Bay Area Divers History In 1974, a few members of the NASA Recreational Organization, Frank Resch, Cliff Holloway, Hal Devaney and Tom Rumney, decided to start a dive club for the public and non-NASA personnel. The as yet unnamed club was conceived. Word spread throughout Clear Lake City that a meeting of the new dive club would be held on the first Wednesday of the month. The turnout was tremendous and over the next few months, the first slate of officers were elected and the first constitution and by-laws hammered out. Bay Area Divers was now a viable organization. Since that time, Bay Area Divers grew tremendously and yet maintained the closeness of the original group. Bay Area Divers made a favorable mark on the Houston/Galveston area diving community with it's past SCUBA divers market, Scuba Poker fundraiser, frequent dive trips and community programs.
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Bay Area Divers Constitution
Article I - NameThe organization shall be officially known as Bay Area Divers.
Article II - PurposeSection 1 - Provide a social forum for the exchange of diving experiences between members.Section 2 - Provide a means of organizing underwater recreation for members and their families.Section 3 - Encourage participation with other skin and scuba diving clubs.
Article III - MembershipGeneral Members can attend general meetings and participate in club activities. General members must have dues paid for the Bay Area Divers current fiscal year in order to vote at meetings. General members may attend board meetings, but cannot vote.
Article IV - OfficersThe elected officers of this club are President and Secretary. The Treasurer is appointed by the President.
Article V - AmendmentsThis constitution may be amended by a 60% or greater affirmative vote of Club members present at a general meeting. The proposed amendment must be available to all members before the general meeting at which it is to be voted on by the club membership.
Article II - PurposeSection 1 - Provide a social forum for the exchange of diving experiences between members.Section 2 - Provide a means of organizing underwater recreation for members and their families.Section 3 - Encourage participation with other skin and scuba diving clubs.
Article III - MembershipGeneral Members can attend general meetings and participate in club activities. General members must have dues paid for the Bay Area Divers current fiscal year in order to vote at meetings. General members may attend board meetings, but cannot vote.
Article IV - OfficersThe elected officers of this club are President and Secretary. The Treasurer is appointed by the President.
Article V - AmendmentsThis constitution may be amended by a 60% or greater affirmative vote of Club members present at a general meeting. The proposed amendment must be available to all members before the general meeting at which it is to be voted on by the club membership.
Bay Area Divers By-Laws
Article I - Meetings and ElectionsSection 1 – General meetings shall be held at a place, date, and general time to be announced in written notice by mail, email or website to all members.Section 2 - The election of officers shall be held at the general March meeting of each year. Voting members must be current paid members for the current fiscal year in good standing.
Article II - OfficersSection 1 - Officers shall be members in good standing. The offices of President and Secretary can be held for an indeterminate number of terms; however, they must be re-elected for each term. The office of Treasurer can be either one of the elected officers or another club member. Appointed officers must be re-appointed each term. One person may hold more than one appointed office.Section 2 - Duties of the President: The President shall give supervision to the club and its officers, see that the desires of the club membership are achieved, and preside at all general meetings of the club and the board. The President is responsible for appointing all appointed officers and committees. The President shall be responsible for programs presented at general meetings.Section 3 - Duties of the Secretary: The Secretary shall keep accurate and complete records of club business, record minutes of general meetings, send and receive correspondence, and provide notification to club members as required. The Secretary shall perform all duties of the President in his/her absence. The Secretary is also responsible for maintaining and making available to Club Officers a current membership roster. The secretary can delegate maintenance of the membership roster to the treasurer.Section 4 - Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall manage the funds of the club, receive, and record all dues, fees, and assessments. The Treasurer can maintain the membership roster if delegated by the Secretary.
Article III - BoardThe board shall consist of elected officers, appointed officers, and advisers. The board shall meet on a general basis, and act in the capacity of, and in the interest of the club, when items of business cannot be delayed for a general meeting. The board shall ensure an annual budget is prepared for the club at the start of each club fiscal year, and provide a status on income and expenditures at the end of each club fiscal year. The outgoing board shall make recommendations to the incoming board to assist them in preparing a new budget.
Article IV - AdvisorsAdvisors shall be members in good standing, are appointed by the Board, and are part of the board. Advisors shall provide guidance in club activities. Advisors may vote at Board meetings.
Article V - CommitteesCommittees are created by the President with approval by the board. The term of the committee shall be no longer than for the current fiscal year plus one unless reauthorized by the President with approval by the board. Article VI - Suspension and RemovalSection 1 - Any member who is in 60 days arrears of any financial obligations to the club shall be removed from club membership or shall be given an extension at the determination of the board.Section 2 - Any member who persists in violation of the safety rules, who misuses club property, or whose conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the club may be suspended or removed from the club membership. These proceedings may be initiated by an affirmative simple majority vote of the members at a general meeting, in which event, the offending member shall be immediately notified and the matter presented to the next general meeting. The member may be removed, as may be determined by a secret ballot vote of 60% of the members present.Section 3 - An officer or advisor may be removed from office or advisory status for conduct detrimental to the best interest of the club. The proceeding may be initiated by an affirmative simple majority vote of the members at a general meeting, in which event, the offending member shall be immediately notified and the matter presented to the next general meeting. The member may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 60% or greater of the members present.Section 4 - It is emphasized that the conduct of club members, officers, and advisors can greatly affect other members of the club, or the sport as a whole. It is of utmost importance and imperative that good conduct and safe diving be adhered to at all times. Article VII - Finance and PropertySection 1 - The necessary expenses of this club shall be met from funds secured through club membership dues, fees, assessments, fund raisers, and contributions. The club shall have as a goal to have a balanced annual budget to maintain the bank account so as not to deplete funds or to have large gains at the discretion of the Board.Section 2 – Annual dues shall be set in November by the board based on the treasurer’s budget and bank statements. Considerations to take into account are benchmark of other club’s dues, encouraging membership by not having too high of dues, and having enough funds for club activities and education. The board shall vote on the annual dues by 60% or greater approval of those present is needed to set the annual dues. The board shall bring the annual approved dues amount by the November general meeting for the next club fiscal year. Dues shall be paid by March 31st. In addition, new members who join after August 1st will pay one-half of the annual dues through the fiscal year. Family memberships are available for members residing at a single residence. Section 3 - The Fiscal year is defined as April 1 to March 31.Section 4 - Club assets shall include, but are not limited to, Club owned property and accounts held at financial institutions in the name of Bay Area Divers. Section 5 - In the event of dissolution of the Club, a plan for disbursement of the Club assets shall be prepared by the Board and shall require the approval of 60% or greater of the Club membership by written proxy and/or those present at the general meeting in which it is presented. All beneficiaries and uses of the Club assets designated in the Plan for Disbursement shall be not-for-profit. In addition, these beneficiaries and uses shall be Scuba/Skin Diving related and/or marine life preservation/protection/educational related.Section 6 - For the purpose of determining a 60% approval of Club membership, a "single" membership shall be given one (1) vote and a "family" membership shall be given two (2) votes.
Article VIII - AmendmentsThe By-Laws may be amended by 60% or greater vote of Club members at a general meeting following written notice by mail or email to all members. Adopted March 2025
Article II - OfficersSection 1 - Officers shall be members in good standing. The offices of President and Secretary can be held for an indeterminate number of terms; however, they must be re-elected for each term. The office of Treasurer can be either one of the elected officers or another club member. Appointed officers must be re-appointed each term. One person may hold more than one appointed office.Section 2 - Duties of the President: The President shall give supervision to the club and its officers, see that the desires of the club membership are achieved, and preside at all general meetings of the club and the board. The President is responsible for appointing all appointed officers and committees. The President shall be responsible for programs presented at general meetings.Section 3 - Duties of the Secretary: The Secretary shall keep accurate and complete records of club business, record minutes of general meetings, send and receive correspondence, and provide notification to club members as required. The Secretary shall perform all duties of the President in his/her absence. The Secretary is also responsible for maintaining and making available to Club Officers a current membership roster. The secretary can delegate maintenance of the membership roster to the treasurer.Section 4 - Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall manage the funds of the club, receive, and record all dues, fees, and assessments. The Treasurer can maintain the membership roster if delegated by the Secretary.
Article III - BoardThe board shall consist of elected officers, appointed officers, and advisers. The board shall meet on a general basis, and act in the capacity of, and in the interest of the club, when items of business cannot be delayed for a general meeting. The board shall ensure an annual budget is prepared for the club at the start of each club fiscal year, and provide a status on income and expenditures at the end of each club fiscal year. The outgoing board shall make recommendations to the incoming board to assist them in preparing a new budget.
Article IV - AdvisorsAdvisors shall be members in good standing, are appointed by the Board, and are part of the board. Advisors shall provide guidance in club activities. Advisors may vote at Board meetings.
Article V - CommitteesCommittees are created by the President with approval by the board. The term of the committee shall be no longer than for the current fiscal year plus one unless reauthorized by the President with approval by the board. Article VI - Suspension and RemovalSection 1 - Any member who is in 60 days arrears of any financial obligations to the club shall be removed from club membership or shall be given an extension at the determination of the board.Section 2 - Any member who persists in violation of the safety rules, who misuses club property, or whose conduct is detrimental to the best interests of the club may be suspended or removed from the club membership. These proceedings may be initiated by an affirmative simple majority vote of the members at a general meeting, in which event, the offending member shall be immediately notified and the matter presented to the next general meeting. The member may be removed, as may be determined by a secret ballot vote of 60% of the members present.Section 3 - An officer or advisor may be removed from office or advisory status for conduct detrimental to the best interest of the club. The proceeding may be initiated by an affirmative simple majority vote of the members at a general meeting, in which event, the offending member shall be immediately notified and the matter presented to the next general meeting. The member may be removed by a secret ballot vote of 60% or greater of the members present.Section 4 - It is emphasized that the conduct of club members, officers, and advisors can greatly affect other members of the club, or the sport as a whole. It is of utmost importance and imperative that good conduct and safe diving be adhered to at all times. Article VII - Finance and PropertySection 1 - The necessary expenses of this club shall be met from funds secured through club membership dues, fees, assessments, fund raisers, and contributions. The club shall have as a goal to have a balanced annual budget to maintain the bank account so as not to deplete funds or to have large gains at the discretion of the Board.Section 2 – Annual dues shall be set in November by the board based on the treasurer’s budget and bank statements. Considerations to take into account are benchmark of other club’s dues, encouraging membership by not having too high of dues, and having enough funds for club activities and education. The board shall vote on the annual dues by 60% or greater approval of those present is needed to set the annual dues. The board shall bring the annual approved dues amount by the November general meeting for the next club fiscal year. Dues shall be paid by March 31st. In addition, new members who join after August 1st will pay one-half of the annual dues through the fiscal year. Family memberships are available for members residing at a single residence. Section 3 - The Fiscal year is defined as April 1 to March 31.Section 4 - Club assets shall include, but are not limited to, Club owned property and accounts held at financial institutions in the name of Bay Area Divers. Section 5 - In the event of dissolution of the Club, a plan for disbursement of the Club assets shall be prepared by the Board and shall require the approval of 60% or greater of the Club membership by written proxy and/or those present at the general meeting in which it is presented. All beneficiaries and uses of the Club assets designated in the Plan for Disbursement shall be not-for-profit. In addition, these beneficiaries and uses shall be Scuba/Skin Diving related and/or marine life preservation/protection/educational related.Section 6 - For the purpose of determining a 60% approval of Club membership, a "single" membership shall be given one (1) vote and a "family" membership shall be given two (2) votes.
Article VIII - AmendmentsThe By-Laws may be amended by 60% or greater vote of Club members at a general meeting following written notice by mail or email to all members. Adopted March 2025