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WSB Association Bylaws

THE WASHINGTON BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

BY LAWS 

ARTICLE I

NAME   The operating name of The Washington Bowhunters Association shall be the Washington State Bowhunters, a.k.a. WSB.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES The purposes and objectives of WSB shall be:

1. To unite bowhunters in Washington State to educate, foster, promote and encourage the art and sport of bowhunting;

2. To coordinate, cooperate with and disseminate information to other interested hunting groups;

3.  To gather, record and disseminate information concerning safe, humane and ethical methods of hunting with bow and arrow;

4.  To disseminate educational information concerning training bowhunters in the art and sport of bowhunting;

5.  To assist any interested persons or organizations with information concerning proper methods of hunting with bow and arrow;

6.  To gather and record and disseminate information concerning preservation, propagation and harvesting the various wildlife species in Washington;

7.  To promulgate rules and regulations concerning the sporting and ethical methods of taking animals with bow and arrow within the state of Washington according to the rules of fair chase;

8.  To promote bowhunting as a healthy and satisfying outdoor recreational sport;

9.  To encourage above all good sportsmanship and respect for the animals one hunts, respect for game laws and a deep and sincere appreciation for the natural beauties of our state;

10.  To carry out the above purposes and objectives on a nondiscriminatory basis; and

11.  To establish, maintain and enforce rules and regulations deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes and objectives of WSB.

ARTICLE III    WSB RULES OF FAIR CHASE

WSB does hereby adopt and promulgate the Rules of Fair Chase as set forth by   the Pope and Young club.  Specifically, the Rules of Fair Chase shall prohibit the taking of game animals under the following conditions:

  1. Helpless in or because of deep snow or helpless on ice.
  2. Helpless in water.
  3. Helpless in a trap.
  4. When confined behind fences, as in a game farm.
  5. In violation of game laws or during a closed season.
  6. By “jack lightning” or shining lights at night.
  7. From any power vehicle or power boat.
  8. By the use of any motor vehicle for herding or driving any animals including the use of any aircraft for landing alongside of any animal or herd or to communicate with or direct a hunter on the ground.
  9. With the use of any form of tranquilizers, poison or firearm.

 

 

ARTICLE IV    MEMBERSHIP

There shall be one class of membership in WSB. Membership is open to anyone who pays his or her dues so long as the member has not been charged or convicted of any hunting or fishing regulation violation. Each member shall have the right to cast one vote on any issue to be voted upon. There shall be no proxy voting and no cumulative voting. Honorary memberships, which shall be nonvoting, may be conferred at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Any member of WSB may be expelled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors for such actions deemed contrary to the purposes and objectives of the WSB Bylaws.

MEMBERSHIP DUES are a major source of operating capital and therefore shall be adjusted to prevent a negative cash flow. Present membership dues are as follows:

Life membership………………….$450.

Yearly single membership……….. $25.

Three year single membership…….$65.

Family maximum, yearly………….$40.

Dealer contribution (minimum)……$75.

The Board of Directors may levy special assessments upon the membership.

ARTICLE V   OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1.  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS are the representatives of the membership and set the policy and direction of WSB. The Board shall have four West side Directors, four East side Directors and three At Large Directors. Terms shall be for three years. Within the groups there shall be positions one, two and three, and the terms shall be staggered among the Directors so that only one term per group will expire each year. East side Position one and four will expire at the same time and West side position two and four shall expire at the same time.

2.  ELECTIONS for Directors shall be conducted by mail-in vote of the membership. Returns shall be due by Apr/May Newsletter. Terms shall begin on July 1 following. NOMINATIONS for Director positions shall be submitted to the Board of Directors through the editor of The Washington Bowhunter at the address listed on the masthead.

3.  A QUORUM must be present for the Board of Directors to conduct official business. A quorum shall be a majority of the Board of Directors then elected.

4.  THE OFFICERS of WSB shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers shall be appointed by a majority of the Board of Directors for two year terms which begin and end at the first quarterly meeting of a year.

5.  RESIGNATION, REMOVAL AND VACANT POSITIONS. Vacant positions of Directors and Officers shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board at the next meeting scheduled with such activity as an agenda item and so long as a quorum is present. An Officer or Director may be removed under the same restrictions. If a member of the Board of Directors misses two consecutive quarterly meetings, he/she will be automatically removed. Any Officer or Director may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the Board of Directors with 30 days notice. The Immediate Past President shall serve as an Ex Officio Officer or Director, as the case may be, during the interim period.

ARTICLE  VI      COMMITTEES 

The President shall appoint committee members, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

There shall be the following standing committees:

  1.       MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE. The Membership Committee shall maximize the membership of the Association, and shall supervise the enrollment and renewal of members. The committee shall consist of at least two members, one of whom is a director.
  2.       NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE. The Nominations Committee shall draft at least one member for each open Board of Director position in each election. The Committee shall supervise timely publication of ballots and candidate statements in the newsletter. Neither the Board nor the Committee shall publicly recommend one candidate over another, or endorse any candidate in a contested election. The Committee shall consist of at least three members, including one Director and a Past President.
  3.       LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.  The Legislative Committee shall be responsible for originating, monitoring, and drafting all acts, laws, regulations or legislation which is of vital concern to the Association. The Committee shall keep the President, Directors and members informed on the status of acts, laws, regulations or the like which are of vital interest to the Association. No member, Director or Officer shall speak on behalf of the Association concerning any act, law, regulation or the like until the Directors have declared the position of the Association in the matter. The Committee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom shall be the Vice President.
  4.       BUDGET COMMITTEE. The Budget Committee shall be responsible for managing the budget and reporting to the Directors and Officers on the status of the Association’s finances. The Committee shall assure compliance with federal, state and local tax laws, including the filing of required tax returns or reports. The Treasurer and at least two Directors shall serve on the Committee
  5. CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
  6. BOWHUNTER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
  7. RECORDS COMMITTEE
  8. WINTER BANQUET/AUCTION/CONVENTION COMMITTEE
  9. RENDEZVOUS COMMITTEE
  10. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.

In addition to the standing committees, the Board of Directors in its discretion may form ad hoc committees to assist in the execution and formation of the business and goals of the Association. The Board shall define the goals, duties and powers of each ad hoc committee and of each standing committee, consistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII   FINANCES

1.    CONTRACTS. The Directors may authorize any Officer or agent to enter into any contract or execute or deliver any instrument in the name of and/or on behalf of the Corporation upon securing two-thirds approval of a quorum of the Board of Directors at an official meeting. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. In the absence of such authority, every contract or other instrument shall be executed by the President or, in his/her absence, the Vice President or Treasurer.

2.   LOANS shall not be contracted on behalf of WSB and evidence of indebtedness shall not be issued unless authorized by a Resolution of the Board. Such authority shall be general or confined to specific instances.

3.  CHECKS AND DRAFTS or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by such Officers or Agents as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

4.   GENERAL FINANCIAL RULES. The Fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31 each year. WSB shall abide by all federal, state and local rules and regulations concerning income tax returns, sales tax and business licenses; specifically including but not limited to timely filing a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service each year. A majority of the Board of Directors at an official meeting shall approve all issues concerning finance, such as operating expenses, membership dues, and prices for promotional items. Special expenditures may be approved over the telephone by agreement of five or more Directors; the vote shall be documented by the President and/or Secretary, and the action shall be ratified at the next quarterly Board meeting and included in the official minutes.

The President has the authority to spend up to $100 per month without obtaining prior approval of the Board to cover nominal operating expenses. The President shall submit the receipts to the Treasurer, and the Treasurer shall include the expenses in his/her next report to the Board, at which time the Board shall ratify all proper expenses.

Directors and Officers shall be reimbursed for ground transportation expenses incurred to attend meetings of the Board, Wildlife Department or Commission; and shall be reimbursed for telephone expenses within the allowance set by the Board each fiscal year: PROVIDED THAT a request for reimbursement and appropriate supporting records (such as telephone bills) are provided within 60 days to the Treasurer.

Operating expenses are defined as all expenses necessary for WSB to achieve its mission, including but not limited to expenses such as: mailings, newsletters, and promotions; professional services such as accounting, printing, legal or scientific assistance; educational materials or seminars for Directors, Officers or members; supplies, including computers or software; lodging, meals, and/or travel expenses for speakers at meetings, the Rendezvous or the Banquet; memberships and/or donations to conservation or bowhunting organizations; room rental and incidental expenses incurred in conjunction with Board meetings, including gasoline reimbursement to Directors and Officers; telephone expenses; and other such expenses which in the judgment of the Board of Directors are necessary to effectuate the business and mission of WSB.

ARTICLE  VIII  MEETINGS

Board of Directors meetings and general membership meetings shall be held at such times and places as directed by the Board. Board of Director meetings shall be held at least quarterly. Special meetings of the Board and WSB Officers may be called at any time, for any purpose, by the President or any three Directors. The President shall provide at least ten days advance notice to all Directors and all Officers, except for special or emergency meetings. If an emergency arises and it is not possible to assemble a quorum of Directors for a meeting, the Board by telephone may pass a resolution:  PROVIDED THAT at least five Directors vote in favor of the resolution. Resolutions and votes shall be documented by the President and/or the Secretary; the resolution shall be ratified at the next quarterly Board meeting, and included in the official minutes.

ARTICLE   IX    RULES OF ORDER

The rules contained in the most recent edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER shall govern all meetings of the Board of Directors, in so far as those rules are consistent with the Articles of Incorporation, the By Laws, any special rules of order of WSB, and/or the laws of the State of Washington.

ARTICLE  X  AMENDMENTS TO THE BY LAWS

These By Laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at a regular meeting so long as the By Laws are an agenda item, and there is a quorum present. Any amendment or repeal of any section of the By Laws must be recorded verbatim in the minutes of the meeting, and must be attached to these By Laws.

ARTICLE  XI  REPEAL OF EXISTING BY LAWS

These By Laws become effective upon adoption by the Board of Directors, and supersede all prior By Laws which may have been in force before the effective date of these By Laws.

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