Amherstburg Minor Soccer Assication
Constitution
(Revised December 09th 2008)
Article 1: NAME
The name of this Club shall be the Amherstburg Minor Soccer Association, hereinafter referred to as the Club. The headquarters of the Club shall be located within the District Boundaries of the Essex County Soccer Association, hereinafter referred to as the District Association.
Article 2: OBJECTS
The Club shall have the following objects:
1. To promote and develop the game of soccer within its boundaries.
2. To help individuals to develop their character as resourceful and responsible Members of their community by providing opportunities, through the game of soccer, for their mental, physical, social and leadership development.
3. To provide organized competition for children of ages three (3) years to eighteen (18) years of age.
4. To encourage co-ed play wherever possible.
Article 3: AFFILIATIONS
The Club shall be a Member of the Essex County Soccer Association and shall follow the published rules of the District Association and The Ontario Soccer Association, hereinafter referred to as The OSA. The Club is subject to the published rules of the following governing organizations to which it is affiliated:
1. The OSA
2. The District Association
3. The Club
Article 4: MEMBERSHIP
There are two classes of Member, namely, Regular Member and Life Member.
Regular Member
A regular Member is either: a registered player, a registered Club coach, a registered Club game official or a registered Club administrator
Life Member
The Board of Directors may designate an individual as a life Member.
A life Member is afforded all rights of Membership, including the right to attend and speak at Members' meetings, but is not entitled to vote.
Discipline of Members
A Member may be fined, censured, suspended or expelled from Membership for cause and only after charges have been laid in accordance with the Club's published rules and a hearing held in accordance with the Club's and OSA's published rules. An individual whose Membership has been suspended loses all rights of Membership until the suspension has been terminated.
Player, team and team official discipline for game infractions is governed in accordance with the procedures published by The OSA.
Any Member, who infringes the Articles or rules of the Club or brings the Club into disrepute, may be reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the Club after a hearing by the Board of Directors of the Club at which hearing the Member is entitled to attend.
- No player substitution is allowed for any player ordered off the field (red card).
- Any player given a yellow card will have to leave the field for five (5) minutes (a cool down period). The coach is allowed to substitute this player.
- If the team has no available substitutes the team will play short for this time.
- The Referee is in charge of the game. Any decision made by him/her is binding and cannot be reversed. He/She sill have the full backing of the Executive and coaches on this matter.
- The disciplinary committee will deal with all matters of discipline or protest.
- The disciplinary committee will be made up of three (3) members, including the referee chairman, head convenor and president.
- The disciplinary committee will set up guidelines on discipline for the smooth running of the association.
- The director of game officials will be responsible for tracking red and yellow cards and will keep the disciplinary chairman (head convenor) informed of infractions.
- Any team postponing or cancelling a game without permission of the division convenor shall forfeit the game. The game will be awarded to the opposition and the score recorded as 1-0.
Termination of Membership
Membership in the Club shall be deemed to have been terminated:
1. if the Member submits a signed letter of resignation to the Club;
2. if the Member is expelled by the Club's Board of Directors
3. if the Member is no longer registered with the Club
Article 5: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Club shall be governed by a Board of Directors which shall consist of at least four individuals, or such number not to be less than 4 as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Club's By-Laws. These individuals shall hold the positions of:
President
Vice- President
Secretary
Treasurer (appointed position)
· Director of Registration
· Director of Squirts Division (Convenor)
· Director of Mites Division (Convenor)
· Director of Tykes Division (Convenor)
· Director of Junior Division (Convenor)
· Director of Intermediate Division (Convenor)
· Director of Senior Division (Convenor)
· Director of Travel
· Director of House League
· Director of Game Officials
· Director of Coaching
· Director of Equipment
· Match Secretary
· Any other Director positions specified by the Club
A Director may hold more than one position for one season, after which time they may be re-elected for other seasons.
A Director shall be 18 years of age or older, shall not be an undischarged bankrupt and shall be a Regular Member of the Club.
Director Vacancy
A Director has the right to resign her or his position by submitting a signed letter of resignation to the Club.
A vacancy on the Board of Directors and their respective position(s) held, caused by death, or resignation which has been accepted by the Board of Directors, shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The successor Director shall hold his or her incumbent's position(s) for the remainder of the term being filled.
Removal of Director
No Member of the Board of Directors shall be removed for arbitrary reasons but may be removed if:
1. the Director is unable to perform the duties expected of the position due to, but not limited to, any of the following reasons:
· if she/he becomes incapable of performing the business of the Club
· if she/he is absent from two or more meetings of the Board without satisfactory reason
· if she/he no longer resides in reasonable proximity to the Club
· if she/he becomes, or is discovered to be, an undischarged bankrupt; or
2. the Director has compromised the integrity of the Club due to, but not limited to, any of the following reasons:
· if she/he has been found guilty of an offence under the Harassment Policy of The OSA
· if she/he has been found guilty of an offence involving violence under the Discipline Policy of The OSA
· if she/he has failed to properly account for monies or other property belonging to the Club
· if she/he has been found guilty of a criminal offence regardless of whether or not the offence directly affected the Club.
A Member of the Board of Directors holding his or her respective position(s), as Director or other position(s) may be removed from office by the Board of Directors for good and sufficient cause by a 2/3's vote of the Board of Directors present provided notice to remove the Director has been given to all Directors of the Club. If a Director is removed by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may appoint a successor to the position(s) for the remainder of the term(s) being filled.
A Member of the Board of Directors may also be removed from office for good and sufficient cause at a meeting of the Members of the Club provided notice to remove the Director has been given to persons entitled to attend the Members' meeting. If a Director is removed at a Members' meeting, the Members entitled to vote may elect a successor to fill all position(s) held by the removed Director for the remainder of the term(s) being filled.
Conflict of Interest and Standards of Conduct
The Directors shall be subject to the Conflict of Interest Policy in the OSA's published rules.
Duties of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall conduct the business of the Club during the periods between general meetings of the Club and in accordance with the authority granted to it in the published rules of the Club.
The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the appointment and renewal of appointments of all positions within the Club except for those positions elected by the Membership of the Club. This shall include the appointment of volunteer and paid positions for coach and administrator positions within the Club's operations. The selection process and the appointments shall be based on procedures outlined in the Club's published rules.
The Board of Directors may also revoke, for cause, any appointment providing that it has followed the procedures for the revoking an appointment as outlined in the Club's published rules.
Duties of Directors
President
Except:
1. as provided for in the Dispute Resolution Policy of the OSA, and
2. where the President delegates the responsibility to another person, the President shall preside at all general meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees, except any nominations committee; shall appoint all chairs of standing and special committees subject to ratification by the Board; coordinate all duties of the Board, committees, staff; and shall be the spokesperson for the Club.
Vice-President
The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President and shall have other powers as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall ensure that full and accurate records are kept of the accounts of the Club; shall report to the Board of Directors at every Board of Directors meeting; and shall submit an Annual Report to the Annual General Meeting. Shall act as a signing officer and prepare an Annual Budget.
Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain a record of all minutes of the organization, maintain copies of all committee reports, notify officers and committee Members of their election or appointment, furnish committees with those documents required to perform their duties, sign all certified copies of acts of the organization (unless otherwise specified in the Club's published rules), maintain record books in which bylaws, published rules and minutes are entered and have the current record books available at each meeting, send to the Membership a notice of each general meeting, send to the Board of Directors notices of each meeting, conduct the general correspondence of the organization that is not the proper function of another office or committee, prepare, prior to each meeting in consultation with the presiding officer an order of business, and, in the absence of the president and vice-president, preside until the immediate election or appointment of a new presiding officer.
Registrar
The Registrar shall be responsible for registering all players and teams within the league. Lie with the district association registrar to ensure proper registration of players in accordance with rules of the district association. Attend Board of Directors meeting to assist in the running of the association.
Match Secretary
The Match Secretary shall prepare a schedule of the league and wrap-up tournament games as directed by the president. Shall be responsible for the tracking and correlating the game results on a weekly basis, and also issuing the standing and results to the local newspapers. Shall be responsible for scheduling referees for all games.
Convenors (Director of Squirts, Mites, Tykes, Junior, Intermediates and Senior Division)
The Convenors shall organise and run the league division he/she is responsible for, bringing concerns of that division to the Director of House League. Attend Board of Directors meeting to assist in the running of the association.
Director of House League
The Director of House League shall attend all Board of Directors meetings to assist in the running of the club, chair the convenors sub-committee meetings when required and deal with convenor concerns or bring them to the Board of Directors for ruling. Shall fill in for absent convenor. Attend Board of Directors meeting to assist in the running of the association.
Director of Travel
The Director of Travel shall attend wherever possible travel league meetings (Windsor and District Soccer League, and South western Woman Soccer League) to assist in the running of the Leagues on behave of the A.M.S.A. Attend the A.M.S.A. Board of Directors meeting when required. Deal with Travel League concerns or bring them to the A.M.S.A. Board of Directors for a ruling.
Director of Game Officials
The Director of the Game Officials shall be responsible for recommending training for the referees and for tracking number of games each referee officiates. Shall be a member of the disciplinary committee and work with the director of House League on all matters of discipline. Attend Board of Directors meeting to assist in the running of the association.
Director of Coaching
The Director of coaching shall be responsible for recommending training for the coaches and assist with any concern the coach
Director of Equipment
The Director of Equipment shall be responsible for tracking all the equipment belonging to the club, issuing the equipment to the coaches at the beginning of the season and ordering new equipment when necessary. (Definition of equipment: all items belonging to the A.M.S.A.) Attend Board of Directors meeting to assist in the running of the association.
Other Director Positions
The duties of other Director Positions shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Nominations and Elections
Nominations for positions on the Board of Directors may be made by any Member at the annual general meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose.
Nominations and elections for positions open shall be held in the order of the positions listed in the Constitution.
Election shall be by secret ballot, but in the event only one candidate is nominated, no vote is required and the nominated candidate shall be declared elected by acclamation.
A majority of the votes cast shall be required to elect Directors. In the event no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the least votes shall be dropped from the ballot and another vote shall be held.
Article 6: MEETINGS
General Meetings:
There are two classes of general meetings, namely, Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings. An official notice of each meeting shall be given to all Members at least 14 days before the meeting is to be held, where possible, at such place, and at such date as the Board of Directors may determine. Such notification shall be by
1. email
2. website notice
3. newspaper announcement
4. public notice
5. any other method determined by the Members
Eight voting Members or 25% of the voting Membership, whichever is less, shall form quorum at all general meetings of the Club. Any question shall be decided by a majority of the votes unless otherwise required by this By-Law or other law.
Annual General Meeting:
The Club shall hold its Annual General Meeting not later than December 15th of the following year. The agenda of the Annual General meeting shall include:
1. Roll Call
2. Minutes of Previous Annual General Meeting
3. President's Address
4. Officers' Reports
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Auditor's Report, when possible
7. Appointment of Auditors , when possible
8. Other Reports
9. Unfinished Business
10. *Amendments to the By-Laws
11. Election of Officers and Directors
12. *New Business
13. Any Other Business
14. Adjournment
*All proposed amendments to be forwarded to the club secretary in writing no later than 21 days prior to the AGM.
Amendments to the constitution or by-laws shall require a majority vote of two thirds (2/3) of the members present.
Special General Meeting:
A Special General Meeting of the Club:
a) may be called by the Board of Directors, or
b) shall be called by the Board of Directors upon receipt of a written request submitted to the Club by registered mail, certified mail, trace mail, courier service, hand delivery, fax or e-mail, signed by not less than 8 Members or 25% of the voting Membership, whichever is less, setting out the items of business to be conducted at the Special General Meeting. The Special General Meeting shall be held within 30 days of receipt of the written request from the Members.
Only the business set out in the notice of the Special General Meeting shall be considered.
Voting at General Meeting:
Every regular Member aged 18 and over shall have the right to attend, speak and cast one vote at Members' meeting of the Club.
Every regular Member under the age of 18 shall have the right to attend and speak at Members' meetings, but any vote must be cast by a parent or guardian who shall also have the right to attend and speak on behalf of that Member at Members' meetings.
Board of Directors Meeting:
The Board of Directors shall meet at least 10 times per year, upon 14 days notice, when possible, given by the President and Secretary, at such place and time as the Board of Directors may determine.
A majority of the Members of the Board of Directors shall form a quorum at all meetings of the Board. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes where each director is entitled to cast one vote.
Article 7: COMMITTEES
The Membership at any general meeting, or the Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board, may establish a standing committee or special committee to carry out specific business or programs of the Club.
Article 8: PROCEDURES GOVERNING MEETINGS
All meetings of the Club shall be conducted in accordance with the most recently published Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised except as may be otherwise stipulated in this By-Law or other Rules and Regulations of the Club.
Article 9: BY-LAWS AND AMENDMENTS
a) By-Law amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors, or submitted by a Member to the Club
· in writing at least 21 days prior to a general meeting of the Club; and must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, and by a 2/3’s vote of the Membership voting in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Club duly called for that purpose.
(b) All Members entitled to vote shall be notified with the Club’s notice of the said Members’ meeting about By-Law amendments.
· Such notification shall be by
1. email
2. any other method determined by the Members
Article 10: RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Club shall have Rules and Regulations which shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. discipline of a Member: summary of charges regarding misconduct
2. discipline of a Member: procedures for discipline hearing
3. duties of Board of Directors: authority granted to Board regarding the business being conducted
4. duties of Board of Directors: selection process and appointment process for the appointment and renewal of appointments to the League's paid and volunteer positions
5. duties of Board of Directors: process for revoking appointments
6. voting at General Meeting: format for the proxy, and the issue, or issues, for which the proxy may be cast
The Board of Directors may approve and publish Rules and Regulations which are not inconsistent with this By-Law and are not inconsistent with the Rules and Regulations of a higher level governing organization.
Amendments to the Rules and Regulations may be made by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or the Members at a General Meeting.
Article 11: INDEMNITY
Members of the Board of Directors or other servants to the Club, their heirs, executors, administrators and estate and effects respectively shall be indemnified and saved harmless at all times by the Club against all costs, losses and expenses incurred by them respectively in or about the discharge of their respective duties, except such as happens from their own respective wilful neglect or default.
Article 12: FINANCE
The accounts of the Club shall:
1. be audited annually by a Chartered Accountant if the annual Gross Revenue is greater than $30,000*; or
2. be reviewed annually through a Financial Review Engagement completed by a Certified General Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or Certified Accountant, if the Annual Gross Revenue is $30,000 or less; or
3. with the consent of all its Members, be exempt from any audit or Financial Review Engagement if the Annual Gross Revenue is less that $10,000
The audit or the Financial Review Engagement statement shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting for adoption.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Club, a chartered accountant firm shall be appointed to perform the audit or the Financial Review Engagement.
The fiscal year of the Club shall end on October 31st of each year, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors.
Article 13: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Club shall adhere to the Dispute Resolution process as published and approved by The OSA from time to time.
Any Member of the Club may initiate the Dispute Resolution process by communicating in writing to The OSA, with a copy to the Club and District Association, the nature and facts of the dispute. The OSA, at its discretion, may proceed with the Dispute Resolution process by assigning one or more neutral persons to the dispute.
The Dispute Resolution process shall not to be used for game discipline which follows the normal discipline and appeals process.
The Club shall make available to any Member the Dispute Resolution process when requested.
Article 14: HARASSMENT
The Club shall adhere to the Harassment Policy as published and approved by The OSA from time to time.
The Harassment Policy shall apply to all employees, directors, officers, volunteers, coaches, game officials, administrators, players, Members and registrants of the Club.
Harassment is defined as any comment, conduct, or gesture directed toward an individual or group of individuals which is insulting, intimidating, humiliating, malicious, degrading or offensive. It includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment.
The Club shall make available to any Member the Harassment Policy when requested.
Article 15: APPEALS
a) Any Member or registrant of the Club directly affected by a decision of the Club may appeal such decision. The denial or termination of Membership in the Club may be appealed by a non-Member.
b) A decision of the Club may be appealed to the District Association with which the Club is affiliated.
The appeal shall be conducted in accordance with The OSA's and District Association's published rules.
c) An individual shall not appeal a decision made by the Board of Directors regarding the appointment, non-appointment, re-appointment or revocation of an appointment of an individual to any coach or administrator position within the Club's Operations, except where the selection, appointment and revocation process outlined in the Club's published rules has not been followed.
d) An individual shall not appeal a decision made by the Club regarding a player's team assignment.
Article 16: DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of the Club, and after payment of all debts and liabilities, its remaining property shall be distributed or disposed of by the Board of Directors to one or more not-for-profit soccer related organizations, or any not-for-profit athletic community organizations, which operate solely in Ontario.
Article 17: DEFINITIONS/TERMINOLOGY
Terminology used in this By-Law shall have the same meaning as used by The OSA in its letters patent, By-Laws and published rules.
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