B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of West Virginia, Inc.
Bylaws
Article I: Name
This organization shall be known as B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of West Virginia, Inc. hereafter referred to as “BNWV”.
Article II: Purpose
To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport; to offer the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources our organized moral and political support and encouragement; to promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards; to improve our skill as bass anglers through the fellowship and friendly exchange of expert bass catching techniques and ideas; to promote and encourage youth fishing and love for this great recreation; to function as a dynamic and effective link with individual chapters and other organizations embracing the principles and purposes of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
Article III: Membership
Section 1:
All B.A.S.S. clubs, hereafter referred to as “Chapters”, affiliated with the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and recognized by BNWV are eligible and will be invited to join BNWV. Chapters must maintain a minimum of 6 (six) members to be a member Chapter of BNWV. Prospective Chapters must be chartered and have dues paid by the March meeting of BNWV in order to participate in BNWV Regional Qualifiers and the State Championship for that year. All Chapter members must maintain membership in B.A.S.S.
Section 2:
The Board of Directors will recommend a dues structure as a requirement of a chapter to hold membership in BNWV. Chapter dues are due to be paid by the BNWV meeting in March of each year.
Article IV: Delegates
Each Chapter will select one member to serve as a delegate to BNWV. To remain affiliated with BNWV, the Chapter delegate, or alternate, should attend 2 (two) of the 3 (three) regular meetings of BNWV.
Article V: Geographic Organization
BNWV is comprised of 3 (three) Regions:
Western Region – Jackson, Roane, Kanawha, Boone, Wyoming and McDowell counties and all areas west of these counties.
Southeastern Region – Pocahontas, Webster and Braxton counties and all counties south of these counties.
Northern Region – All counties north of the southeastern and western region
The Board of Directors will assign Chapters to region and will review annually based on membership in the organization at the March meeting.
Article VI: Board of Directors
The BNWV Board of Directors will be comprised of 10 members consisting of:
President
Vice President
Secretary/Treasurer
Conservation Director
Tournament Director
Youth Director
Northern Region Delegate
Southeastern Region Delegate
Western Region Delegate
General Delegate
In the event an insufficient number of nominations are received from a Region to fill an open seat(s), nominations will be accepted from other Regions to fill the open seat(s). The President will then appoint an elected Board member(s) to represent the Region lacking nominations.
Article VII: Elections
Section 1: General Board Members:
a) These members of BNWV Board of Directors shall be elected by the Chapters to serve a 2 (two) year term. In July, the President or Secretary-Treasurer will send an election notice to each Chapter asking for nominations for those Board member positions whose terms will expire at year’s end. Nominations shall be open for 1 (one) month and may be submitted by mail or email. The Secretary-Treasurer will then email a ballot of nominees to each eligible Chapter, who will then cast 1 (one) vote for each vacating Board seat at the October meeting of BNWV. Nominees receiving a simple majority of votes will be elected and assume office on January 1 of the following year.
b) The office of President, Secretary-Treasurer, Conservation Director, Northern Region Delegate, and General Delegate will be elected on even years.
c) The office of Vice President, Youth Director, Tournament Director, the Southeastern Region Delegate, and Western Region Delegate will be elected on odd years.
d) Vacated Offices:
Special elections may be held to fill vacated offices. Such elections will be held as soon as possible by a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Eligibility of Officers
Must be a member in good standing of B.A.S.S.
Must be a member in good standing of an active affiliated Chapter of BNWV for the prior two (2) consecutive years before the election.
Article VIII: Duties of Officers and Removal from Office
Section 1: Duties of Officers
1.) President
a.) Preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors and any meetings of BNWV.
b.) Direct all official business.
c.) Supervise all official activities.
d.) Appoint all chairmen and special committees.
e.) Represent the BNWV in matters relating
to B.A.S.S. and other organizations.
f.) Delegate such other duties as appropriate to better serve the
BNWV.
2.) Vice President
a.) Preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and any meetings of the
BNWV in the absence of the President.
b.) Assist the President at his request.
c.) Assume the office of President, should it become vacated, until a successor is
elected and installed. The Vice President shall be the first successor to the
office of President.
d.) Serve as ex-officio members of all standing and special committees.
3.) Secretary-Treasurer
a.) Record minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and any meeting of the
BNWV and have approved Minutes posted on BNWV website.
b.) Maintain accurate financial records and receive and disburse funds upon approval of the Board of Directors or the membership and present a financial report at each meeting of BNWV.
c.) Maintain a record of, and report, all votes cast by the Board of Directors or the
BNWV membership. This record shall become part of the Official
Minutes.
d.) Maintain correspondence in all BNWV matters.
e.) Conduct an annual financial audit with the Vice President and present the audit
report at the March meeting of the BNWV.
f.) Assist the President at his request.
4.) Regional Delegates:
a.) Attend all meetings of the BNWV Board of Directors.
b.) Convey business of their respective region to the Board of Directors.
5.) Conservation Director
a.) Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors
b.) Report to the Board of Directors on upcoming legislation, rules and regulations
that could affect the fishing community.
To appoint a Conservation Committee consisting of two (2) delegates from each Region. The purpose of this committee shall be to protect our natural environment from harmful change and to support the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and neighboring B.A.S.S. Nations; to document and report to the proper authorities violations of local, state, and federal anti-pollution laws, statutes, regulations, ordinances, and other regulatory devices; to undertake informational and educational programs; to bring to the public a great awareness of threats to our environments; and, above all, to take a leadership role on repairing the harm that has already been done to the life-giving waters of America.
6.) Youth Director:
a) Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors
b) Coordinate all youth activities with B.A.S.S. and BNWV.
c) To appoint a Youth Committee consisting of two (2) delegates from each Region.
The purpose of this committee shall be to plan, organize, implement and participate in youth events; to introduce young fishermen to the goals of B.A.S.S.; to give them a basis for respect of our national heritage, an appreciation of the basic rules of honesty, integrity, fair play and good sportsmanship; to give them an introduction to the sheer joy of bass fishing.
Tournament Director
Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors.
Coordinate all tournament activities within BNWV.
Section 2: Removal From Office
Any Officer, who shall fail to fulfill the duties of his office, may be removed from office at a regular or special meeting by a 2/3rds (two-thirds) majority vote of the Board of Directors, provided said Officer and the entire Board of Directors have received 30 (thirty) days prior notice, from the President or non-affected office.
Article IX: Account Year and Meetings
Section 1: Account Year
The fiscal year of BNWV shall be from January 1st to December 31st.
Section 2: Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet at least three times per year and before each scheduled meeting of the Chapter Members. An agenda will be provided 7 (seven) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3: Special Meetings
Call of Special Meetings, Special Meeting of Members may be called at any time:
By the President
By one-half (1/2) or fifty percent (50%) of the Members.
Fixing of Time for Meeting. When a special meeting has been called, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to promptly fix the time of the meeting, and to give notice of the same, in the same manner as described in Section 7 below, which time of meeting shall be not more than thirty (30) days after the Secretary’s receipt of notice of the calling of the meeting. If the Secretary neglects or refuses to fix the time of the meeting within three (3) days of his or her receipt of notice of the calling of the meeting, the person or persons calling the meeting may so give notice doing so.
Section 4: Quorum and Adjournment:
General Rule. A meeting of the Chapter Members duly called shall not result in the transaction of business unless a quorum is present. A quorum is defined as 51% of the Board of Directors.
Withdrawal of Quorum. The Members present at a duly organized meeting can continue to do business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum.
Adjournment for Lack of Quorum. If a meeting cannot be organized because a quorum is not present, except as provided in the Act, by a vote of a majority present, the meeting may be adjourned to such time and place as the majority may determine, subject to giving notice of the same to all Members.
Adjournments Generally. Any regular or special meeting may be adjourned for such period as a majority of the Members present and entitled to vote shall direct.
Other Action in Absence of Quorum. Those Members entitled to vote who attend a meeting of Members that has been previously adjourned for one or more periods aggregating at least fifteen (15) days because of an absence of a quorum, although less than a quorum as fixed in this section, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon the matter set forth in the notice of the meeting if the notice states that those Members who attend the adjourned meeting shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon the matter.
Section 5: Action by Members
General Rule. Except as otherwise provided in the Act of the Articles or these By-Laws, whenever any action is to be taken by vote of the Members of the Club, it shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast at a duly organized meeting of Members.
Section 6: Organization
At every meeting of the Members, the President, or in his/her absence the Vice President, or in his/her absence one of the following officers present in the order stated: Secretary, Treasurer, or a person chosen by vote of the Members present shall act as Chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary or, in the absence of the Secretary, a person appointed by the Chairperson of the meeting, shall act as Secretary.
Section 7: Notice of Meeting
Notice of regular and special meetings of the Members or Board of Directors shall be given at least three (3) days previous thereto by written notice delivered personally, by email, telephonically or mailed to each Member or Director at his/her home address. Any Member or Director may waive notice of any meeting.
Article X: Committees and Divisions
Section 1: Appointment of Committees
The President shall appoint the following Committees:
Tournament: The purpose of this committee shall be to plan, organize and operate annual Regional Qualifier and State Championship Tournaments, which will determine eligibility to enter the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship; to determine eligibility, set awards, rule with final authority on the proper conduct, procedures and qualifications, and other matters properly relating to the orderly conduct of BNWV tournaments. All State Qualifying and Championship Tournaments will be conducted within the spirit and to the letter of the current National Tournaments Rules of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
Youth
Conservation
Duties of said above committees are included in Article VIII section 5 – 7 above.
Other committees that the board approves.
The BNWV President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of all committees.
Section 2: Limitation of Powers
No action by any member, committee, division or officer shall be binding upon or constitute an expression of, the policy of BNWV until it shall have been approved or ratified by the Chapters of B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of West Virginia, Inc.
Article XI: By-Laws and Amendments
Section 1: Interpretation
Final authority for the interpretation of these bylaws shall rest with the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society of America.
Section 2: Amendment
These bylaws may be amended by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the Chapters that cast a vote, provided that notice of the proposed change or amendment have been mailed or emailed to each Chapter at least thirty days prior to such vote.