NFAA ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

Dave Hryn – NFAA Director

 

The NFAA Annual Meeting was held in Las Vegas, Nevada from February 17 - 19, 2008.

 

Forty-six (46) states were represented at the meeting.  States not in attendance were: Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, South Dakota, and the Archery Association of Europe (AAE).

 

Total NFAA membership as of 12/31/07 was 12,319, a decrease of 170 from 2006.  California, by virtue of their 2,201 total NFAA members, had 5 votes to cast.  Florida (857), Michigan (535), Texas (516), Wisconsin (500), each had 2 votes to cast.  All other states had one vote.  New York had 351 NFAA members.

 

Future tournament dates are as follows:

 

March 14-15, 2009 - 27th Annual NFAA Indoor National Championship @ Louisville, KY.

June 9-12, 2009 – IFAA World Bowhunter Championship @ Yankton, South Dakota.

June 13 & 14, 2009 -  National Unmarked 3-D Championships @ Yankton, South Dakota.

July 22 - 26, 2009 – 64th  NFAA Outdoor National Tournament @ Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  This is a 5 day/3 day format tournament starting on a WEDNESDAY and ending on SUNDAY.

 

On Monday February 18th the NFAA Directors passed an Agenda Item that limited the maximum diameter of an arrow shaft to 9.3 mm.  The NFAA Annual Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:30 PM on Tuesday, February 19th.  At approximately 6:00 PM on February 19th, before the start of the Director’s Banquet, a “special Board of Directors meeting” was called for the purpose of re-visiting the maximum arrow shaft diameter Agenda Item.  After much discussion, the Directors voted to rescind the previously passed Agenda Item that limited the maximum diameter of the arrow.  Bottom line - there is no arrow size limitation for NFAA competition.

 

Be advised, that unless otherwise noted, all action taken by the Board of Directors shall carry an effective date of 30 calendar days from notification in “ARCHERY”, the official publication of the NFAA.  Notification in “ARCHERY” shall be the April/May issue.

 

Agenda Items Approved at the 2008 NFAA Annual Board of Directors Meeting

 

COUNCIL COMMITTEE

 

PA-1  Revision, Constitution, Page 12, Article III, Section B, Paragraph 2, Item 2.9

2.9 Make an effort to send a representative to an annual meeting empowered to act for the state or foreign country on any and all issues before the NFAA Board of Directors while in session or in mail session.

 

SE-19  New Item, Constitution, Page 18, Article VI, Section F, Paragraph 1

1. Members of the NFAA Board of Directors shall be exempt from paying pre-registration portion of fees at National and Sectional Tournaments.

New Item, Constitution, Page 19, Article VII, Section C, Paragraph 3

3. Members of the NFAA Council shall be exempt from paying pre-registration portion of fees at National and Sectional Tournaments.

 

C-4  New Item, Constitution, Page 20, Article VII, Section I, Paragraph 1.1

1.1 The Councilperson is responsible for collecting the scores and fees from their respective indoor and the outdoor sectional tournaments and forwarding same to NFAA headquarters within fourteen days of the close of said tournament.

 

MA-2  Revision, Policy, Page 85, “2006: Effective 2008”

Removes the words, “Monday through Friday schedule” from the paragraph.  Paragraph to read as follows:

2006: Effective 2008: The Outdoor National Tournament will be a 3/5 day format.  Rounds will be Field, Hunter, Animal, Field, Hunter, in that order.  Five-day shooters will shoot all five days, and count only their better Field and better Hunter Round scores.  Three-day shooters may register for first three, middle three, or last three days. Archers must register for the days they will shoot.

 

C-5  Revision, Constitution, Page 19, Article VII, Section C, Paragraph 2

Deletes the following sentence from paragraph 2: “This will include any commercial travel fare, any additional lodging expense and $30.00 per day for meals”.  Paragraph 2 to read:

When the NFAA President must travel to represent the NFAA officially, travel expenses will be paid.  Expenses for the NFAA President’s spouse will also be paid.  Expense vouchers should be monitored by the NFAA Council at the annual meeting.  If the NFAA president delegates the trip to an elected official, that person’s spouse gets the same benefits (Executive Secretary not included).

 

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

 

SE-1  Revision, Constitution, Page 25, Article XII, Section B

Changes individual one-time dues from $50 to $60.  Changes Family one-time dues from $70 to $85.

NOTE: When NFAA dues were increased in 2007, other fees and dues were not considered, creating a lack of agreement between different forms of dues payment.  In this case, as currently written, NFAA receives less than normal dues for One-Time dues.  i.e., in each case the amount left for NFAA is $25 instead of the normal $35.  In the case of family dues, the portion remaining at NFAA needs to be at least $40 which moves the one-time figure up $15.

 

SE-2  Revision, Constitution, Page 25, Article XII, Section D

Change to read:  Military and foreign dues: Dues for the NFAA for military personnel and foreign nationals belonging to the NFAA affiliated association, or military personnel on transient basis who are not located within the jurisdiction of an affiliated body, shall be $35 per year per person and shall include the NFAA’s official publication.  Dues for two additional family memberships shall be $5 per person.  Additional family memberships shall be $2 per person.  Transient military personnel shall be serviced from NFAA Headquarters.

NOTE:  When NFAA dues were increased in 2007, other fees and dues were not considered, creating a lack of agreement between different forms of dues payment.  The following change brings Military and foreign dues in alignment with our normal dues structure.

 

SE-5  Revision, Constitution, Page 26, Article XII, Section H

The $30 amount is increased to $35.

NOTE:  Bowhunter dues are increased the same amount ($5) that competitive membership dues were increased in 2007.

 

SE-6  Revision, Constitution, Page 26, Article XII, Section M

Change Paragraph M to read as follows:

Junior Membership fee: Junior membership fee, as primary members, shall be $15 per year.  No adult may be a second member on this membership.  Additional Cub, Youth and Young Adult family members may be added to the primary member for a fee of $5 per person per year.  Additional family members in excess of two shall have a fee of $2 per person per year.

 

SE-16  Revision, By-Laws, Page 41, Article IV, Section A, Paragraph 8

Replace the last two sentences of paragraph 8 with: “A $50.00 National and $25.00 Sectional protest fee, that will be refunded if the protest is upheld, must accompany the written protest at National and Sectional tournaments.  No protest will be considered or acted upon that is filed after the time limit.”

Paragraph to read:

Any individual wishing to file a protest against another archer must inform that individual in the presence of a tournament official that a protest will be filed. Both individuals have the right to be present at the meeting of the protest committee. All protests must be submitted within one hour after the end of the day’s shooting or, if indoors, the line on which the alleged offense occurred.  A $50.00 National and $25.00 Sectional protest fee, that will be refunded if the protest is upheld, must accompany the written protest at National and Sectional tournaments.  No protest will be considered or acted upon that is filed after the time limit.

 

SE-9  New Item, By-Laws, Page 82, Article XVIII, Section B, Paragraph 14, Item 14.1.14

Change made to Group 1 Bonus Points section on Outdoor Range Inspection form.

14.1.14 NFAA members in club over 100 - 10 points.  Over 200 - 20 points.  Over 300 - 30 points.

 

SE-10  New Item, By-Laws, Page 83, Article XVIII, Section B, Paragraph 15, Item 15.1-15.14

Moves the “1994: Course Approval” for range inspections from the Policy Section (page 87 with paragraphs 1 through 14) to the By-Laws under “Course Approval” as Paragraph 15 and Items 15.1 through 15.14.

 

VA-4  New Item, Policy, Page 85

Results for all national championship tournaments and all WAF tournaments will be reported in Archery magazine or whatever venue is the official NFAA publication at the time.  Results will include daily scores and total scores for all competitors by division, style, and class or flight.  Residence state will be included.  For all the same tournaments, the daily and final scores for all competitors, will be posted on the NFAA website each day of the tournament, after the completion of that day’s shooting or the end of the event, whichever applies.

PRO-1  Revision, By-Laws, Page 36, Article III, Section 2

Added the following sentence to the Professional Division’s “Code of Ethics” paragraph:

2.6 The Pro Executive Committee may investigate and act on any allegations pertaining to any professional archer as they feel necessary.

PRO-2  Revision, By-Laws, Page 36, Article III, Section 4

Changed the Professional Division’s “Disciplinary Action” paragraph to read as follows:

4.1 Disciplinary action may be taken against any professional member upon proof of violation of the Code of Ethics.  Disciplinary action will be determined by the Code of Ethics committee and may result in a reprimand, probation, suspension, disqualification from a tournament in progress, or expulsion from the Professional Division.  The following items are subject to immediate disqualification from a tournament in progress and may be subject to further disciplinary action.

4.1.1 Obvious witnessed intoxication while shooting.

4.1.2 Verified cheating.

4.1.3 Blatant violation of code of ethics or dress code.

4.2 The Pro Executive Committee will have the ability to enforce the Code of Ethics with possible disciplinary action.  Disciplinary action may consist of a written warning, fine or suspension.

4.3 Protests must be in writing, signed and submitted to the tournament chairman within one hour of completion of shooting for that day’s round, if indoors, the line on which the alleged offense occurred.

4.4 A Pro Division member having paid annual dues shall not alter his competitive style for that calendar year, unless a physician’s statement is furnished documenting the injury or disability of the archer in which case the alternate shooting style may be shot.

4.5 Should a Professional archer wish to resign during the calendar year, he/she may do so in writing to NFAA Headquarters.  When a Professional archer wishes to return to a non-professional division, he/she may do so with no delay provided he/she has not earned in excess of $300 at NFAA sanctioned shoots within the past 12 months.

 

PRO-3  Revision, By-Laws, Page 37, Article III, Section 8, Paragraph 8.4.6

Regarding “Duties of the Pro Chairman”, replaced paragraph 8.4.6 with the following:

8.4.6 Assign a 5 person Pro Executive Committee.  The committee will consist of one appointed member from each of the Professional Divisions and the Pro Chairman.  The Pro Chairman will be a non-voting member of the committee, but will appoint the other members.

 

PRO-4  Revision, By-Laws, Page 38, Article III, Section 9, Paragraph 9.1.3 & 9.1.4

Added items 9.1.3 and 9.1.4 to the Professional Division’s “Sectional Representative” paragraph

9.1.3 The Sectional Pro Representative may appoint an alternate Pro Representative to serve as Pro Advisor to the Sectional Councilman at multiple sites for Sectional Indoor/Outdoor Championships.

9.1.4 If an alternate Pro Representative is appointed for multiple sites, he/she will report minutes of forward any items that pertain to the Professional Division to the Sectional Pro Representative.  The appointee must be a pro member.

 

The NFAA Directors UPHELD RIC 2007-1

As to the query on effective date of Agenda item code C-1 from New Jersey, the RIC decision is The Effective Date is June 1, 2007.  This decision was based on the NFAA Constitution Article VI, Paragraph G, 1 stating “All action by the Board of Directors shall carry an effective date of 30 calendar days from notification in Archery, the official publication of the NFAA, unless an individual action includes an effective date, in which case the effective date shall be set to allow for publication in Archery magazine.  Notification in Archery shall be the April/May issue.”  Due to the fact that Agenda item code C-1 becomes effective on June 1, 2007 any Sr. Life memberships purchased before that date cannot legally be affected by the change to the NFAA Constitution and By-Laws made in 2007.

 

The NFAA Directors UPHELD RIC2007-2

The Director from New Jersey ruled that a “Guest” was an NFAA member shooting from outside of their respective State or Section.  The decision as to what a “Guest” should be based upon the NFAA rule book.  In Article III, Membership, Section A, 3.3 it states: “In order to compete in any sectional tournament, an archer must be a member of a state affiliate within that section, except as specified in Paragraph 10.”  Paragraph 10 explains in detail exactly what constitutes a guest.  The RIC agrees with the Director from New Jersey.

 

COMPETITION COMMITTEE

 

WA-3  Revision, By-Laws, Page 28, Article I

After the title "General Rules for Field Archery Games" add the following sentence: “The following applies to all Field, Hunter, and Animal Rounds”.

NOTE: There has been some confusion in the proper manner to shoot Group 4 and Group 3 Animal targets to the extent that a RIC ruling has been required.  Current regulations are not clear that the same position and order requirements which apply to Field and Hunter rounds are also in effect for the Animal round.  Some archers are not aware that the "General Rules for Field Archery Games" apply to the Animal Round also.

 

 

WA-4  Revision, By-Laws, Page 28, Article I, Section C, Paragraph 3

Paragraph 3 is revised, add a new Paragraph 4 and renumber the current Paragraph 4 as paragraph 5.

 

3. In all National and Sectional tournaments using official NFAA rounds, sixteen 20 cm. Target faces shall be used for the 20, 25, 30, 35 feet and the 11 yard shot.  The target butt shall be so constructed as to encompass the targets in a 4 by 4 configuration.  Where 35 cm. Target faces are specified, four 35 cm. Target faces will be used.  The target butt shall be so constructed as to encompass the targets in a 2 by 2 configuration.  Where 50 cm target faces are specified, two target faces shall be used for the 35 yard (field) and 36 yard (hunter) fan.  The target butt shall be so constructed as to encompass the targets side-by-side or one above the other.  Multiple faces may be used at any distance.

 

4. In all National and Sectional tournaments using official NFAA rounds, where Group 4 Animal faces are specified, four Group 4 Animal faces will be used and the target butt shall be so constructed as to encompass the targets in a 2 by 2 configuration.  The four faces presented shall be of the same design.  Where Group 3 Animal faces are specified, two Group 3 Animal faces will be used, either side-by-side or one above the other.  The two faces presented shall be of the same design.

 

SE-8  Revision, By-Laws, Page 35, Article III, Section B, Paragraph 2, Item 2.1

Change Paragraph 2.1 to read: “This classification is established for archers 12 years of age”.

NOTE: The Cub Division is not “optional” at the State Level.

 

GL-3  New Item, By-Laws, Page 41, Article IV, Section A, Paragraph 9, Item New 9.2

9.2 At National level tournaments archers who shoot at other than their scheduled time will not be eligible for awards.

 

WA-5  Revision, By-Laws, Page 52, Article VI, Section C, Paragraph 3, Item 3.5 & 3.6

This Agenda Item concerns the Animal Round.

 

3.5 Each target in Group 3 is one distance.  In a 14-target unit, there are four targets in this group.  Shoot all arrows from the single stake at a distance selected between 35 and 20 yards.  If two target faces are side-by-side, archer on the left shoots the left target.  If two target faces are one above the other, first two shooters shoot the bottom target.

 

3.6 Each target in Group 4 is one distance.  In a 14-target unit, there are four targets in Group 4.  All arrows shall be shot from the single stake at a distance selected between 20 yards and 10 yards.  The first two shooters shoot the bottom target faces, and the archer on the left shoots the left target.

 

SE-11  Revision, By-Laws, Page 53, Article VI, Section E, Paragraph 1, 2 &4, Items 2.4 & 4.2

 

Paragraph 1 changed to read: Standard Unit: Shall consist of 60 arrows, shot as three games, at a distance of 20 yards. Each game shall consist of four ends of five arrows per end.

 

Paragraph 2.4 changed to read: The Tournament Director may substitute the Vegas 3 spot face or the Vegas 40 cm face as official faces in place of the 40 cm blue target or the Indoor Five Spot Target, with scoring as follows: 10 through 1 on the single spot target, 10 through 6 on the three spot target. 5 ends of 3 arrows will be shot per game.  Tournament Director will decide if 2, 3, or 4 Games will be used, scoring 300, 450, or 600, respectively.  A time limit of 2½ minutes per end will be used.

 

Paragraph 4.2 changed to read: The time limit shall be four minutes.

NOTE: The “4 Spot” Indoor target is no longer used and mention of it in our rules is superfluous.  This agenda item deletes the no longer used target from our rules.

 

SE-12  Revision, By-Laws, Page 60, Article VI, Section K, Paragraph 8, Item 8.6

Add to end of Paragraph 8.6: Distances on marked 3-D courses will be measured with a tape or more accurate measuring device: Hand held range finders will not be used.

 

WY-1  New Item, By-Laws, Page 54, Article VI, Section E, Paragraph 5, Item 5.11

5.11 When using Vegas 3 Spot Target:

5.11.1 An archer will shoot the 3 Spot target in any order and will have one arrow in each spot, not to exceed the prescribed number of arrows per end.

The NFAA Directors UPHELD RIC 2006-8

At the NJ State Championships, an archer disputed a call on an animal target, claiming the arrow was touching the indicator line for the paste on bonus dot even though the arrow was not touching the paste on dot, & wanted the bonus point.  The paste on dot was indeed misaligned somewhat.  The NJ Director ruled that due to some human errors that can occur when pasting the dots, it is the bonus dot that must be counted & not some printed indicator line on the target.  The RIC agrees with the NJ Director’s ruling.

 

The NFAA Directors UPHELD RIC 2007-4

An archer shooting a Hunter 36 Fan with two targets side by side shoots an arrow in the right hand target from the second stake from the left hand side.  He then shoots an arrow into the left hand target from the third stake from the left hand side.  The archer ends up with two arrows in each target showing an 18 (a 5 and a 4 in each target).  Using rules from Page 45, Article IV, Section H, Paragraph 3 and Page 46, Article IV, Section I, Paragraph 11, the Florida Director rules that the archer has an 8, dropping the high arrow from each target.  The RIC agrees with the Florida Director.

 

EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE

 

TX-1  Revision, By-Laws, Page 30, Article II, Section B, Paragraph 5

This Agenda Item is for the Barebow shooting style.

5. Only one adjustable draw check and level mounted on the bow, neither of which may extend above the arrow and a mechanical type arrow rest and cushion plunger are permitted.

 

TX-2  Revision, By-Laws, Page 30, Article III, Section B, Paragraph 1, Item 1.1

The following paragraph is deleted from the Barebow equipment rules: String will be one consistent color of the archer’s choice. The center serving on the string will be served with one layer of any material suitable to use, but material will be of one consistent size and one consistent color”.

 

FL-4  Revision, By-Laws, Page 32, Article III, Section F, Paragraph 1

This Agenda Item is for the Bowhunter Freestyle (& BHFSL) shooting style.

Insert the words “with or without a lens” after the words “string peep”.  Paragraph to read as follows:

“A maximum of (5) five fixed reference points: Points of attachment shall not be considered reference points. A line running vertically from its top attachment in the pin guard to its bottom attachment in the pin guard would be legal. Sighting reference points, string peep with or without a lens and/or kisser button may not be moved during a round. Scopes, clickers and draw checks are not allowed. A round or oval housing around the points of reference is not considered a scope as long as no lens is used. No additional pin guard may be used. A sight pin consisting of a housing with a hole through it, that does not contain a fixed reference point within the hole, is not allowed.”

 

SC-1  New Item, By-Laws, Page 28, Article I, Section A, Paragraph 8, 9 & 10

Added the following three definitions to the NFAA Equipment Rules:

8. Stabilizer: A device extending away from the archer (back of the bow).

9. Counter Balance: A device extending parallel to or toward the archer (face of the bow).

10. String Dampening Device: A device made to stop the forward motion of the string.

 

ID-1  Revision, By-Laws, Page 32, Article II, Section F, Paragraph 7

Allows V-bars, counter balances and string suppressors in the BHFS & BHFSL shooting styles.

7. “Brush buttons, string silencer, positioned no closer than midway between the nocking point and where the string touches the wheel/cam, and bow quiver installed on the opposite side of the sight window, with no part of the quiver or attachments visible in the sight window are legal. One straight stabilizer, coupling device included if used, which cannot exceed 12 inches at any time, as measured from the back of the bow, V-bar, counter balance and string suppressors, may be used.”

 

The NFAA Directors UPHELD RIC 2007-3

The Illinois NFAA Director was asked to rule on a question regarding BHFS equipment.  An archer attending the Outdoor Nationals was informed that all of his arrows must have the same color nock and same color fletching or would be deemed illegal.  The equipment rule stated in Article II, Paragraph F, Freestyle Bowhunter, Item 6 states: “All arrows shall be identical in size, length, weight and fletching with allowances for wear and tear”.  As the sentence makes no mention of the word “color”, I ruled that the arrows with different color fletch and/or nocks were legal.  The RIC agrees with the Director.

 

The NFAA Directors OVERTURNED RIC 2007-5

The Wisconsin NFAA Director was asked to rule on a question regarding the use of a sight made by Vital Bow Gear in the Bowhunter divisions of competition.  The Director ruled that it is legal in NFAA Bowhunter divisions as it conforms to Article II, Section F, Paragraph1 (Freestyle Bowhunter equipment rules), on Page 31 (of the NFAA By-Laws).  The RIC Committee agrees with the Wisconsin Director.

NOTE: This sight will not be legal in BHFS or BHFSL after 6-1-08.

 

 

The NFAA Directors OVERTURNED RIC 2008-1

The Wisconsin Director made a ruling on Bowhunter Freestyle.  A Bowhunter wanted to use a stabilizer that was legal out the front of his bow and also wanted to use a counter balance on the back of the bow.  After reading Page 32, Section F, Paragraph 7, I made the decision he could not use any sort of counter balance. I then also stated the use of V bars are also not legal in Bowhunter Freestyle.  The paragraph says, “one straight stabilizer, coupling device included”.  I made my decision based on the fact that any counter weight or V bars are a stabilizing device and therefore cannot be used because you are allowed only one stabilizer on the bow.

 

The NFAA Directors OVERTURNED RIC 2008-2

At the California Indoor Championship the California Director made a ruling on Traditional style.  A Traditional archer wanted to use a bow quiver attached to the side of his bow with no part of the quiver visible in the sight window.  Traditional Style, Page 32, Article II, Section H, Paragraph 2 that says, “no device of any kind, including arrow rest, that can be used for sighting, will be used or attached to the archers equipment and paragraph 11 states “no stabilizer or counter balance may be used”.  Since the bow quiver was attached on the side of the bow where 20 yards would be and the bow quiver is a counter balance, The California Director ruled that the archer could NOT use a bow quiver.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2008 - DAVE HRYN