OFFICIAL CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I Name
Section 1. This association shall be known as the "Flying Tippler Association of America." Wherever used in these documents the acronym "FTA" or the single word "Association," when capitalized, shall stand for the fall name of the organization. Section 2. The subordinate units of this Association shall be known as "Local Clubs."
ARTICLE II Purposes
Section 1. The primary purposes of this Association shall be as follows: to provide a centralized organization for the flying tippler fancier and Local Clubs: to promote and regulate the sport in Association competition: to encourage by promotion of competitions, exhibitions, and by the general management and control of the tippler fancy shall thereby further the interest of all fanciers in the flying tippler pigeon.
ARTICLE III Membership
Section 1. Any person regardless of race, color, sex, creed or national origin, shall be eligible for active membership in this Association.
Section 2. Any misconduct on the part of a member, or charge of dishonorable dealing, shall be investigated and if found guilty, he or she will be expelled from the Association.
Section 3. (a) Any person less than eighteen years of age will be designated as a junior member with no rights to vote.
(b) A junior member at any age may compete in official competition if the member can secure Qualified Timer as defined in Article V, Sec. 1.
(c) A junior member who has reached the age of 13, may act as a Timer for another junior member or a senior member in Official Flying Competitions, if the member can fulfill the requirements for Timer, Article V, Sec. 1.
Section 4. All senior members shall have the right to vote and hold office, provided the requirements of Section I of Article VI are satisfied with respect to eligibility for election or appointment to national office.
Section 5. Local Club Membership - The Association will accept a Local Club membership after receiving a petition signed by three FTA members of that Local club. Upon acceptance, the Local Club shall be subject to the Constitution, Fly Rules and policies as set down by the Association as long as the Local Club remains active. Activity requires at least an annual meeting of the Local Club, and that at least three Association members be among the local club membership. Should the Local Club not have a representative on the Association Executive Board by way of the Association's bi-annual election said
Local Club may select one of its Association members to be designated as the Local Club representative to the FTA.
Section 6. The Association shall award no more than one designation or appointment as Life Member in any two calendar years. This award will be made at the time of our bi-annual election. To be eligible the
nominated member must have been a member in good standing for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years.
ARTICLE IV Dues
Section 1. Annual dues for senior and junior members to be set by the Executive Board and reviewed as needed for the financial stability of the Association.
Section 2. The membership will be effective for the January 1, through December 31, calendar year. Dues are received by Treasurer. The Secretary or Treasurer
will notify each member in advance for renewal before the expiration date.
ARTICLE V Flying Systems
Section 1. Official System. A FTA member may fly under the Official system by securing a Timer or Judge. It will no longer be necessary for a flyer to have a Local Club in the area. It is only necessary that the Timer or Judge be known as a Tippler Fancier, and a member of the FTA in good standing but not related to the flyer by blood or marriage or his or her loft partner. Non FTA members are permitted to be Timers in the Association's Official System contests if reviewed and accepted by a recognized Tippler organization as a Timer and notification of such acceptance is forwarded to the Association President and Central Timer prior to the fly.
Section 2. Honor System. Any member who cannot secure the services of qualified "Timer" may compete under the Honor System. Times flown in the Honor System shall be kept separate from the Official
System. Also any record flown under this system may not be honored as club, national or world record, with the exception of the FTA Honor System record.
ARTICLE VI Officers
Section 1. Any member of this Association is eligible for election or appointment to National Office if said member has been a member in good standing of this Association during the one (1) calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which said member is elected or appointed to national office.
Section 2. Duly elected officers shall assume their duties on the first day of January and the term of Offices shall be for two (2) years.
Section 3. The elected officers of this Association shall be:
(a) A National President.
(b) A Secretary.
(c) A Treasurer.
(d) Two (2) Vice-Presidents: an Eastern and Western Vice-President without
designation of rank.
(e) Board of Directors-Five FTA members elected at large. (f) Local Club Representative-An FTA member elected by Local Club. (g) Publicity Director.
Section 4. Duties of Office.
(a) National President - It shall be the duty of the National President to preside at all Association meetings and to govern the Association and exercise the usual functions of the presiding officer; he shall cast the deciding vote in all cases of a tie in Executive Board decisions.
(b) Secretary - It shall be the duty of the Secretary to furnish a receipt to the National President for such funds as are turned over to him by outgoing officers, and execute an inventory for such property as he may receive from his predecessor upon entering officer. He shall keep copy of the minutes of all association meeting and conduct all correspondence of the Association. He shall edit and publish the
FTA Bulletin and distribute it to all members. Secretary may receive a salary of 10% of the year end book balance plus dues and bands paid.
(c) Treasurer - It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to furnish a receipt to the National President for such funds as are turned over to him by outgoing officers and execute an inventory for such property as he may receive from his predecessor upon entering office. He shall be custodian of all funds and properties belonging to the Association, pay all bills and expenses of same when authorized to do so. He shall order all bands and issue seamless bands on January 10 of every year, also throughout the year (unless sold out) until November of said year as ordered. There will be a charge set by the Executive Board for FTA seamless bands which shall be sold in multiples of twenty-five (25) only. HE SHALL SELL BANDS TO FTA MEMBERS ONLY. He shall keep an accurate record of all bands sold and to whom the bands are sold. He shall at the end of each year (December 31) prepare a financial statement showing income, expenditures, book balance, amount of deposit in bank, and any cash assets. He shall be prepared to present all receipts and documents relating to such financial statement. He should also take inventory of all
FTA belongings. The complete financial and inventory report is to be published in the first quarter
FTA Bulletin. He shall also submit a report to the Execute Board semi-annually. Treasurer may receive a salary of up to 10% of the year end book balance plus dues and bands paid.
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be filled by one individual if the need arises.
(d) Eastern Vice-President - In the absence of the National President, or in the event of his inability to act, the Eastern Vice President will act as the presiding officer at any Association meeting or functions east of the
Mississippi River.
Western Vice President - In the absence of the National President, or in the event of his inability to act, the Western
Vice-President will act as the presiding officer at any Association meeting club functions west of the
Mississippi River.
(e) Board of Directors - There shall be a Board of Directors made up of five (5) elected members of the Association who shall assist in all decisions made by the Executive Board in regard to Association business and functions.
(f) Publicity Director - It shall be the duties of the Publicity Director to publish articles of interest in the various pigeon publications to make the Association better known to its members and also potential future members. Should the Publicity Director not be elected to one of the other offices on the Executive Board, he shall be sent a copy of all Executive Board communications to be kept abreast of Association activities.
(g) Central Timer - It shall be an appointed position: this appointment is done by the Executive Board. Said person may be a non-flyer, but a member of the Association in good standing and of honest repute. All correspondence concerning Association participation in flying competitions shall be the Central Timer's duty. The Central Timer shall keep a record of all entry fees received and forward such to the Treasurer. Central Timer will receive Timer's Report Forms from fly participants and, in a timely manner, compile fly results and report such results to the participating flyers after the competition of each fly; send all fees received to the Treasurer, send entrant's Timer's Report Forms and a complete flying report to the Secretary; and furnish a flying report to the Publicity Director.
Section 5. Executive Board. - The Executive Board shall be made up of the following officers: the National President, Eastern Vice-President, Western Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Directors, Local Club Representatives. The duty of the Executive Board shall be to decide upon all Association policies until the next bi-annual Election.
ARTICLE VII Flying Competition
Flying Competition - The Association shall set dates for 13 competitions consisting of both a Saturday and Sunday. These 13 flying dates shall be broken down into four flying series.
Weekday flying - Those who cannot participate in the weekend FTA competitions may petition the Board to be allowed to choose consecutive weekdays during the week prior to the fly weekend.
Flying Competition:
Winter Series - Any age kits
Spring Series - Old bird kits
Summer Series - Any age kits
Fall Series - Young bird kits only
followed by a Stock Fly made up of eight or more any age birds.
Entry Fees - There shall be a fee for each flying competition set by the Executive Board. Awards - There shall be a recognition awarded to the winner of each Flying Competition who flys according to the Flying Rules of the Association, provided such fly has reached six (6) hours or more. Diplomas are awarded to all kits which fly eight (8) or more hours in FTA competition.
Aggregate time - The FTA Aggregate diplomas are awarded to the flyer with the highest summation of time flown in three of the four series in each competition year.
ARTICLE VIII Affiliations
The FTA shall be affiliated with the National Pigeon Association and the American Pigeon Fanciers Council.
ARTICLE IX Exhibitions
The Association shall hold one official meeting open to all members in conjunction with the NPA Grand National Pigeon Show. The National Show shall always be held in conjunction with the Grand National Pigeon Show, when said show is held in an area in which as Association member is willing to coordinate the FTA meet and meeting.
ARTICLE X Amendments
Section 1. All amendments to either the Constitution or Fly Rules must be accepted by a majority vote of the Association membership during the time of the bi-annual election or a special election if deemed
warranted by the Executive Board.
Section 2. Procedure.
(a) Proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Association President and Secretary.
(b) During Officers' Communications, the Executive Board will discuss the merit of the proposed amendment and, no sooner than two communications later, they will ballot as to whether the proposal merits general membership consideration.
(c) By majority vote, if the Executive Board decides the proposal warrants membership consideration, the proposed amendment will be carried with a brief discussion of its ramifications in the FTA bulletin.
(d) Membership will be allowed until the next bulletin to forward their comments to the President and Secretary for publication in the bulletin.
(e) The proposed amendment will be listed on the next general membership ballot, issued no sooner than the bulletin after proposal introduction, and the decision rendered by a majority vote of ballots returned.
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