By-Laws

2009 By-Laws of the Berlin Sportsmen’s Association, Inc.

Identifier

The name of this organization shall be “Berlin Sportsmen’s Association, Inc.”, and its address shall be 1692 White Horse Road, Berlin, PA 15530.

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the best interests, the propagation and the protection of fish, game, and forestry.

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Article 1 Eligibility for Membership

Section 1- Active Member

To be an active member, the member must;

A - reside in the Berlin Brothersvalley School District

B – be at least 16 years of age, and

C – have attended four (4) meetings in the past 12 month period.

With regards to the meeting attendance, three (3) can be regular meetings and one(1) a work evening, or all four (4) can be regular meetings.  However, not more than one (1) work evening will be credited for the attendance requirement for active status in the previous twelve (12) month period.

Section 2- Associate Member

Members NOT meeting the “Active Member” requirements shall be considered Associate Members

Section 3- Member’s Obligation

All Members must accept the following obligation:

“I do agree and solemnly resolve to obey and enforce the Game Laws and Fish Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States, do all things necessary for the propagation of Fish, Game, and Forestry and all other beneficial wildlife, to aid in the conservation and preservation of the waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to recognize and assist true sportsmanship and do everything in my power to elevate its standards.”

 Article 2: Memberships, Dues, and Voting

Section 1- Annual Dues The annual dues for this organization will be recommended by the Executive Meeting and presented to the Membership at the October Meeting for discussion, and will be voted on by the Membership at the November Meeting of each calendar year.

 

Section 2- Voting Each Active Member is entitled to one vote, provided said member is also in ‘good standing’ (see Article 1; Sec. 1).

Section 3- Membership Card

Each member, upon paying the Annual Dues, shall receive a Membership Card indicating the year in which he/she is in good standing.

Section 4- Term of Membership

 All memberships expire with the calendar year.

Section 5- Family Membership

 A “family membership” will include up to 2 adults (spouses) and all children living with those adults.

Section 6- Definition of Children

All children (described in Section 5) will be covered by a family membership until they are no longer attending high school.

Section 7- Up-Dating Memberships

Memberships for the up-coming year will be sold starting November 1^st, after a review of regulations at the October meeting (see Sec.1).

Section 8- New Memberships This is a one-time offer.  Memberships sold to new members after November 1^st, will be $17.00, and be good for the following year.  Again, this is for ‘New” members ONLY, and does NOT apply to renewal memberships.  The new member is responsible for getting his/her membership card for the next year.

Section 9 - No complimentary memberships will be issued by any member, or the membership committee, or any officer without first getting the approval of the membership at a stated meeting.

Article 3 Elected Offices

Section 1- The Offices  The names of the elected Offices hereby created are;

President

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Section 2- The President  The President shall  preside over all meetings with fairness and equality to all members.  He may call special meetings or call for a special meeting upon request in writing of ten (10) active members in good standing (also reference Article 9).  He shall appoint all committees, preside at sessions of the Executive Committee, and countersign all authorized orders of the Treasurer.

Section 3- The Vice-President   The Vice President, or in his absence, the Treasurer, shall preside over all meetings in the absence of the President, and at the time, have the same powers as the President.

Section 4- The Treasurer  The Treasurer shall keep a financial account of the business of the organization.  He shall render a complete report of the finances at the final meeting of each year, or at other times at the request of two (2) or more active members.  He shall submit his books to the audit committee after the December meeting for an annual audit, or at other times as directed by the President.  In the absence of the Secretary, he, or an appointed active member, shall keep the minutes of the meeting.

Section 5- The Secretary  The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings, both regular and special, in a Minute Book provided by the Association.  He shall sign all orders made upon the Treasurer.

Section 6- Nominations  Nominations for officers will be made at the regular November meeting.  The Executive Committee shall present two (2) names for each office; namely President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  In addition, the Floor shall present the name of one (1) or more active members for each of the above offices, if so desired by any of the active members present.

Section 7- Annual Election  The annual election of officers shall take place at the regular December meeting.  The voting shall be by ballot and the person with the highest number of votes for each office shall be duly elected. 

                                                                                                                                                     

Article 4 Committees

Section 1- Standing Committees   The standing committees shall be as follows;

Membership

Property

Fish

Game

Shooting

Executive
Media

Each committee will be composed of three (3) or more members, and appointed by the President.  All committees will report at each meeting with the exception of the Executive Committee.

Section 2- Set Up  All standing committees shall be appointed at the next regular meeting following the election of officers.

Section 3- Fish Committee  The Fish Committee shall have full charge of matters pertaining to fish culture and distribution, and shall report each month.

Section 4- Game Committee  The Game Committee shall have full charge of the Association’s interests in the trapping and the propagation and distribution of game, and shall report at each monthly meeting.

Section 5- Membership Committee   The Membership Committee shall have full charge of matters pertaining to membership, and shall report at each monthly meeting.  A report will be given at each meeting of monthly memberships and key sales.  All monies will be received by the Treasurer after the monthly report.

Section 6- Shooting Committee    The Shooting Committee shall have full charge of the shooting range, and report at the monthly meetings.  Notification will be given at the gate and range(s) when it is closed.

Section 7- Property Committee    The Property Committee shall have full charge of the Association’s property pertaining to the buildings and insurance, roads, grounds, and waters owned by the Association.

 

Section 8- Executive Committee   The Executive Committee shall consist of the;

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

All “chairs” of Standing Committees

Its duties shall be to provide ways and means for the progress, and for the best interests of the Organization.  It shall also act on emergency matters.   All action taken by this Committee shall be fully reported at the next regular meeting, and its action accepted or rejected by the Association.

Section 9- Expenditures  All committees so appointed shall submit to the membership for approval all expenditures in excess of $150.00.

Section 10- Media Committee   The Media Committee shall have full charge of matters pertaining to the Club’s use of media, and shall report on monthly activities at each meeting.  This committee will be responsible for recommending how the Club utilizes the various forms of media.  This will include, but not be limited to; electronic media, such as; television, radio, Facebook, Blogs, websites, Twitter, Instagram, and any future form, and printed media, such as; newspapers, and magazines.  Any and all passwords shall be known by the Chair, the Club president, and one other Media Committee member.

 

Article 5 Order of Business

Section 1- Regular Meetings The reading of the minutes from previous meetings, communications, applications for membership, unfinished business, routine business, new business, reports of Officers and Committees, bills and accounts, violation of the Fish, Game, and Forestry laws, good of the organization, and then adjournment.

Article 6 Rules of Order

Section 1- The Guide  The rule of parliamentary practice, as in Robert’s Rules of Order, shall be followed except as otherwise provided by the By-Laws.

Article 7 Amendments

Section 1- Process  These By-Laws or parts thereof may be altered or amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present at a Regular Meeting, provided the amendments or alterations have been presented and read at a pervious Regular Meeting.  Before a vote can be taken to amend any of these By-Laws, a notice shall have been sent to each active member at least five (5) days in advance of the date of voting on the amendment and the date of balloting.

Article 8 A Quorum

A quorum will consist of at least 2 officers in addition to five (5) other active members.

Changed to; “                                                                            three (3) other members.”  Date = ___________

Article 9 Special Meetings

Section 1- Record and Report

 A record of all business transacted at any Special Meeting shall reported in whole at the next Regular Meeting.

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Article 10 Regular Meeting Time

Section 1- Time  The regular meeting of this association shall be on the 2^nd Thursday of each month at 7;30 pm, at the regular place of meeting, with the exceptions listed below.

Section 2- Clubhouse  The regular meetings of the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November will be held at the Clubhouse.

Section 3- Schedule Changes  The meetings for the months listed in Section 2 must be held at the stated times.  Any alternate must be proposed and approved at the stated meeting the previous month.

Section 4- Cancellations  The only other reasons that a meeting would not be held and cancelled would be for any unforeseen event or disaster which would prevent members from attending at the Clubhouse.  If that occurred, the President would be required to contact all elected officers for approval of cancellation.  After approval, cancellation would be advertised in the Somerset Daily American two (2) days before the meeting (Wednesday and Thursday), or the same two (2) days on public news media.

Section 5- Winter  Meetings of the winter months of December, January , February, and March will be held at the Berlin Area School Berlin Brothersvalley School District .  In case of bad weather cancellation, the officers will be responsible for deciding such action.  The cancellation will be by the Somerset Daily American on the Thursday of that meeting, or by public news media.

Section 6- Announcement  All stated meetings will be announced in the Somerset Daily American on the day of that meeting.

Article 11 Clubhouse

Section 1- Meeting Place  The Clubhouse will be the regular meeting place of this Association.

Section 2- Rental Fee  Fees for rental of the Clubhouse will be recommended by the Property Committee to the membership at the October meeting, and will be voted upon at the November meeting of each calendar year.

Section 3- Rental  Rental of the Clubhouse will be limited to; active members or any organization.

Section 4- Rental Procedure  All applicants must contact the President, and fill out an application for use of the Clubhouse and grounds, NOT including the shooting range.  The Club retains the right to approve or deny the application for rental of the Clubhouse and the grounds.  NO use of the ranges will be permitted when the Clubhouse and grounds are rented.

Section 5- Pavilion  The Pavilion is open to all members and immediate family.  It is to be used on a first come-first served basis.  All children must be supervised and under full control at all times.   There will be NO use of the ranges, and  fishing is as per club regulations.

Section 6- Pavilion Fee  Any member wishing to reserve the pavilion must contact a Club Officer and pay a $25.00 reserve fee.

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Article 12 Rules

 Section 1- Required All standing or posted rules must be observed.  These will be displayed at the dam site.  Failure to follow posted rules will result in revocation of membership.