EL PASO GUN and MARKSMANSHIP
BYLAWS

AMENDED April 13, 2025

Article I
Name

  1. Name. The name of this organization shall be El Paso Gun and Marksmanship and referred to as “ELPGM” or the “Club”. It is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation. ELPGM shall be one club. There shall be no clubs within the Club. All assets shall be under the sole ownership of ELPGM. The physical location is 9498 Pipeline Rd, El Paso, Texas 79821.

 

Article II
Purpose and Rights

  1. Purpose. The purpose of the Club is to provide marksmanship training and firearm safety, especially for youth and the underprivileged. The Club is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. No part of the net earnings of the Club shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the Club shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of section 501(c)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the Club shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Club shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Club shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
  1. Rights. All rights, privileges and benefits shall be equally available to all Club members. All rules, regulations, bylaws, and directives shall be equally applied to all Club members. Every principal member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on any issue brought before the Membership, and the right to clear and timely notification of important voting issues. Members shall also have the right to clear and timely notification of all activities which close or limit a member’s use of any Club facility. For the most current information, each Member should monitor his/her registered email account along with the Club’s calendar webpage.

 

Article III
Officers, EBM, BOG and Members

  1. Officers. The officers of ELPGM (the “Officers”) shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The ELPGM Officers and Elected Board Members (“EBM”) who, acting together, shall constitute the Board of Governors (“BOG”), and shall have general supervisory control of all the activities of the Club. Each BOG member shall be a principal member in good standing and will serve on a voluntary basis. Assistant Officers may be appointed by the President and confirmed by the BOG, for the purposes of helping an area of the Club requiring assistance, e.g., an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. Each Assistant Officer shall also be a principal member in good standing but will not have a vote on the BOG.
  1. Elected Board Members. Up to seven (7) Club members may act as an EBM at any time. Each may have a title not covered under Article III(1), such as Facilities Officer, Range Officer, or Training Officer. Each EBM must be a principal member in good standing.
  1. Election of the BOG. A General Election of Officers and EBM shall occur during the November General Membership meeting. Nominations for Officers and Board Members will be requested and accepted via email during the month preceding the General Election, as well as accepted from the floor on the day of the election. BOG members shall be elected by a majority vote of all principal members present who are entitled to vote. The term of each position will begin January 1. A special election can be held if deemed necessary by the BOG. If fewer than eleven (11) BOG members are elected, such vacant positions may be later filled as provided in Article III(4).
  1. Resignations/Vacancies. Any member of the BOG may resign at any time by giving written notice to the BOG. Any resignation shall take effect on the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. The vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, failure to fill, or any other cause shall be filled by an interim appointment recommended by the BOG and ratified by a majority vote of the principal members present at a General Membership Meeting.
  1. Responsibilities.
    1. Members.  The Membership has the responsibility to police itself. Members shall provide input to the BOG on the scheduling and use of facilities and the growth, development, and stability of the Club; shall help maintain the general upkeep of the Club facilities, grounds, and all Club assets; shall display their Membership ID Card at all times while on range property. No alcohol or illegal drugs are permitted on Club property at any time. Members shall follow all Club Bylaws, rules and regulations and never put themselves or anyone else in danger at Club facilities.
    2. President.  The President, or designee, shall preside at all meetings of the Club; shall direct or provide oversight of all Club activities; shall make any Club appointments to committees and projects; shall be responsible for ensuring all bills and loans are paid and current and that the budget is maintained; shall participate as an ex-officio member of all Club committees, except the Nominating Committee, but may not chair any committee.
    3. Vice-President.  The Vice President shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the President in his/her absence and perform other duties as directed by the President.
    4. Secretary.  The Secretary shall conduct all official Club correspondence, such as email communication and a quarterly newsletter, as directed by the BOG; shall update and maintain the public Club calendar; shall notify members of all regular and special events that involve the use of range facilities and perform other duties as directed by the President.
    5. Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all fees and dues; shall pay all bills as directed by the BOG; shall keep an accurate accounting of all financial transactions; shall maintain a master listing of all Club members’ contact information; shall maintain custody of all Club records and deeds; shall present detailed financial reports at all BOG and General Membership meetings; shall provide an Annual Fiscal Year End Financial Report and perform other duties as directed by the President.
    6. BOG.  The Officers and EBM shall constitute the BOG. In its decision-making process, the BOG shall seek to be representative of the Club’s Membership, be independent of any particular shooting discipline, and shall not unreasonably favor one discipline over another. BOG members shall also perform other reasonable duties as directed by the President. All outgoing BOG members shall transfer all records, past and present, to the new, incoming BOG members no later than December 15 so they may assume their new Club duties as of January 1.

 

Article IV
Membership

  1. Membership Types. Any citizen of the community who is at least twenty-one (21) years old and can legally purchase or own a firearm may become a member of the Club after meeting the requirements below. Memberships are non-transferable. There are two (2) types of Memberships within the Club:
    1. Lifetime Membership must have been granted prior to September 1, 2021. The membership fees of a Lifetime Member shall be waived for the remainder of his/her natural lifetime; each shall be required to confirm his/her desire to continue his/her membership on an annual basis during the renewal period. No more Lifetime Memberships will be granted after September 1, 2021. The holder of a Lifetime Membership shall be considered to be a principal member.
    2. Regular Membership shall include the principal member who was the applicant to the Club, as well as any immediate family thereof, who resides within the same domicile as the principal member, which may, as appropriate, include a husband, wife, as well as children or custodial children under the age of twenty-one (21).
      1. The principal member will be allowed full access to the Club, voting rights, and the opportunity to serve as a Club Officer, Assistant Officer or EBM.
      2. Such immediate family members of the principal member who are under the age of twenty-one (21) will be allowed access to the Club only under the direct supervision of the principal member, guardians, or other adult Club members.
      3. Any such immediate family members aged twenty-one (21) or over will be required to become a Regular Member to continue to have full access to the Club.
      4. A discount on Regular Membership dues is available to Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) provided:
        1. A Law Enforcement organization to which they belong pays for his/her membership.
        2. A minimum of 5 officers from the same organization join at the same time.
  1. Membership Applicants must:
    1. Review the Club’s Bylaws, rules and regulations.
    2. Submit a complete and signed Club application.
    3. Submit payment for the required dues.
    4. Provide a valid email account, unique to the principal member, to register for a membership account on the Club’s website.
  1. Suspension or Termination of Membership. The BOG may temporarily suspend or terminate the membership of any member who willfully falsifies a Club application, violates any Club bylaw, rule, safety regulation or policy, or who misappropriates Club funds or property. The BOG may suspend a member for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days pending a complete investigation. The process is as follows:
    1. Any Club member that witnesses any such action shall notify a BOG member immediately. Charges against any Officer, EBM, or member may be submitted by any Club member in good standing. Charges shall be in writing, clearly stating the facts, and accompanied by all signed statements or exhibits that are to be used in their support. Charges shall be filed with the BOG, who will immediately call a special meeting of the BOG to hear the charges. The Secretary, or acting Secretary, will give at least ten (10) days’ notice, in writing, of the meeting to all members of the BOG, to the accuser, and to the accused, and will include a copy of the charges and the signed supporting documents and exhibits.
    2. At that time, the member under charge will be given a full hearing including the right to question witnesses and present evidence on his/her behalf. If the BOG hearing reveals that the violation(s) require action to be taken, the offender may be suspended or terminated from the Club by a majority vote of the members of the BOG present at any regular or special BOG meeting. There will be no refund of dues for a terminated member.
    3. In the event criminal activity is suspected, the Club retains the right to request the assistance of local, state and/or federal law enforcement in the investigation of the issue. The Club and/or law enforcement findings may become evidence in any subsequent criminal proceedings. The Club may pursue civil and/or criminal charges against any member determined to be in participation of illegal activity on ELPGM property. Membership shall be automatically terminated for any member convicted of a felony. The BOG and the General Membership will be notified of the termination at the next General Member Meeting.
    4. Any BOG member may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Membership present at any General Member or Special meeting for non-performance of their duties. If removed from office, the former BOG member still retains his/her membership unless any part of paragraph (3), Suspension or Termination of Membership, applies to the situation.

 

Article V
Guests & Visitors

  1. Guests. ELPGM is a private club. Guests are welcome to watch or participate in any ELPGM calendar or website scheduled event, e.g., weekly rifle and pistol matches. To participate in nationally recognized and registered shoots such as the ATA, IDPA, NRA, NSSA, or USPSA, guests must be a current member of that organization.
    1. Non-Scheduled Event, 3-Visit Policy: Members may bring two (2) guests per visit to introduce and recruit them for membership, not to exceed three visits at non-scheduled events. During any visit, guests are the member’s responsibility and must abide by all the Bylaws, rules, regulations, and directives of the Club as the member does. Guests may shoot with the member but cannot shoot at a different range unless under the supervision of a Range Officer or other club principal member. Guests should arrive and depart with the member and are not permitted access to the range facilities without the member being present. Guests must utilize adequate eye and ear protection (PPE). Exceptions to this policy should be directed by a Club member, in advance, to the President, e.g., grandson or granddaughter visiting from out of state for a week.
  1. Visitors are any person on the range premises not described herein as a member or a guest. Visitors must be escorted at all times while on Club premises and follow all Club Bylaws, rules, regulations and directives. Visitors must utilize adequate eye and ear protection (PPE).

 

Article VI
Meetings

  1. Board Meetings. Business meetings of the BOG shall be held on any date, time and location as determined by the BOG, but must be held at least four (4) times per fiscal year. The meeting date, time, location, and agenda will be emailed or texted to all BOG members prior to each meeting. BOG members are encouraged to attend all meetings.
  1. Membership Meetings. General Membership meetings shall be held quarterly, in the months of January, April, July and November, and will be held at the range unless otherwise specified by the BOG. The annual election of the BOG will take place at the November General Membership meeting.  Only principal members are eligible to vote.
  1. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the general membership may be called at any time, by the President, the BOG, or by 10% of the principal members entitled to vote, in writing via a petition. Upon receipt of a petition addressed to a BOG member, or delivered personally, the President shall cause all members to be notified by written or electronic means that a special meeting will be held. Notice of the meeting’s date, time, location, and agenda shall be provided to the Membership. Members must be notified at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting.

 

Article VII
Quorum, Meeting Conduct, and Voting

  1. Quorum. A quorum must be present for voting to be valid and binding, with quorum requirements as set forth below.
    1. BOG meetings: A quorum will exist if five (5) BOG Members, consisting of the President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, the Secretary, or designee, and a minimum of three (3) EBM be present. Depending on the type of business and its urgency, the BOG may postpone the meeting with a majority vote until more members are present.
    2. Membership meetings: A quorum will exist if four (4) BOG Members, consisting of the President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, the Secretary, or designee, and a minimum of two (2) EBM be present, along with a minimum of ten (10) principal members be present.
  1. Meeting Conduct. The President, or designee, shall be responsible for the conduct of all meetings. The conduct of all ELPGM meetings will be professional and relaxed but will generally follow the guidelines of Robert’s Rules of Order. Abusive or offensive language or actions will not be tolerated. The offender(s) can be asked to leave and/or the meeting can be postponed or adjourned, if deemed necessary, by a majority vote of the members present.
  1. Voting. To be valid and binding, all voting will require a quorum to be present. The process is as follows:
    1. A motion must be made, and seconded, before a limited discussion period can start.
    2. The discussion period limit shall be determined by the BOG members present.
    3. At the conclusion of the discussion period, the motion will be voted on by means of a show of hands or a written ballot, as determined by the BOG members present.
    4. The motion, the name of the member making the motion, the name of the member seconding the motion, any relevant discussion topics, and the result of the vote must be written in the meeting minutes for the results of a motion to be valid and binding.

 

Article VIII
Records, Budget, Annual Reports, and Inspection

  1. Adequate Records. All records shall be kept in a format capable of being converted into a clearly legible document that all members may utilize. The Club shall keep the following:
    1. Adequate and correct financial books and records of accounts.
    2. Minutes of the proceedings of all Board, General Membership, and Special meetings.
    3. A record of all principal members, giving their names and contact information.
    4. A record of all new member applications.
    5. Other records as directed by the BOG.
  1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal accounting year of the Club shall be October 1 through September 30.
  1. Annual Budget. An annual budget for the following calendar year shall be prepared by the Treasurer and submitted to the BOG for review and approval at the BOG meeting preceding the new calendar year.
  1. Annual Financial Report. A Financial Year-End Report shall be prepared by the Treasurer within 30 days after the close of the Club’s fiscal year and submitted to the BOG for review and approval. All financial records shall be made available for review by a Certified Public Accountant for accuracy if requested by a majority vote of the BOG.
  1. Annual Inventory Report. A report detailing the inventory of tools, equipment, targets, and any other items the BOG designates shall be prepared by the Facilities Officer within 30 days after the close of the Club’s fiscal year and submitted to the BOG for review and approval.
  1. Members’ Right to Inspection. The financial books and records, as well as Club meeting minutes, shall be open to inspection upon written or electronic request to the BOG by any principal member in good standing, at any reasonable time, for any interest of the principal member, subject to the protection of the privacy rights and credit identity of the Club and its members.

 

Article IX
Amendments to Bylaws

  1. Bylaw Amendments. Any principal member in good standing may submit new bylaws or proposed changes to existing bylaws to the BOG through written or electronic means. All submitted proposals will be reviewed by the BOG and distributed to all members for review, via written or electronic means, prior to a vote. The bylaws may be amended through a majority vote by principal members present at a General Membership meeting. All principal members will be notified of the results of the vote.
  1. Adoption of Bylaws. Whenever new bylaws, or amendments to existing bylaws, are adopted, the new wording shall replace the old and not clutter up the present bylaws with the wording of the old.

 

Article X
Committees

  1. Ad-Hoc Committees may be formed of principal members appointed by the President during his/her term to carry out specific duties or achieve designated objectives. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all such committees, except a BOG nominating committee. Each committee will consist of a chairperson and at least one other principal member in good standing. The chairperson, who may or may not be a member of the BOG, will be a responsible and driven individual focused on completing the assigned project. All committees are required to report their needs and progress to the BOG at the BOG meetings. Examples of Ad-hoc Committees include, but are not limited to, Special Range Use, Nominating, New Construction, Range Maintenance, Affiliations, and Community Relations, or others designated by the BOG.

 

Article XI
Rules, Regulations, Directives and Policies

  1. Rules, Regulations and Directives (the “Rules”) are established to ensure the safe and enjoyable use of all range facilities by members, guests, and visitors. They are designed to be flexible, adaptable, and easily updated to address the evolving needs of each shooting discipline. All new members must review the Club’s Bylaws and Rules prior to submitting their application. The rules will be clearly posted at the range and available on the Club website. The BOG will be responsible for periodically updating the Rules to reflect any changes in Club operations, facilities, or equipment.
  2. Special Range Use Policies are established to regulate the use of range facilities. A committee designated by the BOG, with the approval of the President, will review all special range use requests to ensure the requester agrees to comply with all Club Bylaws and Rules and that the use of the range facilities will have minimal impact on the principal members’ access to the range.

 

Article XII
Dues and Club Funds

  1. Dues. Annual membership dues are based on a calendar year, from January 1 through December 31 and are due by January 15 for renewal. The dollar amount of the dues will be determined by a majority vote of the BOG. Dues for new members only will be prorated as follows:
    1. January through June: 100% of the annual rate.
    2. July through September: 75% of the annual rate, rounded to the nearest dollar.
    3. October through November: 50% of the annual rate, rounded to the nearest dollar.
    4. December: 100% of the annual rate, expiring December 31 of the following year.
  1. Club Funds. The BOG is responsible for all expenditure of Club funds.
    1. The Treasurer will hold and maintain the Club checkbook.
    2. Debit cards for the Club checking account may be issued to actively serving BOG members as needed and approved by the BOG.
    3. A valid receipt must accompany all Club expenditures.
    4. Club debit cards must be returned to the Treasurer or President at the end of the cardholder’s term of service in the BOG.
  1. Expenditure Approval. All expenditures made during the period since the previous BOG meeting shall be reviewed by the BOG at their next meeting.
    1. No personal expense will be reimbursed without approval from the BOG and a valid receipt.
    2. Any unapproved expenditure is made at the member’s own risk.
    3. All proposed expenditures exceeding $1,000 must be brought, in advance, before the BOG for review at a BOG meeting no later than one month before the next General Membership meeting.  The following information shall be provided to the BOG:
      1. At least two firm bids in writing to include all costs associated with the project and/or product.
      2. A description of the project and/or product, benefit to the club and members, impact on the other shooting disciplines, and project completion time.
      3. Any other information that would address safety, liability and/or environmental concerns of the proposed expenditure. The BOG, at its discretion, may require additional bids or information before consideration.
      4. After a majority approval by the BOG, all principal members will be notified in a timely manner, not less than 10 days from date of BOG approval, of the approved projects/expenditure.
      5. A presentation will then be made at the next General Membership, or Special Meeting, to allow for discussion and voting by the principal members present.
      6. The project/expenditure can move forward with a favorable vote by a majority of the principal members present.
    4. In the case of an emergency, the President may expend up to $2,500 in the aggregate without prior approval of the BOG and/or General Membership. The BOG shall be informed via written or electronic means as soon as possible and the President must request approval from the Membership as soon as practical. If not approved by the Membership, the President shall reimburse the Club.

 

Article XIII
In the Event of Dissolution of the Club

  1. Property. The property of the Club shall include all assets belonging to ELPGM, wherever located, both within and outside the State of Texas, as may be necessary for this purpose.
  1. Dissolution. The Club may be dissolved in accordance with applicable Texas law.  Upon dissolution of the Club, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction of the County in which the principal office of the Club is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
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