North Dakota Sporting Clays Association
By Laws – Revised (August 6th, 2005)
I. Name
II. Purpose
III. Membership
IV. Meetings of NDSCA Members
V. Board of Directors
VI. Voting
VII. Dues and Fees
VIII. Sanctioned Events
IX. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
X. Order of Business
Article I – Name
1. The name of the organization or corporation shall be the North Dakota Sporting Clays Association, Inc, hereafter referred to as the NDSCA.
Article II – Purpose
1. The purpose of the NDSCA shall be as follows:
a. To provide guidance, organization and support of the Sporting Clays shooting activities in the state of North Dakota.
b. To increase among NDSCA participants the knowledge of safe handling and proper use of firearms, as well as improved shotgun marksmanship.
c. To encourage and to promote Sporting Clays for it’s membership as well as non- members, to keep accurate records of it’s members’ shooting performance, and to plan and conduct the annual State Championship Shoots, Sporting Clays and 5-Stand.
Article III – Meetings of NDSCA Members
1. Individual Membership. Any resident of the State of North Dakota who is a member of the NSCA ("elector") will automatically become a member of the NDSCA, provided said resident is not restricted from owning, possessing, or operating a firearm under any state or federal law.
2. Club Membership. Upon application and subsequent vote of acceptance by the Board of Directors (Board), any gun club or hunting preserve within the State of North Dakota, in good standing, and having at least one Sporting Clays, 5-Stand, FITASC, or Super Sport course shall be eligible for membership in the NDSCA. A member club shall enjoy all privileges of the NDSCA and shall be entitled to one vote per open Director seat; said Director shall, upon being properly elected, become a member of the Board.
Article IV – Meetings of NDSCA Members
1. Annual State Meeting. The annual meeting of the membership shall be held at the NDSCA State Sporting Clays Championship Shoot. The purpose of such meeting shall be to:
a. Elect officers and board members for the following term.
b. Elect Directors for the following term.
c. Address any NDSCA business as deemed necessary by the board.
Article V – Board of Directors
1. Membership – Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the overall management of the NDSCA. The Board shall consist of Eight, State-at-Large Directors and one NSCA Delegate.
2. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold an Annual Spring Meeting the second Saturday of January of each calendar year in a central location in North Dakota as selected by the President. The Officers and Directors of the NDSCA are to attend this meeting. The purpose of the Spring Meeting is to:
a. Set and / or approve shoot dates for the year.
b. Decide the location in North Dakota for all approved State Sporting Clays Championships, State 5-Stand Championships, FITASC Championships, Sub-Gauge Championships and Super Sport Championships.
c. Transact any business that is brought before the board.
3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the President, upon written request to the President by any two Board members.
a. Notice of any special meeting and the purpose thereof shall be sent out by the President or Secretary to each Board member at least 15 days prior to the date of said meeting.
b. No business shall be transacted at such meetings except as specified in the notice. A quorum of the Board members is needed to pass any motions or business.
c. Notice. Members must be notified in writing and/or electronically a minimum of 30 days in advance of any meetings of the NDSCA including meetings to form an association, amend the by-laws of an association. The notification shall include an agenda for the meeting.
4. Board Elections. Eight State-at-Large Directors will be elected for two-year terms by the members at the State Sporting Clays Championship Tournament by ballot. Said ballot shall include a spot for write-in candidates. All positions of the Eight-at-Large Board shall be declared open seats at the Annual State Meeting with the exception of the President-Elect, who shall automatically assume the position of President for the next two year term.
5. Nominating Committee. A nominating committee of three directors shall be appointed by the board and shall be responsible for developing nominees for board elections. Those interested and willing candidates chosen by the nominating committee shall have their names placed on the ballot.
6. Election Procedures. The ballot shall be distributed to members for a vote at the Annual State Sporting Clays Tournament. Voting shall take place on Saturday evening, at the State Sporting Clays Tournament, with Director-Elects posted on Sunday, or as soon as possible thereafter. Only NDSCA members who are in attendance at the Annual Meeting shall constitute the voting members for election purposes. All ties will be decided by majority vote of members in attendance after the main event is finished on the final day of the shoot.
7. Quorum. A quorum must be attended by at least 50 percent of the Board members before business can be transacted
8. Officers and duties. The officers of the NDSCA Board shall consist of President, President- Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and NDSCA Delegate.
a. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and is empowered to execute all contracts and legal instruments as approved by the Board of Directors, have general charge and supervision of all affairs of the NSCDA.
b. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall have general charge of promoting sporting clays shooting in the State of North Dakota. The Vice-President shall aid any new group in the organization of any clay shooting under the auspices of the NDSCA. In the event that the President is unable to preside, the President-Elect shall preside in his or her place. The President-Elect shall chair the committee formed to facilitate the election of Directors at the annual State Sporting Clays Tournament.
c. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall assist the President and President-Elect in promoting sporting clays in the State of North Dakota. The Vice-President shall preside at any committee meeting where both the President or President-Elect are unable to attend.
d. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep and issue all minutes of NDSCA meetings, shall issue such notices, and shall perform such duties as the President or Board may require.
c. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect all dues and fees, shall be the custodian of all funds of the NDSCA and shall preserve the receipts of funds paid out and funds collected. He/She is authorized to receive all funds due to the NDSCA and place such funds in the NDSCA bank account. The NDSCA bank account shall be required to have two signatures on all checks of the President and the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall provide a detailed report of all funds received and distributed at the Annual State Meetings as well as the Annual Spring Meetings.
9. Vacancies. If a vacancy on the Board shall occur, the position shall be filled as follows:
a. In case of the elected Officers or Directors, a majority of the remaining Directors present at the meeting called for the purpose will appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term for the office vacated.
b. In the case of the NSCA Delegate, a new delegate will be appointed according to the rules of the NSCA. Should there be a failure of the NSCA to appoint a replacement, the Board shall continue to function as if fully constituted.
10. Resignation and Termination. Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by the Secretary. A Director may be removed for other reasons by three-fourths of the remaining Directors.
11. Powers and Duties.
a. Complaints: The NDSCA retains the authority over complaints registered from NSCA members or NSCA member clubs. In the event NSCA determines that any individual complaint should be resolved by the State Association, the NDSCA shall act upon complaints that the NSCA determines should be resolved by the State Association. The Board shall have the authority to conduct investigations or hearings relative to any complaint against any shooter or club, who in the opinion of the Board, is charged with unsportsmanlike conduct, unethical conduct, or any other acts that are detrimental to the best interests of the NDSCA and to take such action as the Board deems appropriate.
b. Procedure: Complaints shall be accepted only when submitted in writing to the President of the NDSCA, and the President shall form a committee within 15 days, to hear and report findings to the Board for a vote. A vote shall be completed and the appropriate parties notified within 30 days of President receiving written complaint.
c. Eraser Clause. The Board shall have the power to remove from office by a ¾ majority vote of the Board, any member of the Board who’s actions conflicts with the best interests of the NDSCA. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Exposing the Board or the NDSCA to civil liability.
2. Intentional disregard for the will of the Board.
3. Taking action on NDSCA matters without the approval of the Board.
4. Actions, which alienate shooters, range owners, range managers, or spectators.
5. Disrupting the harmony of any event.
6. Behavior, which may disrupt the harmony of the Board.
7. Conducting unbecoming a Board member, such as public intoxication, rude or abusive behavior.
8. Voting on NDSCA matters to pursuer a personal agenda, which is not in the best interests of the NDSCA.
9. Violations of the NSCA or NDSCA policy or rules.
Article VI – Voting
1. A simple majority of electors who vote in the NDSCA election shall re required to pass by-laws, amend by-laws, elect officers, or conduct other bus8iness of the NDSCA.
2. Voting shall be conducted by in person, postal mail, electronic mail, or at announced business meetings. Absentee balloting may be permitted prior to announced business meetings as approved by the Board. Proxy voting is not permitted.
Article VII – Dues and Fees
1. 2.0 cents per registered target will be collected by the shoot manager of each shoot from all shooters and sent to the NDSCA Treasurer within 15 days following each registered shoot.
2. A $25.00 per year club membership fee will be charged to each club that wishes to hold a shoot that the NDSCA governs.
3. The State Association will utilize the fees to help pay for trophies at both the Sporting Clays State Shoot and the 5-Stand State Shoot, as well as for any administrative expenses or printing of the state Sporting Clays Newsletter or for any web site hosting or administrative costs. The balance of any fees collected on behalf of the NDSCA may be utilized for promotion of sporting clays within the State of North Dakota.
Article VIII – Sanctioned Events
1. Scheduling. The NSCA National Delegate for North Dakota will collect, approve, and submit to the NSCA the shooting schedule according to the following guidelines.
a. Clubs may apply to host registered events on the appropriate NSCA Shoot Application. Applications shall be made at the Annual Mid-Winter Meeting to the appropriate NSCA Delegate, who is responsible for forwarding approved shoot dates to the NSCA.
b. No events shall conflict with the Annual State Shoot.
c. No event shall conflict with a NSCA major shoot held within the Zone without the written permission of either the NSCA Delegate, Zone Delegate, or host club for whom the conflict is with.
d. No event will conflict with a traditional date unless the club requesting the conflicting event is over 100 miles from the club hosting the traditional date event.
e. The Board shall decide the outcome of the conflict.
f. Exception. If the club with a preference allows another club to hold an event that is in conflict, permission is required in writing from the club giving permission.
g. Any club that is denied a request for hosting a NSCA/NDSCA sanctioned event may appeal the denial to the Board. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the President. The President has 15 days to notify the Board of the appeal. Board members have 7 days to respond in writing as to their vote on the appeal. Email is considered a written form of notification. The Secretary shall inform the Board members and the appealing club of the results of the appeal.
2. Shoot Calendar. The NDSCA shall print and distribute the NSCA sanctioned shoot calendar. The NDSCA will make the shoot calendar available on the NDSCA web site.
3. Annual State Tournaments. The Annual State Sporting Clays Tournament as well as the Annual 5-Stand State Tournament and any other sanctioned State Tournament will be awarded to applying North Dakota clubs or club owners with preference given to all clubs not having hosted the Annual State Tournament in the previous two years. Clubs or club owners applying for the Annual State Tournaments shall have experience and a successful history of hosting NSCA sanctioned shooting events.
a. The Board will select the site and date for the Annual State Tournaments and will do so for a period of two years ahead of the current year.
b. Any club or club owner wishing to host one of the Annual State Tournaments should submit their bid to the Board by August 1st – two years prior to said tournament. The bid is to be submitted on the appropriate State Tournament Application for either Sporting Clays, 5-Stand, FITASC, or Super Sporting. The decisions of the Board will be completed by September 1st of the same year, and made public information.
c. The hosting club or club owner shall determine entry fees, purses, and options with approval by the Board. It is understood that no substantial deviation from the accepted proposal will be allowed.
d. The Board will provide any interested club a list of necessary facilities in order to be considered as a site for any of the Annual State Tournaments.
e. It shall be the responsibility of the host club to prepare and distribute the program for any of the State Tournaments.
f. It shall be the responsibility of the host club to forward a shoot report and attendee list to the Treasurer of the NDSCA within 15 days of the conclusion of the State Tournament(s).
4. Cancellation of Events. Any club wishing to cancel a scheduled, sanctioned event must notify the NDSCA Secretary and the NSCA at the earliest opportunity available. It shall be the responsibility of the host club to notify the shooters of said cancellation. Any club failing to notify the NDSCA and/or it’s shooters of a cancelled event, and failing to forward a shoot report indicating the event was cancelled shall be subject to a $50.00 fee/fine.
5. Event Rules. All registered NSCA/NDSCA event must be governed by the NSCA Rules. Clubs may not deviate from these rules for any registered event.
6. Referees. It shall be the responsibility of any club hosting an NSCA registered event to have a qualified (as defined by NSCA rules) in attendance for all registered events.
7. Shoot Reports. It shall be the responsibility of any club hosting an NSCA registered shoot to prepare a shoot report as per NSCA Rules and Regulations.
8. Financial Report. For each registered event hosted at their club, it shall be the responsibility of the host club to forward this report within 15 days following the conclusion of the event to the NSCA and the NDSCA a copy of the respective financial reports.
Article IX – Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
1. The Constitution and Bylaws may only be amended as follows:
a. The proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted to the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the meeting for which said proposed bylaw change(s) shall be voted on.
b. The Secretary shall notify each member of the Board at least 15 days prior to said meeting of exactly what amendment(s) are being contemplated.
c. Any proposed amendment shall be presented to the Board and a quorum of this vote shall be the total number of Board members, whether present or not. The amendment of any provisions of this document, approval by three-fourths of said quorum shall be required.
Article X – Order of Business
1. Order of business at the Annual State and Mid-Winter Meeting shall be as follows:
a. Roll Call and seating of Board members.
b. Reading of the Agenda.
c. Reading of the Minutes and approval of same.
d. Treasurer’s Report as well as approval of same.
e. Reports of the Officers.
f. Reports of any Committees.
g. Report of NSCA National Delegate.
h. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws (30 day required notice)
i. Unfinished business.
j. Election of Board of Directors and Officers (Annual Meeting Only)
k. Old Business.
l. New Business.
m. Adjournment
2. For all other meetings the order shall be:
a. Roll Call and seating of Board members.
b. Reading of the agenda.
c. Reading of minutes from prior meeting if applicable.
d. Reports of Officers.
e. Reports of Committees.
f. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws (30 day advance notice is required).
g. Unfinished or old business.
h. Adjournment