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The October - December quarter of 2004 was another great one for FCS. We had 83 total participants, which was our second best for this quarter ever! It was only surpassed by 2003. It also blew away what was our average for this quarter (37). We also had nine events for this quarter - a new record. In addition we had three hunters join the Club during this quarter.

2004 was a fantastic year for FCS. We had 361 total participants, which was our second best year ever and our best since 1996!

We also had our highest Sporting Clays Shoot yearly total attendance ever (76 participants). We had six more Sporting Clay Shoot attendees in 2004 than we did in 2003 (up 9 %). We also had our highest attendance at a Club Meeting (24 participants on 10/7/04), our highest attendance at a Deer and Hog Hunt (seven on 11/26/04 - 11/27/04), and our highest attendance at a Duck (only) Hunt (seven on 11/13/04). Our total meeting attendance (112 participants) was our second best year ever. We only missed tying 1996 by six participants. We had 34 more meeting attendees in 2004 than we did in 2003 (up 44%)!

We ended the year with our highest number of active members ever with 52. In addition we had 19 men and two women (21 total new members) join the Club during 2004, not quite reaching my goal of 25. Regarding my other 2004 goals we had a Conservation Season Goose Hunt on 1/23/04 - 1/24/04, a Striped Bass Fishing Trip on 3/27/04, and a 24 Hour Clay Target Shoot on 4/23/04 - 4/24/04.

On 10/13/04 the active Club members voted as follows regarding the 2005 Winter Dove Retreat: Wednesday, 12/29/04 through Saturday, 1/1/05 - received one vote; Thursday, 12/30/04 through Sunday, 1/2/05 - received no votes; Wednesday, 1/5/05 through Saturday, 1/8/05 - received six votes; and Thursday, 1/6/05 through Sunday, 1/9/05 - received four votes. As 1/5/05 - 1/8/05 had a clear majority there was no need for a runoff.

III. Membership:

A. Members shall consist of those men (and each man’s wife and adult female relatives) who have:

The following change was approved by a vote of 10 - 0.

III. Membership:

C. Current membership benefits include:

Your choice of an FCS T-shirt or FCS cap

The following change was approved by a vote of 10 - 0.

III. Membership:

C. Current membership benefits include:

The right to make proposals for changes or additions to the Club Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Annual Calendar of Events, or Fiscal Year Budget.

The following change was approved by a vote of 10 - 0.

III. Membership:

C. Current membership benefits include:

The right to check out (borrow) items from the Club tape and book library, camping gear inventory, and the FCS Cooker and Propane Tank.

The following change was approved by a vote of 9 - 0.

III. Membership:

Section "D" was removed and the rest of III. Membership was renumbered (D - Non-members and E - Prospective members were redundant)

The following change was approved by a vote of 10 - 0.

III. Membership:

The following was added to G. Youth members "A youth membership application is required to be completed for all youth whose fathers are not Club members prior to participation in Club events."

The following changes were approved by a vote of 9 - 1.

Many sections of our Bylaws had a common theme - votes regarding the Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Calendar, Fiscal Year Budget, or an Officer's election were to be held at Club Meetings. About a year ago the members approved that the President could hold as e-mail, mail, or phone vote in lieu of a vote at a Club Meeting. Since that time (and even before) I have done 95% (estimate) of my votes via e-mail and mail or phone. Presently 49 of our 55 members receive FCS ballots via e-mail. The other six members receive their ballots by mail or phone. The active Club members approved removing the option that such votes can be held at Club meetings. By only holding such votes via e-mail/mail/phone this will ensure that all Club members have the opportunity to vote, not just the ones who were able to attend a meeting where a vote regarding the Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Calendar, Fiscal Year Budget, or an Officer's election was held. This also eliminated the need to have a "second" before voting.

The Officers responsibilities to maintain the budget and calendar (sections I and J) were simplified (the how we hold votes parts of these sections were removed as they were thoroughly explained in the Club President's responsibilities). The Meeting section A. had procedures for calling a vote more thoroughly explained. Voting procedures at meetings have been eliminated as per above. Voting procedures for the Amendment proposals section have been simplified.

IV. Officers:

I. The Officers shall maintain an Annual Fiscal Year Budget (beginning each September the 1st). The proposed Annual Fiscal Year Budget must be approved by a majority vote of the active Club members prior to implementation. Any proposed unplanned purchase(s) of $50.00 or more must be approved by a majority vote of the active Club members prior to the purchase(s).

J. The Officers shall maintain an Annual Club Calendar of Events. The proposed Annual Calendar of Events must be approved by a majority vote of the active Club members prior to implementation. Any proposed event during a specific year that was not already on that years Annual Calendar of Events must be approved by a majority vote of the active Club members prior to implementation.

V. Meetings:

Official meetings will be held according to the schedule of the Annual Calendar of Events that was approved by a majority vote of the active Club members. The President, or a majority of the other officers, or the majority of active Club members can also call a meeting. Attempts must be made to notify all active Club members at least 72 hours in advance of called meetings via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active members who do not have an e-mail address). The ranking officer or most tenured member (in the event that no officers are involved) is responsible to attempt to notify all active Club members.

VI. Amendment proposals to the Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Annual Calendar of Events, or Fiscal Year Budget:

Active members only can make amendment proposals.
Amendment proposals must be made to the Club President and can be in written (preferably) or oral form.
Amendment proposals do not require a "second" in order to be put to a vote.

The following changes were approved by a vote of 10 - 0.

Several updates were made to the officers job descriptions. These were predominately in relation to Club chapter responsibilities and the continued de-emphasize of Club chapters. It also adds the Club President's responsibility to conduct, tabulate, and report all votes. Sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Club Presidents responsibilities take the responsibility off of the "officers" and put them squarely on the Club Presidents shoulders. The section of Chapter Presidents handling chapter elections will be deleted as the Club President will be responsible to handle all elections and votes (which is what we have done in practice ever since we have had chapters). The Officers responsibilities to maintain the budget and calendar have been simplified (the how we vote parts of these sections were removed as they were redundant).

IV. Officers:

Officer positions shall consist of a President and such other positions that are deemed necessary by a majority vote of the active Club members. All Club officers are expected to set the example for the FCS membership by following the bylaws and through attendance at FCS events. All Club officers are expected to participate in scheduling, planning, and promoting all Club meetings and outings. All Club Officers will serve two year terms. All Club officers are expected to be current in their membership dues.
The Club President will be in charge of all of the Club’s chapters. The Club President is responsible to notify the Chapter President, or Chapter Vice President (if he cannot reach the Chapter President), or Club Treasurer (if he cannot reach the Chapter President or Chapter Vice President) when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending a meeting. The Club President is expected to attend at least one half of all Club Chapter meetings. Specific Expectations:

Responsible to lead all Officer and Club meetings. Responsible to obtain a substitute leader for Officer or Club meetings when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending.
Responsible to distribute an agenda of Officer meetings to all officers seven days prior to all Officers meetings.
Responsible to ensure that the minutes of all Officer and Club meetings are recorded.
Responsible to ensure that the FCS Annual Calendar of Events is implemented. Responsible to obtain and designate the responsible party (leader) for FCS outings.
Responsible to ensure that the other Chapter President(s) and the officers in his own Chapter (if he is also a Chapter President) fulfill their job descriptions.
Responsible to ensure that quarterly newsletters and flyers pertaining to FCS events are produced and distributed to active Club members who do not have e-mail access (at a minimum).
Responsible to ensure that FCS literature is distributed to all guests at FCS events.
Responsible to ensure that ballot surveys are distributed to all active Club members prior to called elections via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active members who do not have an e-mail address).
Responsible to ensure that all votes that are required by the bylaws (Bi-annual elections, Annual Fiscal Year Budget, and Annual Calendar) take place and the results are tabulated and reported to the active Club members. An attempt must be made to obtain votes from all active Club members via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active members who do not have an e-mail address). All active Club members must be given, at a minimum, one week to respond to all votes. Any candidate or proposal approved by a majority vote of the active Club members shall constitute as an official action of the Club.
Responsible to ensure that votes on Amendment proposals to the Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Annual Calendar of Events, or Fiscal Year Budget from active Club members take place and the results are tabulated and reported to the active Club members. An attempt must be made to obtain votes from all active Club members via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active members who do not have an e-mail address). All active Club members must be given, at a minimum, one week to respond to all votes. Any proposal approved by a majority vote of the active Club members shall constitute as an official action of the Club. The Club officers can, in situations where it is impossible to obtain an immediate response from the members, make Executive Decisions. Examples include, but are not limited, to: canceling or rescheduling an event due to projected lack of game, bad weather, or a scheduling conflict and changing the location of an event for the same reasons. The Club President must attempt to obtain votes from all current Club officers as soon as possible in order to make an Executive Decision. Any Executive Decision can later be overturned by a majority vote of the active Club members (an active Club member would have to propose a full vote on the Executive Decision).

E. The Club Treasurer is responsible to notify the Club President when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending a Club meeting or a meeting of the Club chapter that he usually attends. Specific Expectations:

Responsible to deposit Club funds promptly.
Responsible to pay debts promptly.
Responsible to promptly balance the FCS check register on a quarterly basis with the bank statement. Responsible to distribute a report of this reconciliation to the President.

F. The Chaplain is responsible to notify the Chapter President when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending a meeting. Specific Expectations:

Responsible to preach, lead devotionals or Bible studies, etc. at FCS outings and meetings as requested by the President or Chapter President (for Chapter functions).

G. Future elections for unopposed officers/active Club members (as determined by Ballot Surveys) will not be held. An unopposed officer will automatically receive another two year term. An unopposed active Club member will automatically receive the job he applied for.

H. Members can vote in chapter officer elections for their chapter only.

On 11/7/04, by a vote of 9 to 0, the active Club members approved adding the sections in red to the Club President's job description.

On 11/13/04, by a vote of 4 to 0, the active Club members approved adding the following event to the 2004 Calendar: Friday, 11/25/04 through Saturday, 11/26/04 - Deer and Hog Hunt on the Haun Ranch near Victoria.

On 11/17/04, by a vote of 4 to 0, the Club officers made an Executive Decision to change the date of the Pheasant Hunt to 12/10/04 - 12/13/04. The Club officers felt that there was no need to have a Club vote on this matter as the original date of the hunt (12/3/04 - 12/6/04) was all booked up.

On 11/23/04, by a vote of 3 to 0, the Club officers made an Executive Decision to change the date of the December Club meeting to 12/9/04. The Club officers did not want to conflict with the Austin Christian Bass Club meeting (ACBC). Presently we have four Club members, who are also members of the ACBC, who, if we had not changed the date of the meeting would have been forced to chose between one Club meeting or the other. There was not sufficient time to hold a one week discussion and a one week vote (as required by our Bylaws).

On 12/17/04, by a vote of 14 to 0, the active Club members approved the 2005 Calendar. We added a chartered bay fishing trip for redfish and speckled trout, a fishing trip for white bass, and a guided quail hunt. We did not repeat the Conservation Season Goose Hunt, Striped Bass Fishing Trip, and Pheasant Hunt from 2004. In 2004 we had seven Sporting Clays and Skeet Shoots. Going from four shoots to six proved to be a popular decision. We will have six shoots again this year. We also went to two hog hunts in 2004 which also proved popular and will be repeated in 2005 (one of them will be a deer and hog hunt). We also made the 24 Hour Clay Target Shoot an annual event. As we increase our number of events, and my finances continue to decrease (due mainly to my daughters college expenses) I will be looking for more members to lead outings in my absence. In order to lead an event a member must be willing to coordinate travel and lodging (if applicable) and ensure that the FCS Bylaws regarding Safety and Shooting Practices and Hunting and Fishing Practices are followed during the event.

On 12/17/04, by a vote of 3 to 0, the Club officers made an Executive Decision to add the following event to the 2004 Calendar: Wednesday, 12/22/04 through Thursday, 12/23/04 - Deer Hunt on the Siller Ranch near Derby. There was not sufficient time to hold a one week discussion and a one week vote (as required by our Bylaws).

On 12/20/04 a poll was conducted on the 2005 Winter Dove Retreat. Eight active members indicated that they wanted to keep the Winter Dove Retreat on 1/5/05 - 1/8/05. Three active members indicated that they wanted to change the Winter Dove Retreat to 12/29/04 - 1/1/05. One active member indicated that he could go either way.

We deep fried two turkeys at the 12/2/04 Club meeting using our new FCS Cooker. We used it five times during 2004 and will use it at least seven times in 2005.

Year	January - March	April - June	July - September	October - December	Total	Quarter Average
2004	86	74	118	83	361	90
2003	45	16	117	113	291	73
2002	30	30	81	50	191	48
2001	34	13	59	40	146	37
2000	30	27	14	52	123	31
1999	27	48	95	31	201	50
1998	73	29	70	9	181	45
1997	43	53	130	54	280	70
1996	96	111	135	53	395	99
1995	96	59	104	20	279	70
1994	113	62	56	39	270	67
1993	74	45	41	69	229	57
1992	76	59	75	23	233	56
1991	54	21	42	27	144	36
1990	0	9	12	0	21	5
1989	15	5	6	10	36	9
1988	N/A	N/A	N/A	9	9	9
Total	892	661	1155	682	3390
Averages	56	41	72	40	209	52

12/25/04

Year

January - March

April - June

July - September

October - December

Total

Quarter Average