North Texas GCSA – Bylaws (December 2017)

ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1. The name of this association shall be “North Texas Golf Course Superintendents’ Association.”
Section 2. The object of this organization is to advance the art and science of golf course turf through education, exchange of ideas and mutual cooperation of golf course superintendents.

ARTICLE II
Section 1. Membership shall consist of nine (9) classes: A, B, C, D, E, H, AF, R and S.

Section 2. Class A – Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class A membership, an applicant shall have, at the time of application for membership, at least three (3) years’ experience as a golf course superintendent, be employed in such capacity and comply with all additional qualifications adopted by the membership. Class A Members shall have all the privileges of the Association.

Class B: To qualify for Class B membership, an applicant shall, at the time of application, be employed as a golf course superintendent and does not meet the additional qualifications for Class A membership. Class B Members shall have all the privileges of the Association.

Class C – Assistant Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class C Membership, an applicant shall be, at the time of application for membership, an assistant to a golf course superintendent, and shall be presently employed in such capacity. Class C Members shall have all the privileges of the Association, except those of voting and holding office.

Class D. Members shall be those persons actively engaged in turfgrass maintenance other than the golf course area, such as cemeteries, athletic fields, university grounds, parks, and driving ranges.

Associate: To qualify for Associate Membership, an applicant must be employed at a golf course and does not qualify for membership under the Class A, Class B or Class C Bylaws definition. Associate Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office.

Class H. Members are those persons dealing in Research and Education. Class H memberships cannot be applied for but will be bestowed on deserving persons by the Board.

Class AF. Members shall be in business firms or a governmental body interested in golf course management and/or in the growing of fine turfgrass either individually or through employment by, or other affiliation with a company, proprietorship or association who does not qualify for membership in another class. Affiliate members (Class AF) shall have all the privileges of the Association except to vote.

Class R. Members shall be any class (A, B, C, D, E or AF) who have reached the age of fifty-five (55). They must be retired and no longer seeking employment within the scope of activities of any membership class of this association. Application for a Retired Membership must be made in writing to the Board of Directors and, if bestowed, is free. A retired member shall have all the privileges of this Association afforded the member in his or her immediate previous classification, with the exception of holding office.

Class S. Members shall be full-time turfgrass students enrolled in a formal course of education less than one (1) year prior to the date of application for membership. Student members (Class S) shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify by Standing Rules, except those of holding office.

ARTICLE III – PRIVILEGES
Section 1.  All Class A and B members are entitled to all rights, privileges and benefits of this association unless herein otherwise specified, so long as they are in good standing. All Class C members shall have all the privileges of this association except the right to hold office. Class D, E, H, AF, R and S members shall have all the privileges of the association except the right to hold office or vote.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Section 1. Application for membership shall be filed with the Secretary on the regular form and shall be accompanied by one (1) years dues and application shall be acted upon by the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the receipt of applications. Each application for Class A and B membership in this association must present an application for membership or evidence of membership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and maintain such membership thereafter. All applications are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Suspended members upon filing an application for reinstatement shall accompany such application with one (1) years dues and such other payment as the Board of Directors shall deem right and proper.

Section 3. A member, after written notice of such contemplated action, may be denied reinstatement or expelled by a 2/3 vote at a special meeting called for that purpose by the President.

ARTICLE V – ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT

Section 1. The control and management of the association and its affairs and its property shall be entrusted to the Board of Directors, consisting of its officers and at large Directors.  All officers and a majority of the entire board of directors shall be GCSAA Class A or B members actively employed as golf course superintendents. The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice-President, and Secretary/ Treasurer, all of whom shall be Class A or B members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. The Secretary/Treasurer will be appointed by the President. The Vice-President will be elected by the membership at the October meeting. The Vice-President automatically succeeds the President in office.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, seven elected members and the immediate past President. Two elected board members shall be Class AF members and the other five elected members shall be class A members.

Section 3. The elected officers, Secretary/Treasurer and immediate Past President will serve a one (1) year term. The Board of Directors will serve two (2) year overlapping terms.

Section 4. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term by presidential appointment subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. A member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office by a petition bearing the signatures of 2/3 of the voting members.

Section 6. The approval or amendment of those bylaws shall rest solely in the hands of the voting members of this organization.

ARTICLE VI – DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1. The dues of this association shall be $120.00 per year for Classes A, B, C, D, E and AF members (Fiscal year being Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). Class H members are honorary and have free membership as do Class R members. Class S membership will be 50% of regular membership dues.

Section 2. Any member who has not paid his dues by the 31st day of March shall be considered delinquent and his membership suspended.

Section 3. The membership dues of all Board of Director members will be complimentary during each year of service.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

Section 1. A minimum of ten (10) meetings shall be held each year

Section 2. Written notice shall be sent by the Secretary seven (7) days before regular meetings and ten (10) days before the annual meeting or a special meeting.

Section 3. A quorum for a membership meeting shall consist of not less than 25% of the voting members.

Section 4. No business can be transacted at a meeting of the Board of Directors when less than three (3) members of the Board are present.

Section 5. The annual meeting shall be in October.

Section 6. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings.

ARTICLE VIII – INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. The Association shall indemnify any and all persons who may serve or have served at any time as officers or directors, and their respective heirs, paid administrators, successors and assigns, against any and all expenses including judgements, counsel fees and amounts paid in settlement (before or after suit is commenced), actually necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement or any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which they, or any of them are made parties, or a party, or which may be asserted against them or any of them, by reason of being, or having been, an officer, or director, or former officer or director, shall be adjudged in any action suit or proceeding to be liable for those acts and omissions arising out of his or her willful misfeasance. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled including such immunities under any lay, bylaw agreement, or otherwise.

ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION

Section 1. In the event of the dissolution of the Association, after all liabilities and responsibilities have been met, its assets shall be distributed in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code concerning its exempt status in accordance with State law. The decision of distribution shall be made by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X – ELECTIONS

Section 1. At the August meeting of this organization, the president will appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members. The Nominating Committee shall present to the October meeting a slate of candidates, providing therein one (1) candidate for each office. Following the report of the Nominating Committee, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor, followed by the election of officers using the method desired by the President. Only those present may vote.

Section 2. The newly elected officers and Board Members will be installed at the November meeting and will assume official duties January 1st of the following year.

ARTICLE XI – DUTIES

Section 1. Duties of the President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the meetings of the Board of Directors, and a member ex-officio at all committee meetings. He shall perform all such duties properly as may be required of him by the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint all committee personnel subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint the Secretary/Treasurer from the existing Board of Directors.

Section 2. Duties of the Vice-President: In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all of the duties; and if the office of the President should become vacant, the Vice President shall hold the office of President for the remainder of the term. He will be responsible for planning and executing programs for each meeting of the Association. The Vice-President by virtue of his office, shall attend all meetings of the Board.

Section 3. Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence of the Association and keep and accurate mailing list of all its members. He shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Association. He shall collect fees and dues from members and have custody of all funds and shall disperse funds at the rate of no more than $1,000.00 per month, unless approved by the Board. Detailed statements of receipts and expenditures of the Association for the preceding calendar month shall be made each month to the Board of Directors. The NTGCSA may elect to employ an executive secretary to discharge the duties of the Secretary/Treasurer under his/her supervision.

ARTICLE XII – LIABILITY

Section 1. On consideration of the Association’s acceptance of each individual membership into the Association, each member upon being accepted into membership, agree to release and hold the Association harmless from any injuries or damages to such member, while he may be engaged in any meeting, demonstration, function or other activity of or on behalf of the Association.

ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The rules and bylaws can be amended by a vote of the quorum of the voting members of this organization.