Bylaws

1. Share the joy and experience of hunting and fishing with other Christian Sportsmen.
2. Encourage Christian fellowship.
3. Challenge men and women to establish and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

4. Encourage serving the Lord Jesus.

5. Encourage fellowship in a local church.

1. FCS membership is available to men and women, 18 years old and older, without regard to race, national origin, age, denominational preference, or political persuasion.
2. Members shall consist of those men and women who have:
   1. Expressed a desire to be a member by completing an Adult Membership Application.
   2. Have paid an annual club membership due.  Current dues are $20.00 a year.
3. A directory of members will be maintained by the Club officers.
4. Current membership benefits include:
   • FCS Gear options as detailed on our FCS Gear webpage (shipping is extra for some options)
   • Quarterly newsletter (for members who do not have Web access)
   • Annual calendar (for members who do not have Web access)
   • Annual Membership Directory (for members who do not have Web access)

• Make proposals for changes or additions to the Club Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Annual Calendar of Events, or Fiscal Year Budget.
• Participate in all active Club member votes.
• Check out (borrow) items from the Club tape and book library and equipment inventory.

E. Active members who decline a FCS Gear membership benefit (T-shirt for example) will have the option of whether to designate the portion of their dues that would have been dedicated to cover the cost of the Gear to either go to cover general expenses or to be contributed to a FCS Scholarship Fund that will be used to help active Club members and youths who need help in paying for FCS events.  No revenues from the FCS budgets will be dedicated to the Scholarship Fund.

F. Youth Club membership is available to minor offspring of Club members.  Said offspring are not required to complete an application and do not pay a membership due.

G. Other minors, who do not have a parent who is a member of the Club, can become youth members.  To do so they must complete a youth membership application but they do not pay a membership due.  A youth membership application is required to be completed for all youth who do not have a parent who is a member of the Club prior to participation in Club events.  Youth Club members in this category must also secure parental or guardian permission in order to purchase FCS Gear.

H. Prospective members (men and women who have never attended a FCS event) will receive e-mails and/or 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 or she will be removed from the mailing list and not reinstated unless he or she becomes a member.  Prospective members also will not be allowed membership benefits until they become members.  Newsletters, flyers, and other FCS publications will continue to be made available to prospective members at FCS events.

I.  Inactive members (men or women who have at one time been active members of the Club but who have not renewed their memberships) become active members upon receipt of a membership due.  Inactive members will not be allowed membership benefits until they renew their memberships.

J.  Members and Youth members may be removed from active membership by their own request, by failure to renew their memberships, or as is determined necessary by a majority vote of Club members.

IV. Officers:

1. 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.  Officer Elections will be held no later than the month before the expiration of the present officer's terms.  All Club officers are expected to be current in their membership dues.
2. The Club President will be in charge of all of the Club’s chapters.  When circumstances beyond his or her control preclude him or her from attending a meeting, the Club President is responsible to secure a replacement officer to lead the meeting (in the following order of preference: Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, a Chapter President, or a Chapter Vice President).  The Club President is expected to attend at least one of each of the other chapters in the Austin area meetings a year.  Specific expectations:

1. Responsible to lead all Officer and Club meetings.  Responsible to obtain a substitute leader for Officer or Club meetings when circumstances beyond his or her control preclude him or her from attending.
2. Responsible to ensure that the other Chapter President(s) and the Club officers in his or her own Chapter (if he or she is also a Chapter President) fulfill their job descriptions.
3. Responsible to fulfill the other Chapter President(s) and the Club officers in his or her own Chapter (if he or she is also a Chapter President) job descriptions in their absence.

4. Responsible to ensure that all active Club members are given an opportunity to ponder and discuss a proposed vote for a minimum of one week before a vote on the proposal is scheduled to be held.  Discussions can be held by e-mail, mail, or phone.

5. Responsible to ensure that votes on Bi-annual and called officer elections by the active Club members, votes on proposed changes or additions to the Bylaws and Statement of Faith or any other proposals from active Club members, and votes on the Annual Fiscal Year Budget by the Club officers take place and the results are tabulated and reported to the active Club members within seven days of the vote.  An attempt must be made to obtain votes from all active Club members or Club officers (as applicable) via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active Club members or Club officers who do not have an e-mail address).  All active Club members or Club officers must be given, at a minimum, one week to respond to all votes (if possible).  Any candidate or proposal approved by a majority vote of the active Club members or Club officers (as applicable) shall constitute as an official action of the Club.  If there is not a majority vote a runoff vote must be held using the same procedure as above, except without a minimum one week discussion period.  If there are multiple options in a vote, and a runoff must be held, the options that statistically cannot win will be eliminated from the ballot.  The Club officers can, in situations where it is impossible, due to time constraints, to hold a minimum one week discussion by the active Club members followed by a minimum one week vote of the active Club members, make Executive Decisions (officer only votes).  The Club President must attempt to obtain votes from the 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).

1. Responsible to lead Club meetings in the absence of the Club President (as delegated).

2. Responsible to develop a proposed FCS Annual Calendar of Events and submit it to the Club President no later than the first day of November each year.

3. Responsible to communicate to the Club President when he or she has made a change to the Club Calendar a minimum of one week prior to the day of the event (with the exception of rain outs, cancellations due to lack of game or participants, etc.).

4. Responsible to enter Club events into the FCS Calendar on the mycalendars.net Website a minimum of one week prior to the day of the event.

5. Responsible to enter Club events into the FCS Calendar on the mycalendars.net Website within seven days of an event's approval.

6. Responsible to notify the Club President that a new event(s) has been entered in the FCS Calendar on the mycalendars.net Website.

7. Responsible to lead FCS outings.  Responsible to obtain a responsible party (leader) for FCS outings that he or she is not able to attend.

8. Responsible to ensure that the FCS Annual Calendar of Events is implemented.  Will plan outings far enough in advance to ensure maximum participation (obtain adequate information, make reservations, collect outfitter/guide fees and submit them by the due date, plan carpools, plan motel room pairings, etc.).  If not able to attend an outing he or she can delegate some tasks to the leader that he or she obtains by mutual agreement.

1. Responsible to lead Club meetings in the absence of the Club President (as delegated).

2. Responsible to lead devotionals or Bible studies at Club Meetings and Dove Retreats.  Responsible to obtain a responsible party (Bible study leader) for Club Meetings and Dove Retreats that he or she is not able to attend.

3. Responsible to plan and lead at least an Annual FCS Ministry Project.  Responsible to obtain a responsible party (leader) for ministry projects that he or she is not able to attend.

4. Responsible to contact individuals who have posted a prayer request on the FCS Website that have a specific event scheduled (e.g., surgery, medical tests, medical examination) within seven days of the event to determine their status.  Will notify the Webmaster of needed changes to the Prayer Requests and Praises Webpage.

5. Responsible to contact all other individuals who have posted a prayer request on the FCS Website on at least a quarterly basis to determine their status.  Will notify the Webmaster of needed changes.

6. Responsible to contact FCS members who have volunteered to be prayer warriors to remind them to pray for an upcoming event (e.g., surgery, medical tests, medical examination) before the event occurs.

1. Responsible to lead his or her chapters Officer and Chapter meetings.  Responsible to obtain a substitute leader for officer or chapter meetings when circumstances beyond his or her control preclude him or her from attending.
2. Responsible to distribute an agenda of his or her chapters Officer meetings to all of his or her chapters officers seven days prior to all of his or her chapters Officer meetings.
3. Responsible to communicate to the Club President when his or her chapter has scheduled a Chapter event or changed a Chapter event a minimum of one week prior to the day of the event.
4. Responsible to ensure that the minutes of all of his or her chapters Chapter meetings and chapters Officer meetings are recorded.
5. Responsible to ensure that FCS literature is distributed to all guests at his or her chapters Chapter meetings.
6. Responsible to ensure that the other officers in his or her chapter fulfill their job descriptions.

1. Responsible to lead his or her chapters Officer and Chapter meetings in the absence of his or her chapters Chapter President (as delegated).
2. Responsible to enter his or her chapter’s events into the FCS Calendar on the mycalendars.net Website a minimum of one week prior to the day of the event.
3. Responsible to notify the Club President that a new event(s) has been entered in the FCS Calendar on the mycalendars.net Website.
4. Responsible to complete assignments as delegated by his or her chapters Chapter President.

1. Responsible to lead FCS Officer meetings in the absence of the Club President, Chapter Presidents, and Chapter Vice Presidents (as delegated by the Club President).
2. Responsible to lead Club Meetings (as delegated by the Club President).  Responsible to lead his or her chapters Officer and Chapter meetings in the absence of the Chapter President and Chapter Vice President (as delegated by the Chapter President).
3. Responsible to deposit Club funds promptly.
4. Responsible to pay debts promptly.
5. Responsible to promptly balance the FCS check register on a monthly basis with the bank statement.  Responsible to submit a report of this reconciliation to the President.

1. Responsible to lead his or her chapters Officer and Chapter meetings in the absence of his or her chapters Chapter President and Chapter Vice President (as delegated).
2. Responsible to record the minutes of all Club officer, Club meetings, and his or her chapters meetings and to write a report on all of the events that he or she attends.  Responsible to submit his or her chapters meeting minutes and event reports to the Club President and his or her chapters President within seven days of the event.
3. Responsible to produce, print, photocopy, and mail quarterly newsletters and flyers pertaining to FCS events (as requested by the President) to active Club members who do not have e-mail addresses or web access (and others as requested by the President).
4. Responsible to print or e-mail sign up sheets for events, Dove Retreat logs, and other documents at the request of the president.
5. Responsible to distribute an agenda of Club officer meetings (as supplied by the President) to all Club officers at least one week prior to all Club officer meetings.
6. Responsible to ensure that FCS literature is distributed to all guests at FCS events that he or she attends.
7. Responsible to ensure that ballot surveys are distributed to all active Club members at least one week prior to Bi-annual and called elections via e-mail and mail or phone proxy (for active members who do not have e-mail addresses).

I. The Membership Director is responsible notify the Chapter President when circumstances beyond his or her control preclude him or her from attending a meeting.  Specific expectations:

1. Responsible to lead FCS Officer meetings in the absence of the Club President, Chapter Presidents, and Chapter Vice Presidents (as delegated by the Club President).
2. Responsible to send all new members a "Welcome to the Club" e-mail or letter (for those members who do not have e-mail).
3. Responsible to mail new and renewing members their membership benefits.
4. Responsible to be the contact person for general questions about the Club from new members and to answer questions promptly.
5. Responsible to remind active members that their memberships are about to expire and encourage them to renew their memberships.
6. Responsible to participate in FCS promotions at churches, sporting goods stores, etc.

J. The Webmaster is responsible to notify the Chapter President when circumstances beyond his or her control preclude him or her from attending a meeting.  Specific expectations:

1. Responsible to lead FCS Officer and Club meetings in the absence of Club President, Chapter Presidents, and Chapter Vice Presidents as delegated by the Club President).
2. Responsible to convert Website submissions from the President into htm and upload them to the Website within seven days of receipt.
3. Responsible to notify the Club President when submissions have been uploaded.

1. Responsible to preach, lead devotionals or Bible studies, etc. at FCS outings and meetings as requested by the Club President (for Club functions) or Chapter President (for Chapter functions).
2. Responsible to lead his or her chapters Officer and Chapter meetings in the absence of the Chapter President and Chapter Vice President (as delegated by the Chapter President).

P. The Club 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 Club officers prior to implementation.  Any proposed unplanned purchase(s) of $50.00 or more must be approved by a majority vote of the Club officers prior to the purchase(s).

Q. The Club officers shall maintain an Annual Club Calendar of Events.

V. Chapters

A. A minimum of two active Club members are needed to start a chapter.  These two active Club members must serve as officers for their local chapter (one as Chapter President and one as Chapter Vice President).  Additional approved Chapter officer positions include Chapter Secretary and Chapter Chaplin.  All Chapter members must also be active Club members.

B. Each chapter will be governed by the FCS Bylaws and Statement of Faith.  Chapters may organize their own meetings and events but these activities must be approved by a majority vote of the Club officers prior to implementation.  Approved activities will be added to the Annual Club Calendar of Events.

VI. Meetings:

1. Official meetings will be held according to the schedule of the Annual Calendar of Events that was approved by a majority vote of the Club officers.  The President, or a majority of the other Club 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 Club officer or most tenured member (in the event that no Club officers are involved) is responsible to attempt to notify all active Club members.

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

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 at every opportunity 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.

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 (the use of tobacco products is also strongly discouraged.
5. Single couples must sleep in separate quarters on overnight outings.
6. To obey all laws of the United States of America while on FCS outings (this includes while traveling to and from outings).

1. To obey the rules of safe weapon/rod handling.
2. To drive vehicles and four wheelers at leases and operate boats in a safe manner.
3. To acquire marksmanship skills that will assure clean kills.