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Forney Bass Club
Constitution and By-Laws
(Revised 01-6-07)
Article I
Name and Purpose 

The name of this bass club will be the Forney Bass Club and will hereinafter be referred to as the “club”.  The purpose of the club is to promote conservation and to improve the fishing skills of its membership through the fellowship of friendly exchange of bass fishing techniques and ideas, and to promote and encourage young fishermen to become involved in the sport of tournament fishing.

Article II
Membership 

Membership is open to everyone who is interested in meeting our club’s objectives and goals. Membership is on an individual basis. No one will be allowed to join at the ramp without first being announced at the meeting by a club member or that person. There will be no limit set as to the number of memberships available.

Membership will be $35.00 per head of household and $20.00 for spouse or child under the age of 18 years per calendar year.  The portion of the membership that applies towards year end Big Bass is $5.00per person, with the remainder applied to the general fund for the Forney Bass Club.  An annual facility fee of $10.00 per person is included in the membership to cover cost of meeting facilities.  The facility fee is due by all members whether they attend meetings or not.

Article III
Meetings 

The regular monthly meeting will be held on the Tuesday prior to the tournament date. The meeting will begin at 7:00pm, at a sight to be determined by the club president.  All meetings will be conducted by Parliamentary Law.  Members must be present at meeting to vote.  No votes by proxy will be allowed.

Article IV
Officers

Only members may hold office in the club.  Each officer of the club must be elected by a majority vote. At the last meeting of the year, an election will be held for the new officers for the upcoming year. The officers-elect will assume duties at the next regular meeting.  All officers are elected for a term of one year and may not hold the same office for more than two years in a row. Any officer may be voted out by an 80% majority vote of all paid members present at the next regularly scheduled meeting. All outgoing officers must relinquish all properties of the club to the current or acting president.  The duties of each officer are as follows:

President:  The president shall preside at all meetings. He shall act as the tie breaker in any vote. He/she shall have the authority to disperse club funds up to $50.00 without a second signature or approval of the club and will assist other club officers to settle disputes and enforce rules.

Vice President:  The Vice President shall assume the role of president in the president’s absence.  The Vice President will serve as Second Assistant Tournament Director in the absence of the Tournament Director or Assistant Tournament Director.  The Vice President shall assist the president in sending news releases to local news papers, magazines and assist other club officers to settle disputes and enforce rules.

Secretary/Treasurer:  Shall keep accurate records of all club activities and minutes of all meetings. Shall prepare and maintain an up to date roster and maintain the point’s records. Shall prepare and make available the results of each tournament. Is the custodian of all club funds and is responsible for collection of annual membership dues and facility fees. The officer shall have the authority to dispense club funds up to $50.00 without a second signature or without approval of the club. Shall prepare and make available a detailed financial report and present the report at each meeting and assist other club officers to settle disputes and enforce rules.

Tournament Director:  Responsible for collection of the tournament entry fees and dispenses pay-outs at club tournaments. Shall make all necessary arrangements for each tournament, including, permits. Launch sites, start times, weigh in times, weigh in sites shall be determined by club vote at the monthly meeting.  This officer shall pre-define “late for weigh in”. Shall be responsible for the measuring and weighing of all fish (except his) and will assist other officers responsible to settle all disputes and enforce rules.

Assistant Tournament Director:  Shall assist the tournament director in all tournament activities and in the absence of the tournament director shall assume the role of Tournament Director and assist other officers to settle disputes and enforce rules.

Article V
Finances

All Club funds are the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer. All transactions of less than $50.00 shall require the approval of two officers.  No disbursement of funds shall be made in excess of $50.00 without the approval of a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting.

At such time as this club is abolished then all remaining funds, after all debts are paid, shall be divided equally among the active members.

Article VI
Expulsion

Any member may be expelled for misconduct or violation of the clubs By-Laws or Tournament Rules. All members must be expelled by an 80% majority vote of all paid members present at the next regularly scheduled meeting.  Any expelled member must relinquish all properties of the club to the current or acting president.                    

Article VII
By-Law Changes

All By-Law changes must be made by a majority of all paid members present at the November meeting.

By-Law changes may be proposed prior to the November meeting. Proposals will be voted on at the November meeting. Emergency changes may be made at any regularly scheduled meeting or tournament.  An emergency By-Law change requires an 80% majority of all paid members attending the next regularly scheduled meeting or tournament.  

Article VIII
Lake Selection

Lake selection and the month each lake will be fished for “next “year will be done at the November meeting.

Lake selection for each month will be determined by the members in attendance.

The Lake to be fished for the Club Classic Tournament in October will be selected by qualifying members, at the meeting prior to the tournament and must be a lake that was fished that year.

There will be two alternate lakes chosen at lake selection time.  Lake A and Lake B these two lakes will be used when a regularly schedule lake is closed.  Lake A will be used 1st Lake B will be used 2nd and then we repeat Lake A then Lake B if necessary.  The alternate lake use will be determined at the regularly scheduled meeting a month in advance.  If the regularly scheduled lake is closed at the time of this meeting (month in advance) we will use an alternate lake and will not fluctuate back to the regularly scheduled lake in the event that it reopen.  If a lake closes between meetings we will use the alternate lake.  A LAKE IS CONSIDERED CLOSED WHEN THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE RAMPS.  If a ramp is available we will fish are regularly scheduled lake.  If a member is unsure of the lake it is the responsibility of the member to contact an officer for clarification.

Article IX
Tournament Format and Dates

All tournaments will be team events and will follow the official rules of the club. A five (5) fish maximum, fourteen (14) inch minimum length will apply unless amended (i.e. paper tournament, lake rules, etc.) via guidelines established in Article VII above.

All tournaments, including the classic, will be held on the third Saturday of each month unless amended via the guidelines established in Article VII above. All monthly tournaments except the classic will count toward year end point totals.

A Club Classic Tournament will be held on the date of the October Tournament. The Top 6 teams, and all other members who have fished a minimum of six (6) of the nine (9) club tournaments will be eligible to fish the Club Classic Tournament.  The take off position for the classic will be determined by club points.  The highest ranking person in the boat takes precedence.  All participants must pay entry fee for Classic.

Article X
Club Awards

The team with the most accumulated points for the year will be awarded the Angler of the Year award. Second through sixth place will receive place awards. The individual member with the largest bass caught during the year will be awarded Big Bass (this is a cash and trophy award.)  The team with the largest stringer for the year will also receive an award.

Article XI
Teams & Points

Points will be awarded to Teams as a combination of Tournament attendance and weight as follows:

One point will be awarded for each pound and fractional points for each fraction of a pound for fish weighed-in by the team.

Two points for entering and competing (for any length of time) in any tournament.

Each team is allowed to use a substitute for up to two of the tournaments.  The points for the tournament are awarded to the team for the year end standings.

The Forney Bass Club
Tournament Rules

1.  Rule Enforcement:  Interpretation and enforcement of Club rules shall be left exclusively to the Club Officers. In the event of a rule violation, the Officers may impose such sanctions as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, and forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent Forney Bass Club tournaments. The decision of the Officers shall be final in all matters.

2.  Participation and Eligibility:  Participation in the tournaments is open to members in good standing of the Forney Bass Club and guests. Any person entering a tournament under the age of majority must also have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian in the space provided on the entry form.  Guests may fish only two (2) tournaments per calendar year, after which they must become a member to fish in a Club Tournament. A guest must fish with a current Club member and must be present and approved by the club at a meeting prior to the tournament or be approved by the officers.

3.  Pre-Tournament Practice:  There will be no official practice period or off limits prior to the tournament except for the Classic.  There will be no guide trips allowed 30 days prior to the tournament and no guides allowed to fish the tournament.  Off limits for the Classic Tournament will be from the day and time the location is decided until the beginning of the tournament.

4.  Registration:  Each contestant must register in person at the designated site prior to the official start time and have their live well checked by a tournament official.

5.   Safety:  Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the tournament each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard Approved chest type life preserver. This preserver must be worn anytime the boat is on plane. This preserver must be strapped , snapped, or zipped securely and maintained in that condition  until the competitor reaches his/her fishing location and the boat comes off plane. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to delay or cancel the start of any tournament because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may be restricted at any time because of bad weather.  If a competitor’s boat is equipped with a kill switch it must be attached to the driver when the boat is on plane.

6.   Sportsmanship:  All contestants are required to follow a high standard of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation. Drunkenness shall be cause for immediate disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs shall be allowed in the boats during the tournament hours extending through the signing of the weigh-in form, or completion of weigh-in, whichever comes first. No fishing is allowed within twenty five (25) yards of another tournament boat without mutual consent.  During the competition, contestants may not obtain or receive assistance, follow a non-competitor’s boat or participate in the practice of “hole-setting” or the placing of markers by anyone.  During the tournament (but not prior) marker buoys may be placed by tournament competitors for their own use.

7.  Pairings:  All events, unless otherwise changed via Article VII guidelines, shall be team events.  Team make-up shall be at the discretion of the individual members.

8.  Boat and Horsepower Regulation:  Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament competition shall not exceed the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coastguard in their ruling of November 1, 1972. When required, each boat shall have a U.S. Coastguard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the engine must not exceed the rating specified on the rating plate. Tournament contestants and boats must have all applicable licenses and safety equipment required by law. (I.e. fire extinguisher, throw cushion, running lights, insurance, etc.)  If a member receives a citation during a tournament the team will be disqualified.

9.   Tackle and Equipment:  Only artificial lures may be used. No “live bait” or “prepared bait” will be permitted with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one casting, spin casting, or spinning rod and reel may be used at one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat, ready to use; however, only one is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be caught live, in a conventional sporting manner. No trolling by use of outboard motor.  No bait or lure may be in the water when the outboard motor is running or otherwise in use.  Snagging or snatching bass on spawning beds prohibited. Gaffs may not be used to boat bass nor be permitted in the boat at any time. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.

10.   Starting Times and Finishing Times:  Starting time and weigh-in time shall be established by a club vote, as shall the starting and weigh-in site. Tournament Director or his designated representative will conduct a live well check prior to departure. Contestants shall not depart the ramp until start time.  Anyone who is late to weigh-in shall be disqualified. (As predefined by Tournament Director, Article IV)  Contestants may launch at any ramp but take off must be at the designated take off ramp or area.  No trailering is allowed unless at the discretion of the tournament director.  Should a team arrive after the start time they must locate a club officer on the lake and have their live well checked prior to beginning fishing.

A starting position (numbered chip) will be drawn at the tournament meeting.  If a team can not make the meeting they may designate another person to pay their entry and draw a chip for them.  If a member can’t attend the meeting, his position will be assigned upon his arrival at the ramp prior to the tournament start time.  Each team must be checked in prior to the designated weigh-in time.  The check in procedures require that the starting position chip be placed in the can or designated container or Tournament Director prior to weigh in deadline.  There will be no exceptions to this rule and no grace period. If you are not checked in on time then you will not weigh fish. Prior to the start of the tournament the Tournament Director will announce the official time so that watches can be synchronized.  Proof of Liability Insurance must be provided by each member operating a boat. 

11.   Permitted Fishing Locations:  Contestants may fish anywhere accessible by boat, except areas designated as “off limits” or “no fishing” by local, state or federal officials. All angling must be conducted from the boat.

12.   Scoring:  Scoring shall be determined by the pounds and ounces of each contestant’s catch during the tournament. Only largemouth, spotted (Kentucky), or Smallmouth (Redeye) is accepted species. All fish must measure a minimum of 14 inches on a flat board (unless the state or lake limit differs).  Spotted (Kentucky) bass will have the same minimum length for club tournaments as largemouth bass regardless of the State or Lake Limits.  The limit shall be five (5) unless the state or lake limit is less than (5), in which case the state or Lake Limit shall prevail. Any short fish brought to the scales will not be weighed and a penalty of one (1) pound will be deducted from the fisherman’s total weight for that day. (Exception: Prior to being weighed a fish may be declared as a questionable fish. A request for measuring will be granted with no penalty assessed if the fish is a “short” fish.)  A ¼# penalty will be assessed for each dead fish brought to the scales.  The deduction counts against the dead fish including its big bass weight if applicable.  Only one Big Bass Entry is allowed per team per tournament.

13.   Ties:  In case of ties, positions shall be resolved by combining the awards and dividing the awards and dividing the money equally among the tied contestants.

14.   Entry Fee and Payback:  Each Team must pay a $60.00 entry fee before fishing any tournament.  $10.00 of this fee will go toward the Club Classic tournament. Individual member fishing alone must pay $50.00. This includes a mandatory Big Bass entry of $5.00 per contestant and $5.00 per boat for Club Classic fee.  If all contestants fail to weigh fish, tournament money will be forwarded towards the club classic tournament.   If all places are not filled, the unfilled place money will be evenly divided among the teams that placed .The payback will be structured on a 100% payback. (See payout sheet.)

15.  Protest:  Any protest of a rule violation must be made to the Tournament Director, Assistant Tournament Director, or President prior to the payment of any prize money.  That officer will counsel with all other attending officers present and make a ruling.