Author: Rat (Rat)
Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 7:32 pm

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Hopefully this information will help clear things up a bit. Due to two things the HCB had become a non-entity 1) New laws as to what makes us a non-profit (and how we operate) and 2) Our old set of bylaws. Item 1, on the legal side of things everything is good to go now. There is virtually no change in the day to day operation of the HCB; but the State requirements have been met. Item 2, bylaws. It has been 16 months in the making, but we have a set of bylaws that will be voted on in the next meeting; posted below. Here is why we need now bylaws: Bylaws do two things mainly; they protect the club and individual members from liability, and they set the operation for the club. By operating outside of the stated bylaws we, as individuals, could be held liable for any damages; here is how it works: Let’s say we are sued for damages. We are insured, but we have been operating outside of our bylaws. The insurance company will determine that we have been operating outside of our bylaws and not cover any of the damages. The damages that are awarded to the person suing us will then liable by the HCB and/or EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER! That’s right; each member could be liable to pay for any damages awarded. This is why the bylaws are so important; it protects the HCB and the members from litigation in the event of a suit. The insurance company bases it’s coverage on our bylaws and will do anything in its power to keep from paying out damages, we must protect ourselves; and we do it with a good set of bylaws. The current bylaws are impossible to operate under given these circumstances; this is why we need a new set. Officers and Board of Directors. This is not a power grab but an attempt to fracture the structure to the point of manageability. Officers are elected, just like always, the Board of Directors are appointed by either nomination or volunteer; each Director must accept the position but a full nomination/election is not necessary. An Officer can hold a directors position as well, for instance the Vice President can also be the Activities Director, but the ability to have it fractured is there if needed. For instance, Bubba is President and 3-D Director, because that is what he likes to do; the next President may be more involved with youth hunts and can be the Youth Hunt Director and another 3-D Director can be appointed, it’s just that easy. Authority to make day to day decisions has been granted to the Officers and Directors. For instance, we can’t mail out membership applications because it takes a member vote to spend money for postage under the existing bylaws; from now on the Secretary can make that decision without a vote. Now this is important, the HCB is still a member ran organization, ANY decision made by the Officers or directors can be annulled by the general membership by a vote without breaking any of the bylaws. Member oversight is critical for a club like this, as is transparency, so decisions will be made available to the members, and members can opt to change the decision at ANY time by a vote. The Club Business section will remain a ‘for information only’ section; information will be posted comments will not be allowed, as it was originally intended. There will be a new section added for ‘Members Only’ that will be used to discuss internal affairs. The password will go out with the new member packet for this section. The reason for this is to keep our hotly debated discussions of internal business away from the general public; but still have a place to discuss the things that need to be addressed. Like it or not, by us being a highly recognized club, image counts. There will also be more moderators added to insure that the information posted is in the correct forum. New e-mail links will also be added to the homepage of all the Officers and Directors in title-specific format, i.e., President@hillcountrybowhunters.com. These things have either been voted on already or are going to come up for vote in the next meeting. The Officer and Director job descriptions will be posted later and made a permanent post in the club business section of the Forums; so everyone will know exactly who to contact for what they need. I believe these changes are a step in the right direction for the Hill Country Bowhunters in making us what we once were, the best Youth and Archery club in Texas! Following are the new bylaws to be voted on during the next meeting; these are pretty much what is required by law for an organization such as ours, but they can be added to if necessary. Please review and comment as you think necessary.
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Author: Rat (Rat)
Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 7:33 pm

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BYLAWS HILL COUNTRY BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION ARTICLE ONE TEXAS UNINCORPORATED NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION 1.01 The Hill Country Bowhunters Association is a MEMBER CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION. The management structure to be defined by the membership. OFFICE ADDRESS 1.02. The address of the association is located at CR 258, Seward Junction, Texas, Williamson County, State of Texas, and the name of acting agent of the association is Donald R. Ferguson. PURPOSE 1.03. The purpose of the association is defined in the Document of Formation as to involve youth in the sport of archery, hosting archery tournaments, and promotion any legal hunting and/or archery activity, and shall also include any activity legal in the state of Texas. ARTICLE TWO MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Place of Meetings 2.01. All meetings of the membership shall be held at the above location, or any other place within or without this state, as may be designated for any purpose from time to time by the President. Time of Meetings 2.02. An annual meeting of the membership shall be held each year at such time and such place as is designated by the president. Director and special membership meetings may be called as needed by the president or acting president. 2.03. Notice of annual meetings, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be posted on the club web page at least ten (10) days but not more than fifty (50) days before the day of the meeting. If a web page or other electronic address is not available each eligible voting member can be notified by mail, phone, personally or electronically. Directors can be notified of director's meetings by email, phone or personally. Business Meetings 2.04. A business meeting can be called by the President or Acting President on tournament days as required or when requested by any member. Quorum 2.05. A quorum is defined in the Document Of Formation as a simple majority of eligible voters present. Voting 2.06. Each eligible member shall have one vote. Only persons listed as members on the association secretary;s membership list `shall be entitled to vote at any meeting. Only adult members eighteen years or older may vote. Family memberships may include two (2) adult members entitled to vote. Voting at business meetings must by in person only. The president may authorize voting for any other meetings to include- in person, by mail, or electronic. Conduct of meetings 2.07. The president of the association, or in their absence, the vice president shall preside at all meetings. The secretary of the association, or in the secretary's absence, any person appointed by the presiding officer, shall act as secretary of the association. 2.08. Meetings shall be conducted per Robert's Rules of Order. ARTICLE THREE Powers and duties of officers and directors 3.01. The officers of the association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such directors and activity managers as the membership shall from time to time determine. Any two or more offices may be held by one person. 3.02. The officers of the association shall have the powers and duties generally ascribed to the respective offices, and such additional authority or duty as may from time to time be established by the membership. 3.03. A Board Of Directors shall be installed to vote on bylaw amendments and to decide urgent or emergency business that cannot wait for a scheduled business meeting.. A Board Of Directors meeting can be called by the President or Acting President as needed. 3.04. The board shall consist of elected officers and elected directors as approved and voted on by the membership. Election and Term of Office 3.03 Officers and directors shall be elected at the annual meeting. Term of office shall be determined by the membership and they shall hold office until their respective successors are elected, appointed, or until their death, resignation or removal. Vacancies 3.04. Vacancies may be filled by appointment by the president until the next scheduled election. Removal of Officers or Directors 3.05. Officers, the entire Board of Directors or any individual may be removed from office with or without cause by a majority vote of the membership entitled to vote at any regular or special meeting of the membership. Indemnification of Officers and Directors 3.06. The membership may authorize the association to pay expenses incurred by, or to satisfy a judgment or fine rendered or levied against, present or former officers , directors, or employees of the association as provided by Article 2. of the Business Corporation Act. ARTICLE FOUR Amendment of bylaws 4.01. The final power to alter, amend, or repeal these bylaws is vested in the membership. Any amendment shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary for review of legality. The Secretary will post the proposed amendment on the club's web page and present it to the Board of Directors. The BOD shall vote for approval or rejection, if approved the amendment is then presented to the membership for final approval or rejection. All votes require a simple majority of members present.
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Author: Denton (Denton)
Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 8:28 pm
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What's up with the range? It looks like a jungle out there! Targets are laying everywhere, old cores piled up, and trash all around the conex. Come on guys, all the hard work a lot of us did out there when we took it over from Williamson County is going by the wayside! We kept the range looking good, especially during 3D season; if it continues to look like it does ya'll will end up running all the shooters off. I've heard about several complaints from shooters that have gone out there this year: Lack of water on the first shoot, no concessions, no trophies, disorganized, that's just a few. 16 months to get the bylaws straitened out, when one paragraph just needed to be added, that by the way was on the by-laws we had at the annual banquet, but just got left off when the paperwork was handed over to the new officers. What happened to the "crew" that was supposed to come in and save 3D? The help situation hasn't changed and membership has declined, if things keep going the way they are, before too long the HCB we worked so hard to build will be no more. I'm not the only one that feels this way or has heard the negative comments and from some of the e-mails that I've seen, there has been a great lack of communication and disorganization within the officers. Numerous people have asked: “What has happened to the HCB?”
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Author: Jim Cranmer (Doeboy)
Saturday, May 03, 2008 - 3:50 pm
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One comment on the bylaws. When Don is no longer in charge which will be this year. We will have to change the bylaws.
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Author: Donnie (Donnie)
Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 10:23 am
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Jim…congratulations for taking over the vice presidency of the HCB! The only things that have been posted since the new officers were voted in have been negative, argumentative and personal attacks. This is very childish if you ask me. When HCB wanted to do away with 3-D someone else took it over, but the personal attacks and the constant negative remarks on the message board have taken its toll on folks that wanted to make it work or tried to do the right thing. It appears that the true character of some people has come out during this time, and it is sad to see the unfair treatment, insults and insinuations of past officers towards current officers and members. I have a suggestion. Lets dissolve the HCB, or give the HCB back to those of you who what to use it as your personal club. That way anyone who wants to run a 3-D range could work with the property owner creating a new contract with the property owner(s), operate under a new name and create a set of legal by-laws. Then the name Hill Country Bowhunters can be given back to those of you who have claimed it as yours.
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Author: colin pack (Colin_pack)
Monday, May 19, 2008 - 8:36 pm
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I will be glad to help run the shoot this weekend. We have been slamed at work the last few weeks. I have not had time to post anything. I am a past officer and now a current officer again. I for one am tired of the finger pointing if we are going to make this work we are all going to have to work togather. DISSOLVE the club why, when we have people that want to help. I have never been one to take the easy way out of anything. Count me in to keep this on track. Rat can you give me a call, do we know where the trophys are from the last shoot. 512-771-5482 Swat my pass word is not working again. I had to use Colins Steve Pack
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