Bylaws

By Laws
Article I – Name and Definition
Section 1.
This organization shall be called the Finger Lakes Association of Golf Course Superintendents.
Section 2.
A Golf Course Superintendent is one who is entrusted with maintenance, operation, and management of
a tract of land defined as a golf course.
Article II – Purpose
Section 1.
The purpose of the Association is to promote and support the Golf Course Superintendent, to promote
better turf for better golf in our community, and to further research and interchange scientific and practical
knowledge relating to the care of golf courses and turf grass operations, thus bringing about a more
efficient, economical, and environmentally aware operation of golf courses in our community and
increase prestige for this Association.
Section 2.
This Association desires to be affiliated with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Article III – Membership
Section 1.
A formal application will be sent to any person desiring membership.
Effective July 1, 1997, all new class A and B membership applicants must submit an application for
membership or evidence of membership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Section 2.
An application for membership shall be approved or rejected by a majority vote of the Executive
Committee. If approved by the Executive Committee the voting members will vote, a majority of members
present necessary for acceptance.
Section 3.
Membership Classes
Life Members: This recognition shall be conferred by a majority vote of the Executive Committee to those
members, who have in the past rendered exceptional service to this Association and profession. Life
members shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association, except that of holding office, and shall
be excused from payment of annual dues.
Class AA Members: Persons who have been a class A member for at least 10 years and have reached
the age of 55 and are retired from active service as a Golf Course Superintendent. Class AA members
shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association, except that of holding office, and shall be
excused from payment of dues.
Class A Certified Members (Golf Course Superintendents): To qualify for Class A Certified Membership,
an applicant shall have met the requirements for certification set forth by the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America.
Class A Members (Golf Course Superintendents): To qualify for a Class A membership, an applicant
must have at the time of application, at least three (3) years experience as a Golf Course Superintendent
and be employed in such capacity. Class A members shall have all the rights and privileges of the
Association.
Class Superintendent Members (SM): An individual with less than three (3) years’ experience as a golf
course superintendent. Superintendent Members shall have all the rights and privileges of the
Association
Class C Members (Assistant Golf Course Superintendents): To qualify for Class C Membership a person
must be a regular assistant to a Golf Course Superintendent and have worked two (2) years or have two
(2) years of turf or turf related college and one (l) year work experience on a golf course. Class C
members shall have the same rights and privileges of the Association except those of holding office,
serving on the Board of Directors, and voting in the annual elections.
Class D Members (Superintendents of the Grounds): To qualify for Class D Membership a person must
be directly responsible for the maintenance of large turf areas (other than golf courses) such as:
Institutional, Industrial, and Recreational. Class D members shall have all the rights and privileges of the
Association except those of holding office, serving on the Board of Directors, and voting in the annual
elections.
Honorary Members: This recognition shall be conferred, by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, to
those persons who have, in the past, rendered exceptional service to this profession.
Affiliate Members: To qualify for Affiliate Membership an applicant must be a business firm, government
body, or person interested in the growing, management, or production of turf grass, either individually or
through employment by, or other affiliation with, a company, proprietorship or association, who does not
qualify for membership in another class. Affiliate Members shall have all the rights and privileges of the
Association except those of holding office, serving on the Board of Directors and voting.
Section 4.
Reclassification
a) Any member shall be reclassified in this Association as they meet the requirements for that class. If
the reclassification is to change their status in this Association, the member must notify the Executive
Committee of their change.

b) Any member leaving his position and is no longer associated with golf course operations, shall
maintain his classification for one (1) year following this change and after that time be must be
reclassified into a classification in which he meets the requirements.

Section 5.
Power of the Executive Committee to Discipline or Expel Members
A member may be disciplined or expelled by the Executive Committee upon showing just cause thereof.
A two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee is required for this action.
Article IV – Officers and Board of Directors
Section 1. Qualifications for Officers and Directors
a) Officers – Class A GCSAA members in good standing order

b) Directors – All Life, Class AA, Class A and Class B members in good standing order.

Section 2.
All life, Class AA, Class A, and Class B members of the Finger Lakes Association of Golf Course
Superintendents may participate in the process of elections of Officers and Board for this Association.
Section 3.
The President and Vice President shall be elected annually. The terms of the Secretary and Treasurer
shall be for two years. These terms are to be set up so that these offices are to be vacated on alternating
years. The election of the Secretary to be in even numbered years and Treasurer to be in odd number
years.
Section 4.
The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) members, four (4) of whom shall be elected. Two (2) shall
be elected each year for a term of two (2) years. The immediate past president shall serve as the fifth
director.
Section 5.
This group, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the five (5) Directors shall constitute the
Executive Committee.
All Officers and a majority of the entire Executive Committee shall be GCSAA Class A or B members.
Section 6.
Vacancies occurring in any Office or in the Board of Directors of this Association shall be filled by
appointment by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee. Appointments made under
this provision shall be for the duration of the unexpired term of the office or directorship vacated.
Article V – Officer’s Duties
Section 1. President:
a) The President shall preside at all meetings and generally supervise the Association’s activities.
b) The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
c) The President shall vote in all matters of this Association only in the case of a tie.

Section 2. Vice President
The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President in the latter’s absence.
Section 3. Secretary
The Secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the Association and keep a record of the proceedings, to
conduct all correspondence and carry into execution all orders, votes and resolutions not otherwise
committed. The secretary shall keep a list of all members of the Association and shall be responsible for
the annual dues billing.
Section 4. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of annual dues and subscriptions and keep an
accurate record of these transactions. He shall also be responsible for the paying of all approved
Association bills out of Association funds.
Section 5. Bonding
The Treasurer, or any other person entrusted with the handling of funds or property of the Association,
shall at the expense of the Association furbish a fidelity bond approved by the Executive Committee in
such a sum as the Committee shall prescribe.
Section 6. Checking and Savings Accounts
Any accounts such as savings or checking accounts of the Association shall have the signature of both
the President and the Treasurer at the bank. Only one of those signatures is required on checks.
Article VI – Elections
Section 1.
The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee Chairman who will have responsibility of selecting
his own committee. This committee shall select nominees for officers and directors for the following year
and present its slate to the voting membership thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.
Section 2.
Voting for the officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be done at the annual meeting.
Section 3.
The Nominating Committee Chairman shall serve as the Elections Committee Chairman, who at the
time of elections shall ask for, in addition to the nominees recommended by the Nominating Committee,
further nominations from the floor and when said nominations shall be closed, said elections shall
proceed in an orderly fashion by secret ballot upon all nominations so submitted and made. However,
exception to secret ballot can be made by call of the Elections Committee Chairman in any case where a
candidate is running unopposed. In such case, that election can be held by a voice or hand vote.
Section 4.
All elections shall be decided by a plurality vote of members voting on the issue.
Section 5.
Any eligible member, in good standing order, can assign his vote by written consent to any other eligible
voting member.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1.
Monthly meetings are to be decided by the Executive Committee.
Section 2.
The annual meeting shall be held as near as possible to the second Tuesday of November. Elections of
Officers and Board of Directors will be held at this meeting.
Section 3.
A quorum shall consist of seven (7) voting members.
Section 4.
A two-thirds vote of members present is necessary to pass legislation and a simple majority is
necessary for business.
Article VIII – Attendance
Section 1.
All members of the Association are expected to attend as many meetings a year as possible for the good
of both himself and the Association.
Section 2.
All members are required to return cards for monthly meetings whether they plan to attend or not. Failure
to do so will result in a penalty charged by the Association. This penalty, for the past years violations will
be charged with the annual dues.
Article IX – Dues
Section 1.
Annual dues for membership is payable to the Treasurer as of January 1st of the current year.
Section 2.
All dues must be paid by the March meeting of the current year.
Section 3.
Any member not paying dues by the March meeting will be sent a second notice and have a thirty (30) day
grace period before being dropped from the rolls of this Association. A person will be reinstated after he
has paid his back dues plus a reinstatement fee affixed by the Executive Committee. This charge is not to
exceed one-third of the annual dues.
Article X – Amendments
Section 1.
Any amendments to the By-Laws must be proposed, in writing, by three voting members of the
Association and be presented to the membership thirty (30) days prior to voting. An affirmative vote of two
thirds of the voting membership present is required for amendment adoption.
Article XI – Committees
Section 1.
Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the President.
Section 2.
Standing Committees:
Public Relations
Education and Speakers
Membership
Placement
Nominating
Scholarship
Benevolent
Golf
Recreation and Entertainment