Rules

We tend not to make a big issue about rules, because we do not have very many. Those that do exist are largely there to steer the formal administration of the society, and should not have much impact upon individual members’ own activities.

The Rules

1. The Society. The title of the society is ‘Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society’ and shall be referred to hereafter as the Society.
2. Officers & Committee. The business of the Society shall be conducted by the duly elected officers of the society who shall be as follows:
   • Chairman
   • Vice-Chairman
   • Secretary,
   • Treasurer
   • Membership Secretary
   • Committee. The committee shall consist of no more than ten members of the society.

   A quorum for committee purposes shall be two officers and three committee members. The committee shall be required to meet to discuss Society business at least twice per Society year. For the ‘Roles of the Officers of the Society’ see below.

3. Annual General Meeting. The AGM shall be held on a saturday or sunday in march at a venue to be decided by the committee. The AGM shall receive reports from the officers. Nominations for officers and committee (proposed and seconded) shall be made to the secretary prior to the commencement of the AGM. The officers and committee shall be elected annually. Any proposed alteration to the Society rules shall be made to the secretary at least sixty days before the AGM. The secretary shall then notify the members of the proposals together with a notice of the AGM at least thirty days prior to the meeting.
4. The Society Year. The Society year will commence on January 1st and will end on the 31st December in the same year.
5. Conduct. Members will conduct their fishing in a sportsmanlike manner and with the aims of the society in mind. A size limit shall be determined by the committee in the interests of conservation, which members shall be recommended to observe: this is currently 48cms, measured from the nose to the end of the flattened down (and closed) tail. Members are only permitted to retain bass in accordance with current bass regulations. The society will offer no trophies or awards for other than individual fish.The society’s official “Fish-Ins” will be conducted on a catch and release basis. The only exception will be where a fish is clearly unfit for release due to injuries sustained during it’s capture. Any fish deemed mortally injured and unfit for release should be dispatched quickly and as humanely as possible.
6. Affiliation. To aid in its conservation interests the society will maintain a membership of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, and keep members informed of matters of interest arising from this. Affiliation to other organisations will be decided by the AGM.
7. Membership. Membership shall be open to all subject to the committee’s agreement and approval, but the committee may give vested powers of approval to the treasurer for administration purposes. The committee shall have the power to suspend or expel any member whose conduct shall in their opinion be prejudicial to the society.
8. Subscriptions. There will be an annual subscription fee for individual membership set by the AGM. Juniors (15 years or under) and Senior Citizens will be entitled to full membership for a reduced fee. Family membership entitles any number of named individuals at one address to normal membership, but only one copy of the magazine. Clubs may affiliate to the society for an agreed annual fee. Subscriptions should be addressed to the treasurer, and enquiries about membership to the secretary. The Annual General Meeting may award life membership to an individual deemed to have performed an exceptional service to the society; no subscription shall be payable by life members.
9. Disclosure. The Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society, its committee and webmaster reserve the right at all times to use their discretion about the disclosure of information into the public domain.
10. The committee shall permit the treasurer upon the authority of both the chairman and vice-chairman to make payments in lieu of lost income should a committee member, or any other person so authorised, be requested to promote the Society’s interests during that person’s normal working hours causing an irretrievable loss of income. Such a payment would be restricted to average national income, and would qualify to be paid if the above conditions are met and that in the opinion of the chairman there is no other suitable person to represent the society.
11. Child protection. Anglers, 17 years or under, may only join as Family Members. Where they are joining as part of a Family Membership their consent to joining will be assumed. Junior members may not opt to join the ‘Willing to Correspond mailing List. They may access the website forum only with the specific written consent of their parent(s)/ guardian(s) who will assess the site for suitability.
12. Examination of the Society’s accounts. Accounts shall be produced annually on an Income & Expenditure basis, which will be examined independently by a willing BASS member, whose report shall be available at the AGM.

Roles of the Officers of the Society

Chairman

• Overall responsibility for the smooth-running of BASS.
• Ensure BASS has a clear vision of what it wants to be and what it wants to do.
• Keep BASS focused on delivering on its goals.
• Motivate and inspire BASS members.
• Be the public face of BASS.
• Preside over BASS AGMs and BASS Committee meetings.
• Deliver a Chairman’s Report each 30 June and 31 December.

Vice-Chairman

• Help BASS run smoothly and effectively.
• Provide support to the Chairman.
• Substitute for the Chairman, when necessary.
• Undertake assignments at the request of the Chair.
• Act as a ‘sounding board’ to the Chair and Committee members.
• Provide a report to the Committee each 31 March and 30 September.

Secretary

• Help BASS run smoothly and effectively.
• Assist the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, and Committee as needed.
• Arrange the BASS AGM and Committee meetings:
  • Agree dates.
  • Book rooms.
  • Prepare and circulate Agendas.
  • Check that meetings are quorate and run in accordance with the BASS constitution.
  • Handle any constitutional matters such as election of officers and presentation of reports.
  • Take meeting notes and circulate minutes and action points promptly.
  • Keep track of unactioned and unresolved matters.
• Provide a report to the Committee on an “as needed” basis.
• Maintain a list of contact details for Committee members.
• Maintain a physical assets register.
• Keep the BASS Constitution up-to-date and monitor and advise on constitutional matters.
• Preserve BASS’ historical records.
• Deal with general BASS correspondence and enquiries.
• Monitor the BASS email account.
• Arrange prizes for AGM raffle.
• Arrange the manufacture and delivery of BASS restoration awards.

The Role of Treasurer

• Manage BASS’s financial affairs prudently.
• Take reasonable steps to protect BASS’s funds from fraud, misappropriation and misuse.
• Manage the BASS bank account.
• Ensure that income receipts and expense payments are dealt with promptly.
• Provide a brief financial update to the BASS Committee at each Committee meeting.
• Each January, provide (These will be reviewed by Committee, published in the next BASS magazine and put forward for approval at the BASS AGM in March/April):
  • an annual Treasurer’s report;
  • Income and Expenses Statement; and
  • Balance Sheet.
• Maintain BASS’s financial records:
  • Income and Expenses Statement
  • Balance Sheet
  • Bank Statements
  • Membership Fees
  • Purchase Invoices
  • Expense claims
  • Shop purchases and sales
• Keep 7 years of financial records.
• Provide a budget for the forthcoming year.