The Percy Priest Hybrid and Striper Club ("the Club") is an
organization of persons who enjoy fishing for Striped Bass and Hybrid in
lakes or rivers located in Middle Tennessee. The Club promotes the free and
open exchange of information relating to fish behavior, fishing tackle, and
technique, and where and when fish have been caught or lost. Through social
gatherings, educational seminars, conservation projects, "members-only"
and "open" fishing tournaments, the Club’s primary purposes are
FELLOWSHIP and FUN.
II. Officers
Officers will be elected by a majority of votes cast during the scheduled Club
meeting in which officers are to be elected. Voting will be by written ballot.
Members not in attendance may vote, but the vote must be in writing. The Officers’
responsibilities will be as follows:
President. The President’s primary responsibility is to conduct
the Club meetings. The President will also produce educational seminars, conservation
projects, and social gatherings designed to promote the Club and to benefit the
Striped Bass and Hybrid. The President will serve as the director of the Education
and Conservation Committee (described below).
Vice President. The Vice President will maintain and enforce the
Bylaws. The Vice President will amend the Bylaws and the Tournament Rules at the
direction of the Club members and in accordance with the Bylaw Amendment and Tournament
Rule-Making procedures (described below).
Treasurer. The Treasurer will collect and disperse Club funds and
maintain the Club membership roster.
Secretary. The Secretary will record the activities of the Club and
produce the Club Newsletter. The Secretary will serve as the director of the
Newsletter / Website Committee (described below in section III).
III. Committees
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will be comprised of
the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Education and Conservation Committee. The President will serve as
the director of the Education and Conservation Committee and may appoint as many
Club members as needed to serve on that Committee. The Education and Conservation
Committee will design and produce educational seminars and conservation projects
relating to the Striped Bass and Hybrid. The Committee will promote participation
therein amongst the Club members and the general public. Most educational seminars
will be held in conjunction with Club meetings, but some seminars will be held in
a highly publicized place and manner, in which members of the general public will be
encouraged to attend and perhaps join the Club.
Tournament Committee. Each January, the Club will elect five (5) Club
members to serve as the Tournament Committee. Shortly thereafter, the Tournament
Committee will meet to develop a Tournament Schedule. Once it is agreed upon by
the Tournament Committee, the Tournament Schedule is final. For each tournament,
the Tournament Committee will appoint a Tournament Director to arrive early and
collect entry fees and to conduct the weigh-in after the tournament.
Newsletter / Website Committee. The Newsletter / Website Committee
will consist of (3 or more) members and will be responsible for the publication
of the newsletter and website maintenance. The Secretary of the club will serve
as the director of the Committee. The Newsletter / Website Committee will publish
fishing reports, tournament results, club business including meeting minutes and
general knowledge about fish and fishing as shared by the more experienced members
of the club.
IV. Membership
Any person can become a Member of the Club by completing a membership application and
by paying the Club dues. Returning Members must pay their dues before the first tournament.
A Member’s spouse and children under age 18 are considered members. Paid members, those
that are at least 12 years of age and qualified for the fish-off the previous season will
have the right to vote in club elections. Only paid members or those that qualified for the
previous season fish-off will be allowed to vote by proxy.
V. Meetings
The Club will hold meetings on the third Thursday of every month, except December.
Any necessary changes to the meeting schedule will be published in the Club newsletter.
Every meeting will include the following parts:
Registration. All persons in attendance, both Members and non-Members,
are encouraged to sign a registration book. Members who sign-in will receive points toward
the Outstanding Member of the Year award. Non-Members who sign-in will be invited to
"open" tournaments and educational seminars.
Introduction. The President will welcome members and non-members and,
if there are any non-members in attendance, introduce them and provide them with some
background information on the Club and the Club’s purpose. The President may recognize
Members desiring to make general announcements at this time. The Treasurer may sell
tickets to a door prize raffle in order to raise funds for the Club.
Fishing Reports. The President will call on each Member to share detailed
information about recent fishing experiences, whether successful or not.
Committee Reports. The President will call on the director of
each Committee to report the Committee’s activities since the last meeting and
to discuss upcoming social gatherings, educational seminars, conservation projects,
and tournaments.
Bylaw Amendment and Tournament Rule-Making. Every proposed Bylaw Amendment
or Tournament Rule (a "Proposal") will be put in writing by the Vice President and
presented for discussion at a regularly scheduled Club meeting. All discussion will take place
in an orderly manner, in which each Member will be afforded an equal opportunity to speak and
be heard, however, not until that Member’s turn is recognized by the President. The President
will, after a reasonable time for discussion, either: (1) move the Club to a vote, or (2) set
the Proposal aside until the next meeting. Any Member may move to vote on or to set aside a
Proposal at any time, however, any Member’s motion must have a second and a third in order to
pass. There cannot be a vote on a Proposal that has not been presented at a prior meeting.
Members not in attendance may vote, but the vote must be in writing. The Proposal will become
effective immediately, if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of it. If a Proposal is
rejected or set aside, the Vice President will work with interested Members to revise the
Proposal for the next meeting. The President will, after a reasonable time for discussion,
either: (1) move the Club to a vote, or (2) set the Proposal aside until the next meeting.
Any Member may move to vote on or to set aside a Proposal at any time, however, any Member’s
motion must have a second and a third in order to pass. If there is a vote, the Proposal will
become effective immediately if a majority of the votes cast are in favor of it. If a Proposal
is rejected or set aside, the Vice President will work with interested Members to revise
revise the Proposal for the next meeting.
VI. Educational Seminar
Whenever possible, an educational seminar will be presented by or on behalf of the
Education and Conservation Committee. Educational seminars may include a guest
speaker, a presentation by a Member or group of Members, or a simple
demonstration, such as how to throw a cast net or keep bait.
VII. Tournaments.
Regular Tournaments. The Club will hold regular tournaments every month,
except November, December and January. Any necessary changes to the Tournament Schedule
will be published in the Club newsletter. Members will receive points toward the Outstanding
Member of the Year award for participating in a tournament.
The Fish-Off The last tournament on the Tournament Schedule will be the
Fish-Off. To qualify for the Fish-Off, a Member must have have participated in at least (4)
club functions throughout the season. This qualification is also required of the spouse and
children of members covered under the membership by-law rule. (Functions are described as
meetings, tournaments, BBQ, fish fry, and the kids tournament.) The fish-off will be held in
the same manner and under the same rules as the regular season tournaments. The prize money
for the fish-off will include all club funds less the start-up reserve for the next season.
The start-up fund is set at $300.00 and is based on all of the club's financial
responsibilities through December 31st of that year.
VIII. End of the Year Awards
At the last meeting of the year, trophies or plaques will be awarded in the following
categories: "Biggest Striper," "Biggest Hybrid" and "Total
Weight Angler of the Year,". Fish caught in any tournament will count toward these
awards.
The awards for the "Biggest Striper" and "Biggest Hybrid" will honor
the "member(s)" catching the largest fish of each species during tournament
competition including the Fish-Off.
The award for "Total Weight Angler of the Year" will honor the person catching
the most combined weight during tournament competition including the Fish-Off. The total
weight for the two largest fish per boat will be credited to all members in that boat for
the tournament towards the "Total weight Angler of the Year."