Welcome to The Austin Archery Club

By-Laws

1. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The club is a member controlled organization. The members elect a board of directors. The Board of Directors manages daily operations. The Board Of Directors (BOD) shall consist of two separate, but equal groups, officers and operation directors. Officers are responsible for the club’s legal affairs. Operation directors are responsible for all other operations, their actual duties and responsibilities to be determined by the Board Of Directors. The Board Of Directors is normally 6 or 7 members. A minimum of 3 members is required: a president; a secretary/treasurer; and one (1) operations director. Officers and directors to be elected by the membership at the annual membership meeting.

2. VOTING: Voter requirements determined by the Board Of Directors. Each authorized member shall have one (1) vote. The president shall not vote except in case of ties. Approval requires a simple majority of authorized voters present, except to amend the constitution or bylaws or to remove any officer or director from office. Voting on amendments and removal of officers or directors requires a special meeting of the membership, called by the Board Of Directors. Approval requires a 2/3 majority vote of authorized voters present. A reasonable attempt must be made by the officers to notify all members of the meeting, and shall include time; date; and location.

3. MEETINGS/ELECTIONS: The Club is required to hold one (1) membership meeting annually. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting. A reasonable attempt must be made by the officers to notify all members of the meeting, which shall include time; date; and location. Board of director and special meetings to be called and controlled by the president as needed. Date, time and location of all director and special meetings to be determined by the president. Director and special meetings by electronic means or telephone are authorized. A special board of directors meeting may be called and controlled at any time by any BOD member, but the first order of business at that meeting must be to authorize the meeting. All board members must be present at such a meeting (exception for illness etc. as approved by the BOD). Meeting authorization and approval of any motions requires a 2/3 majority of board members present.

4. QUORUM: A quorum is three (3) authorized voters for all meetings unless otherwise noted in these bylaws.

5. OFFICERS: A maximum of four (4) officers may be elected by simple majority of the membership present at annual meetings. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer. Any two or more offices may be combined if approved by the Board Of Directors, including the offices of Secretary and Treasurer.

6. DIRECTORS: There is no maximum number of directors. Additional directors may be authorized by the Board Of Directors. Title and duties to be determined by the Board Of Directors.

7. DECISIONS: The Board Of Directors has the authority and responsibility to decide any issue not included in the constitution or the bylaws.

8. AUTHORITY: The officers and directors of the club shall have the powers and duties generally ascribed to the respective offices, and such additional authority or duty as may from time to time be established by the Board Of Directors. Member volunteers shall be used for work projects whenever possible, but officers and directors have the authority to contract projects and/or labor as needed.

OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLUB LEGAL AFFAIRS. PRESIDENT (or acting president) is responsible for calling and controlling all director’s, membership, and special meetings. Appoint new and replacement officers and directors as needed.

VICE PRESIDENT is responsible for being prepared to fill in for the president whenever needed.

SECRETARY is responsible for maintaining legal documents and procedures, insurance and maintaining ‘complete and correct books and records, as required by law.

TREASURER is responsible for maintaining club financial records (usually the checkbook), paying proper invoices and satisfying all tax requirements.

DIRECTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLUB OPERATIONS. Directors have total responsibility for their operations and report directly to the BOD. Directors can appoint or remove their operation managers as needed. Directors can only be removed from office by the membership. Directors must have approval of appropriate officer before committing the club to any contract or expense, with approval, director’s commitment is then binding on the club.

Articles of Incorporation

The undersigned, all of whom are citizens of the United States, desiring to form a nonprofit corporation under the Non-profit Corporation Law of Texas, do herby certify:

FIRST ARTICLE: The name of the corporation shall be: The Austin Archery Club.

SECOND ARTICLE: The Austin Archery Club is a non-profit corporation.

THIRD ARTICLE:The period of duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.

FOURTH ARTICLE: The place in the state where the principle office of the Corporation is to be located is the City of Austin, Travis County.

FIFTH ARTICLE: The registered agent of the Corporation is Aggie Christal, and the registered office is 5106 Peppertree Parkway, Austin, Texas 78744.

SIXTH ARTICLE: Said Corporation is organized exclusively for the purpose of promoting the sport of archery, including, for such purpose, hosting field archery tournaments and bowhunter shoots.

SEVENTH ARTICLE: The names and addresses of the persons who are the initial trustees of the Corporation are as follows:
·  Danny Choate, Austin Texas
·  Lee Gregory, Georgetown, Texas
·  Aggie Christal, Austin Texas

EIGHT ARTICLE:No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Six hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted in the Federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductable under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United State Internal Revenue Law).

Filed in the office of the
Secretary of State of Texas
July 09, 1982

Operations

For many years the club was financed by holding archery tournaments.  Times change, people change.  The last few years membership has increased while tournament attendance has decreased. Apparently there are several reasons why, but the bottom line is that the club must adapt to what the majority of members want.

Members have told us they want a nice place they can come with their family and shoot archery anytime they want.  The tournaments are nice, but if they do shoot a tournament, they do not have the time to stay and make it a family affair.  After shooting a tournament the children generally go to other activities.  Baseball games, football games, dancing, cheers, church, etc.  Most of our members are from Austin, Texas and have big city activities they attend.

Club management was divided in two groups – Corporate Officers and Operation Directors.  Operation Directors depend on volunteer workers and Operation Managers.

The club no longer independently hosts any tournaments.  The club does make the facilities available to other archery organizations .  They hold private and public events. Those organizations can include Boy/Girl Scouts, 4H, youth groups, IBO, ASA, TFAA,TSAA, etc..

Any member that wants the club to host an archery event is welcome to contact the club’s president for consideration and approval. Please include names of tournament manager and volunteers.

SUMMARY

A member controlled organization means that members, not officers, make the club work.  If there is something you want done – DO IT. If there is something you don’t like – CHANGE IT.  If there is a piece of paper laying on the ground – PICK IT UP.

This is your club.  If members do not volunteer to make an operation work, it will not happen.  That includes tournaments.  No volunteers, no tournament.