STATE CONSTITUTION
OF THE
VERMONT BASS FEDERATION INC.
ARTICLE 1
SECTION 1:
NAME
The
name of the Federation shall be the
Vermont Bass Federation Inc. (VBF)
SECTION 2:
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall
be to unite all bass clubs of the
state for the purpose of promoting bass fishing as a major sport; to educate the
public and introduce other fishermen to the sport of bass fishing; to offer the
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife our organized moral and political
support and encouragement; to serve as a central governing body for state clubs
throughout the state; to promote and stimulate youth awareness to bass fishing
and techniques; to promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to
demand adequate water standards; to function as an effective link with National
organized affiliated clubs and other
state Federations that the VBF
chooses to affiliate with.
ARTICLE II
SECTION 1:
A) Must be an approved charter by the
VBF and in good standing and be
affiliated
with the National organization recognized by the VBF.
B) There will be a onetime fee required from all chapters of
$50.00 dollars for entry into the Federation.
C) New clubs (a club that has never been a VBF affiliated)
A new club must be a VBF member no later than the June
meeting or the members of that club are not eligible to enter
the
D) Dues will be collected annually and to be determined by
the VBF board of
E) A new club, applying for membership to the
VBF,
shall be comprised of, minimum of 6 members and must maintain,
a minimum of 75%
ARTICLE III
SECTION 1:
A)
President:
Preside over all meetings and direct all official
business. Appoint and be an exofficio member of all committees, supervise
all federation
B) Vice-President: Assist the president in his duties and
preside in the
absence of the president; and is responsible for all committees and their
duties.
C) Secretary:
Maintain accurate minutes of all regular and special
meetings as called for by the Federation President. Keep all correspondence with
the National affiliated organization current.
D) Treasurer:
Shall have the care and custody of and shall be responsible for all the funds,
securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuable documents of the
Federation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the Federation in such
banks, or trust companies, or other depositories, or in such safe deposit vaults
as the Board of
E) Environmental Director: Maintain current
information on all
matters, including legislation, related to, and that could affect, the
preservation of aquatic resources and the natural environment; assure President
and membership awareness of
such matters; review proposed environmental and conversation related projects;
undertake information and educational programs to bring to the members and
public an awareness of threats to the environment and maintain liaison with the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
F) Committee Chairman: Shall chair appointed committee’s,
report
to
federation board any suggestions, planned activities, and progress of his/her
committee’s.
G) Federation Representative: Maintain regular liaison
between the
clubs and the Vermont Bass Federation. Also keep club members aware of pertinent
changes and news from the National affiliated organization
and the Federation.
SECTION 2:
ELECTIONS
The
election of officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer,
Environmental Director) shall be held at the December meeting, with nominations
to be
held at the November
meeting. Elections shall be by simple majority of chapter representatives
present, election of each officer shall be held separately.
SECTION 3:
Eligibility to Vote
Proxy votes are not
permitted. Each club is entitled to
(3) three votes,
SECTION 4:
TERM OF OFFICE
The term of office
shall be for (2) two years beginning January 1st and ending December 31st.
SECTION 5:
VACANCIES
In the event an
office becomes vacant, nominations shall be solicited and an election held to
fill the unexpired term of the individual vacating the office. The National
affiliated organization
shall be notified immediately of any changes.
SECTION 6:
ELIGIBILITY FOR HOLDING OFFICE
A)
Must be a member of the National affiliated
organization in good standing
B)
Nominee must be a member of the Federation board for at least one year.
C)
Must have attended at least 75% of all Federation meetings.
SECTION 1:
MEETINGS
Meetings shall be
held the 2nd Monday of each month. And upon the Presidents request for emergency
or special meeting. All clubs shall have equal representation in the Federation.
SECTION 2:
ATTENDANCE
There will be (3)
three Federation representatives elected by each club.
SECTION 3:
CLUB IN GOOD STANDING
To retain club in
good standing status, members must be 100% Federated and maintain the minimum of
6 members on their roster. A club/representative must have attended a minimum of
75% of all meetings in the 12 months prior to a Federation
SECTION 4:
New Clubs
(A club which has never been a VBF. affiliated club.)
A new Club must be a
VBF member, no later than the June meeting, or the members of that Club are not
eligible to enter the
ARTICLE V
SECTION 1:
METHODS OF AMENDING CONSTITUTION
To add amendments or
delete any articles or sections of the constitution will require a 2/3 majority
vote of the board.
ARTICLE VI
SECTION 1:
TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE
The purpose of the
tournament committee shall be to plan, organize, solicit sponsors, and operate
all Federation tournaments. The committee along with the tournament director
will enforce all tournament
rules and
investigate all protest. If any member of
the
committee is
involved in a grievance, he/she will not participate in the investigation or
decision. One member of the tournament committee will serve as director of the
tournament. This does not have to be the same member for each tournament and the
director shall be eligible to fish in that tournament. All tournaments, dates,
locations, and proposals submitted by the
committee must
be
approved by a
majority of the Federation board.
SECTION 2:
TERM OF OFFICE
Committee members
will serve for (1) year.
SPECIAL
COMMITTEES
All special
committees will be appointed as needed. The Federation board will determine
these committees and their term of office.
SECTION 1:
REMOVAL
OF MEMBERSHIP
A)
Failure to
pay dues.
B)
Any action that would reflect dishonor and disgrace on this Federation and / or
the National affiliated organization
C)
Disqualification for any reason from participating in the National affiliated
organization sponsored events including disqualification for use of drugs or
alcohol.
D)
The Federation board will determined the length of time for removal
ARTICLE VIII
SECTION 1:
DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution
of the Federation the board of directors shall, after paying or making provision
for the payment
of all of the
liabilities of the Federation, dispose of all assets of the federation
exclusively for the purpose of the Federation in such a manner, or to such
charitable, educational, environmental or sportsmen organization as the board of
director shall determine.
ARTICLE IX
1)
A
person shall qualify
for the Sate team by method established
by the
tournament committee.
2) A deposit will be required from all
team members. The amount
and due
date will be determined by the Federation board.
3) The first place qualifier will earn
the title of “MR. BASS” and
receive a plaque from the Federation. The team captain will be
elected by the team members. Also he/ she will be the spoke person
at the Eastern Divisional.
4) Team jackets will be provided to new
members only with the approval of the Federation
board.
Patches, insignias and location will be approved by the Federation
board. Replacement jackets will be handled case by case
5) A member who drops from the
team, All sponsor product must
be
returned and the Federation board will decide on returning
the
deposit. The next man / women in order of qualifying will take his / her place.
6)
The expenses incurred by each team member at the Eastern
Divisional will be reimbursed, based on the availability of funds.
June of that year a budget will be presented to the Federation board for
approval.
7)
All state team members must attend team meetings, time and
dates will be set by the team organizer.
8)
There will be (6) six boaters, (6) six non-boaters,(1) one 1st alternate
and (1)
one
2nd alternate will be the president and his attendance will be optional.
boaters, if there is not enough boaters the team organizer will ask team
members in order of placement from the qualifier. The remaining (6) six
members will be non-boaters. The 13th qualifier will be the 1st
alternate.
10) During the 3-days of
competition if any of the (6) six boaters cannot field a
boat for any given day the next person (7thru 12) with a boat becomes a
boater
for that day. If repairs are made on the disabled boat the designated
boater will
be able to return as a boater in the next days competition. The National
affiliated
Organization must be notified of any change in roster.
11) At the Eastern Divisional if
(1) one of the (12) twelve team members becomes
ill or for what every reason is not able to compete, the 1st alternate
will take
his / her place.
12) Boaters are required to
provide to the team organizer on the date that is
requested, proof of insurance stating the expiration date and the amount of
liability. And if a boater is borrowing a boat he / she must acquire a
written
permission letter from the owner along with his / her proof of insurance.
“During the official practice, and during the tournament a competitor may not
have the
assistance or the advice of anyone for the purposes of locating or
catching bass, nor
enter the tournament waters with anyone who has been on the tournament
waters
during the 6-day off-limit period, A professional guide, state or federal
wildlife
agency employee, or any other person deemed an “Expert” on these
tournament waters
by the tournament director, unless he / she is a contestant in the
tournament”
In the case of this rule violation
the Vermont
vote
, replace that team member with the alternate and that violator will be
disqualified
from
further participation in the event.
( voted in by board
RULES/REGULATION
VIOLATIONS
The Federation board will review violators of the above rules/regulations
and by a majority vote sanctions and or being dropped from the team will be
imposed. If a Federation board member is also a team member in question he will
refrain from any discussion and voting.(Examples of sanctions are forfeit of
deposit: boater to non-boater: disqualification from the Vermont
revised
TOURNAMENT RULES
1.
Participants shall observe high standard of ethics and personal conduct. Alcohol
and/or drugs
are strictly
prohibited any time during the tournament or weigh-in. Violation of the rule is
grounds for
disqualification.
2.
Tournament waters are defined as all public water which are accessible by boat
from the
tournament start
site. The tournament director will announce any exception.
3.
No competitor shall fish with in 50 yd. of another competitor, who is anchored
and has their
trolling motor in an
upright position. Fishing within 50 yd. radius of the launch site is
prohibited. fishing
from shore is prohibited.
4.
Trailing a boat during tournament hours is prohibited.
5.
Coast Guard approved life vests and kill switches must be worn/used anytime the
main
combustion engine is
in gear.
6.
All boat motors will be checked against the maximum rating of the boat. Any boat
not in
tolerance will
not be allowed to participate.
7.
An aerated live well for each boat is mandatory. All boats will have a live well
and
compartment
check before the start of the
tournament by tournament officials. All tournament
will support
catch and release.
8. At the end of competition it is the responsibility of each participant to check in with the tournament officials. Fishing
after check in is not allowed. A 1.00 lb. penalty for each minutes late at weigh-in up to 15 minutes will be levied. Over
15 minutes
late will result in disqualification.
9.
Tackle used shall be limited to artificial baits only with the exception of pork
baits and rinds.
10. Only one line/fisherman is permitted to be used at any given time.
11. Landing nets are not legal. (The tournament director will note exceptions.)
12. A minimum fish length of 12” will be maintained. Courtesy checks will be
offered if requested. Any fish
entered under
12” that has not had a courtesy check will be eliminated and a 1.00 lb. penalty
will be
assessed.
13. A maximum of fish per boat will be announced by the tournament director.
14. 0.25 lb. will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish entered.
15. Dead fish will not be eligible for the lunker prize.
16. Tie breakers will be determined 1st by the greatest number of fish entered
and 2nd by the weight of the
largest
single fish entered. If still a tie, the prizes will be split.
17. All participants must follow all
either are
grounds for disqualification.
18. Any protest must be made verbally to a tournament official before weigh
begins.
19. Boaters must have a min. of $100,000 liability insurance on their boats and
a copy will be presented with
the entry
form.
20. NO REFUNDS.
21. The decision of the tournament committee for all rulings will be final.
Operating Account:
Kids Account: State
Team Account:
Maintenance Expenses
Permits
Permits
Web
site
Shirts
Tournament expenses
Tools
Youth Director Plane Fare
Team jackets / shirts
Federation
incidentals Event
Expenses:
Trophy (Mr. Bass)
Postage
Trophies
Nationals (B, NB)
Donations
Food
Hotels
Kids
Meals
Charity Opens
Fuel
National Officer Expenses
Plane Fare
Expenses