To jump to a specific article, click the link below.

ARTICLE I: NAME - LOCATION

SECTION 1. The name of this Association shall be Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association, Inc.

SECTION 2. This Association shall be incorporated with the State of Ohio as a non-profit business Association with 501 (c) (6) tax filing status.

SECTION 3. This Association shall be located in the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio area.

SECTION 4. The office and books shall be kept and maintained at such place or places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time designate.

SECTION 5. This Association shall be an affiliated chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and shall meet and maintain the requirements of said affiliation.

SECTION 6. As an affiliated chapter of the GCSAA, this Association accepts the code of ethics of the GCSAA as its own and pledges not to contravene any By-law of the GCSAA organization.

Return to top

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Application for Membership:
Applicants for membership shall be approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall be the sole judge of an applicant=s qualifications for membership. Application for membership shall be made upon form(s) obtained from and provided by the Executive Secretary. These forms shall, among other things, contain a concise statement of the applicant=s training, qualifications, and experience; provide for an endorsement for membership by at least two Class AA, A, or Superintendent Member members in good standing; and be signed and acknowledged by the applicant. Furthermore, at the time of application all applicants for Class A and Superintendent Member membership must submit an application for membership or evidence of membership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

SECTION 2. Membership Classes:

Class AA - Life Members: To qualify for Class AA Membership, one must have retired as a Class A member, have been a Class A member of this Association for twenty years, and reached the age of fifty-five. A Life Member shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association except for holding the position of an officer on the Board of Trustees.

Class A - Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class A Membership, an applicant shall have at least three years of experience as a golf course superintendent and be employed in such capacity, or if not presently employed in such capacity, an applicant shall have at least three years of experience as a golf course superintendent and be employed in a capacity where his or her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the direct supervision of one or more golf course superintendents. Class A Members shall have all the privileges of the Association.

Superintendent Member - Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Superintendent Member Membership, an applicant shall be a golf course superintendent who has, at the time of application for membership, less than three years of experience as a golf course superintendent and shall be presently employed in such capacity. Superintendent Member Members shall have all the privileges of the Association.

Class C - Assistant Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class C Membership, an applicant shall be an assistant to a golf course superintendent and presently employed in such capacity. Class C Members shall have all the privileges of the Association, except for holding the position of an officer on the Board of Trustees.

Affiliate Commercial: To qualify for Affiliate Commercial Membership, an applicant must be an individual or business firm interested in golf course management and/or in the growing, production, or sales of products used in the production of fine turfgrass either individually or through employment by, or other affiliation with, a company, proprietorship or association. Affiliate Commercial Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Trustees may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding the position of an officer on the Board of Trustees.

Student: To qualify for Student Membership, an applicant must be classified as a full-time turfgrass student by the educational institution in which he or she is enrolled in a formal course of education, or have completed his or her formal education less than one year prior to the date of application for membership. Student Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Trustees may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office.

Retired: Any Member reaching age fifty-five and with a minimum of ten years of membership in this Association, who is retired and no longer seeking employment within the scope of activities of any membership class of this Association, may apply to the Board in writing for Retired Membership. All retired members shall retain the rights and privileges of their previous membership classification, except for holding the position of an officer on the Board of Trustees.

Associate: To qualify for Associate Membership, an applicant must be an individual interested in golf course management and/or in the growing or production of fine turfgrass who does not qualify for membership in another class. Associate Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Trustees may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office.

Honorary: To qualify for Honorary Membership, the individual must be recognized by the Board of Trustees for contributing in an outstanding manner to this Association, profession, or related field. All Honorary Members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Board of Trustees may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office. Honorary Membership shall continue in effect unless otherwise revoked by the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 3. Reclassification of Members:
All reclassifications of members shall be made by the Board of Trustees, in accordance with Standing Rules adopted by it from time to time, or pursuant to directives adopted by the membership at any annual meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose.

(a) Voluntary Reclassification: Any individual member may request a change in his or her membership classification to accord with a change in his or her qualifications for membership as set forth in Section 2 of this Article.
(b) Mandatory Reclassification: All members, upon renewal of their annual membership, must clearly state their current employment status. This statement of employment status shall be based upon the Association=s officially accepted job titles and golf course organization chart, or other commonly accepted listings of job titles. The Board of Trustees shall, upon receipt of this statement, determine the appropriate class of membership for each individual and shall be empowered to alter the individual=s membership classification to properly reflect stated qualifications.

SECTION 4. Rights of Membership
Except as otherwise provided herein, members of the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association shall have all the rights of membership including:

a) Use of the Association=s name, initials, and logo in accordance with the Standing Rules adopted by the Board of Trustees
b) Attend the annual meeting of this Association
c) Vote if a Class AA, A, Superintendent Member, or C member
d) Hold the position of an officer on the Board of Trustees if a Class A or B member.

SECTION 5. Approval or Rejection of Applicant:
In the event of any rejection of application for membership by the Board of Trustees, an appeal may be made by the applicant to the membership at any annual meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. Any rejected applicant shall give written notice to the Board of Trustees of his or her intent to appeal and the Board of Trustees shall advise the applicant in writing of the time of the annual meeting or special meeting at which time the appeal will be heard. The applicant and the Board of Trustees may each present evidence to the membership for consideration. At the conclusion of the presentation of the evidence, the membership shall vote on the admission of the applicant to the Association. If the applicant receives a majority of votes from the membership, the applicant shall be accepted by the Association as a member, but if the applicant fails to obtain a majority of votes, his or her application shall be rejected. Any rejected applicant cannot make further application for a period of two years from the date of rejection by the membership.

Return to top

ARTICLE III: DUES, SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENTS,AND SUSPENSION FOR NON-PAYMENT

SECTION 1. Annual dues for all classes of membership shall be established by the Board of Trustees, except that Class AA Life and Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues. Any member whose dues have not been paid within sixty days of the billing date of such dues shall be assessed an additional billing charge in such amount as determined by the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 2. Supplemental Assessments shall when necessary, and with membership approval, be levied for the payment of any existing deficit or impending deficit of this Association. Approval of such assessment shall require a majority of voting members present at either the annual meeting of members, or at a duly called special meeting of members.

SECTION 3. Admittance to any Annual or special meeting of this Association shall be allowed only to those members in good standing. All members whose dues remain in arrears more than ninety days following the billing date or ninety days after the date of notification of any assessment shall not be deemed to be in good standing and shall be suspended from this Association without the necessity of further notice being given for such suspension.

SECTION 4. The Board of Trustees may at its discretion, for good cause shown, temporarily excuse or extend time of payments of annual dues or assessments for any member who from ill health, advanced age, or any other good cause shall be unable to make payment within time fixed.

SECTION 5. Membership Certificates shall be issued to each member of this Association certifying membership in this Association. Said certificates shall be in such form as the Board of Trustees may from time to time prescribe.

Return to top

ARTICLE IV: CONDUCT OF MEMBERS LOSS OF AND REAPPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Members whose dues shall remain in arrears more than ninety days following the billing date or ninety days after the billing date of any Assessment can be expelled from this Association without the necessity of further notice being given for such expulsion.

SECTION 2. Prohibited Conduct:
The following conduct is prohibited for Members of the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association:

a) Violations of the GCSAA Code of Ethics
b) Use of one=s affiliation with the Association for the purpose of promoting schemes, ideas, or objects that are detrimental to the Association
c) Conduct unbecoming a member or contrary to the Standing Rules of the Association
d) Submitting false information on an application for membership or on a dues statement.

Conduct that is prohibited shall be cause for disciplinary action or expulsion from the membership in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 3 of this Article.

SECTION 3. Procedure for Disciplining or Expelling a Member:
A member may be disciplined or expelled by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees. Any member who is subject to disciplinary action or expulsion shall have the right to notice and an opportunity to be heard concerning such. Upon written request from the aggrieved party, the Board of Trustees shall provide within thirty days a written explanation of their action and give notice of a hearing which gives the aggrieved party an opportunity to be heard with respect to the action taken. Notice is to be in writing and delivered by certified mail. No hearing shall be held unless the aggrieved party gives notice of his or her appeal to the Board of Trustees action within thirty days of receipt of the written explanation of action taken by the Board. The Board of Trustees shall have the power to establish additional Standing Rules for the conduct of proceedings under this Section.

Return to top

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SECTION 1. The control and management of this Association, its affairs, and its property shall be entrusted to the Board of Trustees consisting of its officers and Trustees. All officers and a majority of the entire Board of Trustees shall be Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association Class A or Superintendent Member Members and Class A or Superintendent Member Members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. The Board of Trustees shall be empowered to adopt and revise Standing Rules for this Association for the purpose of establishing policies and procedures to be followed by its members.

SECTION 2. The Board of Trustees shall be composed of seven members of the Association, two of whom shall be elected by plurality vote each year at the annual meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and one of whom, The Green Breeze Editor, shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Trustees. Newly elected members of the Board of Trustees shall replace outgoing Board members immediately following the election at the annual meeting; however, the outgoing President shall retain office and have charge of the Association=s general affairs until such time as the newly elected Board of Trustees selects a new President. Each Trustee shall serve a three year term or until his or her successor is elected.

SECTION 3. The Board of Trustees shall include the Editor of The Green Breeze who shall be appointed by the President with approval of a majority of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, the immediate Past President shall continue to serve on the Board of Trustees for one year in an ex-officio, non-voting, capacity if that person=s elected term on the Board of Trustees coincides with the end of his or her term as President.

SECTION 4. Every third year there shall be elected one Affiliate Commercial Member, who shall serve for three years as the Commercial Representative on the Board of Trustees. This office shall be voting.

SECTION 5. Duties and Powers of the Board of Trustees:
The Board of Trustees shall have general charge and management of affairs of the Association. Said Board of Trustees shall at each annual meeting make a full report of its actions during the preceding year. Copies of such report shall be available to all delegates and members at said Annual Meeting.

SECTION 6. If vacancies shall occur in the Board of Trustees, such vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the President and such appointees shall serve the unexpired portion of the term for which the predecessor shall have been elected. In the event that the vacancy is a result of a departing Affiliate Commercial Member, the appointed successor shall be an Affiliate Commercial Member.

SECTION 7. Any member of the Board of Trustees may be removed from office by a petition bearing the signatures of two-thirds of the voting members of the Association.

Return to top

SECTION 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. The offices of President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees and shall hold office for a term of one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. The President shall appoint and the majority of the Board approve The Green Breeze Editor. Said election and appointments must occur within ten (10) days following the annual meeting of the Association.

SECTION 2. Office of President and duties prescribed:
The President shall, during the recess of the Board of Trustees, have general charge and supervision of the affairs and property of the Association, subject however, to such rules and regulations as may from time to time be made by the Board of Trustees. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Trustees, shall appoint all committees, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall from time to time submit reports to the Board of Trustees, give such information concerning the affairs of the Association, and make recommendations as he or she may think proper.

SECTION 3. Office of Vice-President and duties prescribed:
In case of the absence or inability to act of the President, the Vice-President shall during the period of such absence or disability perform the duties herein before prescribed for the President. In the event the office of the President shall become vacant because of health, resignation, death, or removal, the Vice-President shall perform all duties of the President unless an alternate successor shall be duly elected by the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 4. Office of Secretary/Treasurer and duties prescribed:
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be present at all meetings of members of the Association and of the Board of Trustees, and shall keep a record of all the transactions at the meetings in a book belonging to the Association and kept for that purpose. The Secretary/Treasurer shall give due and proper notice as provided by the Bylaws of all meetings of the members of the Association and of the Board of Trustees, shall be the custodian of the corporate records and of the corporate seal, shall perform all the other duties usually performed by the Secretary/Treasurer of a like corporation, and such other and additional duties as may be required by him or her by the Board of Trustees. The Secretary/Treasurer shall receive all monies, bills, notes, bonds, and similar property belonging to the Association and safely keep the same in the name of the Association, shall deposit all monies to the credit of the Association, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Trustees, and make current disbursements as shall be ordered by the Board of Trustees. The Secretary/Treasurer shall pay all bills subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees and shall keep such financial accounts and records as may be required of him by the Board of Trustees, as well as make an annual report and such other reports as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees. The books of the Secretary/Treasurer shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board of Trustees. The Secretary/Treasurer shall give bond of such sum as the Board of Trustees shall from time to time determine with good and sufficient surety thereon to be approved by the Board of Trustees, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties, and, as such, account for all monies received. The premium on said bond shall be paid by the Association, and the bond shall be held in the custody of the President.

SECTION 5. Any officer may be removed at any time by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Board of Trustees.

Return to top

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. Nominating Committee:
The Board of Trustees shall annually appoint a nominating committee which shall consist of voting members of this Association. The Nominating Committee shall, not less than thirty days prior to the annual membership meeting, present nominees for the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 2. Standing and special committees may be established by the President of the Association with the consent of the Board of Trustees at any time with specified authority and responsibilities as directed by the Board of Trustees. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the appointment of other committees by the President, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, for the advancement of the Association.

SECTION 3. No committee shall have authority to bind this Association for the payment of money or the performance of any Contract, such authority being hereby expressly reserved unto the Board of Trustees hereof, or the duly authorized and elected officers of this Association.

Return to top

ARTICLE VIII: DELEGATE TO GCSAA MEETING(S)

SECTION 1. The Board of Trustees shall determine the GCSAA voting member who shall act as delegate to, and represent the Association at, any annual or special meeting of the GCSAA. Furthermore, said delegate shall be empowered to vote on behalf of the chapter, per the directive(s) of the majority of the Board of Trustees.

Return to top

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS

SECTION 1. At any duly constituted meeting of the Association, only those members authorized to vote by the Bylaws of the Association shall be eligible to vote upon matters coming before and properly presented to the Association meeting.

SECTION 2. Voting Procedures:
The Board of Trustees shall have the power to establish Standing Rules governing voting procedures at Association meetings.

SECTION 3. The Annual Meeting of Members shall be held within thirty days of the first day of November, with the location, time, and place to be designated by the Board of Trustees. Special meetings of the Membership may be called by the President upon the request of a majority of the Board of Trustees, and may also be called by request of twenty-five percent of the members in good standing. Thirty days advance notice shall be given members of annual and special meetings and said notice, except for notice of annual meetings, shall give the time, place, and purpose of such meetings. At the annual meeting, any business may be transacted not inconsistent with the Charter and Bylaws; but at special meetings, the business shall be confined to the purpose for which the meeting was called.

SECTION 4. A Special Meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called at any time by the President or shall be called by him or her upon written request by a majority of members of the Board of Trustees provided the request specifies the object for which the desired meeting is to be held. In the case that the President refuses or neglects to call a Special Meeting after he or she has been requested to do so, the meeting may be duly called by two-thirds of the Board of Trustees. Thirty days advance notice in writing of the time, place and purpose of special meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be given by the Secretary/Treasurer.

SECTION 5. All meetings of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order, or such parliamentary authority as designated by the President.

Return to top

ARTICLE X: ORDER OF BUSINESS

SECTION 1. The order of business at all Board and Annual meetings of the Association and Board of Trustees shall be as follows: (1) Roll Call, (2) Minutes of Previous Meeting, (3) Communications, (4) Reports of Officers, (5) Reports of Committees, (6) Unfinished Business, (7) New Business, (8) Elections of Officers and Trustees.

Return to top

ARTICLE XI: SEAL

SECTION 1. The Secretary of this Association shall procure for use a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a disc and capable of making an impression upon such documents as shall be required and which shall have lettering thereon, stating the name of the Association arranged in the form of a circle on the outer edge and such other additional insignia thereon as the Board of Trustees shall approve.

Return to top

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. These Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the members with thirty days previous notice having been sent to the members of the amendments to be made. These Bylaws may also be amended at a duly called Special Meeting of the members as provided for in Article IX, Section 3 of these Bylaws provided that notice of the Special Meeting and wording of the proposed amendment to the Bylaws is mailed to each member at his or her last known address as registered in the books of the Association prior to such special meeting.

SECTION 2. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of all voting members present in good standing shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment.

Return to top

ARTICLE XIII: INDEMNIFICATION

The Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association shall indemnify any and all persons who may serve or have served at any time as an officers or a Trustee, and their heirs, administrators, successors and assigns, against any and all expenses, including amounts upon judgments, counsel fees and amounts paid in settlement (before or after suit is commenced), actually necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which they, or any of them are made parties, or a party, or which may be asserted against them or any of them, by reason of being, or having been, an officer or Trustee of this Association, except in relation to matters as to which any such officer or Trustee, or former officer or Trustee, shall be adjudged in any action, suit or proceeding to be liable for his or her own acts and omissions arising out of his or her willful misfeasance. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any law, bylaw agreement, or otherwise.

Return to top

ARTICLE XIV: DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association, after all liabilities and responsibilities have been met, its assets shall be distributed for one or more of the exempt purposes specified in Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as from time to time amended and in accordance with State Law. The Board of Trustees shall determine the distribution.

Return to top