ARTICLE I.      NAME

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be the United Sportsmen and Airboaters Alliance, a non-profit organization. 

ARTICLE II.      OBJECTIVE

Section 1.  The purpose of the Alliance shall be to organize concerned sportsmen and airboaters in and around the Alachua/Marion County area.  To enable the members of this organization to have a unified voice in activities concerning water quality, wildlife habitat, sovereignty submerged and adjoining state lands, minimum flow and flood control, hunting regulations fishing regulations, airboating regulations, and all other related activities which may influence, dictate, or direct the life-styles of the members.

Section 2.  To provide a forum to promote and provide education on responsible airboating.

Section 3.  To solicit and disseminate information about responsible airboating.

Section 4.  To cooperate with other charitable organizations through fund raising grants and otherwise which are working to promote the goal of advancing responsible airboating.

Section 5.  To work for and promote the non-discriminatory preservation and use of public waters and lands.

Section 6.  To work with Emergency Management officials of Alachua/Marion and surrounding counties and various other counties in operations such as search and rescue. 

ARTICLE III.      MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  A membership shall be held only by a person, couple or a family that owns an airboat or is a sporting enthusiast.  An Alliance membership will be allowed one (1) vote.

Section 2.  To become a member, a candidate must be sponsored by a current member in good standing, and submit an application with the annual membership dues.    

Section 3.  Membership dues shall be recommended by a quorum of the Board of Directors.   Annual membership dues will be $40.00. 

Section 4.  Members of the Alliance shall be those persons enrolled on the organization roster.  The roster shall be unlimited until the Alliance deems it necessary to amend it.

Section 5.  Honorary members must be nominated by a member of the Alliance and be accepted by majority vote of members present at any regular meeting.  No dues shall be required of honorary members.

ARTICLE IV.     MEETINGS

Section 1.  Regular meetings of the Alliance are for the transaction of ordinary business.  Meetings shall be held on first (1^st) Tuesday of each month at a time and place as determined by a majority vote of the Alliance.

Section 2. Order of Business:

1.      Call meeting to order (President or Vice President).

2.      Minutes of previous meeting approved and signed by president or presiding officer.

3.      Treasurer’s report.

4.      Officers Report.

5.      Announcements and entertainment.

6.      Committee reports (Vice President).

7.      Old business.

8.      New business.

9.      Adjournment.

Section 3.  Special meetings of the association may be called at any time by the Officers of the Association by NOTICE, to each member in writing, stating time, place, and nature of business.  Notice must be given at least three (3) days in advance of each meeting.

                  Special emergency meetings may be called at any time at their discretion by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.   All meetings shall be conducted according to parliamentary rules.  Open discussion from the floor on all measures shall be permitted after recognition by the chair. 

ARTICLE V.      QUORUM

Section 1.  Twenty-five (25) percent of paid members of the Alliance shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

Section 2.  At a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total members of the Board shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote of the Board members present at any meeting shall prevail.  

ARTICLE VI.     MANAGEMENT

Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall consist of up to  twelve (12) members, consisting of the current President and Vice-President, the past President and past Vice-president, and eight (8) members elected by the membership of the Alliance.  The Board members shall elect the Chairman of the Board. All members of the Board of Directors shall be members of the Alliance in good standing.  The Secretary of the Alliance will act as standing secretary for the Board but will have no voting power.  

Section 2.  The management of the Alliance shall be vested in the Board of Directors in addition to the current President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 3.  If the Board of Directors passes a rule or amendment to the By-Laws, it must be presented to the Alliance members at the next regular meeting.  At that time the Alliance members can veto it by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) or more of present members at an official meeting.

Section 4.  The Chairman of the Board and/or the President of the Alliance may request a meeting of the Board at any time he can gather a quorum.  The Secretary should be present at all times. 

ARTICLE VII.    ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  Officers, consisting of President, Vice President, and Board of Directors, shall be elected by a majority vote of a quorum with the entire membership notified thirty (30) days before the July meeting.  Elections will be held bi-annually at the July meeting on the odd numbered years.

Section 2.  Officers shall be elected for a two (2) year term and can hold successive terms if re-elected.  Officers must be a member in good standing.

Section 3.  In the event of an officer vacancy, a member of the Board of Directors shall fill the vacated office until an Alliance member is elected at the earliest regular meeting to fill the unexpired term.  Election must be held with a quorum vote.

Section 4.  The election will be the first item of new Business, which is the last order of business before adjournment.  After election, the new officers shall take over the meeting.          

ARTICLE VIII.    DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Alliance and shall perform all other duties pertinent to his office.

Section 2.  The Vice President shall coordinate all committee activities and shall take over the President’s duties in his absence.  In case the Presidency becomes vacant, he will automatically become President.

Section 3.   The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence pertaining to the Alliance and all public relations.  He or she shall keep a true record of all meetings of the Board of Directors, and all regularly scheduled meetings of the Alliance.  The Secretary shall have an accurate roster of the membership available at all meetings.  The Secretary shall keep a categorized list of all motions that are voted on and passed, including date.  These records shall be kept in a bound ledger and entered each month after the minutes have been approved as read and signed by the presiding officer.

Section 4.   The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Alliance and place same in such bank or banks as may be approved by the Board of Directors.  .  Such money may be withdrawn only by check signed by either the President or the Treasurer or the Chairman of the Board of Directors in amounts up to $250.00. No other persons shall be allowed to sign checks on behalf of the Alliance. Checks in excess of $250.00 must have two (2) signatures.  Expenditures in excess of $500.00 shall require approval by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all his/her transactions and render a detailed report with vouchers at all regular meetings.  The Treasurer shall also collect all membership dues and keep an accurate roster of the membership available at all meetings.

Section 5.  The Board of Directors shall have the overall responsibility for the recommendation and operation of the Alliance. 

ARTICLE IX.    SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, AND REINSTATEMENT

Section 1.  ANY member may be suspended or expelled from the Alliance for cause or causes deemed sufficient by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at any official regular meeting.  No vote shall be taken unless the member charged has received a written notice, at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting, stating the nature of charges, time and place of meeting.  The charged member will be given a full hearing.  A certified notice will be sent.

Section 2.  Charges against a member may be preferred by any member.  Such charges shall be in writing, stating all facts.  Such charges shall be filed with the Secretary who will notify the President.  The Board of Directors will conduct the hearing.  Furthermore, charges made by anyone will be thoroughly investigated by the Board of Directors.

Section 3.  Any member in arrears of his dues for a period of sixty (60) days shall be suspended from the Alliance.

Section 4.  Reinstatement:  No member after acceptance of his resignation, suspension (for cause other than non-payment of dues) or expulsion from the Alliance shall be reinstated unless written or formal application to the Board of Directors is made by the applicant.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to impose such terms as it may deem proper as a condition for reinstatement of a member’s resignation, suspension, or expulsion from the Alliance; and no application for reinstatement shall be put before the members at a regular meeting of the Alliance for a vote until the terms and conditions of reinstatement are fulfilled by the applicant.  A vote of the majority of the members present at the meeting shall approve or deny the reinstatement.  Any member being reinstated for the above reasons will be assessed the same dues as a new member. 

ARTICLE X.      CODE OF CONDUCT

Section 1.  Conduct will be that which promotes the development of those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-reliance, self-discipline (like language), and teamwork, which are the essentials of good sportsmanship.

Section 2.  It is understood by the members that during any PUBLIC FUNCTION participation activities, members shall conduct themselves in an adult manner and abide by Section 1, Article 10.  Additional rules of conduct will be established when deemed necessary, by vote, for any PUBLIC FUNCTION activities to be participated in, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Alliance prior to the scheduled PUBLIC FUNCTION.