By Laws
BY-LAWS
Of
GREENWICH CARDINALS YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION, INC.
ARTICLE 1
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
1.1 The Corporation. The Corporation, known in law as the Greenwich Cardinals Youth Hockey Association, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Association”), was established as a Nonstock, Nonprofit Corporation under the Nonstock Corporation Act of the State of Connecticut.
1.2 Purpose. The principal aims and objectives of the association are to encourage, foster and promote through independent means the sport of Hockey in the Town of Greenwich and in the Fairfield County area; to encourage the development of the sport at all levels; to teach the skills involved in Hockey; to enhance the moral character and physical health of participants in the sport; to support and develop amateur athletes for participation in local, national and international competition in Hockey; and to solicit moral and financial support for the sport from interested citizens and other individuals, organizations, corporations, societies and groups.
1.3 Prohibited Activities.
a. No support, either moral or financial, can me solicited from any political organization or figure, nor can any support be given to such organizations and people. In no way is the object allowed to enter into a campaign of any sort where the object of such a campaign is the elections of any political figure.
b. No part of the activities of the Association shallinvolveprovision of athletic equipment or facilities.
c. No part of the activities of the Association shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.
ARTICLE 2
POWERS
2.1 Powers: The Association shall have the following powers (subject to limitations as prescribed by statute) in furtherance of its aims and objectives, which shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other powers provided by law:
a. To own or rent property, both real and personal; to maintain bank accounts and negotiate loans; to solicit contributions and aid; to purchase, receive, take by grant, gifts, devise, bequest or otherwise, to hold, improve, employ, use and otherwise deal in and with, real or personal property; to purchase ice time and hire referees; to purchase needed services, but only as a furtherance of the sport; to pledge its assets, but only as a furtherance of the sport; to publish and distribute information concerning the sport or status of the Association. Its powers shall include all other powers necessary to effectuate the enumerated powers (supra),
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Members. Membership shall be accorded all people of reputable character who shall seek membership. Membership in the Association may be in any of the following categories:
a. Regular membership shall be accorded to those persons who either have a child/children on one of the Association’s teams or are members of the association’s coaching staff.
b. Honorary membership may be accorded persons of the outstanding achievement and reputation in the community and shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. They shall enjoy all of the facilities and privileges of regular members.
c. Life membership may be accorded to individuals if they have been involved with youth hockey in the Town of Greenwich for at least ten years, with involvement in the Association’s activities for at least five of those years. Life members shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and they shall enjoy all of the facilities and privileges of regular members.
3.2 Rights of members. All regular members shall be entitled to participate in Association activities, attend all regular and special meetings of the membership, and shall be entitled, when elected in accordance with the terms of these By-Laws, to serve on the Board of Directors of the Association and to hold office. Regular members shall be entitled to vote in the elections of the Board of Directors. Married couples shall be counted as one member, requiring only one membership contribution and shall be entitled to one vote.
3.3 Season fees (Tuition).
a. Regular members. Fees will be charged to regular members, on a per player basis, to support the purpose of the Association. Such fees shall be payable on or before September 15th of each year or by such later dates as arranged by the Treasurer (as approved by Finance Committee).
b. Honorary members. The annual dues of honorary members shall be one hundred ($100.00) dollars or more payable on or before November 1st of each year. The Board of Directors may waive this requirement at its direction.
c. Life Members. Annual dues are optional for life members.
d. The amount of the annual membership due and fees may be changed from time to time by action of the Board of Directors.
3.4 Indebtedness and Penalties.
a. Any member who shall fail to pay the season fees within thirty (30) days after receipt of the member’s statement, or by such later date or dates as the Treasurer (with agreement by the Finance committee) shall have agreed to, shall be considered to have forfeited his right to membership and his child’s/children’s right to play on a team sponsored by the Association unless such failure shall be expressly excused by the Board.
b. As soon as practicable after the first day of each month during the playing season, a notice shall be sent to each member stating the amount of his indebtedness for the preceding months and requesting him to pay the same before the first day of the next succeeding month.
ARTICLE 4
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
4.1 Annual Meeting and Election. The annual general membership meeting will be held in the month of April. Elections required by these By-Laws will be conducted at this meeting.
4.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the membership may be called at any time by the Board of Directors and must be called by them upon written request of ten (10) duly qualified members of the Association.
4.2 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings will be given by the Secretary or such person as the Board of Directors may name by mailing a copy of thereof to every member of the Association at the address shown on the membership records. Such notice will be mailed at least ten (10) days, but not more than thirty (30) days, prior to the date if such meeting. The notice or notices for every meeting of the Association will state the purpose or purposes therefore, and no other business shall be transacted. Official e-mail addresses listed in the member directory can be used in place of traditional mailings
ARTICLE 5
DIRECTORS
5.1 Number, Election and Term. The management of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors which shall consist of no more than fourteen (14) members to be elected by the voting membership to a term of three (3) years each. The term of each director shall commence immediately upon his or her election and qualification at the first meeting and shall continue until his or her successor has been chose and qualified.
The terms of the directors shall be staggered such that one third (1/3) of the Board of the Directors shall be elected each year. To implement this schedule, three of the initial Directors shall serve a one (1) year term, three shall serve a two (2) year term, and three shall serve a three (3) year term. The successors of these Directors and all future Directors shall serve for a three (3) year term.
5.2 Termination of Director upon ceasing to be a Regular member. Any member of the Board of Directors who ceases to be a regular member of the Association will automatically and simultaneously cease to be a member of the Board of Directors.
5.3 Removal. Any Director may be removed for continued and excessive absences from the meetings of the Board by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all of the members of the Board. The vote shall be taken at a meeting for which the notice will have specified the proposed removal.
5.4 Filling of vacancies. In case of any vacancies in the Board of Directors, whether due to death, resignation, removal or any other cause, the vacancy or vacancies thus created may be filled by a majority of the remaining Board, though less than a quorum.
5.5 Quorum. A majority shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
5.6 Annual meeting. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after the annual membership meeting.
5.7 Special meetings. Special meetings shall be called by the President, or the Secretary, at the request of two or more members of the Board of Directors. Not less than 48 hours prior notice of the time, place and purpose of any special meeting shall be given to all members of the Board of Directors. Special meetings may be held without such notice if such notice has been waived by all members of the Board of Directors either before or after such meeting or if all Board members are present at such meeting. All Meetings shall be open to members of the Association. The Board of Directors may adjourn, however, for an executive session at its discretion at any of its meetings. No action shall be authorized or resolution adopted except at a meeting open to members.
ARTICLE 6
OFFICERS
6.1 Number, Election and Term. There shall be four officers of the Association, a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected by the Board of Directors.
The officers shall be elected to a two (2) year term. The terms of the officers shall be staggered such that two officers shall be elected each year. To implement this schedule, the first President and Secretary shall be elected to a two (2) year term, and the Vice President and Treasurer shall be elected to a one (1) year term. The successors of these initial Officers, and allfutureOfficer, shall serve a two (2) year term.
6.2 The President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association, shall preside at all meetings and shall act as a member ex officio of all committees and perform any and all such duties as may fall within scope of office. The President shall represent the Association in all dealings with the Town of Greenwich, the County of Fairfield and the State of Connecticut, and with other leagues and committees of such leagues, as necessary.
6.3 The Vice President. The Vice President shall act as the liaison with the Town of Greenwich and all such other organizations, groups of committees within the township. His primary responsibility shall be the playing facilities to be used by the team. In the absence of the President, he is to assume the duties.
6.4 The Treasurer. The Treasurer is to have custody of all funds of the Association, shall deposit and expend said funds as directed by the Board of Directors, shall provide detailed financial statements at each regular meeting and shall maintain the membership roll. The Treasurer shall be charged with the collection of the fees and maintenance of all financial records.
6.5 The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of each and all meetings of the memberships, shall be the custodian of all documents and correspondence, and shall issue such notice of meetings and conduct such official correspondence as required.
STAFF MEMBERS
6.6 Composition. There shall be three staff members of the Association, a Registrar, Scheduler and Chief Coach, who shall be elected by the Board of Directors,
6.7 The Registrar. The Registrar shall ensure that the Association, each team and all players are registered as required by USA Hockey, the Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC) and the Town of Greenwich.
6.8 The Scheduler. The Scheduler shall act as liaison with other youth hockey associations and teams to schedule games and tournaments for the playing season. The Scheduler shall serve as a member of the Hockey Committee.
6.9 The Chief Coach. The Chief Coach of the Association shall ensure that each team is provided with a qualified team coach and assistants to teach the players and direct them in their practicing and playing competitive hockey. The Chief Coach shall be a member of the Hockey Committee.
NO COMPENSATION
6.10 No Compensation. No director or officer or member of this Association shall receive, directly or indirectly, any salary or compensation from said Association.
ARTICLE 7
STANDING COMMITTEES
7.1 Types of Committees. The Standing Committee for the Association shall be: Executive; Hockey; Finance; Nominating and Parents’ Committees. Each committee shall be responsible for proposing a list of operating principles, which will govern its actions. Such list of operating principles must be approved by a majority of the board of directors, and can be changed from time to time as deemed necessary by each committee.
7.2 The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the four officers of the Association: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall set: the agenda for meetings of the Board of Directors and make policy recommendations to the Board for the appointment of Coaches, Staff members, committee chairpersons and auditor, The President of the Association shall be the chairperson of the Executive Committee.
7.3 The Hockey Committee. The Hockey Committee shall assist in conduct of all Association activities relating to the participation in and play of the sport of Hockey. The Hockey Committee shall consist of the Chief Coach, the Scheduler, the Assistant Scheduler, the Hockey Director, the Head Coach of each team and such other members as appointed by the Board.
7.4 The Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for planning, preparing and supervising the budget and policies, procedures and controls are established and followed by the Association, its teams and committees. The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer and such other members, as the Board shall appoint. The Finance Committee shall, by August 15 of each year, submit a proposed budget to the Board of Directors for approval.
7.5 The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for the nomination of a slate of candidates drawn from the regular membership, for election to the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
7.6 The Parents’ Committee. The Parents’ Committee shall plan, coordinate and conduct such activities, that are approved and condoned by the Board, such as: fundraising, public relations and publicity; travel and logistics; entertainment and morale; membership; and other programs in support of the Association, teams, coaches and players.
ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Amendments to the above Articles shall be effectuated by a majority vote of theEntire Board of Directors, except where the effect of any such amendment shall be an extension of the terms of office or a change in the powers of any of the members of the Board of Directors. In the latter case, the amendment must be submitted to the membership for approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. (Any notice of a meeting of members at which by-laws are to be amended shall include notice of such proposed action.) In no event, shall any amendments to the By-Laws be made which would jeopardize the status of the Association as a Nonstock, Nonprofit corporation under the Nonstock Corporation Act of the State of Connecticut or which would jeopardize the status of the Association as a Corporation exempt from taxation under section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE 9
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Association shall end on June 30th of each year.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Adopted as amended by resolutions dated April 21,1986 and April 7, 1988, by the Board of Directors of the Greenwich Blues Hockey Association, Inc. This day__ Day of December, 1993.
_______________________
Christopher H. Starr
President
AMENDMENT TO THE BY-LAWS
BE IT RESOLVED this 1st day of May 2001, by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors of the Greenwich Blues Hockey Association, Inc. (“Association”) at a duly held meeting that, pursuant to ARTICLE 8 of the Association’s By-Laws, the first paragraph of paragraph 5.1 of ARTICLE 5 of the By-Laws is hereby amended to read:
5.1 Numbers, Election and Term. The management of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors, which shall consist of no more than eighteen (18) members to be elected by the voting membership to a term of three (3) years each. The term of each director shall commence immediately upon his or her election and qualification at the first meeting and shall continue until his or her successor has been chose and qualified.
The second paragraph of paragraph 5. 1 of ARTICLE 5 of the Association’s By-Laws and all the other ARTICLES of the Association’s By-Laws are not effected by this Amendment and shall remain in full force and effect.