|
|
ARTICLE I
Name – Location – Mission – Definitions
SECTION I – The name of this organization shall be “The Nebraska Golf Course Superintendents Association” and hereafter, for the purpose of brevity, will be designated as this Association.
SECTION II – The office and books shall be with the Secretary-Treasurer of this Association
SECTION III – The mission of this Association shall be to support and improve the golf course superintendents’ profession by providing educational opportunities, affording fellowship and networking, promoting the game of golf, endowing funds for scholarship and research, and communicating the positive impact golf has on the environment.
SECTION IV – A “Golf Course Superintendent” is one who is entrusted with the management and operation of the tract of land defined as a golf course, including involvement in construction and maintenance of golf courses and related equipment.
Section V – “Certified Golf Course Superintendents” are those individuals having met and maintained all of the qualifications set forth by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
ARTICLE II
Membership
SECTION I - Application for membership: Any person who desires to become a member of this Association shall file an application form in writing to the Membership Committee. An application shall contain, among other things, a concise statement of the applicant’s training, qualifications and experience. The applicant must sign the application. Each applicant for Class A and Superintendent Member membership must present with his application an application for membership or evidence of membership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.. The completed application shall be accompanied by remittance of one (1) years’ dues. In case the applicant is refused membership, the amount remitted with the application shall be returned.
SECTION II – Membership Classifications:
Class AA – Life Members – To qualify for Life Membership, a member must have been a member or Charter member for at least ten (10) years or a former member of the Board of Directors and must have retired from active service as a Golf Course Superintendent. A Life Member shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association except that of holding office.
Class A – Golf Course Superintendent Members – To qualify for a Class A membership, an applicant shall have, at the time of application for membership, at least three (3) years experience as a Golf Course Superintendent, be employed in such capacity, and comply with all additional qualifications adopted by the membership, and described in the GCSAA Class A Code of Standards. Class A Members shall have all privileges of the Association, subject to the provisions of GCSAA Bylaws Article VI, Section 1.
Class Superintendent Member – Golf Course Superintendent – To qualify for Class Superintendent Member membership, an applicant shall, at the time of application, be employed as a golf course Superintendent and does not meet the additional qualifications for Class A membership Superintendent Member members shall have all the privileges of the Association including that of holding a directors position.
Class B – Facility Membership: This membership is intended for a facility that operates with limited resources and is not a member of the GCSAA. The membership is in the Facility’s name. The facility must assign one representative as the recipient of the benefits. The representative should be the individual entrusted to the care and maintenance of the course. The Class B member shall have all the privileges of the association except that of holding the position of an officer.
Class C – Assistant Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class C Membership, an applicant shall be, at the time of application for membership, an assistant to a golf course superintendent and shall be presently employed in such capacity. Class C members shall have all the privileges of the Association except that of voting and holding office.
Class E – Employees of Golf Course Superintendents – To qualify for Class E membership, an applicant, at the time of application, must be employed by a Class A, Superintendent Member, or Class B member of the Association. A Class E Member shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association except those of voting and holding office.
Class F – Associate Member – To qualify for membership in this class, an applicant must be a person affiliated with the Association, company or individual proprietorship sufficiently interested in the growing, management or production of turfgrass to work for the benefit of the Association. Class F Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of voting or holding office.
Class G – Corporate Member – To qualify for membership in this class, an applicant must be a company or business sufficiently interested in the growing, management or production of turfgrass to work for the benefit of the Association. Class G Members will be entitled to all the privileges of the Association except those of voting and holding office.
Class H – Honorary Members – To qualify for Honorary Membership, the individual must be recognized annually by the Board of Directors for contributing in an outstanding manner to the Association or profession or related field. Honorary Members shall not be required to pay dues or assessments of the Association and shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify from time to time by standing rules except those of voting and holding office.
Class S – Student Member – To qualify for Student Membership, an applicant must be a full-time turfgrass student enrolled in a formal course of education, or have completed his or her formal education less than one (1) year prior to the date of application for membership. Student Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify by standing rules, except those of voting and holding office.
SECTION III – Membership Reclassification: All reclassifications of members shall be made by the Board of Directors, in accordance with Standing Rules adopted by it from time to time, or pursuant to directives adopted by the membership at any annual meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose.
Voluntary Reclassification - Any individual member may request a change in his or her membership classification to accord with a change in his or her qualifications for membership as set forth in Section 2 of this Article. No retroactive status will be given for a change in classification greater than 45 days from the date of the requested change.
Mandatory Reclassification - All members, upon renewal of their annual membership, must clearly state their current employment status. The determination of the appropriate classification of membership for each individual shall be made in accordance with the Standing Rules of Membership. No retroactive status will be given for a change in classification greater than 45 days from the date of the requested change.
ARTICLE III
Annual Dues
SECTION I – Annual dues: The annual dues shall be the sum fixed at any annual meeting of the Association as approved by the Membership in attendance. Dues shall be payable annually in advance of January 1 and shall be delinquent March 15. Members who have not paid dues by March 15 shall have their membership canceled and must file for reinstatement to the Association to become a member in good standing again.
SECTION II – Assessments: Where necessary, in the opinion of a majority of Members present or represented at any annual meeting of the Association, the payment of any existing deficit or potential deficit, there may be levied an assessment in addition to annual dues, to be paid by each Association Member; such assessments may not be levied more than once in any fiscal year and shall not exceed an amount equal to the annual dues fixed for such year.
SECTION III – Membership Certificates: A membership certificate shall be issued to each member of this Association as soon as possible after his/her dues have been paid for the year. The certificate shall be in such form as the Board of Directors prescribes.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Board of Directors
SECTION I – The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, an Immediate Past President and three (3) Directors acting as the Board of Directors.
SECTION II – The President may appoint an Assistant Golf Course Superintendent to be a member of the Board of Directors. This is a non-voting, advisory only position. The Assistant Golf Course Superintendent must meet the qualifications of Class C membership, in good standing. This appointment is for a term of one year.
SECTION III - The officers and directors shall be elected at the November meeting by a majority vote of Class AA, Class A, Superintendent Member, Class B, and Class C members present. In addition to the nominees recommended by the Nominating Committee, the President shall ask for nominations from the floor and, when said nominations are closed, the election shall proceed by secret ballot on all nominations submitted. If a director becomes an officer he will be deemed to have resigned his director position and a new director would be elected or appointed by the President. The officers shall be elected for one (1) year; no person shall be elected unless he/she is a Class A or Superintendent member in good standing in this Association and a Class A or Superintendent Member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Term of office shall begin January 1. The directors shall be elected for three (3) years; no person shall be elected unless he/she is a Class A, Superintendent member, or Class B member in good standing in this Association. Term of office shall begin January 1.
SECTION IV – The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings and special meetings of this Association and at all meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she shall sign all contracts and agreements where this Association is a party thereto. He/she shall appoint all committees and be an ex-officio member of all committees and shall perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION V – In case of the absence of the President or his/her inability to act, the Vice-President shall, during the period of such absence or inability, perform the duties of the President. In the event the office of President shall become vacant during his/her term of office, then the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President until the next annual election and a new President is can be elected.
SECTION VI - The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be to collect all monies due the Association, to pay the bills and to keep an accurate record of the same to be submitted to the members at their annual business meeting or at any other time requested by the Board of Directors. The Secretary-Treasurer will serve as chairman of the Membership and Finance Committee and will prepare quarterly financial reports as defined by that Committee.
SECTION VII – The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to have general charge of the affairs of this Association. They will pass on the eligibility of an applicant for membership and have the power to expel or suspend members for cause. The President may call a meeting of the Board of Directors at any time and a quorum shall be when three (3) members are present.
SECTION VIII – The President, at the end of his/her term shall remain a member of the Board of Directors for a term of one (1) year. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be filled during the November meeting election. In case of emergency, due to illness, job transfer or related situations, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to appoint a temporary member by majority vote at a duly called meeting.
SECTION IX – Executive Director: The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint and or employ an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall put into effect the decisions of the Board of Directors, and otherwise advise, promote and carry out the objectives and purposes of the Association as directed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall assist the Secretary-Treasurer with the clerical duties of the Association, which include preparing and mailing meeting notices, dues statements and job referrals, recording minutes of meetings, filling out necessary reports and any other specified assignments by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director’s term of employment or compensation shall be decided by the Board of Directors, but in no event shall the Board of Directors commit itself to a contract exceeding three years.
ARTICLE V
Business Meetings
SECTION I – The annual business meeting: The fiscal year shall begin January 1 and the Secretary-Treasurer shall call the business meeting during the month of November at a place and time designated by him.
SECTION II – Order of business of the annual business meeting:
1. Minutes of the previous annual business meeting;
2. Reports of officers;
3. Reports of committees;
4. Unfinished business;
5. New business.
a. Election of officers
b. Election of directors
SECTION III – Regular meetings: Regular meeting of this Association shall be in the first Week of the month unless that date should conflict with some other activity determined by a majority of the members. In that case, the Secretary-Treasurer shall change it for that month only. The regular meetings shall commence in the spring and end in the fall when it is advisable to do so by the Board of Directors.
SECTION IV – Meeting place: The meeting place for the regular meeting shall be voluntary from the different golf courses that are represented by a member of this Association. The Board of Directors shall decide the confirmation of a meeting place. No club shall entertain the Association more than one time during the year. Visiting Superintendents from other golf course organizations, invited speakers and persons asked by the Board of Directors may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, have the Secretary-Treasurer pay expenses out of the funds of this Association.
SECTION V – Order of business for regular meetings: the host club and the presiding officer will determine the agenda for regular meetings. Said agenda must include:
1. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting;
2. Treasurer’s report;
3. Reports of officers;
4. Reports of committees.
ARTICLE VI
Committees
SECTION I – Nominating Committee: Will receive and process nominations for the membership for candidates for Association office and candidates for annual special awards. The Nominating Committee shall consist of two (2) members appointed by the President for a term of one (1) year and the President acting as ex-officio member.
SECTION II – Bylaws Committee: Will make certain that any additions, deletions, or amendments to the Association bylaws are properly written and incorporated appropriately into the existing bylaws. The Bylaws Committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Association officers and the Board of Directors, making certain that the Association’s actions are in compliance with existing bylaws. The Bylaws Committee shall consist of a member in good standing, appointed by the President to serve as chair of the committee. The chair of the Bylaws Committee shall then appoint a minimum of two members to serve on the Bylaws Committee for a term of one year.
SECTION III – Other Committees: the President for the advancement of the Association shall construe nothing herein contained to prohibit the appointment of other committees.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
SECTION I – Procedure
1. These Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the Members, provided that all amendments have been presented in writing to the BylLaws Committee at least ninety (90) days in advance of such annual business meeting and that the Committee shall submit to the Members all such proposed amendments at least thirty (30) days in advance of such annual meeting. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Bylaws Committee from submitting its own proposals for amendments in writing to the Members at least thirty (30) days in advance of such meeting.
2. These Bylaws may also be amended at a special meeting of the Members, provided the proposed amendments be reduced to writing and signed by not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the eligible Members and that sixty (60) days notice of the amendment proposed be mailed to each eligible Member at his/her last known place of address as registered in the books of the Association prior to such special meeting.
SECTION II – Vote required: An affirmative vote of two-thirds of eligible Members present, or represented by delegates or proxies shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
The Association shall indemnify any and all persons who may serve or have served at any time as officers or directors, and their respective heirs, paid administrators, successors and assigns, against any and all expenses, including amounts paid upon judgments, counsel fees and amounts paid in settlement (before or after suit is commenced), actually necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which they, or any of them are made parties, or a party, or which may be asserted against them or any of them, by reason of being, or having been, an officer or director of this Association, except in relation to matters as to which any such officer or director, or former officer or director, shall be adjudged in any action, suit or proceeding to be liable for those acts and omissions arising out of his or her willful misfeasance. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which indemnified may be entitled including such immunities under any law, bylaw agreement or otherwise.
ARTICLE IX
Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Association, after all liabilities and responsibilities have been met, its assets shall be distributed in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code concerning its exempt status or in accordance with State Law. The Board of Directors shall make the decision of distribution.
Bylaws reviewed and revised, November 2009.
|
|
ByLaws
