Terms of office of directors shall expire upon installation of their successors. The term of office for the president and vice-president shall not exceed two consecutive years unless no one other than the incumbent president seeks the office.
Directors shall be elected from among the members. They shall remain in good standing as members of chapters in good standing throughout their tenure. Loss of good standing shall vacate the office of a director and require that a special election be held to fill the incomplete term as soon as possible.
At the first Board meeting of the year, or at the first Board meeting after certification of a special election of a director, the President shall announce the certifications on hand, administer the pledge of office to the directors elect present and seat them on the Board. A certificate may be set aside and the director elect found to be unfit for office by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board. Such finding by the Board shall require the President to withhold installation and appoint a commissioner to resolve the issue of unfitness and assist the appropriate regional committee in the process of conducting a new election.
The duties of directors shall include, but not to be limited to: attendance at meetings of the Board and other functions of the Federation Nation, representing the Federation Nation and the Board as authorized by the Constitution and By-laws or appointed by the President; representing their regions before the Board; attending the meetings of their respective regional committees and working with them on regional affairs; supporting the purposes and goals of the Federation Nation; and other duties, not in conflict with the Constitution and By-laws, as may be in the best interests of the chapters and the members. Lack of representation at any of these designated functions will result in a letter of non-attendance being sent to all chapters in the Region involved.
Regional committees may recall their directors after a vote to recall by two-thirds of the chapters of the region and appropriate certification in writing to the President. Recall of a director shall vacate the office and require that a special election be held to fill the incomplete term as soon as practicable.
The President and the Vice President shall be known as the officers of the Federation Nation. The Board, at its November meeting, shall elect them, with nominations being held at the August meeting. The election of the Federation Nation officers shall be by secret ballots collected from the Board members and counted by a commissioner selected and appointed by the President. The ballot of President shall be collected and marked by the election commissioner before the count so that it may be counted in case of a tie to achieve a plurality. Should there be only one nominee for each of the offices of the Federation Nation, the election may be accomplished by voice vote or, the presiding officer may declare that each nominee is elected by unanimous consent or acclamation. This procedure can only be followed when there is only one nominee for the office of President and Vice President each.
The terms of office of the President and Vice President shall expire upon the installation of their successors. The terms of office of the President expiring in even numbered years and the Vice President in odd numbered years.
Officers shall be elected from among the members. They shall be required to remain in good standing with chapters in good standing throughout their tenure. Loss of good standing by an officer shall vacate his office. Officers shall otherwise be qualified in the following manner:
(a) The President shall have served at least one full and complete term as an officer of the Board or at least one full two year term as a director, except that the Vice President shall ascend to the office of President whenever the duly elected President vacates his office or becomes incapacitated for further service.
The President or his designee shall be permitted to attend the Bassmasters Classic Tournament or the Federation Nation Championship traveling to and from the event at Federation Nation expense, conditional upon payment of all other expenses by B.A.S.S. and upon attendance of official functions for Federation Nation presidents by B.A.S.S. during the event.
(b) The Vice President shall have served at least one year as a director or as a standing committee chairman or a special committee chairman named in Chapter 4.7.
At the January meeting of the Board or immediately after a special election of a Board officer, the President shall certify the election, and seat newly elected officers on the Board. Such Installations of officers shall be conducted as the first order of business at installation meetings and they shall be the last official act of the outgoing administration.
The officers shall administer the Federation Nation. Their duties shall include but not be limited to attendance at meetings of the Board and other functions of the Federation Nation, representing the Federation Nation as authorized by the Constitution and Bylaws and as appointed by the President, supporting the purposes and goals of the Federation Nation, and other duties not in conflict with the Constitution and By-laws, as may be in the best interest of the chapters and the members. In addition, the individual officers shall perform the following duties:
(a) The President shall preside at the meetings of the Board, appoint all committee chairmen, commissioners and other non-elected officials, operate as the chief administrative officer in the Federation Nation, the chief representative of the Federation Nation before all bodies, the final interpreter of the Constitution and By-laws, and the deciding voter only in cases requiring a plurality, in which there is a tie vote by the Board.
(b) The Tournament Committee shall conduct the competitive fishing activities of the Federation Nation, assist the regions and the chapters in development of tournament programs, coordinate the live release program, promote sportsmanship and respect for the fishing laws of Virginia, will recommend all Tournament Rules changes to the Board, with the Board's approval or disapproval, enforce the Tournament Rules and in consideration of a fee set by the Board, assist other individuals and organizations with tournament activities found by the Board to be acceptable and not in conflict with the Constitution and By-laws. The tournament director shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors with the same privileges and responsibilities as regional committee chair.
(c) The Youth Committee shall promote youth fishing activity, organize and implement an annual Youth Week which may be a partnership arrangement with another organization, teach honesty, integrity and sportsmanship, coordinate the Federation Nation's youth programs, assist the regions and chapters in youth activities, teach youth the fundamentals of sport fishing, cooperate and work with other organizations in introducing youth to sport fishing, and recommend annual recognition of individuals and/or organizations that have achieved outstanding performance in youth fishing activities. The youth director shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors with the same privileges and responsibilities as regional committee chair.
(d). The Public Relations Committee shall promote public awareness of the Federation Nation, its purpose, goals and activities, work with and assist the other committees by publicizing their programs, by maintaining contact with the public news media and operating a news service, work with other organizations and agencies within the purpose and goals of the Federation Nation, and publish a newsletter at least quarterly each year. The Chairman, as authorized and directed by the President shall attend all meetings and functions of the Federation Nation as a necessary means of the timely and efficient discharge of his duties. The public relations director shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors with the same privileges and responsibilities as regional committee chair.
The President may select and appoint from among the qualified members, the chairmen and members of special committees. The chairmen and members of special committees shall serve at the pleasure, and under the supervision of the President. All committee chairmen shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors with the same privileges and responsibilities as regional committee chair.
The special committees shall support the Constitution and By-laws, operate as instructed by the President and perform other duties as follows:
(a) The Membership Committee shall work toward development of new chapter’s members, seek solutions to the problems of the existing chapters relative to their good standing in the Federation Nation and B.A.S.S., and cooperate with interested members of the public where no chapters or other constituents exist.
(b) The Finance Committee shall make recommendations relative to budget preparation, coordinate the fund raising activities of the Federation Nation, and assist the regions and chapters in their fund raising activities.
(c) The Safety Committee shall promote safe operation of the equipment and the activities of sport fishing, coordinate the safety activities of the Federation Nation, assist the Tournament Committee in equipment inspection and enforcement of rules at tournament events, distribute hazard notices, work toward effective marking of procedures for sport fishermen, encourage use of first aid training and first aid kits, and operate an inspection program for equipment voluntarily submitted by members.
(d) The Newsletter Committee in cooperation with the Public Relations committee shall create the newsletter at least quarterly. The Editor, as chairman, shall coordinate all functions relative to composing, editing, producing, selling of advertisements, billing the advertisers and distributing the publication. He/she shall, as authorized and directed by the President, attend all meetings and functions of the Federation Nation as a necessary means of the timely and efficient discharge of his/hers duties.
The President may select and appoint to temporary service, special commissioners to represent him in resolving organizational issues and questions, and other problems that may arise. Commissioners and other such officials shall remain under the direction of the President and they shall report directly and confidentially to him. Special commissioners are not voting members of the board of directors.
The reasonable expenses of the appointed officials shall be submitted in writing to the President for approval, no later than the next regular Board meeting following the incurred expenses. The President shall submit all approved expense statements to the Treasurer for payment. Objection by a Board member shall require an act of the Board to pay the stated expenses.
Once the need for a contracted official has been justified and approved by the Board the position will be opened to all qualified applicants. The selection of the final candidate must be approved by a majority vote of the Board. The Board will determine the rate of compensation for the employee.
The duties of all employees will be to support and promote the efficient operation of the Federation Nation.
(a) The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Board meetings and the official records of the Federation Nation, maintain the official correspondence of the Federation Nation, maintain in good order and submit as appropriate the documents necessary to the Federation Nation's compliance with the regulations of the Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia and with B.A.S.S., and perform other duties as directed by the President. The minutes of the last meeting shall be posted on the official web site within two weeks after the last board meeting.
(b) The Treasurer shall be the fiscal officer of the Federation Nation, the keeper of the Treasury and the financial accounts of the Federation Nation, and receiver and disburser of all funds. He/she shall report the financial status of the Federation Nation to the Board on request and at each Board meeting. He/she shall present all books and financial records or documents annually in November, and on other occasions as directed by the Board, to a person or a committee
selected and appointed by the President for audit, and he/she shall cause to be prepared and submitted in a timely manner all documents required by the United States Internal Revenue Service and all other tax and dues imposing authority having jurisdiction over the Federation Nation, and perform other duties as directed by the President.
The term of employment will continue as long as the needs are justified and the employee is satisfactorily accomplishing those needs. At any time the position of a employee can be reviewed by the Board. Termination of an employee will require a majority vote of the Board.
No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall even inure to the benefit of any donor, director, officer, nor shall any private individual be entitled to share in the distribution of corporate assets. Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities and obligations, shall distribute all remaining assets to such organization (s) as shall, at such time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations that are considered charitable, scientific or educational organizations, which would then qualify under the provisions of Section 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and its Regulations as they now exist or as they may be hereafter amended.
Articles 1 through 8 of the Constitution and By-laws may be amended by vote of a two-thirds majority of the Board after thirty days prior notice of said amendment at any meeting scheduled thirty days or more in advance.
Bills shall be the basic documents of the acts of the Board. They shall be submitted as written motions, distributed to the Board members twenty days or more prior to, and read to the Board immediately prior to voting upon them, except that upon a motion, seconded and voted for by a majority of the Board, an emergency may be declared and the twenty days prior distribution of the bill waived to allow for immediate adoption or for shortened prior distribution periods. The prior
notice requirements of Chapter 5.1 shall not be affected by emergency declarations. Bills shall not be adopted by vote of a majority of the Board except as required by Chapter 5.1. Motions to amend bills, within their principal intent, shall be written and seconded by Board members. They may be adopted by the vote of a majority of the Board at any time prior to final voting on the complete bill. Resolutions shall be expressions of the will, intent or desire of the Board. They shall be adopted and amended in the manner and through the procedures provided in section 5.2-1.
All bills submitted for amending the Constitution and By-Laws shall be submitted at the January board meeting of each year. These bills shall be acted upon at the March board meeting. Amendments of an emergency nature may be accepted at any time during the year.
Motions shall be written for the record on an official form, which provides for a voting record.
Elections shall be certified according to sections 4.3-6, 4.5-2, and 4.6-4. Certifying officials may use a standard form designed and supplied by the Federation Nation to facilitate certification of elections.
(a) No part of the net earnings, gains or assets of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its directors, officers or other private individuals or organizations organized and operated for a profit (except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes as herein above stated).
(b) No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of activities not permitted to be conducted or carried on by an organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.
(c) In the event of dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, the board of directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the lawful debts and liabilities of the corporation, distribute all the assets of the corporation, as the board of directors of the corporation shall determine, to another organization that is exempt from federal and state taxation.
All funds received by the Federation Nation or any of its agents on behalf of the Federation Nation, except as provided in Sections 4.8-2 and Chapter 7.5, shall be turned over to the treasurer for deposit into the appropriate account.
No donations, gifts, or other funds, goods or services shall be accepted in the name of the Federation by the Board or any agent of the Federation Nation from any individual or organization found to be in conflict with the purposes and/or goals of the Federation Nation.
Twenty dollars ($20.00) per member dues shall be payable to the Federation Nation by each chapter on the first day of December of the preceding year. Chapters which have not paid their dues by January 15th shall be assessed a penalty of one dollar per chapter member. Chapters, which have not paid their dues by January 31st, will lose their eligibility to fish the Mr. Bass and the STATE QUALIFER Tournaments. If chapter dues are not paid by February 15th the chapter will be assessed a penalty of two dollars per member. Chapters that have not paid their dues by February 28th will not be allowed to participate in any Federation Nation activity. There will be an official update of rosters to include all changes in club membership as of June 30. Any increase in the number of active club members requires an additional payment of twenty dollars ($20.00) per member increased due no later than June 30.
Tournaments, other participation events, sales of goods and services and other business activities not in conflict with the Constitution and By-laws may be operated by the Federation Nation for the purpose of revenue generation in support of the Federation Nation and in advancement of its purposes and goals.
The Federation Nation shall assist persons desiring to form new chapters by providing information and contact with organizing officials of B.A.S.S.
Each new chapter shall be assigned to a region in consideration of its geographical location, and the director of the region shall deliver its charter to the new chapter. The director shall assist the new chapter in becoming a participant in the affairs of the region.
It is the responsibility of each club to support all of the Federation Nation activities sponsored by its region. In order to remain in good standing in the Federation Nation a chapter must participate in 50% of its region's meetings, 50% of its region's tournaments which includes assisting with the tournament, and 50% of all other regional activities approved by the majority of the chapters in that region. The Regional Committee and the Federation Nation Board must approve any exception to this requirement.
Chapters that have paid their dues and updated their chapter rosters by midnight January 31st and have participated in 50% of all regional activities during the past year are considered in good standing and can continue to participate in all Federation Nation events. At the January Board meeting each regional director will submit a list of clubs in his region that have not satisfied the 50% participation rule during the previous year. Only those clubs, upon paying their dues, will be allowed to fish the Mr. Bass Tournament and the STATE QUALIFER Tournament during the year of the submission. All new clubs will be denied entry into the Mr. Bass Tournament and the STATE QUALIFIER until they have participated in at least 50% of their region's activities during the year.
7.2-5 CHAPTER NOT IN GOOD STANDING.
Chapters that did not pay their dues by January 31st and/or did not participate in 50% of its region's activities during the past year are not in good standing and are not eligible to participate in Federation Nation activities.
All boats used in state and region events of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of VA must have no less than $100,000.00 liability insurance on these boats. In order to use a boat, proof must be provided for all events.
A Mr. Bass Tournament will be operated annually by the Tournament Committee in either April or May with dates being set by the Tournament Committee. Dates are to be set by the Tournament Committee on or before September 1st. of the prior year. It shall be held at a site recommended by the Tournament Committee and approved by the Board. Each chapter in good standing (7.2-4) shall be permitted to enter two of its eligible members (8.1-6) upon payment of an entry fee of one hundred forty dollars which includes five dollars per person for big fish award. The big fish award will pay back one hundred percent with split between big fish day one, day two and overall big fish. Fees shall not be refundable to individual, team or regional applicants once the Federation Nation has accepted the fee. Each chapter's two-man team must supply a tournament-approved boat. It is recommended that the member who scored highest in his chapter competition be permitted to register as a boat owner. Fishing partners shall be paired by random drawings of clubs by the Tournament Committee. The boat owner in one club will be paired with the non-boat owner in the other club and vice versa. These pairings will be effective for both days of the competition. The winner shall be recognized as Mr. Bass and Virginia State champion for the year in which the tournament was held. The winner and second place will become members of the Virginia State Team, which next participates in interstate competition and thereby receives all benefits and privileges of Virginia State Team membership. The third place individual will be designated as first alternate member of the Virginia State Team. If the first, second, or third place individual does not claim the Virginia State Team position that position shall be offered to remaining Mr. Bass competitors in order of their rank in the final scores. As a member of the Virginia State Team the option of taking a qualified tournament boat to the interstate competition will be offered in order of finish until one boat is committed. All other tournament prizes and trophies will be determined by the Tournament Committee. Monetary prizes paid by the Federation Nation shall total no more than 80% of the gross entry fee revenue generated for the tournament. All position or place awards shall be determined as percentages of the 80% of gross
entry fee revenue. All provisions of Section 8.1 shall be applied during the event. All other decisions and arrangements shall be delegated to the Tournament Committee.
A State Qualifier Tournament (effective 2008) will be operated annually by the Tournament Committee in either April or May with dates being set by the Tournament Committee. Dates are to be set by Tournament Committee on or before September 1st. of the prior year (pending ramp approval after October 1). State Qualifier Tournament will be held at Buggs Island Lake. Each chapter in good standing shall be permitted to enter a team of six of its members. Half of the members of each team shall be permitted to register as boat owners. Chapters in good standing may enter a six-man team by payment of a fee of four hundred twenty dollars which includes five dollars per person for the big fish award. The big fish award will pay back one hundred percent with the split between big fish day one, day two. Fees shall not be refundable to individual, team or regional applicants once the Federation Nation has accepted the fees. Fishing partners will be determined by pairing Chapters through a random drawing. Pairings will be according to the official entry form submitted by each chapter. The six pairing combinations for Chapter A and Chapter B will be #1A- 4B; #2A- #5B; #3A-#6B; #4A-lb.; #5A- #2B; #6A- #3B. These pairings will be in effect for both days of the competition. The top eight finalists from the State qualiferTournament (effective 2008), exclusive of the winner of the Mr. Bass Tournament shall become members of the Virginia State Team which next participates in interstate competition, and thereby receive all benefits and privileges of Virginia State Team membership. Unclaimed positions on the Virginia State Team shall be offered to other competitors in the order of their rank in the final scores. The option of taking a qualified tournament boat to the interstate competition will be offered in the order of finish, within each qualifying tournament, until two boats are committed from the State qualifier Tournament, totaling four boats. All other tournament prizes and trophies will be determined by the Tournament Committee. All provisions of section 8.1 shall be applied during the event. All other decisions and arrangements shall be delegated to the Tournament Committee.
A two-day Fall Classic Tournament shall be operated annually by the Tournament Committee on a selected weekend of October. The Tournament Committee will determine the site of the tournament. Each regional organization in the Federation Nation shall be permitted to enter a team of an even number, of not less than ten nor more than twenty of its members in good standing. Each region in the Federation Nation shall submit an entry fee of seven hundred dollars which includes five dollars per person for the big fish award. The big fish award will pay back one hundred percent with the split between big fish day one, day two. Regardless of whether it enters a team or not Each member of each regional team ranked eleventh through twentieth shall submit an entry fee of seventy dollars which includes five dollars per person for the big fish award. The big fish award will pay back one hundred percent with the split between big fish day one and day two. Fees shall not be refundable to individual, team or regional applicants once the Federation Nation has accepted the fees. One -half of the members from each regional team shall register as boat owners. Pairings will be determined by a random draw according to the official entry form submitted by each region. The pairing combination will be for both days of the competition. The first and second place individual finishers shall become members of the Virginia State Team which next participates in interstate competition and thereby receive all benefits and privileges of the Virginia State Team membership. If the first or second place finishers do not claim the Virginia State Team position, it shall be offered to other Fall Classic competitors in the order of their rank in the final scores until the positions are filled. As a member of the Virginia State Team, the option of taking a qualified tournament boat to the interstate competition will be offered in order of finish until one boat is committed. All other tournament prizes and trophies will be determined by the Tournament Committee. All provisions of Chapter 8.1 shall be applied during the event. All other decisions and arrangements shall be delegated to the Tournament Committee.
The Federation Nation shall organize a twelve-man Virginia State Team each year through its tournament program to represent it in competition organized by B.A.S.S. The twelve-man team shall be composed of the top two finalist in the Mr. Bass as provided in section 7.3-1, the eight top finalists from the State Qualifier as provided in section 7.3-2 and the top two individuals from the Fall Classic Tournament as provided in section 7.3-3. In addition, the First alternate position will be filled as provided in Section 7.3-1.
The President or his designee, as provided in sections 4.7-5, and 4.7-6, shall operate as manager of the Virginia State Team, as the Federation Nation's representative in all negotiations relative to interstate competition and other business which may be necessary to the team's activities, and serve as an alternate member of the team by filling any vacancy once the team has departed. He/she shall be empowered to negotiate terms and conditions for interstate tournament competition, to expend funds necessary to the function of the team beyond other team benefits, and to select and provide for a support staff as necessary to the function of the team
Benefits to Virginia State Team members provided by the Federation Nation shall include and be limited to meals and general expense funds advanced by the Board in consideration of anticipated costs, reimbursement by the Team Manager for the cost of motor fuel and oil for authorized motor vehicles and boats, lodging selected by the Board or the Team Manager for the period of interstate competition, and related practice and travel days, uniform shirts, jackets and caps, and if the team wins its tournament, a trophy for each member if such awards are not provided at the tournament. All individual awards provided or won through team activities, including entry in the Bassmasters Classic Tournament with travel expense reimbursement guaranteed by the Federation Nation, shall be the property of the team members who win them. All awards provided to or won by the Virginia State Team, as a unit shall be divided equally among the team members. Half of the Virginia State Team members shall be permitted to take qualified tournament boats to interstate competition at Federation Nation expense. First place finalist in the Mr. Bass Tournament. First, second third and forth from the State qualiferTournament and first place finalist of the Fall Classic. The Team Manager or his designees shall take one boat, qualified for tournament use, for use as a replacement in case of breakdown, practice boat and service boat.
Team members shall receive the benefits and privileges of membership in the Virginia State Team only upon their signed agreement to honor the Constitution and By-laws and to participate fully as team members during all competition and all other team functions as requested by the Team Manager, that no guest invited or entertained by them shall be housed, transported or otherwise provided for in any manner which interrupts or diminishes the full enjoyment of all benefits and privileges provided for other' team and staff members, and that they shall bear all expenses of any guest which accompanies or is entertained by them during team activities or related travel and reimburse the Team Manager for all expense to the Federation Nation caused by their guests and for the costs of transportation, lodging and food shared in with the team as determined by averaging the cost of the entire group, the guests sharing equally in the cost of each item shared in. An advance deposit of ($350.00) will be required for anticipated expenses of all non-team members prior to team departure. Guests are entitled only to the hospitality normally extended to friends of the Federation Nation. No motor vehicles above the minimum necessary to tow authorized boats and support the team shall be operated at Federation Nation expense or to the effect of causing a team or staff member to drive alone. All other than emergency deviations from these limitations on expenditure of Federation Nation funds shall be at the personal expense of the Team Manager. The Team Manager shall secure the written agreement of all prospective Virginia State Team members before announcing their names to the membership. Replacements shall agree before departure to the tournament or receiving Federation Nation funds.
The Federation Nation shall consider the needs of and restrictions upon all other users of the waterway and adjacent resources upon which it intends to schedule or sanction and event. Special events of others, which are likely to be in conflict with anglers, shall be avoided wherever possible, if they are scheduled prior to the Federation Nation scheduling. Specific days to which other users are limited by law for their activities shall be excluded from the Federation Nation scheduling for events or practice days to be cited upon tidal waters of the Commonwealth. When Federation Nation scheduling conflicts with specific days of waterfowl Hunting season, Federation Nation sanctioned events, including state, regional and chapter tournaments will not begin prior to 8:00 am on these days and must end not later than 4:00 pm.
1. BASS TOURNAMENT DEFINED. Bass tournament shall be defined as a competitive event in which the practices collectively known as fishing are skillfully applied by participants to catch bass and present them for scoring by weight, length or other criteria to determine a winner or winners who receive certain awards and/or other recognition.
2. PURPOSE OF TOURNAMENT RULES. Tournament rules are adopted for the express purposes of providing equal opportunity for all participants to successfully apply their fishing skills and abilities, of improving the safety of both participant and non-participant users of the tournament area resources, and of providing for proper handling of the fish.
3. AMENDMENTS AND INTERPRETATIONS. Only the Tournament Committee of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of Virginia Inc shall amend the Tournament rules. They are subject to interpretation only by the Tournament Committee, under the coordination and supervision of the Chairman. Decisions of the committee approved by the chairman shall be final. All tournament rules will be recommended to the Board for their approval or disapproval.
4. BASS DEFINED Bass shall be defined as any of the species known as large-mouth bass (Micropterus Salmoides), smallmouth bass (Micropterus Dolomieu), spotted bass (Micropterus Punctulatus), suwannee bass (Micropterus Notius), redeye bass (Micropterus Coosae), and guadalupe bass (Micropterus Treculi), all of which are of the genus, Micropterus, in the family, Centrarchidae, the fresh water sunfish.
5. ENTRY FEES Applications from otherwise qualified members; chapters of regions to enter and compete in tournaments shall be acceptable only when accompanied by the fee established by the tournament committee with approval of the Board. Fees shall not be refundable to individual, team or regional applicants once the fees have been accepted by the Federation.
6. ELIGIBILITY Members, and chapters in good standing whose official application and entry fee are received by the secretary/treasurer prior to the published deadline for the Mr. BASS and Chapter Team Tournaments and the Fall Classic shall be eligible to compete, conditional upon acceptance by the Tournament Committee. In order to be eligible to participate in the Mr. BASS Tournament and the Chapter Team Tournament the member must have been a member of that club at the time of submission of that club's official roster (no later than January 31st). Any member whose name is not present on the official roster submitted to the Federation Board will not be allowed to participate on that club's team. In the event, that an eligible member can not be found to complete the team, an observer may be found by the team or one member will be disqualified in order to keep an equal number. Should another team lose one member,a member from another team within the same region may substitute to complete the team.
7. REGISTRATION. Each team must designate a team manager who shall have sole responsibility for registering his team in person at the tournament site. Registration will be held at times designation by the tournament committee prior to registration for the event. In an emergency situation where the team manager can not arrive before 12:00 noon one day prior to the event, he can register his team by telephone prior to the 12:00 noon deadline. Any team, which has not officially registered by 12:00 noon Friday, will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
8. ETHICS~ SPORTSMANSHIP AND PERSONAL CONDUCT All participants shall observe high standards of ethics, sportsmanship and personal conduct. They shall obey all of the laws, and the authorities having jurisdiction in the tournament area. They shall keep themselves informed and aware of the rules, laws and conditions applicable to the tournament. They shall yield to all other recreational users of the Tournament resource, sufficient distance or other courtesy to avoid interference with their activities. For example, duck blinds, which are occupied, on lawful duck hunting days, shall be given sufficient clearance to avoid interference with ducks approaching the blind in flight and to avoid danger from shot. Where a blind is situated in a narrow passage, boats shall move past them at no wake speed without stopping to fish. Drunkenness during the practice, competition and scoring activities will be cause for immediate disqualification. No alcoholic beverages shall be permitted in competition boats during competition hours. Participants shall yield to inspection by tournament officials at any time during the tournament.
9. PRACTICE DAYS AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDES Tournament waters are open at all times to all competitors. However, for thirty days prior to any Federation sponsored tournament no competitor may hire or barter the use of a professional guide to fish on the tournament waters. The use of underwater cameras is prohibited for thirty days prior to any Federation sponsored tournament. Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification from the tournament. Professional guides are allowed to practice their profession and still compete in the tournament. However, for thirty days prior to any Federation sponsored tournament they cannot accept as clients any prospective competitor for the tournament. Failure to comply with this rule will result in the disqualification of the guide and all involved competitors from the tournament. (Need to compare this to bass tournament rules)
10. TOURNAMENT WATERS Tournament waters shall be defined as all public waters which are accessible by boat from the tournament headquarters with the exception of the waters within one hundred yards of the headquarters location or such off limits areas as may be designated and announced at registration time by the Tournament Committee. All fishing by participants shall be done from a boat on tournament waters and all participants and competition boats shall remain on tournament waters throughout the competition hours. Violators shall be disqualified for that day's competition.
11. COMPETITION HOURS Competition hours shall be determined by the Tournament Committee and announced at registration. The hours may be changed by the committee as necessary because of changing conditions and with reasonable notice to participants during the tournament. Late arrival at the check-in point at the end of competition hours shall not be excused. No make-up time shall be granted for any reason to any participant who has been unable to compete during any part of the tournament.
12. WEATHER CONDITIONS Tournaments shall proceed as scheduled regardless of weather conditions, except that competition may be suspended or terminated by the Tournament Committee whenever it finds weather conditions to be hazardous. Competitors shall not fish during periods of suspension or after termination of competition. They may decline to compete without penalty only after the Tournament Committee has accepted their notice, given prior to withdrawing, that they believe weather conditions to be hazardous.
13. SAFETY AND INSPECTION Safety shall be the concern of first priority to all participants. All competition equipment shall be presented for inspection before the beginning of competition and all participants shall yield to inspection upon the request of tournament officials during the entire tournament event including scoring, award ceremonies, the protest period and during the deliberation of any protests that may be registered by participants. Competition equipment found to be unsafe or unseaworthy by the Tournament Committee shall not be used in the tournament.
14. SAFETY EQUIPMENT Participants, throughout the official practice and competition hours, shall whenever their primary propulsion engine is in gear, wear a vest type personal floatation device, or life jacket, which is approved by the United States Coast Guard. Each tournament boat shall be equipped with a functional device, known as a kill switch, which will terminate the operation of the primary propulsion engine when the operator leaves the controls. The kill switch shall be attached to the operator whenever the engine is in operation. Bach tournament boat shall be equipped with a functional power operated pumping device, which will remove water from the boat effectively, and in a manner acceptable to the Tournament Committee. Violators will be disqualified for that day9s competition.
15. BOAT REQUIREMENTS. Competition boats shall be sixteen feet or more in length and powered by at least a seventy-five-horse power engine. The boat must also have an electric bow mounted trolling motor and sufficient livewell capacity to maintain a limit of bass by both contestants in good condition during the tournament hours. No cumbersome craft, stick steering or motors of a horsepower that exceeds the manufacturers rating plate will be permitted. All boats must comply with all the applicable federal and state regulations. All boats that do not meet these requirements can not be used in any of the state level draw tournaments conducted by the Virginia Bass Federation. Boats built on or after November 1, 1972 shall display horsepower rating plates installed by the manufacturer. Boats built before November 1, 1972 shall display horsepower rating plates if plates were installed by the manufacturer. All tournament boats shall be powered within their rating plate specifications, or in the absence of rating plates they shall comply with the United States Coast Guard horsepower rating formula. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden. Any violation of these rules will result in immediate disqualification from that day's competition. "All boats used in state and region events of the Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation must have no less than $100,000.00 liability insurance on these boats. In order to use a boat, proof must be provided for all events. If you do not own the boat to be used in the event, a letter of permission to use the boat in that event must be provided by the owner (s) prior to use.
16. OFFICIAL INSPECTION OF BOAT AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT Prior to being allowed to compete in a tournament each boat must be checked and approved by the Tournament Committee. Each boat must meet all guidelines specified in Regulation #14 and Regulation #15. Ample time prior to the tournament will be designated and announced for boat inspections. It is the responsibility of each competitor to make sure that his boat has been registered and officially approved prior to beginning the tournament. Any competitor who competes without an official boat inspection will be disqualified.
17. FISHING TACKLE Competition tackle shall be limited to casting, spinning and spin-casting rods and reels, and artificial lures. Live baits, natural baits or underwater cameras are prohibited and shall not be present in boats during competition except that skin, feathers and hair of non-aquatic animals may be used as lure components subject to approval by the Tournament Committee. As many sets of tackle, which include rod, reel, line and lure, may be kept in competition boats as participants' desire. Only one such set may be in actual use at any one time.
18. FISHING METHODS Trolling as a method of fishing shall be prohibited. Participants shall hook, play and land any fish they catch in competition, using no devices other than a landing net, tackle as provided in section 8.1 - 17, and that participant partners or observers may assist in landing and bringing them into the boat. All fishing must be done from the boat. Contestants must not depart from the boat to land the fish. Boats may not be trailered during tournament hours.
19. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within 100 yards of the tournament headquarters or as otherwise specified by the Tournament Committee or within 50 yards of marina gas pumps or within 50 yards of another competitor's boat which was first anchored. Any such anchored boat shall have its trolling motor retracted from the water. No such anchored boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed by him, to the exclusion of any other competitor. Violation will result in disqualification for that day's competition. It is the responsibility of the anchored boat to make other competitors aware that he is anchored.
20. FISHING PARTNERS REQUIRED Participants shall fish with partners assigned and approved by the tournament committee. No two members from the same region/club will be paired together at the initial pairings. The selection of partners by the Tournament Committee will be in accordance with Chapter 7.3 of the Constitution and By Laws of the Virginia B. A. S. S. Federation, Inc. In the event an entrant has to exclude himself/herself from the competition they shall report immediately to a member of the Tournament Committee and notify them of the situation. Upon the loss or absence of their duly assigned partner the entrant's partner shall terminate all activity and report directly to a member of the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee shall be responsible for pairing the entrant with another tournament entrant or observer if available. Only as a last resort shall this entrant be paired with someone from his/her own region. In the event two boaters are paired together and a decision cannot be made between them as to who will be the boat owner it will be decided by the flip of a coin by a Tournament Committee member. In the event that an entrant cannot be paired with someone, then another member of the departing entrant's region/club shall be dropped from the competition. It shall be the responsibility of the departing entrant's team captain to determine who will leave the event. Flight out will not begin until such time as all pairings are finalized. Violators of this rule are subject to the penalties provided for in Regulation #30.
21. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSES Each member of a partnership is fully equally and entitled to all the rights and privileges of fishing from the boat entered in the competition regardless of which partner actually owns the boat. Providing a boat for competition is a voluntary option, not a license to totally control the operation. Each competitor shall be permitted to fish from the front seat and in full control of the tournament boat and in fishing locations of his choice during half of each competition day, except that the owner may choose to be the operator of the primary propulsion system, taking the boat to areas chosen by the partner during his half of the competition day. Failure to cooperate with a partner may result in a protest to the Tournament Committee and could result in disqualification of the non-cooperating partner from competition. Waiver of any part of the required sharing shall not constitute a waiver of any of the remainder. Boat operation in manner, which unnecessarily handicaps a partner or any other competitor, shall be prohibited. The owner and his participating team will assume all expenses incurred in the operation of the boat. It is expected that the non-boat owner will share in paying the expenses of the boats supplied by the other members of his chapter team. The exact mechanism whereby boat expenses is shared by a chapter team is their responsibility.
22. CONTACT WITH OTHER BOATS No fishing shall be permitted within fifty yards of the anchored boat of another participant. Anchored boats shall not restrict navigation through narrow channels to or from other tournament waters. Participants shall not approach closer than necessary or otherwise make physical contact with other boats or persons during competition hours for reasons other than emergencies. Any competitors' boats seen in physical contact on the lake without the existence of an emergency will be disqualified from that day's competition.
23. EMERGENCY CONDITIONS Emergency conditions are defined as conditions which subject persons or property to imminent danger or conditions which are deemed by the Tournament Committee to be of emergency nature. Only under emergency conditions, or in cases where boats are disabled, may participants leave their boats. In cases of dire emergency or where safety is involved, both contestants must remain in the boat at all times. Under such conditions (dire emergency or safety), they may ride in other boats and bring their fish to the tournament headquarters for scoring subject to all requirements otherwise applicable. Otherwise, they shall remain in sight of each other at all times until their fish are turned over to tournament officials. In such cases, both partners or the non-boating partner alone, may take their/his fish to the weigh-in in another contestant's or official's boat. The contestant or official providing the return ride becomes responsible for signing the weigh-in forms for the non-boater who returned without his original partner. The contestant who remained behind is disqualified as soon as his original partner leaves in the other boat. Except for this emergency situation partners must remain in sight of each other's catch for the catch to be scored. Violators are subject to the penalties provided in Regulation #30.
24. HANDLING OF FISH DURING COMPETITION Competition boats shall be equipped with a functional, adequately aerated fish holding device, known as a live well, sufficient to maintain live bass of average size. All fish caught and retained in possession of participants shall be segregated for identification and kept in a live well. No stringers, ropes, or other devices, which would injure fish or subject them to unnecessary stress, shall be used. Dead fish large enough for scoring shall be kept by participants and submitted for scoring. Fish too small for scoring shall be returned to the water. No more fish than may be scored may be held in captivity at any time during competition hours. Fish shall not be mutilated or otherwise intentionally injured or mistreated. A swallowed single hook shall be cut free of other tackle and left in place whether the fish is to be kept or released. Lures may be extracted in the least injurious manner available.
25. CHECK IN AND LATE PENALTY All competitors must check in with tournament officials at the official check-in site by the previously announced finish time. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 10 ounces per minute or portion of a minute deducted from the competitor's total weight of catch for that day, including any weight to be counted toward a "lunker award". Any competitor who is more than 15 minutes late will lose all credits for that day's catch. There will be no acceptable excuses for tardiness.
26. HANDLING OF FISH AT CHECK-IN AND DURING THE WEIGH-IN All fish present in a competitors boat when he checks in at the check-in point become the property of the Tournament Committee. Discarding or transferring any fish will result in immediate disqualification. The practice of culling and measuring after check-in is prohibited. All fish shall be placed in containers supplied by the Tournament Committee for transport to the scoring area. The containers may be placed in landing nets for added strength. Water shall be added to reduce injury. All fish that are alive at the completion of the scoring procedure shall be returned to the water by tournament officials except that the requests of governmental, education and research agencies may be honored, and trophy fish may be returned to the participants who caught them when they request them for mounting and display. Fish not judged by tournament officials to be alive shall be protected from spoilage, and disposed of as food, or otherwise in a manner, which complies with the law if; they are unfit for use as food.
27. TOURNAMENT CREEL AND SIZE LIMIT At no time shall a competitor have more than four fish in the live well. Possession of more than four fish will result in disqualification. The minimum acceptable length of fish will be 12 inches with the exception of those bodies of water with a slot limit or a 14/12 law of which the highest length limit will be used. Any fish which does not meet the minimum acceptable length will be removed from the competitors catch and the competitor will be assessed a one pound penalty for each short fish deducted from the total weight of his remaining legal fish. Any fish presented for weigh-in, which is judged to be dead will result in an eight-ounce penalty for each such fish, deducted from the total weight of fish.
28. SCORING Each competitor's score will be the weight of the legal bass, minus penalties caught and kept during competition hours. The competitor with the greatest accumulated weight will be the winner. Total weights will be arranged in descending order for other places.
29. TIES All ties will be determined first by the number of fish caught and then by the flip of a coin.
30. VIOLATIONS. PROTESTS AND PENALTIES Participants shall honor the letter and the intent of the Tournament Rules or they shall be judged to have violated them. All judgments are reserved to the Tournament Committee. Participants who suspect that the Tournament Rules have been violated may protest to the Tournament Committee at any time during the tournament or within 15 minutes after arrival at the tournament sight followed with a written protest within 30 minutes after closing the scales. Protests shall be decided by the Tournament Committee through any means available within the Constitution and By-laws and Tournament Rules in consideration of the statements and other evidence presented by the concerned parties and witnesses. Polygraph examination, administered by a qualified examiner who is duly licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, shall be included among the methods available to the Tournament Committee for consideration in their deliberations. All participants shall be presumed to be familiar with the Tournament Rules and to have implied their consent and agreement to submit to polygraph examination when they affix their signatures to the official registration list. Polygraph examination may be requested only by the Chairman of the Tournament Committee and shall be provided under his supervision and at the expense of the Federation. Refusal to submit to such examination reasonably requested and provided may be considered during protest deliberations. Participants held by the Board of Directors to have violated the principles of fairness, sportsmanship and ethical conduct explicitly or implicitly included in the Tournament Rules may be declared ineligible to compete in present and future tournament events. Participants held by the Tournament Committee to be in violation of the Tournament Rules shall be penalized as specified in the rules. When a penalty is not specified for a violator the Tournament Committee has the discretion of determining what degree of penalty is appropriate for the violation.
31. COMMUNICATION During competition days of the tournament, a competitor may not use a cellular phone, a CB radio, a VHF marine band radio, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Contestants are permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency. Violators will be disqualified for that day's competition.
32. PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL FROM TOURNAMENT. Any competitor or team that leaves a Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation sponsored draw tournament prior to notifying a tournament official will not be eligible to participate in any Federation sponsored draw tournaments in the remaining year of the violation nor in the following calendar year. Those individuals may appear before the Board of Directors in order to appeal their suspension to present their reasons for leaving the tournament not later that the next board meeting after the occurrence. The affected regional director will notify the respective chapter officers of the violation.
33. None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding any competitor's boat at any time during the warm-up period or competition day.
BY-LAWS
