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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
FLORIDA SPORTING CLAYS ASSOCIATION, INC.
(CURRENT REVISION AS OF APRIL 2011)
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation shall be the FLORIDA
SPORTING CLAYS ASSOCIATION, INC. (hereinafter referred to as “FSCA”) and is
incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Florida Nonprofit Corporation
Code.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the FSCA shall be as follows:
(a) The promotion and encouragement of organized
sporting clay shooting among residents of the state of Florida; and to encourage
residents of other states to shoot Sporting Clays at Florida ranges/clubs.
(b) To increase among FSCA members the knowledge of
the safe handling and proper care of firearms, as well as improved shotgun
marksmanship.
(c) To forward the development of those
characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play, and
self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship and the foundation
of true patriotism
(d) To assist Florida Sporting Clays ranges in
remaining financially healthy.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The elected officers of the FSCA shall be
President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICES
The principal office
of the FSCA shall be located at the office of the Secretary. Other offices for
the transaction of business shall be located at such places as the Board of
Directors designates.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS
President
The President shall preside at all Board of
Directors' meetings of the FSCA, and is empowered to execute all contracts and
legal instruments, and have general charge and supervision of all the affairs of
the FSCA and shall be a member of all committees. If the President is unable to
preside, the Vice President shall preside in his/her place, and if both are
unable to preside, the Secretary shall preside over any said function. The
president shall publish at least four (4) newsletters a year. This newsletter
may be published electronically on the FSCA web site.
Vice President
The Vice President shall have the responsibility
for the general promotion of clay shooting. He/she shall aid any new group in
the organization of any clay-shooting club under the auspices of the FSCA.
Secretary
The Secretary shall keep all minutes of the FSCA
meetings. He/she shall issue all notices, and shall perform such other duties as
the President or Board of Directors may require.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all monies,
trophies, securities and vouchers of the FSCA and shall preserve the receipts of
all monies paid out. The Treasurer is authorized to receive all funds due the
FSCA and to place such funds in any bank as authorized by the officer on the
current Bank Deposit Resolution form. Said bank must be convenient to the
Treasurer's place of business or residence. The Treasurer shall present a
detailed report of all monies received and distributed by the Treasurer at the
Annual General Membership Meeting (Article VII). A summary report shall be made
at any other meetings of the Board of Directors The Treasurer shall furnish bond
in the amount of $2,OOO, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, the
expense of which shall be paid by the FSCA.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall consist of the
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, three (3) range owner/club
representatives, three (3) at-large shooter representatives, and one (1) Florida
NSCA National Delegate. The immediate past president shall also serve on the
board as a non-voting advisory member, and may be called upon to cast a
tiebreaker vote in a Board Meeting. In no case shall any person be permitted to
occupy more than a singe position on the Board of Directors
The members of the Board of Directors shall be
determined in the following manner:
Officers - Elected by the general membership at the
annual January General Membership Meeting in even numbered years. The terms of
office of the Officers shall be two years, and shall commence immediately
following election.
The terms of all members of the FSCA Board of
Directors (except the officers) shall be two years commencing at the Annual FSCA
State Championship Meeting on even numbered years.
Each range/club in good standing shall appoint one
(1) representative who will vote to elect three (3) ranges or clubs to the FSCA
Board. The Range or Club itself shall be on the Board, and may at any time
select the person who shall represent the club. The representative need not be
affiliated with the club, but must be duly designated as representative in
writing by the club/range owner or manager or sporting clays director. Any
designated representative of a range or club must be a NSCA member, and must
have registered a minimum of 500 targets in the preceding NSCA shoot year. The
three (3) board members shall be determined by majority vote of the
ranges/clubs.
Membership At Large Directors: All individual FSCA
members in good standing will vote for three representatives from the general
membership of the FSCA to represent the membership on the FSCA Board of
Directors. Nominations may be made in writing or electronically at any time up
until the meeting, and will be taken from the floor at the meeting. Nominees
must accept nomination, and indicate their willingness to participate in the
affairs of the FSCA Board. No Membership At Large director may be affiliated as
Owner, Manager, or full time employee of any range or club, or with any industry
that places him/her in a position of dealing substantially with only one
particular range or club. Any person seeking a position on the Board of
Directors as a Membership at Large Director shall have registered a minimum of
1000 targets in the preceding NSCA shoot year. The three nominees receiving the
most ballots shall be elected to the board.
NSCA Delegate: One of the NSCA delegates elected by
the general membership during the NSCA Delegate Election. The delegate to serve
on the FSCA Board of Directors shall be selected by vote of the delegates.
The names of the members of the Board of Directors,
along with addresses and telephone numbers, will be provided to the General
Membership within thirty (30) days of election either through direct mail or
publication in any FSCA newsletter, or the FSCA Internet Web Site for the
purpose of making all FSCA directors accessible to the membership body.
Each member of the Board of Directors shall be
entitled to one vote at all meetings of the FSCA Board of Directors or any
regularly scheduled or special meeting.
The Board of Directors shall have the
responsibility to receive written complaints or protests against the conduct of
any shooter or club which has openly violated the guidelines outlined in the
Constitution and By-laws of the FSCA, included but not limited to un-sportsman
like conduct or prejudicial acts that are detrimental to the best interests of
the FSCA. Upon consideration of all facts, the FSCA Board may take action
against said shooter or club/range. The FSCA Board of Directors shall be
authorized to adopt sanctions or penalties on a case by case basis, including
but not limited to revocation of FSCA Membership, cancellation of shoot dates,
fines, and notification to the NSCA of acts or actions and non-compliance with
rules and regulations of the FSCA or NSCA.
The following committees of the Board of Directors
shall serve under the Board of Directors for the purpose of conducting specific
business for the Board and the membership:
Election Committee - consisting of three (3)
directors, appointed by the Board of Directors who will have responsibility to
manage the election process of the officers and the selection of the member,
club, and delegate directors.
Special Committee – any other committee deemed
necessary by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall have full charge of
all matters covered in the Constitution and By-laws, including special meetings,
and any and all other business that is reasonably presumed to be within the
powers or duties of the Board.
A vacancy Occurring on the Board of Directors may
be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors even
if there is less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
so chosen shall hold office until the next regularly scheduled election of the
Board of Directors by the membership-at-large.
ARTICLE VII
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
There shall a minimum of three regularly scheduled
meetings during the course of each calendar year:
(I) Annual General Membership Meeting to be held in
January of each year for the conduct of general membership business. On even
numbered years, nominations and election of officers shall be a mandatory order
of business.
(2) Annual State Championship Meeting - to be held
for the benefit of the general membership at the location and on the date of the
FSCA State Championship. The award of the following year state shoot will take
place at this annual meeting.
(3) Annual Date Selection Meeting – includes the
specific purpose of the setting of next year’s shoot dates, to be held in
October of each year at a location to be determined by the Board of Directors.
The President shall notify all clubs/ranges of the date of the meeting not less
than 60 days prior to the meeting.
The President may call a special meeting of the
FSCA at any time. Any member of the FSCA upon written request, may, petition the
Board of Directors to have specific business conducted for the good of the
organization. Upon the consensus of one-third of the Board of Directors, a
special meeting of the Board may be called to conduct said business, if it
supports the intent and context of the By-laws and the Constitution.
The President shall be empowered to conduct special
single purpose meetings on any subject at any time by mail or electronically via
e-mail or telephone. The special procedure shall be for the President to notify
all of the directors of the specific purpose of the meeting, present any
discussion that he/she deems applicable, and forward all information or
discussion received to all of the directors. Any vote necessary shall then be
called for, and the result forwarded to all of the directors. A lack of response
or no vote within ten (10) days by any director shall be considered as if the
director was not present. A copy of the discussion and results shall be
forwarded to the Secretary for inclusion in the minutes. A simple majority of
the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all
business at any meeting.
The order of business at all meeting shall be as
follows:
(1) Roll call and seating of Board members.
(2) Reading of Minutes (at the Annual General
Membership Meeting the minutes of the previous Annual General Membership Meeting
shall be read)
(3) Reports of Officers
(4) Reports of Committees
(5) Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws
(Annual State Tournament Meeting only)
(6) Unfinished Business
(7) New business
(8) Awarding of next Annual State Tournament
(Annual State Tournament meeting only)
(9) Election of Officers (Annual General Membership
meeting only)
(10) Adjournment
ARTICLE VIII
CLUB MEMBERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Membership
Any gun club or commercial shooting facility in the
State of Florida, having at least one sporting clays course or an arrangement
with a shooting ground to host NSCA Registered sporting clays events, shall be
eligible for membership in the FSCA. All FSCA member clubs must also be members
of the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA).
Upon Application, payment of the prescribed dues,
and subsequent vote by the Board of Directors, any club within the State of
Florida may become a member and shall enjoy all the privileges of the FSCA.
Responsibilities
It shall be the host club's responsibility to
forward all shoot fees and shoot reports due the FSCA to the Treasurer within
fifteen days following completion of the shoot.
It shall be the responsibility of all FSCA clubs to
assure that all shooters and spectators in the vicinity of shooting in progress
during an NSCA registered tournament adhere to NSCA shoot rules for both
shooting and safety.
ARTICLE IX
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
Any resident of the State of Florida who is a
member of the NSCA is automatically a member of the FSCA, provided said resident
is not restricted from owning or operating a firearm under any state or federal
laws. Anyone not wanting to be a member of the FSCA must withdraw membership in
writing. Withdrawal of membership from the FSCA does not exempt a NSCA member
from paying FSCA shoot fees at any NSCA registered shoot.
Any member in good standing shall have the
privilege of discussion or speaking on any subject at any annual or special
meeting of the FSCA and is entitled to one vote at any meeting where the general
membership is eligible to vote. All members are welcome to any meeting of the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
ANNUAL DUES and FEES
Club Affiliation Dues
An initiation fee in an amount determined by the
board of directors shall be due upon acceptance of membership. A club
affiliation fee in an amount determined by the Board of Directors may be
assessed on a one time or regular basis, not to exceed one billing per year.
Only those Clubs which have paid their dues by the prescribed due date shall be
considered in good standing and shall enjoy the privileges of membership.
Individual Membership Dues
In accordance with current NSCA policy, FSCA
members shall not be charged an annual membership fee.
Each registered shooter shall be charged a state
registration fee of one cent (.01) per registered target. The target
registration fee is subject to change by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULING
Any member range/club desiring to register a
tournament with the NSCA shall make application through the President of the
FSCA in order that the date of said tournament may be recorded by the Secretary
and the records for the FSCA be kept up to date.
The FSCA Board of Directors shall designate one
contact person who shall be identified to the NSCA as the only person authorized
to represent the FSCA. The designated contact shall inform the NSCA of the FSCA
shoot schedule, and shall obtain NSCA shoot numbers for all shoots, and inform
the NSCA of any schedule changes. The designated contact shall obtain approval
from the board of directors for any schedule changes before submitting them.
At the Annual Date Scheduling Meeting, any club may
request any date to host a shoot. For the benefit of both shooters and clubs, it
shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to coordinate and approve
the assignment of shoot dates to maximize the number of shoots available for
shooters to attend, and to maximize the number of shooters available to attend
any shoot. To this end, the board shall, to the greatest extent possible,
discourage:
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Conflicting shoot dates for any clubs within 150
miles of each other
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Weekend overlaps (i.e., Sat/Sun “back to back”
shoots) for clubs in close proximity
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Any conflict with certain FSCA “traditional”
shoot dates deemed to be “major events”
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Conflict with the Florida State Championship (no
conflict will be permitted)
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Conflict with the Zone 4 Championship shoot
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Conflict with certain major national events
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Conflict with certain major skeet or trap events
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Conflict with certain major “family holidays”
The board may, in the board’s discretion, employ a
process for interested clubs to bid upon tournament dates deemed to be highly
desirable. The board may solicit proposals for shoots on such dates using a
process similar to the process employed to determine the host of the annual
Florida State Championship. The FSCA board will review the proposals and award
the date based on the content of the proposals. Upon the award of the desirable
date it may be treated as an exclusive “Protected Traditional” shoot date for
that range with no conflicts allowed. In the event that no proposals are
received or none warrant protection from conflicting shoots the date will be
treated as a normal tournament weekend and the FSCA will only enforce the 150
mile radius for protection from conflicts.
The procedure for registration of a shoot date
shall be as follows.
Any range or club in good standing desiring to
sanction a shoot date with the FSCA shall make an application to the President
of the FSCA no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Date Selection Meeting.
The application may include the desired dates as “3rd Saturday in May”, for
example, rather than a specified date if the club desires to host a shoot on the
same weekend every year.
First priority in assigning shoot dates shall be to
FSCA clubs with “traditional” shoot dates. A traditional shoot date is defined
as a date selected by a member range/club on which they host a shooting event
each year. The Board of Directors reserves the right to limit the number of
“traditional shoot dates” a club may have.
Second priority shall be in order of receipt of
requested shoot dates
Third priority in assigning shoot dates shall be
determined by the number of requested shoots (i.e., a club with many requested
shoot date requests may be requested to defer a date to a club with a lesser
number of requested shoots).
The President shall attempt to resolve any
conflicts in scheduling dates prior to the Annual Date Scheduling Meeting. Any
unresolved conflicts shall be decided by majority vote of the Board of
Directors, in the best interest of both the shooters and the clubs. The annual
shoot schedule shall be announced at the conclusion of the Date Scheduling
Meeting. Following announcement of the schedule, no club/range may schedule a
shoot date where another club/range has a date without written consent of the
latter club and the approval of the Board of Directors.
Shoot Cancellations: If a club/range chooses a
date, and then cancels that shoot, notification of the FSCA is required. It is
the sole responsibility of the club/range to notify shooters of the
cancellation. Any club that cancels a shoot for other than provident cause
shall lose any claim to that date in future years. The Board of Directors shall
resolve any issue pertaining to provident cause.
If any club/range ceases operations or cancels any
shoot, the President shall notify all of the other clubs/ranges. The date for
the current year only may be reassigned to any club within the conflict criteria
above on a first application basis.
ARTICLE XII
ANNUAL FSCA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
The FSCA Board of
Directors shall serve as a committee for organizing the Florida State
Championship tournament. The board may solicit additional members to serve on
the committee as desired.
At least fifteen (15) months prior to the date of
the tournament, the committee shall prepare and present a Request for Proposal
to all FSCA clubs/ranges. The request shall include information regarding
minimum standards for the shoot and shall require that any club bidding for the
shoot provide specific information in a requested format in order that that the
committee be able to fairly evaluate all bids. The request shall also clearly
specify any aid that FSCA will provide to the club. Such aid may include, but
shall not be limited to, providing trophies for selected shoot participants,
and/or providing a banquet and any other support as deemed proper by the Board
of Directors. Any club/range in good standing shall be eligible to host the
tournament.
Any club desiring to bid for the shoot shall submit
the proposal not less than thirty (30) days prior to the current year’s
championship shoot.
The shoot committee shall designate a subcommittee
to visit or contact the bidding clubs to assure that the club has the facilities
and capabilities to host a satisfactory tournament based upon criteria set forth
by the Board of Directors. Following a report of this sub-committee, the Board
of Directors shall select, by majority vote, a site for the tournament. The site
will be announced at the current years tournament. Immediately thereafter the
winning club shall enter into a contract with the FSCA, based on the bid
proposal. Said contract shall contain language requiring the host club to work
closely with the FSCA during the year prior to assure the success of the
tournament.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
The Constitution and By-laws may be amended as
follows:
Any FSCA member in good standing may propose an
amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws. The proposed amendment shall be
submitted to the Secretary of the FSCA at least 30 days prior to the Annual
State Championship Meeting, or a Special Meeting called specifically for the
purpose of amending the Constitution and Bylaws. In the event that a special
meeting is called, it shall be mandatory that the entire FSCA membership be
informed by mail of the date and time a minimum of 30 days before the meeting
date. The board of Directors shall consider the proposed amendment(s), If the
proposed amendment(s) is adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors, it
will be published in a newsletter or posted on the FSCA at least fifteen (15)
days State Championship meeting or special called meeting.
The amendment proposals shall be presented to the
general membership for vote at the Annual State Championship meeting, or at a
special meeting called for that purpose, and a simple majority vote of the
members present shall pass or defeat the proposed amendments.
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