Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
Operating Policies, Procedures & Guidelines
Revised July 7, 2001

The Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is operated in a continuing evaluation environment by the elected regional directors and State President. While operating under the guidelines of the State Bylaws, which have been reviewed evaluated and accepted by the State Board of Directors, the continuing challenge of the Board is to evolve the Bylaws and the Operating Policy and Procedures. This will further enhance the future of our organization.

With that in mind, the Board of Directors has approved an Operation Policy and Procedures manual which should serve as a guideline for you to review and understand the vision of the Board of Directors and the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. If you have any questions, please direct them to your respective Regional Director.

State President:

The President, of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is elected by the voting members of the State Board of Directors to oversee all business related to the operations of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. The President is the official liaison relative to the business of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation and B.A.S.S. or any other organization. All communication between the Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation and/or any concerned party must be directed to the President. Powers of the President are detailed in the State Bylaws.

State Board of Directors:

The State Board of Directors consists of two groups.

Voting Board Members:

The Voting Board Members are the 6 (six) elected Regional Directors. The responsibilities of the Regional Directors are stated in the State Bylaws. All decisions made by the Board of Directors are by majority vote. It is the challenge of the Voting Board of Directors to always improve the operation of the State and its Membership at large. The Board of Directors meets quarterly when possible. The State President sets the time and location for these meetings and conducts the meetings as per the State Bylaws.

Regional club representatives are informed, through the Regional Director, of the decisions made at these meetings. Each club representative should communicate with the Regional Director to determine the date and time of the Regional Meetings in which these and local issues will be discussed.

Non Voting Board Members:

The Non Voting Board Members are appointed positions by the State President and approved by the Voting Board Members to serve as the President’s Staff. The Non Voting Board Members provide a report for their associated activities for each quarter. Their position demands the same respect as that of a Regional Director, while conducting the State’s business.

Membership:

B.A.S.S. National Federation requires each member, to be in good standing. All membership dues are to be paid no later than Dec. 15th each year. (Contact your Regional Director for assistance.) All State dues will be paid to the State Treasurer. Total cost for dues are $38.00, $20.00 for National and $18.00 for State. Membership costs are subject to change by notification from the National or State Federation.

Each club must submit to the Regional Director a club roster complete with changes. The Regional Director will direct you as to when and how they want this information delivered to them.

Effective for State Championship eligibility, each club will be responsible for turning in its club roster, National and State dues by Dec. 15th. This means they must be post marked by the US Postmaster by that date in order to be eligible to fish the State Championship Tournament. Any “New Chapters” formed and approved by the National B.A.S.S. Federation after the December 15th deadline date, may be granted eligibility to fish the State Championship tournament as long as the chapter is approved by Nationals prior to the State Championship entry deadline date.

Regional Directors:

As stated in the State Bylaws these individuals are elected by a majority vote of the Regional Club Representatives. They serve a two- (2) year term. The election of Regional Directors will rotate, Southeast, Panhandle, and West Texas all elect their Regional Directors on even numbered years, North Central, South Texas, and Northeast Regions elect their Directors on odd numbered years.

The Regional Director is the liaison between the Regional Club Representatives to the State Board of Directors. Each Regional Director can fish the State Championship the first year they have been elected, if they have qualified to do so through their club and provided that the said director furnishes a representative to assist in his or her absence with duties of the State Championship. The second year and any year thereafter that individual remains in the position as Regional Director they must excuse themselves from fishing the State Championship.

All correspondence with the State must be done through the Regional Director. Each Region has the authority to remove a Regional Director, if by a majority vote of that Regions Club Representatives it is determined that the Regional Director has consistently failed to represent the Region. The Region must notify the State of this change within 48 hours and a replacement must be found within 45 days of the Regional Directors removal.

Associate Directors:

Are elected by the Regional Club Representatives and serve a one-year term. The Associate Directors support the Regional Directors in the Regional business. The Associate Director is challenged to familiarize his or herself with the State Bylaws, Operating Policy and Procedures Manual and Guidelines, Official Tournament rules and any business conducted in the Region. This is a Non Voting authority in Regional and State matters. The Associate Director is encouraged to attend the State Meetings with the Regional Director.

Club Representatives:

Each Club shall send at least one individual to represent them to all Regional Meetings. The Regional Director schedules these meetings. The designated Club Representative(s) is empowered to one (1) vote on behalf of the club members and to discuss any business at these meetings and provides a detailed report to the club of any changes taking place both, in the Region and the State.

Club Participation:

Although the activities of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation are vital in many ways to the future of the sport we enjoy, the programs we endorse are for the good of all, and we can do no more than to assure you that you and your members will miss out on many of the joys that come by participating in such activities. The Board of Directors will do all we can to encourage each member to get involved.

B.A.S.S. National Federation provides free materials to conduct a Castingkids competition. Every effort will be made to assist you in setting up this competition and the Board of Directors will work to help you.

Each Region is working on or has started a Lil’ Buddies Tournament Trail. These competitions are set up as a team concept, one child, and one adult. The Regional Directors can provide details of these tournaments.

State Team:

The Board of Directors will schedule, plan, organize, conduct and oversee the State Championship Tournament. The location is determined through a bid process. Each Regional Director is challenged to seek bids from area Chamber of Commerce and or Lake Associations, submit those bids to the State President and fellow Directors for evaluation by a pre-determined date. The bids are reviewed and a decision is made based on merit. The board makes every effort to take the tournament to a site which offers the best arrangements and benefits to the participants.

The State Team consists of members in good standing. This means with their respective clubs, Regions, State and National Federation.

The make up of the team is twelve (12) members and one (1) alternate. Six (6) individuals who qualified through their Regional Tournaments and the top fisherman from each of the six (6) Regions at the State Championship Tournament. Due to the nature of our sponsorship on a State level each member of the State Team will be required to wear certain apparel during the Divisional Tournament. This is not negotiable and you must determine if there is a conflict at the time you are positioned on the team. If a problem occurs in which an individual can’t wear the apparel of a State Sponsor, due to contractual obligations, then the next highest finisher in the State Championship will be selected to represent the State at the Divisional Tournament.

The financial assistance for the team is provided through 20% of the entry fees of the State Championship and the proceeds from the raffle held at the State Championship Tournament. Assistance is given to the team member only. If a team member’s family chooses to accompany them they can do so at their own expense.

The alternate is also the Team Captain and will be selected at random from the State Board of Directors by a vote of the Board of Directors. The team captain is responsible for reserving the rooms, conducting team meetings, assisting in locating partners for the next day’s competition. The team captain will distribute all sponsor products and team uniforms.

Good sportsmanship is expected at the Divisional Tournament. There will be no tolerance for any display of unsportsmanlike conduct. Removal from the State Team will eliminate you from participating in any future Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation activities.

Regional Tournament Trails:

The goal of the Regional Tournament Trial is to:
1) Generate money to pay any expenses incurred by the Regional Director to conduct the Regions business.
2) Exposure on a local level. This will stimulate growth. Through the tournaments we hope to encourage other clubs to be a part of our organization.
3) To provide one angler an opportunity to earn a position on the State Team and to allow the Region to send a six- (6) person team to the State Championship tournament.

Striving to ensure the future of fishing while protecting our environment through youth, conservation, and public awareness.