Bee County Wildlife Management Association
BY-LAWS
1. This association shall be called the Bee County Wildlife Management Association, hereafter referred to as BCWMA.
2. The co-op shall be a non-profit organization with the goals of improving and maintaining wildlife habitat and wildlife populations in Bee County. Some of the ways these goals may be reached:
(a) Implementing a management plan that includes conducting annual wildlife surveys and keeping harvest records.
(b) Providing harvest recommendations based on annual surveys.
(c) Providing educational opportunities about habitat management through annual meetings and field days.
(d) Fostering cooperation among neighboring landowners by encouraging participation in the Co-op.
3. The association will begin effective April 1, 2004.
4. Members are in no way obligated to BCWMA, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or Texas Cooperative Extension Service. Each member may or may not agree with the recommended wildlife management practices. By becoming a member one merely acknowledges the desire for implementing wildlife management practices to improve the quality or numbers of wildlife on one’s own land.
5. Members will be assessed a membership fee as determined by the board of directors. Money will be used as approved by the directors. Membership dues shall cover the period from annual membership meeting to annual membership meeting. In order to vote, dues must be paid up to date. Dues for the next year will be due at the end of the present fiscal year, in order to vote on the next year’s agenda items.
6. The bank account will be established at the First National Bank of Beeville. Signatures of two (2) directors (the Secretary/Treasurer and one other officer) will be required on each check or withdrawal.
7. At the first annual meeting, nine (9) directors will be elected by a majority vote to serve on the board of directors. Thereafter, elections shall be held annually. Directors shall receive no financial compensation. Each director shall be elected to a term of three (3) years. Terms of directors will be staggered. Each year three (3) directors shall be elected. The County Extension Agent for Texas Cooperative Extension-Bee County will be an Ex-Officio director, and not allowed to vote.
(a) A minimum of five (5) of the nine (9) directors must be a landowner, operator, administrator, or family member of the property within the co-op (a ranch or farm). Membership is open to anyone interested in wildlife management. All active memberships have one (1) vote.
(b) Elected directors can be re-elected for three (3) consecutive terms. However, after serving three (3) consecutive terms, a director cannot be re-elected for a period of two (2) years. After a two (2) year period of non-service, a former director may be elected again. Exception to the term limits can be made by unanimous consent of the current board members.
(c) If any director fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings, the board may appoint a replacement director for the remainder of his/her term.
(d) Each year at the annual membership meeting, nominations from current members will be submitted to fill board of director’s vacancies. A simple majority vote by active members at the annual meeting will determine the persons to fill vacant board of director’s seats.
(e) A Quorum to conduct official business shall consist of at least five (5) directors.
(f) A simple majority vote among the board of directors shall elect a president, vice president, and a secretary/treasurer at the first board of directors meeting after the annual membership meeting.
(g) Regular meetings will be held as decided by the Board of Directors.
(h) An annual meeting will be held in February each year at which time dates of that year’s regular scheduled meetings will be announced.
(i) The fiscal year will be the calendar year.
8. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
i) President
(a) The President shall represent BCWMA to the general public;
(b) Shall preside at all meetings;
(c) Shall appoint all committee chairs not otherwise provided for by the board;
(d) Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees;
(e) Shall have general supervision of the affairs of BCWMA;
(f) Shall arrange for an annual review and formal approval by the board of director of the financial records of BCWMA;
(g) Shall arrange annually, prior to the annual meeting, for a nominating committee whose purpose shall be the recruiting and nomination of three Board Member candidates to replace out going members of the board;
(h) Shall perform all other duties incident to the office.
ii) Vice President
(a) The Vice President shall exercise the functions of the President during any absence or disability of the President;
(b) Shall be responsible for public relations, press releases and for developing organizational contacts;
(c) May be assigned other duties by the President;
(d) Shall fill any un-expired term of the President’s position should that position become vacant.
iii) Secretary-Treasurer
(a) The Secretary/Treasurer shall record the proceedings of all BCWMA meetings;
(b) Shall be responsible for maintaining membership records;
(c) Shall maintain correct accounts of BCWMA receipts and disbursements;
(d) Presents financial reports at board and biannual meetings;
(e) Is responsible for safe and orderly storage of financial records and correspondence;
(f) Performs other duties pertinent to the office as directed by the President.
9. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern BCWMA meetings in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any special rules of order BCWMA may adopt.
10. DISSOLUTION CLAUSE
In the event of the dissolution of the Bee County Wildlife Management Association the assets of The Organization, remaining after payment of or provision for all debts and liabilities of the Organization, shall be donated to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas specifically for the continued support of wildlife management associations in the State.
These by laws may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at any annual meeting following a thirty (30) day written notification of the proposed changes.
11. These by-laws may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at any annual meeting following a thirty day written notice of the proposed changes.
Approved and adopted by the BCWMA Board of Directors on 5/6/2004 |
