain on the club roster, membership dues must be current (considered in good standing).

Section C

If an active member resigns (in good standing) from the club and later would like to rejoin, he does so without having to fulfill new member obligations. A vote with the same requirements as a new member applies. If any points were accumulated prior to resignation they will be reinstated upon active return to the club.

Section D

A member may be dismissed from the club's roster for failure to pay membership fees for three months or failure to attend 50% of the clubs functions. The club's roster will be reviewed every three months beginning August 1, of the current year to determine if there are any offenders. The member must be contacted by the President and will no longer be a member.

Section E

Dismissal for any reason must be passed by an affirmative vote of 75% of the club members present at the meeting.

Section F

Club dues are $10.00 per month and will be paid to the treasurer in the form of check or money order ONLY.

Section G

Any special assessments deemed necessary by a club member must receive 75% affirmative vote by the members present at the meeting.

Section H

All deposits on rooms for any club tournament or function will be paid by the club member.

Article 4 - Tournaments / Scoring System

Section A

Tournament fees shall consist of $10.00 per month and they will be paid by members fishing the tournament. Only Active and Standard members are allowed to participate in club tournaments. All tournament monies will be paid to the Vice President in the form of cash. Tournament monies will be paid out at the tournament. All members, prospective members and guests are allowed to put in for the $5.00 largest fish pot. If a club member is behind on club dues he will not be allowed to fish the tournament.

Section B

One hundred percent of all tournament fees will be paid out as prize money each month:

1^st Place 50%

2^nd Place 30%

3^rd Place 20%

Largest Fish Side Pot

Section C

A tournament committee will consist of at least three volunteer members who have not been on a tournament committee for at least one year. The tournament committee will serve for a four-month period and will select their four tournament locations one meeting prior to the last scheduled tournament. The club will approve the committee's selections by a majority vote.

Section D

Only one two day tournament may be held during a committee's four month period.

Section E

All two-day tournaments will be conducted on the same basis as a one-day tournament. (i.e., prize money will be the same, only one 1^st Place, 2^nd Place, 3^rd Place and only one large fish.)

Section F

Section G

During pairings, if two boaters draw each other, either one or both may have the option of exercising the right to fish individually. This shall be known as the "BOATER GUARANTEE AMENDMENT." However, no person exercising this option may fish individually two months in succession. In the event of this amendment being evoked, this or these individuals will be paired first in the succeeding tournament.

Section H

In the event a boating member brings a guest to the club, he may not be required to enter the draw so that he may fish with his guest. The conditions to the above are:

1. No more than two times per calendar year for each member.

2. Only for one day tournaments.

3. Only if member's boat is not needed for club members.

The guest's weight will not be counted toward monies or points. Prospective members and guests are eligible for side pot monies only. The club meeting and fishing tournament may count toward new membership qualifying requirements.

Section I

If a boater does not show up at the tournament site, a draw (which includes all 17' boats or greater) will occur to determine which boat the non-boater will fish from. If you are running late, you must call your partner or another club member 30 minutes in advance to inform him. If you do not call anyone, your partner does not have to wait for you.

Section J

If, at the meeting, a member is undecided as to whether he will fish or not; he must enter the draw as a non-boater. In addition, if a member does not show up to the meeting and does not communicate that to another club member BEFORE the meeting starts and still wishes to fish, they may do so but will not earn any points for the tournament.

Section K

A point system will be used to determine the Angler of the Year in the club. Total points will be based on the best nine tournaments out of a possible twelve tournaments in a year for each member (three drops per year).

There will be 12 tournaments per fiscal year, one each month (except August), including one "wild card" tourney. The wild card tourney will be fished in January, February or March, two (2) weeks after the regularly scheduled tournament that month. The time and location will be selected annually by the prior year's Top 5 finishers and will be announced at the September meeting.

First place finish will receive 30 points. Each subsequent place will be one less point than the one preceding place down to the bottom place finish regardless of the total number of club members fishing a tournament.

When there is a tie for a place, the next place given should be the actual place (i.e., if two people tied for fifth place the next place should be seven and so forth). If a person does not weigh in a fish, a penalty of two points will be assessed below the last place finish. The point system for team tournaments will be the same as for individual tournaments (i.e.: 1^st place 30 for both, 2^nd 29 for both and 3^rd 28 for both).

Section L

All ties consisting of weight and/or points will be allowed with duplicate awards for position or prize money.

Examples:

1. Tie for first place - split first and second place money, second place receives third place money.

2. Tie for third place - split third place money

3. Tie for year-end awards - duplicate awards will be given.

Section M

All two-day tournaments will be fished as team tournaments. Only five fish per boat per day will be weighed in whether fishing alone or paired with another angler.

Section N

When a prospective member fishes in a team tournament during his qualification period, his fish will be counted for that tournament, but no points will be awarded to the prospective member.

Section O

The tournament committee will designate the site of the tournament, the times of the tournament, and will be responsible to start the tournament.

Section P

Club members who are able to pre-fish a tournament site will be expected to share information with other members whenever possible.

Section Q

If a member shows up at the launch ramp with every intention of fishing the tournament and must leave before weigh in, he will earn last place points.

Section R

TOURNAMENT RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed during tournament hours. Violators will be disqualified from the tournament. A two-time offender will be kicked out of the club.

· No live bait of any type.

· No contestant may leave the boat unless the reason does not pertain to fishing.

· Only one rod per person in the water at any given time, and all fish must be caught on a rod and reel.

· Legal club limit by each tournament contestant is five fish, with a minimum length of twelve inches measured from the nose to any point of the tail with the mouth closed and the tail squeezed. A four ounce (.25) penalty will be assessed for each dead fish. Any person bringing short fish to the scales loses that fish and the biggest fish of their limit.

· Fish must be measured with the golden rule to determine if all fish brought to the weigh in meets the twelve-inch minimum. Measuring and weighing by our 1/100 digital scale will be the responsibility of the weigh master and/or the assistant weigh master. The weigh master and the assistant weigh master will be elected at the August meeting for the upcoming year.

· A late penalty will be assessed to each tournament member who is late for weigh in. Such penalty will allow for a five-minute grace period. Official time will be kept and announced by the tournament committee. The penalty shall consist of the deduction of one point for each minute late, to a maximum deduction of fifteen points. Exceeding fifteen minutes late (16 minutes or more), including the grace period, will constitute a no weigh in. Members are responsible to weigh in their own fish.

· The only allowable exception is equipment breakdown.

· No fish may be received into a contestant's boat unless said person legitimately catches it during the tournament hours.

· Only Black Bass and Peacock Bass per state regulations will be allowed as an accepted species.

· All fish brought to the weigh in must be transported in a plastic watertight bag supplied by the club and released from the bag.

· Fly rods are allowed as a method of fishing.

· Life vests must be worn while boats are on plane. A violation of this rule will result in disqualification from the tournament. If available, kill switches must be worn.

· If a rule is broken and disqualification occurs, the disqualification will be only for the day of the broken rule.

· All boaters or non-boaters must have a valid Florida fishing license to fish any tournament, unless otherwise exempted from such requirement by Florida Law.

· No boater or non-boater can give or receive any information from any source during a tournament. Cell phone use between tournament participants shall be limited to emergencies or matters of safety.

Section S

As a conservation step, every attempt must be made to keep fish alive during the tournament and at the weigh in. No more than four weigh in bags will be out at one time.

Section T

Non-boaters are required to offer a minimum of $30.00 per day for home and $40.00 per day for away tournaments. It is then up to the boater's discretion if the amount is not enough or too much and will adjust the amount accordingly with the non-boater.

Section U

In the event that on the day of the tournament, the site is deemed unfishable, unsafe or unacceptable for any reason by the tournament committee, a vote will be taken by all members fishing said tournament to change tournament location and/or tournament date. A 75% vote of club members fishing will be required.

Section V

Each active member must declare "Boater" or "Non-Boater" at the beginning of the fiscal year (at the September meeting). A "Boater" cannot option to be a "Non-Boater" in a tournament if boats are needed and their boat is operable.

Article 5 - Awards

Fiscal year end awards will be given for the following:

Angler of the Year - most points.

Second place - second most points.

Third place - third most points.

Fourth place - fourth most points.

Fifth place - fifth most points.

Largest fish caught in a tournament during the year.

Horse's Ass award voted by the members.

Nominations for special appreciation awards.

Article 6 - Club Officers

Section A

The officers of the club shall consist of:

PRESIDENT

The President will preside over all meetings, direct all official business, and will supervise all club functions.

VICE PRESIDENT

The Vice President will assist President and preside in absence of the President. The Vice President will secure the fishing exemptions and will fill out the fishing reports.

SECRETARY

The Secretary will maintain accurate minutes for all meetings and must report the minutes at all meetings.

TREASURER

The Treasurer will maintain accurate records of clubs finances, be responsible for club payments, and must give a financial report at all meetings.

SERGEANT AT ARMS

The Sergeant At Arms will maintain all tournament results and member standings. He is responsible for meeting attendance and the interpretation of the club by-laws.

WEIGH MASTERS

The Weigh master(s) will ensure that the official weigh in scales, weigh in basket, bags and golden rule are kept in clean, safe and in working order. If there is a problem with anything, it is their responsibility to inform the club members and propose a resolution.

Section B

There are no paid positions in this club.

Section C

A member may hold only one office at a time.

Section D

The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of August, with nomination for officers to be held in July. Voting will be 50% plus one affirmative of the members present. Each member is allowed one vote and no proxy votes are accepted.

Section E

To be eligible for any office a member must have been in the club for at least six months, attended at least 75% of all club functions, and show an active interest in all club activities.

Article 7 - Bylaw Changes

Section A

August is the month designated for all constitutional changes. The constitution may be amended at this time by 66% vote of the members present and voting. Ample time for discussion must be provided to the membership.

Section B

Proposed changes to the Bylaws must be submitted in writing. These changes may be submitted to the President anytime during the year or before the beginning of the August meeting.