BY LAWS OF THE LOUISANA COUNCIL OF UNDERWATER DIVING CLUBS

UPDATED MARCH 2018  RETYPED TO COMPUTER FILES, MODIFY AS NEEDED

 

ARTICLE I         NAME, LOCATION, AND PURPOSE

 

SECTION A       NAME: This organization shall be known as the Louisiana of Underwater Diving Clubs (LCUDC)

 

SECTION B       LOCATION: The Council headquarters is located in New Orleans, LA

 

SECTION C       PURPOSE

 

C-1 the purpose of this organization shall be:

 

C-1-1  To Coordinate activities of affiliated clubs.  That is any member organization and/or association in the state of Louisiana or any state bordering Louisiana that participates in any form of skin or scuba diving.

 

C-1-2  To exchange and make available to all affiliated clubs information concerning safety, medical, photography, and technical research in the latest state of the art of underwater sports.

 

C-1-3  To work directly with state and local conservation departments concerning legislation and regulation pertaining to underwater sports

 

C-1-4  To cooperate with the Underwater Society of America in matters of mutual concern.

 

C-1-5  To promote sportsmanship, competition, and good fellowship among members through derby and photography contests.

 

ARTICLE II        MEMBERSHIP

 

SECTION A       REQUIREMENTS:

 

A-1  Only clubs within the state of Louisiana or states bordering having a membership of five (5) or more may be accepted in the Council.

 

A-2  Members clubs must adhere to the articles and by-laws of the LCUDC without variance.

 

A-3  All Clubs or individuals or individuals applying for membership will have credentials challenged.

 

A-4  Application for membership must be made through a delegate member or executive member prior to a Council meeting.

 

SECTION B       DUES

 

B-1  The yearly fee of member clubs shall be fifty ($50) (changed 2005) per club.   (2014) The  “Save the Rigs” fund can only be disbursed by a majority vote of Council Clubs.  “Save the Rigs” is defined as legal steps or methods to save decommission Gulf of Mexico platforms from removed as they unique and valuable marine habitats.  This fund is frozen and the $10 fee for it will remain for each Derby Board Diver, the fee is $40 for the derby divers to the general fund.

Only a derby diver in good standard may witness as a catch and/or weight witness.

 

SECTION C       EXPULSION

 

C-1  Any member club and/or individual not abiding by each and every rule, regulation, article and section of the LCUDC shall invite expulsion by recommendation of a delegate member or an executive member.

 

C-2  Any member club and/or individual that is being considered for expulsion, will be given an opportunity to testify before the Council.

 

C-3  A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the existing delegate member is required for expulsion.

 

SECTION D       REFUSAL OF MEMBERSHIP

 

D-1  Any club refused membership in the LCUDC may reapply when the reasons for denial has been rectified.  This time is given them to reorganize based on the requirements of the LCUDC.

 

SECTION E       MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION

 

E-1  Any full active member of any member club who is good standing is automatically a LCUDC member and is entitled to wear the Council patch.

 

 

ARTICLE III       MEETINGS

 

SECTION A       TIME & PLACE

 

A-1 All Council meetings will be held at the discretion of the executive board.  Delegate members will be informed by the secretary of upcoming meetings.

 

SECTION B       NATURE OF MEETINGS

 

B-1  All meetings are to be closed;  the only exception is by invitation from the Council Board.  (2013) The annual meeting of the LCUDC will be held in February of each year.  The election of officers and the fiscal year are from meeting to meeting.  The Council fiscal year will be from March 1st to February 28th (29th on leak years).   The Derby Board fiscal year remains January 1st to December 31st each year.

 

B-2  (2017) A quorum is defined as clubs in good standard present at a duly called LCUDC meeting .

 

B-3 Each member club shall have one (1) voting delegate.  This delegate shall be the president of the member club or his/her appointed substitute.  This substitute shall be an active member in good standing of the club he/she represents.

 

ARTICLE IV       OFFICERS

 

SECTION A       TITLES

 

A-1  The officers of the LCUDC shall consist of a President, Secretary/Treasurer, and a Director.

 

SECTION B       ELECTION AND TENURE

 

B-1  The candidates shall be nominated from the floor at the February  meeting.  The election should be held at the February meeting with the new officers taking office March 1st.  (2013)

 

B-2  A simple majority vote of all delegate members are needed for election to office.

 

B-3  All officers of the LCUDC shall serve for a term on one year to run concurrently with the Council Fiscal year (March 1st to February 28th (29th) and serve as assistant officer through April of the year to instruct and guide officers in their duties.

 

SECTION C       ELIGIBILITY

 

C-1  Any member of the Council is eligible to hold office.

 

SECTION D       VACANCIES OF OFFICE

 

D-1  The executive board will appoint a replacement for the officers that cannot complete their term.

 

D-2  The replacement will hold the office until the next regularly scheduled election.

 

SECTION E       DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

E-1  It shall be the duty of the president of the LCUDC to preside at all meetings of this organization, to enforce observance of the constitution, to offer for consideration all motions, appoint all committees not otherwise provided for, supervise the derby board, and perform other as his office may require.  The president has further responsibility after consultation with the other executive member present, to cast the deciding vote on all evenly divided votes.

 

E-2  It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to  keep an accurate record of all Council proceedings, handle all correspondence, notify delegate members of upcoming meetings, receive all moneys of the Council, keep an account of dues, receipts and expenditures, and submit regular reports to the Council.  All checks must be co-signed by the President.

 

E-3  It shall be the duty of the Director to act as representative of the LCUDC regarding public relations, conduct meetings in the absence of the President and be the clubs legislative contact.

 

E-4  Council Officers may enlist the help of any Council members to aid them in the completion of their duties; however, the Officer retains the ultimate responsibility.

 

SECTION F       SPECIAL COMMITTEES

 

F-1  Committees are to be appointed as the need arises at the discretion of the President.

 

ARTICLE V        ADMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS AND/OR CONSITUTION

 

SECTION A       PROCESS

 

A-1 Amendments to the constitution shall be made by two-thirds (2/3) vote cast by delegate members. (See B-1)

 

A-2 All clubs must be notified prior to any vote to amend.   A meeting notice is coincided prior notification.

 

A-3 (2012) any club may vote by e-mail or via U.S. Postal Service addressed to the Secretary.

 

ARTICLE VI       COMPTITION

 

SECTION A       DERBY BOARD

The Derby Board is part of the by-laws.

 

Please see 2018 Derby Board Rules for the most up to day Rules.