BYLAWS SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER GCSA

ARTICLE I

Section 1.        NAME AND BOUNDARIES

The name of this association shall be: “SOUTH FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION”; the Geographical Boundaries shall be defined as Broward, Dade, and Monroe Counties.

ARTICLE II

Section 1.        PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association shall be to improve the position of the Golf Course Superintendent by:

A.  Promotion of a better relationship between the superintendent, his club officers, and members.

B.  A cooperative effort to collect, disseminate, and preserve scientific and practical knowledge of the more efficient and economical maintenance of golf courses in South Florida and other areas where conditions are similar.

C.  To establish a program of education and training whereby we will promote and protect the Superintendent’s profession and position.

D.  To encourage and actively participate in turf research programs, experimental projects, and demonstration whenever and wherever possible.

ARTICLE III

Section 1.  MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

A.        Membership in this Association shall consist of 50% or more Class A, Superintendent Members, Class Associate A, Class Associate Superintendent Member, Class C and Class Associate C members.

B.            Membership Classification in this Association shall be classified as follows:

1.  Class A - Golf  Course Superintendent:   Any person of good character who at the time of application for membership has served as a golf course superintendent for more than three years and is currently employed in such capacity.  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association, subject to the provisions of these By-Laws.

2.  Associate Class A - Golf Course Superintendent:   Any person of good character who at the time of application for membership has served as a golf course superintendent for more than three years and is currently employed in such capacity outside the geographical boundaries (Article 1, Section 1).  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association except that of holding office and the right to vote.

3.  Superintendent Member - Golf Course Superintendent:   Any person of good character who at the time of application for membership has less than three years experience as a golf course superintendent and is currently employed in such capacity.  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association, subject to the provisions of  these By-Laws.

4.  Associate Superintendent Member - Golf Course Superintendent:   Any person of good character who at the time of application for membership has less than than three years experience as a golf course superintendent and is currently employed in such capacity outside the geographical boundaries (Article 1, Section 1).  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association except that of holding office and the right to vote.

5.  Class C - Assistant Golf Course Superintendent:   Any person of good character who at the time of application for membership is currently employed as an assistant to a golf course superintendent.  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association except that of holding office.

6.  Associate Class C - Assistant Golf Course Superintendent:   Shall be restricted to  persons employed as Assistant Superintendents to an Associate Class A or Associate  Superintendent, and is currently employed outside the geographical boundaries (Article 1, Section 1).  Such members shall have all the privileges of the Association except that of holding office and  the right to vote.

7.  Class D - Employees or student:   Shall be restricted to those persons who at the time of application are employed by a Class A or Class Superintendent Member of the South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association or be a student in a recognized school of  turf.  Such members shall have all the privileges of this Association except that of holding office and the right to vote.

8.  Class E - Retired Members:   Any Class A, Superintendent Member, Class C or Class I Member reaching the age of sixty (60) years, who is retired and no longer seeking employment within the scope of activities of any affiliated Membership Class of the South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association may apply to the Board of Directors in writing for Class E Membership.  A Class E Member shall have all the rights of this Association except that of voting and holding office.

9.  Class F - Associate Members:   To qualify for Associate Membership, an applicant must be a person interested in growing, management or production of turf grass, either individual or through employment or by other affiliation with a company, proprietorship or association, who does not qualify for membership in another class.  Class F Members shall have all the rights of this Association except that of voting and holding office.

10. Class G - Sustaining Members;   To qualify for Sustaining Membership, an applicant must be associated with a business firm, governmental body or other organization whose products are used in the management or the production of turf grass or products useful to the Golf Course Superintendent in the management of the golf course.  Class G Members have the privileges of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify from time to time by standing rules except that of voting and holding office.

I1. Class H - Honorary Members; granted to those persons having rendered valuable service to the Association and to those persons that are in the position to continue valuable service for the good of the Association.  Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Association will receive the current roster of Honorary Members to determine and consider continuance of these persons on the Honorary Rolls.  Additional nominations for Honorary Membership will be considered, and their approval by majority vote will approve their membership individually for a period of one (1) year.  Honorary Members shall not have the right to vote or hold office.

12.   Class I - Inactive Members; an Inactive Members who by reason of unemployment, illness or other adverse circumstances, has been placed in this Class upon his application.  The Board of Directors shall have the authority to act on such an application and to place a member on Inactive status, subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may specify from time to time by Standing Rules, provided, however, that an Inactive Member shall not vote or hold office.  A Class I Member will pay no dues for 1 year.  If during that period of time he does not return to work, he will be rebilled as Class F.

Section 2. RECLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS

A.  Reclassification of Members.  All members of this Association are required to keep their membership classification current by reporting any change in employment or responsibility which would alter their membership classification, to the Board of Directors of the South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association within thirty (30) days.  After the change occurs, the members will be re-classified in accordance with Article 11 of the By laws and wallet membership card will be issued to reflect the current classification.

Members failing to report change will be subject to investigation.  If investigation proves the need for reclassification, the Board of Directors shall have the power to take appropriate action.

B.  Voluntary Reclassification of Members.  Any member may request a change in his membership classification in accordance with a change in his qualification for membership as set forth in Section 1 of this Article.  Such reclassification shall be made by the Directors in accordance with standing rules adopted by it from time to time, or pursuant to directive adopted for that purpose.

Section 3. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Persons seeking membership into the Association will apply for membership in writing on the forms provided by the Association, endorsed by two (2) Class A (or Associate Class A) or Superintendent (or Associate Superintendent) Members in good standing, accompanied by a year’s dues, and presented to an Offficer of the Association.  Application will be referred to the Board of Directors for their confrontation classification and consideration for membership.

ARTICLE IV.

Section 1.       DUES, PAYMENT THEROF ,FINES  AND PENALTIES

A.  All dues are payable annually and are pro rated on a semiannual basis.  The amount of dues assessed each membership class annually will change from time to time as determined by the Board of Directors of South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association.

B.  Dues shall become due on or before the Annual Meeting.  Members failing to pay their dues by the date of the annual meeting shall be declared delinquent, shall not be eligible to vote and shall not be welcome

welcome at the Annual Meeting or any other meeting until reinstatement procedures have been completed.

C.  Reinstatement of delinquent members may be made upon written application of the delinquent member to the Board of Directors.  Board of Directors shall review request for reinstatement and upon payment of dues, and any fines that the Board of Directors deem pertinent.  Fines for reinstatement shall not exceed 50% of the back dues of the delinquent member seeking reinstatement.

D.  Dues to the Florida  Golf Course Superintendents Association will be added to Class A,  Superintendent Member and Class C dues annually.

E.  Effective July 1, 1997, all new Class A and Superintendent Member membership applicants must submit an application for membership or evidence of membership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America to be eligible for membership.

Section 2.       CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS

B.  All contributions or gifts to the Association will have approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V

Section 1.       OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS

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 Superintendent Members.

Section   2.  DUTIES AND POWERS OF OFFICERS AND THE BOARD

A.            President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association.  He shall be a member, ex-officio of all regular and special committees, and performs those duties, and acts in such good graces as are generally required of a President.

B.            Vice President: The Vice President shall perform all the duties, and exercise all the powers of the President in his absence or disability.

C.            Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings, conduct such correspondence, keep the files as required by the Association, shall receive all monies due the Association, and keep an accurate account of any money so received.  He will render an account thereof at each regular meeting, and to the Board of Directors whenever they may so direct him.  It will be the responsibility of the Secretary/Treasurer to pay all bills against the Association.  Expenditures generated by the Secretary/Treasurer for routine operation of his/her office and for the good to the Association may be paid by the Secretary/Treasurer without prior approval, provided that such expenditures do not exceed $50.00 per month.  The $50.00 per month expense allowance may be waived by the Board upon request of the Secretary/Treasurer providing the Secretary/Treasurer has sufficient evidence to back his/her request.

D.            External Vice President: Shall represent the Association at all State Board Meetings.

E.             Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall be the executive body of the Association, and will perform duties to include, but not limited to:

1.  Select a representative for the National Conventions.
2.  Levy fines and additional income for separate occasions.
3.  Prepare reports on all violations of the By-laws, or misdemeanors for submission to the members.
4.  Assure the validity of membership applications before their submission to the members for vote.
5. Receive and pass on requests for research, or experimental work to be done on golf courses, and to assist in the arrangement necessary to promote this work.
6.   Maintain an accurate list of unemployed Superintendents, and/ or relocated superintendents along with the jobs that are available.
7.  Arrange social events.
8.  Assist the Nominating Committee.
9.  Approve requests from Sustaining Members for demonstrations of their wares or equipment as long as it is in the best interests of the Association.
10.  Perform such other duties as required and assigned by the President.

ARTICLE VI

Section 1.       REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

the power to ask that any member be excused from attending a regular, special, general, or annual meeting if it is in the best interest of the South Florida Golf  Course Superintendents Association.

Section 2.      ANNUAL MEETING
The annual Meeting shall be held at such a time and place as the Board of Directors may decide.  Election of officers shall be held at this meeting and closed to all but the Class A, Superintendent Member and Class C regular members.

Section 3.      SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special or Business Meetings may be called by the President or at the request of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.      QUORUMS
For the purpose of conducting the business affairs of the Association at the regular monthly meeting, 25% of the Class A, Superintendent Members and Class C Regular Members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.  A majority of votes cast at the business meeting in which a quorum is present will be decisive of any action pertaining to the By-laws of the Association.  Amendment of the By-laws shall require 33 1/3 or 1/3 of the Class A, Superintendent Members  and Class C regular members in good standing present to constitute a quorum with a majority of the quorum casing affirmative votes to amend the By-law.

Section 5.     VOTE BY PROXY
Class A, Class Superintendent Member and Class C Regular Members may vote by proxy at any meeting by submitting written appointments to the Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 6.    ORDER OF BUSINESS

The order of business at the Regular Meeting shall be:
* Call to Order
* Roll call and introduction of guests
* Presenting of Minutes and Financial Report
* Old Business
* New Business
* Educational Program
* Adjourn

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION

Section  1.  The Association shall indemnify any and all persons who 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 amounts paid upon judgments, 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 of any claim, action, suit or proceedings in which they, or any of them are made parties, or a party of which may be asserted against them or any of them, any reason of being, or having been, an officer or director of this Association, except in relation to matters as to which any such 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 law, bylaw agreement, or otherwise.

ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION