ARTICLE I-Name and Purpose
Section 1:
Name
This chapter will be called
the Blue Ridge Bassmasters of Oak Ridge, TN.
Section 2:
Purpose
Our
stated purposes are to stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major
sport, to offer our state conservation department our organized moral and
political support and encouragement, to promote full adherence to all
conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards, to detect and report
any polluter and call public and political attention to his crime, to improve
our skills as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of expert
bass-catching techniques and ideas, and to promote and encourage youth fishing
and a love of this great recreation.
Article II -
Membership
Section 1:
Number of Members
The
chapter shall begin with and maintain at least (6) six members. The chapter
shall at all times maintain (100%) one hundred percent membership with B.A.S.S.
Section 2:
Requirement for Membership
To
become a chapter member, a person shall:
(a) Voluntarily express a genuine interest in
membership.
(b) Be a member of B.A.S.S. (see ARTICLE VII for
affiliation requirements.)
(c) Be recommended by a member at a regular monthly
meeting.
(d) Be voted on by the membership. Vote shall be by
secret ballot and by affirmation by (80%) eighty percent of club members.
(e) Minors requesting membership
into this chapter must be accompanied by a legally responsible parent,
relative, or legal guardian of at least 18 years of age or older as a permanent
fishing partner or be
(f)
Section 2:
Requirement for Membership cont:
accompanied by a legally responsible fishing partner of 18 years of age or older that shall assume full responsibility for the minor, and be the minor’s permanent fishing partner. The responsible partner shall apply and receive a full membership status per ARTICLE II Section 2 before the minor is eligible for member-ship. If the minor’s partner resigns, is expelled, or leaves the chapter for reasons known or unknown before the minor attains 18 years of age the minor’s membership shall automatically be void.
Section 3:
Membership Dues
(a) A ($10.00) ten-dollar
initiation fee is due upon acceptance or
reacceptance into the chapter. The fee is not refundable.
(b) The Membership dues shall be
($53.00) fifty-three dollars annually, payable upon being voted into the
chapter. ($12.00) Twelve-dollars of this shall be for National Federation dues
and ($14.00) fourteen-dollars of this shall be for the State Federation dues.
This ($26.00) twenty-six dollars will be due on or before the December meeting
each year to continue membership through the following year. ($24.00)
Twenty-four dollars of this shall go for annual membership dues of the Blue
Ridge Bassmasters. The annual club dues shall be paid before the conclusion of
the January meeting each year. This will continue your membership in good
standing for the following year. New members annual dues will be assessed at
the rate of ($2.00) two dollars per month on a pro-rated basis if joining after
June 1st. The club dues shall not exceed ($24.00) twenty-four dollars for any
year and will be used solely for the expense of Blue Ridge Bassmasters state
team to fish the State Federation Tournament. These dues are not refundable.
Section 4:
Guest of Members
Any person that fishes any regular chapter tournament that is not interested in membership into the chapter may fish with a member provided:
(a) That an individual guest may not fish more than (2) two chapter
tournaments per year. If the guest is a minor this rule will be waived;
however, Article II Section 2(e) shall apply.
Section 5:
Meetings of Members
The
membership shall hold regular meetings at pre-established times.
ARTICLE III -
Removal Of Membership
A
member may be removed from the membership role of Blue Ridge Bassmasters by the
Board of Directors for the following infractions:
(a) Failure to pay dues
(b) Any action that would reflect dishonor and/or
disgrace on this chapter of the Blue Ridge Bassmasters and/or B.A.S.S.
(c) Failure to attend (50%) fifty percent of all
chapter functions during a (12) twelve-month period.
(d) Disqualification for any reason while
participating in a B.A.S.S. sponsored event.
ARTICLE IV -
Chapter Meetings
Section 1:
Conduct
(a) No smoking will be permitted at any indoor
chapter functions.
(b) Language shall be kept at high moral standards
(c) Housekeeping will be maintained at all chapter
functions. Each member will assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the area.
Section 2:
Scheduled Meetings
(a) All regular meetings shall be held on the first Monday of each month
or the next Monday after a holiday.
(b) The regularly held meeting will officially begin at (seven)
(c) The meeting date, time, and/or place may be deferred, cancelled, or
moved due to the availability of the meeting place, adverse weather conditions,
holidays, etc. for the convenience of the majority of Blue Ridge Bassmaster
members.
Section 3:
Emergency Meetings
(a) Any member may call an emergency meeting, but he or she must have
the verbal approval of such meetings by the Board of Directors.
(b) The Board of Directors shall determine the place, date, and time of
the emergency meeting.
ARTICLE V -
Officers, Elections, Vacancies, and Eligibility
Section 1:
Officers and Their Duties
The Officers of the Blue
Ridge Bassmasters, a Tennessee B.A.S.S. Federation Chapter shall consist of:
(a) President: whose duties
entail, presiding over all meetings and all official chapter business. He or
she will also be an ex-officio member of all chapter committees. The President
shall supervise all club functions.
(b) Vice-President: will act
as program chairperson, assist the President in his or her duties and preside
in the absence of the President.
(c) Secretary: The Secretary
will maintain accurate minutes of all called meetings of the Blue Ridge
Bassmasters. He or she will also:
· maintain regular liaison between the chapter and the
B.A.S.S. National and State Federations.
Section 1: Officers and
Their Duties cont:
· compile all submitted rule changes for chapter
review.
· maintain points for all chapter/club functions. The
Tournament Director shall submit the tournament points on a monthly basis.
· appoint an assistant to help fulfill the duties of
the office and to act as Secretary in his or her absence. The Board of
Directors must accept this assistant before he or she may assume any duties of
said office.
(d) Treasurer:
The treasurer shall collect and disburse all monies. He or she will maintain
accurate financial records and present a current balance report at each regular
meeting.
· He or she must prepare an annual audit and submit
this report to the Chapter Board of Directors.
· The treasurer will distribute any and all tournament
payouts as directed by the Tournament Director at the regularly scheduled
monthly meeting immediately following the official club points tournaments.
· The Treasurer shall appoint an assistant to help
fulfill the duties of the office and to act as Treasurer in his or her absence.
The Board of Directors must accept this assistant before he or she may assume
any duties of said office.
·
The chapter may vote and require the Treasurer and / or any other
officer handling chapter funds to be bonded.
(e) Tournament Director: He
or she will have absolute authority over all chapter tournaments, and enforce
all chapter tournament rules and by-laws as set forth by this chapter at all
chapter sponsored tournaments; unless, otherwise specified by a vote, from a
majority of the current active members present at said event. The Tournament
Director shall:
Tournament Director
continued:
· propose a tournament
schedule to be approved by a majority vote of the chapter members present
during the January meeting. Night tournaments shall be scheduled during the hot
summer months.
· bear full responsibility for delivering all monies
received for all tournaments to the Secretary or Treasurer.
· notify all possible member participants prior to
each tournament by telephone or other means of any changes in the tournament
schedule.
· shall maintain accurate
records and fees paid for each chapter tournament.
· report tournament points monthly to the Secretary.
· report on all chapter
sponsored tournaments at each regularly scheduled meeting.
· be official timekeeper
during all chapter sponsored tournaments, and shall be responsible for starting
and ending each chapter sponsored tournament.
· conduct all weigh-ins in an
orderly and timely manner.
· measure any questionable
fish, and assess appropriate penalties of same, in accordance with tournament
rules. (Article IX)
· have absolute authority to
inspect any participants boat at any time, at any chapter sponsored tournament
and to have complete authority to disqualify any participants found in
violation of Chapter tournament rules. (Article IX)
Tournament
Director continued:
· appoint (2) two assistants
to help fulfill the duties of the office and to act as Tournament Director in
his or her absence. The Board of Directors must accept these assistants before
they may assume any duties of said office. The assistants along with the
President comprise the Tournament Committee. The President may vote on a
tournament matters issue only when one or more of the Tournament Committee is
absent.
· with the help of his
assistants or anyone appointed by the Official Tournament Director be the only
persons to weigh and or measure questionable fish.
· have the official
responsibility of receipt, maintaining and keeping of the chapter’s tournament
equipment, weigh-in scales, baskets, banners, and tables etc.
(g) Chapter Chaplain: (if available) The Chapter Chaplains responsibilities are:
· to give invocation at all
chapter functions.
· to suggest guidance in case of any possible
confrontations or uncontrollable situations.
· to appoint an assistant to fulfill his or her duties
in the event of an absence.
(g) Youth Director: The Youth
Director will coordinate all Chapter youth activities and events.
Section 2:
Elections
The election of officers
shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of December.
Election for each officer shall be held separately in order as listed in
Article III, Section 1. Election shall be a simple majority of current active
members present. Elections may be by secret ballot if deemed necessary by the
presiding officer or by acclimation.
Section 3:
Eligibility of Vote
Each member, excluding the President, is entitled to
one vote. The President will vote only in the event of a tie. Proxy votes are
not permitted.
Section 4:
Term of Office
The term of office is for one year, which shall
begin on January (1st) the first and end on the last meeting day of December or
until the successor assumes the
office.
Section 5:
Vacancies
In the event of an office becoming vacant,
nominations shall be asked for and an election held to fill the remaining term
of the individual vacating the office. National B.A.S.S. headquarters shall be
notified immediately of a change of officers.
Section 6:
Eligibility for Holding Office
To be eligible for an office a member must:
(a) have been a member in good standing for six
months. (Six-month requirement shall be waived during the first (12) twelve
months of chapter existence).
(b) have attended at least (75%)
seventy-five percent of all chapter functions during the preceding (12) twelve
months or (6)
have been absent for one or
more years), or since the last election for returning members of the preceding
year.
(c) have shown an active interest in all chapter
functions.
(d) maintain a current B.A.S.S. membership.
Article
VI-Standing Committees
All
standing committees will serve for one year or until a new committee is
appointed. The terms of the committee members shall coincide with that of the
President. A chairperson will head each committee.
(a) Board of Directors: The Board of Directors will consist of the:
President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director, and a
minimum of (3) three chapter at-large members not currently holding office. The
at-large members shall be elected by a simple majority vote.
· the president will call all meetings of the Board of
Directors and preside at such meetings.
· The Secretary will record the minutes of these
meetings.
· The Board will decide all protests and rule on all
violations of tournament rules and bylaws of the chapter when appropriately
received.
· The board will develop agendas for the monthly
meetings.
(b) Youth Committee: The purpose of this committee shall be:
· to plan, organize and implement chapter youth
projects.
Youth Committee cont:
· to introduce young people to the goals of B.A.S.S.
· to give them a basis for respect of our national
heritage.
· to establish an appreciation for the basic rules of
honesty, integrity, fair play, and good sportsmanship.
· to introduce them to the sheer joy of fishing.
(c) Tournament Committee: The Tournament Committee will consist of the Tournament Director (Chairperson), (2) two assistants, and the chapter President. The President may vote on a tournament issue only when one or more of the Tournament Committee is absent. The purpose of the Tournament Committee shall be:
· to plan, organize and
operate all chapter tournaments.
· to keep tournament records,
enforce all tournament rules, investigate all protests concerning tournaments,
and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning any protests
or infractions of Tournament rules.
Article VII -
Affiliation
Section 1:
Requirements for Affiliation
(a) The Chapter charter must be
accepted by B.A.S.S.
(b) The Chapter must update
B.A.S.S. with a current roster by December (31) thirty-first of each year.
(c) Names and addresses of new
members joining the chapter during the year must be submitted to B.A.S.S. as
they occur. (see Article II, Section 3 for dues requirements)
Section 1: Requirements for
Affiliation cont:
(d) All members must maintain a
(100%) one hundred percent B.A.S.S. membership.
(e) The Chapter will affiliate with the State of
Article VIII -
Method of Amending the Bylaws
Section 1:
Amending the Bylaws
The
bylaws may be amended at the December and/or January meeting by a (2/3rds)
two-thirds majority vote of the current active members present. Changes for the
December meeting should be submitted through out the year to assure chapter
members thorough review. Changes in Bylaws may be reviewed during any period
upon the submission of a written proposal to the President. It will be at the
Presidents or the Board of Directors discretion whether to bring the suggestion
before the chapter membership for a vote at the next regular meeting.
Article IX -
Tournament Rules
Section 1:
Rules
The following rules shall apply to all chapter
sponsored tournament events. These rules shall apply to all members, guests,
and prospective members.
1. When the big motor is
running, Life Jackets and kill switches must be worn at all times.
2. The only persons eligible to
fish the regular chapter tournaments shall be members, and members with
approved guest in accordance with Article II Section 4.
3. Total entry fees for an
individual fishing a regular chapter tournament shall be ($25.00) twenty-five
dollars. The fees shall be delegated as follows:
· (45%) forty-five percent to tournament
payout
· (35%) thirty-five percent to club
support
· (10%) ten percent to lunker
· (10%) ten percent to Classic Pot
Payback shall be one place
for every (5) five boats after first place (e.g., 1-5 boats = 1 place; 6-10
boats = 2 places; 11-15 = 3 places; 16-20 boats = 4 places, etc.).
NOTE: If a contestant is
fishing alone, he or she may pay an additional ($10) ten dollar fee per
tournament to weigh (5) five fish for tournament weight. Only (3) three fish may be weighed for an
individuals weight points at any single event.
The additional ($10) ten dollar fee will be added to the tournament
payout.
4. Eligible fish shall be:
Largemouth, Smallmouth, and
5. Each bass submitted for
weighing at the weigh-in site that does not meet the minimum legal length shall
be assessed a penalty at the rate of (1) one pound for each fish submitted. The
total assessment of all illegal fish submitted shall be deducted form the total
Boat Weight of legal fish.
6. A penalty for any boat
returning late to the weigh-in site shall be assessed at the rate of (1) one
pound per minute for the first (15) fifteen minutes and disqualification
thereafter. All penalties shall be deducted (in addition to illegal bass) from
the total Boat Weight.
7. Legal bass shall be weighed
for the computation of points on a (1/10) one tenth of a pound, (1) one point
basis. Each participant shall not claim more bass then he or she actually
caught. If more than (3) three bass are caught by an individual he or she may
weigh the (3) three heaviest fish for individual points; but they will be
allowed to count all of their fish toward the total boat weight. Each fisherman
shall bring his or her fish to the scales in separate bags (or separated by
tags) to obtain timely and accurate weight for point computation. Each dead
fish will be assessed a (2/10) two-tenths of a pound penalty from the angler's
total weight.
8. The member collecting the
highest cumulative total of points for the year ending each December shall be
awarded the title of Blue Ridge Bassmasters Angler of the Year and receive a
cash bonus of ($100.00) one hundred dollars.
9. Blue Ridge Bassmasters will
assume no responsibility for any participant, by-stander, participant’s or
bystander’s property during or while preparing for a Blue Ridge Bassmasters
sponsored tournament.
10. No participant shall be
under the influence of alcoholic beverages or the influence of drugs preceding
or during any club function.
11. No boat limit of bass shall exceed (6) six bass at any
time. No person fishing a Blue Ridge Bassmasters/Bassbusters event may weigh
more than (5) five fish per tournament day. Culling at the ramp will not be
allowed at any Blue Ridge Bassmasters sponsored tournament
12. Only artificial lures may be
used and the possession and/or usage of live bait is illegal and strictly
forbidden.
13. Trolling is illegal and
strictly forbidden.
14. Participants may only fish
from their respective boats, contestants must not depart the boat to land fish
or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
15. Rods, cane poles, fiberglass
poles, or flipping sticks (with or without reels attached) over (8) eight feet
in length are illegal and are strictly prohibited.
16. The Tournament Director has
the authority to determine legal and illegal fishing equipment and at his
discretion, inspect live wells, storage lockers, and/or other suspected areas
where illegal items may be found. Failure to comply with the Tournament
Director’s request shall result in the automatic disqualification from the
tournament with loss of all entry fees.
17. For the safety and well
being of participants and/or bystanders and their properties the Tournament
Director may at his discretion order an ease-off or implement other restrictions
for leaving the launch site for the commencement of a tournament.
18.
19. Participants are to keep a
(50) fifty-yard courtesy distance from other boats whose occupants are in the
act of fishing.
20. No tournaments will be
scheduled while the Team or Teams are preparing or participating in the
Regional Qualifying and or Federation tournaments.
21. A tie shall be settled by
mutual agreement or the flip of a coin by a Tournament Committee member.
22. In the event of a members
entering an event after the official blast-off the member shall notify the
presiding Tournament Director of his intentions toward the event by means of a
written statement. This statement should be placed in or on the presiding
Tournament Director’s vehicle. This vehicle shall be marked for easy
identification.
23. Permitted Fishing Locations:
The Tournament Director and /or Tournament Committee shall establish tournament
waters for each tournament.
24. Locking from one body of
water to another shall be considered illegal, unless said waters are dictated
to be tournament waters by the Tournament Director and/or the Tournament
Committee.
25. Each year in April, the Blue
Ridge Bassmasters/Busters shall have one draw tournament. This tournament shall
be a normal club function subject to all rules and regulations as specified by
the bylaws of Blue Ridge Bassmasters/Busters.
1. The draw for partners will
be held on the first club meeting date preceding said tournament.
2. It shall be a random draw
with each person willing to participate having his or her name placed in a
receptacle and pulled one at a time. Pairings shall be: one with two, three
with four, five with six, etc.
3. Each person shall have one
half of the time available to fish from the front of the boat and use of the
trolling motor.
4. If during the draw process
two members are drawn that do not have a boat available, their names will be
returned to the receptacle and the draw process will proceed.
1. The protesting party
officially informs the Tournament Director of the protest.
2. The protesting party must
submit ($50.00) fifty dollars to the Tournament Director at the tournament
site, for a polygraph test for the accused party. The protesting party will pay
in full the entire cost of the test before said test takes place, when the
price is set.
3. If any qualifying position
is protested, the Tournament Director shall hold all monies until a final
disposition has been reached.
4. The accused will submit to
the polygraph test when the test can be mutually arranged.
5.
The result of the polygraph test shall be agreed as fast and absolute.
6. Refusal to take the
polygraph test shall result in disqualification for the tournament, loss of
possible winnings and automatic expulsion from the chapter.
7. If the accused is found
guilty by the polygraph or refuses to take said test, the chapter will
reimburse the protester.
Article IX -
Tournament Rules, Section 2: Protest
Procedures cont:
8. If the accused is found to
be innocent by the polygraph test, the protester will publicly apologize to the
accused and lose the money paid for the polygraph test.
9. All tournament payouts will
then be distributed at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 3: The
All tournament rules of the Blue Ridge Bassmasters shall apply to the Blue Ridge Classic except as follows:
1. There shall be a ($30.00)
entry fee per person
2. The Blue Ridge Classic shall
be fished on a (100%) one hundred percent payback basis, with the Classic Pot
added to the tournament fees. Payout
will be (50%) fifty per cent to the (1st) first place boat; (30%) to
the second place boat; and (20%) twenty per cent to the third place boat. In order to be eligible for the payout, each
boat’s participants must have fished all regular club tournaments or have paid
the (10%) ten per cent Classic Pot fee for each tournament missed.
3. The Classic payout shall be
distributed at the next regularly scheduled chapter meeting.
4. There will be a separate
optional lunker fee (the amount to be determined by the Tournament Director)
available to any participant that wishes to compete for the lunker pot. The
payout for Classic Lunker shall be disbursed at the tournament site after the conclusion
of the Blue Ridge Classic Tournament.
5. The official start and end
time as well as the date for the Blue Ridge Bassmasters Classic will be decided
at the October meeting.
6. Selection of the
Article IX - Tournament Rules,
Section 3: The
7. The Blue Ridge Classic may
be fished by members of this chapter only, provided each participating member
is in good standing from the following year.
Article X - Awarding of
Points
Points
will be awarded in the following manner:
1. 20 POINTS - For
each attended regularly scheduled chapter meeting. Teams may be represented by
only one member and each member of the team will receive individual points.
2. 40 POINTS - For
attending any special chapter function excluding emergency meetings. This will
include but is not limited to wildcat tournaments, youth functions,
fundraisers, and environmental projects.
3. 30 POINTS - For
attending each scheduled chapter tournament
4. ?? POINTS - All of the points for Blue Ridge Bassmaster
chapter tournaments will be awarded at the rate of (1) one point per (1/10th)
one tenth of fish weight. i.e. A (2.5 lb.) two and five tenths pound fish would
equal (25) twenty five tenths and be awarded (25) twenty five points.
5. 40 POINTS - For
attending the Blue Ridge Classic
Each
member will drop one tournament and one club function. The Blue Ridge
Bassmasters Classic may not be counted as a drop. A maximum of (25) activities
will be counted for the yearly total of points. In the event that the total
number of chapter functions is higher than (25) twenty-five, the first (24)
twenty four will be counted and the Blue Ridge Classic will be treated as the
(25th) twenty-fifth.
Article XI -
Regional Qualifying And State Federation Tournaments
Section 1:
Regional Qualifying
1. A decision to sponsor two teams to the Regional Qualifying or State
Federation tournament will depend upon maintaining a chapter membership of at
least (25) members as of the March meeting each year. If the membership is less
than (25) twenty-five only one team will be selected to represent the club the
following year.
2. The Regional Qualifying teams will consist of the top (12) twelve
finishers from the previous year of club competition and participation.
3. Club standings will be determined (1st) first by total points, (2nd)
second by total weight, (3rd) third by the total number of fish, and finally by
lot. TEAM (1) ONE - Positions 1,2,3 as boaters and 7,8,9 as nonboaters. TEAM
(2) TWO - Positions 4,5,6 as boaters and 10, 11, 12 as nonboaters.
4. If a drop out should occur before the teams have registered, the
next ranking club member will advance one by one until the Teams are filled.
5. If a drop out occurs after the teams are registered; the next
ranking club member will become eligible one by one as nonboaters after any
empty boater positions are filled from within the team.