Ratified Feb. 10, 2010 by unanimous vote.
At
the Sept. 14th meeting, a nominating committee
was appointed by Pres. Terry
McPherson.
The members are John Rea, and David Branch
The Program Committee is Mike Witmore and Lane Jones
The Membership Committee is Lane Jones and Jeffrey Weeks
We, the members of Charlotte Saltwater Sportsfishing Club, adopt and abide by these by laws in order to provide an organized structure which fosters information sharing by talking about saltwater fishing while creating, camaraderie, sportsmanship, the enjoyment of fishing safely, integrity, plus the development of one’s skills and knowledge needed to become a successful saltwater anglers, including participating in conservation measures to protect our marine habitat.
ARTICLE I: NAME OF THE CLUB:
The club shall officially be known as the Charlotte Sportsfishing Sportsfishing Club and will hereby be referred to as the COSFC in this document.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE OF COSFC:
There are many people, families of the Charlotte area that would love to learn more about improving their saltwater fishing knowledge and techniques plus learn more about how to actively participate in coastal conservation measures. There are also many people in that same area who are very willing and excited to have an opportunity to share know-how and skills in saltwater fishing. (may be even share some of their favorite fishing holes)
With this in mind, the purpose of COSFC shall be to provide members with a monthly meeting which offer the members an opportunity to meet new people that fish in saltwater and to learn specific fishing skills and methods which targets various species of saltwater fish during their various peak seasons. This shall be done through separate Workshop meetings plus having guest speakers at the regular monthly meetings that are experienced and well trained in proven fishing techniques. Conservations techniques will be covered in the same manner during the year.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION:
Membership is open to any person or family living in the Charlotte area that can come to the regular monthly meetings and or Workshops and who agrees with the purpose of the COSFC. Owning a boat is not a requirement for membership.
A person or family may join COSFC during any month of the year.
Dues shall be pro-rated to reflect the time of the year a member may have joined.
Owning a boat is not a necessary in becoming a COSFC member.
Guests are always welcome to attend all meetings.
It is hoped the Club’s objectives and camaraderie will appeal to a visitor and they will join COSFC. However, after an adult guest has attended 3 or more monthly meetings, they will be ask to join COSFC and pay their fair dues for the year.
A membership application form can be found, filled out and submitted online at http://www.cosfc.com/Membership Application.htm For persons without access to a computer, the Secretary shall provide you with an application form. Then given to the secretary.
The requested information will be kept in the strict confidentiality and not given to anyone else without your permission.
ARTICLE IV: YEARLY MEMBERSHIP DUES:
COSFC’s fiscal year runs from January thru December. $60.00 yearly dues are due
1/01/?? for each club member. New members joining after 1/01/?? will pay dues by the remaining quarters of the year in which you join. For example, dues paid in the first two quarter of the year are $60.00, and then $30 starting with the July meeting
ARTICLE V: ELECTED OFFICERS:
At the November meeting, COSFC shall conduct from its membership an election of officers: (a) a president (b) a vice president, (c) a secretary and (d) a treasurer. These four officers shall each be eligible for re-election and shall constitute the COSFC’s Board of Directors. Also serving as an Advisor to The Board of Director will be the out going (past) president.
Candidates selected to fill the vacancies of elected offices shall be made by a nominating committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of (2 members) appointed by the President before the July meeting. The Nominating Committee shall select from the membership, qualified candidates, in good standing (their dues paid) for the Nov. election. The nominating committee shall prepare a ballot listing their candidate for each office. The ballot shall provide a space under each office and nominee to allow for any nominations from the floor to be written in. Persons selected to serve on the Nominating Committee are eligible to be nominated for office.
The term of officer shall begin at the end of the December COSFC’s Inner Club Awards Presentations and Christmas Party meeting.
The President shall (a) conduct the monthly meetings, (b) schedule any COSFC’s Board of Directors meetings that may be needed, (c) appoint such committees as deemed necessary by the Board, (d) act as COSFC’s liaison to the media and any other groups in day-to-day affairs, (e) ensure that all tournament information in which COSFC members will participate in, is distributed to COSFC members in a timely and professional manner, (g) actively pursue development and enhancement of COSFC, and (h) oversee general operation of COSFC, (i) Prepare the monthly NEWS LETTER (AKA) CLUB TALK.
The vice president shall (a) serve the duties of the president in the event of his or her absence, (b) maintain an accurate roster of active COSFC members complete with current contact information, (c) organize and lead fundraising efforts, and (d) perform additional duties as assigned by the president.
The Secretary shall (a) record the minutes at all Club and Board of Directors meetings, (b) maintain an organized system for storing minutes and other COSFC documents to be passed down to future officers, (c) maintain a Guest List (d) perform additional duties as assigned by the president.
The Treasurer shall (a) manage the financial business of the COSFC, (b) keep an organized record of COSFC financials and report on financials status to the membership at each regular monthly meetings, (c) assist the president and Directors in submitting budget item request for the upcoming year, (d) perform additional duties as assigned by the president.
Should any elected officer be unwilling or unable to fulfill the duties outlined above, the officer shall be removed from office pending a vote by COSFC, and the president shall be responsible for filling the vacant spot by a timely appointment that will serve out the remaining term of office.
ARTICLE VI: ADVISER TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
The
Board of Directors shall have the past president as its’ Adviser. The Adviser
shall (a) provide direction to the Club as needed and (b) serve as a COSFC
advocate. The Adviser shall serve a full year after previous year’s presidency.
(c) In the event the president is re-nominated, the Board of Directors will
select a member at large to serve as Advisor. A majority vote of the Board of
Directors is necessary for the appointment of Advisor in this case. The
president will notify the person selected to serve as Advisor.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS:
COSFC shall hold regular monthly meetings the 2nd.Wed.of each month. Meeting times will be: Social and dinner @ 6:30 until 7:00 pm. Business meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Scheduled program starts 7:30/ 7:45 pm. Meeting attendance shall not be mandatory. Fulfilling “The Quorum” necessary to conduct all business at all meetings shall be met by those present and voting, with the exceptions being the November election of officers and adoption, repeal or amendment of bylaws. In those cases at least 51% percent of paid members must be present to make the vote official. However, in the event a quorum cannot be reached, then the membership present shall proceed with the vote and the non-present members will be polled by email for their vote. The vice-president will conduct this procedure and add in the emailed results, then shall notify the president of the results. The president shall make the announcement of the results in the monthly News Letter and at the next meeting. When the members are ask to vote via emailed poles, when a non response is incurred after 10 days, it will be counted as a yes vote.
The Board of Directors by a majority vote, may elect to submit items to the membership by mail or e-mail for a vote in lieu of a regular meeting, in which case members shall be given at least 10 days to respond. A non-responses will be counted as an affirmative vote. Official results of such a vote will be communicated back to the membership in the News Letter and at the next regular monthly meeting
ARTICLE VIII:
FINANCES:
COSFC is a non-profit organization as outlined under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(7). http://www.irs.gov/charities/nonprofits/article/0,,id=96189,00.html Funds for COSFC operating expenses shall be obtained primarily through the yearly payment of the $60 yearly dues, plus other activities like the monthly $5 for 3 tickets raffle held during each monthly meeting plus the sale of T shirts ect. for the purpose of increasing COSFC’s treasury. A $60 membership fee will be due at the first meeting of every year for all members.
Club FUNDS may be withdrawn from the Club’s account with the approval of the Club’s Board of Directors. Reimbursement for approved expenditures can have a check written by the Treasurer.
COSFC will contribute $50.00 to the jackpot of any saltwater fishing tournament in which 5 or more members are participating and have each put up $50.00 of their own money for a Intra Club Tournament for largest fish.
COSFC will make financial contributions to Conservation activities, some charity activities, like Long Bay Artificial Reef Association, These contributions are voted on by the membership after being submitted for approval by representatives of the requesting organizations.
Reimbursement will be made to guest speakers for expenses incurred when
traveling to Charlotte and for any lodging necessary when making presentations
at a monthly meeting. COSFC will provide dinner for the guest speaker. $250.00
has been pre-approved via a budget item for out of town speakers.
Budgeted items for each year’s pre-approved expenditures are made up by the
treasurer from the previous year’s actual spending items and submitted to the
Directors for approval. When these items are approved, checks written for these
items require only one signature on the COSFC checking account. Any check for
over $1,000 must have the signature of the treasurer and the president.
ARTICLE IX: CODE OF CONDUCT:
At
meetings and when participating in tournaments, all COSFC members are to follow
high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct
themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to COSFC, and to the
sport of saltwater fishing. Any member found to be in gross violation of the
Code of Conduct shall be subject to review by the Board of Directors, which may
impose a reprimand. In severe a case, the dismissal from the Club may be
approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X: INTER CLUB TOURNAMENT:
An Inter Club Tournament is conducted for the membership each year. All members and their family members are legible to participate in the yearly Inter Club Tournament. The Anglers categories are Women’s, Men’s regular member, and a Youth Division. The Youth division is for family members up to 16 years of age. A Plaque for the largest species of fish caught during the year in these three (3) divisions will be presented at the Dec. meeting.
Pictures of the fish species is shown on the COSFC Inter Club Tournament web page along with the current tournament standings. There is an entry form on this page outlining the information needed when entering a fish into any of the species categories shown. The form can be copied (printed from the web page) filled out and brought to next meeting or used as a guideline for information to be put in an email and sent to the email address shown on the page. The web-master shall post the weight of the fish, date caught, and person catching the fish.
Weighing the fish. In order to have a viable tournament, COSFC must rely on the honesty of the members posting their catch into the tournament. It is hoped that members will have an accurate scale to weigh each fish entered. A weight ticket from tournaments, or fishing piers are the most accurate, but many club anglers do not have access to that source, therefore honesty and integrity must be relied upon in these instances. Anglers entering their catch should check the Inter Club Tournament web page to be sure the information entered is correct. If not, notify the web-master to make any corrections.
ARTICLE XI: COSFC’S TOURNAMENT WITHIN A TOURNAMENT (TWT):
Many members fish in various tournaments that support very worthy causes. Often when there is as many as 5 or more boats fishing in a given tournament, they will want to create a TWT “jack pot” by putting in $50 each, and the winner (largest fish in the tournaments specific category is caught) taking it all.
To promote the clubs activity of fishing, COSFC shall also contribute $50 into the jackpot. The participants (of the 5 or more) must notify the president and or vice president of their intentions to have a TWT before the tournament starts, which is usually always the Friday night of the Captains meeting. The members participating in a TWT are responsible for collecting their own contributions and the clubs donation will be awarded at the next meeting.
The members meet the second (2nd) Wed. of each month at The Captains Galley
11032 East Independence Boulevard, Matthews NC. Member shall be responsible for paying for their meals and beverages. 15% gratuity is added to the bill for the server.
In the case of beer consumption, the restaurant puts beer in an tub of ice and can be gotten at will on an honor system, the member is ask to keep each cap from the bottle to assist them in remembering to pay for all of their own beers when they pay for their meals. Being an honor system, any shortages shall be paid for by the club.
Workshop meetings are held the following Monday after the regular Wed. meeting except for December which no Workshop meeting will be held. The exact same objectives are carried forward at these meetings with an emphasis on covering fishing methods and techniques in a much more “hands on” manner. This is an opportunity for families to come learn from experienced fishermen what works best for them in getting their catch into the cooler (except for catch and release situations)
Monthly Workshop programs can cover basic things like knot tying, hook sharpening, net throwing, how and where to find your live bait (shrimp, pogies, mullet minnows, mud minnows and more).
Many members (often 20 or more boats) like to participate in the Long Bay Artificial Reef Associations annual fishing tournament held the week before the US OPEN King Mackerel Tournament in Southport NC. The club has won this tournament several times as a result of the preparation done during the Workshops covering how to catch King Mackerel and Flounder.
At the beginning of the year, members are asked to let the Workshop group know of any specific topics which they want to be covered. Members and or guest speaker will be solicited to cover the subjects as needed. Boating Safety, Using Marine Electronics, Using an Anchor Ball Effectively, Making Your Own Jigs and Rigs, Poring Your Own Weights, How To Catch Fish At The Gulf Stream, Bottom Fishing Offshore for Grouper, Black Sea Bass etc. all of these topics and many more are available when requested for Workshop meetings. Workshops want to help you in making your saltwater fishing experience safe and really enjoyable.
By laws as written here are to serve as guidelines for normal operation of COSFC and shall be carried out by the Board of Directors. The By-laws shall be approved (ratified), Articles repealed and or amended by a two-thirds vote at the beginning of each calendar year. At least 60 percent of members must participate in this approval process and if necessary, this may require a combination of counting the votes of the members present at the Jan. meeting plus counting the requested emailed vote request from the members that could not be present. When a confirmation receipt for the emailed vote request had completed 10 day and there is a non-response, those email vote will count as a yes vote, otherwise it must be assumed that a NO vote with the suggested changes would have been submitted. The Vice President will tally the results and report the results in the NEWS LETTER, and at the next meeting.
After the social session ends at 7:00 pm, the president opens the regular monthly meeting.
Call the meeting to order.
Opening remarks and welcome message.
Recognize visitors, guest and new members allowing each an opportunity to speak.
Ask for any “Fishing Reports” from the attendees.
Ask for Old Business to be brought up for completion.
Ask
for the Treasurer’s report.
Ask for Inter Club fishing report.
Mention that the Minutes for last months meeting is on the COSFC website
Ask for any New Business and Committee reports
Introduce our guest speaker and the program.
A roster of current members will be maintained by the vice president.
The roster will list members local and beach address, cell and residential ph. #, & boat name.
The roster will available only to COSFC club members in good standing.
A member “in good standing”, is one who has paid their yearly dues.
A family membership includes all family members.
Regular Adult Angler is the male adult.
Lady Angler is the adult female family member
Youth angler includes under the age of 16.
Honorary members are not required to pay dues.
Hall of Fame members are selected by the Board of Directors and are not required to pay dues.
It shall be the responsibility of the president to create and publish the monthly NEWS LETTER.
The NEWS LETTER will be available for the members one week before the regular monthly meeting.
The NEWS LETTER will be emailed to members upon their request the secretary.
The
NEWS LETTER will be posted on the COSFC web site.
No Hard Copy NEWSLETTER will be mailed to members.
ARTICLE XVIII:
COSFC WEB SITE:
The COSFC website is maintained by a current member on a volunteer basis.
The host server (Wind Stream) fee is approximately $10 per month.
These fee is paid by the web master and reduces the workload on the treasurer.
The money sent to Wind Stream is used to offset the $60 dues for 2 family memberships.
The purpose of the website is to provide members with current information about the club’s monthly activities, and to help co-ordinate any and all future club events.
Spam and pop up advertisement is avoided although some revenue is possible but the side effects of allowing this are deemed prohibitive.
Club member business may advertise on the club website. See the Treasures for details.
The End: Posted on Dec. 30th, 2009/vo'