WHEREAS, the ________________________ Chapter of Muskies, Inc. has met all of the conditions set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of Muskies, Inc., the By-Laws of Muskies, Inc., the Bylaws of the Chapters of Muskies, Inc. and has done all other things required for affiliation with Muskies, Inc.;
NOW THEREFORE, the International Board of Directors of Muskies, Inc.does hereby grant
this CHARTER to the
________________________ Chapter of Muskies, Inc., on this day of
________________________ , 20___ and with it all the rights and privileges attendant
to a CHAPTER of Muskies, Inc;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all of said rights and privileges and this CHARTER shall
be dependent upon said Chapter's compliance with the Articles of Incorporation of
Muskies, Inc.,the By-Laws of Muskies, Inc., the Bylaws of the Chapters of Muskies,
Inc., and any and all directives of the International Board of Muskies, Inc., and
the following provisions of this Charter:
ARTICLE I, NON-PROFIT NATURE AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
The chapter shall not afford pecuniary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to its
members. No part of the net earnings of the Chapter shall insure to the benefit of
any private member or individual. No substantial part of the Chapter shall consist
of the carrying on ofpropaganda. The Chapter shall not participate in or intervene
in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, including,
but not limited to, the publishing or distributing of statements.
ARTICLE II, FUNDS AND PROPERTY
1. GENERAL: All funds and property of the Chapter shall be used only for purposes
that are consistent with the purposes of Muskies, Inc. as stated in the Articles
of Incorporation of Muskies, Inc., the By-Laws of Muskies, Inc., the By-Laws of the
Chapter, and any and all resolutions and directives as may from time to time be promulgated
by the International Board of Muskies, Inc. As well, such funds and property shall
be used only for actual administrative expenses in conducting the affairs of the
Chapter.
All funds and property given to or otherwise coming into the custody of the Chapter belong to and are the property of Muskies, Inc. and may be disposed of only for the purposes authorized by Muskies, Inc. and then only in accordance with the rules, regulations, directives and policies of Muskies, Inc. as the same may be from time to time amended by the International Board Of Muskies, Inc. Each chapter will finance and administer their own fund raising activities, with any profits to remain with the chapter to be used by the chapter for purposes consistent with the purposes of Muskies, Inc., subject to the exceptions set forth under the caption, Special Gifts and Contributions.
All classes of membership dues received by the Chapter shall be transmitted to Muskies, Inc. each month or sooner.
2. DEPOSIT OF FUNDS: All funds and other valuable securities received by the Chapter
shall be deposited in a bank designated by the Chapter Executive Committee in an
account bearing the name:
Muskies, Inc., ___________________ Chapter. As well, withdrawals from such account
shall be made only by check or similar order signed by two officers, one of whom
shall be the Treasurer.
3. SPECIAL GIFTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS: As used in this subdivision, the term SPECIAL GIFTS means funds or property which may be offered to a Chapter under the provisions of a will, a trust, or a similar instrument and the term SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS means any funds or property other than a SPECIAL GIFT which may be offered to a Chapter upon any condition or direction of the donor as to its application or purposes.
When a Chapter learns of a special gift or of a special contribution without the prior written approval of the International Board of Muskies, Inc. or to the Chapter, it shall notify the International Board of Muskies, Inc immediately, giving such detailed information as it may have.
A. Chapter shall not accept any special gift or special contribution without the prior written approval of the International Board of Muskies, Inc., which approval may be given upon such terms as the International Board deems advisable. It is the policy of Muskies,
Inc. with respect to a special gift or special contribution made to or for the benefit of a Chapter that:
A. If it be made outright, without conditions or directives by the donor, the International Board may, if it believes that the sum is relatively large with respect to the Chapter's requirements, direct that all or a part of such gift or contribution be held and be invested by the International Board and that the income therefrom be paid regularly to the chapter with all or such portion of the principal as the International Board may determine there exists a justifiable need.
B. If it be required to be retained as a trust fund with the income therefrom to be paid to the Chapter, such fund shall be held and be invested by the International Board and the income therefrom shall be paid regularly to the Chapter for the maintenance and support of its authorized activities.
C. Hatchery sponsorships are not to be considered special gifts or contributions as defined in this subdivision.
4. ENDOWMENTS: A chapter shall not create a endowment fund.
5. REAL ESTATE: A chapter shall not acquire real property by devise, gift, purchase
or otherwise without the prior written approval of the International Board of Directors
of Muskies, Inc. The title to all real property acquired by a chapter shall be taken
and recorded in the name of Muskies, Inc. Muskies, Inc. property located in a chapter
territory shall be financially maintained by the chapter assigned such territory,
or by a combination of chapters as shall be determined by the International Board
of Muskies, Inc. No real property shall be disposed of without the prior written
approval of the International Board and of the chapter in whose territory the property
is located.
ARTICLE III, EXPENDITURES AND BUDGET
1. EXPENDITURES AUTHORIZED: The following types of expenditures shall be authorized expenditures for a chapter:
A. Payment for educational equipment such as show booths, printed literature, and, in general, expenses directly related to the purposes of Muskies, Inc. as stated in the Articles of Incorporation.
B. Payment for prizes, trophies, etc., as such prizes and trophies relate to the purposes of Muskies, Inc. as stated in the Articles of Incorporation.
C. Payment of the general administration expenses of the chapter.
D. Payments of contributions to Muskies, Inc.
E. Payment of general expenses incurred by chapter members in specific promotions or activities approved by the Executive Committee.
F. Payment to Muskies, Inc. for merchandise such as pins, patches, and the like.
2. EXPENDITURES NOT AUTHORIZED:
A. A chapter shall not engage in the buying and selling of fishing equipment or other related merchandise for profit.
B. In general, expenses which have not been approved by the chapter executive committee
or by the International Board are not authorized expenditures.
3. CONTROL OF EXPENDITURES: All expenditures shall be made in accordance with the budget of the chapter or with the authorization of the Chapter Executive Committee as the same shall have been recorded in the minutes of the chapter. The Chapter Treasure shall sign each expenditure invoice thereby indicating his approval of the expenditure.
The International Board of Muskies, Inc. or their authorized representative shall have the right, at any time, to examine or audit any and all of the records and books of any chapter.
4. BUDGET: Each chapter shall adopt a budget system to enable its Executive Committee
to plan a program for the year based on projected revenue and needs of the chapter
and Muskies, Inc. The budget should set forth the experience of the past year and
the current year in comparison with the expected revenue and needs of the coming
year. The
International Board shall, each year, ask each chapter for a commitment based on the Chapter Executive Committee's projection of income and expenses as given in the chapter budget. A copy of the chapter budget shall be forwarded to the International Board for approval.
ARTICLE IV, ACTIVITIES
1. GENERAL: It is the function of a chapter to promote the purposes of Muskies, Inc., as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, within the territory assigned to the chapter by the International Board. Each chapter shall diligently perform such activities, as outlined in this charter, as shall further the purpose of Muskies, Inc. and, in addition, shall pursue such other activities as the International Board shall, from time to time determine.
2. PUBLICITY: Effective publicity often determines the success of a chapter. Each chapter shall keep the public regularly informed of its activities through local newspaper, radio, television, and public meetings.
3. ANNUAL FUND RAISING: An annual fund raising campaign shall be held by each chapter. The Chapter Executive Committee shall determine which method shall be used to raise such funds, but any method shall, prior to initiation, be approved by the International Board and shall bear a statement, signed by the President of the chapter, that the method utilized is in accordance with state laws relating to fund raising activities for non-profit corporations.
4. OTHER FUND RAISING: Each chapter may engage in local fund raising activities of a private or social nature of the type and in the manner generally approved by the International Board, but, each such activity must be in accordance with state law as indicated above for annual fund raising.
5. Muskies, Inc. tax status has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each chapter shall be required to know the regulations under section 501(c)(3) and abide by those regulations in order to maintain Muskies, Inc. tax exempt status.
6. Chapters shall not belong to, or lend
the chapter name or the name Muskies, Inc. to any other organization for any purpose
whatsoever without the written approval of the Executive Committee of the International
Board. Such approval shall be subject to periodic review and withdrawal at any time
at the discretion of the Executive Committee of the International Board. Chapters
affected by any such withdrawal of approval shall have the right to appeal the decision
of the Executive Committee to the full International Board at any subsequent meeting
of the International Board, where a simple majority vote shall prevail.
ARTICLE V, REPORTS AND RECORDS
1 IN GENERAL: Each chapter shall furnish promptly to the International Board sufficient financial and other pertinent information regarding chapter projects and activities. A final report must be submitted within thirty (30) days after each project or activity is completed.
2. MEMBERSHIP: Each chapter may, from time to time, demand and shall receive a list of its members as the same shall be known to the International Board. However, all such lists are strictly confidential and intended only for chapter uses and may not be loaned, transferred, sold or otherwise used for any other purpose.
3. SECRETARY'S REPORT: The secretary of each chapter shall promptly forward to the International Board a report of every meeting of the members or of the Executive Committee.
4. BOOKKEEPING: The bookkeeping records of the chapter shall be in accordance with the guidelines as set forth by the International Board of Muskies, Inc.
5. RETENTION OF RECORDS: All records,
correspondence, and books of account of a chapter shall be retained and may not be
destroyed without the prior written approval of the International Board of Muskies,
Inc.
ARTICLE VI, MISCELLANEOUS
1 BY-LAWS: Each chapter shall have as uniform by-laws as state law will allow. No chapter may alter the by-laws as accepted by the International Board.
2. EMBLEM: No chapter shall use any insignia, or emblem other that the official Muskies,
Inc. emblem, except that the chapter name may be worn or displayed in conjunction
with the official emblem. Amended 4-25-98: to allow chapters of Muskies, Inc.
to design their own individual chapter logo(s) for various apparel such as ; jackets,
hats, T-shirts, sweat shirts, etc.
3. LAW COMPLIANCE: Each chapter shall comply with all laws, rules, and regulations
of the country, state, and political sub-division in which it is located and of all
regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over said territory. Muskies, Inc. shall not
be liable for the failure of a chapter to comply with any such law, rule, or regulation.
4. CHAPTERS SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL BOARD: Each Chapter shall be subject to the
control and authority of the International Board and shall follow such rules, regulations,
and directives as the International Board may, from time to time, direct.
5. AMENDMENT: This charter may be amended from time as the International Board may
determine.