By-Laws
1975
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
{REVISED 2007}
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1 – NAME
This organization shall be called “GILLESPIE BASS CLUB”
SECTION 2 – PURPOSE
To improve our skills as bass anglers through fellowship and friendly exchange of bass catching
techniques and ideas.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 – Requirements for membership shall be:
A. Age 21 and over;
B. GILLESPIE BASS CLUB shall be limited to (75) members;
C. A new member may be taken in by proxy.
SECTION 2 – Yearly membership fee:
A. The membership fee will be $30.00 payable annually by the March meeting to the club treasurer.
B. The President, Recording Secretary, Tournament Chairman, Treasurer and Special Events Coordinator shall be exempt from yearly dues during their said term of office.
SECTION 3 – A member shall be dropped from the membership for the following:
A. Any action which would reflect dishonor or disgrace to the organization. All decisions by the Board of Directors are final.
B. Becoming (1) month behind in payment of yearly dues; written notice will be given at least (2) weeks prior to cancellation of membership due to non-payment of dues.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS, ELECTIONS, VACANCIES
SECTION 1 – Officers and their duties:
A. PRESIDENT: Preside over all meetings and direct all official business. Appoint special committees when necessities arise, and he will chair advisory committee meetings. (Board of Directors)
B. 1st VICE-PRESIDENT: Will assist the President in his duties and preside in his absence.
C. 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT and TOURNAMENT CHAIRMAN: Will preside over meetings when necessary and will preside over all tournaments; including drawing for boat partners, officiating at weigh-ins and keep point standings.
D. TREASURER: Conduct all financial business of the club.
E. RECORDING SECRETARY: Maintain accurate minutes of all meetings.
F. SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR: Coordinate and schedule all events hosted by the club or any that may arise during their said term. Can appoint a committee to help with these events.
SECTION 2 – ELECTIONS
A. The nomination of officers shall be held annually at a regular scheduled meeting during the month of November. Acceptance of the nomination must be received by due process; Acceptance by the nominee must be secured as well.
B. The election of officers shall be held at a regular scheduled meeting during the month of December. Elections shall be simple majority of all members present.
C. The term of office is for (1) one year, which shall begin immediately following the clubs December meeting and last until the next year’s scheduled December meeting.
SECTION 3 – VACANCIES
A. 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. This is to be done at a regular scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE IV – METHODS OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS
SECTION 1
A. The constitution may be amended by the majority if the membership at any regular scheduled provided notice of the proposed amendment has been presented to the entire membership at least two weeks prior to the next scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE V – TOURNAMENT RULES
1. All decisions made by the tournament committee will be final and binding.
2. All tournaments will be limited to members in good standing. (ART II, SEC 3)
3. The drawing for partners will take place at regular scheduled club meetings preceding the tournament, unless otherwise specified. Any late entries must be approved by the Tournament Chairman or committee. Odd man in a tournament will fish alone. The Tournament Chairman makes all final decisions on boat partners at tournament sites.
4. All boats must have an aerated live well in operating condition. The Tournament Chairmen may waive the aerator requirements for certain lakes.
5. One may get into a tournament up until 8 P.M. Saturday preceding a Sunday tournament or 8 P.M. on Friday preceding a Saturday or Sat/Sun. tournament; however, tournament fee must be paid prior to fishing. You will be penalized your entry fee if you do not notify the Tournament Chairman of your intent to withdraw by 8 P.M. on Friday preceding a Sunday tournament, or by 8 P.M. Thursday preceding a Saturday of Sat/Sun. tournament. This will allow the Tournament Chairman one day to acquire someone to take your place.
6. Weigh-in for the tournament will be held at the same place where the boats are launched.
7. The tournament committee will be in charge of all weigh-ins for all scheduled tournaments. Big bass at the weigh-in will break all ties on individual stringers. All contestants are allowed to weigh in one bass as big bass of the stringer.
8. All fish will be bumped at weigh-in by the tournament committee. A (2) two pound penalty for each short fish will be deducted from legal weight. There will be a (.50) half pound deduction for that dead fish.
9. The Gillespie Bass Club GOLDEN RULE bump board will be the OFFICIAL bump board.
10. All fish will be weighed to the hundredth of a pound or to the nearest ounce on the low side of the scale markings.
11. Only casting, spinning and spin-casting tackle may be used. Only one rod may be used at a time. Extra rods may be rigged and ready for substitutes. Only artificial and sport type lures may be used.
12. All contestants are required to be at the check-in on time. A penalty of (1) one pound per minute up to maximum of (15) fifteen minutes, after which the contestant is automatically disqualified. Valid excuses will be considered by the tournament committee.
13. Scoring: Only Largemouth Black bass, Kentucky Spotted Bass and Smallmouth bass will be scored for points during the tournament. Scoring will be (50) points for first place, (49) points for second place, (48) points for third place and on down through 50th place for (1) one point. Bass which are less than the legal length limit with MOUTH CLOSED will not be counted or weighed for official score. Any contestant bringing in more than the legal limit, (all state laws will be strictly adhered to) will be disqualified. All fish will be taken in a sporting manner. Any fish appearing to be mashed or disfigured, in any way, will become subject to disqualification of score by the tournament committee.
14. Safe boating must be observed at all times. All state and local laws and water rules will and must be adhered to. All tournament contestants must have a life jacket on at take off and while the combustion motor is running. This is the responsibility of the boat owner and his partner.
15. All fishing must be conducted from the boat.
16. All boats must be operated in a safe manner at all times. No contestant will be permitted to fish with-in (50) yards of another contestant’s boat which is ANCHORED on a spot. The partners are expected to share launching, travel and boat (gas and oil) expenses during the tournament.
17. Any contestant wishing to lodge a protest against the score of another contestant must do so in writing and signed by the protestor within (30) minutes following the final weigh-in and given to the tournament committee for the final decision.
18. Any person found deliberately operating a boat in a manner which handicaps or endangers his partner will be disqualified from the tournament.
19. It will be prohibited for a contestant to give or offer fish to his partner. It is also prohibited for any contestant to accept fish not actually caught by him or to suggest his boat partner to offer fish as a gift. An infraction of this rule will automatically disqualify both contestants from this and all future tournaments sponsored by GILLESPIE BASS CLUB.
20. All tournaments will start promptly at the designated time. All contestants must be at the tournament site (30) minutes before the starting time. The Tournament Chairman and his committee may change the start time and location the day of the said tournament based on weather conditions or unsafe fishing. Bass fishing from 12 midnight before tournament time will be forbidden on the day of the tournament. Testing of equipment prior to take off will be allowed.
21. Cash awards will be presented at the tournament site (no fish, no prize). (3) Three places plus big bass to be awarded. The winner of each tournament will receive a first place trophy at the clubs awards banquet.
22. Entry fee will be $25.00 for each tournament fished.
A. Trophy for first place will be provided by GILLESPIE BASS CLUB
B. $17.00 of said entry fee will be paid back to the top (3) places.
C. $2.00 of said entry fee will be paid back to the contestant weighing in the largest bass at each tournament.
D. $4.00 of said entry fee will be put in the top-ten fish off kitty. The top ten fishermen for the year, (as determined by tournament point standings) have a special predetermined fish off for said money, distributed as follows: 1st place 50%, 2nd place 25%, 3rd place 15% and Big Bass 10%. All moneys in the kitty will be distributed to the winners or winner. If no winner is determined on fish off day, it will be equally distributed among other contestants.
E. $2.00 of said entry fee will go to the clubs general funds.
ARTICLE VI – QUALIFICATIONS FOR AWARDS
SECTION 1 – BIG BASS OF THE YEAR AWARD
A. This award will be for the biggest bass caught in Gillespie Bass Club tournament play during the year. This award will be a trophy plus an additional $100.00.
SECTION 2 – FISHERMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
A. This award is given to the member who compiles the most points during tournament competition. This award will be acknowledgement of one’s name on the “Fisherman of the Year” plaque displayed at Crawdaddies Tavern, an additional plaque, plus free tournament fees for the next fishing season.
SECTION 3 – WINNER OF TOP TEN FISH-OFF
A. A plaque will be given to the winner of the top ten fish-off.
B. This plaque to be paid for from the Gillespie Bass Club coffers.
ARTICLE VII – REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
A. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 P.M in the back room of Crawdaddies Tavern. The President may change the date or place of a meeting due to a holiday or Crawdaddies being closed. Adequate notice will be given of the change to the membership by the Recording Secretary.
B. Special meeting may be called by the President upon applications by six or members. The President shall call such meeting in which the Recording Secretary shall contact all members at least (3) three days in advance.
