The Lowell Sportsmen's Club, Incorporated

Post Office Box 102

Lowell, Massachusetts 01853

Bylaws

		History
Adopted	May 27, 1931		Revised	April 7, 1931
Amended	June 5, 1934		Amended	May 14, 1940
Revised	December 11, 1945		Revised	November, 1954
Amended	December 13, 1955		Revised	January 12, 1960
Amended	October 8, 1963		Revised	January 1, 1977
Amended	December 10, 1985		Revised	November 10, 1987
Amended	June 13, 1989		Revised	February 21, 2004

Table of Contents

Article I – Name and Purpose 2

Article II – Membership 2

Article III - Officers and Board of Directors 4

Article IV – Standing Committees 8

Article V – Dues 11

Article VI –Meetings and Quorums 12

Article VII – Hearing Board Process 13

Article VIII – Amendments 14

Article IX – Club Relocation 14

Article X – Club Termination, Liquidation and Dissolution 14

Bylaws of The Lowell Sportsmen's Club, Incorporated

Article I – Name and Purpose

1. This organization shall be known as the Lowell Sportsmen’s Club, Inc. (hereinafter called “the Club" or “LSC”).

2. The purpose of the Club shall be to promote all lawful sports with rod, gun and bow; to uphold the laws for the protection and propagation of fish and game; and to support such legislation as may be needed.

3. The fiscal year of the corporation shall run from January 1 through December 31.

4. The corporate seal shall be in such a manner and form, as the Board of Directors shall determine.

Article II – Membership

1. Any person 18 years of age or older may become a member of the Lowell Sportsman’s Club, Inc., without regard to sex, race, creed, national origin, residence or citizenship. Rights and privileges of the Club are to be enjoyed by all members, including the use and transportation of firearms onto Club property. At all times, members must demonstrate the responsible and legal use of sporting equipment such as firearms, fishing gear, sling shots, bow and arrow and etc. on Club grounds. Members must comply with the laws and regulations of the federal, state and local governments and with the range safety rules established by the Club. All Club rules and regulations shall comply with applicable federal, state and local rules and regulations. All firearm activities are to be carried out with the utmost respect for safety of members and the general public.

2. Club members shall be all persons holding a current membership card. Club members must wear membership cards while on Club property.

3. A membership can not be transferred to another person nor sold or conveyed through any transaction including inheritance. Membership and all rights thereto ends on discharge defined in these Bylaws.

4. A member in good standing is a member whose dues and assessments, as appropriate, are paid and is not subject to any disciplinary proceedings as defined in the Club Bylaws.

5. Types and Rights of Members

a. A General Member is an individual who has been initiated into the Club, and is paying dues toward the operation of the Club. A General Member has the right to vote and fully participate in the governance of the Club with other General Members. All General Members have an equal right to vote; serve on committees; and serve on the Board of Directors as officers of the board, if duly elected, after serving on a standing committee for at least one year. General Members may also bring guests into the Club and are responsible for the actions of those guests.

b. A Life Member is an individual who has paid dues to the Club as a General Member for ten years and who has reached the age of 65. Life Members are excused from paying further dues to the Club, but retain all the rights and privileges of General Members.

c. An Associate Membership is offered to spouses, significant others, and immediate family members of General Members. Application and initiation fees are waived for qualified Associate Memberships, but applicants must still go through the normal application and approval process. Associate Members pay the same annual dues and have the same Club privileges as General Members.

6. Joining the Club

a. Any person who desires membership in the Lowell Sportsmen’s Club must complete a written application for membership.

b. The application for membership must be mailed to the Club’s post office address and enclose a check for application fee (if applicable), initiation fee and one year’s membership dues. If membership is denied, the initiation fee and dues will be returned to the applicant. All applications are Club property. The application will be reviewed by the membership committee and a first reading will be given at the next meeting of the general membership. If the application is acceptable, the applicant will then be invited to the next general meeting for a second reading. The members will vote on accepting the application. After being voted in as a member the applicant becomes a General member.

c. Membership handbook pages, in loose-leaf binder format, will be made available to all Club members. The membership handbook content will contain copies of the Club Bylaws, Standard Operating Procedures, Range Rules, all special rules of order, and any other rules pertaining to the operation and administration of the Club. Other items deemed appropriate by the membership may be included in the membership handbook. When changes are made to the Club Bylaws and/or Club Rules etc., in accordance with established procedures, a copy of that change will be made available to all Club members for updating their membership handbooks. Members are strictly forbidden from using the information in the membership handbooks for any commercial or non-Club related purposes; or from providing the information to non-Club members without express permission from the Board of Directors.

7. Responsibilities of Members

a. The Lowell Sportsman’s Club is an organization, which promotes good sportsmanship. Members must behave as good sportsmen at all times, showing courtesy, and respect towards other members and their guests. A member is responsible for his/her guests’ safety and conduct, and must not bring guests of a number or nature which will detract from the safety or enjoyment of the other members. Specific policies for guests may be provided.

b. All members are required to provide the Membership Secretary with the following information: name, mailing address, E mail address (if applicable), date of birth, occupation and telephone number. This information must be updated for the records of the Membership Secretary whenever a change takes place; i.e., a member moves.

c. All members must accept and support these Club Bylaws, and the Articles of Incorporation of the Lowell Sportsmen’s Club, Inc.

d. Each new member must donate four hours of work to the Club during the first year of membership or make a defined payment. (Refer to Article V, Section 5 for additional information.)

e. To prevent a conflict of interest, a member must abstain from voting on any motion involving a company or corporation by which that member or any member of the member’s immediate family is employed or stands to make a financial gain from the motion. (Immediate family is defined as spouse, children, siblings, parents and in-laws.) This section does not prohibit members from making motions and discussing motions as long as they make their relationship to the company or corporation known.