KBN By-Laws

KANSAS B.A.S.S. NATION INC. BY-LAWS
Amended and effective February 29, 2020

ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE and AFFILIATION
Section 1
Name : This organization shall be called: Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation, Inc. herein referred to as the “Nation”.
Section 2
Purpose : To stimulate awareness of bass fishing as a major sport. To offer our State Conservation Department
our organized moral and political support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation
codes, to demand adequate water quality standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards. To
detect and report any polluter and to call public and political attention to this crime. To improve our skills as
bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of bass catching techniques and ideas, to promote and
encourage youth fishing and a love for this great recreation. To promote sportsmanship, courtesy and boating safety at all levels.
Section 3
Affiliation : The Nation shall be composed of Kansas affiliated Clubs in good standing with the Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP and DUES
Section 1
Membership : Membership in the Nation is open to organized Kansas affiliated Clubs whose membership in
B.A.S.S. is one hundred percent (100%). Member Clubs shall maintain a minimum roster of six (6) members.
The Nation reserves the right to limit membership and/or reject any Club’s membership if, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors, the Club’s membership is not in the best interest of the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation. All Clubs
shall have approval of the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Section 2
Dues : Funds for the support and maintenance of the Nation will be derived from annual dues and from special
projects to be sponsored by the Nation. Club member’s dues shall be paid to the Nation’s Treasurer no later
than January 1st of each calendar year. Failure to pay dues in a timely manner may result in the entire Club
losing its eligibility to participate in all Nation sponsored events for that year. Club members joining an
affiliated Club after January 1st will be required to pay annual membership fees immediately upon acceptance
by their Club. The Nation Representatives, at the Fall Nation Business Meeting, will establish the annual dues.
The circumstances contributing to a Club’s late dues payment will be reviewed and evaluated for acceptance
by the Nation’s Officers and Club representatives, in good standing, at the Nation’s next semi-annual meeting.

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIVES and OFFICERS
Section 1
Representatives : Each Club shall annually elect/appoint, prior to the Spring Business Meeting, a member in
good standing to serve as their Nation Representative. This must be a member in good standing. The
Representative can represent one Club only. Each Club shall provide the name, address, phone number(s) and
e-mail address of their Representative to the Nation President.
Representative Duties : The Club Representative shall represent his/her Club at all State Nation
meetings. They shall report the minutes of the Nation Business Meetings to their Club membership.
Officer’ s Duties: Officers of the Nation shall have general powers of administration of the offices of the Nation
as identified under Article III, Section 6, Officer Duties, and shall be elected as specified in Article III, Section 7,
Election of Officers.
Section 2
Attendance : Representatives from each Club shall attend scheduled Nation Business Meetings. In the event
that a Representative cannot attend a scheduled meeting, the Club shall appoint an alternate Representative
to attend the meeting.
Section 3
Voting Rights : The Representative or his/her alternate is the sole representative of his/her Club and thus is the
only person eligible to cast his/her vote at a regular, special, or emergency meeting of the Nation. Each Club is
entitled to one vote. Representatives must cast their vote in person. No proxy votes are permitted.
Section 4
Quorum : Twenty percent of the members of the Club Representatives shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Club Representatives there are less than a quorum present,
said meeting shall be adjourned and rescheduled.
Section 5
Officers : The officers of the Nation shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Tournament Director, Youth Director, Conservation Director, Media Director, Sponsor Director , and
President Emeritus (Honorary). The Executive Committee will be composed of the nine elected officers. A
Webmaster will be appointed by and serve as directed by the President to fulfill the website needs of the
Nation.
Section 6
Officer Duties :
President : The President shall preside over the affairs of the Nation. He shall: Prepare an agenda and
preside over all scheduled, special, and emergency meetings; direct all official business; supervise all Nation
activities; be an ex officio member of all standing and special committees; be the official representative of the
Nation in relationship to the organization; delegate such duties as may be appropriate to better serve the Nation;
and maintain liaison with the B.A.S.S. Nation and B.A.S.S.
Vice President : In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall: have all the powers and
be subject to all the duties of the President so long as such absence or disability of the President continues; assist
the President upon request, preside in the absence of the President; assume the office of the President if vacated,
until a successor can be elected as per Article III, Section 9. The Vice President shall preside over the By-Laws
Committee. The Vice President shall act as parliamentarian (one skilled in parliamentary procedures). In
addition, the Vice President shall oversee the fundraising events of the Nation and solicitations pertaining to the
K.B.N. charitable organizations.
Secretary : The Secretary shall: record accurate minutes of all meetings; assist with maintaining a roster of
State Nation members, and transmit those rosters to the B.A.S.S. Nation office when necessary, and assists
with notifications to Representatives and Officers of board meeting dates.
Treasurer : The Treasurer shall: receive and distribute all monies upon approval of the board; receive updated
rosters with dues from affiliated Clubs and forward copies of the updated rosters to the President, Secretary and
BASS Nation if necessary; maintain accurate financial records and present current balance at each regular
board meeting or upon request of the Club Representatives.
Tournament Director : The Tournament Director shall: chair the Tournament Committee; organize and
operate, determine eligibility, collect entry fees, set an awards list, and solicit prizes; rule with final authority
on the proper conduct, procedures, qualifications, and other matters relating to the orderly conduct of all
tournaments scheduled with the Nation. In addition, he must work in conjunction with the Vice President
concerning all charitable and fundraising events. The Tournament Committee shall determine the specific
dates, times and locations of all tournaments. It will be the primary duty of the Tournament Director to
conduct his/her affairs so that only honor, integrity, sportsmanship and the highest ideals of fair play will
accrue to it, and thus to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and the Nation.
Youth Director : The Youth Director shall: chair the Youth Activities Committee; to promote, encourage and
help member Clubs organize youth related activities. In addition, the Youth Director shall organize and operate,
determine eligibility, collect entry fees, set an awards list, and solicit prizes; rule with final authority on the
proper conduct, procedures, qualifications, and other matters relating to the orderly conduct of all youth
tournaments scheduled with the Nation. The Youth Director shall help implement programs/activities which
will introduce young fishermen to the goals of B.A.S.S. and give them a basic respect of our natural heritage,
and appreciation of the basic rules of honesty, integrity, fair play, and
good sportsmanship; and give them an introduction to the sheer joy of bass fishing.
Conservation Director : The Conservation Director shall: chair the Conservation Committee, keep the
Committee and member Clubs informed, and lead efforts to protect our natural environment from harmful
change, to document and report to the proper authorities violations of local, state, and federal antipollution laws,
statutes, regulations, ordinances or other regulation devices; to take political action to improve our environment;
to undertake informational and educational, and above all, a leadership role in repairing the harm that already
has been done to the life giving waters of Kansas. In addition, the Conservation Director shall work closely with
the B.A.S.S. Nation to help fulfill this mission.
Media Director : The Media Director shall: chair the Media committee, assist directors with media support when
needed. Work on keeping the Nation media presence updated.
Sponsor Director : The Sponsor Director shall: Work directly with the membership on sponsor relationships for the Nation.
President Emeritus (Honorary): Aid in the effective transfer of officer’s duties from President Emeritus to
President Elect. This is not a voting position of the Executive Committee.
Officer/Representative responsibility : In order to maintain integrity and to enhance continuity among
officers (and activities) of the Nation, all Executive Officers and/or Representatives shall notify the President
in advance of any activities which would involve or be representative of the Nation. Implementation of said
activities must be approved by the President. Following the request, a detailed written request must follow
within three (3) days. This is not withstanding to normal duties.
Election of Officers : Officers shall be elected, by the Representatives, at the Nation’s Fall Business Meeting.
The term of office will be two years, with officers serving from January 1 st to December 31 st of their respective
terms, providing that the current officer is in compliance with all the rules. Election of the following Officers
will be held during the even numbered calendar years: President, Treasurer, Tournament Director, Conservation
Director, and Media Director. Election of the following Officers will be held during the odd numbered calendar
years: Vice-President, Secretary, Youth Director, and Sponsor Director. No person shall hold more than one office at a time.
Nomination of Officers : Nominations for Nation officers shall be received by the President either in writing or
by the use of e-mail, including the nominees name, e-mail address, club affiliation and phone number, beginning
August 1 st , but no later than August 31 st of the election year. Nominees will be contacted to verify that they will
accept the nomination. A list of the candidates will be sent to each club’s President for discussion at their Club
meetings. Nominations will only be valid if submitted by members
in good standing. Nominations will not be accepted from a member who submits a nomination on his/her own behalf.
Officer Eligibility : Candidates must meet all membership requirements of their Club and the Nation.
Section 8
Removal from Office : By majority vote of the Representatives, any officer may be removed from office for
any action that would reflect dishonor and/or disgrace to the Nation.
Section 9
Vacancy of Office : In case of any vacancy of an office through death, resignation, disqualification or other
cause, the remaining officers, by majority vote, may elect an eligible successor to hold office for the unexpired
portion of the term of that officer.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
Section 1
Scheduled Meetings : A meeting agenda shall be planned in advance of all scheduled meetings by the
Officer presiding over the meeting. The Executive Committee will meet on a quarterly basis. The Executive
Committee shall be allowed to conduct teleconference calls to satisfy the quarterly meeting requirements.
The Club Representatives will meet semi-annually.
Section 2
Special Meetings : Officers may call special meetings, from time to time, for Nation purposes. Representatives
and officers are required to attend and shall be given prior notice in writing, ten (10) days before the special meeting.
Section 3
Annual Meetings : Bi-Annual Nation Business Meetings will be held in the Spring and Fall of each year. The
Nation President will determine the date, time, and location of these meetings. Under extenuating
circumstances, the Spring and Fall Business Meetings may be combined into one meeting, or deferred to
another date within the calendar year.
Section 4
Emergency Meetings : An Emergency meeting shall constitute a true emergency. Every effort will be made to
notify all Officers and Representatives of said meeting, place, and time to afford all Officers and
Representatives an opportunity to attend. As much notice as possible will be given. The only Nation business
that may be transacted at an Emergency meeting shall relate to the specific reason the meeting was called.
Section 5
Rules of Order : All meetings shall be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order as parliamentary procedure.
Section 6
Conduct : Due to the visibility and scrutiny of any organization, it is imperative that each member conduct
themselves in a disciplined, orderly and respectable manner at all Nation sponsored events. Failure to comply
with Article IV, Section 6, will be grounds for immediate removal of the person in violation from the
meeting. In addition, such activity may be grounds to prohibit the person from future meetings.

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1
Composition : The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Tournament Director, Youth Director, Conservation Director and two Directors-at-Large.
Section 2
Duties : The Executive Committee shall have all the authority and powers of the Club Representatives in the
management of the business and affairs of the Nation in the interim between regular and special meetings of
the Club Representatives.
Section 3
Actions of the Committee : Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called and chaired by the
President of the Nation or by the Vice President in the President’s absence or inability to act. Four members
of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of not fewer
than four members voting shall be necessary for a valid action. The Executive Committee shall be allowed to
conduct teleconference calls to transact business as necessary. All actions of the executive Committee shall
be reported to the Club Representatives at the next regular scheduled meeting.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES of the NATION
Section 1
Standing Committees : The following will be considered permanent standing committees unless changed by
amendment: By-laws Committee, Environmental Committee, Executive Committee, Tournament Committee,
and Youth Committee. Standing Committees shall be approved by the President, and shall contain no less than
five and no more than nine members of the Nation. The Standing Committees shall be allowed to conduct
teleconference calls to transact business as necessary.
Section 2
Special Committees : Special Committees may be formed by Officers, but only for closely defined purposes,
and in no case may the tenure of a Special Committee exceed two years from the date of appointment. The
Special Committees shall be allowed to conduct teleconference calls to transact business as necessary. Special
Committees may not supersede or otherwise infringe upon the duties and responsibilities of Standing Committees.
Section 3
By-laws Committee : The By-laws Committee shall consist of the Nation Vice President and no less than five
(5) and no more than nine (9) members of the Nation per Article VI, Section 1, Standing Committees. The
Committee shall make an annual review of the Nation’s By-laws and, as deemed necessary, recommend
appropriate changes. These changes, along with those received from Nation members, shall be presented to each
Club’s President thirty (30) days prior to the first regularly scheduled meeting per Article VIII, paragraph B.
Section 4
Tournament Committee: The Tournament Committee shall be chaired by the Tournament Director. The
Committee shall make an annual, and more often if necessary, review of the tournament rules for all
tournaments scheduled with the Nation. Changes will be made as deemed necessary, subject to Article VII.

ARTICLE VII. TOURNAMENTS
Section 1
State Championship Tournaments : At the Fall Business Meeting, of each year, the club Representatives
shall decide, by majority vote, the general format as described in Article VII, Section 2, for the tournament, or
tournaments, used to determine the members of the Kansas State Team. All suggested changes to the current
format must be submitted in writing to the KBN President 30 days prior to this meeting. The general format
approved will be placed in effect for the next calendar year, and once approved may only be changed by
two-thirds vote of the Tournament Committee or Executive Committee, and only for the following reasons:
(1) An insufficient number of tournament staff to conduct the tournament(s).
(2) Safety issues. Instances where conducting the tournament(s) would place the Nation in violation of local,
state, or federal law.
(3) Conflicts with other tournaments or events that would be detrimental to the best interests of the Nation.
Section 2
State Championship Tournament Formats: The following general format items refer directly to

Article VII, Section 1.
(1) Approximate date (spring, fall, a particular month, etc.).
(2) Approximate location (in state, out-of-state, east, west, etc.). (3)
Number of tournaments.
(4) Entry fees and side pots.
(5) Any other item as deemed necessary by the Tournament Director.
Section 3
The Tournament Committee shall have sole responsibility to finalize the specific operating format(s) and the
specific date(s), time(s), and location(s) of the State Championship Tournament(s). The Tournament Committee
shall provide notification to the Nation’s Club Presidents of the finalized format. The Nation shall recognize
and reserve the following weekends annually as potential qualifier dates:
4th weekend of April.
4th weekend of June.
3rd weekend of September.
3rd weekend of October.
These weekends shall be held steadfastly each year, with one or more used, depending upon the format
approved by the club representatives pursuant to Article VII, Section I.
Section 4
Other Tournaments : The Nation may schedule other tournaments. The Tournament Director shall decide the
format of these other tournaments. If deemed necessary, changes to the format of these other tournaments may
be made by majority vote of the Tournament Committee.

ARTICLE VIII. GENERAL RULES of OPERATION
A. All Nation functions, excluding other tournaments in accordance with Article VII, Section 2, must be
approved by the Representatives.
B. At the first regularly scheduled meeting of the calendar year, the By-laws may be changed or amended by
two-thirds vote of the Club Representatives present, provided that the proposed changes have been presented to
the active Club Presidents thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. In addition, any proposed By-laws amendment
received by an Officer must be submitted at the next Executive Committee meeting. The Executive Committee
may then refer the proposed amendment to the Vice President as an agenda item at the next By-laws Committee
meeting; or by majority vote, call either a Special or Emergency meeting of the Club Representatives. If, by
two-thirds vote, the Club Representatives vote to enact the proposed amendment, it shall be in effect until the
first regularly scheduled meeting of the year, where a two-thirds vote of the Club Representatives shall be
necessary to make the proposed amendment permanent. Unless otherwise stated, changes and amendments to
these By-laws will be in effect upon passage.
C. Under no circumstances shall the Nation accept monetary assistance from individuals, businesses,
corporations, or governmental agencies if there is prima facie evidence that the goals of these entities are
contrary to the primary goals of the Nation.
D. The Secretary shall provide updated By-laws upon request by Officers, Representatives, or Presidents of
Nation Clubs. Amendments will be added to the By-laws and forwarded to Clubs as they occur.
E. The President of the Nation shall be a member of the B.A.S.S. Nation Advisory Board, which shall meet
upon the call of the B.A.S.S. Nation Director, for the purpose of furthering the goals of the various B.A.S.S. Nations.
F. By-laws and Standing Rules may be amended from time to time. Amendments to these By-laws,
approved by the Representatives in accordance with Article VIII, B, will be sent to the BASS Anglers
Sportsman Society for their review and approval.
G. Final authority for the interpretation of these By-laws and Standing Rules shall rest with the Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society.
H. Any intentional undertaking to discredit, overthrow, or defame the Nation by any member(s) will be
grounds for disaffiliation, which also may include civil litigation and prosecution. This to include the
unauthorized use or misuse of sponsorship contracts or agreements between affiliated sponsors and the Nation.
I. Capital expenditures in excess of $1000.00 are to be approved by majority vote of the Club Representatives
present at the next regularly scheduled meeting. In an emergency situation, authorization may be obtained by a
majority of the Executive Committee.
J. The Youth Director, Tournament Director, President and Conservation Director will give a financial report to
the membership at scheduled Nation meetings. This financial report will list all monies received and dispersed
in a category. A proposed budget will be submitted to the membership for each year by the above listed
Directors at the first scheduled Nation meeting. Each expense submitted for payment or reimbursement must be
supported by a receipt or invoice. General accepted accounting principles will apply.

ARTICLE IX. CLUB REQUIREMENTS
Section 1
Good Standing Interpretation :
Membership with B.A.S.S.
Membership with affiliated Kansas Club.
Membership with the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation.
Membership with the B.A.S.S. Nation. Adherence to
Club and Nation By-laws.
Make an earnest attempt to participate in Club and Nation activities as possible.
Exhibit true sportsmanship at all times.

Produced on 03-01-2020 by :
Brad VanRiette, KBN Secretary