GMSA By-Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE GEORGIA MOUNTAIN SHOOTING ASSOCIATION, INC. TOCCOA, GA. (A GEORGIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA)

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be Georgia Mountain Shooting Association, Inc.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVE

The object of this organization shall be the encouragement of organized rifle and pistol shooting among citizens of the United States resident in our community, with a view toward a better knowledge on the part of such citizens of the safe handling and proper care of firearms, as well as improved marksmanship. It shall be our further object and purpose to forward the development of those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play, and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship and the foundation of true patriotism.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Any citizen of the United States may become a member of this organization on vote of the Executive Committee after subscribing to the following pledge and on payment of the usual initiation fee and dues. Individual memberships, junior memberships, and family memberships shall be administered by the Executive Committee, at the pleasure and direction of the Membership, including but not limited to, age constraints for each type of membership.

THE NRA PLEDGE

I certify that I am a citizen of good repute of the United States of America; that I am not a member of any organization or group having as its purpose or one of its purposes the overthrow by force and violence of the Government of the United States of America or any of its political subdivisions; that I have never been convicted of a crime of violence; and that if admitted to membership, I will fulfill the obligations of good sportsmanship and good citizenship.

ARTICLE IV - DUES

(a) The member's annual dues to the club as determined by majority vote of the members present at the last meeting of the prior year, shall be due and payable by the January meeting of the current year.

(b) No Member of the Club in arrears shall be eligible to vote or to enjoy any other of the privileges or benefits offered by this club.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

(a) Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the Club shall be held on the first Monday of January in each year, unless said Monday is a legal holiday, in which case it will be held on the second Monday. If the Annual Meeting shall not take place at the time fixed, it shall be held within a reasonable time thereafter, and the officers shall hold over until their successors shall have been elected.

(b) Regular meetings. The regular business meeting of the club for the transaction of ordinary business shall be held on the 1st Monday of every other month, with the Annual Meeting qualifying as the first regular meeting of each year, at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee.

(c) Special Meeting. A Special Meeting of the Club may be held at any time upon the call of the President or upon the call of the Executive Committee, or upon demand in writing, stating the object of the proposed meeting, and signed by not less than 20% of the members entitled to vote. Notice of the time, place, and object of any special meeting shall be given all officers and members in good standing in writing by United States Mail not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for the holding of the meeting. The place of such Special Meeting shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.

(d) Quorum. Any Annual or regular meeting at which 5 or more members are present shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

(a) The Officers of this Club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Instructor and Executive Officer, who acting together shall constitute the Executive Committee. They shall be elected by a majority vote by ballot of the Members in good standing present at the Annual Meeting of the club. They shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected. (The offices of the secretary and treasurer may be combined.) All officers must be twenty-one years of age or older.

(b) The Executive Committee shall have general supervision and control of all the activities of the Club. The Executive Committee may make agreements with other organizations and individuals to carry out objectives of the Club.

(c) Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held regularly at such time and place as the Committee may determine. Special meetings may be held at any time on the call of the President or on demand in writing to the Secretary by three members of the Committee.

(d) Four members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

(e) Resignation of any officer may be accepted by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.

(f) A vacancy in the Executive Committee may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Committee. However, if more than one vacancy exists, a special meeting of the Club shall be called and new officers shall be elected to fill the vacancies until the date of the next Annual Meeting as provided in paragraph (a) above.

(g) The Officers of this Club shall maintain individual membership in the National Rifle Association for their tenure in office.

ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

(a) President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Executive Committee. He shall be a member ex-officio of all regular and special committees, and shall perform all such other duties as usually pertain to his office.

(b) Vice President. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his absence or at his request.

(c) Secretary. The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence pertaining to the proper preparation and forwarding of all reports required of the Club by the National Rifle Association and by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. He shall notify the members of the Executive Committee of all meetings and shall notify all members of special and annual meetings as required in ArticleV. He shall keep a true record of all meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Club and have the custody of the books and papers of the Club, except the Treasurer's books of account. All applications for membership in the Club shall be made to the Secretary. He shall be responsible for the collection of all fees and dues and shall remit the same to the Treasurer, taking his proper receipt therefore. He shall be responsible for re-affiliating the Club annually with the National Rifle Association.

(d) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Club and place the same in such bank or banks as may be approved by the Executive Committee. Such money shall only be withdrawn by check signed by the Treasurer and for the payment of such bills as have been approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all his transactions and render a detailed report with vouchers at any meeting of

the Executive Committee when requested and an annual report to the organization at its annual meeting.
(e) Chief Instructor.  The Instructor shall have charge of all small arms instruction with authority to appoint his assistants.  He shall contract no bills without the authorization of the Executive Committee.
(f) Executive Officer.  The Executive Officer shall have charge of the ranges of the club, the printing of scorecards, the arranging of competitions, etc.  He shall contract no bills without the authorization of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII - SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION
(a) Any Officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members in good standing present at any special meeting called for this purpose.  No vote on suspension or removal may be taken unless at least 15 days notice in writing shall have been given to the Officer of the reasons for his removal and of the time and place of the special meeting at which such ballot on his removal is to be taken.  At such special meeting the officer shall be given a full hearing.
(b) Any member may be suspended or expelled from the Club for any cause deemed sufficient by the Executive Committee by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members of the Committee present at any regular or special meeting.  No vote on suspension or expulsion may be taken unless at least 15 days notice in writing shall have been given to the member of the charges preferred and of the time and place of the meeting of the Executive Committee at which such charges will be considered.  At such meeting, the member under charges will be accorded a full hearing.
(c) Charges against any Officer or Member may be preferred by any member in good standing.  They shall be in writing clearly stating the facts relied upon and accompanied by all affidavits or exhibits which are to be used in their support.  Such charges shall be filed with the Secretary who will immediately notify the President.  The President will call a meeting of the Executive Committee to hear the charges.  The Secretary will give at least 15 days notice of the meeting to each member of the executive committee and to the accuser and to the accused, which notice shall be in writing and will include a true copy of the charges and of the supporting affidavits and exhibits.
(d) Any Member suspended or expelled by the Executive Committee may appeal to the full membership of the Club.  Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Secretary who will notify the President.  The President will call a special meeting of the Club for the purpose of acting on the appeal.  The Secretary shall give at least 15 days notice in writing to all members of the Club in good standing stating the date, time, place and reason for such special meeting.  At the meeting of the full Club the Secretary will read the original charges , the supporting affidavits, and will read or display the accompanying exhibits, and will read the minutes of the special meeting of the Executive Committee at which the charges were heard and action taken.  A full hearing will be given the accused and the accuser.  A vote will be taken by ballot of the Members in good standing present and a two-thirds vote shall be required to reverse the action of the Executive Committee.

(e) Any Official or Member of the Club who has been suspended or expelled by the National Rifle Association of America shall automatically stand suspended or expelled from this Club immediately upon receipt of official notice by the Secretary of this Club from the Secretary of the National Rifle Association.
(f) The National Rifle Association shall be given a complete report whenever a member of the Club is suspended or expelled, showing charges and action taken.

ARTICLE IX - MATCH RULES
All rifle and revolver or pistol competitions held by the Club will be governed by the rules and regulations laid down by the National Rifle Association of America approved by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and the Secretary of the Army.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Any proposed amendments to these by-laws may be introduced by any member of the Club at any regular meeting or special meeting called for the purpose.  Such proposed amendments must be submitted to the National Rifle Association for approval.  After they have been approved by the NRA, they must be acted upon by the Club Membership at a regular meeting or special meeting called for the purpose, provided a copy of the approved amendments has been sent to each club member by United States Mail at least 10 days prior to the meeting.  A two-thirds vote of the Members present will be necessary to pass or reject it.

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