CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS OF THE GREAT SWAMP FISH, GAME, AND FORESTRY ASSOCIATION UPDATED March 2026
CONSTITUTION OF THE GREAT SWAMP FISH, GAME, AND FORESTRY ASSOCIATION All reference to he, him, or his shall also Include she, her, and hers.
NAME: The name of this corporation shall be The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association. Throughout the Rules, Regulations and By-Laws it shall be referred to as The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association or The Association or The Club.
OBJECT: The objects and purposes are to unite and bind together interested sportsmen; to meet, exchange views, educate, and endeavor by concerted efforts to further true sportsmanship; to assist Game, Fish, Forest, and Water Departments of Pennsylvania; to bring about more friendly relations between landowners, tenant’s, and sportsman; to foster the improvement and purification of our streams; to assist in forestation; and to control vermin. There shall be no shares of capital stock. Membership shall be evidenced by Certificates of Membership.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: The Officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Financial/Membership Secretary. The business and affairs of this Corporation shall be managed by a board of eleven (11) Directors, one of which shall be the President of the Association.
ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: Officers and Directors are to be nominated and elected in the manner stated in the By-Laws. In the event of any elective office becoming vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the presiding officer at the following regular meeting to announce the existence of such vacancy, whereupon an election shall be held forthwith.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, a Financial/Membership Secretary, and ten (10) Directors. The Executive Committee shall hold monthly meetings at least one (1) week prior to the regular stated monthly meeting of The Association. Any Executive Committee member absent from three (3) consecutive Executive Committee meetings without qualified reason for absence shall be removed from office. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office. Any member may attend an Executive Committee meeting to voice his opinion on club affairs, however, they shall have no vote during the course of affairs on any matter brought to vote by the Board of Directors.
ALTERATIONS OR AMENDMENTS: No alterations or amendments shall be made to this Constitution or the By-Laws unless done in the manner presented in the By-Laws.
DISSOLUTION: The Club may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the members. In the event of the dissolution of The Club, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of The Club nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of The Club shall be distributed to any members of The Club. But after payments of the debts of The Club, its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization for the benefit of the community for use as park property, or as a fish, bird, or game preserve as selected by the Board of Directors.
BY-LAWS OF THE GREAT SWAMP FISH, GAME, AND FORESTRY ASSOCIATION All reference to he, him or his shall also include she, her and hers.
ARTICLE I - NAME AND OBJECT SECTION 1. The name and object of this corporation shall be The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association. Throughout the Rules, Regulations and By-Laws it shall be referred to as The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association or The Association or The Club.
SECTION 2. The objects and purposes are to unite and bind together interested sportsmen; to meet, exchange views, educate and endeavor by concerted efforts to further true sportsmanship; to assist Game, Fish, and Forest and Water Departments of Pennsylvania; to bring about more friendly relations between landowners, tenant’s, and sportsman; to foster the improvement and purification of our streams; to assist in forestation; and to control vermin.
SECTION 3. There shall be no shares of capital stock. Membership shall be evidenced by Certificates of Membership. No part of the association’s net earnings will inure to the benefit of any member, director, or officer. Reasonable compensation for administrative and similar services permitted by the IRS & performed for the benefit of the club will not be considered inurement.
SECTION 4. A Ladies Auxiliary may exist. They shall follow all rules, regulations, Constitution and By-Laws of The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
SECTION 1. The membership shall be composed of citizens of the United States who subscribe to the objects of The Association. Persons may become active members upon the approval of the application by the Membership Committee and by election to membership by the majority votes of the members of The Association present at any regular meeting. Each active member in good standing is entitled to one (1) vote upon all matters of The Association at any regular meeting.
SECTION 2. All applications for membership shall be presented in writing signed by the applicant and endorsed by at least one (1) active member of The Association, and accompanied by the application fee. Such application shall be referred to a committee appointed by the President, who will report on the same at any regular meeting of The Association.
SECTION 3. All new applicants must attend (1) general meeting accompanied by their sponsor, prior to being nominated for election. Waivers in unusual circumstances will be considered by the Membership Committee. Upon the favorable report of the Membership Committee and the majority vote of the members of the Association at a regular meeting, the applicant shall be immediately declared elected. New members once elected shall attend an orientation session prior to receiving a membership card and being entitled to the full privileges of membership. The successful operation of The Association relies upon volunteerism and ‘shared participation’. To achieve good standing, adult members may be required to contribute a minimum amount of service during their initial year. The Board of Directors will implement and/or adjust the amount of hours required prior to the opening of the new member enrollment period for any given calendar year. The Board may at any time, assess fines and/or penalties- including expulsion- for any member who fails to meet his/her minimum obligation. An extension or waiver may be granted by the Board in recognition of a member’s disability or unusual circumstances.
SECTION 4. Application fees shall be immediately returned to all rejected applicants in the form of a check from the Treasurer.
SECTION 5. The application fee of The Association and the annual dues for The Association shall be payable in advance. The application fee and first year’s dues paid between February 1st and April 30th shall be considered dues for the present year.
SECTION 6. All dues shall be paid to the Financial/Membership Secretary by mail, before January 1st of said year. Renewal dues will be accepted by check or money order only and made payable to Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association.
SECTION 7. A member of this Association having been expelled for non-payment of dues or failure to meet a service requirement may be reinstated by the regular procedure for new applicants, including the payment of the application fee.
SECTION 8. Junior Membership to include all children (16) and under, up until January 1st. Their annual dues shall be five dollars ($5.00), plus an application fee of five dollars ($5.00) for new Junior Memberships. All Junior Membership and renewal applications must include the age, month, date, year of birth, and signature of parent or legal guardian.
SECTION 9. Any member, sixty-five (65) years of age or older on or before December 31, 2006, and have had at least ten (10) consecutive years of membership, shall be granted free (life) membership.
SECTION 10. All members who enter the service shall be given free membership for the length of time they are in the service, provided they notify The Association. (Pending Board of Directors review)
SECTION 11. Any member whose conduct is in violation of the Rules, Regulations, or By-Laws of this Association, or whose behavior is improper or prejudicial to the interest of The Association, may be suspended or expelled from The Association by a vote of the majority of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS SECTION 1. The Officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Financial/Membership Secretary. There shall be no shares of capital stock. Membership shall be evidenced by Certificates of Membership. No part of the association’s net earnings will inure to the benefit of any member, director, or officer. Reasonable compensation for administrative and other services permitted by IRS code will not be considered inurement.
SECTION 2. PRESIDENT - It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of The Association. He shall approve all vouchers for the expenditure of any monies from The Association Treasury. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office.
SECTION 3. VICE-PRESIDENT - In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside and perform all the duties of the President. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office.
SECTION 4. RECORDING SECRETARY - It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to attend all meetings of The Association, and those of the Executive Committee, to keep a separate and true record of the proceedings of both, in bound ledgers provided for that purpose, and to attend to all correspondence. He shall also take roll call of the Officers and Directors at the meetings, when specified to do so by the order of business listed in Article VII, Section 1. He shall be at every meeting of The Association with the proper books and papers at the time appointed. Or if unable to attend, shall cause such books and papers to be conveyed thereto. He shall within ten (10) days after the election or expulsion of a member, notify the member of such action. He shall notify the members of special meetings called by the President. He shall have charge of the door keys and keep an account of the same. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office.
SECTION 5. FINANCIAL/MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY - The Financial/Membership Secretary shall keep a record of all members of The Association in a book furnished for this purpose, and shall render statements to members through the use of the October bulletin. He shall collect all the membership money due The Association and at each regular stated meeting present to the treasurer, an itemized report of all the monies received by him. He shall immediately, at the close of each meeting, pay over to the Treasurer all monies belonging to The Association, taking the Treasurer’s receipt for same. He shall, at the expiration of his term of office or whenever required, present to The Association a statement of all monies received by him to the Treasurer and deliver to his successor all books and papers pertaining to his office in his possession. He shall prepare a typewritten statement annually upon the approval of the auditor’s inspection of his records.
SECTION 6. TREASURER - The Treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to The Association, keep a correct account of all money received by him on account of The Association, in a book provided for that purpose, noting the date and source from which received, and deposit the same in the local bank in the name of “The Great Swamp Fish, Game, and Forestry Association”. He shall pay all bills approved by The Association, by check, signed by him and countersigned by the President, Secretary or any two (2) of the above Officers. He shall receive all monies collected by the Financial/Membership Secretary and credit the amount to The Association, giving the Financial/Membership Secretary a receipt for the same. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office.
SECTION 7. DIRECTORS - In the absence of the President and Vice- President, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform the duties of the President. The business of The Association shall be managed by a board of eleven (11) Directors, one (1) of which shall be the President of The Association. It shall be the duty of the directors to assist the Officers, assume control and charge of real estate and other property of The Association and cause same to be kept in good repair and condition, and to manage and oversee the activities of the Corporation and to require proper decorum in and about the premises at all times. He shall, at the expiration of the term of his office, deliver all books and papers and all other property of The Association in his possession to his successor in office.
SECTION 8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Whenever a director or officer has a financial interest- either personal or family related- in any matter coming before the Board of Directors, the affected person(s) shall a) fully disclose the nature of the interest and b) withdraw from lobbying, bid-review, and voting on the matter. Any transaction or vote involving a potential conflict of interest shall be approved only when a majority of disinterested directors in attendance determine that it is in the best interest of the club to do so. The minutes of meetings at which such votes are taken shall record such disclosure, abstention, and rationale for approval.
ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall decide the committees that are needed at any given time; a current list shall be given to the President prior to January 1st of each year. Committees are subject to change and may be added or deleted as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. The President shall be notified at an Executive Committee meeting of any committee changes. The Board of Directors shall elect a chairperson to each committee. The chairperson shall decide the number of persons on each committee. The committee chairpersons shall attend one (1) Executive Committee meeting to go over the responsibilities for that committee. Committees shall, at the expiration of their term, deliver all books and papers, along with any other Association property in their possession to their successors in office.
ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Officers and Directors are to be nominated at the regular September and October meeting, with nominations being held open through to the adjournment of the October meeting, and elected at the regular November meeting. All nominees for Officer and Director must be present at the meeting to accept the nomination or present a signed letter of acceptance to the Recording Secretary before the adjournment of the October meeting.
SECTION 2. When an election is held, the presiding officer shall appoint a judge and two (2) members in good standing to act as tellers and assist in conducting the election in a fair and impartial manner.
SECTION 3. Only adult members in good standing shall receive ballots to vote.
SECTION 4. Terms of office shall be as follows; one (1) year for club Officers, two (2) years for ten (10) club Directors. Officers and Directors may be re-elected.
SECTION 5. A majority of all the votes cast is necessary for an election. If there are a number of candidates, neither of whom has received the necessary number of votes, the three (3) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be selected and the balloting continued; the lowest candidates at each succeeding ballot to be dropped until an election is had.
SECTION 6. In the event of any elective office becoming vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the presiding officer at the following regular meeting to announce the existence of such vacancy, whereupon an election shall be held forthwith.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least once a month; the place of meeting shall be at the club property. The Board of Directors may change the date for the meeting, but five (5) days written notice of the change of date must be given to the membership. In any event, one (1) meeting must be held each month.
SECTION 2. The President may call special meetings of the membership at any time; it must be called by the President if a written request is made for one, by not less than twenty (20) percent of the members.
SECTION 3. In the case of special meetings of the members, written or actual, notice of such meeting shall be given by, or at the direction of the President, to all members at least five (5) days prior to the date named for the meeting, stating the time and purpose of which the meeting is called.
SECTION 4. Twenty (20) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the membership. In case no quorum can be assembled at the time and place of meeting, the meeting shall be declared postponed.
SECTION 5. A majority of the members of each committee shall constitute a quorum for committee meetings.
SECTION 6. Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the chairman.
SECTION 7. Before the members assembled in meeting can debate any question, it must be moved and seconded on the floor, and stated by the President, who will then call for remarks.
SECTION 8. After the President states a motion, it shall be deemed in the possession of The Association, but may be withdrawn by the mover before the amendment is made or vote taken, it shall then be given to the Board of Directors for their decision. No motion shall be debated unless seconded; when it is seconded the President shall state it.
SECTION 9. No member, while another is speaking, shall hold any private conversation, or pass between him and the chair. A member called to order by the President, shall immediately take his seat, unless permitted to explain.
SECTION 10. All decisions of the presiding officer shall be conclusive unless reversed on the appeal to The Association.
SECTION 11. No member without special permission of the presiding officer shall speak more than twice on the same general question, or more than once until every member desiring the floor shall have spoken.
SECTION 12. In all cases where there is an order, resolution, or motion, it shall be entered into the minutes; also the name of the mover and the seconder shall be entered thereon.
SECTION 13. Any member may change his vote after the yeas and nays have been taken, and before the vote is announced, but no member shall be permitted to change his vote after the chair announces a decision.
SECTION 14. Any controversial subject on which action was taken at a previous meeting cannot be brought up again for discussion unless approved by a two-thirds majority of active members present.
SECTION 15. Any subject of importance, amounting to five hundred ($1,000.00) dollars or more must be brought to the Directors before it is brought back to the floor for a vote.
ARTICLE VII - ORDER OF BUSINESS SECTION 1. The order of business at all meetings shall be as follows: 1. Pledge to the Flag 2. Roll call of Officers and Directors 3. Reading of the Minutes 4. Reports of the Committees 5. Written Communication 6. Unfinished Business 7. New Business 8. Nomination of Officers 9. Appointment of Committees 10.Financial/Membership Secretary’s Report 11. Payment of the Bills 12.Treasurer’s Report 13.Good of the Association 14.Adjournment
SECTION 2. At special meetings, only the business for which the meeting was called will be considered.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds of the members present at any stated meeting. All proposed amendments are to be read at three (3) regular meetings prior to their adoption. Written notice shall be given to each member setting forth the date of the meeting and purpose of the meeting. Ballots shall be used for the voting process.
ARTICLE IX - UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SECTION 1. Any Officer, Director, or member holding property or records of The Association, shall upon written request of the Board of Directors, turn over all such property and records immediately. __________________________________________________________________________________
