TASO Charter

Attachment 146

This organization is meant to bring all Airsoft enthusiasts, teams and individuals, together within the State of Texas. The Texas Airsoft Organization, also referred to by its acronym T.A.S.O., is declared a not-for-profit mutual benefit organization. This organization is open to all Texas based Airsoft enthusiasts for membership and operates under a 5-person Board of Directors.

THE PURPOSE OF TASO:

• To give Airsoft players a unifying common-sense guideline to standards of conduct and play regardless of geographic location or team affiliation
• To help bring new players, playing fields, and event organizers into the TASO Community.
• To empower the individual player on the field by helping to maintain fair play and proper conduct from providing them a structured organization with a well-defined and publicized set of standards and rules to back them up.
• To expect members to maintain a higher standard of self-conduct by having them consciously acknowledge the rules in agreeing to be part of such an organization and because of the importance of the active role they play in maintaining the integrity of such an organization and the sport.
• To allow different teams or individuals to play together harmoniously with minimal adjustment to differing play environments because they all acknowledge the same basic philosophies and standards.
• To give new players a clearly defined standard of conduct and existing players an aid to guide newer players entering the sport.
• To provide field owners and others with commercial interests in this sport with an official organization to recognize.

MEMBERS

• TASO is open to All Texas based Airsoft Enthusiasts.
• Members who attend at least One (1) TASO Sponsored OP/Event during the calendar year, will be considered Voting Members for purposes of questionnaires, surveys, and polls sent out by the Board of Directors.
• Minors (under 18 years old) are welcome to participate in TASO events, pending written permission from a parent of legal guardian. Minors may not hold Director Positions within TASO. In some cases, specific fields or events may restrict the player age, due to insurance considerations.
• There is no membership fee for TASO.
• All members must acknowledge and follow the Code of Conduct, ROE, and TASO acknowledgement during registration on the official TASO Website and when in effect at events.
• All Members have the authority to discuss and propose Rules, Standards, and guidelines herein referred to as Policies, necessary for the management and operation of the organization. The Policies may concern any subject within the jurisdiction of the organization. The official TASO website will provide appropriate forum space, herein referred to as the TASO Policy Forum to conduct these public discussions.
• Members will be assigned a geographic region based on their place of residence
• For the purposes of TASO membership, the state of Texas will be divided into five geographic regions. (North, South, East, West, and Central)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• TASO is a self-policing organization in which all members must play an active role in ensuring conformity among their fellow players. However, in the event of any problems that cannot be resolved between individuals or groups of individuals, Directors are mandated to mediate the situation.
• If there is ever any type of problem, suggestion, concern, etc., any player should immediately contact any of the Directors, either directly or via the official TASO website and express to them whatever is on their mind.

Note – Field Owners and Event Organizers hold the exclusive right to ban players from participation.

ANNUAL, QUARTERLY, AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

• A TASO Annual Meeting will be held each fall to discuss a predetermined agenda in a face-to-face forum. The Annual Meeting will be held on a date, selected by the Directors, between the months of September, October or November. The agenda and meeting date will be decided upon prior to the meeting on the Official TASO website.
• Every Quarter the Directors will meet electronically and discuss each of the Threads in the TASO Policy forum. The Directors can either elect to call for an immediate binding vote of the Directors on the topic or hold it over as an agenda item at the next annual meeting for a member vote.
• Special Meetings can be called by any Director. Notice of any special meetings and the purpose thereof shall be set out for the membership prior to the date fixed for said meeting. Posting of notice of special meeting dates shall be by electronic mail (e-mail) or on the Official TASO website. No business shall be transacted at such meeting except as specified in the notice. Special meetings can be held electronically with at least five- (5) days notice or in conjunction with a scheduled statewide event with at least fifteen (15) days notice and approval from the event organizer and field owner.
• All official meetings of the Directors will have minutes kept as well as records of all votes. The minutes and voting records will be public record and housed in the Official TASO website.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• The Board of Directors, henceforth referred to as Directors, shall consist of five (5) Directors, where the total membership of the board optimally shall be five regionally based TASO Members, representing each of the five regions spelled out in the Members section.
• Each Director shall be entitled to one vote at all meetings of the Board, the Annual State Meeting and any special meetings. Vote by proxy shall be according to the provisions of this document herein only. All Votes must pass with a 4/5 majority.
• The Board of Directors shall have general charge of the affairs of TASO and may properly assume such other duties as are not specially assigned to or performed by any committees as may in their judgment be necessary.
• The Board of Directors shall have full charge of all matters covered in this charter, including special meetings, and any and all other business that is reasonably presumed to fall within the powers or duties of the Board.
• A vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors may be filled by the unanimous vote of the remaining Directors. The filling of a vacancy on the Board must be properly noticed as an agenda item of a special meeting, before it can be properly considered or voted upon. The Directors so chosen shall hold office until the next scheduled annual meeting.
• A No-Confidence Vote may be called by any Director and requires a unanimous vote of the remaining directors to succeed.
• The Board of Directors shall have a Board Secretary who is a non voting member of the board. The Secretary will be responsible for posting accurate and concise minutes of Director meetings, discussions, and decisions. The Secretary shall be included in all Official Director activities.

GUESTS

• Guests are defined as out of state players or Texas based players that do not wish to join TASO.
• Guests are allowed to play in any TASO event (assuming the meet any specific field or event criteria) but must agree to play by the TASO ROE.

OFFICIAL TASO WEBSITE

• The Directors will deem only one site as the official website.
• Any TASO document, not in draft mode, will supercede any other TASO Policy Document in existence. Directors must approve all official documents listed as such on the Official TASO website.
• The Official TASO website is for the express purpose of hosting TASO Policy Documents, Discussing relevant state-wide business directly related to TASO, keeping the calendar of Texas Airsoft Events, and any other purposes specifically named by the majority vote of the Directors. This site is not for general Airsoft discussions and unrelated topics will immediately be deleted.