Mission – To develop a group of believers who will use their love of Jesus Christ, and bass fishing for Christian fellowship and reaching others for Christ.
Vision – Believers Bassmen will be the most respected bass club in the state of Mississippi, while maintaining a strong Christian and family atmosphere.
Goal – That all members profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Membership:
A. Approximately 60% of the members must own or have access to the use of a boat regularly.
B. Acceptance as a member will be voted on by the membership after attending one meeting and fishing one tournament as a guest.
C. Guests will be allowed to fish no more than 2 (two) tournaments per year.
D. All fees and dues will be paid on time. Members (new and old) are required to pay current dues in full before any meeting or tournament participation points can be awarded
E. Believers Bassmen encourages attendance of at least 50% of all the called meetings, and tournaments during the calendar year.
F. No abusive language, alcohol or actions that might disgrace or dishonor the Lord, the Church, the Club, or its members is allowed.
G. Minimum age for membership is 16. Guests must be the minimum of 15 and must be sponsored or accompanied by an adult member who will be responsible for the minors’ actions.
H. Past members in good standing will be allowed to rejoin the club by paying dues.
Dues and Fees:
A. Total Club dues are $75.00 per year. This includes $25 club membership fee, $30 Believers Bassmen “Classic” fee (see C.) and an optional $20.00 Lunker of the Year fee (see B.) for a total of $75.00 membership dues per year.
B. The “Lunker of the Year” fee is optional but must be paid in full in order to qualify and be eligible for the accumulated monetary prize to be paid at the end of the year.
C. The Believers Bassmen “Classic” is a no entry fee championship tournament held for the 6 top qualifying boaters and no-boaters based on year end Points.
D. Regular season Tournament entry fees are $10.00 per fisherman per tournament, and should be paid in cash at the start of each tournament.
E. The No-Boater should offer to assist the Boater with the cost of fuel for the trip to the lake and running the boat.
Requirements for Officers and Board Members:
A. Must be an active member for at least one year.
B. Term of office will be at least one year, with elections held at the November meeting. Board members will serve for two years, unless elected to serve as an officer. A replacement will be elected after such occurrence. President and Vice-President – will serve for no more than two terms in succession.
C. Any inactive officer/board member will be replaced as soon as possible.
Officer’s duties and responsibilities:
A. President – Presides over all meetings and directs all official business of the club. Appoints committees, oversees any grievance issues, and supervises all club functions. Insures that all functions begin and end in prayer.
B. Vice-President/Tournament Director – Assists the president and presides in his absence. Insures that all functions begin and end in prayer. Presides over Tournament, collects fees, checks boats, maintains rules of tournament.
C. Secretary/Treasurer – Keeps accurate records, maintains club roster, maintains club bank accounts / funds and reports balance to club.
D. Board of Directors – Shall consist of the club officers and three at large club members. The board will make recommendations and vote on issues of concern to the club. These recommendations will be voted on by a majority of the club members at the club meeting.
Meetings:
A. Club fellowship meetings will be held the Monday or Tuesday prior to a tournament. Meetings will follow a set agenda that consists of opening prayer, devotional time, club business, tournament pairings and planning, and a closing prayer.
B. Unless otherwise approved by a majority of members present, guests who are not at the meeting, and members who have not notified a club member prior to the meeting, cannot fish. The majority of members present can also decide on a case-by-case basis whether guest should be placed in the partner draw or allowed to fish with the member who invited the guest.
C. It is the intention of Believers Bassmen to encourage, include and accept all guests. However, the priority of the partner draw process is to first accommodate current paid members.
• Guests that are boaters will automatically be included in the draw.
• Guests that are no-boaters will be able to fish if the result of the draw allows available boats.
• Guests approved to fish with specific members (see B. above) or vice-versa may do so only if the draw presents an equal number of boaters and no-boaters, and if the paying members are
first accommodated.
D. Bylaw changes will be approved when a majority of the members are present.
E. Mandatory board meetings will be conducted as necessary during the year.
Tournaments:
A. Official tournaments will consist of no less than three boats, or six fishermen.
B. No tournaments will be held on Sunday.
C. All boats may be checked prior to the start of the tournament.
D. Trailering will be permitted only with the permission of the tournament director. Boat and trailer will not leave the dock until the tournament director gives the word. They must be back at the designated weigh-in site at the allotted time.
E. Tournaments will not be delayed due to fishermen late arrival.
F. All boats will be within sight of the weigh-in site, at official weigh in time, or a one-pound per minute penalty will be deducted from the total weight, with disqualification after ten minutes. Special consideration will be given for equipment problems.
G. Weigh in begins when all boats are trailered and club has gathered as a group.
H. Only five fish per angler may be recorded for weigh in. Fish must be ten (10″) inches long according to the Golden Rule-WeighMaster measuring board. Please release all fish immediately after measuring.
I. Only artificial lures may be used during the tournament.
J. Respect the other angler’s water during the tournament.
K. Tournaments can be held on the same lake more than once per year.
L. If possible members will not fish with the same partner on consecutive occasions.
M. Life jackets will be worn, and fastened, during use of the outboard motor.
N. Fish will be measured and weight recorded by fishing partner.
O. Prayer time will begin and end each club tournament. Blast off will begin at tournament director’s announcement.
P. Potential lunker fish can be measured, unless they are too long to be measured on the Golden Rule-WeighMaster, in which case they will be weighed, slot fish may be recorded.
Q. Pre-fishing tournament sites will be permitted.
R. Above rules will apply to all tournaments, special rules will apply at the discretion of the tournament director.
S. Boaters fishing without a partner will draw at the tournament for a weigh partner to use for that tournament, unless his weight is enough to win the tournament without a partner. The draw will come from the no-boaters fishing that particular tournament.
T. Any participant leaving the tournament prior to the official weigh in time will be disqualified except for emergency or extenuating circumstances. Official tournament hours are from safe light until specified time set by the tournament director, normally 3p.m. If an angler cannot commit to a full tournament; he should not enter into the tournament drawing.
Trophies and Awards:
A. A cash award will be given to teams (paired partners) placing in the tournament, to be paid at the completion of the tournament weigh-in, or at the next scheduled meeting using the following guidelines:
Tournaments consisting of 20 boats or less:
First place boat will receive 70% of the total money.
Second place boat will receive 30% of the total money.
Tournaments consisting of 21 boats or more:
First place boat will receive 50% of the total money.
Second place boat will receive 30% of the total money.
Third place boat will receive 20% of the total money
Tournaments consisting of the four boat minimum:
First place boat will receive 100% of the total money.
B. Guests will pay the $10.00 entry fee and be eligible to win that days prizes, however, guest will not be eligible to win lunker prize, unless there is an optional side pot available for that day’s tournament.
C. End of year awards will be given based on a points system. This system is outlined in a separate set of rules determined by the Board of Directors. (see points system rules) Awards will consist of plaques awarded to the top anglers depending on funds available, according to total points accumulated during the year. The “Lunker of the Year” accumulated money will be presented to the fisherman / fishermen who caught the largest and second largest bass during the year at a split of 70% and 30%. A Believers Bassmen of the Year award will be given by vote of the membership. All Awards will be presented at a Year End Banquet.
Amended and Approved/RN – February 11, 2013.