By-Laws

V. I. GAME FISHING CLUB

st. Thomas, u. s. virgin islands

VIRGIN ISLANDS GAME FISHING CLUB

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this club shall be: The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club, Incorporated, hereinafter called the Club, located in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Purpose of the Club shall be:

 A. to promote and encourage the sport of saltwater game fishing in the Virgin Islands and for Virgin Islanders

 B. to promote recognition of saltwater game fishing as a healthful, relaxing and challenging sport

 C. to encourage good fellowship and clean, honest sporting instincts among its members

 D. to instill in its members a deep awareness of the vital importance of conservation of marine life and to encourage its

 members to practice techniques of marine conservation and anti-pollution in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

A. Any person of good moral characer whose ideas and interests are compatible with the sport fishing interests of this

 Club may apply for membership. The rights of a member include:

 1. The right to vote

2. The right to hold office

3. The right to serve on committees

4. The right to participate in annual awards

5. The right to participate in closed tournaments

6. Clubhouse privileges

7. Proprietary rights in the property of the Club

Termination of membership by resignation, death, expulsion or otherwise shall operate as a release of all rights and interest in the Club.

B. Class of Membership:

Charter Member - All Regular and Life members in good standing as of December 31, 1987 shall enjoy the benefits of Charter Membership including all rights of a Regular Member. In addition, all contracts pertaining to the interests of the Club real property shall require ratification by a majority vote of the Charter Members for a period of ten years beginning January 1, 1988. Charter Members shall be exempt from the payment of dues in perpetuity.
Regular Members - Available to persons residing anywhere in the world. The Regular Members may exercise all rights of membership. The spouse may serve on committees and participate in closed tournaments. All members of the family have Clubhouse privileges.
Supporting Member - The Supporting Member may serve on committees and participate in annual awards and closed tournaments. All members of the family have Clubhouse privileges.
Corporate Member - A firm may take a corporate membership for five or less employees of its choice. These persons are regular members. (Article III -B - 2)
Honorary Member - After due deliberation, a majority of the members present at a business meeting may propose an individual to Honorary Membership in the Club. Such proposals shall be handled as in Article III-C. Such a person shall exercise all rights of Regular Membership.
Guest Member - Any member may sponsor a guest for seven days, during which time he may exercise Clubhouse privileges.

C. Application for Membership:

Applications for membership in the Club shall be filed with the Secretary of the Club. All applications shall be acted upon by the Board of

Directors with three dissenting votes disqualifying said applicant in two successive votes at the same meeting. The applicant shall be notified of

the Board's action in writing by the Secretary.

D. Registration

Membership in the Club may be terminated by voluntary resignation in writing. Should a former member in good standing apply for

reinstatement, he shall be required to pay only the current dues, after approval by the Board of Directors.

E. Suspension:

The Board of Directors may suspend a member from the rights and privileges of the Club for the following reasons:

Non-payment of dues: Sixty days after such payment becomes due on January 1st. In such case, the member shall be notified of his delinquency in writing by certified mail by the Treasurer. If said dues are not paid thirty days after such notice, the member in question shall be suspended from the Club until his dues are paid. Finally, if this arrears continues for thirty days after suspension, said member shall be recommended to the Board of Directors for further disciplinary action at its next business meeting, which may include expulsion. The Board, in taking action, may consider such mitigating circumstances as illness, absence from the island and other good and substantial reasons.
Conduct on the part of any member deemed by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors to be detrimental to the peace, order, interests and welfare of the Club and at avariance with the Constitution and rules of the Club: A written and signed complaint must be filed with the Secretary by a Charter, Regular of Honorary Member in good standing. The member complained against must be served with a copy of said charge, together with a notice of the next meeting of the Board of Directors, at which time his case must be heard. A member under suspension shall forfeit all right of membership.

F. Expulsion:

Expulsion from membership in the Club shall occur at the following discretion of the Board of Directors for the following reasons:

Persistent non-payment of dues after suspension and due hearing before the Board of Directors.
Conduct deemed absolutely incompatible with the interests and welfare of the Club after suspension and due hearing before the Board of Directors.

An expelled member wishing to rejoin the Club must apply as anew member.

ARTICLE iv - FEES AND DUES

All initiation fees, dues and assessments shall be established by the Board of Directors, subject to annual review and revision upward or downward, at the discretion of the Board of Directors and in the best interests of the Club.

Annual dues shall be payable January 1st. They may be jpaid in stallments at the discretion of the Board of Directors upon written request.

ARTICLE v - FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Club shall coincide with the normal calendar, i.e., January 1 - December 31 in any given year.

ARTICLE vi - DUTIES OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The management and control of the Club shall be vested in the Board of Directors, consisting of nine voting members in good standing at least six of whom must be Charter Members for five years beginning January 1, 1988, and three Charter Members for the next five years ending December 31, 1997.

A. Duties of Directors:

1. The Directors of the Club shall be responsible for the care and management of the Club's property and shall direct the affairs of

Club. They shall have power and authority to enforce the Constitution as may be necessary to conduct the affairs of the Club and

maintain its property.

2. A majority of the Board, i.e., five Directors shall constitute a quorum.

3. The Board shall establish all initiation fees, dues and assessments, review them annully and revise them as may be deemed

necessary in the best interests of the Club.

4. The Board may hire employees. The paid employees of the Club shall not be members of the Board, but shall be invited to general

membership at its business meetings and to the Board of Directors when required. He shall have ready at all times a statement of t

Club's financial condition. He shall be responsible for filing of all taxes as required by law with the assistance of a CPA. He shall

prepare an annual budget for the approval of the Board of Directors. He shall be solely responsible for mailing of all notices of dues

payments in time to allow the members to comply with the rules covering such payments..He shall keep a lis of members in good

standing (for dues) at all times.

C. Checks:

The Board of Directors will direct the procedure for the signing of checks.

D. Meetings:

The Board of Directors shall meet from time to time at the discretion of the President. The time and place of such meetings shall be made

known to the Directors by the Secretary.

E. Vacancies:

In case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause, the Board shall have the authority to fill such a vacancy for the unexpired

term by a person selected from among the voting members of the Club in good standing.

F. Removal of Board Members:

Any Director of Officer whose conduct and/or attendance has been detrimental to the interests of the Club shall be brought before the

Board of Directors. The Board, if finding sufficient cause, shall by an affirmative vote of six (except Board member charged) can tae

action to replace Board Members.

ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS

A. Term of Office:

The Board of Directors, which must consist of six on-island Charter Members for five years beginning January 1, 1988 and three Charter

Members for five years beginning January 1, 1988 and three Charter Members for the next five years, ending December 31, 1997,

shall serve a term of at least one year at the discretion of the membership.

B. Nominations

On or before the fifteenth of November, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of five voting members in good

standing. Said Committee shall nominate a slate of candidates for the voting members in good standing. The Secretary shall mail said

slate to each voting member of the Club. Additional nominations for a change of Board of Directors may be made to the general

membership by any voting member in good standing at the Annual Meeting. Nominees must be present or provde a written statement

signifying a willingness to serve if elected. The Charter member ratio must be adhered to. If nominations are not presented at that time,

the acting Board of Directors will sit for another year. The Secretary shall send to each Charter, Regular, Honorary and Corporate

member a list of those nominated to serve on the Board of Directors.

C. Elections:

Elections shall take place at a General Membership meeting to be held one month after the Annual Meeting and shall be by a majority

vote of voting members present and those voting members voting by mail. The newly elected Directors shall take office immediately.

D. Voting:

Election of Board of Directors shall be by written secret ballot and tallied by the President and Secretary at the election meeting.

E. Qualified Voters:

Qualified voters shall be voting members whose indebtedness to the Club has been paid more that 30 days prior to any meeting in

which members vote on any matter whatsoever.

F. Election of Officers:

The officers of the Board and the officers of the Club shall be one and the same persons. The officers shall be chosen by plurality vote

of the Board of Directors from its own membership at a special meeting within ten days of the election meeting, to be called by the

sitting President. These officers shall be a President, Vice President Secretary and Treasurer, who shall serve for one year and may

be re-elected.

ARTICLE VIII - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

A. Annual Meeting:

The Annual Meeting shall take place in January of each year. The order of business for the Annual Meeting shall e as follows:

1. Reading of the minutes

2 Annual report of the President

3. Annual report of the Treasurer

4. Annual report of the Committees

5. New Business

6. Nomination of Officers

B. Election Meeting:

This meeting will take place one month after the Annual Meeting for the purpose of electing New Officers to the Club.

C. Other General Membership Meetings:

There shall be two or more General Membership meetings per year. The Annual Meeting in January is always the first General

Membership meeting. The second shall be held mid-year with the actual date determined by the Board of Directors. Notice of such

meetings shall be mailed by the Secretary to reach all members at least thirty days prior to said meeting. These meetings shall be

conducted according to an agenda prepared by the President, which shall include among other things, reports of the officers, reports of

committees and old and new business.

Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail at all business and special meetings.

D. Special Meetings

Special Meetings of the Club may be called when deemed necessary by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.

Notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Secretary to each voting member at least ten days before the date. The notice shall

state the object of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted at such meeting without unanimous consent of the members

present. Any five members of the Board of Directors may call for a Special Meeting with written notice to the President and the

Secretary. Said meeting must be held within thirty days following receipt of notice by the Secretary.

E. Quorum

Twelve members made up of Charter, Regular, Corporate or Honorary members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at any

General Membership meeting or any Special Membership meeting.

ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES

All committee chairmen, whether standing or special or ad hoc shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE X - BOOKS AND RECORDS

The Club shall keep correct and complete books and records of accounts and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its membership, Board

of Directors and Committee meetings. It shall keep at its principal office a record of the names and current addresses of its members entitled to vote.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be repealed , modified, altered or amended at the instance of the Board of Directors or solicitation in writing of twelve members setting forth the proposed amendments. In either event, such amendments must be submitted to the Board of Directors and to the members at regular or special meetings. Two thirds of the voting membership is required to amend the By-Laws.

Adopted this 30th day of June, 1995

VIRGIN ISLANDS GAME FISHING CLUB

Joseph Herbert Harry Clinton

Secretary President