CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
FLORIDA SPORTING CLAYS ASSOCIATION, INC.
(CURRENT REVISION AS OF 4/24/2004)

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:

• Conflicting shoot dates for any clubs within 150 miles of each other

• Weekend overlaps (i.e., Sat/Sun “back to back” shoots) for clubs in close proximity

• Any conflict with certain FSCA “traditional” shoot dates deemed to be “major events”

• Conflict with the Florida State Championship (no conflict will be permitted)

• Conflict with the Zone 4 Championship shoot

• Conflict with certain major national events

• Conflict with certain major skeet or trap events

• Conflict with certain major “family holidays”

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.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
FLORIDA SPORTING CLAYS ASSOCIATION, INC.
(CURRENT REVISION AS OF 4/6/98)