MISS-LOU CHRISTIAN FISHING CLUB

BYLAWS

Revised 3/17/2005

ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1.         The name of the organization is Miss-Lou Christian Fishing Club.

Section 2.         The purpose of Miss-Lou Christian Fishing Club is to put Christ first while encouraging fellowship among Christians, promoting a Christian lifestyle through the sport of fishing, encouraging courteous conduct on and off our waters, promoting environmental conservation in attitude and practice, and sponsoring fishing contests

for its members and guests.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

 Section 1.         The membership of the club shall be limited to those who profess

Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Section 2.         All applicants for membership must present to the Secretary/Treasurer for submission to the Membership Committee an application stating his salvation in Jesus Christ and his church affiliation along with his name, address, telephone

number, etc. . . . No applicant shall become a member of the fellowship until his application has been approved by the Membership Committee and he has been duly notified by the Secretary/Treasurer. 

Section 3.         Each member shall pay club dues annually in an amount fixed by

the membership.

Section 4.         A member shall automatically forfeit his membership by failing to pay

the required dues and fees by the first meeting of any year.  Any member who is delinquent on any dues, banquet or other fees will be ineligible to participate in any

club activity until the dues, fees, etc., are paid in full.

Section 5.         Upon the recommendation of the membership committee,

disinterested members may be dropped from the fellowship by a vote of the majority

of the members present at the March meeting.

Section 6.         Following spiritual counseling and prayer and upon the recommendations of the Executive Committee, members may be suspended or expelled for improper conduct by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present

at any regular meeting.

ARTICLE III

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.         The direction, administration, and all powers of the club shall be

vested in an Executive Committee composed of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer of the club, having been elected annually from the membership.  Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee shall be filled by election at the

next regularly scheduled meeting of the club.  No member shall serve as an elected officer of the club in the same capacity for more than two (2) full calendar years in succession.  This provision shall not, however, preclude a member who has been elected to an unexpired term from serving an additional two (2) consecutive years in

the same capacity.

Section 2.         The Executive Committee shall meet as necessary upon the call of the President at such time and place as he designates.  A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of two (2) members of said committee.

Section 3.         The election of new club officers each year shall be done in the

following manner.  A Nominating Committee shall consist of the current Executive Committee.  The Nomination Committee shall select members of the club as

candidates for each of the offices of President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer.  Candidates for each office must be active club members for

at least two (2) years prior to beginning their term of office.  A ballot shall be

presented to the membership at the March meeting.  Nominations from the floor for each contested office shall be permissible.  The candidate for each office receiving

the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner.  The election shall take

place at the March meeting by written ballot.  The new officers shall begin their term

on April 1 and shall be presented at the Annual Banquet.

Section 4.         The duties, responsibilities and authority of each officer shall be as follows:

(A)              The President shall serve as chairman of the Executive

            Committee and shall preside at all meetings of both the membership and the Executive Committee.  He shall appoint the Membership Committee and such committees as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the club.

(B)              The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in

            the absence of the President.  He shall also serve as Chairman

            of the Tournament Committee.  The Vice-President shall be responsible for ensuring scales and measuring devices are delivered to and from tournament weigh-in sites and shall supervise weighing, counting and measuring all fish.  He shall keep appropriate records of tournament results and report them

            to the secretary.

(C)       The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of all the meetings

            of the club and of the Executive Committee.  He shall give notice

            of all regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee

            to it’s members and shall keep a record of all officers and members of the club and their addresses and phone numbers. 

            He shall maintain records of tournament results as received from the Vice-President and shall report club standings to the

            membership at each meeting.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall submit articles of club events, standings and news to local newspapers.  He shall also notify new members of their acceptance into the club.

(D)              The Secretary/Treasurer shall collect, hold and disburse, under

            the direction of the Executive Committee, all monies of the club;

            be charged with the collection of all money due the club from members thereof and other sources; keep or cause to be kept regular books of account and submit a statement of the account

            at all monthly club meetings.  He shall deposit all monies of the club into the club’s checking account and shall pay all club bills     by checks drawn on said account.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1.         Regular club meetings will be held at 7:00 pm on the third Thursday of each month from February through November unless otherwise stipulated by the Executive Committee.

Section 2.         Each regular meeting shall include time for prayer and devotion.  All tournaments shall include time for a devotional.

Section 3.         Special meetings of the members may be called at any time by the President or Executive Committee.

Section 4.         A quorum shall consist of thirty-three percent (33%) of the current membership, present in person, and no business requiring a vote will be transacted at any membership meeting unless a quorum is present.

Section 5.         The regular awards Banquet will be held in April following each tournament year at a time and place set forth by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V

FISHING CONTESTS

Section 1.         All decisions of the Vice-President or his appointed weigh-master with respect to weigh-in/cut-off time, measurements, classification, weights, limits, and penalties shall be final and closed from appeal.

Section 2.          General fishing rules to prevail during all club tournaments are as follows:

(A)              No tournaments shall be held on Sunday.

(B)              Alcoholic beverages are not allowed during any club activity. 

            This includes traveling to and from tournament sites.

(C)              All competitive fishing shall be done with natural or artificial bait

            on casting rods and reels, spinning rods and reels, spin-cast

            rods and reels, fly rods and reels, or poles and lines.  A

            maximum of three (3) rods or poles per angler may be used at

            one time.  A maximum of two (2) lures or baits per rod or pole

            may be used at one time.  Trolling is allowed. 

(D)      Competitive fishing shall be conducted within the limitations imposed by Federal, State, and Local laws, rules and regulations.

(E)              Participants shall not attempt to fish within fifty (50) yards of another participant’s boat that was first anchored or tied up at the location unless specifically invited to do so by the participant first on location.

(F)               Pullovers are not permitted unless specifically allowed by the Tournament Committee for a particular tournament.

(G)             Club members are not allowed to hire a fishing guide for any club tournament.

(H)              Scoring will be based on the weight in pounds of fish (minimum length, as measured on a flat board, will be delegated by weigh master).  Fish presented for weighing less than the minimum required length for such tournament will be disqualified prior to weighing.  The Golden Rule will be the official measurement. 

            Only ten (10) fish per team, five (5) per member will be counted.  Fish may be kept at the discretion of the individual fisherman.

(I)                 All competitive fishing shall be done from a competitor’s boat unless otherwise allowed by the Tournament Director.

(J)                All competitive fishing shall be done during official tournament hours, in waters accessible to all members.

(K)             Finishing places are set-up as follows:  The boat with the most weight will place First in the tournament, then Second Place followed by Third Place.  Individual places are set-up on a 100-point system.  The person with the most weight will receive 100 points, for that tournament, Second Place will receive 99 points, Third Place 98 points, and so on all the way down through those who place in the tournament.  If you fished in the tournament and failed to weigh-in a fish, you will receive one (1) point less than

            the last place competitor weighing fish.  Members shall receive

            ten (10) points per meeting attended not to exceed 100 points.  Total of meeting points will count as one score.  Meeting points

            will have the same status as tournament points.  Final standings will be determined by the total of ten (10) tournaments plus meeting points, less the three (3) lowest scores.

(L)               Coast Guard approved flotation vests must be worn by all contestants while combustion engine is in operation.  A    functional kill switch (if equipped) will be attached to the operator of the boat.

Section 3.         Guests are subject to the same rules as members and will compete

for awards.

Section 4.         Awards will be given for Points Champion, Big Bass, Big Crappie,

and any awards determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Section 1.         The Membership Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) members, as elected by the current membership, to serve one-year terms as the Membership Committee and they shall elect their own chairman, as needed.

Section 2.         The Membership Committee shall take action on a prospective

member only after it has been furnished with a completed application form.  The committee shall have the responsibility to determine that applicants meet the membership requirements.

Section 3.         The Membership Committee shall inform the Executive Committee

of the results of its deliberations with respect to all applications and shall recommend that applications be accepted or rejected.

Section 4.         The Membership Committee shall meet prior to the March meeting

of each year to review the extent of member participation in club events and meetings.  The Membership Committee shall contact members who by lack of participation or other means have indicated disinterest in club affairs to attempt to determine if those members plan to continue membership, and shall make recommendations to the membership at the March meeting with respect to

dropping said disinterested members.

Section 5.         All new applications will be numbered by the Membership Committee

as approved and vacancies in the club will be filled on a first come basis.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.         These bylaws supercede all rules and regulations previously voted on

by the Membership.

Section 2.         All proposed bylaw amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee for presentation to the Club.  These bylaws may be amended at the March meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present.  The bylaws may not be amended at any meeting other than the March meeting of any year.     Notice of the intent to make such change must be presented to the membership in writing at the February meeting.