Constitution and Bylaws
of the
TMTanglers Fishing Club
Article IV - Board of Directors
Article VII - Official Tournaments
Section 3: Official Tournament Rules
Article VIII - Angler of the Year
Article IX - Wildcat Tournaments
Article X - Inshore Tournaments
Article XI - Changes to Constitution and Bylaws
This
organization shall be called the TMTanglers Fishing Club, hereafter referred to
as the TMTanglers or the Club.
SE
1. Provide a forum where anglers can engage in the sport of tournament bass
fishing, and
2. Provide a means for visiting many of the premiere fishing locations
located in the Southeastern United States, and
3. Provide a means by which club members can improve their angling skills
and knowledge, and
4. Provide a forum to meet fellow anglers.
SECTION
1: Eligibility
1.
Prospective members should have the organizational skills necessary to
schedule and host and official tournament.
See Article VI.
2. Membership to the club is open to all who are approved by a majority vote of the Club’s Board of Directors.
3. New members may be recruited at any time during the year upon payment of dues. Dues will be adjusted for members who participated as a guest in a tournament during the year in which they join the club by the cumulative amount of guest fees they paid in the given year.
SECTION
2: Requirements of Membership
To
remain a member of the Club, a person shall:
Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership, as determined by the Club's Officers and Board of Directors.
Pay annual membership dues as determined by the Board of Directors prior to the annual organization meeting at the beginning of each tournament year. ($20 in 2006)
Pay BASS Federation dues once a year. ($20 in 2006)
Pay entry fees for one official tournament or two wildcat tournaments at least once every 3 years. ($40 in 2006)
Abide by all club rules and conduct themselves in a sportsman-like manner at all club functions
Be a member of BASS.
SECTION
3: Removal of Membership
Members that do not meet the requirements of membership may be recommended, by any member, for a judgment of “not in good standing”. Upon such recommendation, the Board of Directors will vote on whether the member in question’s status should be placed as “not in good standing”. Such members will be notified by a member of the board of his change in status. After a period of thirty days as a member “not in good standing” the Board of Directors may vote to dismiss the member in question.
SECTION 4: Membership Limits
1) Eight Boat Average Rule: If the club in a given year averages more than eight boats per tournament, there will be a moratorium on new members until the club experiences a year where the average participation is eight boats or less.
2) State Membership Limits: Membership in each resident state is limited as follows:
> 10 Members:
-Alabama
> 8 Members:
- Georgia
- Mississippi
> 6 Members:
- Louisiana
- Florida
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
> 4 Members:
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- Texas
> 2 Members:
- All other states
The maximum membership limit may be exceeded should a member move to a different state that has already reached its maximum membership level.
SECTION
1: Officers
Officers
of the Club shall be:
1) PRESIDENT - Shall preside over club at meetings and direct all official club business. Directing club business includes functioning as the club WEBMASTER, and maintaining the club's website. He shall appoint all unselected committees and serve as an ex officio member of all committees.
2) VICE PRESIDENT - Shall assist the President in all of his duties and act for the President in his absence. The Vice President will also serve as WEIGHMASTER, and will direct weigh-in at official club tournaments.
3) SECRETARY -- Shall maintain and distribute complete and accurate records including tournament records. The Secretary will also assist the VICE PRESIDENT with weigh-in and will record all weights, including creels, big fish, trash fish, and any catches that may qualify for a Top 10 list. He is responsible for setting Top 10 list thresholds each day. Secretary is responsible for ensuring that total weights are correct and certifying that official results are accurate. Will help serve as a liaison with BASS.
4) TREASURER -- Shall maintain club's finances. Will also serve as CLUB PHOTOGRAPHER at official tournaments.
SECTION
2: Elections
Election of Officers will occur every other year at the beginning of the tournament year. (Fall Tournament to January 1st)
Only Members in good standing are allowed to vote.
The Board of Directors will determine which of the following methods of elections is most appropriate in a given year based on club circumstances:
Live Vote: If a well-attended organizational meeting is held at the beginning of the tournament year then a live vote may be conducted. Officers will be elected using a simple majority vote of the members present. Written and signed proxy votes will be permitted.
Web Based Vote: A web-based vote will be more appropriate in most years. This can be conducted through email or a poll on the club's official website.
In the event an elected office becomes vacant the President will appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term.
SECTION
3: Terms of Office
All
elected officers will serve a term of
two years.
Newly elected officers will assume duties of their respective positions
immediately following the annual elections.
SECTION
4: Discretionary Budget
The Officers of the Club shall have a maximum budget of $50 to be used
for Club purposes at their discretion.
Discretionary
expenses must be reported to the Board.
Amounts
greater than $50 require board approval.
The
Purpose of the Board of Directors (the Board) is to lay the necessary
groundwork to establish the Club and ensure the longevity of the club, and
Ensure
that the actions of members and Officers of the club are in line with the
founding purpose of the Club, and
Oversee
all club business, including club finances, and
Serve
as a grievance committee, and
Update,
modify and approve changes to Club Bylaws as necessary, and
Determine
annual dues and tournament fees.
Three
members of the club shall sit on the Board
There
is no term limit to a Board position
When a Board Vacancy becomes open, then general membership shall elect a replacement member at the next Officer elections.
SECTION
3: Grievance Committee
The grievance committee shall resolve all disputes or conflicts arising as a result of interpretation of these bylaws by means of a simple majority vote. Additionally, the grievance committee shall accept petitions for specific exceptions to these bylaws on a case-by-case basis. The ruling of the grievance committee is final and without appeal or recourse.
Section
1: Annual Organizational Meetings
When deemed necessary by the Board, an organizational meeting shall be held at the beginning of the tournament year in order to conduct club business. Due to the logistical inconvenience of having all members present at the same location, when possible the Club shall make every effort to conduct club business using web-based tools.
Section
2: Attendance
Attendance at club meetings shall not be mandatory for the membership at large. When necessary, attendance may be mandatory for Officers and the Board.
Section 1: Requirements for Affiliation
Approval of the Chapter Charter by BASS.
Update BASS with chapter membership roster once each year upon receipt of current BASS roster at year's end.
Names and addresses of new members joining the chapter during the year must be submitted to BASS as they occur.
Maintain 100% BASS membership.
Must affiliate with a State Federation and support its conservation and youth programs. Any additional requirements that the State Federation establishes for chapters, such as membership, dues, attendance at meetings, etc., would be necessary for chapter to participate in the State Federation qualifying tournament(s), and any other Federation sponsored or events.
Article
VII – Official Tournaments
SECTION
1: Schedule
There shall be
three Official Tournaments (AKA “Major Tournaments”) per year.
A
Spring Tournament shall occur between January 1st and
April 30th.
A
Summer Tournament shall occur between May 1st and
August 31st.
A
Fall Tournament shall occur between September 1st and
December 31st.
A
“Host” Member will be selected for each tournament and is responsible
for determining the exact date and other specifics of the tournament.
The
year’s schedule must be approved by the board and published no later than
January 20th of each year.
Subsection A: Host Lottery
At the spring tournament each year a random drawing will occur to determine who will host the following year's tournaments.
Only members in good standing may participate in the drawing.
Members may request to not participate in drawing if they feel for any reason that they would be unable to organize and host an official tournament the following year.
The host will announce their locations at the fall tournament that year.
Procedure of the drawing:
a. All members’ names will be put into a hat or similar container.
b. A member's name will be drawn to determine who will host the spring tournament.
c. This member's name does not go back into the hat.
d. A second members name will be drawn. This person will host the Summer Tournament.
e. This member's name does not go back into the hat.
f. A third member is chosen to host the Fall Tournament.
Subsection B: Responsibilities of the Hosts:
1. Tournament Organization: The Host is responsible for planning every aspect of his Official Tournament, including:
§ Location: Ideally the host will pick a location that is fun to visit and where the fishing is good at that particular time of year.
§ Dates: It the duty of the tournament Host to pick the weekend the tournament is to be held.
§ Lodging: It is up to the host to organize lodging for the club.
o Lodging must be reserved well in advance of the tournament date.
o Appropriate Lodging includes:
-- Waterfront campsites
-- Lakeside Cabins
-- ”Sportsmen's Lodge" type motels.
o If guaranteed reservations are required, the Host must be certain to provide every member with instructions on what they need to do to guarantee a reservation.
§ Launch: The host will choose the specific launch the club will use. This should be decided as far in advance as possible.
▪ Limits, including stringer, creel, and size limits.
▪ First Cast or Blast Off time and weigh-in time.
§ All information should be turned in to the club at the fall tournament of that year.
▪ Should the member be absent from the fall tournament he should notify the club prior to the tournament.
Missed Deadlines:
§ Member Penalties- Should a member responsible for organizing a tournament and fail to meet the fall tournament deadline he will not be eligible to participate in the following year's Host Lottery.
§ Backup Plan: If a member fails to turn in his information at the fall tournament, the first available Alternate Host will have two weeks to submit his information to the club.
▪ Should the first Alternate miss the deadline, the next available alternate will have two weeks to submit their information to the club.
▪ Once all Alternate Hosts are exhausted, the President will act as an Emergency Host, but must pick a location in Alabama.
Acting Tournament Director:
The
Host will act as the Tournament Director for his tournament.
These responsibilities include:
Rules Enforcement: Tournament Director decisions are final.
Rules Limits. Certain variables are set by the Host of Official Tournaments, including:
Stringer Limits. The Host will choose the number of fish members will weigh in. Generally, this can be any number from 1 to 10 as long as it is consistent with local legal regulations.
Size Limits. The Host determines the minimum size limit, if any, that will be accepted at his particular tournament. Size limits must be consistent with local size and slot limit regulations.
Tournament Time. The Host determines starting and weigh in time including inclement weather delays. The total fishing time cannot exceed 12 hours per day.
Start Format: The host can choose between these two start formats:
BLAST OFF. All members must launch from the same location and may not leave until the tournament director tells them to "go".
SHOTGUN. Members may launch from anywhere they wish on body of water, but must return to the designated weigh in place on time, by trailer or water.
These variables should be announced at the fall tournament of the preceding year. During the actual tournament only the tournament time can be changed due to inclement weather.
Postponements and Cancellations:
The acting tournament director has the authority to postpone the tournament due to inclement weather or other dangerous conditions.
The tournament director has the authority to disqualify anglers who fish during a postponement.
SECTION
3:
Official Tournament Rules
1.
Generally,
Tournaments will occur over two consecutive days.
a.
Saturday and Sunday for day tournaments, and
b.
Friday and Saturday for night tournaments
2.
Team Format.
a.
Singles are allowed.
b.
Three man teams are allowed.
c.
Teams may be changed at any time in-between tournaments.
d.
Team shuffling during a tournament has a 3 lb penalty per team.
3.
Guests are invited and welcome to participate.
4.
There are three contest with each tournament:
Heaviest Stringer of black bass, heaviest single black bass, and heaviest
trash fish.
5. Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a properly aerated livewell. TMTanglers recommends the use of livewell additives that promote the healthy return of bass to their natural habitat.
6. Winners of each category MUST specifically share with the rest of the club the techniques used to win. This includes presenting specific lures for the club to visually inspect. This includes answering questions on the club's private "Interrogation Room" message board.
7 Winners of each category MUST reveal the specific locations fished to to the rest of the club. This includes pointing to spots on a map.
8. Artificial Lures Only.
9. Trolling is prohibited.
10. Only one rod per contestant may be used at a time.
11. Tournament Fees must be paid prior to fishing the tournament.
12. Every member has the right to inspect the livewell of fellow members
prior to blast off.
13. Safety: Each team is
responsible for their own safety. Participants
are STRONGLY encouraged to wear life jackets.
14. The Club, Club Officers, or Club Board of Directors shall not be held
liable for any property damage and/or injury, to include death, that may occur
during a club tournament or function.
15. If a team quits early, a note must be left on another contestant’s
vehicle.
16. Penalties:
a. 8 oz penalty for dead fish.
b.
1 lb per minute penalty for being late to weigh in.
c.
Automatic disqualification occurs when a team is 15 minutes late to weigh
in.
d.
3 lb penalty for switching teams in mid tournament.
e.
Size Limit infraction will result in a penalty equal to the weight of the
largest fish in your stringer.
f. 2 oz penalty per infraction for leaving weighted hooks or lures in a fish's mouth at weigh-in
17. Trash Fish – A trash fish is considered to be any fish other than a
Largemouth, Spotted, or Smallmouth bass. These
include: Bream, Crappie, White Bass, Hybrids, Saltwater Stripe, Catfish, Drum,
Gar, Bowfin, Redfish, etc. They do
not include reptiles or amphibians so catching a big turtle does not help you.
18. One trash fish may be weighed per boat per day in official tournaments.
19. TRASH FISH DIGITAL PHOTO OPTION: For the trash fish contest only, in lieu of traditional weigh-in, anglers have the option of weighing their fish on the boat and presenting a digital photo to the tournament director as proof of their catch.
Should a team choose this option, half the weight of fish will be counted towards the trash fish contest.
A picture must be taken showing the full length of the fish.
The fish must be weighed using an accurate digital scale.
The tournament director has the right to inspect the scale at weigh-in.
Three pictures must be taken showing the scale's reading.
Angler will be given full credit for the purpose of the Top 10 Trash Fish Board.
SECTION
4: Fees and Prizes
Fees: $80 per team for the two-day tournament.
There is a guest fee of $10 per guest.
The guest fee will be allocated to the club's general fund.
5% of the entry fees are allocated to the club's general fund..
If 1 to 5 boats participate: 1st place only payout, broken down as follows:
Winning Stringer = 70% of pot
Big Fish = 15% of pot
Trash Fish = 10% of pot
If 6-10 boats participate:
1st Place Stringer = 50 %
2nd Place Stringer = 20 %
Big Fish = 15 %
Trash Fish = 10%
If 11 or more boats participate:
1st Place Stringer = 40%
2nd Place Stringer = 25 %
3rd Place Stringer = 15%
Big Fish = 10 %
Trash Fish = 5 %
In the event that a trash fish is not caught, the payout for trash fish will be rolled into the winning stringer. (i.e. the winning stringer will then win a higher % of the pot.)
Ties.
In the event that there is a big fish tie, the prize will be split evenly among the tied anglers.
In the event of a trash fish tie, the prize will be split evenly among the tied anglers.
In the event of a winning stringer tie, the prize will go to the angler with the largest black bass.
In the event of dangerous conditions, such as inclement weather, the tournament director has the authority to postpone and/or alter tournament fishing hours.
If cumulative fishing time during the event equals 4 hours or more, final standings will be based on stringer weights. The tournament will not be canceled.
If cumulative fishing time during the two day event equals less than 4 hours, a vote among competitors will be held to determine which cancellation option is to be used.
Option 1: Cancellation
Participants entry fees are refunded
No angler of the year points are awarded
The tournament is not rescheduled
Option 2: Tournament Simulation
A unanimous vote among participants is required to use this option.
Under this option dice are thrown to simulate tournament weights.
One die is marked as lbs, another marked as ozs.
Teams take turns rolling the dice to simulate fish weights.
In the event of a tie, dice are rolled again for a tie-breaker.
This simulation is treated as if the tournament was fished for the purposes of determining payouts and angler of the year points.
Article
VIII – Angler of the Year
Section
1: Points System
1.
Angler of the Year will be awarded based on the Club’s points system.
2. The angler(s) who finish the year with the most points wins the coveted
Angler of the Year title and braggin’ rights for entire year.