NORTH COUNTRY SPORTSMAN'S CLUB, INC.
ESTABLISHED 1962
CLUB CONSTITUTION
Revised July 2008
DRAFT
ARTICLE I AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be NORTH COUNTRY SPORTSMAN'S CLUB, INC.
Section 2 This non-profit organization is formed in the interest of engaging in and promoting all manner of shooting sports. It shall be an aim of this club to actively promote the interests of all members in all areas of shooting, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor sports.
Section 3. This organization is empowered to purchase, lease, hold and own, supervise and control real estate and equipment as directed by its executive committee and approved by its members, as hereinafter provided.
Section 4. The activities of this club shall provide frequent personal contact and comradeship among the members. Examples of such activities are: Practice and Competition Shooting, Safety Clinics, Club Tournaments, Social Activities and Meetings.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. This organization is not limited to a maximum number of members. Persons of good character and in agreement with the principles of this Club shall submit a written application on the form provided by the Executive Committee when applying for membership. Membership may be granted by the President or his appointed chairman of a membership committee upon review of the membership application.** Applications, accepted or refused, may be reviewed and voted on by the membership in any regular meeting at the written request of three or more club members; reversal requires a majority vote of those present.
Section 2. Members must be 18 years of age, U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, and meet all requirements stated on the current membership application form.
Section 3. Members leaving the area for military service will be continued as members upon their return from such service. Membership may be continued for members becoming inactive for a period of up to two years upon application to the Executive Committee. Ex-members may be reinstated under conditions imposed by the Executive Committee not to exceed new member requirements, or by motion from the floor at any regular meeting.
Section 4. A member shall be considered active if his or her dues have been paid for the current year. An active membership entitles a spouse and all members of the immediate family under the age of 18 to all the privileges of membership. Only persons 18 and over may vote at club meetings.
Section 5. Any member may be excluded from membership for conduct that is offensive or contrary to the aims and objectives of the club at the majority vote of the Executive Committee. Recourse to a dismissal may be brought by a signed petition of five members of good standing and rescinded by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting where the petition is introduced.
Section 5a. All members and their guests are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the General Rules Regarding Behavior on Club Property.
Section 6. No member of this club may engage in any activity using the name of NCSC for personal profit in any manner other than professional services rendered at the request of the membership.
** No person shall be excluded from membership in this club because of sex, sexual orientation, race, national origin, occupation, religion or belief.
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ARTICLE. III DUES
Section 1. Dues will be paid by all members during the calendar year. Dues will be set at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE IV MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings normally occur on the first Wednesday of each month, except January. Any deviation from this schedule will be announced in writing by the Secretary at least three days in advance of each meeting.
Section 2. New officers will be installed by the outgoing President at the January meeting each year. All members will be notified in writing by the secretary at least fifteen days in advance of this meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time. Any five active members can call a special meeting upon notifying the Executive Committee. Seven days written notice is required for any special meeting.
Section 4. The annual business meeting will be designated as the meeting occurring in December.
Section 5. Meetings will be run in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 6. Meetings will proceed with a call to order, secretary's report, treasurer's report, committee reports, old business, new business, program and adjournment in that order.
ARTICLE V ELECTIONS
Section 1. The president shall, by the September meeting each year, select a willing nominating committee of three members in good standing.
Section 2. The nominating committee shall select not less than one or more than two willing candidates for each office (i.e. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and present this selection to the membership at the November meeting. Nominations for each post may be made from the floor at the November meeting to a maximum of four per office providing nominees are willing to accept, and no two candidates are of the same immediate family.
Section 3. New officers will be elected by majority vote of those members present at the December meeting. Officers so elected shall be installed at the January meeting. No two members of the same immediate family may be installed in offices in the same term.
Section 4. The elected president shall elect from the membership a fifth member for the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the four officers and the appointed member.
Section 5. Any vacancy on the Executive Committee may be filled by appointment by the President for the duration of the term of the post vacated. He may open the vacancy to election from the floor at any regular meeting as per Section 2.
ARTICLE VI VOTING
Section 1. A quorum is to consist of the active membership present at any scheduled meeting, but not less than three officers/members.
Section 2. Old or New Business may be passed by a majority vote of the active members present at the meeting in which the business is formed into a second motion from active members.
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Section 3. Simple majority vote shall pass any motions covered by Sections l or 2. Active members may request a roll call vote for any motion.
Section 4. Revision or Amendment to the Constitution of North Country Sportsman's Club, Inc. shall require a majority vote of the active membership present only if the membership is informed in writing of the question for vote thirty days in advance of the meeting at which the vote is to take place.
Section 5. The Constitution shall be contained in this document. Motions of a permanent nature passed by the membership shall be listed by the Secretary in a bound volume under the title "Operating Procedures". These may not be in conflict with the Constitution and may be rescinded by a passed motion changing the procedure at any future meeting.
Section 6. Dissolution of this organization must be done by a special meeting, according to the voting rule in Sections 4 and 7.
Section 7. Rule for special meetings: issues notified in writing to the membership for special meetings are the only issues that may be voted or discussed at such special meeting.
ARTICLE VII ORGANIZATION
Section 1. This organization shall be guided by an Executive Committee numbering five (5), for a term of one year or until their successors are elected and installed.
Section 2. No officer or member of the club may commit the club to any expense without approval of the executive committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee will be empowered to act for NCSC between regular meetings.
Section 4. The club shall not contract any debt, mortgage, note, nor other obligation without a majority vote of the active members present at a regular or special meeting.
Section 5. The Executive Committee may make any expenditure necessary to the ordinary course of the club's business, and must report all such expenditures at each regular monthly meeting.
Section 6. The membership shall have the right to suspend any officer upon a majority vote of the membership if such vote is contained in the written notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. PRESIDENT. The president shall preside at all meetings of the club. He shall appoint all committees and make annual reports to the club. He and/or the treasurer shall sign all vouchers in payment of expenditures incurred after such expenditures have been approved as above.
Section 2. VICE-PRESIDENT. The vice-president shall assume all the duties of the president in case of the president's absence or disability. In case of the absence or disability of both the president and vice-president, the remaining Executive Committee shall elect a president pro tem.
Section 3. SECRETARY. The secretary shall be responsible for keeping complete and accurate records for all proceedings of the club and executive committee meetings in a bound book. The secretary shall provide written notice to the active members of all meetings, special meetings, and other club business.
The secretary shall give bond, paid by the club, as is directed by the executive committee.
The secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence concerning the club and its business.
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Section 4. TREASURER. The treasurer shall have charge of all funds and securities of the club and shall keep an accurate account thereof, subject at all times to inspection by the Executive Committee. This record will be contained in a bound volume.
He shall submit at each regular meeting of the Executive Committee and/or Club a statement of the financial condition of the Club, showing an itemized statement of all receipts and disbursements during the preceding period.
He shall receive all monies collected and deposit same in such bank designated by the Executive Committee.
He shall draw and sign if requested with the President, all vouchers in payment of expenditures after such expenditures are approved by the Executive Committee.
The treasurer shall give a bond in such sum as may be determined by the Executive Committee, the premium to be paid by the club.
At least two officers shall be present whenever the Club's safe deposit is opened and a signed receipt left for anything removed, if one is in use.
ARTICLE IX STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
It shall be recorded that this document will be the constitution of the North Country Sportsman's Club and as such will nullify, supersede, replace, and eliminate any previous constitution, document, letter, note, or other communication designed to describe the operation and location of the above mentioned club.
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution, the assets of the corporation shall be signed over to the Vermont Department of Fish and Game, after discharge of all corporate indebtedness, to further the interest in training young people in conservation and wildlife.
ARTICLE XI The address of North Country Sportsman's Club shall be:
PO Box 5598
Essex Junction, VT
05453-5598
