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Changes for 2007 are in RED. To view last years Rules/By-Laws and see exactly what has been changed click on the links to the .pdf files at the end of each section. Steel City BassMaster Tournament Rules 1. All tournament rules will comply with the respective state's regulations concerning length limits, fishable waters, etc., unless specified by the bass club in a general membership vote. 2. The Steel City Bassmasters and its executive board are not responsible for theft or injuries incurred during chapter sponsored tournaments. 3. There are no age restrictions for tournament participation. 4. It is prohibited for any participant to hire or use the services of licensed resort owners, managers, employees, or guides on the respective waters for the purpose of locating bass and/or fishing locations for a period of three days prior to each scheduled tournament. Use of cell phones and other electronic communication devices during tournament hours will be restricted to emergency use only. The use of cellular telephones and other electronic communication devices for the purpose of locating fish or gaining information on catching fish during tournament hours will be considered a violation of the tournament rules and will be dealt with accordingly. 5. All contestants will leave from and return to the launch site by boat. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited. 6. All boats must comply with State and Coast Guard regulations concerning safety. Failure to comply with these regulations will be at your own risk. 7. Every boat must have, and use, a properly aerated livewell. Stringers are strictly prohibited. 8. All contestants are required to wear an approved personal floatation device (life jacket) while their outboard motor is in operation. 9. Only artificial lures, with the exception of pork, may be used. Only one casting, spinning, or spin casting rod may be used at a time. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. 10. Each contestant will be allowed to bring in the legal creel limit and length limit of bass (as allowed by the tournament lake regulations) to the weigh-in on each tournament day. 11. All contestants arriving at the weigh-in site more than 15 (fifteen) minutes after the pre-determined quitting time will be disqualified from the tournament. 12. There will be a 2-ounce penalty (0.12 lb.) incurred for all dead fish of legal length presented for weigh-in. 13. There will be a 1-pound penalty for all short fish presented at the tournament weigh-in. This penalty will be subtracted from the total weight of all legal length fish presented. 14. During large tournaments such as Table Rock, each boat will be assigned a number that will determine the order in which the weigh-in is conducted. When your number is called, you will then access your fish from the livewell and present them for weigh-in. This is done to reduce stress on the fish and promote live release following weigh-in. 15. Largest fish will break ties for total weight on each stringer. Ties for big fish will be broken by total stringer weight of that individual. 16. All fish presented will be released following the weigh-in. 17. All protests must be made within 10-minutes of the final weigh-in. These protests must be made to one of the club officers or board members. These individuals are the tournament committee and will render a decision based on the facts presented. All decisions made by the tournament committee are final. 18. Each boat owner must maintain a minimum of $100,000 worth of boat liability insurance.
Steel City Bassmasters Chapter By-laws Article I -- Name and Purpose Section #1: Name This chapter shall be called the Steel City Bassmasters Section #2: Purpose To organize local bass anglers with the idea of friendship, cooperation, and fun competition through regular meetings, tournaments, and other chapter related activities. To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a sport. To offer our state conservation department our organized support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes and to demand adequate water standards. To improve our skill as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of expert bass catching techniques and ideas, and to promote and encourage youth fishing, and a love for this great recreation. To function as a dynamic and effective link with other chapters of the Illinois State B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, embracing the principles and purposes of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. Article II -- Membership Section #1: Number of Members In 1991, the board of directors determined that any increase in the number of chapter members would be achieved on an individual member basis, following the steps found in article II, section #2 of the Chapter By-laws. This decision was approved by the membership. Section #2: Requirement for Membership/Associate Membership To become a chapter member or associate member, a person shall: a) Voluntarily express a genuine interest in membership. b) Be recommended by a chapter member or associate member. c) After a 30-day waiting period and input from the membership, the board will have final approval. Section #3: Membership Dues The club membership dues shall be $40.00 annually, payable no later than the third month of the club year on the date of that month's regularly scheduled chapter meeting. The elected chapter President, Secretary/Treasurer, and the Angler of the Year (from the previous year) are exempt from paying membership dues. National and State B.A.S.S. Federation Nation dues for chapter elected officers and board members shall be paid by the chapter. National and State B.A.S.S. Federation Nation dues for 8-Man Team members who are not chapter elected officers or board members shall be paid by the chapter and charged against the 8-Man Team fund. Section #4: Associate Membership A chapter associate member will be hearby defined as an individual who has the opportunity to participate in chapter tournaments with no desire to become a full member in good standing. An associate member shall have privileges as defined by the chapter board of directors. An associate membership fee of $40.00 will enable the individual to participate in all chapter-sponsored tournaments. Any new member joining the chapter after the halfway point of the current tournament season will pay 50% of the membership dues. Any member who competes as a registered professional bass tournament fisherman may maintain their chapter membership but will not be eligible to participate in club sponsored tournaments. Article III -- Officers, Board Members, Vacancies, and Eligibility Section #1: Officers, Board Members, and Their Duties The officers of the chapter shall consist of: (a) President: Preside over all meetings and direct all official business. Appoint and be ex-officio member of all committees. Supervise all club functions. (b) Vice-president: Act as program chairman. Assist the president in his duties and preside in the absence of the president. (c) Secretary/Treasurer: Maintain accurate minutes of all regular and special meetings as called for by the chapter president. Maintain regular liaison between the chapter and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and the Illinois B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation. Collect and disburse all moneys. Maintain accurate financial records and present a quarterly financial report at general meetings. Prepare an annual audit for review by the chapter board of directors. (d) Board Members (six): Meet in conjunction with the elected officers. Duties explained in article IV.
Section #2: Elections Nominations for chapter offices and board positions will be taken annually at a regular meeting held during the month of November. The election of officers shall be held annually at a regular meeting during the month of December. Election shall be by simple majority of members present. Election for each office shall be held separately in the order listed in article III, section #1. All nominees for office or board positions shall be listed on the ballot in alphabetical order for each position. Election shall be by secret ballot from the general membership. Section #3: Eligibility to Vote Each club member is entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are only permitted if the member voting notifies the club secretary within one week of the election with his reason for missing the election meeting and signing and dating his proxy ballot. Section #4: Term of office The term of office is for one year, which shall begin on January1 and end on the last meeting date in December or until the successor assumes office. Section #5: Vacancies In the event of an office becoming vacant, nominations shall be called for at a scheduled board meeting. A simple majority vote by secret ballot shall be taken at the same meeting to fill the unexpired term of the individual vacating the office. Nominees shall be current elected club officials, such as officers and board members. Recommendation will then be submitted to the general membership for approval. In the event of a board vacancy, the president shall appoint a replacement for the position. Section #6: Eligibility for Holding Office To be eligible for an office, a member must: (a) Be a member in good standing for a minimum of six months. (b) Have attended at least 50% of the combined number of chapter meetings and tournaments. (c) Have shown an active interest in all chapter activities. Article IV -- Board of Directors Section #1: Purpose The purpose of the board of directors is to make decisions and adopt policies which do not require a vote of the general membership. The idea with the highest priority shall always be the one that serves "the entire membership". Decisions of the board are presented to the membership and are final unless challenged by a member. If challenged, a vote by the membership decides the issue. The board of directors will consist of the president, vice-president, secretary/treasurer, and six members elected at large by majority vote of the members present at the December meeting. Section #2 Duties (a) The president will call all meetings of the board and preside at such meetings. (b) The secretary will record the minutes of these meetings. (c) The board will decide all protests and rule on all violations of the tournament rules and chapter by-laws when appropriately received. (d) Develop an agenda for the monthly meetings. (e) Develop a tournament schedule and locations for said tournaments based on suggestions from the general membership. (f) Assist in organization and proper management of chapter tournaments, and act as tournament officials. (g) Adopt policies and approve major purchases using club funds, with the best interest of the entire club membership in mind.
Article V -- Removal of Membership A member shall be dropped from the membership ranks for the following: (a) Failure to pay dues (b) Any action that would reflect dishonor or disgrace to the chapter. This would include all rules violations, unsportman-like actions, etc., as determined by the chapter board of directors. Article VI -- Affiliation Section #1: Requirements for Affiliation (a) Approval of chapter charter by B.A.S.S. (b) Update national and state B.A.S.S. Federations with a chapter membership roster immediately following election of chapter officers and board of directors, and/or as needed throughout the year. (c) Names and addresses of new members joining the chapter during the year must be submitted to B.A.S.S. as they occur. (d) Maintain 80% B.A.S.S. membership. (e) Support state federation programs. Any additional requirements that the state federation establishes for chapters, such as membership dues, attendance at meetings, etc., would be necessary in order for the chapter to participate in state qualifying tournaments, and any other federation sponsored tournaments or events. Article VII -- Method of Amending the Chapter By-Laws Section #1: Amending the Chapter By-laws The chapter by-laws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting by a 2/3 vote of the members present, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership at least one regular meeting prior to the vote. Section #2: Emergency Exception to Section #1
The chapter membership recognizes that the chapter by-laws cannot address every situation (especially in the realm of fishing tournaments); therefore the chapter board of directors is granted the power to amend the chapter by-laws only where it recognizes that the by-laws are lacking in addressing a situation(s) deemed to be detrimental to the best interest of the chapter membership. Amending the chapter by-laws by the board of directors shall require a 2/3 vote of the nine member board as a whole. Once amended the by-laws will stand until such time Section #1 of this Article VII can be implemented at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Once amended by the chapter board of directors, the by-laws change will stand until such time Section #1 of this Article VII can be implemented, and a vote of the membership be taken (on the amended change) at the next scheduled meeting. Article VIII -- Tournaments Section #1: Tournament Schedule The chapter board of directors will develop a yearly tournament schedule. This schedule will be presented to the general membership for their approval at the regularly scheduled November meeting. After final approval of all dates and locations, the schedule will stand unchanged. The only criteria for cancellation or postponement of a scheduled tournament will be safety or circumstances beyond our immediate control. The board of directors will determine changes as situations arise. Section #2: Tournament Eligibility In order to participate in a chapter sponsored tournament, a member must: (a) Have paid his membership dues in accordance with article II, section #3 of the chapter by-laws. (b) Have paid the tournament entry fee 15 minutes prior to launch time. Late entries will not be accepted unless one of the officers (president, vice president or sec/treas) is contacted within two (2) hours, plus or minus, of the launch time. (c) Be present at the official launch for livewell check. (d) Have necessary coast guard approved safety equipment in the boat at the time of launch. (e) Members will be entitled to use guest passes, allowing them to bring a non-member to a chapter event for the purpose of promoting future membership to the club. Details and stipulations of the guest passes shall be reviewed and revised annually by the executive board, if necessary, and approved by the general membership. (f) Not have participated, past or present, as a registered professional bass tournament fisherman. Section #3: Tournament Rules The list of official tournament rules will be reviewed annually by the board of directors and presented to the membership for the upcoming tournament season. Any changes in the official tournament rules will be as prescribed in Article VII.
Steel City Bassmasters 500 Wilson Street Collinsville, IL 62234
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