ARTICLE I - Name and Purpose
Section 1 - Name
This Chapter shall be called the GREENBRIER VALLEY BASS ANGLERS , Alderson, West Virginia.
Section 2 - Purpose
To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport. To offer our state conservation department our organized moral, political support, and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate standards. To detect and report any polluter and call public and political attention to his/her crime. To improve our skill as bass anglers through fellowship of friendly exchange of expert bass-catching techniques and ideas, to promote and encourage youth fishing, and a love for this great recreation.
ARTICLE II - Membership
Section 1 - Number of Members
The Chapter shall begin with and maintain at least six members.
Section 2 - Requirement for Membership
To become a Chapter member, a person shall:
(A) Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership.
(B) Attend one regular monthly meeting to be interviewed by membership and fish in one Chapter tournament.
(C) Be voted on by membership. Vote shall be by secret ballot and affirmation must be unanimous by 100% of membership. Proxy votes are permitted for membership only.
(D) If the person is inducted into the Chapter, credit will be given to the new member for all meetings attended and tournaments fished prior to being voted into the Chapter.
Section 3 - Membership Dues
(A) They are set at $30 annually and are payable upon being voted into the Chapter.
ARTICLE III - Officers, Elections, Vacancies, and Eligibility
Section 1 - Officers and their Duties
The Officers of the Chapter shall consist of:
(A) President: Preside over all meetings and direct all official business. Appoint and be an officer member of all committees. Supervise all club functions.
(B) Vice President: Act as program chairman, assist the president in his duties and preside in the absence of the president.
(C) Secretary/Treasurer:
(1) Maintain accurate minutes of all regular and special meetings as called for by the Chapter president. Secretary shall maintain all club records for five years.
(2) Collect and disburse all monies. Maintain accurate financial records and present a current financial report at each regular meeting. Prepare an annual report for review by the Chapter membership. The Chapter may vote that the treasurer and any other officer handling Chapter funds be bonded. All funds dispersed by the Chapter will be done by check and the check be signed by the treasurer and one other officer.
(D) Tournament Director: Preside at all tournaments and perform duties as described in Standing Rule 2. At tournaments the Tournament Directors ruling is final.
Section 2 - Elections
The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of November. Election shall be by a simple majority of members present. Election for each officer shall be held separately in order listed in Article III, Section 1.
Section 3 - Eligibility of Vote
Each member is entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are not permitted, except for Article II, Section 2.
Section 4 - Term of Office
The term of office is for one year, which shall begin on January 1 and end on the last meeting day of December or until the successor assumes office.
Section 5 - Vacancies
In the event of an office becoming vacant, nominations shall be asked for and an election held to fill the unexpired term of the individual vacating the office.
Section 6 - Eligibility for Holding Office
To be eligible for an office a member must:
(A) Have been a member for six months
(B) Have attended at least 75% of the Chapter meetings and 75% of Chapter functions during a 6-month period.
(C) Have shown an active interest in all Chapter functions.
ARTICLE IV - Standing Committees
All standing committees will serve for one year or until a new committee is appointed. The terms of the committee members will coincide with that of the president. Each committee shall elect a chairman.
(A) Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will consist of five (5) members: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and two (2) members at large by majority vote of the members present at the November regular meetings.
(1) The President will call all meetings of the Board of Directors and preside at such meetings.
(2) The Secretary/Treasurer will record the minutes of these meetings.
(3) The Board will decide all protests and rule on all violations of the tournament rules and By-Laws of the Chapter when appropriately received.
(4) The Board will develop agenda for monthly meetings.
(B) Tournament Committee: The purpose of the tournament committee shall be to plan, organize and operate all Chapter tournaments. The tournament committee will draft changes to tournament rules which must then be approved by the general membership. The committee will maintain tournament records, enforce all tournament rules and investigate and rule on all protests concerning tournaments. The Tournament Director of the Chapter will be the Chairman of the committee.
ARTICLE V - Removal of Membership
Section 1 - Removal of Membership
A member shall be removed from the membership roll for any of the following:
(A) Failure to pay dues.
(B) Any action which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on this Chapter.
Section 2 - Removal of Membership Requiring Vote
A member can be removed from the membership for any of the following but removal of membership requires a majority vote of all members of the Chapter. Proxy votes are not permitted for removal proceedings.
(A) Failure to attend 50% of the Chapter meetings and 50% of Chapter functions during a 12-month period.
(B) Continuously disrupting Chapter functions.
ARTICLE VI - Method of Amending the By-Laws, Standing Rules and Tournament Rules
The governing rules may be amended at a regularly scheduled meeting by a unanimous 100% vote of the members present, provided written notice of the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership at least one regular meeting prior to the vote. Only the individual submitting the proposal may amend said proposal.
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Standing Rules
Amended 3-13-04 (points)
SR1
(A) Once a tournament site(s), date(s), and time(s) have been set by the majority of the members present at a properly scheduled meeting, they may not be changed unless the Tournament Director deems the conditions unsafe or a unanimous decision.
(B) Tournament schedule will be determined at the beginning of each season.
(C) The tournament schedule will consist of at least six(6) tournaments, with only one (1) tournament per season being over 65 miles from Lewisburg,WV
(D) The home lakes for tournaments will be as follows:
(1) BLUESTONE LAKE
(2) MOOMAW LAKE
(3) MONCOVE LAKE
(4) SHERWOOD LAKE
(E) The non-boaters will choose a boater at each event. Switching boaters will be encouraged but not mandatory..
(F) The Chapter tournament year shall run from March 1 to September 30th.
SR2
The selection and duties of tournament officials are as follows:
(A) In the first business meeting of the new year, the newly elected President shall appoint a tournament director.
(B) Upon confirmation, the tournament director shall serve through the last tournament of the year or until they are replaced by a majority vote of the members.
(C) Should a tournament director vacate his position for any reason, his vacancy shall be filled by the process outlined in (A) above.
(D) Two tournament committee members shall be appointed solely by the tournament director.
(E) Tournament officials and their duties are:
(1) Tournament director, who shall oversee all tournament operations, interpret and enforce all rules, determine the winners, and penalize Chapter participants when required. In the event of a dispute among officials except the call-off committee, the tournament director shall make the immediate ruling pending board approval.
(F) In the event any member in the above areas of responsibility are absent at a given tournament, the tournament director shall appoint a temporary replacement for that tournament only.
(G) When a tournament official's bass is being considered, the highest ranking tournament official participating in the tournament shall act as tournament director.
(J) WHEN BRINGING FISH TO SCALES ANGLER GIVES FISH TO TOURNEY DIRECTOR OR COMMITEEMAN AND THEN CANNOT TOUCH FISH AGIAN UNTIL AFTER WEIGH IN
COMMITEE IS FINISHED. ANY VIOLATIONS OF THIS RULE WILL BE PUT BEFORE
BOARD OF EXECUTIVES FOR POSSIBLE DISCIPLINE UP TO 10 POINTS FIRST
VIOLATION AND 20 PTS SECOND VIOLATION.
(H) The weigh in procedure will be as follows: Starting with the lowest member in the points to
the highest. Angler will get fish from livewell and give directly to committeeman who transports
fish to weigh in table. where fish will be measured and transferred to weigh in basket and put
onto scales and weighed. Only then can after wiegh in committee is finished with fish can
the angler then obtain the bag and transport fish back to the lake.
SR3
(A) Once a tournament rule has been adopted by the majority of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting, the rule may not be changed without the majority of the members consenting at a regularly scheduled meeting or a ramp meeting after a tournament. Due to the length of the Tournament Rules, they are listed in a separate section.
SR4
(A) Tournament participants shall be awarded points based on their place of finish in each tournament.
The points shall be awarded as follows:
1ST 30 PTS
2ND 26 PTS
3RD 22 PTS
4TH 20 PTS
5TH 19 PTS
6TH 17 PTS
7TH 15 PTS
There shall be one (1) point per ounce of legal fish caught added to any points accumulated by placing in accordance with SR4 -A or SR4-B
(B) Thirteen (13) points shall be awarded to those members catching legal bass but failing to place in the top nine(9) and ten (10) points to those members participating in the tournament but failing to catch a legal bass. There will also be one point per ounce of legal bass that any member catches added to his tournament total.
(C) In the event of ties to a particular place, the points of the higher position will be awarded to both of the tied participants and the lesser position will be omitted.
(D) Anyone who cancels himself from a scheduled tournament after committing himself, may be subject to a penalty of ten (10) points pending board review.
(E) There will be a predetermined meeting place for all members to meet before leaving for the tounament site.
(F) If a boater or non-boater is not at their designated meeting point at a specified time, the other must wait a maximum of 15 minutes before leaving. After 15 minutes there is no obligation to either party.
SR5
(A) A Chapter participant of a tournament must be penalized at the weigh-in site in accordance with Tournament Rule 13. However, if a participant arrives late either because the physical well-being of an individual was in jeopardy or assisting a fellow member also participating in the tournament, TR13 shall be automatically suspended. In order to appeal a penalty, the participant(s) must do so at the weigh-in. If the above criteria are met, the board by majority vote shall grant the penalized participant(s) the points in accordance with his/their finish had they not been penalized. Points given under this SR shall replace those granted by the tournament director, and finishing positions for that tournament adjusted accordingly.
SR6
The Chapter shall annually present the following awards based on tournament standings at the end of the tournament year:
(A) Angler of the Year - Presented to the Chapter member having the greatest number of points as calculated utilizing SR4, H. At the conclusion of the tournament year there shall also be a 2nd and a 3rd place Angler Award which is determined by the next greatest number of points.
(B). Lunker of the Year Award - Awarded to the Chapter member catching the largest black bass of the year.
(C). In the event of a tie at the end of the season (at the last tournament). There will be a one (1) hour fish off between the members that are tied of a position that would recieve a award.
(1) The tied members will leave the dock area and must be back in one (1) hour the member with the most weight of legal bass wins the position. After one (1) hour if the members are still tied they will agian leave the dock area and the first person back with a legal fish wins the position, if both members are back at the same time it will go to weight of the fish. This procedure will go on until there is a winner decided.
SR7
(A) Any participant in a Chapter tournament operating a boat in an unsafe manner shall have the privilege to operate a boat revoked for the next three (3) regular Chapter tournaments, provide the following action is taken; the person observing said unsafe operations shall bring the matter to the attention of the Chapter officers at the next regular meeting following the incident. A second infraction shall be deemed sufficient grounds to suspend that member in accordance with Article V.
(B) All protests must be made before the end of the tournament weigh-in to the tournament director or it will not be noted.
SR8
(A) The tournament schedule adopted at the Chapter's first regular meeting of the year shall be the only events used to determine tournament related participation and awards during the year.
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Tournament Rules
TR1 - Tournament Participation
(A) A tournament participant shall be defined as a member who fishes in the tournament waters for one or more of the specified tournament hours, provided said member meets all other Chapter requirements. Only members may participate
TR2 - Locations and Hours
(A) Starting location, weigh-in location, and tournament hours shall be determined by the tournament director and ratified by a vote of the members at a properly called meeting as prescribed by SR1.
TR3 - Safety
(A) Every tournament boat must have standard Coast Guard approved safety equipment, safety equipment required by laws governing the tournament site and safe boating practices must be observed at all times. All participants must wear an approved life jacket and the kill switch must be utilized when the gasoline engine is in operation.
TR4 - Sportsmanship
(A) Any infraction of fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification, penalization of points, or reprimand, depending on the degree of the violation. The Officers will decide quilt and penalty, taking into consideration the actual harm done to the other participants and the chapter. Drunkenness, drinking of alcoholic beverages, the use of illegal drugs or being under the influence of illegal drugs during any chapter tournaments will not be tolerated. Such behavior shall be cause for automatic dismissal from the chapter.
(B) Participation shall be defined as the time you leave home until the time you return home. Motel rooms shall be considered home as long as you are in the room and not in public.
TR5 - Tackle and Equipment
(A) Only artificial lures may be used; however, pork and pork strips, rinds, etc., may be used. Only casting, spinning, spin-casting, and flipping sticks are permitted. No rod used in a chapter tournament shall exceed seven and one-half (7-1/2) feet in overall length and only one rod may be used at any one time; however, additional rigged rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes. The use of electronics such as depth finders, temperature gauges, etc., are permitted in Chapter tournaments. The use of a net to land bass is permitted.
(1) All members are under a code of sportsmanship to net a partners fish if and/or when he/she calls for his/her partner to net a fish.
TR6 - Boats
(A) Trolling motors may be used to maneuver a boat, but trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. A member may use his own boat and motor or rent either or both in the tournament area.
boats must have livewell in them (livewell can be cooler with a bubble blower in it)
(B) Boats must be at least 12 feet in length and motors are optional on lakes where no gasoline motors are allowed, anywhere else there will be a 5 hp minimum. No boat will be powered by a motor above the rating for the boat.
TR7 - Boat Operation and Expenses
(A) Tournament partners are expected to split the cost of towing the boat to the tournament, and the operating cost at the tournament. Boaters must have receipts. A schedule must be set that permits each partner equal time for utilizing the trolling motor. Equal time shall be defined as one-half of the time both partners are present. In the event that one partner elects not to operate the trolling motor, and this is satisfactory to the other partner. The boater reserves the right to choose the water that is fished. Any participant found operating a boat in an obvious and deliberate manner as to handicap his partner shall be disqualified from that tournament.
TR8 - Pre-Tournament Practice
(A) Unless otherwise specified at a regularly scheduled chapter meeting, participants may practice on tournament waters until six hours before the start of any tournament.
TR9 - Permitted Fishing Locations
(A) Fishing is permitted anywhere on the tournament waters, except within fifty yards of another participants anchored boat, within fifty yards of marina gasoline pumps or any place marked "Boats Keep Out", "Off-Limits", etc.
(B) No participant may leave his assigned boat to gain unfair advantage over the other Chapter participants. All tournament participants must leave and return to the docking area by boat. Trailering during the tournament is prohibited, unless expressly authorized prior to that particular tournament. Participants may pass through one river lock up or one river lock down only during any Chapter tournaments provide that participant informs another participant of his intentions. Members may get off of the boat only in emergency or to use the bathroom.
TR10 - Your Catch
(A) Each participant is expected to keep his bass alive. All largemouth bass over 5 pounds and all smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass over 3 pounds deemed capable of surviving shall be returned to the tournament waters after the weigh-in, unless the participant intends to mount the fish. Smaller bass may be retained by the Chapter if said bass are to be used in a Chapter function, such as a fish fry.
TR11 - Scoring
(A) All tournament points shall be awarded on a pounds and ounces basis for chapter tournaments, unless otherwise specified at a regularly scheduled Chapter meeting.
(B) Only black bass will be weighed. (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass)
(C) Up to five (5) bass or a lesser amount specified by other governing limits, per day, per participant, may be weighed.
(D) During the tournament each partner must keep his fish separate from those of his partner either by separate livewells or pins, but no stringers are allowed unless the fish are hooked throught the lip and not through the gills and are in the livewell. At no time shall any participant have in his possession more than five (5) bass or the amount specified by other governing limits. Each participant must personally present his bass to weigh-in officials. After a bass has been handed to tournament weigh-in officials, no person except an official shall touch said bass. A bass shall not be weighed nor counted that is less than ten (10) inches in length or longer to comply with other governing limits, whichever applies, unless otherwise specified at a regularly scheduled Chapter meeting. The fish are to be measured on a golden rule with fish's tail fins closed.
(E) A penalty of one (1) pound will be subtracted from the participants total weight for each undersized bass presented at weigh-in.
(F) In the event the only bass presented by a participant is undersized, the penalty shall be the loss of five participant points for that tournament. Any participants who bring in more fish than the legal limit shall have his catch culled down to the limit. Officials shall cull the largest bass first as a penalty and then subsequent smaller fish. Any bass that appears to be mangled or mauled will be measured and credited only at the discretion of the tournament officials. All fish presented to the weigh-in officials must be in the Chapter specified container. There is to be no carrying of the bass by hand to the weigh-in site.
(G) There will be a four (4) ounce penalty for each dead bass weighed.
TR12 - Late Penalty
(A) Participants who have not returned to the official docking area on time shall be penalized one (1) pound for each minute they are late. In the event there is no poundage, a penalty shall be applied to the participation points as follows:
Up to 5 minutes - 4 points 5 - 10 minutes - 8 points
(B) The official docking area shall be specified by the tournament director in each tournament. Any participant(s) returning to the docking area more than ten (10) minutes late shall lose all tournament credit for that date.
(C) The winning angler must disclose his winning technique at the end of each tournament either at the lake itself or a alternate area can be chosen if he desires.