WSB BOWHUNTER DEFENSE FUND MISSION STATEMENT

WHEREAS, given the success of the I-655 campaign in 1996, and given the stated opposition to all forms of hunting by the animal rights organizations and the likelihood of an initiative to ban or restrict bowhunting.

THE WASHINGTON STATE BOWHUNTERS have determined that the survival of bowhunting in Washington depends on the ability of organized bowhunting groups to plan and carry out a public campaign to educate the voters statewide on the merits of hunting with a bow and arrow, AND FURTHERMORE

THE WASHINGTON STATE BOWHUNTERS have determined that the funds necessary to accomplish this task approach one million dollars, THEREFORE

THE WASHINGTON STATE BOWHUNTERS will make a concerted effort to build the WASHINGTON BOWHUNTER DEFENSE FUND (BDF), and will administer the  BDF according to these principles:

I.                    BOWHUNTER DEFENSE COMMITTEE AND FUND

The Board of Directors of the Washington State Bowhunters shall establish the BDF according to the Bylaws of the organization and shall appoint its treasurer. The Directors shall welcome representatives from other bowhunting and archery organizations and clubs in the state, in the expectation that the committee will encourage communication among the state’s bowhunters, foster the intelligent discussion of strategies and ideas, and result in a unified successful defense of bowhunting.

II.                 ACCOUNTING

1.      Funds raised will be deposited into a dedicated account by the WSB treasurer, and such funds will remain separate from all other funds of the Washington State Bowhunters; funds may be split among various accounts to maximize the earnings of the fund;

2.      Funds in the BDF can only be accessed by a check signed jointly by the Washington State Bowhunters president and the WSB treasurer;

3.      The BDF Treasurer will mail each regular contributor a yearly statement of his or her contributions if requested, and will provide the WSB Board quarterly and annual reports;

4.      Contributions once made will not be refunded.

III.               INVESTMENT OF FUNDS

5.   Funds shall be invested in either (1) FDIC insured interest bearing accounts, or (2) certificates of deposit, or (3) mutual funds of established investment firms, with a goal of increasing the yield earned on the funds; PROVIDED, that the mutual fund be conservative in investment strategy, given the paramount importance of the preservation of capital funds.

IV.              USE OF FUNDS

6.       Funds shall be disbursed upon approval and at the sole discretion of the Washington State Bowhunters Board of Directors

7.      There may also be a direct legislative challenge to bowhunting, and the BDF may be used for lobbying purposes to defeat a bill directly threatening bowhunting.

8.      If the opportunity arises to defend the future of bowhunting by enactment of legislation preventing management of wildlife by the initiative process, enactment of a constitutional amendment protecting bowhunting, or in support of litigation  BDF funds may be used to achieve such a goal, if in the judgment of the Washington State Bowhunters Board of Directors such expenditures seems reasonable;

9.      Up to fifty percent of the BDF can be used, at the discretion of the Board of Directors upon approval of the Board of Directors, for activities to which will improve the image of bowhunting and promote it with the public and governmental agencies. Up to five twenty percent of the fund can be used with the same restriction for conservation projects, or for the costs of building coalitions with other hunting, conservation or environmental organizations.

10.  The BDF shall not be used for any other issue not related to bowhunting.

11.  In the event of the dissolution of the Washington State Bowhunters, the BDF shall be transferred to another statewide bowhunting organization, or to the Pope and Young Club, consistent with Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation of the Washington State Bowhunters.

12.  In the event that any funds remain and political circumstances conclusively indicate that the animal rights organizations pose no further threat to bowhunting in Washington, then the funds shall be transferred to the Pope and Young Club for use in other states according to the dictates and intentions of this document.

ADOPTED THIS _____________ DAY OF __________, 1997

BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WASHINGTON STATE BOWHUNTERS

Rick Liebel, PRESIDENT

    Amended by the Board 7-14-01