Article: I NAME
A. The name of the association shall be the Meagher County Sportsmen's Association. Abbreviated as M.C.S.A.
B. We are a non-profit organization.
Article: II PURPOSE
A. The intent of the Meagher County Sportsmen's Association is to promote sports, especially hunting and fishing, both within the county and throughout the State of Montana.
We support the landowners right to allow whom, and when, anyone would be allowed access on his/her property. Under no circumstance do we advocate any person or government having a prerequisite to that right.
We encourage discussion and reaching common goals for the good of the sport(s) in need of improvement.
We do not endorse any effort on any individual's part that would jeopardize our hunting rights for their profit.
We believe the animals, fish, or birds that are under the control of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department are public domain and should be available to all that enjoy sports. This is not intended to abridge the rights of legal and rightful owners of property/species.
We believe that anyone who intentionally tries to circumvent regulations or laws governing hunting or fishing and those of the club, cannot be a continuing member of this organization or remain in good standing after the violation without two thirds of the membership approval.
B. To develop programs dedicated to the conservation and preservation of animals, fish and birds and the natural habitat and to cooperate with Federal and State agencies and sportsmen and conservation organizations also dedicated to this purpose.
C. To issue bulletins to inform each member as to major problems and issues affecting the M.C.S.A. and/or to act on proposed actions and pending legislation, so the membership may make its will known to the duly elected representatives.
D. Locate, design, construct, finance, and manage a shooting range designated as Meagher County Sportsmen's Shooting Range. Collect fees, donations and prepare the necessary grants and materials to improve and maintain in good order the said facility.
E. Encourage the public use of said shooting range and provide access and use of said facility for youth organizations dedicated to the furthering of the marksmanship and safe use of firearms and archery devices.
Article: III MEMBERSHIP
A. There shall be three classes of Membership.
1. Individual membership shall be granted to any individual upon application and payment of regular fees and dues except as noted in Article III, B. Individual Membership is granted one (1) vote.
2. Family membership includes the individual member's family who reside in the same residence (spouse and children). Family memberships shall be granted to families of individual members upon application and payment of appropriate fees and dues, except as noted in Article III, B. The family members have the same rights as an individual member; however this membership type shall have only one (1) vote to be used by all family members 12 years of age or older, for a total of two (2) votes for the entire family.
3. Honorary membership to be approved by a simple majority of membership. This membership has one (1) vote.
B. Denial of Membership. Should it be found that an applicant has a felony conviction or purpose contrary to the ideals of the club or the United States of America, previous or subsequent to the application, membership may be denied or revoked. Denial of membership may be appealed with the application being presented at a meeting having a quorum, for review, and voted on by members present with a two-thirds majority required for acceptance.
C. Annual membership dues shall include one of the following categories:
1. per individual membership
2. per individual membership with class B range access
3. per family membership
4. per family membership with class A range access
D. Annual membership fees shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and then voted on by the members at the December meeting.
Article: IV MEMBERSHIP DUES AND FEES DATE
A. All dues for the Meagher County Sportsmen's Association and range access fees are due and payable on January 2nd each year with a grace period extending until March 1st. Fees and dues become delinquent on March 2nd. New membership dues run from January to January and will not be prorated. This does not apply to Class C (One Day) range access fees.
Article: V MEAGHER COUNTY SPORTSMEN'S SHOOTING RANGE ACCESS
A. There shall be three classes of range access which may be separate from membership in the Meagher County Sportsmen's Association
1. Class A range access fee: per individual subscriber and their immediate family (spouse and children residing in the same residence): and shall provide access to the shooting range facilities.
2. Class B range access fee: per individual and shall provide access to the shooting range facilities.
3. Class C range access fee: per individual and shall provide access to the shooting range facilities for ONE DAY. This fee would apply to visitors accompanying all other class of members.
B. Prospective members may be allowed to shoot free, at the range, while accompanied by a regular member, one time only.
C. Annual range fees shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and then voted on by the members at the December meeting.
D. On March 1st of each year the gate combination will be changed and range access will be denied to all members who are delinquent in dues and fees payment until such time as they are made current.
Article: VI OFFICERS
A. The Officers shall consist of the M.C.S.A. President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Reporter and Range Manager, all of whom will serve on the Board of Directors.
B. Duties of the M.C.S.A. Officers shall be:
1. President: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the organization and to exercise general control over the affairs of the organization. He/she can call special meetings of the organization and perform all other duties pertaining to such office. The President has the power to temporarily split the duties of the Secretary/Treasurer, when necessary, into two separate positions. When a member is elected or volunteers for the Secretary/Treasurer the position becomes automatically recombined. The President, with a majority vote of the Board of Directors concurring, may fill the un-expired portion of vacant offices until the next annual meeting. The President shall serve a term of two (2) years. The President shall be elected on even numbered years.
2. Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President when called upon to do so, and in the absence of the President, shall be vested with all the powers and duties of the President. The Vice President shall be responsible for keeping the Constitution and Bylaws current. He/she shall serve a term of two (2) years. The Vice President shall be elected on odd numbered years.
3. Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of all meetings and have custody of all books, papers, records, and money of the M.C.S.A. He/she shall send all notices and perform such other duties as pertain to such office in addition to collecting all dues/fees. He/she shall safely keep and disburse all funds of the organization. He/she shall provide a general statement of income disbursements to the Board of directors prior to the annual meeting, reflecting figures current as of January 1 of that year. He/she shall also make an annual report in writing to all members on income disbursement at the end of the fiscal year. When the situation arises that performing the duties of Secretary/Treasurer become such that one person is unable to perform them, the President has the power to temporarily split the duties into two separate positions. The Secretary/Treasurer shall serve a term of two (2) years. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected on even numbered years.
4. Reporter: The Reporter shall be responsible for organizing the proposals from the Montana State Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Landowners and other agencies, newspapers, and other sportsmen groups and presenting these files to the officers for review and comment. The Reporter shall be elected to a term of two (2) years. The Reporter shall be elected on odd numbered years.
5. Range Manager: The Range Manager shall oversee all regulations, construction, funding, and maintenance of the Meagher County Sportsmen's Shooting Range. He/she will act as the contact person for any and all business associated with the Range. The Range Manager shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. The Range Manager shall be elected on odd numbered years.
Article VII MEETINGS
A. The members shall meet at a time and place designated by the President on a third Tuesday at least once a quarter and should include December and January.
B. At least three of the Board of Directors or two Directors and two (2) members constitute a legal meeting or quorum.
C. The “Annual Meeting” is the meeting held in the month of January.
D. Any member may request the President to call a special meeting, as circumstances require.
Article VIII ELECTIONS
A. All nominations of officers shall be approved by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors. Nominations can be overruled by an eighty percent (80%) vote of members.
B. Nominations will be at the January meeting.
C. Elections will be by the membership present at the second quarter meeting and by voice vote unless challenged or requested for sealed ballot.
Article: IX AMENDENTS TO CONSTITUTION
A. Proposed Amendments shall be approved by voice vote unless challenged or requested for sealed ballot. Passage of amendments must be by two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present at any meeting containing a quorum plus three (3) members.
B. Amendment changes must be presented to the members at the meeting and/or by posting at the range facility and mailed to the membership one month prior, to being presented for vote.
Article: X COMMITTEES
A. The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, shall appoint committees as required. They shall remain active as needed.
Article: XI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Shall consist of seven members.
1 President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary/Treasurer
4. Reporter
5. Range Master
6&7 Two members from the membership (to be elected annually)
B. The President, with a majority vote of the Board of Directors concurring, may fill the un-expired portion of vacant offices until the next annual meeting.
Article: XII AUDIT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
A. The Annual Audit will be completed within thirty (30) days of fiscal year end (the last day of June). The report will be given at the next normally scheduled meeting.
B. A fiscal year is defined as June 1 through May 31st.
Article: XIII BYLAWS
A. Bylaws may be established to facilitate the daily working procedures of M.C.S.A and it's Constitution.
B. Bylaws may be enacted, rescinded and/or amended by a simple majority vote at any meeting containing a quorum.
C. Bylaws cannot contradict the Articles of the Constitution or their intent.
*Revision #2 Voted on and accepted 17 January 2011 by general membership at Annual meeting.
*Revision #1 Voted on and accepted 19 September 2008 by general membership at monthly meeting.
*Voted on and accepted 15 January 2008 by general membership at Annual Meeting.