BY-LAWS

Birmingham Regional Association of Golfing Seniors

By-Laws

Revised November 21, 2022

BRAGS Purpose is to promote fellowship with friendly competition among its members and to advance the best interests of golf in the Birmingham area.

BRAGS is a non-profit organization and no monies derived from fees and/or dues shall insure the benefit of individual members.

The Fiscal Year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of each year.

Article I Membership

a)      Membership is open to any amateur golfer age 50 or older.

b)     Applications are subject to approval by the Board of Governors.

c)     The Board of Governors limits the total number of members.

Article II Tournament Season

a)      The Tournament Season usually begins in March and ends in November.  About ten events will be scheduled in the metro Birmingham area.  Members will receive a sign-up form (by e-mail) about two weeks before each tournament.

Article III Fees and Dues

a)     An initiation fee for new members shall be fixed by the Board of Governors.  This fee is payable at the time the applicant is accepted for membership.  The Board may choose to waive this fee.

b)   Annual dues for all members shall be fixed by Board of Governors.  Members are encouraged to send their Annual Dues to the BRAGS Secretary/Treasurer by no later than December 31st.  This allows time for the records to be updated and for an updated membership roster and the next year’s tournament schedule (place, dates and formats) to be received by the members well before the March tournament.

Article IV Membership Meetings

a)      An Annual Meeting of the Membership is held either in October or November, usually at lunch immediately following the scheduled monthly tournament.  Notice of the meeting will be included in the e-mail notification for the monthly event.  It is most important for members to attend this meeting.  All decision requires a quorum or 15% of the total membership.  This is also the occasion when members can make comments, suggestions and ideas for improvements to be for considered.  The basic agenda will include a review of the current year’s competition, plans for the next year, a Treasurer’s report, and a summary of significant Board Decisions during the year.

b)      Members may request additional membership meetings by mailing such requests to the President or Secretary.  The reasons for the meeting must be set forth and the request signed by at least five members.

Article V Board of Governors

a)      Management of BRAGS affairs are vested in a twelve-member Board of Governors.   (The outgoing President serves as an ex officio member of the Board with voting privileges for one year).  In addition to managing the affairs of the association the Board is responsible for enforcing the By Laws and for filling temporary or expired Board vacancies.

b)      Candidates for Board membership may be nominated by any BRAGS member, provided the candidate has expressed a willingness to serve.  Candidates may be chosen by vote, or otherwise approved/rejected if the candidates and the number of vacancies are equal, at the time of the annual Membership Meeting.  Board members are chosen for three-year terms and sufficient candidates are chosen to fill the existing vacancies, which normally is four.  Terms begin on January 1st and end on December 31st.

c)       The Board of Governors will meet without notice immediately following the Annual Members Meetings.  The Board will select officers for the following year, review committee assignments, set targets dates for completion of the next years schedule, set target date for mailing the schedule and updated roster to all members, and set a date for the first quarter Board Meeting.

d)      The Board of Governors will meet as soon as practicable in the first quarter to review progress of the work assignments and target dates established at the Annual Board Meeting, as well as other items the Board may wish to include.  The President will arrange for the meeting and notify the Board members.

e)      Other Meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by request to the President by two Board members.

f)       A Quorum will consist of seven Board members.

Article VI Executive Committee

a)      The Board of Governors at its discretion will establish an Executive Committee to conduct the affairs of the Association during interim periods between Board Meetings.  If so, the Committee will include all officers (4) and one other board member.  The committee will have all authority of the board except it may not amend or alter the By Laws in any way.  Three Committee members will constitute a quorum.

Article VII Officers

a)      The Officers elected at the Annual Board Meeting shall include a President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.  No officer except the Secretary/Treasurer shall hold office for more than two consecutive one year terms.  Each officer will ensure that a successor is fully trained and qualified.

b)      The President’s duties include those normally associated with the duties of a Chief Executive Officer.  The President will have responsibility for seeing that work assignments are made in a timely fashion and that assignments are completed on time.  He will have responsibility for seeing work is coordinated.  The President will select the committee chairs with cooperation of the Board.  He will be an ex officio member of all committees.  The President will call and conduct all meeting of the Board and the Executive Committee.

c)       The Vice President’s duties include performing the President’s duties when the president is unable to perform or act.  The Vice President’s duties may include other duties assigned by the President.

d)      The Secretary/Treasurer’s duties include the following; receiving and responding to all applications for membership, deposit receipts to the bank promptly and forward applications to the membership committee for record keeping.  He shall keep minutes of meetings for the association’s records and for polling Board members on issues requiring voting. The duties shall include responsibility for receipts and disbursements of all monies, and bank accounts of the Association.  He shall maintain a running balance of receipts.  He shall make all payments of the associations, including the payments to the clubs.  All payments require that Associations bills/receipts be signed and dated by the members incurring the indebtedness.  The Treasurer shall maintain all related records and make them available for a required annual Audit, or for audits at the discretion of the President or Board.  He shall provide financial summaries at the Annual Membership Meeting and at a Board Meeting.

Article VIII Committees

a)      Committee assignments are to be made by the President in cooperation with the Board.

b)     The President will appoint the chairs of the Membership Committee who will then select other members to develop programs of membership recruitment and involvement, of a Nominating Committee to nominate a slate of Board Members candidates, and of an Audit Committee to conduct annual and other audits of the Association’s financial records.

c)      The President will appoint, and serve as an ex officio member of, an Arrangements Committee.  By no later than January 31st this committee shall complete the tournament schedule, such to include the locations, dates, clubs and charges for each tournament.  This information shall be provided in writing to the Tournament Committee.  The Arrangements Committee shall also have responsibility for lunches, dinners etc… associated with the tournaments.

d)     The President shall appoint a Tournament Committee which shall have full charge and control of all phases of each tournament.  This includes coordination with the host club, development of entry forms and ensuring timely e-mails of forms to members, receipt of forms from the members, tournaments format, parings and prizes, release of required records to the club pros, on site coordination with the Pro at the club including compliance with USGA Rules, and attesting to the accuracy of bills to be paid by the Treasurer.  The Tournament Committee is responsible for the maintenance and use of an accurate Handicap.  A five-tournament rolling average will be maintained for each member.  New members begin with a USGA handicap which is then averaged with the events played until a five-tournament average is developed.  An important adjunct of the Tournament Committee is the responsibility of maintaining the BRAGS membership computer file, and for printing from the file the membership roster and mailing labels upon request.  This BRAGS membership computer file will be used to send e-mail notices of all events, major outings and Board Meetings.

Article IX Amending By-Laws

a)      The By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of members at special or annual Membership Meetings, and/or by a majority vote of the Board

Article X Dissolving BRAGS

The Association will survive until membership has been reduced to ten members.  At which time the remaining members will distribute all remaining assets to charitable organizations.

     Gary E. Rowe                   Secretary

Approved by the Board of Governors on ______11-21-22________________