Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club, Inc
By-Laws
The By-Laws presented here are for reference purposes only. In the case of discrepancies between the information presented here and the official By-Laws available from the club secretary, the version available from the secretary will be the governing document.
Revised 12/01
Purpose
The purpose of the Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club, Inc. shall be to perpetuate, improve, and foster interest and activities in the areas of hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor recreation; for this and future generations.
ARTICLE I
Name and Location Section 1. The association shall be know by the
name of Fitchburg Sportsmen's Club, Inc. Its location shall be Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, with grounds in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.
ARTICLE II
Officers
Section 1. The officers of the club shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and twelve directors, who shall constitute a Board of Directors. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected annually in February. Directors shall be elected as follows: at the meeting in February, one will be elected for a term of one year, one elected for a term of two years, and four for three years. Thereafter, at each February meeting, four shall be elected for a term of three years.
Section 2. All vacancies that occur in elected offices between annual meetings shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors. Such appointments to be effective for the remainder of the unexpired term of office.
ARTICLE III
Powers and Duties of Officers
President
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members or the Board of Directors.
Section 2. He shall, at his own discretion, and/or when so directed or approved by vote of the Board of Directors, call a meeting of the members to be held in accordance with the by-laws.
Section 3. He shall call all special meetings of the Board of Directors as provided for in the by-laws.
Vice President
Section 4. The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in his absence.
ARTICLE IV
Secretary
Section 1. The Secretary shall be sworn each year to the faithful discharge of his duties and a record of the oath shall be made by him upon the records of the club.
Section 2. He shall attend all meetings of the club and directors and shall record all votes of the members or the directors at their respective meetings upon the book or record of the club.
Section 3. He shall notify the members and directors of their respective meetings in accordance with the by-laws of the club, shall conduct all correspondence, and perform all duties includent to this office prescribed by the law or these by-laws and such other duties as the directors may from time to time prescribe, and he shall receive a sum of money for personal expenses equal to the treasurer's as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. In the absence of the Secretary, a clerk pro tempore may be elected.
Section 5. He shall have custody of the agreement of association and an attested copy of the certificate of organization and the by-laws, as well as true records of all meetings of the members and directors.
ARTICLE V
Treasurer
Section 1. The Treasurer shall receive all dues, charges, and other moneys.
Section 2. He shall pay all bills that have been approved by the Board of Directors and keep account thereof in the books of the club, which shall always be open to the inspection of the directors, and make a full report of all the receipts and disbursements at the annual meeting or whenever called for by the Board of Directors. He shall receive a sum of money for personal expenses equal to the secretary's as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have a general supervision of the property and business of the club, make all purchases, approve the committees hereinafter provided for and make such rules and regulations not hereinafter provided for as they may deem necessary for the welfare of the club and the protection and maintenance of the properties.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings
Section 1. The election meeting of the club for the election of the officers and the transaction of other corporate business shall be held on the first Monday of February. The outgoing president shall preside over the election meeting. Monthly meetings shall be held in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, and December.
Section 2. The place and time for meetings shall be provided by the Board of Directors and shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President and/or Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
Memberships
Section 1. The five classes of membership will be regular, junior, senior, life, and family. They may be elected by ballot at any regular meeting after approval of the Board of Directors. If three negative votes appear against a candidate, he shall be declared rejected. Life membership will be limited to 80 living members. Life member numbers will not be reissued after death.
Section 2. Honorary members shall be elected in the manner prescribed for regular members and shall be entitled to all the privileges of the club. They shall be exempt from fees and dues.
Section 3. Any member may resign by giving notice in writing to the President.
Section 4. An applicant for membership shall be a citizen of the United States and must be at least fifteen (15) years of age and subscribe to the oath of the National Rifle Association.
Section 5. Family membership entitles spouse and children under the age of 15 years to all privileges of a member, pertaining to hunting, fishing, and the use of the grounds. A family membership entitles the family to one (1) vote in any vote before membership. Family membership fee will be regular member fee plus $10.
ARTICLE IX
Committees
Section 1. The following standing committees shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors within two weeks of the date of the election meeting:
Range Committee
Trap Committee
House and Grounds Committee
Fish, Game and Pheasant Committee
Committee of Legislation
Entertainment Committee
Nominating Committee
The Chairman of each of the above committees, with the exception of the Nominating Committee, shall be selected by the President.
ARTICLE X
Duties of Committees
Section 1. The Range Committee shall have full charge of the rifle range and all equipment relating thereto. They shall make and enforce all rules and regulations governing the use of the range and arrange all tournaments and contests carried out thereon.
Section 2. The Trap Committee shall have full charge of the trap house and trap shooting grounds and all the equipment relating thereon. They shall make and enforce all rules and regulations governing the use of the trap house and trap grounds and arrange for all tournaments and contests carried out thereon.
Section 3. The House and Grounds Committee shall make such rules and regulations governing the use of the buildings and grounds as they deem expedient. They shall see that buildings, dams, and property are kept in proper repair. They shall have full charge of all properties not specifically assigned to other committees.
Section 4. The Fish, Game and Pheasant Committee shall look after the protection and conservation of fish and game, song and insectivorous birds. they shall be responsible for the conservation of our forests, ponds and streams and to disseminate information relating thereto. they shall be responsible for establishing and enforcing fishing and hunting rules and regulations.
Section 5. The Committee on Legislation shall maintain close surveillance in all pending an enacted local, state and federal legislation affecting the club and sportsmen in general and report to and recommend action to the membership.
Section 6. The Entertainment Committee shall have charge of the entertainment of members and guests at the meetings of the club and at special functions, endeavoring at all times to promote harmony and good fellowship.
Section 7. The Nominating Committee shall present to the Secretary a list of names to be voted on for officers and directors at the February meeting. This list shall be presented at least one month prior to the February meeting in order to allow adequate time for printing a ballot. The committee shall read the list from the floor at the February meeting and after reading shall accept any further nominations made by any member for any of the offices being voted upon.
Section 8. Heads of committees shall be present at work days unless a suitable representative chosen by the chairperson will be present.
Section 9. All rules and regulations formulated by the above committees will be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
Dues
Section 1. The annual dues shall be set by a vote of the membership. New applicants shall present the dues with their application. Junior members will pay one-half (1/2) fee of regular members and senior members two-thirds of regular members.
Section 2. Any member failing to pay his dues within 30 days of the due date may be dropped from membership by a vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The fiscal year shall run from the first day of March to the last day of February.
ARTICLE XII
Member Removal
Section 1. Any member may be expelled from the club for conduct detrimental to the club. This action may only be taken by the Board of Directors and after any such member has had ten (10) days written notice of the charges against the member. Such member shall have the right to be heard before any vote is taken: however, such right must be exercised at the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors succeeding the ten days' written notice. Any such member shall have the right to appeal to the members at the next succeeding membership meeting.
ARTICLE XIII
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the by-laws may be made at any of the membership meetings by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, provided that proposal has been presented to the membership at meeting on three occasions before action is taken.
ARTICLE XIV
Order of Business
Section 1. The order of business for regular or special meetings of the membership shall be as follows:
Call meeting to order
Read minutes of previous meeting
Correspondence
Applications for membership
Reports of Committees
Old business
New business
Adjourn
ARTICLE XV
General Article
Section 1. All matters not specifically provided for in the by-laws shall be controlled by the Board of Directors and specifically passed upon by the members at a membership meeting.