By-Laws
MANATEE FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION, INC.
A Not For Profit Organization
APPROVED AUGUST 29, 2017
ARTICLE I: NAME AND LOCATION
Section A.
The name of this association is the Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc. The association has been in existence using the name Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association since 1935 and was incorporated in 1984. On March 26, 2013 the Board of Directors, by resolution, changed the name of the organization to Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc.
Section B.
The Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association, Inc. at one time owned property and a club house located at 6508 Quonset Road, Bradenton, Florida.
Section C.
The Manatee Fish and Game Association began a strategic planning process in 2016 that resulted in a reorganization transition plan identifying two funding streams: a Field of Interest Fund with the Manatee Community Foundation and a Founders Fund held in the MF&G checking account.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section A. Historical Pledge.
Historically, the Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association’s pledge is:
I pledge that I will observe and abide by the game and fish laws of our state; I especially pledge not to hunt out of season and promise to observe the bag limits on all game and fish. I promise to protect all private property, including opening and closing of gates and doing my utmost to prevent fires. I wish to give timely warning to all would be violators that I will not shield them, but on the contrary, I pledge myself to give active support to our state and federal conservation officers.
Section B. Mission Statement
The Manatee Fish and Game Association, as Stewards Conserving Our Resources and Environment (SCORE), proactively participate with the community by leading, advising, funding, educating, promoting, practicing, and modeling sound practices to conserve fish and wildlife and its habitat.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Annual Dues
A member in good standing shall be current in the paying of dues.
Section B. Membership Categories
Section A. Annual Dues
Section A. Board of Directors
Section A: Election
The Executive Committee and the Directors shall be elected by the general membership at the Annual Meeting in August and installed, and take office on September 1.
Section B: Duties of the Executive Committee members:
Section A. The Annual Meeting shall:
A quorum of three members of the Board of Directors can conduct business at general meetings.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
Section A. These bylaws may be amended
by a majority vote of the members in good standing present at a general meeting, provided the proposed amendment shall have been read at two meetings previous to the vote to adopt the amendment.
Section B. These bylaws make null and void any previous bylaws.
ARTICLE X: CHARTER CONFLICT
If any part of these bylaws shall be in conflict with the Corporate Charter, that portion of the bylaws shall be null and void. All other bylaws shall continue as stated.
ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION (ADDED March 20, 1983)
In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the Manatee and Sarasota Counties Fish and Game Association will be turned over to and vested in Sunny Land Counsel of the Boy Scouts of America for the use and benefit of the Boy Scouts of America programs for Manatee and Sarasota Counties, Florida.
Amendments to By-Laws
I, Merrie Lynn Parker, Secretary-Treasurer of the Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc. do hereby certify that the above amendments to the By-Laws was read in its entirety at meetings of the membership on the 27th day of _June, 2017 and the 25th day of July, 2107, and approved by a majority of the members in attendance at the general meeting on the 29th day of August, 2017.
Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc.
BY__________________________________
Secretary-Treasurer
A Not For Profit Organization
APPROVED AUGUST 29, 2017
ARTICLE I: NAME AND LOCATION
Section A.
The name of this association is the Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc. The association has been in existence using the name Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association since 1935 and was incorporated in 1984. On March 26, 2013 the Board of Directors, by resolution, changed the name of the organization to Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc.
Section B.
The Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association, Inc. at one time owned property and a club house located at 6508 Quonset Road, Bradenton, Florida.
Section C.
The Manatee Fish and Game Association began a strategic planning process in 2016 that resulted in a reorganization transition plan identifying two funding streams: a Field of Interest Fund with the Manatee Community Foundation and a Founders Fund held in the MF&G checking account.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section A. Historical Pledge.
Historically, the Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association’s pledge is:
I pledge that I will observe and abide by the game and fish laws of our state; I especially pledge not to hunt out of season and promise to observe the bag limits on all game and fish. I promise to protect all private property, including opening and closing of gates and doing my utmost to prevent fires. I wish to give timely warning to all would be violators that I will not shield them, but on the contrary, I pledge myself to give active support to our state and federal conservation officers.
Section B. Mission Statement
The Manatee Fish and Game Association, as Stewards Conserving Our Resources and Environment (SCORE), proactively participate with the community by leading, advising, funding, educating, promoting, practicing, and modeling sound practices to conserve fish and wildlife and its habitat.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Annual Dues
A member in good standing shall be current in the paying of dues.
Section B. Membership Categories
- Individual
- Family
- Corporate
- Life Individual
Section A. Annual Dues
- The annual dues shall be determined by the Board.
- All dues shall be collected by the Secretary/Treasurer.
- All dues are due April 1 and shall be paid no later than July 1 to continue as a member in good standing.
- A budget shall be adopted annually by the Board of Directors at the January Board Meeting.
- An annual review of the financial records shall be conducted by January 1 by a committee appointed by the Board by January 1.
- Any expenses incurred by any member, authorized by the Board on behalf of the association, shall be reimbursed upon proper presentation of receipts to the Secretary/Treasurer.
- The fiscal year shall begin January 1.
- Projects involving expenditures of money not in the annual budget shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section A. Board of Directors
- Shall consist of the Executive Committee and three Directors.
- The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers: President and Secretary/Treasurer.
- The newly elected Executive Committee and Directors shall take office on September 1.
- Officers shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until their successors have been elected or appointed to assume office.
- The terms of the Directors shall be five years.
Section A: Election
The Executive Committee and the Directors shall be elected by the general membership at the Annual Meeting in August and installed, and take office on September 1.
Section B: Duties of the Executive Committee members:
- The President shall:
- Act as presiding officer at regular, annual, called, and Board of Director meetings and shall generally supervise the undertakings, policies and affairs of the association.
- Sign all contracts after approval of Board of Directors.
- Appoint those committee and task forces necessary for the operation of the association.
- Perform all duties as are incidental to the office.
- The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
- Keep the minutes of all Board and General Meetings of the association.
- Notify members of General Meetings and Board Meetings.
- Keep a record of attendance of the Board of Directors at the Board Meetings and of the membership at the General Meetings.
- Record the attendance of Board of Directors at Board Meetings and note whether explanations have been received from absent members.
- Verify a quorum of Board of Directors is present before business is conducted at any meeting.
- File all records at the principal offices of the association.
- Have custody of all moneys of the association.
- Sign the checks of the association.
- Keep books of account in simple, but understandable form.
- Submit financial reports at general and annual meetings to the Board of Directors.
- Attend all meetings.
- Carry on the affairs of the association.
- Form the policy and transact such other business as is necessary for the welfare and operation of the association.
- Elect three MF&G members to be appointed by the Manatee Community Foundation to the Advisory Committee for the Manatee Fish and Game Association Fund Field of Interest Fund.
- In the event an officer or director accumulates two consecutive absences from the Board meetings during a given year in office, the position may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be declared vacant by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present of the Board.
- A two-thirds vote of the members present at a General Meeting shall be sufficient to remove any person from the Board of Directors.
- Any vacancy shall be filled by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Board of Directors until the next scheduled annual meeting.
- A Nominations committee shall convene in January.
- There shall be three members on the Nominations Committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
- The Nominations Committee shall present a slate of nominees at the Annual Meeting.
- Elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting.
- The Nominations Committee must acquire permission of a nominee prior to his/her addition to the slate.
- On the date of the election, additional nominations may be made from the floor, with the consent of the nominee(s) who meet(s) all other prerequisites.
- All nominees shall be individual members in good standing of the association and shall not have been convicted of a felony or a major violation of fish and game regulations.
- The officers and directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting.
- If more than two candidates are nominated for an office, the vote will be taken by written ballot.
Section A. The Annual Meeting shall:
- Be held on the last Tuesday in August.
- Be held for the purpose of the election of officers and directors by members in good standing.
- Be held as needed as determined by the Board of Directors.
- Members in good standing will be notified of general and annual meetings via e-mail.
- Meetings may be convened via conference call.
A quorum of three members of the Board of Directors can conduct business at general meetings.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
Section A. These bylaws may be amended
by a majority vote of the members in good standing present at a general meeting, provided the proposed amendment shall have been read at two meetings previous to the vote to adopt the amendment.
Section B. These bylaws make null and void any previous bylaws.
ARTICLE X: CHARTER CONFLICT
If any part of these bylaws shall be in conflict with the Corporate Charter, that portion of the bylaws shall be null and void. All other bylaws shall continue as stated.
ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION (ADDED March 20, 1983)
In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the Manatee and Sarasota Counties Fish and Game Association will be turned over to and vested in Sunny Land Counsel of the Boy Scouts of America for the use and benefit of the Boy Scouts of America programs for Manatee and Sarasota Counties, Florida.
Amendments to By-Laws
I, Merrie Lynn Parker, Secretary-Treasurer of the Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc. do hereby certify that the above amendments to the By-Laws was read in its entirety at meetings of the membership on the 27th day of _June, 2017 and the 25th day of July, 2107, and approved by a majority of the members in attendance at the general meeting on the 29th day of August, 2017.
Manatee Fish and Game Association, Inc.
BY__________________________________
Secretary-Treasurer