GSSA Bylaws, January 2004

GEORGIA SPORT SHOOTING ASSOCIATION, INC.

Article I - Name, Purpose, and Objectives

SECTION 1. NAME. This corporation shall be known as the Georgia Sport Shooting Association, Inc., and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Association or GSSA.

SECTION 2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES. The association shall be a non-profit membership corporation with the specific purposes and objectives set forth in its Articles of Incorporation, and in addition, shall pursue such other objectives, non inconsistent with its Articles of Incorporation, as may be approved by the Board of Directors.

GSSA believes that the government must not infringe on the fundamental right of individual citizens to choose to keep and bear arms for a variety of purposes (hunting, collecting, competitive shooting, personal protection, historical re-enactment, etc.), so long as they do so responsibly and safely; and GSSA will act in defense, support, and furtherance of this belief.

Article II  -  Membership

SECTION 1. CLASSES. Membership in the Association shall be composed of two classes: Individual and Club.

SECTION 2. INDIVIDUAL. Individual membership shall be open to all citizens of the United States who are of good reputation, of good moral character, have not been adjudicated to be insane or an alcoholic, have not been convicted of any felony, or, if so convicted, have had civil rights restored for more than two years, who subscribe to the purposes and objectives of the Association, and who meet the additional requirements for the type membership for which making application.

SECTION 3. TYPES. Individual membership shall consist of six types: (a) Annual, (b) Junior, (c) Family, (d) Life, (e) Patron, (f) Benefactor, (g) Non-resident and (h) Honorary.

(a)        Annual. Annual membership shall be open to any person twenty years of age or older, resident of the State of Georgia, who shall make application on the prescribed forms, and pay the required dues. After approval, the Secretary shall issue a membership card, which shall expire one year from the date of issuance unless renewed. Annual members shall have all rights and privileges of membership, including voting rights, receipt of Association publications, right to hold any office for which eligible, and such additional rights and privileges of membership which may hereafter accrue, except those reserved to life members.

(b)        Junior. Junior membership shall be open to any person until the end of the calendar year in which he or she achieves his or her twentieth birthday, and resident of the State of Georgia, who shall make application in the same manner as for annual members. Such membership shall entitle the member to all privileges and rights of annual membership except voting and the holding of elected office.

(c)        Family. Family membership shall be open to all persons who are members of either a life or annual member’s household (temporary absence for school or military service shall not disqualify from family membership), and who shall make application for membership in the manner prescribed for annual members. Such membership shall entitle the member to all privileges and rights of annual membership except that only one copy of Association publications shall be sent to each such household.

(d)        Life. Life membership shall be open to any person meeting the requirements for annual membership, who shall make application and tender the required dues. A special membership certificate or other indicia shall be issued by the Secretary, and said member shall be entitled to all the benefits accruing to an annual member, and in addition, shall enjoy such special recognition and benefits accruing to life members as may be determined by the Association.

(e)        Patron. Patron membership shall be open to any person meeting the requirements for annual membership, who shall make application and tender the required dues. A special membership certificate or other indicia shall be issued by the Secretary, and said member shall be entitled to all the benefits accruing to an annual member, and in addition, shall enjoy such special recognition and benefits accruing to patron members as may be determined by the Association.

(f)         Benefactor. Benefactor membership shall be open to any person meeting the requirements for annual membership, who shall make application and tender the required dues. A special membership certificate or other indicia shall be issued by the Secretary, and said member shall be entitled to all the benefits accruing to an annual member, and in addition, shall enjoy such special recognition and benefits accruing to benefactor members as may be determined by the Association.

(g)        Non-resident. Non-resident membership shall be open to all persons who meet the qualifications for annual membership, except residency in the State of Georgia, and who make application in the prescribed manner. Such members shall have no vote, nor shall they be eligible for any office.

(h)        Honorary. Honorary membership, for any period from one year to life, may be conferred upon any individual by action of the Board of Directors, provided that approval by a majority of the Board shall be necessary to confer honorary membership for one year, and approval by two-thirds of the Board shall be necessary to confer a membership for any period in excess of one year.

SECTION 4. CLUBS. Club membership shall be open to all duly organized and operating clubs, associations, or non-profit corporations resident in the State of Georgia, who subscribe to the purposes and objectives of the Association, who make application, and tender the required dues, Such membership shall be for a period of one year for annual club members, and Life, as appropriate.
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SECTION 5. DUES. Dues for membership shall be as follows:

INDIVIDUALS: Annual, $15 per annum. Junior, $10 per annum. Life, $150. Patron, $250. Benefactor, $500. Non-resident, $15 per annum (w/publications) / $10 per annum (without). Family, $20 per annum includes 2 family members, with $5 per additional family member, up to a maximum of $30. CLUBS: $35 per annum. Life member Clubs shall pay an amount equal to ten years dues, dependent upon Club size, at the time of application for membership.  The board of directors, upon affirmative vote by a majority of the Board, shall have the authority to levy an assessment on the membership for special purposes; provided, however, the total of all such assessments during any calendar year may not exceed 50% of the applicable membership dues during that year. Life members shall be assessed in the same monetary amount as the assessments against annual members.

SECTION 6. VOTING. Each annual and life member present shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the Association. No vote of an annual or life member may be cast by proxy. Each club shall be entitled to a vote or votes according to size classification as follows: 10-25 members/one vote. 26-50 members/two votes. 51-100 members/three votes. 101 or more members/four votes.  The number of votes to which a club is entitled shall be determined by its declaration of membership, as submitted with its application for membership or its annual renewal application. A club may cast its votes as a unit or separately, but they shall be cast only by the officially designated delegate or delegates of that club as certified to the Secretary of the association by the President or Secretary of the club. A club shall be deemed to be a resident of the district wherein its major facility is located, or in the absence of any major facility, the district in which it maintains its post office address. Clubs will be required to designate their district of residence upon application for membership, and such designation will control until the Association is given written notice of change, which must be received by the Secretary prior to any meeting at which the club exercises its vote. No member, whether individual or club, shall be entitled to cast any vote if indebted to the Association for dues or assessments.

SECTION 7. TERMINATION. Membership shall automatically terminate upon expiration, unless renewed. A member may be expelled from the Association for cause by the Board of Directors upon affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Board. A member may be suspended from the association upon affirmative vote by a majority of the Board. No vote for suspension or expulsion shall be taken unless fifteen days’ written notice by certified mail shall have been provided to the member by the Secretary, informing the members of the charge (including a copy of all documents), of the time and place of the meeting, and of the member’s right to appear and be heard, including the right to present evidence and examine witnesses. Charges may be preferred against a member by any member in good standing, but must be in writing, shall be specific, and shall be investigated by the Executive Committee, which must determine if there is sufficient cause or merit to forward the charges to the Board for hearing. A suspended member may be reinstated by vote of a majority of the Board.

Article III - Meetings

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held on the first Saturday of  January, after January 1st,  of each year, or as soon thereafter as the Board can arrange, provided the meeting must be held within thirty days of that date. The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers and Directors, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for all regular business, and for any other business that may come before the Association.

SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Association may be held at any time upon call of the President, upon call of the Executive Committee, upon call of two-thirds of the Board, or upon demand in writing, stating the purpose and object of such meeting, by not less than twenty-five members of the Association, or ten percent of the membership, whichever shall be greater. Written notice of time, place, and purpose of meeting shall be mailed to all members by the Secretary not less than fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting. The place of any meeting shall be designated by the President, subject to change by vote of two-thirds of the Board.

SECTION 3. QUORUM. A quorum of twenty-five members shall be necessary in order to conduct business at any meeting, annual or special.

SECTION 4. All meetings required or authorized by these bylaws shall be held within the boundaries of the State of Georgia.

Article IV - Board of Directors

SECTION 1. GENERAL. The Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors, who shall have charge of all the affairs and property of the Association, except as may be otherwise assigned herein.

SECTION 2. NUMBER, QUALIFICATION. The board shall consist of the immediate past President of the Association, Directors from each Congressional district in the State of Georgia, and Directors At Large, selected as provided below. Each Director shall be an annual or life member of the Association, and no other member shall be eligible to be a Director who has been convicted of any crime punishable by imprisonment for more than 12 months.

SECTION 3. SELECTION, TENURE. (a) At the annual meeting of the Association, the members in attendance from and resident in each Congressional district shall, in even-numbered years, elect one Director from each even-numbered Congressional district, and in odd-numbered years, elect one Director from each odd-numbered district, all such Directors to serve two-year terms. Only residents of a Congressional district, who have been GSSA members for at least one year, shall be eligible to vote for a Director for that district, or to hold such office. In addition, the entire membership of the Association who have been members for one year, in attendance at each annual meeting shall elect, a slate of Directors from the State at Large, equal in number to the number of Congressional Districts in the State of Georgia without restriction as to residence, to serve two-year terms. The number of Directors at Large elected in each even-numbered year shall be equal to the number of odd-numbered Congressional Districts and the number of Directors at Large elected in each odd-numbered year shall be equal to the number of even-numbered Congressional Districts. Such Directors elected from the State at Large shall be selected so that, insofar as possible, taking into consideration the existing Directors and newly elected Directors from Congressional districts, the Board shall include Directors representative of the following interest areas: archery, muzzle-loading, rifle, pistol, and shotgun sports; governmental and regulatory agencies; law enforcement; military organizations in active service; reserve and national guard; and junior training programs.

(b) Directors shall be eligible to succeed themselves and shall continue to serve until their successors have been duly elected.

SECTION 4. MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after the annual meeting of the Association, and the Board may conduct such additional meetings throughout the year as it may deem necessary. Each Director shall be entitled to not less than two days’ notice of any meeting. Meetings may be called by the President, or on demand of one fourth of the members of the Board.

SECTION 5. QUORUM. Eight members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board.

SECTION 6. REMOVAL. A Director may be removed for cause by affirmative vote of three-fourths of the entire Board, provided fifteen days’ written notice of specific charges, of time and place of meeting, and of opportunity to appear and be heard, including presentation of evidence and questioning of witnesses, shall be given the Director.

SECTION 7. VACANCIES. Should a vacancy occur on the Board for any reason, the Board may, at any meeting, elect a member otherwise qualified under Section 3 (a), above, to serve the remaining portion of the unexpired term of office.

SECTION 8. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to hire an Executive Director to carry on all business of the Association, as may be delegated to such office by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and to provide the Executive Director with such facilities and staff as may be required to carry out his duties.

Article V - Executive Committee

SECTION 1. MEMBERS. There shall be an Executive Committee which shall be composed of the President, (Association) Vice President, three Division Vice Presidents, and four Directors selected by the board from its membership.

SECTION 2. POWER AND DUTIES. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision and control of all affairs and activities of the Association when the Board of Directors is not in session, and may act for and in place of the Board, but all actions shall be subject to review by the Board when it is next in session. The Executive Committee shall have the power to name a member to act as an interim officer or Director (other than President) until the office may be filled by action of the Board or the membership.

Article VI - Officers

SECTION 1. NUMBER. The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, an (Association) Vice President, three Division Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. They shall be duly elected and qualified Directors and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. No person may hold more than one office at one time except that the offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined, and that a person holding the office of Division Vice President may also hold the office of (Association) Vice President, or President.  The Association shall be broadly organized into three operating divisions of equal importance. Division Vice Presidents shall be responsible for the management of the Divisions, subject to the direction and review of the Board. Regarding Qualification, Election, Vacancies, and Removal of Division Vice Presidents, the general provisions of Officers, apply. The three Vice Presidents are: Vice President-Sports Shooting & Development; Vice President-Education & Training; Vice President-Political Action.

SECTION 2. ELECTION. The officers shall be elected by majority vote of the Directors at their annual meeting and shall be installed instantly .

SECTION 3. DUTIES. (a) President. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Association, and shall exercise general executive supervision over all its affairs, subject to direction and review of the Board. He shall preside at all meetings of the Association, of the Executive Committee, and of the Board of Directors. He shall be a member of the Board of Directors and of all regular and special committees of the Association. He shall perform all other duties incident to the office of President, and such other specific duties as may be required and assigned to him by the Board.

(b) Vice President. In the absence of the President, or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. He shall be a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may be required or assigned to him by the President, or the Board.

(c) Secretary. The Secretary shall attend and keep minutes of all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors, and shall keep a record of all actions of the Executive Committee. He shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these bylaws or as otherwise required, shall be custodian of all books, minutes, and records of the Association (except financial records), and of the corporate seal, and shall attest to all official documents and resolutions of the Association. He shall receive all applications for membership and shall be responsible for the collection of all dues, fees, and assessments, and shall remit the same promptly to the Treasurer, taking proper receipt therefore. He shall issue such credentials and indicia of membership as may be required by these bylaws or as directed by the Board, and shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate roster of all members, including their post office addresses and such other information as the Board may require. He shall conduct all official correspondence and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary, or as may be required or assigned to him by the President or the Board. In the performance of his duties, he may employ persons and/or organizations to maintain records, to prepare and mail notices and newsletters, but terms of such employment and rates of payment shall first be approved by the Executive Committee.   Periodically, but not less than once a quarter the Secretary shall provide complete and updated membership lists to the President and Vice President.

(d) Treasurer. The treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Association, and shall deposit same in the name of the Association in a bank approved by the Board of Directors. Monies shall be withdrawn only by check signed by the Treasurer, and for payment of authorized expenditures. He shall keep accurate books of account and fiscal records, and all expenditures shall be supported by vouchers. He shall attend all meetings of the Board, and shall make a report when required to the Executive Committee or the Board, and shall make an annual report to the Association at its annual meeting. He shall perform such other duties are incident to the office of Treasurer, or as may be required or assigned to him by the President or the Board.

SECTION 4. VACANCIES. In the event of a vacancy in any office other than President, because of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the Executive Committee may name a qualified member to serve as an acting officer until the vacancy is filled by action of the Board of Directors. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall automatically succeed to the office of President, and the office of Vice President shall be thereafter filled as prescribed herein.

SECTION 5. REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed for cause, and the office declared vacant, by affirmative vote of three-fourths of the Board of Directors, provided that fifteen days notice of the reasons therefore, and of time, place, and purpose of meeting, and of the right to appear, present evidence and examine witnesses, shall be given such officer. In the event of death, incapacity, or permanent removal from the State of any officer, the office may be declared vacant by action of a majority of the members of the Board.

Article VII - Committees

SECTION 1. PERMANENT. The following shall be the permanent standing committees of the Association: High Power Rifle; International Rifle; Smallbore Rifle; Conservation & Hunting; Pistol; Membership; Shotgun; Publicity; Muzzle-loading; Legislative; Competitions; Silhouette.

SECTION 2. TEMPORARY. The Board, the Executive Committee, or the President may from time to time create and appoint additional temporary committees for such purposes as they may see fit. No such committee may be created for a time beyond the close of the next annual meeting.

SECTION 3. MEMBERS. Each permanent committee shall be composed of a chairman and such other members as the chairman may require. The chairman of each committee shall be a member who shall be named by the President. The remaining committee members shall be selected by the committee chairman. All committee memberships shall expire at the close of the next annual meeting after appointment.

SECTION 4. DUTIES. Committees shall perform such duties relating to that committee’s area of interest as may be required by them by the President or the Board of Directors, and shall make recommendations to the Board and to the Association, and shall render a report at the annual meeting of the Association. The committee chairman shall make reports when requested, to the President, Executive Committee, or Board.

SECTION 5. RULES. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government and operation, not inconsistent with these bylaws or with rules or directives of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII - Amendments

SECTION 1. BYLAWS. These bylaws may be altered or amended in whole or in part, or by new bylaws adopted, only at an Annual Meeting as defined in ARTICLE III, Section 1, and only if the intended alteration or amendment shall be provided to the members in any notice of such meeting at least thirty days in advance of the meeting. Adoption of any amendment, alteration, repeal, or substitution shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the meeting at which such vote was taken. Notice of the action taken, with regard to revision or amendment of the bylaws, shall be published in the issue of the official Association publication following such action; and the entire bylaws of the association shall be published annually in the official publication of the Association.

SECTION 2. DIVISION GOALS. Division goals shall be established, and additions, deletions, or changes may be made, either at the Annual Meeting by an affirmative vote of the majority of the members present and voting at the meeting; or at a meeting of the Board of Directors by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board members present and voting at the meeting.