    CLICK ON PHOTOS (used with thanks to Xavier d'Hubert, who sent us beautiful views of Louisville Kentucky's new Pétanquerie located on the banks of the Ohio river!) Each Pétanque Club in the United States has a differing story of how it started. Sometimes a friendly group gets introduced to the sport by a couple members of their social group who have been to France or another country. The group likes playing Pétanque because it's a good excuse to get together and voila! A club is born.
Other clubs have started because Pétangueurs from another country settled in the United States and played the game together, others observed then got interested in trying it, found they could play on their level and still be competitive and another club is born.
Other clubs have started because an existing club did a public demonstration, publicized in the local media, to which attendees tried the sport and loved playing the game.
Ask 100 Pétanqueurs how they started playing and they will give variations of the above scenarios, or even new ones. But one thing is for sure. Pétanque is fun, enjoyable, addictive, friendly, competitive and every other adjective with which you can describe a sport. It is tailor made for humans because it can be played on a leisurely level, for people who like the exercise and fellowship, and it can be played with the addition of high competitive spirit where every shot is a serious accomplishment.
Pick your style, gather a bunch of friends together, and start a Pétanque club!
BY-LAWS OF [NAME], A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION
ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION
1. The name of the organization shall be [NAME].
2. The organization shall have a seal which shall be in the following
form: [DESCRIBE]
3. The organization may at its pleasure by a vote of the membership body
change its name.
ARTICLE II PURPOSES
The following are the purposes for which this organization has been
organized: [DESCRIBE]
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Membership in this organization shall be open to all who [DESCRIBE].
ARTICLE IV MEETINGS
The annual membership meeting of this organization shall be held on the
__________ day of [MONTH] each and every year except if such day be a
legal holiday, then and in that event, the Board of Directors shall fix
the day but it shall not be more than two weeks from the date fixed by
these By-Laws.
The Secretary shall cause to be mailed to every member in good standing
at his address as it appears in the membership roll book in this
organization a notice telling the time and place of such annual meeting.
Regular meetings of this organization shall be held [LOCATION].
The presence of not less than _________ ( ____%) percent of the members
shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business
of this organization; but a lesser percentage may adjourn the meeting
for a period of not more than _________ weeks from the date scheduled by
these By-Laws and the secretary shall cause a notice of this scheduled
meeting to be sent to all those members who were not present at the
meeting originally called. A quorum as herein before set forth shall be
required at any adjourned meeting.
Special meetings of this organization may be called by the president
when he deems it for the best interest of the organization. Notices of
such meeting shall be mailed to all members at their addresses as they
appear in the membership roll book at least ten (10) days before the
scheduled date set for such special meeting. Such notice shall state the
reasons that such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted
at such meeting and by whom it was called. At the request of ___________
( _____%) percent of the members of the Board of Directors or
___________ ( _____%) percent of the members of the organization, the
president shall cause a special meeting to be called but such request
must be made in writing at least ten (10) days before the requested
scheduled date.
No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at
such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at
such meeting.
ARTICLE V VOTING
At all meetings, except for the election of officers and directors, all
votes shall be by voice. For election of officers, ballots shall be
provided and there shall not appear any place on such ballot that might
tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot.
At any regular or special meeting, if a majority so requires, any
question may be voted upon in the manner and style provided for election
of officers and directors.
At all votes by ballot the chairman of such meeting shall,
prior to the commencement of balloting, appoint a committee of three who
shall act as "Inspectors of Election" and who shall, at the conclusion
of such balloting, certify in writing to the Chairman the results and
the certified copy shall be physically affixed in the minute book to the
minutes of that meeting.
No inspector of election shall be a candidate for office or shall be
personally interested in the question voted upon.
ARTICLE VI ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Roll Call. ARTICLE VII BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business of this organization shall be managed by a Board of
Directors consisting of [#] members, together with the officers of this
organization. At least one of the directors elected shall be a resident
of the State of __________ and a citizen of the United States.
The directors to be chosen for the ensuing year shall be chosen at the
annual meeting of this organization in the same manner and style as the
officers of this organization and they shall serve for a term of _______
years.
The Board of Directors shall have the control and management of the
affairs and business of this organization. Such Board of Directors shall
only act in the name of the organization when it shall be regularly
convened by its chairman after due notice to all the directors of such
meeting.
___________ ( ____%) percent of the members of the Board of Directors
shall constitute a quorum and the meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held regularly on the [DATE].
Each director shall have one vote and such voting may not be done by
proxy.
The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations covering its
meetings as it may in its discretion determine necessary.
Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a vote of the
majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors for the
balance of the year.
The President of the organization by virtue of his office shall be
Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall select from one of their members a
secretary.
A director may be removed when sufficient cause exists for such removal.
The Board of Directors may entertain charges against any director. A
director may be represented by counsel upon any removal hearing. The
Board of Directors shall adopt such rules for this hearing as it may in
its discretion consider necessary for the best interests of the
organization.
ARTICLE VIII OFFICERS
The initial officers of the organization shall be as follows:
President: The President shall preside at all membership meetings. The Vice President shall in the event of the absence or inability of the
President to exercise his office become acting president of the
organization with all the rights, privileges and powers as if he had
been the duly elected president.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the organization in
appropriate books. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies belonging to
the organization and shall be solely responsible for such monies or
securities of the organization. He shall cause to be deposited in a
regular business bank or trust company a sum not exceeding $ ________
and the balance of the funds of the organization shall be deposited in a
savings bank except that the Board of Directors may cause such funds to
be invested in such investments as shall be legal for a non-profit
corporation in this state.
Shall be one of the officers who shall sign checks or drafts of the
organization. No special fund may be set aside that shall make it
unnecessary for the Treasurer to sign the checks issued upon it.
Shall render at stated periods as the Board of Directors shall
determine a written account of the finances of the organization and such
report shall be physically affixed to the minutes of the Board of
Directors of such meeting.
Shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Treasurer.
Officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Board of
Directors.
No officer shall for reason of his office be entitled to receive any
salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent
an officer or director for receiving any compensation from the
organization for duties other than as a director or officer.
ARTICLE IX SALARIES
The Board of Directors shall hire and fix the compensation of any and
all employees which they in their discretion may determine to be
necessary for the conduct of the business of the organization.
ARTICLE X COMMITTEES
All committees of this organization shall be appointed by the Board of
Directors and their term of office shall be for a period of one year or
less if sooner terminated by the action of the Board of Directors.
The permanent committees shall be: [DESCRIBE]
ARTICLE XI DUES
The dues of this organization shall be $ _______per annum and shall be
payable on [DATE]. (Might be a good place to indicate that the Club is
a member of Federation Petanque, USA and that a portion of the club dues is forwarded
to FPUSA in support of the national Competition and Communications programs.)
ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be altered, amended, repealed or added to by an
affirmative vote of not less than ________________ (_____%) percent of
the members.
2. A Vice President who may have such duties as overseeing the building of courts, obtaining land, stands in for the President who may be away in a tournament or on business.
3. A Secretary or Secretary/Treasurer The person who keeps records, minutes, books, makes sure the club adheres to its bylaws, sends in the memberships to FPUSA, handles memberships within the club, etc.
Some clubs also have:
A Sport Director - a person who oversees the types of games (Triplette, Doublette, Panache, or Friendly Games) played at the club, arranges for trophies and prizes for winners and drawings. Some Sport Directors are in charge of the rules interpretations, acting as a "referee" during competitions within the club, while other clubs have designated officers for these purposes.
Some clubs have a Public Relations Officer in charge of submitting those whiz-bang articles to the local news media after each competition, takes photos of events for the club scrapbook, produces notices, signs, and flyers, and oversee's the valuable club's website.
However you do it, as your club grows you will find needs, and ways to get more of your members into responsible positions to manage the operation and growth of your club.
Goals are important. Do you wish to be the Friendliest Club in the USA? The Largest Club in the USA? The Club with the most National Champions? Whatever your goals, you CAN meet them.
FPUSA has several clubs now actively engaged in starting new clubs in nearby towns. They have made contacts, given public demonstrations and are hoping that the new groups will, amoeba-like, begin spreading Pétanque-ism - the joy of a sport everyone can play!
SO HOW DO WE START?
Create or find a terrain (court). Do you have 13½ feet by 49 feet of space on your property? Know of a local baseball diamond that isn't used at times? Got dirt? Pétanque can be played anywhere there's relatively flat dirt. This is a tossing game, not a bowling game, so bumps and imperfections in the soil make the game challenging - as with putting in golf - and give everyone in the game the same challenges to overcome.
Beaches don't work, because the boules usually will disappear beneath the sand. You want some solidity there. Professionally designed terrains for Peacute;tanque are usually created with an underlayment of clay for rigidity, covered with a layer of fine gravel, rock dust, limestone or decomposed granite for some "tooth" so the boules don't roll on forever! Some courts are outlined or bordered, others are not. The main question to ask when building a court is, "can the cochonnet be tossed 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet?" If so, you've got a terrain! Start playing!
The next thing you do is think of all your most beloved friends. The people you really enjoy being with. Invite them over for a picnic, a dinner, and tell them you've got a great new pastime they'll like. (You've already printed out the rules from our website and become so familiar with them that you're now the local expert.)
You only need 10 people to start an official FPUSA-recognized club! It costs a total of $180 to get a club going (FPUSA Memberships for the 10 people plus $80 club membership) - and each will receive a membership license (card) along with a year's subscription to FPUSA's newsletter, "The Boule Sheet". In addition, your club will be provided access to FPUSA's liability insurance, should you have a landlord for your public courts, or be required to show a certificate of insurance.
After you've wowed all your friends by letting them play Pétanque, talk to them about starting a regular play group, maybe imploring them to invite some of their friends who might enjoy the game. With enough enthusiasm on your part, they'll be taken by the game, enjoy playing it, and you'll have the beginnings of your club.
If you live anywhere near an existing club, so much the better. Contact them and develop a relationship with them that benefits you by starting your organization off on the right foot, and benefits your neighbor club by allowing your people to compete with their people and perhaps begin reciprocal competitions on a regular basis. If you don't have a club nearby, contact FPUSA. Perhaps we can recommend a Pétanque player who lives near you as an independent member of our organization to act as an advisor for you.
LOCATION DICTATES YOUR PLAY SEASON
If you live in the northern states where there's a serious snow season, you may not be able to play much before May each year unless you know of a building where you could establish your club indoors as is common in Scandinavia. Some of our friends in Maine and Michigan don't actually begin their play season until June. While in the southern states, play goes on all year around. In the west - California - play happens all year around, although in some areas mornings and evenings offer cooler weather.
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COURTS? YOU DECIDE
Some clubs do not have a public facility. They have members who have courts on their personal property, two to eight terrains where up to 16 teams can play simultaneously. Hint: people are busy. You can plan on only about 50% of your membership being able to play at any one time, consequently if you have the maximum ability to play 16 teams of 3, that's 48 people so, using our 50% rule above, you could easily have 86 members in your club and still have a place for everyone who shows up to play. (With 3 people to a Triplette team, that's 6 playing on a court, times 8 courts = 48 people) Doublette: 32 people, Singles: 16 people). Initially when your club is new, you may have a larger percentage of your members showing up to play than after everyone learns the game and gets busy with other obligations. At that point you'll probably find about half your members actually do play in any given event.
FUNDRAISING & CLUB OPERATIONS
PUBLICITY
Believe us, your newspapers and TV stations will clamor to cover your events if you let them in on the history of our incredible sport. They've probably never even seen the word "Pétanque" before, much less played the game. Maybe there's a media challenge in your near future? Challenge the news department of your local newspaper and/or television station, or even the radio station you like best. Get 'em talking about Pétanque and you'll get members!
Every club has a talented writer among their membership. Turn one loose on coming up with a big full page feature article for the newspaper's weekend edition. Or have the aforementioned public demonstration day where everyone who visits gets to play Pétanque with a teacher of the game. Don't forget to e-mail everyone who has a website in your town. You've probably got a cyber-denizen who would be a big help in getting the Internet world aware of your Pétanque Club.
If you have some sterling ideas for promotion of the sport of Pétanque in your town or even nationwide, let us know! We're always eager to hear how clubs are promoting our sport and we might even borrow some of your ideas - with proper credit, of course - as we continue the growth of Pétanquery in the United States. We certainly want to help you in any way we can. Feel free to contact FPUSA at any time and we'll recommend an expert who can answer your questions and offer suggestions for starting and operating your new club.  Contact FPUSA President, John Rolland, at: president@usapetanque.org |
And don't forget CyberWorld! Send e-mails to clubs in other countries. Check out how they operate their clubs. Nobody organizes like the British, the Aussies and the New Zealanders (Kiwis)! The South Africans play Pétanque, as do most Europeans, and the game is popular in Asia, as well with large inroads occurring in Japan and Singapore. Whether it's Pétanque, Boules, La Petanque and they call the target ball a Cochonnet, a Jack, a Snoddy or "that darned thing" around the world Pétanque is a much beloved pastime.
1. A President who acts as ombudsman between your club and the FPUSA President, he or she signs the Membership Cards FPUSA issues and gives them to the members. A President is also an idea-person who stimulates new ideas into the club, chairs meetings, and
generally makes things run smoothly.
When everyone comes over to the house, tell them about the wonderful 
Public Courts are every club's dream. Most of the clubs in the U.S. play on some form of public courts - whether specially constructed courts in a public park, rented from or donated by the Park Commission, to property purchased by the Pétanque club and in many European cases, clubs adjoin pubs or restaurants because - as we all know - food and Pétanque go well together! One way or another, keep your eyes open in your town and you'll find some perfect, shaded, unused property that you might be able to use as your Pétanque Club's headquarters.
Some clubs operate entirely within the capital they raise from their own memberships. That is not the norm, however, as most clubs have various other ways of fundraising. Some clubs are specialists at doing yard sales and fleamarkets. Others participate in civic events with booths and Pétanque demonstrations where they charge a dollar or less to teach a person how to play on a court with an artificial surface. Other clubs get involved in community public service organizations and receive remuneration for their work. Still other clubs raise funds by offering door prizes and drawings at club events with tickets available from a dollar to five dollars or more depending on the prizes being offered. We have heard of clubs doing spaghetti feeds, pancake breakfasts,jam and jelly sales, candy bar sales, and other concepts. It's up to you, your energies, and your inventiveness as to how you put funds into your club's coffers.
We like to think of Pétanque as the "Sara Lee" sport - "Nobody Doesn't Like Pétanque!". And here's an idea: you can purchase inkjet-printer paper that you can reverse an image and iron onto T-shirts. Your creative brain a bunch of t-shirts, a color printer and an iron, can turn out wonderful comment-getting T-Shirts very easily and quickly. Get your club members wearing a club Peacute;tanque shirt around town. They'll get lots of questions from passers by. Just a simple question on a t-shirt like, "What, on earth, is PÉTANQUE???" will get comments and give your members a chance to explain. We like the shirt we saw recently that said, "GOT DIRT? Play Petanque!"
