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Tri County Elite Bass Club
By-Laws Established March 17, 2019
The Tri County Elite Bass Club (TCEBC) is established for the purpose of providing a competitive bass fishing format. The club shall be governed by officers that include a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and tournament director. Each officer will be nominated and voted to said position. Every member shall have a voice in how our club is managed.
Tri County Elite Bass Club will partner with and be established under the guidance of B.A.S.S. and support same. Each member of the Tri County Elite Bass Club must maintain a paid membership to B.A.S.S. and remain in good standing with the state Club. Our club shall submit yearly a complete roster to B.A.S.S.
Every member will exercise integrity, courteousness, lawful and ethical behavior at all times while engage in all Tri County Elite Bass club functions. It is each member’s responsibility to promote and enhance the club image. Our members should encourage and engage others to be stewards of our great outdoors.
As a club we should also encourage the youth of our communities to become more involved with the sport of tournament bass fishing.
CLUB OFFICERS
Officers shall conduct the affairs of the club ina manner consistent with these Bylaws. In addition, the State B.A.S.S Nation Board of Directors is required to be comprised of members who are free to serve the State and its members without a conflict of interest. B.A.S.S. Nation State Board Members and officers are not permitted to hold positions with any B.A.S.S. Nation-type organization, thiat is not affiliated with B.A.S.S.
The election of TCEBC officers will be conducted during the first meeting of January each calendar year. The term of office for each officer will be one year. The term will commence on February 1 and run through January 31 of each bass season.
PRESIDENT The club president will preside over all club meetings and known club business. It will be the responsibility of the president to establish and set forth the agenda of all club activities.
VICE PRESIDENT The vice president will assume all duties in the absence of the president. The vice president will also provide guidance and recommendations on all club activities in order to facilitate a bipartisan environment.
SECRETARY The club secretary shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining all meeting minutes. A brief synopsis of each previous meeting shall be provided prior to the commencement of any new meetings in order to address any open issues.
TREASURER The club treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance, collection and distribution of all monies associated with our club. A monthly expenditure and balance shall be readily available for inspection by any member in good standing with the club when so requested. It will be the treasurer’s responsibility at each club meeting to have said report available so that it can be included to the club minutes.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR The tournament director shall be responsible for all of the following:
First, in the event any issues of misconduct, cheating, protests, unethical or unsafe behaviour are brought to the attention of the club, it shall be the tournament directors sole responsibility to resolve the matter. The tournament director has the discretion to consult with any member of the club, law enforcement or third party witnesses to obtain the guidance required in order to render a just decision. The final decision of the tournament director in any resolution will be confirmed by a majority approval of all club officers present. The club president shall only vote to confirm or deny a decision in the event a majority agreement is not meet.
Secondly, the tournament director shall oversee all tournament weighings. One club member shall be responsible for the operation of the scales during all events. That members catch will be weighed by an independent party. The tournament director shall record and document each participants catch for purposes of maintaining accurate accounts of the event.
VACANCIES
In the event any officer of the TCEBC is unable to fulfill his term of office, the membership shall nominate and vote a replacement member. This member will then complete the term of the vacancy pending a club election at the scheduled January meeting for the upcoming season.
TOURNAMENTS
A schedule of the events to be fished by the Tri County Elite Bass club will be established as early as possible at the beginning of each calendar year.
As necessary, changes and accommodations will be facilitated through the tournament director and elected officers.
In the event that inclement weather warrants a cancellation for safety, all attempts to notify each member as soon as possible will be made.
Tournaments will be conducted in the following manner under the following rules:
*All participants shall possess a valid fishing license for the body of water being fished.
*All anglers shall abide by and have knowledge of all state laws covering the body of water being fished. I.e. hook limitations, no wake zones, safe operation of marine vessels
*All vessels shall be U.S.C.G. certified and approved
*At anytime the main engine is in use to propel the boat, the boat operator will wear an approved life jacket and be tethered to an operative kill switch lanyard.
*No live bait shall be permitted during the scheduled tournament
*Anglers will register the day of the scheduled event
*Payment of the entry fee of $50 prior to the start of the event
*Lunker participation will be optional. A $10 fee for participation will be collected prior to start
*Registration will close 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Be early and on time!
*Starting order will be based upon drawing a numbered chip
*The highest numbered chip selected will designate that member as the control boat
*That control boat will call out the single file take off
*All members will pass the control boat in a safe manner and be clear of same before coming up on pad
*The control boat will be the last competitor to depart
*The tournament will be held for 8 hours
*Late returners will be assessed a penalty for each minute they are late. 1 pound per minute, with a maximum being 10 minutes which will result in disqualification
*Dead fish will incur a 4 oz. penalty for each
*All anglers will fish as single members in a single boat
*All anglers will have an insurance policy with a minimum of $300,000 liability coverage
*All fish will be brought to the scale as soon as possible and returned to the lake in the same manner
*There will be no alcohol consumed prior to, during or after the tournament until the scales have been officially closed.
*Any participant deemed to be unfit prior to the start of the scheduled event will not be allowed to participate.
*Cash payouts will be made with the established pay schedule and to the number of winners based upon the entry fees collected.
*Ties will be broken based upon your biggest fish. Always weigh your biggest fish!
*Any illicit or illegal activity will warrant the immediate forfeiture of cash prizes for that member. Any such activity will also be brought to the attention of law enforcement for adjudication. Any member caught engaging in any such activity shall be immediately suspended from the Tri County Elite Bass club pending a review by a convened meeting of club members.
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1:
Tri County Elite Bass shall begin with and maintain at least 6 members
SECTION 2: REQUIREMENT FOR REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
To become a club member, a person shall:
- Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership
- Be a member of B.A.S.S.
- Be a member of the state B.A.S.S Nation
- Be recommended by two members at a regular monthly meeting
- Be voted on by membership. Vote shall be by secret ballot and affirmation shall be unanimous
- Be 16 years of age
SECTION 3: REQUIREMENTS FOR JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP
To become a junior member of an adult club, a person shall:
- Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership
- Be under 16 years of age
*Junior members are not required to pay national membership dues and are not entitled to the benefits of a regular member. The acceptance of junior members will not affect a club’s liability insurance policy. Junior members may not hold office in an adult club nor may they be voting members. At age 16, junior members may continue membership by joining the club as a regular member. Junior membership ceases on the person’s 16th birthday.
SECTION 4: MEMBERSHIP DUES
The membership dues shall be $75 annually, initially payable upon being voted into the club, $30 of which shall be for B.A.S.S. nation dues, $25 of which shall be for club dues and $20 of which shall be state dues. B.A.S.S. membership dues are also required at the current rate.
SECTION 5: MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
The membership shall hold regular meetings at a pre-established times.
The Tri County Elite Bass club reserves the right to conduct a hearing of any member who knowingly violates any of the existing by-laws set forth. The Tri County Elite Bass club also reserves the right to take any appropriate action against a member who is convicted of a crime.
Any club member with a grievance against another member shall first bring it to the attention of a club officer on the date of the alleged offense. That member shall also render their complaint to writing within 72 hours of the offense and submit same to the club president.
AFFILIATION
SECTION 1: REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFILIATION
- Approval of club charter by B.A.S.S.
- Update B.A.S.S. with club membership roster once each year. Annual update cycle begins each year on November 1
- Names and addreses of new members joing the club during the year must be submitted online to B.A.S.S. as they occur.
- Maintain 100% B.A.S.S. membership
- Must affiliate with the state Nation and support its conservation and youth programs. Any additional requirements that the state establishes for clubs, such as membership, dues, attendance at meetings, etc. would be necessary for the club to participate in the state qualifying tournament(s) any other Nation sponsored tournaments or events.