Southeastern Game Rancher's Association

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Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association 

Mission Statement / Charter  

 

The Southeastern Game Rancher's Association was established in April of 2006. 

 

The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, is dedicated to the expansion and promotion of responsible  industry activities that support game ranching.  

The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, is made up of, members interested in commerce and conservation of both native and non-native game species.

  The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, pledges to constantly monitor federal, state and local legislation that adversely affects the game ranching industry and vows to work closely with other organizations such as Safari Club International, NADeFA, EWA, The National Rifle Association  and our Industry Associate Members to achieve a national voice against infringements on game ranches,  hunting/breeding of game animals and private property rights.

 

Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association
Articles of Organization

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE and OFFICES

This association is established to promote the education and scientific proliferation of game ranching and associated industries. It shall further the expansion of the agricultural industry associated with game ranching through both educational and scientific advancements available.

1. Primary Office. The primary office of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, shall be maintained within a State, in which the presiding Board of Directors dictates.

2. Supplemental Offices. Supplemental offices may be established in any State, in which a chapter of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, has been authorized. The Board of Directors shall approve the location of any supplemental offices.

Directorors shall approve the location of any supplemental offices.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERS

Active Membership in SGRA
Dues of $100.00 shall be paid by April 1,  of each calendar year, to receive voting rights at the Annual Membership Meeting

Lifetime Membership in SGRA
Any qualified applicant may become a Lifetime Member of SGRA. A one-time fee of $750.00 entitles this member to receive all the rights and privileges of Active membership for the lifetime of the member. This membership is non-transferable.

Industry Associate with SGRA (No Cost to Qualified Applicants)
Legitimate associations, representing the game industry, including but not limited to: deer, exotic species, elk,  farming/ranching, hunting/sporting associations, etc., may enjoy IA status. This status allows sharing of members rolls, and promotes linkage of SGRA and its IA’s to common industry issues.


Student Member Persons enrolled in public or private institutions of learning are eligible to become Student Members of the SGRA. The annual dues for Student Membership shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars. Student members must be at least 15 years of age. Student members shall be non-voting participants, and receive all other amenities that Active membership provides.

General Members of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, shall be persons approved for membership in the Association by or under authorization of the Board of Directors, of any State in which an authorized chapter exists. General Members shall be persons who are actively engaged as owners, agents, educators, students or managers in the handling, propagation, or care of indigenous and non-indigenous livestock animals as defined in these By-Laws and amendments thereof and Rules adopted and provided in accordance with Article VIII of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE III
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

1. Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the members of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, shall be rotated throughout the member States. The meeting will be conducted in such place and on such date and at such time in April of each year. The primary purpose of the meeting will be for the election of Directors, and transactions of such other business as may be appropriate. If no timely action is taken by the Board of Directors as to any year, the annual meeting of members shall be held in the Association's principal office at (time, date and place) of every year for which no timely action is taken, as provided by this section.

2. Special Meetings  Special meetings of general members for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Executive Director or President of Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, or the any supplemental Chapter or by any five (5) of the Directors of the Primary or Supplemental Chapters to be held at such time and place as may be designated in the notice of the meeting. Notice of a special meeting shall be deposited in the United States mail addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, with the postage thereon paid, not less than five (5) days nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting, and when so mailed the notice shall be deemed delivered.
The President or Vice-President or the Secretary shall promptly call such a meeting whenever ten percent (10%) or more of the Active Members in good standing shall make written application therefore, stating the purposes of the meeting applied for. The business transacted at any special meeting of active members shall be limited to the purpose stated in the notice.


3. Vote by Proxy   Active Members of the Association in good standing may vote at any annual or special meeting by proxy duly appointed in writing.

4. Quorum of Members  For the purpose of holding an election of Directors or the transaction of other business, a quorum of Active Members either present or present by proxy shall consist of not less than ten percent (15%) of the total number of Active Members in good standing.


5. Notice Meetings of Members  Only Active Members in good standing as of January 31 of each year shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, annual meeting for such year. Notice of the annual meeting shall be deposited in the United States mail addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Association, with the postage thereon paid, not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, and when so mailed the notice shall be deemed delivered.

ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS

1. Powers of Board of Directors  All the affairs of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, shall be under the control of the Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power from time to time to adopt, alter, and amend By-Laws and rules and regulations. Should a tie vote occur, the Executive Director shall cast the deciding vote.

2. Nomination and Election of Directors During the month of January of each year after the first full calendar year following the organization of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, consisting of the Executive Director, President, Vice President, Secratery/Treasurer,and the Board of Directors, shall appoint a nominating Committee consisting of two (2) members of the Board of Directors and three (3) General Members of the Association who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Association. The Nominating Committee shall promptly select not less than ten (10) or more than twenty (20) persons as nominees and candidates to be voted upon at the next annual meeting of Active General Members of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, to fill the vacancies of the Directors whose term of office will next expire or Directors who are deceased or who have resigned. The names of such nominees shall be placed on a written or printed ballot and mailed to each General Member in good standing with the notice of the annual meeting. Such ballot shall provide that the same may be marked by the General Member so as to indicate the number of persons to be elected Directors for whom he or she desires to vote, and, same may be mailed in a sealed envelope marked “Ballot” to the Secretary of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, and the same shall be placed in the ballot box and to be opened, tallied, and counted at the annual meeting with the other written or printed vote of other members who may attend the meeting and cast their ballots in person. All voting for Directors shall be by such written ballots and the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected. In the event of a tie vote the election shall be determined by the drawing of lots in a manner approved by the nominees affected by the tie vote. Any General member in good standing may “write in” any candidate or candidates for Directors they may desire and cast their vote for such candidates; but no ballot shall be considered or counted in which the member attempts to vote for more than the number of Directors designated to be elected.

3. Meetings of Directors The Board of Directors shall hold a meeting as soon as practicable after the adjournment of the annual meeting of members, at which any and all business and affairs of the Association may be acted upon. No notice of said meeting need be given. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called from time to time by the president or the Secretary or by written call and notice signed by any five (5) or more Directors filed with the Secretary whose duty it shall be to mail said notice to all of the Directors of the Association. Notices of special meetings of Directors, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be given by mailing the same to the Directors not more than thirty (30) days or less than five (5) days before the date set for the meeting; and unless otherwise stated in the notice the meeting shall be held at the principal office of the Association.


4. Quorum of Directors Unless otherwise required by law, five (5) Directors present or present by proxy shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors. If less than a quorum be present at a meeting the Directors present may adjourn the meeting and the meeting may be held on the date to which it is adjourned without further notice. Except as other wise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, when a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of Directors a majority of the Directors present at such meeting shall decide any question coming before such meeting.

5. Attendance at Meetings  A Director's position is one of trust and confidence placed on an individual by the membership of this Association. Attendance at Board Meetings is paramount to this trust. An Association's Director shall be allowed three (3) missed meetings, either unexcused or by proxy, in a twelve (12) month period beginning with the Annual Membership Meeting each year.

6. Conduct of Meetings
 Each meeting of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or the President; or in the absence of either, by a Vice-President or a person selected to preside by the vote of the majority of the Directors present. The Secretary, or in his or her absence an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of both, any person designated by the Chairman of the meeting shall act as Secretary of the meeting. All meetings shall be conducted in an orderly manner but no formal rules or order of business shall be applicable.

7. Committees In addition to the Nominating Committee, the Directors of the Board may appoint from their number an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will consist of the Chairman of the Board, President, Vice-President, and a maximum of five additional Board of Directors. The Secretary-Treasurer will be an Ex Officio member with no voting rights. The Executive Committee, between meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have all the powers of the Board of Directors with respect to all matters relating to the affairs of the Association. All action of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the next succeeding meeting of the Board of Directors for approval or disapproval; but, the Board of Directors shall not have the authority to disapprove an action taken by the Executive Committee on which other persons or parties have acted or relied and whose rights would be adversely affected by the withholding of such approval.


The Board of Directors may appoint a Technical Committee consisting of wildlife biologists and other technical persons in the wildlife field and a committee to study and make recommendations with reference to the establishment of trophy standards and trophy records of indigenous and non-indigenous hoof stock animals, both of which may be standing committees until changed by the Directors.

The Board of Directors may appoint such other standing or temporary committees, as the Directors may deem proper.

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

1. Number and Designation of Officers  The Officers of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, shall be Executive Director, a President, one Vice-President, a Secretary/ Treasurer and a Board of Directors consisting of five (5) members. The Officers specifically named above shall be elected annually by the General Membership, at the annual meeting of members and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected; subject, however, to the provisions of Article VI hereof. In the event of the failure of the Board of Directors to so elect any such Officers, such Officers may be elected at any subsequent meeting of the Board of Directors. Any person may hold two or more offices, provided President and Secretary shall not be the same person. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.


2. Other Offices  The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint one or more other officers of the Corporation, including one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as the Board may deem desirable. Each officer so appointed shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors or the President.


3. Executive Director The Executive Director of the Board shall preside at the Board of Directors meeting during the election of the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurers, Secretary, and Assistant Secretary, if the Board of Directors chose to elect all or part of these Officers. The Chairman of the Board shall also be Chairman of the Executive Committee.

4. President  The President shall, subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors, be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall have supervision of the financial and other affairs of the Association, as well as all powers and duties usually incident to such officer. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, except the election of Officers, and of members at which he is present.


5. Vice-President  In the absence or inability to act for the President, any Vice-President designated by the Board of Directors shall perform all the duties and may exercise all the powers of the President. Each Vice-President shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President.

6. Secretary/Treasurer  The Secretary/Treasurer shall have general supervision over care and custody of the funds and securities of the Association and shall deposit the same or cause the same to be deposited in the name of the Association in such bank or banks, trust company or trust companies, and in such safe deposit company or companies as the Board of Directors may designate; shall have supervision over all receipt and disbursements of the Association and also general responsibility for its accounting procedures and practices; shall, whenever required by the Board of Directors or the President, render or cause to be rendered an account or accounts of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Association; shall have the power and perform the duties usually incident to the office of Treasurer, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer by the Board of Directors or the President.

ARTICLE VI
RESIGNATIONS AND REMOVALS

1. Resignations   Any Director, Officer, or agent of the Association may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, or to the President, or to the Secretary of the Association; and, any member of any Committee may resign at any time by giving notice either as aforesaid, or to the Committee of which he or she is a member or to the Chairman thereof. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein; or, if the time is not specified, upon receipt thereof, and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.


2. Removals  Any member, Director, Officer, Employee or Agent, or Member of any Committee may be removed at any time by the majority vote or written action of the majority of the entire Board of Directors upon a finding, reached after the person involved has been fully advised and heard, that the Member, Director, Officer, Employee, or Agent is guilty of a felony or any misrepresentation, deception, or fraud with reference to any matter relating to indigenous or non-indigenous hoof stock animals or is guilty of conduct detrimental to the welfare of the Association.

3. The Board of Directors: by resolution adopted by the majority of the whole Board, may also at any time remove or discharge, with or without cause, any Officer, Employee, Agent, or Member of any Committee appointed by it or hired with its approval or otherwise. A Director found in violation of Article IV Section 5 shall appear before the Board of Directors and show cause as to why he or she should not be removed from the Association's Board. The Board may remove the Director, by resolution adopted by the majority of the remaining Board members.

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ARTICLE VII
DISSOLUTION

1. Upon dissolution, all remaining assets shall be used exclusively for exempt purposes as defined by IRS 501c3 for purposes as stated within in this document.

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ARTICLE VIII
VACANCIES

1. Among Directors  Any vacancy occurring in the office of Director by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office, or otherwise, any new directorship created by an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by the majority vote or written action of the remaining Directors. Directors so appointed shall serve during the unexpired portion of the term of their predecessor.

2. Among Officers, etc. If the Chairman of the Board, the Office of the President, any Vice-President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer becomes vacant at any time by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or otherwise, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the vote of the Board of Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

ARTICLE IX
DEFINITIONS

1. Definition of Non-indigenous hoof stock Animal The term “Non-indigenous hoof stock animal” as used in these By-Laws shall, until amended by action of the Board of Directors, be construed to mean and include all hoof stock animals which are not native to the North American Continent included in the families of animals popularly designated as deer, antelope, sheep, goats, equine, and bovine.

2. Definition of Indigenous Hoof stock Animal  The term “indigenous hoof stock animal” as used in these By-Laws shall, until amended by action of the Board of Directors be construed to mean and include all “hoof stock animals native to the North American continent” included in the families of animals popularly designated as deer, antelope, sheep, goats, equine, and bovine.

3. Change of Definitions The Board of Directors may add to and otherwise change the foregoing definitions and may include said definitions and changes in and amendments thereto in Rules which shall have the force of By-Laws.

ARTICLE X
ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS

1. By Members Whenever, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, action or approval with respect to any matter by Active Members is necessary or desirable, the matter may be prepared in a form of resolution which would be adequate if passed at a meeting of the Active members and mailed to each of the Active Members with a form for his or her written vote of approval or disapproval to be returned by mail or otherwise to the Secretary within a limited time to be stated in the request for approval or disapproval. The action of a majority of the Active Members so voting by mail thereon shall constitute action thereon with the same effect as though the vote had been taken at a meeting of Active Members held in accordance with these By-Laws; provided, however, that the total number so voting by mail shall be equal to the number required for a quorum of Active Members at a meeting of such members as provided by these By-Laws.

2. By Directors  Any matter which can be decided or acted upon by the Board of Directors at a meeting held in accordance with these By-Laws may be acted upon by submitting the action in the form of a resolution in form and manner provided in Section I of this Article, and the written, vote thereon by a majority of the entire number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be a valid action thereon as though the same had been done at a meeting of the Directors held in accordance with these By-Laws.

Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association
Code of Ethics

The following is the code of ethics and conduct of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, governing the conduct and practices of its membership regarding the keeping, capture, transportation, marketing, and harvesting/hunting of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals.

1. General

A. All members of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, have an obligation to report any suspected violation of this code of ethics, to the organization.

B. Any member convicted of a violation of a state or federal law involving indigenous or non-indigenous hoofstock animals may have membership in the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, permanently or temporarily suspended, as decided by the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors as advised by the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Ethics Committee.

C. The Board of Directors may, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, temporarily suspend a membership of any member under investigation for the violation of any state or federal law involving indigenous or non-indigenous hoofstock animals.

D. The Board of Directors may, by majority vote, refuse either temporarily or permanently membership to anyone who is or has been either under investigation or convicted of a violation of a state or federal law involving indigenous or non-indigenous hoofstock animals.

2. Care

A. All indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals raised or kept for any purpose shall be maintained in an enclosed area, pasture, or structure suitable for the particular species of wildlife so raised or kept. The enclosed area, pasture, or structure shall be sufficient to prevent the escape of such animals and shall be designed to protect such animals from undue injury or abuse.

B. All animals raised or kept shall have access to adequate pasture and/or grazing lands suitable for such animals, or be provided with supplemental feed and water as required to maintain the health and vitality of all such animals so raised or kept.

C. All animals raised or kept shall be provided with appropriate veterinary services, as may be required, to maintain the general health and vitality of such animals.

D. If animals are contained behind a fence, the fencing should be of a type and quality to prevent injury to the animals, to contain the animals, and should be maintained and monitored on a regular basis.

E. Any escaped animals should be recovered as soon as possible and as per the laws of the state/country/local area.

3. Capture

A. In capturing any species of animals preparatory to transportation, marketing, or other lawful use, such capture shall be by method, or methods, calculated to inflict the least amount of stress on the animal species being captured.

B. Capture operations shall be conducted by persons familiar with the animals and the capture procedure being utilized, and who are qualified and competent to carry out such capture operations without inflicting undue stress or ahem to the animals so captured. Animals shall not be captured or handled more often, or for longer periods, than is reasonably necessary to property manage, control, care for, or market such animals. It is the belief of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, membership that unnecessary capture or handling of indigenous or non-indigenous hoofstock animals is detrimental to the well being of such animal species.

4. Transportation

A. All transportation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals or birds engaged in by or on behalf of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, members shall be as follows:

1. All transportation of animals shall be in vehicles, trailers, or containers, suitable in design for the transport of the specific animals being transported. It should also be constructed in a manner so as to minimize stress and possibility of injury to such animals.

2. Animals should not be consigned for transportation to any common carrier not properly equipped to transport or care for such animals during transportation.

3. Any transportation of animals must meet state and federal laws.

5. Marketing

A. It shall be unethical for any Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, member to misrepresent the age, condition, bloodline breed or species of any animals sold or advertised for sale.

B. No Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, member shall knowingly sell any indigenous or non-indigenous hoofstock animal species to anyone not qualified to properly care for or keep such animals. Nor shall any Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, member knowingly sell such animals to any person for any unlawful purpose whatsoever.

C. No marketing method shall be used for a particular species, which causes undue stress to the animal or animals so marketed, and all marketing procedures employed shall be appropriate to the particular species marketed.

6. Harvesting/Hunting

A. The Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, recognizes that management through harvesting/hunting is an appropriate means of removing excess animals; however, such harvesting/hunting shall be conducted as follows:

1. It shall be unethical to participate in any illegal taking of any animal.

2. It shall be unethical to participate in an “unfair chase.” Only fair chase hunting methods, consistent with the geographical area in which the animal is harvest/hunted, shall be deemed consistent with this Code. “Fair chase” hunting shall be defined as hunting in any area, by any method, that provides the hunted animals with a reasonable chance and opportunity to avoid being found by the hunter, or having once been found by the hunter, to escape. Additionally that provides the animal(s) a reasonable chance and opportunity to detect the hunter and, once detected, a reasonable chance and opportunity to flee.

3. Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, members shall attempt to determine the competence of the person or persons attempting to harvest/hunt any animals to properly carry out the harvesting/hunting method being employed so as to assure humane harvesting/hunting of animals. No person desiring to harvest/hunt an animal shall be allowed to do so by a method in which they are not sufficiently competent to reasonably insure a proper and humane harvest/hunt.

4. Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, members shall no misrepresent the breed or species of any animal to a person harvesting/hunting such animal.

5. Venison harvests shall not be included within the meaning of hunting; nor shall putting a wounded or sick animal out of its misery.

6. The laws of the state or nation in which the harvesting/hunting takes place will be followed.

7. Every reasonable effort will be taken to insure that the meat and by-products of an animal harvested/hunted are not wasted.

8. The property rights and land and animal owners' rights will always be respected and not infringed upon.

9. Safety will always be the highest priority in any situation.

7. Enforcement of Penalties for Ethics Violations

A. General

1. Any practice or procedure engaged in by any member of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, which is contrary to the standards set out in this Code of Ethics shall be considered in violation of the Code.

2. Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, as provided in this section may sanction any member violating this Code of Ethics.

3. All inquiries into alleged violations of this Code of Ethics shall be conducted by the standing Ethics Committee of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, appointed by the President of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association.

B. Procedure

1. All alleged violations of the code shall be designated “inquiries.” No action shall be taken on any inquiry until it shall be made in writing by the person alleging such violation, addressed to the Ethics Committee Chairman, and sworn to before a notary public. All inquiries shall be made within ninety (90) days of the alleged violation or the committee shall have no authority to act.

2. Upon receipt of a written inquiry, the chairman of the Ethics Committee shall enter the complaint in a log maintained for such purpose and mail a copy of the inquiry to the accused member.

3. The chairman of the Ethics Committee shall review each inquiry when received to determine if the facts alleged would, if true, constitute a violation of the Ethics Code. If the chairman determines that no violation is alleged, he shall present it to the next meeting of the Ethics Committee with a recommendation that the inquiry be dismissed. Dismissal of the inquiry shall e by majority vote of the members of the Ethics Committee present at a meeting as per b. 7) below.

4. If the chairman determines that a violation of the Ethics Code is alleged by the inquiry, the chairman, or a member of the Ethics Committee designated by the chairman, shall investigate the inquiry. Such investigation may be by personal interview, correspondence or such other methods as the investigator deems prudent. Any correspondence to the person accused in the inquiry shall be marked “Personal and Confidential.” Upon completion of the investigation, the investigator shall inform the chairman, who shall thereafter convene the Ethics Committee to consider the inquiry. All investigations shall be completed within thirty (30) days of the date the inquiry is received.

5. The chairman shall notify both accused member and the person making the inquiry of the date of the committee meeting when the inquiry will be considered. The notices shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall be mailed not later than twenty (20) days prior to the hearing.

6. The chairman should endeavor to have all witnesses and other relevant evident available at the time of the committee meeting.

7. Conduct of committee meetings to consider inquiries.

a. A quorum (majority of the committee) must be present in order to consider any inquiry in any manner, including hearing of evidence, discussion of the allegations, or action on the inquiry.

b. The chairman shall conduct the committee meeting. No persons other than the accused member, and his attorney, if applicable, the person initiating the inquiry, Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, attorneys, if desired by the chairman, assistant secretary, and committee members may be present during a committee meeting, except witnesses testifying to the committee may be present during their testimony only.

c. The committee shall hear first the person making the inquiry and his witnessed or supporting evidence. The accused member shall then be allowed to present all evidence he may have to the committee. Speaking at the hearing shall not be allowed by any party; however, committee members may direct questions to any witnesses.

d. After all witnesses have been heard and all evidence presented, the committee shall go into closed session to discuss the inquiry. Only committee members and the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, attorneys, if desired by the chairman, shall be present. The committee, by majority vote of the members present (if there is a quorum) may take the following actions:

i. No action, inquiry dismissed.

ii. Private reprimand of the accused member. Such private reprimand, or its existence, shall not be made public to any person except the accused member, the Ethics Committee members, the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors, and the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, attorney. Disclosure by any person to any third party of such private reprimand shall itself constitute a violation of this code.

iii. Recommendation of public reprimand to the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors.

iv. Recommendation to Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors that the accused member be expelled from the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association.

o All such recommendations shall be in writing from the chairman of the Ethics Committee to the Chairman of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors.

o If the committee recommends action in c. or d. above to the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors, such recommendation shall not be known to any person except the members of the Ethics Committee, the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association, Board of Directors, the accused member, and the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association’s, attorney. Disclosure of such recommendation to any person other than those set out above shall itself constitute a violation of this code.

8. Action by the Board of Directors

Upon receipt of a recommendation from the Ethics Committee, the chairman of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association,Board of Directors shall call a special meeting of the board, or place the matter on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board. However, the board must consider all such recommendations with thirty (30) days of receipt thereof

A .At any Board of Directors meeting, which considers a recommendation from the Ethics Committee, during discussion of such recommendation, no person other than the directors, the chairman of the Ethics Committee, the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association’s, attorney, and the assistant secretary of the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association,may be present. The directors can take no action unless a quorum of the directors is present.

B. The Board of Directors, by majority vote of the directors present, may take the following actions:

1. Take no action and dismiss the inquiry.

2. Issue a public reprimand to be published in the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association,newsletter.

C. The Board of Directors, by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, may expel a member from the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association,and cancel such member's affiliation with the Southeastern Game Rancher’s Association,. A member so expelled shall not receive a refund for all or any part of such member's annual dues previously paid.

D. Unless the Board of Directors issue a public reprimand or expels a members, no disclosure of the board's action shall be made to any person other than those present or entitled to be present at such board meeting. Disclosure of the boards' action shall constitute a violation of this Ethics Code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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