BY-LAWS OF THE

SOUTHERN KENTUCKY (SOKY) BASSMASTERS

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY

Version 2.1 February, 2010

Table of Contents

ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1: Name

Section 2: Purpose

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Number of Members

Section 2: Requirements for Membership

Section 3: Membership Dues

ARTICLE III. Officers, Elections, Vacancies, and Eligibility

Section 1: Officers

Section 2: Elections

Section 3: Eligibility to Vote

Section 4: Term of Office

Section 5: Vacancies

Section 6: Eligibility for Holding Office

ARTICLE IV. Methods of Amending the Bylaws

Section 1: Amending the Bylaws

ARTICLE V. Removal of Membership

Section 1: Removal of Membership

ARTICLE VI. TBF and KBF Affiliation

Section 1: Requirements for Affiliation

ARTICLE VII. Standing Committees

Section 1: Tournament Committee

ARTICLE VIII. Official Tournament Rules

Rule 1: Tournament Committee

Rule 2: Insurance

Rule 3: Eligibility

Rule 4: Teams

Rule 5: Payouts and Awards

Rule 6: Boat and Motor

Rule 7: Safety

Rule 8: Tackle and Equipment

Rule 9: Permitted Fishing Locations

Rule 10: Schedule of Tournaments

Rule 11: Legal Bass

Rule 12: Tardiness

Rule 13: Handling Bass

Rule 14: Pre-Tournament Practice

Rule 15: Tournament Fees and payouts

ARTICLE IX. Tournament Weigh-In Rules

Rule 1: Deadline

Rule 2: Weigh In Procedures

Rule 3: Early Departure

Rule 4: Point System, Penalties, and amending rules

ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1: Name

This chapter shall be called the Southern Kentucky (SOKY) Bassmasters.

Section 2: Purpose

To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport; To offer our organized moral and political support and encouragement to the state conservation department; To promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards; to detect and report any polluter and to call public attention to his crime; To improve our skills as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of bass catching techniques and ideas, and to promote and encourage youth fishing with a love for this great recreation.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Number of Members

Based on vote, date 2-27-92, there is no cap on membership number.

Section 2: Requirement for Membership

To become a chapter member, each person must:

(A) Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership.

(B) Agree to become a member of the Kentucky Bass Federation (KBF).

(D) Club tournament competition and points accumulation is formulated on 2 person teams, or a single angler competing as a team. Each team may designate an alternate, but that person must join or be a club member.

Section 3: Membership Dues

The membership dues of the SOKY Bassmasters shall be set annually during the last meeting of the year, when a proper evaluation of the year’s financial needs shall be discussed. Payment of annual dues shall be made prior to the regular meeting immediately preceding the first tournament or immediately upon acceptance of a new member. Dues for new members may be prorated based on the calendar date the new member is accepted into the club.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS, ELECTIONS, VACANCIES AND ELIGIBILITY

Section 1: Officers

The officers of this chapter shall consist of:

(A) PRESIDENT – Shall preside over all meetings and direct all official business. Shall appoint all committees and provide direction for those committees. Shall supervise all club functions and activities.

(B) VICE PRESIDENT – Shall act as program chairman and assist the president in his duties and shall preside in the absence of the President.

(C) SECRETARY/TREASURER – Shall maintain accurate minutes of all meetings, keep accurate records of the chapter’s financial status and give reports of such records at each meeting. Shall maintain regular liaison between the chapter and the KBF/TBF.

(D) YOUTH DIRECTOR - Shall act as chairman or coordinator for youth related programs and activities. Function as the club’s liaison with the KBF /TBF and other organizations in support of youth fishing initiatives.

Section 2: Elections

The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of December. Elections shall be by simple majority (50%) of members present.

Section 3: Eligibility to Vote

In order for a vote to be taken concerning any issue, a quorum of members must be present at a meeting. A quorum shall be defined as the number of members at the meeting. Unless otherwise stated in these “by-laws” the minimum vote required for passage shall be 50%, with the president voting only in the case of a tie. Each member is entitled to one vote only; proxy votes will not be permitted.

Section 4: Term of Office

The term of office is one year, which shall begin on January 1st and will end on December 31st, or until the successor assumes office.

Section 5: Vacancies

In the event an office becomes vacant, nominations shall be taken and an election shall be held to fill the vacant position.

Section 6: Eligibility for Holding Office

To be eligible for holding office, a member must:

(A) Have been a member for at least six months.

(B) Have attended at least 3/4 of the chapter meetings and 3/4 of the chapter functions during the previous year.

ARTICLE IV: METHODS OF AMENDING THE BY-LAWS

Section 1: Amending the By-Laws

The by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting by a 2/3-majority vote, provided written or verbal notice of the proposed amendment has been given to the membership at least one week prior to the vote.

ARTICLE V: REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Removal of Membership

A member shall be dropped from the membership for any of the following reasons:

(A) Failure to pay chapter or KBF dues.

(B) Any action that would reflect dishonor or disgrace on the chapter.

(C) Attendance will be an important part of the criteria for maintaining membership. When it becomes an important question whether or not a team is genuinely interested in membership, as demonstrated through an apparent lack of interest or poor attendance of club functions, the general membership shall recommend an inquiry to determine if there is a problem. The president shall become responsible for this discussion and will advise the team that more participation will be expected, and the lack of it could be just cause for removal from the club membership. There will be no “percentage” requirements in this rule, but there will be definite and reasonable opportunity for the team in question to respond. If the problem continues and the membership feels the team in question should be removed, there must be a minimum vote of 2/3 present at a regular club meeting to enforce the removal.

(D) A member or team may be removed from the club for any reason at the majority’s discretion. A team or member shall be removed from the club under Section D of article V by a motion and a second followed by a vote in favor by 2/3 teams present. If applicable, the remaining club member may replace a removed team member with a club approved person or fish alone.

(E) Any team or member involuntarily removed shall within 10 days of the vote be notified by the president, and have club dues refunded on a prorated basis. The KBF will be notified by the club secretary of the person’s status within 10 days of the vote. KBF dues will not be refunded by the club; it will be that person(s)’s responsibility to contact the KBF with any questions, refund requests, and/or after joining another affiliated club. A member may make or second a motion to remove another member only once in any given calendar year.

ARTICLE VI: TBF AND AFFILIATION

Section 1: Requirements for Affiliation

This chapter must:

(A) Update the Kentucky Bass Federation (KBF) with the chapter membership roster once each year, immediately following the election of new officers.

(B) Supply the KBF with names and addresses of new members as they occur during the year.

(D) Support state federation conservation and youth programs. Any additional requirements that the state federation establishes for chapters, such as membership dues, attendance meetings, etc. will be necessary in order for the chapter to participate in state federation qualifying tournaments or any other federation sponsored tournaments or events.

ARTICLE VII: STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1: Tournament Committee

The tournament committee shall consist of five members selected by the club general membership during the December meeting. These committee members will not be considered officers, but may hold elected office in the club.

The purpose of the tournament committee shall be to plan, organize and conduct all club tournaments. The planning of the tournament shall be subject to the provisions voted on by the general membership during the regular meeting held in December. These provisions will include the following:

· Number of tournaments

· Number of night tournaments

· Names of lakes, including those to be fished more than once

· General recommendations which might include such things as scheduling of single and/or buddy tournaments, two day tournaments, etc.

The tournament committee will decide the specific dates, sites and times comprising the tournament schedule based on the clubs preferences plus its own experience and intuition. The tournament committee will keep records, enforce and interpret all tournament rules and investigate any protest concerning tournament rules. The committee will make appropriate decisions, which will be final. The vote for tournament dates and times will be determined by all tournament committee members less the chairman, who can only vote as a tie breaker. The chairman has no opinion on dates and/or times. The chairman’s responsibility is to preside over committee meetings and preside over the weigh-ins at club tournaments.

Article VIII: OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

Rule 1: Tournament Committee

The tournament committee will be responsible for conducting all club tournaments and will preside over all the weigh-ins at each tournament. The committee will make all judgment decisions and interpretations of these rules. The decision of the tournament committee shall be final. Committee members may not vote on issues concerning them personally.

Rule 2: Insurance Coverage

Non member guests who fish or participate are not covered by club affiliated insurance. Only members in good standing of the SOKY Bassmasters and the Kentucky Bass Federation are covered by club insurance.

Rule 3: Eligibility

A wife, child, relative, or friend may be allowed to compete with a member in lieu of their regular team partner or alternate as a guest, but not in 2 successive tournaments. A member may not bring any guest more than twice in a calendar year. A guest may not fish with the club more than twice in a calendar year. Guest teams may fish at the club’s discretion.

Rule 4: Teams

All competition is on a team basis. Points and payouts will be awarded to teams. Two anglers will declare themselves a team upon entering club competition. A team may designate an alternate to fish and act on behalf of either team member, but said alternate must join the club. An alternate can only participate on a single team. One person may compete as a team, and may also designate an alternate under the same conditions as above.

Rule 5: Payouts and Awards

Tournament winnings or any other payouts will be given to either team member, or their alternate who is present. If more than one team member is present, but cannot within a 10 minute period unanimously agree on which member should receive a payout, the team forfeits their winnings, and it will be deposited into the club’s treasury.

Rule 6: Boat, Motor, and Equipment

A team may fish from any boat of their choosing under the following conditions. A guest shall not be the boat operator. The minimum length of a boat is twelve (12) feet, and the maximum horsepower shall not exceed the boat's USCG horsepower rating. The boat shall be equipped with a livewell system capable of pumping fresh water into the fish tank(s). The livewell system shall be capable of releasing water such that fresh water may be constantly and intermittently pumped into the fish tank(s). All boats shall have operable kill switches and be equipped with all safety equipment required by law.

Rule 7: Safety

Safe motoring conduct must be observed at all times. Caution and safety must especially be exercised during tournament starts when several boats are likely to be bunched together. One (1) U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket must be worn by each member or guest when the boat that they are occupying is traveling at a greater than idle speed. Boats must be equipped to meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations for the boat

Rule 8: Tackle and Equipment

Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted. Pork or pork type strips, rinds, etc. may be used. Casting, spinning and spin casting rods may be used. Fly rods may be used only if both co anglers are in agreement. Only one rod may be used at a time. Other rigged rods may be kept ready for substitute purposes. All bass must be caught by conventional means. Trolling is prohibited. Electronic depth finders, graphs, temperature, PH, oxygen gages, etc. are permitted.

Rule 9: Permitted Fishing Locations

Fishing is permitted anywhere on tournament waters with the exception of any designated off-limit areas on the lake and within 50 yards of another contestant’s boat. Tournament boats may casually pass each other closer than 50 yards if the participants in both boats are in agreement. All fishing must be done from a tournament boat. Contestants may not leave the boat to land a fish. Boats must remain in the water during the entire tournament period. All contestants must start and return to the tournament site by boat. Both contestants must remain in the boat except when the crew’s safety and comfort are involved. Contestants may leave the boat for food and/or beverages, as long as they remain in sight of each other.

Rule 10: Schedule of Tournaments

A tournament schedule will be made for the entire year, prior to the start of the tournament season. The general membership will decide on the total number of tournaments and the number to be fished at night. They will also choose the specific lakes to be fished. The tournament committee will be responsible for the making of the final schedule of lakes, dates and times, taking into consideration the best times of the year for certain lakes, etc.

Rule 11: Legal Bass

Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Kentucky (spotted) bass will be recognized at weigh-ins. Five (5) bass is the legal possession limit, at no point will there be more than five (5) fish in the livewell. Unless a lake’s regulations stipulate otherwise, the club’s minimum length is fifteen (15) inches, measured with the mouth closed and the tail “pinched”. If local lake regulations allow Largemouth or Smallmouth bass under 15 inches, Kentucky Spotted bass under 15 inches may be weighed also, otherwise all bass must be 15 inches. In all cases, no bass under twelve (12) inches may be weighed. The official measuring device will be the “golden rule”. It shall be the responsibility of each team to make sure the bass they keep are of legal size. There will be no culling inside the marker buoys, or after the tournament hours are over, and any team who does so will be disqualified.

Rule 12: Tardiness

All tournaments will start at their scheduled time. Teams are expected to have their boats launched and ready at the tournament site at least 10 minutes prior to the tournament start. It will be permissible for a boat to start late, but it will be the responsibility of those contestants to find out the specifics of the tournament schedule and weigh-in.

Rule 13: Handling Bass

It is the intent of the SOKY Bassmasters to release as many bass as possible after each tournament as a conservation practice. Therefore, each member is advised to handle the bass he catches with care. There are two exceptions to this catch and release rule:

(A) Trophy Bass – Largemouth (7 lbs. and over), Smallmouth (5 lbs. and over), Kentucky Spotted Bass (4 lbs. and over).

(B) Any bass whose survival is questionable will not be released.

Rule 14: Pre-Tournament Practice

During the 30 minutes immediately preceding a tournament, there will be no fishing or casting or any kind. This includes casting to test a lure. Other than this period, there are no restrictions on pre-tournament fishing. The penalty for violation of the stated rule may be disqualification at the discretion of the tournament committee.

Rule 15: Tournament Fees and payouts

Tournament entry fee is $40 per boat. Big fish of the tournament will win 20% of the total pot. The remaining 80% of the proceeds will be paid out as prize money according to the following table:

10 or fewer paid teams:

1^st 100%

11- 20 paid teams:

1^st 70%

2^nd 30%

21 – 30 paid teams:

1^st60%

2^nd 30%

3^rd 10%

Article IX: Tournament Weigh-In Rules

Rule 1: Deadline

All boats must be present at the weigh-in site at the scheduled time. “Being present” means that the boat must be inside the designated “no wake or idle zone” area which will be specifically designated prior to each tournament by the tournament committee. Fishing inside the zone is allowed, but only fish that are legally possessed in the boat at the tournament deadline will be allowed. The tournament deadline will be signaled by a blast of a horn or a whistle being blown so all contestants may hear. LATE PENALTY: For every 5-minute period late, a team will have their largest bass disqualified. This will repeat for each five (5) minute period up to fifteen (15) minutes, at which time the team will be disqualified. The tournament committee may decide whether to make an exception to this rule if unusual circumstances exist.

Rule 2: Weigh In Procedures

Each team will present their catch to the tournament committee for weigh-in. Once the bass have been handed over to the tournament committee, no other person shall touch them. The bass shall be weighed in total weight first, and then the big bass shall be weighed. Immediately after weighing, they will be released or placed in a holding tank.

Rule 3: Early Departure

If a team is forced to leave the tournament early, their bass may be weighed in according to the following guidelines.

(A) They must notify the tournament committee of their intentions prior to the start of the tournament, unless it is a result of an emergency.

(B) They must leave their catch with another club member who is willing, but not obligated to present them to the tournament committee for weighing.

Rule 4: Point System, Penalties, and Amending Rules

Teams will receive 1 bonus point per legal fish weighed plus the following points:

1^st place = 100 points 12^th place = 33 points

2^nd place = 90 points 13^th place = 29 points

3^rd place = 81 points 14^th place = 26 points

4^th place = 73 points 15^th place = 23 points

5^th place = 66 points 16^th place = 20 points

6^th place = 60 points 17^th place = 17 points

7^th place = 55 points 18^th place = 15 points

8^th place = 50 points 19^th place = 13 points

9^th place = 45 points 20^th place = 11 points

10^th place = 41 points 21^st and below = 10 Points

11^th place = 37 points

*** Each team with no fish to weigh will receive 20 points less than the last place finishing team, down to 15^th place. If more than 15 teams weigh fish, those teams without fish will receive 5 points less than the last place finishing team, down to 20^th place. If more than 20 teams weigh fish, teams without fish receive 9 points each.

Meeting Points

An additional five (5) points will be awarded to a team for each meeting at least one member attends.

Penalties

A four (4) ounce penalty for each dead fish will be deducted from your total weight.

An eight (8) ounce penalty will be deducted from your total weight for not bringing fish to the scales in a weigh-in bag containing an adequate amount of water.

The penalty for possession (at weigh-in site) of undersized bass will be a one (1) pound deduction from your total weight for each short fish unless a courtesy check is explicitly requested before the fish is presented for weigh in.

Amendment to Tournament and Weigh in Rules

If one or more of the tournament or weigh in rules become inefficient or unworkable, the rules may be amended by normal parliamentary procedure, as follows:

(A) General discussion

(B) Motion and second