Membership Information

All members and guests must sign a lifetime FCS Release of Liability Waiver prior to participation in FCS events that involve the use of: landowners’ land and bodies of water, outfitters, guides, guns, bows, knives, other weapons, and vehicles used in hunting, fishing, shooting, and classes that involve the use of weapons (concealed handgun license, shooting, etc.); kayaking and canoeing; vehicles and trailers used in camping; and any other FCS events that involve potential hazards.

It is at the sole discretion of the FCS president as to whether an event requires participants to sign a lifetime FCS Release of Liability Waiver prior to participation in the event.  Signing the FCS Release of Liability Waiver is a separate activity from applying for membership – it doesn’t mean that the signer has joined FCS.

FCS membership is not required in order to participate in FCS events.  We have people who have attended our events for years who have never joined.  We also have people who joined years ago and pay their dues regularly but have never attended one of our events (they just want to support a Christian sportsmen’s club).  However, be aware that for events where we have a limit on the number of people that we can take that there is an Event Hierarchy (pecking order).

For example, if we are hosting a fishing trip and two boats are committed that can hold four people each (a total of eight people) and a supporting member and a guest want the eighth spot, the supporting member will get the spot.  To quote the old American Express TV commercial “Membership has its privileges.”  A strategy to ensure that you’ll have a spot is to join or renew your membership (if your membership has expired), as applicable.

Church membership or attendance and being a Christian are not required in order to join FCS.  We are not a church.  Even if we were we don’t know any churches who don’t let people attend who aren’t members.  There are churches who will not let someone join unless he or she professes Jesus as Savior and Lord, but, again, we’re not a church.  One of our bylaws is to challenge people to establish and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and we can’t do that if we don’t let non-Christians attend events.  But that point is mostly not applicable – we very rarely have people attend who known that they’re not Christians.

FCS membership is available to men and women, 18 years old and older, without regard to race, national origin, age, denominational preference, or political persuasion.  Members consist of those men and women who have expressed a desire to be a member by completing the Membership Application section of the FCS Release of Liability Waiver/Membership Application, including agreeing that they will adhere to the FCS Bylaws Regarding Conduct, while on FCS events, and who have paid at least a one-year FCS membership due).  The only difference between supporting FCS members and non-supporting FCS members is supporting FCS members are current in their dues.  Membership dues are used to pay FCS expenses.

The FCS Membership Application and Release of Liability Waiver only need to be completed once (they do not need to be completed again when a member renews his or her membership).

Participation in events is not a requirement of membership; however, it is strongly encouraged.  The more that a person participates the more likely it is that he or she will feel that he or she is a part of the organization.  It is also more likely that he or she will develop friendships.  It’s a totally different thing to shoot sporting clays, for example, with a bunch of strangers than it is to shoot with a bunch of friends.

All supporting FCS members have the following benefits:

• can make amendment proposals to the FCS Bylaws and/or Statement of Faith;
• cam make expenditure proposals;
• can participate in all supporting FCS member discussions and votes;
• can check out (borrow) FCS equipment items, videos, and books; and
• can have their articles, hunting and fishing stories, link recommendations, members’ profiles, product and service reviews and recommendations, recipes, and safety tips posted on the FCS website.

All FCS members can have their devotionals, classified ads, praises, and prayer requests submissions posted on the FCS website.

Submissions from prospective FCS members (men and women who are not FCS members) will not be posted on the FCS website.

We may edit and refuse to post submitted materials.  We can only use original submissions unless the author’s work is not copyrighted.  No material on our website or on one of our newsletters may be reproduced in print or electronically without our written/electronic permission.

New and renewing FCS members do not receive FCS Inventory items a membership benefit; however, they, and future members, can purchase FCS Gear at any time.

FCS membership begins when we receive an applicant’s FCS Release of Liability Waiver/Membership Application and membership due.

Minors cannot become members until they turn 18.  All minors, who do not have a parent, guardian, or conservator who is an FCS member, are required to complete an FCS Release of Liability Waiver/Membership Application prior to participation in FCS events that involve potential hazards.  All minors must secure parental, guardian, or conservator permission in order to participate in FCS events and purchase FCS Gear.

All minors must be supervised by a responsible adult while on FCS events.  For minors who do not have a parent, guardian, or conservator who can come to events to supervise them, we may be able to supply a responsible adult supervisor.