
constitution
& bylaws
THE RANDOLPH FISH & GAME CLUB, INC.
RANDOLPH, VERMONT
Amended as of ___(date_____
CONSTITUTION
NAME:
The name of this organization shall be the Randolph Fish & Game Club, Inc. referred hereafter to as “Club”.
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of the Club shall be to preserve and promote the following:
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Good fellowship among our members.
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An attitude of volunteerism for these objectives from the members.
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Our natural resources and wildlife and to do what is necessary and appropriate to improve hunting and
fishing in Vermont.
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The historic values of hunting and fishing in Vermont.
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Involving youth in our Club and its objectives by promoting conservation camp attendance and other appropriate activities.
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Hunter safety courses.
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Other hunting and fishing, trapping and shooting programs that promote interest in these sports in a safe and responsible manner and that teaches all sportsmen to abide by the hunting and fishing laws of our state and nation.
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Doing whatever is necessary and appropriate to improve hunting and fishing in our State.
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Stay advised on legislative and other political activities that impact on or affect in any way our rights to hunt and fish, trap, shoot and to preserve our 2nd Amendment Constitutional Rights.
MEMBERSHIP:
Any citizen of the United States of America may become a member of the Club by paying the current membership fee.
REVOCATION:
Any member convicted of violating any of the state or federal fish and game laws or convicted of a crime of moral turpitude shall automatically be terminated from the club and notified in writing by the secretary. No person will be considered for membership who has been convicted or charged with violating said laws. A member may be suspended prior to conviction if it is deemed by a majority of the membership to be in the best interests of the Club.
OFFICERS:
The officers of the club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and a Treasurer elected at the annual meeting on voice vote unless by majority vote the membership calls for a secret ballot. The term of office shall be one year. Officers may be elected for no more than three consecutive one year terms for the particular office they hold except as provided that the membership may vote to extend the term for an additional year if no other member has shown an interest in or has been nominated for that position.
DIRECTORS:
There shall be 13 Directors, which will be comprised of the Club Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and nine other Members. The Directors are referred to also in the Constitution and By-Laws as the Executive Committee. They are one and the same. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting on voice vote unless by majority vote the membership calls for a secret ballot. The term of Director shall be one year. They are eligible for re-election with no term limit.
MEETINGS:
The Club meetings shall be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There will be no meeting during the month of November. Meetings can be called at the discretion of the President either by his own motion or on a request from an officer or director. The annual meeting and Christmas party date shall be determined by the vote of the membership and put on the calendar.
TERRITORY:
The territory served by the Club will be: The White River Valley Area comprising Royalton, Bethel, Stockbridge, Randolph, Brookfield, Braintree, Roxbury, Granville, Tunbridge and any other area as may be approved by the Club.
DUES:
All dues shall be due and payable on or before the first Club meeting each year and upon payment will be issued a membership card showing they are a member in good standing. That card carries with it all the benefits and privileges of the Club for the year stated thereon. Every member in good standing shall be eligible to obtain access to the clubhouse and to the gate at Rolling Rock and other Club property without being subject to a waiting period.
QUORUM:
A quorum shall consist of nine members in good standing, two of which must be Club officers.
AMENDMENTS:
Amendments to the Constitution can be made at any regularly scheduled meeting where the quorum has been met provided the amendment was presented in writing, posted at the Club and offered for discussion at the previous two Club meetings. A two thirds vote of those present is required for adoption.
BY-LAWS
Amended as of ___(date_____
SECTION I.
Article 1
MEETINGS:
A calendar will be kept current on-line at the Club’s website. Specially called business meetings will be noticed on the website, posted at the Club and a notice will be sent to members by email. If a member makes a request in writing that they prefer this notice by US mail they will be mailed a copy of the notice.
SECTION II.
Article I
The Executive Committee shall have the power to transact the general business of the Club subject to the approval of the membership.
Article II
The duties of the President are:
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Preside at all meetings of the Club.
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Act as Chairman of the Executive Committee, appoint committees and committee leaders as deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the Club.
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Be an ex-officio member of all committees of the Club.
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Fill all vacancies occurring among the officers until the following annual meeting, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
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Perform any other duties that the President deems necessary for the betterment of the Club.
The duties of the Vice-President are:
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To take the place of the President if absent.
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To assist the President in any way possible.
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To perform any duties called upon for the betterment of the Club.
The duties of the Secretary are:
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To attend and keep minutes of all meetings.
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To keep a record of and provide printed minutes from all meetings.
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To keep a record of all member’s names, addresses, and all necessary data concerning Club membership.
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To notify every member of the meetings as may be required from time to time.
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To conduct the general correspondence of the Club.
The duties of the Treasurer are:
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To keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, and present a written report at the regular and annual meetings of the Club.
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To pay the bills of the Club as approved. Any bills amounting to over $500.00 shall have the approval of the Executive Committee.
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To make an annual report, which shall be submitted in sufficient time for an audit to be done and completed at least one week before the annual meeting.
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All Club funds shall pass through the treasurer’s hands.
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To be ready at all times to present the financial status of the Club.
The duties of the Auditors are:
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When appointed by the President at the October meeting of each year, to audit the books of the club at least one week prior to the annual meeting.
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To report their findings at the annual meeting.
SECTION III
ARTICLE I
AMENDMENTS:
Amendments to the By-Laws can be made at any regularly scheduled meeting where the quorum has been met, provided the amendment was presented in writing, posted at the Club and offered for discussion at the previous two Club meetings. A majority vote of those present is required for adoption.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Current Randolph Fish and Game Club Constitution:
MEMBERSHIP:
Any citizen of the United States of America may become a member of the Club by paying the current membership fee.
REVOCATION:
Any member convicted of violating any of the state or federal fish and game laws or convicted of a crime of moral turpitude shall automatically be terminated from the club and notified in writing by the secretary. No person will be considered for membership who has been convicted or charged with violating said laws. A member may be suspended prior to conviction if it is deemed by a majority of the membership to be in the best interests of the Club.
SUGGESTED REWORDING
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership in the Randolph Fish and Game Club is open to any person who holds or is eligible to hold a Vermont Hunting or Fishing License and pays the current membership fee.
REVOCATION:
Membership will be terminated if a member’s Vermont hunting or fishing license has been revoked.
RATIONALE
This would remove some judgment calls and ambiguity. Do you have a license is a simple yes/no question. If the answer is “no”, a follow up, could you get a license, or have you lost your right to hunt/fish is a pretty simple follow up.
Vermont has a point system for fish and game violations. Hit a certain total, lose your hunting/fishing license. Under some conditions, after a period of time has passed, you can get your license reinstated and apply for membership again.
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From the MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 2025: “REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS OF MEMBERSHIP”
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1. New Applications must be endorsed by two (2) current members or voted in during a monthly meeting.
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3. Applications may be subject to unanimous approval by and at the discretion of the membership committee
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8. New members cannot have any fish & game violations against them. If a violation is received, membership will be at the discretion of the board.
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From Black’s Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition:
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Moral turpitude: The act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in private and social duties which man owes to his fellow man, or to society in general, contrary to accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.
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Some issues with the current language and policy:
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Lack of consistency and clarity. (Am I a member if I pay the dues? Or pay and get endorsed by two members? Or a committee? Or the vote at a meeting?)
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If a member is charged, but not convicted, is (s)he still a member?
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Should the board be able to allow a violator of fish and game laws to continue his/her membership?
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What exactly do we consider a crime of “moral turpitude”? There is no list in the Vermont Statutes, but murder, arson, rape, assault, public intoxication and working on the Sabbath all could have been considered crimes of moral turpitude in some places and times.