AAFTA By-Laws

Reprinted from the 2009A AAFTA Clubs and Shooters Handbook

Download or order a hardcopy of the AAFTA Handbook

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the American Airgun Field Target Association (hereinafter referred to as AAFTA).

Article II – Purpose

The American Airgun Field Target Association is established for the purpose of promoting field target shooting clubs in the United States.

To accomplish this objective, AAFTA commits itself to establish a set of Rules and Guidelines so that participants may compete in regional and national competitions in a manner fair to all.

To provide these Rules and Guidelines to affiliated clubs in the interest of creating a standard among all members.

To assist affiliated clubs in conducting regional and national competitions governed by the aforementioned Rules and Guidelines.

To further the sport of Airgun Field Target Shooting in the United States by encouraging gentlemanly conduct, safety, fairness, and participation by all members.

To promote airgun shooting as a healthy and recreational activity to the general public.

Article III – Membership

The membership of AAFTA will be comprised of affiliated clubs within the United States which desire to shoot airgun field targets.

A.    A member shall consist of a club with at least two members, which applies for membership, and is accepted by the Board of Governors.

B.    Member clubs must hold at least one field target match per year strictly following the AAFTA Rules and Guidelines to remain in good standing.

C.    Upon acceptance by the Board of Governors, clubs will be issued a certificate of membership to AAFTA.

D.    Members are required to submit to AAFTA, match results from sanctioned matches. Members are encouraged to submit all match results to AAFTA, and are further encouraged to submit information on club activities and match publicity to local, regional, and national news sources.

Article IV – Responsibilities to Affiliates

Affiliates are responsible for their own affairs, to include safety, club organization, disputes among members, dissemination of information, liability, and conduct in shooting activities. AAFTA will endeavor to assist clubs as requested, and to maintain, as the National Standard, the AAFTA Rules and Guidelines for field target shooting. AAFTA will designate the site for the U.S. Field Target Championship each year, and will provide the trophies for the National Champions.

Article V – Dues

There shall be $25.00 per anum dues, due in January of each year, for an AAFTA member club. The dues will be used to support Field Target shooting through publicity, promotional materials and the AAFTA Newsletter. AAFTA will remain a non-profit organization.  A member whose dues have been received by the AAFTA treasurer shall be considered a “member in good standing” for that year, while a member not having paid its dues will have its status changed to “associate member”, as defined in the section “Associate Membership” of the AAFTA handbook, by March of the year for which dues were to be paid.  The member listing in the AAFTA newsletter shall reflect the status of all members.

Article VI – Meetings

A.    The annual meeting of the association shall be held at the U.S. Championship Match each year with the general membership that is present.

B.    Regular Meetings. The regular meetings for business of the association shall be held at such times and places as may be fixed by the Board of Governors.

C.    Two-thirds Majority Vote. Issues brought before the members at the annual meeting will be decided by two-thirds vote of those present, to include proxy votes.

Article VII – Board of Governors

The Board of Governors shall be responsible for the business affairs of AAFTA, and shall enforce and regulate the Rules and Guidelines referred to in these By-Laws.

The Board of Governors consists of six members, each elected for a term of three years.  Elections for the Board of Governors shall be held at the annual meeting of the association.

Beginning in 1992, three members of the Board of Governors will be subject to reelection or replacement while the remaining three members' terms will expire in 1993. Thereafter, elections for the Board will be held every third and fourth years.

Members in good standing and current members of the Board of Governors can nominate candidates for election.  All candidate nominations must be communicated to the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the board no later than 60 days before the annual meeting of the association.

A proxy ballot sheet listing all nominated candidates for that year’s election will be mailed to all members in good standing no later than 40 days before the annual meeting of the association.

At the annual meeting of the association the election will be held by each member in good standing casting one vote each for three candidates.  Votes are cast in secret and in person by the appointed representative of a member at the annual meeting of the association.

Should the representative of a member not be able to attend in person, the member’s representative can authorize in writing another person to cast the member’s votes, or the member can vote by mailing the proxy ballot sheet with votes indicated next to the names of three listed candidates.  The vote by ballot sheet must be mailed to the Chairman of the Board of Governors no later than 15 days before the annual meeting.

The three candidates receiving the most votes will become members of the Board of Governors on the first of January following the election.  In case of a tied vote, the tie will be resolved by each member representative present at the annual meeting casting one vote for one of the candidates in the tie.  Should this result in another tied vote, the Chairman of the Board of Governors will resolve the tie with his vote.

Should a member of the Board of Governors resign, or for any reason not be able to fulfill his tenure, a replacement will be appointed by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors will consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and a Secretary-Treasurer elected by a majority vote of the Board.

Any member of the Board of Governors may be suspended or expelled for any cause deemed sufficient by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board of Governors.

Article VIII – Representatives

Each member club of AAFTA will appoint a representative whose purpose will be to handle all business between the Board of Governors and his member club.

Article IX – Rules and Guidelines

The Rules and Guidelines of AAFTA shall be established by the Board of Governors.

Article X – Suspension or Expulsion

Any member may be suspended or expelled from AAFTA for any cause deemed sufficient by the Board of Governors by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the general membership present at the annual meeting of the association.

Article XI – Amendments

Amendments may be proposed to entire articles of these By-Laws by any member at the annual meeting. Such proposed amendments must be submitted to the Board of Governors for approval. After the Board of Governors approves any amendment, they must be acted upon by the AAFTA membership at the next annual meeting. A two-thirds vote of the general membership will be necessary for its passage.

An amendment to a section of an article may be proposed by any member. Such proposed amendments must be submitted to the Board of Governors for approval. After its approval by the Board of Governors, it must be acted upon at the next annual meeting. A two-thirds vote of the members present will be necessary for its passage.

Code of Ethics

Fitness to Serve as an AAFTA Governor

  1. Each Governor is a representative of AAFTA and shall not by word, act, or omission create even a perception of impropriety in the conduct of official duties.
  2. No Governor, in order to further his own economic interests or those of any other person, shall directly or indirectly use his office for pecuniary purposes.
  3. Removal of a Governor for violation of these ethical standards shall be by majority vote of the remaining Governors.

Associate Membership

Individuals

Individuals may register as AAFTA Associate Members. Voting rights are allocated only to clubs.

Clubs or Associations

The Board of Governors resolves that foreign clubs and associations may join AAFTA as an Associate Member Club or Association. This no cost service may be taken advantage of by putting your request in writing and, upon acceptance by the Board of Governors, your club or association will be issued a Certificate of Associate Club/Association Membership. This membership, like the individual AAFTA Associate Member, carries no voting privileges.