The Bylaws of The Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen

 

 

I. Name:

The official name of this organization is The Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen (FCS).

II. Statement of Purpose (charter):

The purpose of the Club shall be to encourage Christian fellowship through outdoor activities.

III. Membership:

  1. Members shall consist of those men (and each man’s wife and female relatives) who have:
  1. Expressed a desire to be a member by completing a membership application.
  2. Have paid an annual club membership due.  Current dues are $12.00 a year.
  1. A directory of members will be maintained by the Club officers.
  2. Current membership benefits include:
  1. Non-members (men who have attended a FCS event but who have chosen to not join the Club) will not be allowed membership benefits until they become members.  Newsletters, flyers, and other FCS publications will continue to be made available to non-members at FCS events.
  2. Prospective members (men who have never attended a FCS event) will receive a one-time mail out of materials at their request or the request of a Club member.  After a prospect has been sent a mail out of materials he will be removed from the mailing list and not reinstated unless he becomes a member.  Prospective members also will not be allowed membership benefits until they become members.
  3. Former members (men who have at one time been members of the Club but who have not renewed their memberships) become active members upon receipt of a membership due. Former members will not be allowed membership benefits until they renew their memberships.
  4. Youth Club membership is available to minor male offspring of Club members.  Said offspring are not required to complete an application and do not pay a membership due.
  5. Other minor males, whose father's are not members of the Club, can become youth members.  They must complete a youth membership application but do not pay a membership due.  Youth Club members in this category must also secure parent or guardian permission in order to purchase Club paraphernalia.
  6. Club membership is available to men, 18 years old and older, (and each man’s wife and female relatives) and Youth Club membership is available to minor males (under 18 years old) and minor female relatives of male members without regard to race, national origin, age, denominational preference or political persuasion.
  7. Members and Youth members may be removed from membership by their own request, by failure to renew their memberships, or as is determined necessary by a majority vote of the members present at any official meeting of the club.
  8. Club members wives, girl friends, and female relatives can participate in all Club outings.  Single women who are not related to a Club member or women who are married but their husband is not a Club member can participate in activities that are not held in the field.  Presently this is limited to Clay Target Shoots held at public facilities.  Female members and guests must be escorted to FCS events in the field by the male member (sponser) who they are related to.  A female guest(s) of a male guest must be escorted to FCS events in the field by the male guest.

IV. Officers:

  1. Officer positions shall consist of a president and such other positions that are deemed necessary by a majority vote of the members present at any official meeting of a Club chapter.  All officers are expected to set the example for the FCS membership by following the bylaws and through attendance in FCS meetings and outings. All officers are expected to be current members of the Club. 
  2. The Club President will be in charge of all of the Club’s chapters
  3. The Club President will serve a two year term.
  4. The Club President is responsible to notify the Chapter President, Vice President, or Treasurer (in that order) when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending a meeting. The President is expected to attend at least one half of all Club Chapter meetings.  Specific Expectations:
  1. Responsible to schedule, plan, promote, and lead officers meetings and his own Chapter meetings (if applicable).
  2. Responsible to distribute an agenda of officer meetings to all officers seven days prior to all officers meetings.
  3. Responsible to ensure that the minutes of officer and his own Chapter meetings (if applicable) are recorded.
  4. Responsible to schedule, plan, promote and designate the responsible party (leader) for FCS outings. Responsible to ensure that the FCS Calendar is implemented.
  5. Responsible to ensure that the other Chapter President(s) and the officers in his own Chapter (if applicable) fulfill their job descriptions.
  6. Responsible to ensure that quarterly newsletters and flyers pertaining to outings and meetings are produced and distributed to current Club members (at a minimum).
  7. Responsible to ensure that membership packets are distributed to all guests at FCS events.
  8. Responsible to ensure that ballot surveys are distributed prior to called elections.
  9. Responsible to ensure that ballots are distributed at called elections and the results are tabulated.

E. The Chapter President is responsible to notify the Vice President or Treasurer (in that order) when circumstances beyond his control preclude him from attending a scheduled meeting.  Specific Expectations:

  1. Responsible to schedule, plan, promote, and lead chapter meetings.
  2. Responsible to distribute an agenda of chapter officer meetings to all officers seven days prior to all officers meetings.
  3. Responsible to record the minutes of all chapter meetings.
  4. Responsible to distribute information to all guests at chapter meetings.
  5. Responsible to distribute ballot surveys prior to called chapter elections.
  6. Responsible to distribute ballots at called chapter elections and tabulate the results.
  7. Responsible to ensure that the other officers in his chapter fulfill their job descriptions.

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

  1. Responsible to participate in scheduling, planning, and promoting FCS Chapter meetings, Officer meetings, and outings.
  2. Responsible to lead FCS officer and Chapter meetings in the absence of the Chapter President (as delegated).
  3. Responsible to complete assignments as delegated by the Chapter President.

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

  1. Responsible to participate in scheduling, planning, and promoting FCS Chapter meetings, Officer meetings, and outings.
  2. Responsible to deposit Club funds promptly.
  3. Responsible to pay debts and balance the books promptly.
  4. Responsible to prepare a quarterly Treasurer's report. Will distribute the report to the President.
  5. Responsible to lead FCS Chapter meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President (as delegated by the President).

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

  1. Responsible to participate in scheduling, planning, and promoting FCS Chapter meetings, Officer meetings, and outings.
  2. Responsible to lead devotionals, Bible studies, etc. at FCS outings and meetings are requested by the President or Chapter President (for Chapter functions).
  3. Responsible to lead FCS Chapter meetings in the absence of the President, Vice President, and Treasurer (as delegated by the President).

I. Future elections for unopposed officers/members (as determined by Ballot Surveys) will not be held.  The unopposed officer/member will automatically receive another two year term.

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

K. 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 members present at each August Club Meeting.  The Club President can, at his discretion, hold a vote on a proposed Annual Fiscal Year Budget by e-mail, mail, or phone proxy in lieu of holding a vote at a August Club meeting.  Attempts must be made to obtain a vote from all active members of the Club.  Members must be given at a minimum one week to respond to an e-mail, mail, or phone vote to approve a Annual Fiscal Year Budget.  Any Annual Fiscal Year Budget approved by a majority vote of the members surveyed by e-mail, mail, or phone vote shall constitute an official action of the Club.  Unplanned purchases of $50.00 or more must be approved by a majority vote of the members present at any Club official meeting.  The Club President can, at his discretion, attempt to obtain approval for unplanned purchases of $50.00 or more via e-mail, mail, or phone proxy in lieu of holding a vote at a Club meeting.  Attempts must be made to obtain approval from all active members of the Club.  Members must be given at a minimum one week to respond to an e-mail, mail, or phone request to approve unplanned purchases of $50.00 or more.  Unplanned purchase requests of $50.00 or more agreed to by a majority vote of the members surveyed by e-mail, mail, or phone vote shall constitute an official action of the Club.

L. 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 members present at each December Club Meeting.  The Club President can, at his discretion, hold a vote on a proposed Annual Calendar by e-mail, mail, or phone proxy in lieu of holding a vote at a December Club meeting.  Attempts must be made to obtain a vote from all active members of the Club.  Members must be given at a minimum one week to respond to an e-mail, mail, or phone vote to approve a Annual Calendar of Events.  An Annual Calendar of Events approved by a majority vote of the members surveyed by e-mail, mail, or phone vote shall constitute an official action of the Club.

V. Meetings:

  1. Official meetings will be held at times that are called by the President.  A majority of the officers or members of a chapter can also call a meeting.  Attempts must be made to notify all members at least 72 hours in advance of called meetings that require a vote.
  2. Any action agreed to by a majority vote of the members present at any Club official meeting shall constitute an official action of the Club.  The Club President can, at his discretion, hold a vote on a proposed action by e-mail, mail, or phone proxy in lieu of holding a vote at a Club meeting.  Attempts must be made to obtain a vote from all active members of the Club.  Members must be given at a minimum one week to respond to an e-mail, mail, or phone vote.  Any action agreed to by a majority vote of the members surveyed by e-mail, mail, or phone vote shall also constitute an official action of the Club. 
  3. 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.  These Executive Decisions can later be overturned by a majority vote of the members present at any Club official meeting or a vote by e-mail, mail, or phone.  The Club President must make attempts to obtain a vote from all current Club officers before an Executive Decision can be made.

VI. Amendment proposals to the bylaws, statement of faith, or calendar:

  1. Members only can make amendment proposals.
  2. Amendment proposals can be in written or oral form and can be made during the "New Business" section of any Club meeting.  Members who will not be able to attend the next scheduled Club meeting can e-mail, mail, or phone their proposal(s) to the President.  The President or his designee will read the absent members amendment proposal(s) at the next scheduled Club meeting during the "New Business" section.  The Club President can, at his discretion, hold a vote on an amendment proposal by e-mail, mail, or phone proxy in lieu of holding a vote at a Club meeting.  Attempts must be made to obtain a vote from all active members of the Club.  Members must be given at a minimum one week to respond to an e-mail, mail, or phone vote.  Any action agreed to by a majority vote of the members surveyed by e-mail, mail, or phone vote shall also constitute an official action of the Club.
  3. Verbal proposals at Club Meetings require a verbal "second" in order to be put to a vote.  Voting for verbal proposals at Club Meetings is accomplished through a show of hands.  A majority vote carries.  E-mail, mail, or phone proxy votes that have been initiated by the Club President do not require a "second."
  4. Written proposals that are made during the officer candidate and proposal surveys do not require a "second".  Voting for said proposals is accomplished through a written ballot.  A majority vote carries.

VII. Bylaws regarding conduct:

Members agree to uphold the traditions of the Club that were established when its name was The Burp & Poot (B & P) Club.  These include:

Fellowship

  1. To burp and poot indiscriminately at functions of the Club (with the exception of the sweethearts dinner).
  2. To never say excuse me when engaging in the above at Club events.
  3. To play Killer UNO.
  4. To eat chili.
  5. To treat Charlie Batts with respect.
  6. To drink IBC root beer.
  7. To sing the "Lumberjack Song" when rising at Club overnight outings.
  8. To "let their hair down" and have fun.

Christian walk

  1. To bear other members burdens.
  2. To pray for needs within our membership body.
  3. To never hunt or fish on special occasions (anniversary, wife's or children's birthdays, etc.).
  4. To refrain from consuming alcohol, taking illegal drugs, and using profanity while on FCS outings (FCS also discourages the use of tobacco products).
  5. To obey all laws of the United States of America while on FCS outings (this includes while traveling to and from outings).

Shooting practices

  1. To obey the rules of safe gun/bow handling.
  2. To acquire marksmanship skills that will assure clean kills.

Hunting and Fishing practices

  1. To respect the property of the landowner (picking up trash and empty shells, closing gates that they open, etc.).
  2. To learn the rules of the host or landowner and follow them (staying put until the agreed upon hour, for example).
  3. To carry their fair share of the load.  This includes paying a fair share of gas money and other expenses and doing a fair share of chores.
  4. To be unselfish in their hunting and fishing practices (permitting a new hunter first shot at a bird, assigning new hunters and anglers to the prime spots, not shooting at a bird that is heading directly for another hunter, permitting a new angler to fight the first fish on a chartered boat, etc.).
  5. To never take advantage of a game bird, animal or fish (shooting at a unwounded bird on the ground or in a tree, for example).
  6. To never become possessed with who can bag the most birds, shoot the largest racked deer, or catch the most fish.
  7. To never shoot at unidentified furry or flying objects (UFO's).
  8. To obey all hunting and fishing regulations.  Examples of frequently violated laws include: buying your child a hunting and/or fishing license for the purpose of harvesting more game or fish for yourself and saying that your child harvested them, harvesting game or fish over the limit and giving the excess to others, and harvesting game or fish over the limit and eating the excess.
Bylaws