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 |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: |
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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
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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
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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: |
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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
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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
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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
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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: |
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1. Take no action and dismiss the inquiry.
2. Issue a public
reprimand to be published in the Southeastern Game Rancher’s
Association,newsletter. |
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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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