BCKFC Bylaws & Constitution

Bylaws

Section 1. Membership Applications Application for membership shall be made to the Secretary / Treasurer on a form provided for that purpose accompanied by the annual dues and a signed waiver of liability. Section 2. Membership Fees Annual dues $25.00 for an individual or $40.00 per family per year, payable 1 June of each year. Section 3. Meetings A. Regular Meetings Interim meetings will be TBA until a location and date is established. B. Special Meetings The President shall call Special Meetings at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Notice of Special Meetings shall be sent via email to Members at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting date. No business shall be transacted at a Special Meeting except that for which notice is given. Section 4. Order of Business The order of business at all meetings shall be in accordance with an accepted rule of order as delineated in Robert's Rules of Order. Section 5. Elections A. Officer Elections The President, Vice President, Secretary / Treasurer shall be elected at the annual general membership meeting and shall hold office for one year beginning with the first meeting of the following year. B. Nomination Candidates for all elected offices shall be nominated during the meeting prior to the General Meeting with additional floor nominations accepted at the time of election. All nominations shall be made by the following methods: by a special nomination committee consisting of three (3) Members, including no more than two Board members, appointed by the Executive Committee to nominate a slate of qualified candidates for each office to be filled or by nomination made from the floor by a Member and seconded by any other Member. C. Voting Voting shall be by show of hands for each candidate. Election shall require affirmative votes from a majority of members present. Members must be present to vote. Voting may be conducted electronically (via e-mail) if feasible. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the elections. D. Vacancies Nominations to fill the unexpired term of a vacant office shall be made from the floor of the Meeting at which the election to fill the vacant office is held after announcing the election via email to Members at least two weeks in advance. Voting shall be conducted as described in Section 3 above. Section 6. Operating Fund Funds in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be deposited by the Secretary / Treasurer in a depository approved by the Executive Committee. These funds shall be the Operating Fund of the Club. Funds less than one hundred dollars ($100) may be kept as cash on hand to meet minor expenses. Section 7. Expulsions If any member is charged with improper conduct or with violating the provisions of the Constitution or By-Laws of the Club, such charges shall be brought before the Executive Committee for review. If such charges are found to have sufficient weight, the Secretary / Treasurer shall notify the member of the charges at least one week before the next meeting of the Association. The Member shall be required to appear at such meeting and show just cause, why he/she should not be censured, deprived of the privileges of the Association, or expelled from membership in the Club. If the Member fails to appear at such meeting or is found guilty of the charge, the Member shall, upon a majority vote of the Members present, be censured, be deprived of the privileges of the Club, or be expelled from membership in the Club. Section 8. AsssociationTermination In the event of termination of the Club any remaining Club funds and assets shall be dispersed to a charitable organization selected by a majority decision of the Executive Committee. Section 9. Enacting Clause These By-Laws shall take effect June 1, 2006.

Constitution

Section 1. Name The Association shall be called Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club (BCKFC) and shall operate as a non-profit organization (to be determined). Section 2. Purpose To support and promote the sport of fishing from paddle craft in Coastal Areas. Sections 3. Goals As a recreational organization, the Club's goals shall be to: Organize area kayak fishermen in Coastal Louisiana and Mississippi. Support and promote the safe and responsible pursuit of the sport of kayak fishing. Promote fellowship and provide a fun meeting place for kayak fishermen. Provide forum for exchange of ideas, fishing information and rigging tips. Sponsor events, group outings and kayak fishing tournaments. Provide public presence to protect interests of kayak fisherman. Section 4. Membership A. Age Any person over the age of twelve (12) years who fishes from a canoe, pirogue, or kayak may become a Member of the BCKFC by complying with provisions specified in the By-Laws. Those members age eighteen (18) years or older are eligible to vote and to hold office. B. Honorary Membership Any person over the age of twelve (12) years who the Club desires to honor may be elected an Honorary Member by a majority vote of themembers present at any regular meeting. Honorary Members will enjoy for the currentyear the same privileges as regular members except for voting and holding office. C. Honorary Life Membership A member who has performed truly outstanding service for the Club may be granted an Honorary Life Member by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at any regular meeting. Honorary Life Members will enjoy for life the same privileges as regular members. Section 5. Officers The elected officers are charged with making the decisions required for operation of the Club, subject to review and consensual approval of the membership. The Officers of the Club will be President, Vice President and Secretary / Treasurer. Section 6. Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary / Treasurer and the former President. Section 7. Duties A. President It shall be the duty of the President: a. To preside at meetings and conduct them in accordance with accepted rules of order (Robert's Rules of Order). b. to schedule and preside over meetings of the Executive Committee c. To appoint temporary vacancies subject to approval by the membership. d. To appoint various committees as necessary. B. Vice President It shall be the duty of the Vice President: a. To be responsible for a program at Regular Meetings. b. To assist the President in the discharge of his/her duties. c. To preside in the absence of the President. d. To ensure the documents of incorporation of the Club are kept current. C. Secretary / Treasurer It shall be the duty of the Secretary / Treasurer: a. To keep a log of proceedings of the Club Meetings. b. To maintain custody of all reports and documents connected with the Club. c. To keep a current and correct Membership roster. d. To conduct the Club’s Correspondence. e. To collect all monies due, to have charge of the funds of the Club, and to keep a correct record and account of all monies received and paid out. f. To deposit the funds of the Club, in the name of the Club, in a depository or depositories approved by the Executive Committee. g. To present at each Meeting a report stating the financial condition of the Club. h. To present a written annual financial statement for the prior calendar year at the first Regular Meeting of the year. D. Past President Upon the new President taking office, the outgoing President shall serve as Past President on the Executive Committee for a period of one year. It shall be the duty of the Past President: a. To provide guidance and consultation to the President and Executive Committee. b. To preside in the absence of both the President and Vice President. Section 8. Nominations Nominations for Officers of the Club shall be made as provided in the By-Laws. Section 9. Election The Officers of the Club shall be elected annually by majority vote of the members present. Section 10. Term of Office The term of office of each Officer shall be one year. Section 11. Vacancy In the event of a vacancy occurring in any office, the vacancy shall be made known, and a successor for the remaining term of office shall be elected at the next meeting of the Club. Section 12. Compensation Officers shall receive no financial compensation, no decrease in membership dues and no other fiscal benefit of the Association. Section 13. Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be the policy making body of the Club, with the recommended policies being subject to the approval of the membership. Association Officers plus the Past President of the Club will constitute the Executive Committee, each having one vote. A. Director The Club President will serve as Director of the Executive Committee. B. Past President The outgoing President will fill the Past President seat on the Executive Committee. Section 14. Quorum A. Membership Quorum A quorum for the transaction of business at a members meeting, including election of officers, shall consist of fifty one percent (51%) or greater of the voting membership. B. Executive Committee Quorum A quorum for the transaction of business at Executive Committee meetings shall consist of three (3) of the four (4) Members. Section 15. Removal and Expulsions Any elected officer may be removed from office and any Member of the Association may be expelled from the Association, for cause, in the manner prescribed in the By-Laws. Section 16. Amendments The Constitution and Bylaws of the Club may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting provided that the proposed amendment has been distributed via email to Members at least two weeks before being voted upon. The Constitution and By-Laws, when amended, shall be revised and reposted on the Club Website. Section 17. Enacting Clause This Constitution shall take effect June 1, 2006.