1. This organization shall be known as the GulfCoast Homing Club, Inc.. It is incorporated as a not for profit corporation under the laws of the State of Florida.

2. The primary purpose of the Club shall be to conduct pigeon races among its members. It shall also conduct social and fraternal events, and other activities related to the racing pigeon sport, as determined from time to time by the membership.

1. The Club shall extend a social and fraternal invitation to all honorable racing pigeon fanciers for membership who reside within the boundary of at least 75 airline miles from the Gainesville, Florida, race station, west of Route 41, north of Route 54, and east of the Gulf of Mexico.

2. All prospective members shall be sponsored for membership by a current member at a regular Club meeting, and must be present in person. A vote will then be taken for approval or rejection by the membership in attendance.

3. The yearly dues of the Club shall be sixty dollars ($60.00), due at the first meeting of the year, or at the time a new member is approved for membership. Members who are age 90 and above be given free membership dues for the remainder of their lives. They will only be required to pay AU dues and for their bands to fly with the GHC.

with payment of the first year's dues.

bands may be purchased. Club bands are not to be sold to non-members.

must be paid before a member's dues will be accepted, or a member may enter a Club race, or may participate in any other Club activity.

8. A member not paying current year's dues by the end of the year shall be dropped as a member and must rejoin, and must pay the two hundred dollar ($200.00) initiation fee.

9. The Club shall have available a Social Membership for persons who have an interest in the Club, but who are not currently racing pigeons, or live outside the Club boundaries. Social members shall pay an annual dues of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). A Social member may participate in the non-racing activities of the Club, but cannot propose or vote on any Club business.

10. Fanciers under the age of eighteen years (18) may become Junior Members, if residing within the Club boundaries. There are no Club dues or initiation fee required of a Junior Member. A Junior Member must pay Concourse dues and truck fees, AU dues, and Concourse and Club race fees and shipping charges. A Junior Member competes for diplomas and trophies only, and is not eligible to receive prizes. A Junior Member may not propose or vote on any Club business.

11. A member may be reprimanded, penalized and/or expelled from the Club membership for dishonorable conduct.

1. The officers of the Club shall be President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Race Secretary, Race Statistician, and Building and Grounds Chairperson, and they shall be designated as the Board of Directors specified in the Articles of Incorporation. Term of office for officers shall be one calendar year.

2. Other officers elected by the membership are a Sergeant-at-Arms, Publicity Director, Band Secretary, and chairpersons of all special Club races, along with fifteen (15) members to serve on the Race Committee, all for one calendar year terms. There shall also be elected three Trustees who shall serve staggered three (3) calendar year terms. A Trustee may serve in any other office except that of Treasurer.

3. Elections shall be held at the December annual meeting. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee, which shall report a slate of candidates at the November meeting. Additional candidates may be nominated from the floor, and must be seconded.

4. The Board of Directors shall discuss and recommend business to be presented at Club meetings, and perform other duties as provided for in these By-Laws, or designated by vote of the membership.

.5. Any member, who has a grievance against another member or members, Club business, or affairs, must submit in writing the grievance, with supporting facts and names of witnesses within sixty (60) days of the action. The written complaint must be turned into the President, who in turn will give the complainant a dated receipt. Upon receipt of the grievance the President will have the Trustees select a five (5) person committee that will investigate the grievance and bring back their findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. Final judgment will be made jointly by the Committee, Trustees and the Board within 45 days of receipt of the complaint.

1. The President shall preside at all Club and Board of Directors meetings, co-sign Club checks, sign approved minutes of Club meetings, appoint non-standing committee chairpersons, and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. He shall not vote at any time, except in the event of a tie vote to break the tie.

Inability to act, assume the duties of the President.

4. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Club and Board of Directors meetings, may sign checks for either the President or Treasurer, handle the general correspondence of the Club, and send out meeting notices. The Recording Secretary shall record the business of the Concourse Directors meeting, and report same at the Club meetings.

5. The Treasurer shall handle the financial matters related to the conduct of the business of the Club, and keep record of same, co-sign Club checks, present a report at each meeting stating all expenses and income since the previous meeting, and the current financial balance. The Treasurer shall also present an annual financial report for the previous year at the February meeting, with copies to be made available to all members. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all members of the Club, and the official copy of the By-Laws and Race Ru1es, and an updated copy of the Concourse and AU By-Laws and Race Rules.

6. The Race Secretary shall be responsible for the conduct of the Club races, and serve as Chairperson of the Race Committee. The Club may vote to have another member as Awards Secretary.

7. The Race Statistician shall handle any race prizes, issue race reports, prepare Club race diplomas and purchase Club trophies as authorized by the Board of Directors.

9. The Publicity Director shall be authorized to conduct the publicity of the Club races and other activities. No member shall write any article pertaining to Club business, subject to possible suspension.

10. The Band Secretary shall keep the stock of Club bands, issue and/or sell these bands to the members, keep a band number record and handle reports of lost pigeons.

11. The Trustees shall have access to review the Treasurer's records at any reasonable time, audit the records annually and report their findings at the February meeting. They shall also serve with the Treasurer as a Financial Committee to oversee the financial activities of the Club and to make recommendations on same to the Club.

1. A Building and Grounds Committee shall be established and be responsible for the maintenance of the Club buildings, grounds, shipping crates and other equipment. Expenses incurred or projected shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

2. The Race Committee shall aid the Race Secretary in the conduct of the Club races, take measurements for airlines of new lofts and decide any dispute that may arise during any Club race.

3. The Chairman of the Gulfcoast Classic Race Committee or any other such type futurity race committee shall have the right to select a co-chairman and committee members, and shall not vote at committee meetings except in the case of a tie vote. The Committee will be empowered to conduct its own advertising and publicity without conflict with Article IV, 7 of these By-Laws. The Committee will also be empowered to have a separate bank account(s) for the race funds.

1. The regular meetings of the Club shall be on the second Wednesday of January, February, June, August, November and December at 7:00 p.m. at the Club building. The September meeting will be held on the first Wednesday. The December meeting shall be designated as the Annual Meeting.

4. The President may call a meeting of the Board of Directors prior to each Club meeting to discuss and recommend business to come before the Club meeting. New business and new members to come before the Club meeting must first be presented to the Board of Directors for discussion and recommendation, except for emergencies, which will be determined by the President.

5. The President shall call a special meeting of the Club or change a regular meeting only with the approval of or at the request of a majority of the Board of Directors. All currently paid members shall be notified of a special meeting or change of meeting date by Post Card mailed by the Treasurer at least one week before the date set for such meetings.

1. The Club shall be affiliated with the Greater Tampa Bay Racing Pigeon Concourse and the American Racing Pigeon Union. Each member shall pay the dues and fees required by these organizations through the Club Treasurer.  

2. Concourse Directors will be elected at the December Annual Meeting for terms of one calendar year. The President is empowered to appoint alternate Directors as may be necessary to complete the Club's allotment to a Concourse meeting to replace Directors unable to attend.

1. Amendments and Changes to these By-Laws and Race Rules and the Articles of Incorporation must be proposed and passed at a regular Club meeting and then voted on for final passage at the next December Annual Club meeting. At the final vote they must be approved by a majority of those members present.

These revised By-Laws were passed by vote of the majority of the current paid membership at the December 3, 1990, Annual Meeting to be in effect as of January 1, 1991.

Updated with changes voted at the December 7, 1992; December 6, 1993; and December 6, 1999 Annual meetings.