BYLAWS
Zen Shooting Team, LLC

 
ARTICLE I

NAME, PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS

 1.         The name of this organization is the Zen Shooting Team, LLC, sometimes abbreviated as ZST, LLC or simply the Team.

 2.         The purpose of the Team shall be to:

             2.1.      Teach safe handling and storage small arms to members, their families, and the public at large through classes   and range safety procedures.

 2.2.      Promote responsible use of small arms through sporting marksmanship competition.

 2.3.      Enhance the security of the United States of America through participation in marksmanship programs sanctioned by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

 2.4.      Support efforts to educate the citizens of the United States, regarding their Second Amendment heritage through programs established by the National Rifle Association.

 3.         The following terms shall have the definitions set forth below:

 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - refers to the yearly National Rifle and Pistol Championships as organized by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).

 MATCH - refers to either NRA and/or CMP registered or approved small arms competitions held in a formal setting and governed by the rules as set forth by those organizations. A match may be either full course, utilizing full scale targets (fired at 200, 300, 600, sometimes 1000 yards), or reduced course (longest yardage fired is under 600 yards), utilizing reduced scale targets.

 ACROSS THE COURSE - terminology used to describe a high power rifle match where all four stages (standing slow fire, sitting rapid fire, prone rapid fire, prone slow fire) are fired at distances of 200, 300, 600 yards.

 LONG RANGE- refers to prone position rifle matches fired at, in part or entirely, distances of 600, 800, 900, 1000 yards. May also include Long Range, Across the Course matches fired at 200, 300, 600, and 1000 yards.

 COMPETITIVE SEASON - varies from region to region due to weather and climate, but is mainly from April through November.

 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - refers to either NRA and/or CMP registered small arms competitions that meet their criteria for being a State Championship.

 REGIONAL - refers to either NRA and/or CMP registered small arms competitions that meet their criteria for being a Regional Championship.

 JUNIORS CAPTAIN: Classified member designated to supervise the match conduct of one or more Junior members competitors.

 SAFETY ORIENTATION: A basic safety and procedure class with written instructions to be given to new Junior members before competing and to be signed by them after being given.  Thereafter, the SAFETY ORIENTATION will be logged and filed with Team records.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP, DISCIPLINE AND DUES

 1.         Membership is open to all persons of good character who may lawfully own and use firearms (including minors with proper adult supervision), without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or disability in the following categories:

 1.1. ACTIVE   Active memberships are reserved for members who compete at local, REGIONAL, and national levels in both individual and in team events and who meet the following criteria:

 1.1.1) Shoot two or more ACROSS THE COURSE MATCHES PLUS two or more team MATCHES per season prior to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Team MATCHES may be either ACROSS THE COURSE or prone, LONG RANGE. Team MATCHES fired after the National Championship may count towards the following COMPETITIVE SEASON; or,

 1.1.2) Shoot three or more ACROSS THE COURSE MATCHES PLUS either a state championship or REGIONAL prior to the National Championship. State or REGIONAL MATCHES fired after the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS may count towards the following COMPETITIVE SEASON; and,

 1.1.3) Pay annual membership dues of $50.00 on or before 1 February each year.

 1.2. JUNIOR   Junior memberships are reserved for those members between the ages of 12 and 19, who display the emotional maturity, good judgment, and physical development necessary for the safe and proper handling of a rifle and who meet the following criteria:

1.2.1) Have a parent or legal guardian maintain membership status, and

 1.2.2) Have completed a SAFETY ORIENTATION before competing

 1.2.3) Be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or JUNIORS CAPTAIN for all MATCH activities

 1.2.4) Pay annual membership dues of $5.00 on or before February 1 of each year.

 1.3. ASSOCIATE                    Associate memberships are reserved for those members who desire to support and associate with the Team but who do not meet the competitive requirements for active membership. Associate Members shall not have voting rights and shall meet the following criteria.

             1.3.1.) Support the Team through MATCH attendance or other association; and,

 1.3.2) Pay annual Membership dues of $25.00 on or before February 1 of each year.

 1.4. HONORARY                   Honorary memberships may be granted at the discretion of the Board and subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish.

 4.         Late Memberships or New Members paid after February 1 may not receive team shirts.

 5.         Membership fees are not refundable.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND MEETINGS

 1.         The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, and Secretary Treasurer.

 1.1.      The Board shall have responsibility for Team policy and operations.

 1.2.      Except as provided in 1.3, Board members may serve for so long as they are willing. In the event of a Board vacancy, remaining Board Members will nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy. 

1.3.      In the event that the remaining Board members cannot agree on a nomination, the Board shall submit the vacancy to the membership for election.

 1.4.      In the event that more than one Board vacancy exists, the Board shall submit the vacancies to the membership for an election.

 1.5.      The Board may designate a Sgt. At Arms or parliamentarian to assist as needed.

 2.         The Team shall have three officers: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer.

 2.1.      Officers may serve for so long as they are willing and so long as the Board is willing to have them.

 2.2.      The President, Vice President, and Secretary Treasurer shall answer to the Board and carry out its policies and operational instructions.

 2.3.      The President or, in his absence, the Vice President shall attend Board meetings

 2.4       The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his absence and any other duties the President directs.

 2.5.      The Secretary/Treasure shall author all official correspondence, including preparing and forwarding all reports required by the Board.

 2.6.      The Secretary/Treasurer shall notify all members of special and annual meetings, shall keep a true record of all Board of Directors and regular Club meetings, and shall retain custody of the club books and papers.

 2.7       The Secretary/Treasurer shall have responsibility for receiving membership applications and collecting dues and fees.

 2.8       The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep and account for all Team funds.  A current accounting of all income and expenditures shall be available to the Board at all times.

 3.         The Team shall have Board meetings and membership meetings as follows:

             3.1       The annual Board meeting shall be held concurrent with the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, at a location  to be announced yearly.

 3.1.1    Any Board member may call a Board meeting at any time.

 3.1.2    Two Board members shall constitute a quorum.

             3.2       The annual membership meeting shall be held concurrently with the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS at a                 location to be announced.

                         3.2.1    Any Officer may call a membership meeting at any time.

 3.2.2    Any member may request a membership meeting by submitting a request, in writing, to the President and stating the reason for the proposed meeting.

 3.2.3    5 active members and 3 Board Members shall constitute a quorum.

 3.3       The Secretary/Treasurer shall provide notice of the time and place of any meetings, not less than seven days prior to the date fixed for holding of the meeting.

                                                                         ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP OBLIGATIONS, PRIVILEGES AND DISCIPLINE

 1. Members must exhibit responsible deportment at all times; horseplay or carelessness present serious hazards on a rifle range.

             2. Members must exhibit high ethical standards; the competitive environment, presence of expensive and unsecured    rifles and scopes, important scoring duties and target service all require the highest standards of ethical conduct.

 2.1.      Members must submit all MATCH scores to the Team statistician within 7 days of shooting the MATCH.

2.2              Members shall not touch gear, rifles that do not belong to them without permission of the owner.

2.3              Members shall give good target service, striving to provide the speed and accuracy that they would expect if they were firing.

2.4              Members shall not incur expenses on behalf of the team and shall secure approval of the Secretary/Treasurer before doing so.

2.5      All other items not mentioned above concerning competitor responsibility and deportment shall be consistent with NRA and CMP rules.

3.         The Board may, by a majority vote, discipline, suspend or expel any member with or without cause.  First offense safety or integrity violations may lead to expulsion.

 3.1       The Board shall give a member at least 15 days written notice pending any disciplinary action, as well as the time and place of the Board meeting at which this disciplinary action is to be decided. 

 3.2       At the Board meeting, the member shall be afforded the opportunity to explain why he should not be removed or suspended.

 4.         Charges against any member may be lodged by any regular member.

 4.1       Charges shall be in writing and clearly state the facts relied upon and be accompanied by supporting evidence including affidavits or exhibits. 

 4.2       Charges shall be filed with the Secretary, who will immediately notify the Board, which shall convene a meeting to hear the charges.

 4.3       The Secretary shall give at least fifteen days notice of the meeting to each member of the Board of Directors and to the charged member. The notice shall be in writing and will include a copy of the charges and of the supporting affidavits and exhibits.

 5.         Any member suspended or expelled by the Board may appeal to the regular membership.

 5.1       The appeal shall be made in writing within fifteen days of the Board’s action in the matter.

 5.2       The appeal shall contain a short and concise statement of the reasons why the Board erred and $100.00 bond to cover the cost of postage, photocopies, telephone charges, and other costs associated with convening a meeting of regular members to consider the appeal.

 5.3       No new evidence will be considered; the appeal is limited to the facts and arguments presented to the Board.

 5.4       The appeal shall be directed to the Secretary who will notify the President.

 5.5       The President will call a special meeting of the Club in a timely manner for the purpose of acting on the appeal, or the appeal may be addressed at a regular meeting.

 5.6       The Secretary shall give at least fifteen days notice in writing to all regular members stating the date, time, and reason for the meeting.

 5.7       The member requesting the special meeting will be responsible for all costs in notifying members of the special meeting, and responsible for cost and arrangement of a suitable meeting place to consider the appeal.

 5.8       At the meeting, the Secretary will read the original charges, the supporting affidavits, and will read or display the accompanying exhibits, and will read the minutes of the special meeting of the Board of Directors, at which the charges were heard and action taken. 

 5.9       The appealing member will then be afforded an opportunity to present his argument as to why the Board erred and use evidence introduced before the Board to support his appeal.

 5.10     No new evidence will be introduced or heard.

 5.11     A vote will be taken by secret ballot from the regular members in attendance

 5.12     A two-thirds vote shall be required to reverse the action of the Board of Directors.

 ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND DISSOLUTION

 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any member.

 1.1       Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Secretary in writing along with supporting materials, exhibits and justifications. 

1.2       The Secretary shall submit all proposed amendments to the Board for consideration at the Annual Meeting.

 1.3       The Board will vote on proposed amendments at the Annual Meeting but may amend or modify the proposed amendment or substitute the Board’s own draft.

 2.         Dissolution may be accomplished by unanimous vote of the Board.

 3.         Upon dissolution, all lawful debts shall be paid.

 4.         Residual funds, assets, or property shall be contributed to another shooting club or charitable or educational organization.

 5.         The disposition of all assets shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board.

These Bylaws were approved by the Board of Directors of  Zen Shooting Team, LLC on 12 November 2002.

Michael S. Orwan, President
John H. Weller- Vice President
Charles Martinak III- Secretary/Treasurer