Santee Cooper Country Guides Association

Santee Cooper Country Guides Association Constitution

Article 1: Name of the Association

1.1 The name of the association shall be the Santee Cooper Country Guides Association.

Article 2: Goals

2.1 Promote fisheries management and conservation of resources on the Santee Cooper Lakes.

2.2 Promote proper certification of all professional fishing guides on the Santee Cooper Lakes.

2.3 Promote co-operative partnerships among the professional fishing guides on the Santee Cooper Lakes, public and private sector organizations, businesses, corporations and individuals supportive of the goals and objectives of the association.

Article 3: Objectives

3.1 To support the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the United States Coast Guard in the enforcement of the laws and regulations pertaining to fisheries management.

3.2 To support the enforcement of proper certification for all professional guides on the Lakes.

3.3 To encourage the study of the effects of cormorants on the fish population and to support methods to manage cormorants where needed.

3.4 To encourage the study of the effects of trotlines and the size of hooks used to catch catfish and to support enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to these items.

3.5 To seek group benefits for members, such as advertisement and insurance.

3.6 To engage in fund raising activities to meet the goals and objectives of the association.

3.7 To be a Non-Profit association.

3.8 To be a voice to legislatures and other individuals, businesses, corporations or organizations on the needs for fisheries management and conservation of resources on the Lakes.

3.9 To encourage active partnerships and memberships with all those interested in the goals and objectives of this association.

Article 4: Membership

4.1 Primary membership is open to all properly licensed professional guides in the Santee Cooper Lakes and the surrounding waters.

4.2 Associate membership is open to all individuals, groups, businesses, and corporations approved by the Board as supporting the goals and objectives of the association.

Article 5: Non-liability of Members

5.1 A member shall not be held responsible for any liability of the Association.

Article 6: Fiscal and Financial Matters

6.1 The fiscal year of the Association shall be from January 1st to December 31st.

6.2 Expenditure of funds in excess of $100 in any month must be approved by a majority of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting or by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The President and\or Secretary\Treasurer must approve the initial $100 expenditure in any month.

6.3 A report of the financial position of the Association will give at each scheduled meeting.

6.4 A complete list of incomes and expenditures for the previous fiscal year will be presented to the membership by March 31st.

Article 7: Board of Directors\Officers\Terms

7.1 The Board of Directors shall consist of ten (10) individuals elected by the primary members via a mail ballot in the month of December on odd-numbered years and will be as follows:

One person will be selected to represent each of the following counties: Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter.
Five others will be elected-at-large.

7.2 The officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. These officers will be selected from the members of the Board of Directors by the primary members in the August meeting on even-numbered years. The selection process will be by election by the primary members present at the August meeting.

7.3 The term of office for all positions will be two years. The first term for officers will end on December 31, 2004.

Article 8: Duties of Officers

8.1 The President shall be the executive officer of the Association and shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors. He\she shall be charged with the responsibility of general management of the affairs of the Association. The President shall perform all duties incident to his/her office and shall have such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Directors.

8.2 The Vice-President shall, in absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. The Vice-President shall also have such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by the Directors.

8.3 The Secretary–Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Association and shall deposit the same in the name of the Association in such Bank or Banks as the Board of Directors may direct him/her. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of all assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements of the Association in the books belonging to the Association.
In addition, the Secretary-Treasure shall, when present, act as clerk of the Association and record all facts and minutes of all proceedings in the books kept for that purpose, give all notices required to be give to members and Directors, and shall be responsible for all books, records, correspondence, contacts and other documents belonging to the Association.

Article 9: Committees

9.1 A total of five (5) standing committees shall be established by the Board of Directors to include:

Fundraising
Membership
Public Relations and Partnership Development
Meetings
Legislative

All committees shall be appointed by the President subject the approval of the Board of Directors and shall serve during the term of office of the Board under which they were appointed and shall be subject to removal by the Board of Directors.

9.2 The Board of Directors may from time to time request the President to appoint a temporary committee to carry out certain functions of the Association. This temporary committee will be approved by the Board of Directors and serve as long as needed.

Article 10: Voting

10.1 Voting will be limited to primary members only.

Article 11: Dues

11.1 Dues will be $50 per fiscal year for all classifications of members.

11.2 Dues paid in 2002 will be good until December 31, 2003.

Article 12: Constitutional Changes

12.1 Changes to the Constitution and\or By-laws may be made monthly until December 31, 2002. Thereafter, any changes to the Constitution and\or By-laws must be submitted annually by the November meeting, reviewed by the members in the December meeting, and voted on in the following January meeting.