ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION AND NAME
The name of this organization shall be "Florida Gold Coast Division". The Division is chartered by the United States Fencing Association.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSES
The purposes of this Division shall be:
1. To promote the sport of fencing by:
A. scheduling fencing competitions throughout the year
B. supporting the growth and development of fencing clubs
C. supporting the teaching of fencing in clubs, schools, community centers and all other locations as well as schedule and encourage workshops
D. cooperate with other fencing divisions of the USFA
E. disseminate information about fencing in the division.
2. Schedule all Divisional Championship meets as required by the USFA.

ARTICLE III
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Division shall commence and end concurrent with the Bylaws of the U.S.F.A.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP AND DEFINITION OF AN AMATEUR FENCER
This Article shall be governed by the rules set forth in the Bylaws of the U.S.F.A.

ARTICLE V
FEES, DUES AND ARREARS
This Article shall be governed by the rules set forth in the Bylaws of the U.S.F.A.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
6.1 The officers of the Division shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
6.2 The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Division and the Executive Committee and provide leadership for planning and executing the business of the division. He shall be a Governor of the USFA and carry out duties specified by the USFA.
6.3 The Vice-Chairman, in the absence of the Chairman, shall perform the duties of the Chairman.
6.4 The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence of the Division, keep a record of all meetings of the Division, issue notices to members of all meetings of the Division and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Secretary by these Bylaws or the Executive Committee.
(a) The Secretary is require to keep all records of the four previous fencing years and when giving up the office, give all the records to the new secretary.
6.5 The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Division:
(a) shall receive all moneys, fees, dues, etc.;
(b) shall preserve vouchers for such disbursements;
(c) shall, at the Annual Meeting, submit a Financial Report to date, and shall at the beginning of the fiscal year submit to the Executive Committee the final report for the previous fiscal year;
(d) shall keep all funds of the Division in such account or accounts, each subject to withdrawals upon the joint signatures of the Chairman and the Treasurer.
(e) shall keep all financial records for the previous four years and when giving up the office, give all the records to the new Treasurer.

ARTICLE VII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 An Executive Committee will be elected at the annual general membership meeting. This committee will be composed of the officers of the division plus seven members, also elected at the annual general membership meeting and will schedule four meetings per year.
7.2 Not more than two members of the Executive Committee shall be members of the same fencing club in the Division.
7.3 At any meeting of the Executive Committee, a quorum shall consist of five members present in person. At a meeting without a quorum business may be discussed but the Committee cannot vote on matters.
7.4 The Chairman of the Division sets the dates and times of the Executive Committee meetings. If five or more members of the Executive Committee feel there is a need for a meeting and notify the Chairman, he must call for a Committee meeting within two weeks of being notified by letter with signature of the five, (or more) Committee members, and the purpose of the meeting stated.
7.5 Appropriations of funds may be voted on at any Executive Committee meeting which has a quorum.
7.6 At the first meeting of the Executive Committee following the Annual Meeting, the Executive Committee will review the tournament schedule of the previous season, recommend tournaments for the following season, review the Standing Rules and vote on the Standing Rules for the coming year.
7.7 Proxy votes may be given by members of the Executive Committee to the secretary if they cannot attend in person.
7.8 If an officer of the Division cannot continue in his position, resigns, or leaves the Division, the Chairman of the Division will appoint a member of the Executive Committee to fill that position. Nominations will be accepted from the General Membership to elect another member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, choose and elect, from the nominations, the replacement member of the Committee.
7.9 If any member of the Executive Committee, including officers, miss two consecutive meeting they will automatically lose their position on the committee, unless a satisfactory reason has been submitted, in writing, to the Secretary prior to or coinciding with the second meeting. The Executive Committee will vote as to whether to accept the reason for any member missing three consecutive meetings. The Chairman may replace a dropped member of the committee, except in the case of an officer; in which case the entire Executive Committee will vote to replace that person.

ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES
8.1 Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws, the Chairman shall have power to create and appoint the members of such committees as he may deem necessary or appropriate.
8.2 There shall be a nominating committee of three to five persons selected by the Executive Committee, in the month of March. No more than one person shall represent any club in the Division. The Nominating Committee will submit a slate of officers at the Annual Meeting to the General Membership and nominations for additional members of the Executive Committee.
8.3 If any committee is not functioning as needed, the Chairman may remove and reappoint the members to that committee.

ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
9.1 The Annual Meeting of the division shall be held on the same date as the divisional championships and must be announced twenty one days prior to the meeting.
9.2 Specials Meetings of the General Membership of the Division may be called by the Chairman or a majority of the Executive Committee by mailing out a notice to the membership, postmarked fifteen days prior to the meeting.
9.3 At the Annual Meeting a quorum shall consist of 35 percent of the total membership of the Division, including proxy votes. All matters, including elections of officers can be voted on by those members attending and proxy votes.
9.4. Accompanying the announcement of the Annual Meeting a proxy vote will be included which will include the name, club affiliation, address and phone number of the member. There shall be a clear designation as to who casts the proxy vote: either the Chairman or a designated member of the Gold Coast Division. That designated member must be in attendance at the annual meeting or the proxy vote will not be counted in the voting.
9.5 The officers of the Division are voted on at the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee will submit a slate of officers. Nominations can also be offered from the floor by members of the Division.
9.6 Following the election of officers, the membership will vote on the members of the Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee will submit a slate of seven persons. Nominations can be offered from the floor by members of the Division. If more than seven persons are nominated, the seven persons who receive the most per person votes will be on the Executive Committee, providing that not more than two persons of the Executive Committee, including officers, represent a club in the Division.
9.7. All elected officers and members of the Executive Committee are elected for a one year term.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
10.1 These bylaws may be amended in part or in full at any Annual Meeting by a vote of the majority of the membership in person and by proxy.
10.2 Any amendment(s) must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee twenty eight days prior to the Annual Meeting. If recommended by a majority of the Executive Committee, copies of the amendment must be sent to the membership twenty one days before the Annual Meeting.
10.3 Any amendment(s) approved by the General Membership will go into effect immediately after the vote approving such amendment(s).

January 3,1993
Approved at Divisional Meeting, April, 1993