ARTICLE I

NAME / GOVERNMENT

 

The name of this Association shall be THE OHIO SOCIETY OF TRADITIONAL ARCHERS (indicated) in abbreviation as OSTA, INC.  THE OHIO SOCIETY OF TRADITIONAL ARCHERS (OSTA) shall be governed by an EXECUTIVE BOARD comprised of the current officers, i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as a BOARD OF ADVISORS consisting of (3) members in good standing selected by the Executive Board.  This Group of members will lead OSTA to the best of their abilities, always working and looking out for OSTA’s best interests.  Any member of the Group for future reference shall be referred to as the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and shall be able to call an emergency Board meeting should the need arise.

 

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall set all shoot dates as well as arranging any and all agreements with Clubs holding these events.

 

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the OSTA, INC. shall be:

 

1. To foster, expand, an perpetuate the practice of bowhunting with traditional equipment in the State of Ohio;

2. To encourage the use of the traditional bow and arrows in the hunting of all legal game a predators.

3. To improve, increase, and protect the privileges of the bowhunter; and

4. To cooperate with the state government as sportsmen in the conservation of game and its natural habitat – the forests and fields.

 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIPS

 

Membership, upon approval of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, shall be granted to anyone who has signed a pledged to use the traditional bow and arrows of required weights and avowed to their good moral character and sportsmanship (deliberate falsification of this information on an application will result in expulsion or denial of membership).

 

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE may suspend or expel any member.   Anyone who has been convicted of unlawful acts of fish and game laws will be subject to suspension.  All suspensions or expulsions from OSTA, INC., MUST be voted on unanimously by the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

 

Memberships are valid from 01 January of the current year to 31 December, regardless of the month in which dues are paid or a new member joins.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

The officers of OSTA, INC. shall be the PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, and TREASURER.  The group shall also be known as the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE as previously stated.  In addition, three (3) members shall serve as the ADVISORY BOARD.  Together, these groups shall be called the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

 

Each officer shall fulfill the duties that are normally implied by the titles of each office and as they are empowered by this Constitution and it By-laws as so instructed in this document.  These officers must agree to abide by the OSTA, INC., constitution for the term of their office.

 

The PRESIDENT shall be the Chairman of all meetings in accordance with Roberts’ Rules of Order.  The PRESIDENT shall have the right to appoint committees and to oversee said committees.  The PRESIDENT shall be responsible for overseeing all negotiations with host Clubs in making the arrangements for shoots.  The PRESIDENT will oversee all shoots and activities of OSTA, INC.

 

The VICE-PRESIDENT shall assume the duties of the PRESIDENT if the PRESIDENT is unable to uphold this position.  The VICE-PRESIDENT (Range Captain) shall oversee any need work parties as well as setting targets, stakes, course markings, and safety measure for each and every OSTA function in coordination with the host  Club for making sure that the course is a safe and true traditional one for the participants.  The stipulations for a traditional course shall be targets set at approximately no more that 25 yards with (1) at a thirty yard limit.

 

The SECRETARY shall be in charge of mailing all correspondence involving OSTA, INC. . . .  The SECRETARY shall maintain files for incoming membership applications, newsletter articles, as well as any and all OSTA, INC. information and correspondence and, with the assistance of the Officers, will oversee or handle any newsletters, advertising, special mailings to membership or potential host Club advertising as well as flyers and bulletins.  The SECRETARY shall handle all set-up, printing, and mailing of newsletters.  The SECRETARY will keep records of all OSTA members’ applications as well as presenting patches and membership cards as needed.  The SECRETARY will be responsible for taking and presenting all minutes of each membership meeting.

 

The TREASURER shall be responsible for keeping accurate financial records for OSTA, INC.   All approved monies to be spent will be disbursed by the TREASURER.  The TREASURER will be responsible for counting and recording all proceeds for an OSTA, INC., shoot and for properly dispersing monies to the host club accordingly.  The TREASURER will make copies of monthly bank statements and profit/loss statement and forward this information to the PRESIDENT as well as presenting it at each membership meeting and/or newsletter.

 

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall consist, as previously stated, of the Officers and Advisory Board.  The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall discharge such duties that may be assigned to it by OSTA, INC., membership, shall act, in the event of emergencies, and shall direct the business of OSTA, INC.  The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall be governed by the spirit and purpose of the constitution and By-laws of OSTA, INC.  All members of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall have equal voting on all OSTA, INC.  business, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously stated, the terms for each Officer shall be two (2) years.  The terms for each Advisory Board members shall be one (1) year.  Any members of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE may be impeached if any serious allegations arise concerning their ability or integrity as an OSTA, INC., EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE member.  They will first be given the opportunity to stat their case before the remaining EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE members prior to disbarment.

 

ARTICLE V

ELECTION OF OFFICERS BY MEMBERSHIP

 

The ELECTION OF OFFICERS shall be carried out by the vote tally (either by a show of hands or written ballots) at the annual State Shoot held labor Day weekend each year with the current SECRETARY in charge of the tallying of said votes (with the exception of the office of SECRETARY at which the VICE-PRESIDENT shall preside).  Nominations for offices to be filled each year may be made at each and every membership meeting leading up to the State Shoot meeting.  The new body of OSTA, INC. officers shall have the responsibility of selecting the ADVISORY BOARD members.

 

The terms of each office shall be for two (2) years with alternating year elections for PRESIDENT and SECRETARY follow by VICE-PRESIDENT and TREASURER.  All officers fulfilling their terms in good standing may be placed on the ADVISORY BOARD by the current EXECUTIVE BOARD.

 

ARTICLE VI

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

 

In order to qualify as an official business meeting of OSTA, INC., the date, time and place for the meeting, must be announced at least two (2) weeks prior.  There must be in attendance the following:  two (2) Officers, one (1) member of the ADVISORY BOARD, and at least four (4) current members of OSTA, INC.   No voting will be accepted without the preceding requirements having been met.  General membership meetings shall follow Roberts’ Rules of Order with a ten (10) minute time limit per topic of discussion.

 

ARTICLE VII

MONETARY / ASSETS DISBURSEMENTS

 

The current Officers of OSTA, INC., shall be permitted a $750.00 spending limit on any single purchase/investment.  Any expense exceeding $750.00 MUST be approved with a vote from the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

 

Any theft of monies and/or assets of OSTA, INC., by a member of OSTA shall result in expulsion of office/membership and immediate prosecution.  The member in suspect shall have the opportunity to state his/her case before the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.  If the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE finds the member to be guilty of the allegations against them, he/she shall be immediately relieved of their duties/membership and prosecution measures shall commence.

Upon the dissolution of OSTA, Inc. (as prescribed by section 1702.47 of the ORC), either voluntary or otherwise, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for payment of liabilities of

OSTA, Inc., dispose of the assets of OSTA Inc., exclusively for purposes of OSTA Inc., to an appropriate non-profit organization, or organizations, of their choice. Any assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of according to the applicable provisions of State law.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 Amendments

 

The Constitution and Bylaws of OSTA, Inc. may be amended only by the following actions:

 

1.      A written amendment proposal must be submitted to the Executive Committee of OSTA, Inc. for review. In not more than 90 days from the date of receipt the Executive Committee of OSTA, Inc. shall either

a.       recommend the proposals passage, stating why the proposal should be passed

b.      recommend that the proposal not be passed, stating why the proposal should not be passed

c.       reject the proposal, stating why the proposal cannot be voted upon

Any amendment proposal containing wording that raises safety, liability or legal concerns for OSTA, Inc., or that is considered potentially damaging to the integrity or reputation of OSTA, Inc. by the Executive Committee will not be brought before the membership for voting until those issues are resolved by the Executive Committee and the party submitting the amendment proposal.

2.      Upon approval by the Executive Committee of OSTA, Inc., the proposal shall be introduced and discussed at the next regular business meeting.

3.      Having been discussed at the previous business meeting, the proposed amendment shall be put to a vote before the dues paid members present who are age 18 or over. Proof of membership and/or proper identification may be required to vote. Votes may be counted by a show of hands or by ballot. Votes (show of hands or ballots) shall be counted by the Secretary and confirmed by the Executive Committee.

4.      Passage of the amendment proposal shall require an affirmative vote by 2/3 of members, a quorum being present.

5.      A rejected amendment proposal may be resubmitted for consideration by the Executive Committee of OSTA, Inc. after a period of 1 (one) year from the date of the vote.

 

 

 

 

 

BY-LAWS

 

 

1.   Definition of a bow

 

OSTA, Inc. permits only the use of traditional archery equipment at its shooting events. No mechanical bows or crossbows shall be permitted.

For the purposes of participation in an OSTA, Inc. shooting event, bows shall be defined as follows:

 

1. Recurve bow- Any bow whose string, by design, contacts the limbs at any point other than the nocks when braced. A recurve bow may be one piece, two piece takedown or thee piece takedown. A recurve  bow may be made of  any combination of wood, metal, fiberglass, carbon or other suitable material

2. Longbow- Any bow whose string, by design, does not contact the limbs at any point other than the nocks when braced. A longbow may be one piece, two piece takedown or three piece takedown. A longbow may be made of any combination of wood, metal, fiberglass, carbon or other suitable material.

3. Selfbow- A selfbow must be made from either a single stave of wood or two billets joined at the handle. Billets may be joined permanently or by connection hardware such as a sleeve, hinge or other similar means. A selfbow may be un-backed or backed with any natural material, such as silk, sinew, rawhide, snake skin, hardwood veneer, bamboo or other similar, commonly used material. A selfbow may not contain any man made laminate material such as fiberglass, carbon, actionwood, or other similar material.  The belly (core material) of a selfbow must be solid wood. Any bow having a belly other than of solid wood (i.e., two or more wood laminations) will be classified as either a “longbow”, or a “recurve bow” for competition.

 

The Executive Committee of OSTA, Inc. shall have absolute discretion in the interpretation of these definitions for the purpose of classification of any bow being used for competition

 

 

 

 

OSTA CONCEPTION – 12/1988

ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION – accepted 11/1989

Amendment proposals – presented/not voted on 01/1993

CONSTITUION AMENDED – 2003

   [Constitution Review Committee – Executive Board (Sneers, Anderson, Murray, Gesner),

Advisors (Knisely, Frick), Membership (Denney)

CONSTITUTION REVISED – 2009

(J.Miller, D.Murray, J. Cornelius, M. Waddell, Executive Board)