AS AMENDED FEBRUARY 2009

ARTICLE 1:              Name and Objects

Section 1          -           The Association shall be called "The Chatham Fish and Game Protective Association" hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Association".

Section 2          -           The Association is organized to promote the objectives expressed in the act under which it is incorporated.

ARTICLE 11:            Membership

Section 1          -           The membership shall consist of members in the following classifications: Family, Single Adult, House, Honorary and Absentee.

a)   A Family member shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association and shall have a vote at all meetings. Privileges such as use of the club facilities extend to all individuals of the immediate family who are under twenty-six (26) years old and are legal dependents of the member or spouse as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. A family membership can be held by a single parent and will be held jointly by both spouses of a marriage.

b)      A Single Adult member shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association and shall have a vote at all meetings. Single Adults are self supporting, unmarried individuals who have no legal dependents as defined by the IRS.

c)      A House member shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association except use of the pool area and shall have a vote at all meetings. House Membership shall be restricted to those who have been members for at least five (5) years.

d)      An Honorary member shall be entitled to the privileges as a Family Member, but shall not have the right to vote or hold office. Election to this status, by the Board of Trustees, shall be related to extraordinary past service to the club and special circumstances. Honorary membership shall be restricted to present and former members.

e)      An Absentee member will retain his or her membership and due to relocation makes no use of the club facilities. An absentee member shall not have the right to use the club.

f)        A Senior Member is when any Single Adult or Family member notifies the Association that they have achieved the age of sixty-five (65), the member shall continue as a Senior member in their current membership category and shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of other members in that category.

Section 2          -           Membership shall be limited to:

a)   A number established by the Board of Trustees but in no event greater    than 300 Family and Single Adult Members.

b)      A number established by the Board of Trustees but in no event greater than 50 House Members.

c)      As many Senior Members as qualify under the provisions of Article II Section 1 (f).

d)      As many Honorary members as the Board of Trustees may elect.

ARTICLE III             BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 1          -           The Board of Trustees shall consist of no less than eleven (11) and no more than thirteen (13) members who shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Article V.

Section 2          -           The Board of Trustees shall have the authority and responsibility:

a)      To transact the business and promote the interests and objectives of the Association.

b)      To establish By-Laws and rules and regulations for the management and use of the facilities and property of the Association.

c)      To fix fees and dues for the participation of members and guests.

d)      To present to the membership, at the annual meeting, a complete report on the financial position, management and activities for the proceeding fiscal year.

e)      To elect candidates to Family, Single Adult, House, Senior, Honorary and Absentee Membership.

f)        Place on inactive status members in the Armed Forces and allow them to participate in activities.

Section 3          -           The Board of Trustees may:

a)      Borrow funds on notes of the Association up to the aggregate amount equal to one quarter of the Association's expenditure in the prior twelve (12) month period.

b)      Alienate or encumber the real estate of the Association only with the express authority of a majority of the members entitled to vote.

Section 4          -           The members of the Board of Trustees, individually and collectively, shall be charged with the responsibility to uphold and enforce the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules and Regulations.

ARTICLE IV             OFFICERS

Section 1          -           The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and at the discretion of the Trustees, an Assistant Secretary and a Treasurer.

Section 2          -           The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and the Board of Trustees. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall perform such as pertains to this office.

Section 3          -           The Vice President, in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the Office of President.

Section 4          -           The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and the Board of Trustees. The Secretary shall post the By-Laws and Regulations on the bulletin board. The Secretary shall conduct such correspondence as may be referred to the Secretary by the Board of Trustees and shall file all correspondence and reports of the officers, trustees and committees. The Secretary shall notify the members of all meetings of the Board of Trustees. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the Corporate Seal and shall affix this seal to all official documents issued by the Association. The Assistant Secretary shall perform such of the Secretary's duties as the Board of Trustees may designate and shall perform the duties in the absence of the Secretary.

Section 5          -           The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all monies and shall deposit same in such depository as the Board of Trustees shall designate. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the disbursement of such monies as the Board of Trustees may direct. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all receipts and disbursements and shall submit a monthly financial report to the Board of Trustees. The Treasurer shall prepare and distribute to all members at the annual meeting a financial statement for the previous fiscal year. The Assistant Treasurer shall perform such duties as may be delegated by the Board of Trustees and shall perform duties in the absence of the Treasurer.

ARTICLE V               NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

Section 1          -           Candidates for the offices of Trustee shall be nominated by the Board of Trustees, the Nominating Committee or by voting member in person from the floor.

Section 2          -           At each annual meeting of the association, up to four trustees shall be elected for a term three (3) years and shall serve until their successors have been elected. A trustee shall not serve more than two (2) full terms consecutively.

Section 3          -           Election of Trustees shall be by ballot and plurality of votes shall be required for election.

Section 4          -           The Board of Trustees shall elect annually from their number, a President, Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. An Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer may be elected by the trustees from their number or from the members of the Association. The President shall not serve more than two (2) one (1) year terms consecutively.

Section 5          -           Any vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall be filled by the Board until the next annual election when the Association shall elect a trustee to serve the remaining unexpired term.

Section 6          -           The Secretary shall mail to each member a notice containing the names of candidates for trustee at least ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI             COMMITTEES

Section 1          -           There shall be such Standing Committees, Nominating Committees and Special Committees as may be established by the Board of Trustees. These Committees form; function, duration and chairmanship shall be determined by the board of trustees at inception.

Section 2          -           The Nominating Committee, when established, shall consist of between three (3) to five (5) voting members. The Nominating Committee shall serve until the next annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall recommend candidates to be elected, at the next annual meeting, to serve as trustees and shall submit names of the candidates to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII            ELECTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1          -           Election to membership and/or transfer from one class of membership to another shall be by ballot of the Board of Trustees and two (2) negative votes shall constitute rejection.

ARTICLE VIII          INITIATION, TRANSFER FEES AND DUES

Section 1          -           Minimum initiation fees shall be established by the Board of Trustees on a majority vote of those Trustees present and voting at any regular or special meeting. Members shall be notified of that decision by regular mail within thirty (30) days.

ARTICLE IX             MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE

Section 1          -           Membership Notification shall be issued to each member within thirty (30) days of election.

Section 2          -           Upon death, resignation or expulsion of a member, the Membership shall be null and void. This provision shall apply to all shares and Membership Certificates of the Association issued prior to adoption of this article.

Section 3          -           If the marriage of a member is terminated by divorce, both spouses may elect to continue as Single Members in the current membership category. Such members will not be required to pay a new initiation fee but each such single adult member will be required to pay the full amount of dues for that classification of membership when payable, to continue membership.

Section 4          -           In the event of dissolution of the Association, only members holding valid Membership shall be entitled to participate equally in any distribution of the property of the Association. Any amount due the Association from a member shall be deducted from said member's interest in said property.

ARTICLE X               EXPULSION, SUSPENSIONS

Section 1          -           Any member in arrears for dues, fines or any other indebtedness for one year shall be expelled by the Board of Trustees.

Section 2          -           The Board of Trustees, by a two-thirds majority vote of their number, shall have the power to fine, suspend or expel any member for damage to the property of the Association, for misconduct or for violation of the Constitution, By-Laws or Rule and Regulations of the Association.

Section 3          -           Any member who is in arrears on payment of membership dues for more than forty-five (45) days from the date of billing shall be suspended from all activities of the club until such time as the account becomes current or written resignation shall be received at the club office.  

Section 4          -           Any member who is in arrears on payment of fines or fees for more than ninety (90) days from date of billing shall be subject to suspension from all activities of the club until such time as the account becomes current or written resignation is received at the club office.

Section 5          -           Notice of such suspension shall be given in writing to the suspended member. Dues and Fees in arrears at the time of resignation or expulsion may be placed for collection and credit authorities notified at the discretion of a majority of the board members. Any repayment of refundable bonds shall not be made until the account is cleared.

ARTICLE XI             RESIGNATIONS

Section 1          -           Any member may resign by giving notice in writing as provided by the By-Laws.

ARTICLE XII            REINSTATEMENTS

Section 1          -           A member that has been suspended or expelled may be reinstated by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees.

Section 2          -           A former member who was indebted to the Association at the time he ceased to be a member shall not be reelected to membership until his indebtedness has been paid.

ARTICLE XIII          MEETINGS

Section 1          -           The annual meeting for the election of trustees and the consideration of such matters as may properly come before the membership shall be held in the clubhouse or any such place within the Borough of Chatham as the Board of Trustees may designate, during the first sixty (60) days of the calendar year.

Section 2          -           Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Board of Trustees or by written request of at least fifty (50) members. Special meetings requested by fifty (50) members shall be called by the Board of Trustees within thirty (30) days of receipt of request.

Section 3          -           Notice of all meetings of the Association shall be sent to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Section 4          -           At any meeting of the Association, fifty (50) voting members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum. Should a quorum not be present, the presiding office may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present.

Section 5          -           At any meeting, any Family, Single Adult, House or Senior Member may vote personally or by proxy. Such proxy must be in writing, signed by the member and must be held by another member. Official Proxies returned to the designated Trustees in proper form shall be voted.

Section 6          -           Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and the Board of Trustees when not inconsistent with the Constitution.

ARTICLE XIV           FISCAL YEAR OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Fiscal Year of the Association shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE XV            CORPORATE SEAL

The Corporate Seal of the Association shall be circular with the words "Chatham Fish and Game Protective Association" and the figures "1891" thereon.

ARTICLE XVI           AMENDMENTS

Section 1          -           This Constitution may be amended only by a majority vote of all Regular, Single, House and Senior Members.

Section 2          -           Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by the Board of Trustees or at the written request of at least fifty (50) members. Proposed amendments shall be sent to each member by the Secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which they are to be acted upon. Those proposed amendments may be further modified at such meetings without further notice.

END OF CONSTITUTION