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MISSISSIPPI BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS

(as amended May 27, 1989)

ARTICLE I

Section 1.
The name of this corporation shall be “The Mississippi Bowhunter Association, Incorporated”.

Section 2.
The transaction of association business shall be located at such places as the members may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE II

Section 1.
The purpose of the “Mississippi Bowhunters Association” is: (1) to foster, expand, and perpetuate the practice of bowhunting in the State of Mississippi, (2) to encourage use of the bow and arrow in hunting of all legal game and predators, and (3) to improve and increase the privileges of bowhunters.

ARTICLE III

Section 1.
The Corporation, being a non-profit organization, shall not issue, and no member shall receive any distribution of dividends.

Section 2.
If the Mississippi Bowhunters Association should dissolve the Corporation, assets, cash on hand and any other properties shall be donated to the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Inc. The action of dissolving the Corporation must be approved by no less than two thirds vote cast of the membership, after having been notified in writing, no less than ten (10) days prior to the effective date of said vote.

ARTICLE IV

Membership

Section 1.
There shall be four (4) classes of individual memberships:
Regular, Life, Honorary Life and Associate: (a) Regular Membership will be available to anyone upon application and payment of dues. (b) Life Membership will be available to anyone upon application and payment of amount determined by the Board. (c) Honorary Life Membership, with exemption from regular dues, may be granted for exceptional merit and service upon recommendation and approval of the Board of Directors at any quarterly meeting. (d) Associate Membership will be available to any family member residing in the same household of a Regular or Life member, and shall receive the same benefits as the Regular or Life member, with the exception of “The Mississippi Bowhunter”. This membership shall be available upon application and payment of dues. Regular renewal memberships may be obtained at no cost by sponsoring 5 new members for the preceding fiscal year.

ARTICLE V

Board of Directors

Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Life Membership Director, News Director, and Immediate Past President, Affiliation and Chapter Representative, and any number of State Directors as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors as the membership increases or decreases.

Section 3.
The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of once each quarter at a time and place designated by the Board at the previous quarterly meeting, the first quarterly meeting being open to the general membership in attendance at the Annual Jamboree.

Section 4.
The Executive Committee shall consist of: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Immediate Past President, and one State Director at Large.

Section 5.
Area Directors shall be nominated by a State Director or Officer in their area. The Board of Directors shall vote on the acceptance of each Area Director. Area Directors are expected to attend the regular Board meetings, and will have voting privileges as determined by the Board of Directors. The number of Area Directors in a region may vary according to number of M.B.A. members in that region, or as the Board deems in necessary for growth of the organization.

Section 6.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be compensated for processing and handling memberships and other duties. This amount shall be $1.00 for each Life, Regular, or Associate member yearly, payable October 1st of each calendar year.

ARTICLE VI

Chapter and Affiliation Programs

Section 1.
M.B.A. Chapters may be established at the discretion of the Board of Directors. A Chapter is defined as any organization of ten (10) or more members consisting of 100% M.B.A. membership. A member from each Chapter shall be elected to serve on the Board of Directors and shall have one (1) vote. The Chapter shall have the authority to name an alternative delegate to represent them at any State M.B.A. meeting of the Board of Directors in the event that their elected delegate is absent from the meeting.

Section 2.
Affiliate organizations may be accepted at the discretion of the Board of Directors upon paying the set yearly fee. When the affiliate organization is an archery club, it is recommended that at least one (1) public 3-D shoot be held yearly by that affiliate. A member of each affiliate shall be elected to serve on the Board of Directors and shall have one (1) vote. The affiliate shall have the authority to name an alternative delegate to represent them at any meeting of the Board of Directors in the event that their elected delegate is absent from the meeting. Affiliates may subscribe to the “Mississippi Bowhunter “for $4.00 per member per year. However, this must be for the total membership for that affiliate.

ARTICLE VII

ACTIVITIES

Section 1.

Election of Officers:

a. Officers for the coming fiscal year shall be elected by majority vote of the membership present at the first quarterly meeting.

b. The Nominating Committee, headed by the Immediate Past President, shall prepare a slate of candidates for each office and file same with the Secretary by August 1st. All candidates will have been contacted beforehand and agree to accept the nominations, in writing, if nominated. All candidates must have been a member of the M.B.A. for a minimum of six months.

c. Nominations may be made from the floor during the open meeting at the Annual Jamboree, provided the nominees have consented to serve if nominated.

Section 2.
Matters that may come before the Association at any time may be submitted to the membership in a vote taken by mail. Determination of matters to be submitted to the membership shall be made by the Board of Directors. A question so submitted shall be decided by the majority of members voting and shall be binding upon the Association.

Section 3.
The fiscal year of the M.B.A. shall begin August 15th.

Section 4.
The M.B.A. Officers shall be responsible for submitting a quarterly newsletter to the general membership. The “Mississippi Bowhunter” shall serve as this newsletter.

Section 5.
The first quarterly meeting should be the M.B.A. Annual Jamboree, and will be held at a pre-determined location on the third Saturday of each year, or as designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.
The annual dues for all categories of membership shall be decided by the Board of Directors. The dollar amount of all dues and fees shall require a majority vote of the Board members present at any given meeting.

Section 7.
All memberships will be for the fiscal year and shall be due and payable on August 15th of each year. An exception to this rule shall be New members joining up to six months prior to the end of the fiscal year. These memberships shall run through to the end of the next fiscal year. All members will receive a grace period running October 1st before they are dropped from the membership rolls.

Section 8. (awards)

Awards:

There shall be five awards given periodically or yearly by the M.B.A. at the annual Banquet and Jamboree.

 

(A) The Youngest Bowhunter Award: This award shall be made to the youngest member of the M.B.A. to harvest a deer during the regular hunting season of the fiscal year. The youngest bowhunter may be no more than sixteen years of age. In case of a tie, the earliest reporting date will receive the award.

(B) Special Service Award: This award will be given to the person or persons having performed exceptional service for the M.B.A. during the past year or years. Nominees for this award must receive approval by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

(C) Hall of Fame Award: This award will be given to the person or persons having performed exceptional service in the area or areas of promoting bowhunting in Mississippi, wildlife management in Mississippi, or increasing the privileges of bowhunters.

(D) Mississippi Bowhunter of the Year: This award shall be given to that bowhunter who has the highest score on the criteria in effect for that year as established by the Board of Directors. Entries must be submitted by May 20th of each year.

(E) Big Buck Award: This award shall be given to the member of the M.B.A. harvesting the highest Pope and Young scoring buck during the regular hunting season of the fiscal year. In case of a tie, the earliest reporting date shall receive the award.

Regulations for Big Buck Award:

(1) All entries, including a photo of antlers, must be made by letter to the secretary by May 1st of each year.

(2) All entries must be measured at the next meeting following the May 1st deadline. A winner will be determined by an official M.B.A. scoring panel. A winner will be determined at that meeting.

(3) All entries must have been taken in Mississippi during the regular hunting season.

(4) All hunters making entries in this contest must have been a member of the M.B.A. since September 30th and must have an up to date membership.

(5) All entries must be accompanied by the signature of a witness.

(F) Past Present Award: This award is given to the Past Presidents for their service during their term of office.