NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S CLUB
CONSTITUTION AND BY‐LAWS
ARTICLE 1
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be: The Northern Chester County Sportsmen’s Club, herein referred to as “the club.”
Section 2. The charter of this club shall not be voluntarily surrendered so long as seven voting members are willing to continue it.
ARTICLE 2
OBJECTIVES
To promote the interest of sportsmen in the development of shooting sports opportunities for the greater enjoyment of the outdoor recreation, particularly hunting and fishing. To increase youth participation in the shooting sports and to promote safety in the shooting sports. To encourage conservation of our forests, streams, and wildlife of our community and the state of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in the club shall consist of active members. The membership year begins on August 1st and ends on July 31st.
Section 2. Any person of good character who subscribes to the objectives of the club, sponsored by one member of the club in good standing, shall be eligible for active membership in the club, provided the active member shall be more than eighteen years of age and an NRA member.
Section 3. A member will be considered to be in good standing when the member’s conduct reflects properly in the best interests the club. The club officers have the authority to determine if a member’s conduct is appropriate. Any family members associated therewith are considered to be in similar standing.
Section 4. Proposal for membership shall be made in the manner prescribed by the officers. A membership candidate must be sponsored by a member in good standing. Membership candidates will be announced and voted on at membership regular meeting. Voting may be done separately for each applicant or as a group; openly or by secret ballot as determined by the officers. Any applicant receiving two or more dissenting votes will not be accepted in to the club.
ARTICLE 4
DUES
Section 1. Annual dues shall be set by the officers with approval of the membership at a regular meeting. Dues may be changed at any meeting; however, they will not go into effect until the following year.
Section 2. The dues of an active member shall become due upon application to membership in the club, and annually at the end of the membership year thereafter. Renewal notices will be published at least 60 days before the end of the membership year. Any member failing to renew prior to the end of the membership year must reapply as a new member. Renewals that fail to be submitted or postmarked prior to the end of the membership year will not be considered. Those members failing timely renewal may only pay in person at the August membership meeting.
Section 3. A member not in good standing is ineligible for renewal.
ARTICLE 5
PRESIDENT
Section 1. The president will preside at all board meetings and regular and special meetings of the club, see that all rules and regulations are enforced, cast the deciding vote in case of a tie, form or disband any committee, appoint or remove any appointed trustee, perform other such duties as to pertain to the office, and maintain the efficient workings of the club. The president shall be an ex‐officio member of all committees.
Section 2. The president may choose to, or if requested by members shall, appoint a financial review committee to review the club’s finances and make a report thereof to the club at the annual meeting. Members of the financial review committee shall be members of the club in good standing who are not related to the treasurer by blood or marriage.
ARTICLE 6
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Section 1. The first vice president shall assist the president when necessary, and in his or her absence shall perform the duties of the president. The first vice president will manage appropriate areas of concern as delegated by the president, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time.
Section 2. Oversee the conduct of board meetings.
ARTICLE 7
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Section 1. The second vice president shall assist the president when necessary, and in their absence shall perform the duties of the president. The second vice president will manage appropriate areas of concern as delegated by the president, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time.
Section 2. Unless otherwise delegated by the president, oversee procurement of all necessary food, beverage, sanitary, or other consumables; and all other products necessary for the smooth running of the club. Accounting for such expenses will be made to the treasurer in a timely manner.
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ARTICLE 8
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Section 1. The membership Secretary will be the primary contact for member applicants, oversee the membership renewal process, maintain all membership records, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time.
Section 2. Collect all dues and account all revenues to the treasurer in a timely manner.
ARTICLE 9
TREASURER
Section 1. The treasurer will manage the finances, financial records, banking, and investment relationships of the club, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time. The treasurer will transfer funds between accounts as needed, make timely deposits into the club accounts, pay expenses as authorized, and maintain the club’s good name and credit rating by making timely payment for recurring routine expenses.
Section 2. Prepare and present a monthly report of the club’s financial status, including receipts and proposed expenditures, at the regular meeting.
Section 3. Prepare and present an annual report of the club’s financial status at the annual membership meeting.
Section 4. Ensure the timely and accurate completion and submission of necessary federal, state and local tax filings.
ARTICLE 10
RECORDING SECRETARY
Section 1. The recording secretary will create and publish agendas based on input from officers, keep and publish minutes of all board and membership meetings, prepare correspondence on the club’s behalf as necessary, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time.
Section 2. Provide timely notice for the annual meeting, regular meetings, and special meetings.
Section 3. Items published on the club’s website shall constitute written notice to all members.
Section 4. Hold all documents, titles and official papers of the club.
Section 5. Ensure timely filings of incorporation, bylaws, and other non‐financial documents required by law.
ARTICLE 11
TRUSTEES
Section 1. Two trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting. Trustees elected from the membership will help maintain the rules, maintenance, and other necessities of the club, and perform other such duties as may be necessary from time to time.
Section 2. Of the two elected trustees, the one with the longest membership in the club shall be considered the first trustee.
ARTICLE 12
SUCCESSION OR ASCENSION
Section 1. In the event of an absence, resignation, or other attendance concern, officers will ascend to the vacant duties in the following order: President, first vice president, second vice president, recording secretary, membership secretary, treasurer, first trustee, second trustee.
Section 2. If there are no subordinate officers present, the president may reassign the duties to an appropriate officer or appropriate member.
Section 3. A vacant officer position may be filled via appointment or special election at the discretion of the officers. Voting rights of the appointee will be in accordance with applicable law.
ARTICLE 13
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
Section 1. Officers. The president, vice presidents, recording secretary, membership secretary, treasurer, and two trustees at large will be elected from the floor. They constitute the officers of the club and may vote accordingly. Their term will be for one year. They will assume office upon the start of the first regular meeting following the annual meeting.
Section 2. The officers will review and approve any federal, state or local tax return prior to filing.
Section 3. Trustees. Appointed trustees may assist the officers in conducting club business. Appointed trustees do not vote as officers and should not be confused with the trustees at large voted from the floor.
Section 4. The officers and trustees will manage the affairs of the club in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and will be protected from liability and indemnification by the club, so long as they meet their fiduciary obligations.
Section 5. Expenses. The officers must approve all expenses.
Section 6. A majority of officers present will constitute a quorum.
Section 7. If an officer’s conduct becomes unethical, immoral, or otherwise contrary to the best interests of the club, the remaining officers have the authority to begin proceedings in accordance with Article 19 below.
ARTICLE 14
MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the club shall be scheduled one night of each calendar month.
Section 2. Annual meeting. The annual meeting of the club shall be held on the regular meeting night of November each year.
Section 3. Special meetings. Special meetings of the club shall be called by the president as necessary.
Section 4. Board meetings. In accordance with the Pennsylvania Code, the officers and trustees may meet between regular meetings as needed to efficiently manage the affairs of the club.
Section 5. Quorum. Seven members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any annual, regular, or special meeting of the club. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum for a Board meeting.
Section 6. Business. All business coming before the club shall be confined to the objectives of the club as defined in Article 2 or its administration. New business must be reviewed and considered by the officers prior to addition to the regular meeting agenda.
Section 7. Voting. Active members who are in good standing and physically present may vote. Unless otherwise stipulated in these by‐laws, votes will be by simple majority. Voting will be 1 vote per membership. The officer or member presiding at a meeting may only vote in the case of a tie.
ARTICLE 15
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Elections. The election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting. Elections may be done by oral vote for uncontested offices or ballot for contested offices.
Section2. Nominations. Three months prior to the annual meeting, the president shall ask for and accept nominations of members in good standing. Members present may nominate members not present at the meeting. Nominations will close at the regular meeting the month prior to the election. If necessary, the president may form a nominating committee to ensure the qualification, validity, and willingness of nominees. Nominees need to accept the nomination either verbally at an open meeting or in writing to the president or the chair of the nominating committee.
Section 3. Qualifications. To be eligible for an office, a nominated member must have attended a minimum of three meetings and twenty volunteer hours to the direct benefit of the club within the current calendar year, or be endorsed by a sitting officer.
Section 4. Who may vote. Active members who are in good standing and physically present at the election may vote.
ARTICLE 16
DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Each member will comport themselves properly in the best interests the club, attend the meetings as regularly as possible, assist as best they may to support and develop the club’s objectives, and keep informed of club notices and activities through common methods of communication.
ARTICLE 17
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees for this club are to be created or disbanded by the president as necessary.
Section 2. Standing committees of this club shall consist of one or more members, each appointed by the president. The names of committee members shall be reported to the club by the president at the meeting following their appointment to office.
ARTICLE 18
RESIGNATIONS
Resignation of members. The resignation of a member shall be in writing and any refund of dues or other monies shall be at the discretion of the officers.
ARTICLE 19
MISCONDUCT
Section 1 The officers will review and adjudicate any member’s alleged activities that may be injurious to the welfare of the club or any of its members.
Section 2. Allegations involving violations of safety concerns may result in immediate suspension of membership. Such suspension may apply to all family members covered by that membership. The officers may direct that additional training be required prior to reinstatement.
Section 3. A review of alleged misconduct will be conducted as follows:
- The alleged offender will be given the opportunity to provide pertinent information for consideration during the review. The alleged offender will appear at the next scheduled board meeting. In the event of a conflict, the president will determine if an alternate date is appropriate. If an alternate date is scheduled, the officers may elect to suspend the member’s privileges in the interim. The president may also opt to convene a special meeting to review the allegations.
- If committee reviews are deemed necessary, they will be conducted prior to the officers’ review.
- Communication of the review will be done in accordance with these bylaws.
- In the event that the club’s good faith efforts to contact the member do not receive a timely reply, or should the alleged offender decline to attend or fail to show up at the meeting, the officers may elect to proceed without the member.
- The alleged offender is not entitled to legal representation during these proceedings.
- At the conclusion of the review, a majority of officers present must agree that the alleged activities have been injurious to the interest or welfare of the club. The individual may be required to forfeit membership in the club entirely, or for a period to be determined by the officers. If necessary, the officers shall have the right to levy fines against any member culpable of malicious or negligent destruction of club property. Fines shall be limited to the greater of the annual membership fee or the estimate to repair damaged club property.
ARTICLE 20
COMMUNICATION
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein pertaining to communications with members consider that any commonly accepted medium may be used; including, but not limited to: publishing on the club’s website, electronic mail, text message, United States Postal Service.
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This constitution may be amended in accordance with Pennsylvania law.
Section 2. Proposed changes to the bylaws will be posted on the club’s website for review at least one week prior to the meeting when the vote will be considered.
Section 3. Bylaws changes require a two‐thirds majority of active members who are in good standing and physically present for the vote.
Section 4. Bylaws changes approved by the membership will take effect immediately.
ARTICLE 22
MISCELLANEOUS
There shall be no alcoholic beverages on club property.
8 JAN 2021 - NCCSC BYLAWS