BY-LAWS OF
THE NORTH VALLEY SPORTSMAN CLUB
COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA

AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

PURPOSE

1.  Aid and promote hunter safety.
2.  Promote wildlife conservation through education.
3.  Promote archery, fishing, trapping and other shooting activities.
4.  Provide NRA Affiliation in all shooting activities.

 ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this organization shall be NORTH VALLEY SPORTSMAN CLUB.

 ARTICLE II - Membership

Any citizen of the United States may become a member of this organization after subscribing to the following pledge and on payment of annual dues.

 THE NRA PLEDGE

I CERTIFY that I am a citizen of good repute of the United States of America;  that I am not a member of any organization or group having as its purpose or one of its purposes the overthrow by force and violence of the Government of the United States or any of its political subdivisions;  that I have never been convicted of a crime of violence;  and that, if admitted to membership, I will fulfill the obligations of good sportsmanship and good citizenship.

 ARTICLE III - Officers

(a)  The officers of this club shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer - who acting together shall constitute the Directors of the Club.  They shall be elected by majority vote by ballot of the members in good standing at the February meeting of the Club.  They shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected.  All officers must be twenty-one years of age or older.

(b)  Additional Directors may be appointed or elected to insure each of the following disciplines is represented:  Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Muzzle loader, Archery, Fishing and Trapping - as deemed necessary in the supervision of the Club activities.

(c)  The Directors shall have general supervision and control of all the activities of the Club.  The Directors may make agreements with other organizations and individuals to carry out objectives of the Club.

(d)  Special meetings may be held at any time on the call of the President or on demand, in writing to the Secretary, by three of the Directors.

(e)  Resignation of any officer may be accepted by a majority vote of the remaining Directors.

(f)  A vacancy of officers must be filled by general election of the membership.

(g)  Fifty percent (50%) of the officers of this Club shall be members of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

 ARTICLE IV - Duties of Officers

(a)  PRESIDENT - The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Directors.  The President shall be a member ex-officio of all regular and special committees, and shall perform all such other duties as usually pertain to this office.

(b)  VICE-PRESIDENT - The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President when the President is absent or when requested.

(c)  SECRETARY - The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the proper preparation and forwarding of all reports required of the Club by the National Rifle Association and by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.  The Secretary shall notify the Directors of all meetings and shall notify the Members of any special and annual meetings, as required in Article III.  The Secretary shall keep a true record of all meetings of the Directors and of the Club, and have the custody of books and papers of the club, except the Treasurers books of account.  The Secretary shall be responsible for reaffiliating the Club annually with the National Rifle Association.

(d)  TREASURER - (1)  All applications for membership in the Club shall be made to the Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all fees and dues.  The Treasurer may appoint a Membership Chairperson to aid in this duty.  (2)  Club funds will be handled by the Treasurer.  Checks written on Club funds must be signed by two (2) officers.  Cash expenses will be verified by a receipt.

 ARTICLE V - Dues

(Note:  Clubs are listed on NRA rolls for a fiscal year term.)

(a)  Dues are payable January through April for yearly membership.  Membership lapses April 30 if not paid.  Memberships purchased in November and December will be at 1/4 the normal amount.

(b)  No member of the club in arrears shall be eligible to vote or to enjoy any other of the privileges or benefits offered by this Club.

(c)  Dues for the Primary Member will be set by the Directors and approved by vote of the membership present at a regular or special meeting.  (1)  Dues for the Spouse (Additional Member) of a Primary Member will be 1/2 the dues for the Primary Member.  Additional Members will have all the privileges of the Primary Member.  (2)  Dues for Dependents (Junior Member) of the Primary Member - under age 21 and same address as Primary Member - will be 1/4 the dues of the Primary Member.  Junior Members do not have voting privileges and other privileges may be restricted or limited as determined by the Directors and/or voting Members.  (3)  A limit may be set on the total amount of dues collected for one family.

 ARTICLE VI - Meetings

(a)  Regular Meetings - The regular business meeting of the Club for transaction of ordinary business shall be held on the third Tuesday of every month, at such time and place as may be fixed by the Directors.

(b)  Special Meetings - A special meeting of the Club may be held at any time upon the call of the President or upon the call of the Directors, or upon demand in writing, stating the object of the proposed meeting, and signed by not less than 20% of the members entitled to vote.  Notice of the time, place and object of such special meeting shall be given all officers and members in good standing in writing by United States Mail not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for the holding of the meeting.  The place of such meetings shall be fixed by the Directors.

(c)  Quorum - Ten Percent (10%) of the members of the Club entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at any meeting;  failing that, a majority of members attending shall be a quorum for business.

 ARTICLE VII - Suspension or Expulsion

(a)  Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members in good standing present at any special meeting called for this purpose.  No vote on suspension or removal may be taken unless notice, in writing, is given to the officer at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, stating the reasons for removal and the time and place of the special meeting where the vote will be taken.  At such meeting the officer shall be given a full hearing.

(b)  Any member may be suspended or expelled from the Club for any cause deemed sufficient by the Directors by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Directors present at any regular or special meeting.  No vote on suspension or expulsion may be taken unless notice, in writing, is given to the member stating the charges preferred and the time and place of the meeting where such charges will be considered at least 15 days prior to such meeting.  At such meeting the member under charges shall be accorded a full hearing.

(c)  Charges against any officer or member may be preferred by any member in good standing.  They shall be in writing clearly stating the facts relied upon and accompanied by all affidavits or exhibits which are to be used in their support.  Such charges shall be filed with the Secretary, who will immediately notify the President.  The President will call a meeting of the Directors to hear the charges.  The Secretary will give at least  fifteen days notice of the meeting to each Director, the accuser and the accused.  Notice shall be in writing and will include a true copy of the charges and of the supporting affidavits and exhibits.

(d)  Any member suspended or expelled by the Directors may appeal to the full membership of the Club.  Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Secretary who will notify the President.  The President will call a special meeting of the Club for the purpose of acting on the appeal.  The Secretary shall give at least fifteen days notice in writing to all members of the Club in good standing stating the date, time, place and reason for such special meeting.  At the meeting of the full club, the Secretary will read the original charges, the supporting affidavits, and will read the minutes of the special meeting of the Directors at which the charges were heard and action taken.  A full hearing will be given to the accuser and the accused.  A vote will be taken by ballot of the members in good standing present and a two-thirds vote shall be required to reverse the action of the Directors.

(e)  Any official or member of the Club who has been suspended or expelled by the National Rifle Association of America shall automatically stand suspended or expelled from this Club immediately upon receipt of official notice by the Secretary of this Club from the Secretary of the National Rifle Association.

(f)  The National Rifle Association shall be given a complete report whenever a member of this Club is suspended or expelled, showing charges and action taken.

 ARTICLE VIII - Amendments

Any proposed amendments to these By-laws may be introduced by any member of the club at any regular meeting or special meeting called for the purpose.  Copies of the proposed amendment(s) will be sent by United States Mail to each Club member at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.  A two-thirds vote of the members present will be necessary to pass or reject it.  The approved amendment(s) will then be submitted to the National Rifle Association for their approval.

All references to NRA will be null and void if this organization is not affiliated with the NRA.
 

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