Rules / By-Laws
Constitution and Bylaws of the
Northport Church of God (NCOG) Bass Club
Amended 01/25/22
Contents:
| ARTICLE I | Name and Purpose |
| ARTICLE II | Membership |
| ARTICLE III | Official Code Of Conduct |
| ARTICLE IV | Directors |
| ARTICLE V | Standing Committees |
| ARTICLE VI | Meetings |
| ARTICLE VII | Official Tournaments |
| ARTICLE VIII | Angler of the Year |
| ARTICLE IX | End of Season “Classic” |
| ARTICLE X | Changes to Constitution and Bylaws |
ARTICLE I – Name and Purpose |
SECTION 1: Name
This organization shall be called the Northport Church of God Bass Club, hereafter referred to as the Club or NCOG Bass Club.
SECTION 2: Purpose
To serve and minister to the local bass fisher and their families and provide recreation outreach ministry opportunities for Christian fellowship, education, and discipleship in the bass fishing community. We strive to be a consistent witness and disciple for our Lord Jesus Christ through the grateful gifts of our Creator of lakes and fishing.
- Provide a forum where anglers can engage in the organized support, protection, education, conservation and encouragement of the sport of tournament bass fishing in a Christian spirit, and
- Provide a means for visiting many of the premiere fishing locations located in Western Alabama, and
- Provide a means by which club members can improve their angling skills and knowledge, and
- Provide a forum to meet fellow anglers, and
- Provide a family safe / family friendly Christian environment for all anglers and their families at all club events and gatherings. See Article III
ARTICLE II – Membership |
SECTION 1: Eligibility
Membership to the club is open to all who have completed the necessary applications, paid required dues, and are approved by a majority vote of the Club’s Directors.
Applicants 16 years of age and older must be regular members, under the age of 16 will be considered Junior Members.
SECTION 2: Requirements of Membership
To become/remain a member in good standing, a person shall:
1. Pay annual membership dues as determined by the Directors.
2. Abide by all Club rules, official code of conduct and conduct themselves in a Christ-like and sportsman-like manner at all Club functions.
3. Junior members under the age of 16 are permitted, but must fish with an active adult member, preferable with a parent or guardian. Junior members are eligible for the Angler of the Year. Junior members may not hold any office nor can they be voting members. All junior membership cease at the end of a tournament season in the year of the junior members 17th birthday.
4. Each member or guest boater is required to carry liability insurance on their boat or any boat used in a tournament. At time of membership a copy should be submitted with membership application. Guest boaters should submit a copy prior to any tournament fished with their guest application.
5. Any member joining after January 31st of the active season, must pay all membership dues, plus prepay three (3) tournament fees prior to fishing. If joining the day of a tournament, that tournament will be included in the three, and the remaining fees will be applied to the next two tournaments. The fees will be applied whether the member shows or not. If during the current season, there are no more than two more tournaments left, the fees will be applied to the classic payout. This will not apply to any member that fished the prior year and fished at least three tournaments.
SECTION 3: Membership Dues
The membership dues shall be $50.00 annually for regular membership. If after the fourth tournament of the year (based on a 9 tournament season) cost will be $25.00, but you will not be eligible for the end of year classic. The cost for brother, sister, spouse, child, parent, grandparent or grandchild member 16 years of age or older is $10.00. The cost for junior members (under 16) will be free of charge, but must also turn in a membership application prior to fishing.
SECTION 4: Removal of Membership
Members failing to meet the requirements of membership may be recommended, by any member, for a judgment of “not in good standing”. Upon such recommendation, the Directors will vote on whether the member’s status should be changed to “not in good standing”. Members will be notified by a Director of his/her change in status. If a member is dismissed no refunds of club dues will be issued and will be forfeited to the club.
SECTION 5: Guest
Members are encouraged to bring guest. Members must inform a tournament director prior to the tournament of their intention to fish with a guest and the guest must fill out a guest registration form. Guest may only fish with active members. Failure to fill out a guest registration form will result in an automatic disqualification for the member and their guest.
Guest fee will be $10.00 per tournament.
In the event a guest becomes a member all points received while fishing as a guest will be applied retroactively to their total Angler of the Year points. Regardless of points standings, Angler of the Year can only be awarded to an official club member.
ARTICLE III – Official Code Of Conduct |
SECTION 1: Membership Code of Conduct
Club Members are required to follow this Code at ANY club-sponsored event:
1. Any action by a member, which would reflect dishonor and disgrace on the club, will result in immediate recommendation to the Directors for termination of membership. No refunds of club dues will be issued in the event of termination of membership.
2. There will be NO swearing or use of foul or otherwise offensive language allowed under ANY circumstance. The club is a co-ed club and a family structured organization. Use of such language is strictly prohibited.
3. Alcoholic Beverages and illegal drugs will not be allowed at ANY club-sponsored event.
4. Tobacco use (e.g. “dipping”, “chewing” and Smoking) is not permitted at any indoor function such as meetings or awards ceremonies. Members may use tobacco products outdoors or while fishing but MUST keep the environment safe and litter free while doing so.
5. Heated arguments, fighting and scuffling will not be tolerated under any circumstance. Such acts will result in a review of standings and possible termination of club membership.
6. Respect for fishing resources, including fish and their environment, is a hallmark of the club and all members are to make all reasonable efforts to maintain fish health during practice and tournaments. Failure to do so will result in a review of standings and possible termination of club membership.
Violation of any aspect of the official code of conduct will result in the Directors reviewing membership status as outlined in Article II, Section 4.
ARTICLE IV — Directors |
SECTION 1: Purpose
The Purpose of the Directors is to lay the necessary groundwork to establish the Club, ensure the longevity of the Club, ensure that the actions of members and officers of the Club are in line with the founding purpose of the Club, oversee all club business, including club finances, serve as a grievance committee, update, modify and approve changes to Club Bylaws as necessary, determine the tournament schedule, and determine annual dues and tournament fees.
SECTION 2: Members, Terms and Elections
Four appointed members of the club shall act as directors as well as the Northport Church of God Pastor. The Pastor will always be the Chairman of the Directors. There is no term limit for appointed Directors.
SECTION 3: Grievance Committee
The Directors shall also act as grievance committee and shall resolve all disputes or conflicts arising because 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 grievance committee shall review all recommendations for termination of membership. The ruling of the grievance committee is final and without appeal or recourse.
SECTION 4: Termination of Directors Membership
Membership to the Directors will terminate: 1) upon resignation by the member, 2) upon failure to attend two or more required meetings in a calendar year, 3) upon recommendation of failure to meet the requirements for membership and 4) upon the Directors receiving a request for a judgment of “not in good standing”. In the case of conditions 3 or 4, the removal is temporary while the remaining Directors consider the case. If the Director is judged to have failed to meet the requirements for membership or to be “not in good standing”, then the removal from the Directors becomes permanent; however, if the case is deemed without merit the member is reinstated to Director.
ARTICLE V– Standing Committees |
The Directors will appoint annually from volunteers a Tournament Committee.
Committee members will be appointed, with one designated as chair; terms will be one tournament season. There is no limitation on the number of times a member can be appointed to this committee.
The role of this committee is to assist in tournament logistics, weigh-ins and minimize the handling of fish.
The committee will also be responsible for transporting the weigh table, sink, basket and scale to and from tournaments.
ARTICLE VI – Meetings |
Section 1: Annual Meetings
The Directors will conduct a meeting for the upcoming season prior to season start. All current members and all members accepted for membership in the Club for the upcoming season are encouraged to attend.
ARTICLE VII – Official Tournaments |
SECTION 1: Schedule
There shall be a series of Official Tournaments per year. The Directors will determine and post the official schedule once set and permits have been obtained. The Tournament committee is responsible for determining specifics of the tournament.
Section 2: Tournament Committee and Hosting
Subsection A: Responsibilities of the Tournament Committee and host:
Tournament Organization:
1. The Tournament Committee is responsible for planning the particulars of each official tournament including:
Launch: The launch site will be chosen at the time of schedule. If launch site becomes unusable or inaccessible then the committee will determine an alternate launch site.
Rules Enforcement: Tournament Committee will ensure all rules are enforced. In the event of a rule violation, we ask that members bring the incident directly to the committee. The committee will bring the violation to the attention of the Directors for final interpretation and decision.
2. Rules Variations: Certain variables are set by the committee, including:
a. Size Limits: The committee determines the minimum size limit that will be accepted at each particular tournament. Size limits must be consistent with size and slot limit regulations of the tournament site. The host will announce this prior to blast off.
b. Tournament Time: Tournaments are scheduled for safe light until 2 PM. Beginning from US Naval projected Civil Twilight Time the committee determines safe light and may delay blastoff for fog or other weather conditions delaying safe light. The Tournament committee may shorten a tournament by up to 1 hour (i.e. end between 1 and 2 PM) to accommodate other tournaments or extreme hot or cold weather conditions. Committee initiated shortening of tournaments can be announced prior to blast off but no earlier than 18 hours in advance. The Directors may postpone a scheduled tournament for NOAA lake wind advisories, NOAA forecast of river flooding or NOAA forecast of severe weather conditions (Moderate – Severe Risk). Any tournament postponed due to severe weather will be scheduled for the following Saturday (if possible), unless that weekend is a holiday weekend. In cases involving holiday weekends, the tournament will be rescheduled for the Saturday of the first non-holiday weekend following the original tournament date. The Directors may issue an amnesty to all members missing a tournament that the Directors either postponed or seriously considered postponing due to severe weather. This amnesty will not affect classic eligibility or the angler of the year race.
c. Safe Light/ Safe Blast off: The committee and host will determine when Safe Daylight has been reached and when blast off will occur in the event of bad weather (such as fog).
d. Start Format: BLAST OFF: Members may launch at other sites and motor to the official launch site, but must inform the tournament director in advance of their intention. Any member launching at a remote site will be subject to a mandatory live well check. All members must start from the same location and may not leave until their number is called. Blast off will be in the order of signup. The member with the highest signup number will call all other numbers in ascending order.
ALTERNATE TAKE OFF: The committee may request to use an alternate blast off format if there is another tournament scheduled to use the landing. Under the alternate blast off procedure one team member waits in line to launch, and the other team member registers, pays for the tournament and is given the official tournament times. The committee’s partner accompanies the team member back to their boat and livewells are checked. Once signed in and having completed the livewell check, teams may proceed to their first fishing spot. Fishing will begins at the designated time. Fishing prior to official start will result in an automatic DQ. Registration closes 30 minutes prior to the official start time. The club will strictly enforce a 30 mph speed limit for boat operation prior to official civilian twilight. The non-boater of each team is responsible for this enforcement, as well as compliance with personal flotation device and kill switch use regulations.
e. On-time return: Before blast off the host will designate a position or marker (usually a buoy or landmark) that all boats must be within to avoid being late.
f. Weigh-in versus trailering: The host will determine if contestants must weigh in fish prior to trailering their boat. If sufficient dock space is not available, boats may be trailered prior to weighing of fish.
g. Hosting will be based on a volunteer basis by current members. Host is responsible for check-in and collecting tournament money as well as winning payouts. Host is also responsible, with the help of other volunteers, for setup of equipment before weigh-in as well as take down and cleaning of equipment after weigh-in.. For this the host will always have the option to be the first to blast off in each tournament.
Section 3: Tournament Format
1. Tournaments will be one day in duration. 2. Tournaments are partner format.
a. Singles are allowed. b. Teams may not consist of more than two persons. c. Partners may be changed at any time in-between tournaments. d. Partner shuffling during a tournament is not allowed. e. All team members within a boat contribute to the boat’s total catch.
3. Guests are invited and welcome to participate. The club recommends that members wishing to fish with a guest first check to see if any non-boater members need a seat. Guest must be teamed with an active member.
4. Creel Limits, Size Limits and Tournament times will be set by the Tournament committees on a tournament-by-tournament basis and announced by the host prior to blast off (see above).
5. Artificial Lures Only
6. Trolling and jigger-poling (aka doodle-socking) are prohibited.
7. Only one rod per contestant may be used at a time (i.e., you can have more than one rod in your boat, but can not use them simultaneously).
8. Tournament Fees must be paid prior to fishing the tournament
9. Every member has the right to inspect the live well of fellow members prior to blast off and Host may elect that they be checked at any given tournament at their discretion.
10. Safety: Each team is responsible for their own safety. Participants must wear personal flotation devices and use their kill switch whenever the boat’s gas motor is in operation and above idle speed. It is recommended that the non-boater member of each team should check that the boat’s kill switch is operational prior to the start of each tournament.
11. The Church, Club, Club Officers, Tournament Committee, Club Directors, nor Host shall not be held liable for any property damage and/or personal injury or loss, to include death, which may occur during a club tournament or function.
12. If a team quits early, a courtesy note should be left on another contestant’s vehicle, or if phone service is available should contact the tournament committee or another member. One member of the team may leave a tournament early for legitimate reasons (work obligations, weddings, etc) without penalty to the team. Teams with junior members are particularly encouraged to take advantage of this rule and allow junior members to leave when it is no longer fun. One member of a team must be present at weigh-in in order to be eligible for prizes.
13. Penalties:
a. 4 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. Size Limit infraction will result in a penalty equal to the weight of the largest fish in your stringer. Teams are allowed to ask the tournament director for a courtesy check (length measurement of one fish before weighing in) without penalty, except on waters where state law sets legal size limits. However if you do not ask and a short fish is detected during weigh in you will be assessed the penalty. Limit one courtesy fish check per team per tournament. In cases where state law sets legal size limits, any fish that might not be in compliance with state wildlife regulation MUST be returned to the water immediately.
14. Only black bass species will be considered for weigh in. This includes largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, red-eye bass, and shoal bass.
15. Creel Limits — Typically 5 fish per boat but may differ depending on tourney committee (See par. 4 above)
16. All live wells must be fitted with re-circulation aerators. This may be portable or “drop in” aerators. Aerated coolers may also be utilized for boats that do not possess a life sustaining live well. Live wells and aerated coolers must sustain the lives of the bass until weigh in and assure live release back into the wild. Teams are strongly encouraged to cull fish as they are caught and it is highly recommended that all culling be completed prior to entering the “on-time arrival” area. Tournament committees and/or the Directors may conduct inspections to insure proper working order of re-circulation aerators.
17. Fish can be contained in life sustaining “weight-in bags” filled with adequate water during weigh ins. Fish may not be placed on a stringer and kept outside of water for any amount of time that would harm their chances of survival.
18. All boats must comply with existing State and Federal operation and safety laws and regulations. All anglers must comply with all existing State and Federal Fish and Game laws and regulations. Violation of this article may result in a member’s disqualification from the tournament during which the violation occurred. Disqualification will result in a forfeiture of all prize moneys and AOY points for that tournament. Any member may lodge a protest suggesting that another member has violated ARTICLE VII section 3:18, however, the protest must be logged prior to the conclusion of that tournament’s weight in. Protests can be lodged with the tournament committee or any member of the executive committee present at the tournament.
19. In the event of a boat break down or being disabled one contestant may enter the boat of another competitor and proceed directly to the weigh-in site. The other contestant may remain with the boat without penalty. The angler entering another boat must keep their fish in a weigh-in bag and must not place their fish inside the livewell of the transporting vessel.
20. In the event of a tie in weight, the prize money will be split. (i.e. if 1st and 2nd tie, the total prize money for 1st and 2nd will be combined and then split).
21. Due to the fact that we consider certain lakes on river systems unique places to fish, we will not allow locking through to other lakes or other bodies of water.
22. Big Fish – It will be up to the teams to chose and weigh their big fish. If it is questionable which is the big fish more than one fish can we weighed, but no more than two for times sake.
Section 4: Tournament Fees and Prizes
1. Fees: $70 per boat. (Even if fishing solo). See payout schedule.
2. Tournament Payouts will be set by the Directors and appear as an appendix to the bylaws (Payout Schedule).
3. All prizes will be awarded as a team and paid to the winning team.
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. All points will be awarded equally to all team members.
2. Points will be awarded based on the results of each tournament as follows:
a. Winning Stringer: 100-points. All other points to be based on the percentage of winning stringer rounded to the nearest point. (example: Winning stringer was 10 lbs and get 100 points, 2nd place was 8 lbs, so therefore will receive 80 points, 3rd place 6.36 lbs, will receive 64 points., 4th place 3.23 lbs will receive 32 points, etc. etc.) b. Each club member will receive 10 points for attending each club tournament regardless if fish are caught or not. c. Points will be awarded to club members only. The following two scenarios will be used as guidelines for awarding points. If a club member has a guest, the full points will only be applied to the club member’s record. In the event that 2 club members fish the same boat, equal amounts of points will be awarded to the pair (i.e. if a pair of members win, they both are awarded 100 points to their record).
3. 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.
4. Club members can miss no more than 3 scheduled tournament to remain eligible for Angler of the Year.
5. For tournaments that are open to non-members (Open Tournaments), AOY points will only be awarded to active members, and will still be based on the percentage of big stringer even if the big stringer is of a non-member.
Section 2: Prizes and Awards
The Directors will decide what prizes, if any, will be awarded to the Angler(s) of the Year.
ARTICLE IX – End of Year “Classic” |
Section 1: Eligibility
At the end of the season a “Classic” tournament will be held to reward the top anglers of the year.
1. All members in good standings that fished at least 5 tournaments during the season are eligible to participate in the Classic. Members should confirm their intention to fish the Classic with the director, or if unable to fish let them know also. Classic entry fee will be the same as a regular tournament.
Section 2: Format
1. The Classic will be team/partner format. If a “partner” team fished together the majority of the year, they must fish together in the classic, they may not split into separate teams. If an individual fished solo the majority of the year, or with a guest, or multiple guest, he can either fish with another qualifying member, or fish the classic alone.
2. Payout: The Classic will be 100% payback of tournament entrance fees. No money will be donated to charity for the classic (unless the winners chose to do so after the fact) The Directors will provide the actual payout structure prior to the start of the classic tournament.
3. Guest are not allowed to fish in the Classic.
4. The site of classic will be determined at the set of the yearly schedule. The lake named will be off limits with no pre-fishing for two days prior the Classic tournament day. The Classic may not be at the same lake/location as the prior year.
ARTICLE X – Changes to Constitution and Bylaws |
Any changes to the Constitution and Bylaws will be coordinated and approved by the Directors and will remain in effect throughout the following tournament year. All changes must be presented to the membership at the annual organization meeting, if applicable, and posted on the club’s website.
