Coast Rifle and Pistol Club, Inc.
NRA Affiliated
Competitive and Recreational Shooting Sports
Mississippi Gulf Coast
16706 Highway 67, Biloxi, MS. 39532
By-Laws of the Coast Rifle and Pistol Club
(A Mississippi Non-Profit Corporation)
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the “Coast Rifle and Pistol Club.”
________________________________________________________________________
Article II - Object and Purpose
* Section 1 - The object of this organization shall be the encouragement of
shooting sports among members and guests with a view toward a better
knowledge of the safe handling and proper care of firearms, as well as improved
marksmanship. It shall be our further object and purpose to forward the
development of those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline,
team play and self-reliance, which are the essentials of good sportsmanship and a
foundation of true patriotism.
* Section 2 - The purpose of this organization shall be the same as set out in the
Charter of Incorporation granted to this organization by the State of Mississippi.
________________________________________________________________________
Article III - Membership
* Section 1 - Any citizen or legal resident of the United States of America, eighteen
(18) years of age or over, may become a member of this organization upon vote of
the Executive Committee, payment of the usual initiation fees and dues and
subscribing to the following pledge:
“I certify that I am a citizen or legal resident of the United States of America and
that I am not a member of any organization or group which has as a part of it’s
program the attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States or any of
it’s political subdivisions by force, or violence; that I have never been convicted of
a crime of violence, and if admitted to membership, I will faithfully endeavor to
fulfill the rules of good sportsmanship and good citizenship.”
* Section 2 - Life membership shall no longer be in effect as of 31 May
2006.
* Club members who qualified for life-membership prior to or upon
31 May 2006 shall be granted Life Membership privileges upon
making an official request to the club secretary each year.
* To qualify for Life-membership (membership without being a dues paying
member) a member must be over the age of 65 (sixty-five) and have been
a member for the previous five consecutive years. Members who otherwise
qualify must request this in writing.
* Section 3 - members will support club maintenance and other activities.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article IV - Dues
* Section 1 - The membership dues shall be set by the club, payable annually, not
later than the 31st day of the anniversary month of the members joining.
* Section 2 - No member of the Club in arrears shall be eligible to vote or to enjoy
any other privileges or benefits offered by the Club.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article V - Meetings
* Section 1 - Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of the Club shall be held during
the month of May each year. If the annual meeting shall not take place at the
fixed time, it shall be held within a reasonable time thereafter, and all the officers
shall hold-over until their successors have been duly elected.
* Section 2 - Regular meetings: Regular meetings of the Club for the transaction of
ordinary business shall be held at such time and place as fixed by the Executive
Committee.
* Section 3 - Special meetings: A special meeting of the Club may be held at any
time upon the call of the President, or upon call of the Executive Committee, or
upon demand, in writing, stating the object of the proposed meeting and signed by
not less than twenty percent (20%) of the members entitled to vote. Notice of the
time, place and object of any special meetings shall be given to all officers and
members in good standing, using any of the following methods approved by the
Executive Committee; by United States mail, not less than seven (7) days prior to
the date fixed for the holding of such meeting, by posting the notice just inside the
entrance to the Club using 1” black letters or larger, three weeks prior to the
meeting date. The Executive Committee shall fix the time and place of such meeting.
* Section 4 - Quorum: One third (1/3) of the voting membership or fifteen (15)
members, whichever is less, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
* Section 5 - Closed Executive Sessions Directive/Procedure: All meeting of the Club
will be open to all members who shall be entitled to fully participate therein. Members shall
only be excluded from Executive Session meetings for the following reasons:
1. Disciplinary matters
2. Matters in litigation or potential litigation
3. Bids, proposals, or negotiations the open discussion of which would be detrimental
to the Club
Provided however, any final action taken during the closed Executive Session will be
announced in the next regular scheduled Club Meeting.
* Section 6 - Impromptu Executive Session Directive/Procedure: If an Executive Session is
held without the membership being notified of the meeting, the minutes of that meeting
shall be read at the next regular Club meeting. The minutes of the Executive Board meeting
will reflect the purpose, attendees, and results of the meeting. At the next regular Club
meeting the membership shall be notified as to why the meeting was held without notifying
the membership and the minutes of that meeting will be in the Club minutes of that
meeting.
* Section 7- Executive Session Notification Directive/Procedure: No Executive Session to
conduct Club business shall be called without contacting all nine (9) Officers and Directors
and notifying them of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting, and such time and place
shall be such that all Officers and Directors shall have reasonable opportunity to attend said
meeting or opportunity to provide a proxy vote on the subject matter of the meeting. If all
nine (9) Officers and Directors of the Club are not present the purpose of the meeting or
subject matter voted on cannot be changes during the conduct of that meeting without the
approval of all nine (9) Officers and Directors.
___________________________________________________________________________
Article VI - Officers
* Section 1 - The Officers of the Club shall consist of a President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer and Range Safety Officer. They shall be elected by a
majority vote, by ballot, of the members in good standing present at the annual
meeting of the Club. They shall hold office for one (1) year or until their
successors are elected.
* Section 2 - The Board of Directors shall consist of four (4) members, one of
whom shall be the immediate past President of the Club. The remaining three (3)
Directors shall be elected in such a manner that one person may be elected each
year for a period of a three (3) year term.
* Section 3 - The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and the Board of
Directors of the Club.
* Section 4 - Meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held monthly at such
time and place, as the Committee shall determine. Special meetings may be held
at any time on the call of the President or on demand, in writing, to the Secretary
by three (3) members of the Committee.
* Section 5 - Any six (6) members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.
* Section 6 - Resignation of any Officer may be accepted by the majority vote of the
remaining members of the Committee.
* Section 7 - A vacancy in the Executive Committee may be filled by a majority
vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.
* Section 8 - Any Executive Committee member that misses four (4) executive
meetings in succession shall be considered a non-functioning member unless he
provides his opinions on a specific issue for that meeting in writing or via phone
during that meeting. When an Executive Committee member has obtained non-
functioning status the general membership shall be notified by the Secretary or
President at the next regular Club meeting. The senior Officer present at the regular
Club meeting at which the membership is notified, shall ask the membership for their
recommendation on action to be taken against the Executive Committee member.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article VII - Duties of Officers
* Section 1 - President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the
Executive Committee. He shall be member ex-officio of all regular and special committees
and shall be responsible to see that all Officers complete their assigned duties in a timely
manner. The President shall be directly responsible for maintaining the Club lease. The
President shall be responsible for encouraging Club members to participate in Club
activities and to chair various activities. The President will promote the Club by
contacting and meeting with coast elected officials. The President shall within one (1)
month of taking office draft letters of contact for each police and sheriffs department and
offer them the right to use range facilities on Monday through Friday of each week when
officers shoot as a squad. The President shall provide the letters of contact to the
Secretary for distribution. The President shall contact each of the following organizations
and offer to sponsor shooting events for them. Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of
America, 4H Club, YMCA, and Ducks Unlimited chapters of each coastal county and
other organizations brought to his attention by the membership. He shall have the right
to solicit members to chair projects in support of the above. The President shall provide
his plan of action to accomplish his responsibilities to the Executive Committee within
two (2) months of taking office.
* Section 2 - Vice-President: The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President
in his absence or his request and such other duties as may be required of him from time to
time by the Executive Committee. The Vice-President shall be responsible for over seeing
Club improvements. He shall review or develop a three (3) year Club improvement plan
within one (1) month of taking office. He shall make recommendations to the Club
Executive Committee on any changes he thinks the plan requires. He shall work with the
Treasurer to determine how projects will be financed. He shall submit a projected outline
to the Executive Committee for project start and completion dates. He shall have the right
to solicit and appoint members to chair improvement projects.
* Section 3 - Secretary: The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence, prepare
and record all reports required by the Club, and have custody and control of the books
and papers of the Club. All applications for membership in the Club shall be made to the
Secretary who shall be responsible for re-affiliating the Club annually with the National
Rifle Association and other organizations as approved by the Executive Committee. The
Secretary will disburse all Club badges in the following manner: 1. He shall only disperse
The 1300 badges provided by the Treasurer. 2. He shall be responsible for accounting for
all badges provided. 3. When issuing a badge the Secretary shall sign each badge on the
front. Any badge without the Secretary’s signature shall be considered invalid. When he
issues a badge either by new membership or renewing membership he shall have the
Treasurer sign for the funds received. The Treasurer shall either affix his signature to a
new membership application or to a notice of a renewed member provided by the
Secretary. This action is to provide a method of accountability for membership fees.
He shall have the right to solicit and appoint members to chair improvement projects.
The Secretary shall maintain the membership list in Excel Spread Sheet format and no
other. That data base shall have the Name, Address, Phone Numbers, Date of Birth, Date
of Membership, membership status, amount paid for membership, and e-mail address
of each member. The Secretary shall send and record all official correspondence for
the Club and it shall be maintained in Micro Soft Word or Adobe format.
* Section 4 - Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of the Club funds and shall keep
full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Club
And shall deposit all funds in the name of the Club in such depositories as may be
designated from time to time by the Executive Committee. He shall disburse the funds of
the Club by check requiring two (2) signatures; being that of the Treasurer, President or
other designated officer, making proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall
render to the Committee, or whenever they may require it, an account of all transactions
as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Club. He shall provide in writing a monthly
report of expenditures and current balance at each Club meeting and an annual report to
the Club at it’s annual meeting. The Treasurer shall be responsible for having the following
years 1300 badges made and delivered to the Club Secretary prior to 1 April of the Club
year. The Treasurer shall account for and report all Club income in his annual report
approved by the Executive Committee to the membership, this to include membership fees,
donations, rifle and pistol match fees collected after expenses, clay target shooting fees
collected and all associated costs of clay shooting. He shall provide in his annual report
the general yearly operating costs of the Club. The Treasure shall not have the right to
solicit and appoint members to handle Club funds.
* Section 5 - Range Safety Officer: The Range Safety Officer or his appointees, or
members of the Executive Committee shall conduct all orientation and safety briefings. He
shall be responsible for establishing a fixed time for new member’s safety briefing on the
first (1st) and third (3rd) weekend of each month during his term of office or any additional
periods he wishes to support. He or his appointees or a voluntary member of the Executive
Committee shall be allowed to conduct those safety briefings. At each safety briefing new
members shall be provided a members information and safety brief sheet.
He shall be the primary contact person for any complaints of safety violations and shall
be empowered to enforce range safety rules and regulations. He shall be authorized to
appoint any and all assistants as required.
* Section 6 - Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall have general supervision
and control of all activities of the Club. The Executive Committee shall determine if
increase in dues is required thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting. The four Directors
of the Executive Committee will make a summary audit of the badges issued by the
Secretary and the Club funds from memberships received by the Treasurer during the month
of April. The Executive Committee shall report it’s findings at the annual meeting.
The Executive Committee will each year recommend a list of members and non-members,
for free membership, who donate time, materials, equipment or community representation
which reduces operating costs, reduces improvement costs, and enhances the Club standing
in the community.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article VIII - Suspension or Expulsion
* Section 1 - Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members, in
good standing only, by quorum, present at any special meeting called for that purpose. No
vote on suspension or removal may be taken unless at least a thirty (3) day notice, in
writing shall have been made to the Officer stating the reasons for his removal and the
time and place of the special meeting at which such ballot for his removal is to be taken.
The membership shall be notified by methods established in these By-Laws at least
twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting. At such special meeting, the Officer under
charges shall be accorded a full hearing. The special meeting shall not take place until
thirty (30) days has expired from the day the Officer is notified.
* Section 2 - Any member, or members, may be suspended or expelled from the Club for
any cause deemed sufficient by the Executive Committee by two-thirds (2/3) affirmative
vote of the members of the executive Committee. No vote on suspension or expulsion
may be taken unless at least fifteen (15) days notice, in writing, shall have been given
to the member, or members, of the charges preferred and of the time and place of the
meeting of the Executive Committee at which such charges will be considered. At such
meeting, the member, or members, under charges shall be accorded a full hearing.
* Section 3 - Charges against any Officer or member may be preferred by any member in
good standing. They shall be in writing, clearly stating the facts relied upon and
accompanied by all affidavits and/or exhibits, which are to be used in their support. Such
charges shall be filed with the Secretary, who will immediately notify the President. The
President shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee to hear the charges. The Secretary
shall give at least a fifteen (15) day notice, in writing, or the meeting to each member of
the Executive Committee and to the accuser and the accused. Said notice shall include a
true copy of the charges and the supporting affidavits and/or exhibits.
* Section 4 - Any Officer or member of the Club who has been suspended or expelled by
the National Rifle Association of America shall automatically stand suspended or expelled
from the Club immediately upon receipt of official notice by the Secretary of the Club
from the Secretary of the national Rifle Association of America.
* Section 6 - The National Rifle Association shall be given a complete report whenever
a member of the Club is suspended or expelled showing the charges and action taken.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article IX - Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Corporation, the assets thereof shall be given to any
other non-profit corporation or government entitiy, as the membership shall direct.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article X - Match Rules
All sanctioned rifle, pistol and shotgun competition held by the Club shall be governed
by the rules and regulations of the sanctioning authority.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article XI - Range Procedure Certification
Each member shall receive certification of Knowledge of Range Procedure from an
Officer of the Club prior to utilizing the range facilities.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article XII - Amendments
Any proposed amendments to the By-Laws may be introduced by any member of the
Club at any regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. Such proposals
Must be acted upon by the Club membership in good standing at a regular meeting or
Special meeting called for that purpose, provided a copy of the approved amendment has
Been sent to each Club member by Inited States mail, at least ten (10) days prior to the
Meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in good standing, by quorum shall be necessary to pass or reject said amendment.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article XIII - Maintain Cash Reserves
The board will not approve spending in any given year that exceeds the receipts from membership payments and shooting fee contributions from the previous year. The available
funds for yearly projects are those funds remaining after Lease, Insurance, taxes, electricity, and
replacement targets (ie:replacement of targets is defined as lumber for existing shooting stands,
existing gongs, and clay targets) have been subtracted from receipts. All repairs, upkeep, berm work, extending or modifying existing ranges, road work, parking, club house improvements, repair and/or maintenance of structures and like projects are not to be paid from reserve funds. In
an emergency or out of necessity, the board may borrow from Club reserves, but such funds must be repaid within a maximum of five (5) years at a 1/5th amount, or greater, for each year until paid. Thereafter, if out of necessity, the board borrows from the reserve, then such amount(s) will become a fixed cost from the membership and shooting fee receipts in the same was that Insurance, Lease and like operating costs are first subtracted to determine the amount of remaining funds to be available for other yearly projects. In no event, shall the board borrow more than 25% of existing reserves. The goal of the board should not be to spend all yearly receipts, but should consider two factors before making any expenditure - (1) to make reasonable repairs/maintenance to existing facilities and make improvements to increase the enjoyment of the greater number of present and future members and (2) to maximize an increase in the reserve each year so that additional land may someday be purchased for a permament and convenient shooting facility that benefits all present and future members of the Coast Rifle and Pistol Club.
______________________________________________________________________________
Article XIX - Permanently Expelled Members
* Section 1 - Members who’s actions on behalf of the Club or on Club property which
have brought them before the Executive Committee for a hearing and when the Executive
Committee expelled the member under Article VIII and it’s subsections shall be listed in
he By-Laws under Article XIX Section 2 as members that cannot join the Club or access
Club property as a guest of any member at any time.
* Section 2- Prohibited members:
Morgan Jr., Edward R. Thorne, Chad
Shoemaker, James E. Chaves, Robert (Bob)
Lomeli, Andrew B. White, Barry
______________________________________________________________________________
Original 01/20/66. Revised 01/19/91. Revised 05/21/92. Revised 05/20/04. Revised 05/28/05.
Revised 05/27/06. Revised 05/23/09. Revised 06/03/09. Revised 06/05/10.