Strathroy Minor Lacrosse Association
Constitution & Bylaws
September 3rd, 2018
Section 1 - General
1.0 The Association was incorporated as the “Strathroy Minor Lacrosse Association” in October 2018. It shall operate as the “Strathroy Minor Lacrosse Association” hereinafter referred to as the association, a member of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA).
1.01 The Head Office of the Association shall be in the city of Strathroy, Ontario
1.02 The purposes of this Association shall be the same as those of the OLA, namely:
· “To govern, promote, develop and foster the game of lacrosse at all levels and in all forms, to all residents regardless of race, sex, creed, age or economic status throughout the Province of Ontario.”
· “To emphasize fair play at all times between competitors, to encourage them to play the game for the sake of the game, with proper respect to competitors, referees and spectators.”
1.03 Conflict of Interest:
Every Director who directly or indirectly has an interest in a proposed or existing contract or transaction or other matter relating to the Association shall make a full and fair declaration of the nature and extent of their interest at an Executive meeting.
After making such a declaration, no Director shall vote on that agenda item, nor shall he or she be counted in the quorum and may not participate in any discussion.
Any member of the Executive who perceives another Director to be in conflict of interest in a matter under consideration is to raise this concern with the President. The President, in turn, will discuss the matter with the Director who is perceived to be in conflict and, as appropriate, will hold a discussion with the reporting Director. If the discussions do not lead to a resolution, the matter is to be brought to the Executive and the group is to determine by majority vote whether a conflict of interest exists. The member(s) perceived to be in conflict and the reporting member(s) are to refrain from voting and debate. In the situation that the President is perceived to have the conflict, the Past President will discuss the matter with the President.
1.04 Code of Conduct:
The Association and OLA identifies the standard of behavior which is expected of all Association members and participants, which for the purpose of this policy shall include all players, parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, directors, officers, committee members, conveners, team managers, trainers, administrators and employees involved in any and all of the Association and OLA activities and events.
The Association and OLA are committed to providing an environment in which all individuals are treated with courtesy and respect. Members and participants of the Association shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the values of the Association and OLA, which include fairness, integrity and mutual respect.
During the course of all Association activities and events, members shall avoid behavior which brings the Association or OLA into disrepute, including but not limited to abusive use of alcohol, use of non-medical drugs and use of alcohol by minors.
Association members and participants shall at all times adhere to the Association’s operational policies and procedures, rules and regulations governing all Association and OLA events and activities, and to rules and regulations governing any competitions in which the member participates on behalf of the Association.
Members and participants of the Association shall not engage in any activity or behavior which interferes with a competition or with any player or team’s preparation for a competition, or which endangers the safety of others.
Members of the Association shall refrain from comments or behaviors which are disrespectful, offensive, abusive, racist or sexist. In particular, behavior which constitutes bullying, harassment or abuse will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with under OLA’s Harassment policy.
Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Discipline Policy of the OLA. Such action may result in the member losing all privileges which come with membership in the Association, OLA, and Canadian Lacrosse Association, including the opportunity to participate in the Association or OLA activities and events, both present and future.
1.05 Parliamentary Authority:
Robert’s Rule of Order, as revised, shall govern all procedural questions arising at meetings of the Board of Directors when they are applicable and when they are not inconsistent with the Association’s constitution.
1.06 Interpretation Clause:
Any reference to “he”, “him” and “his” shall include and also mean “she”, “her” and “hers” respectively.
Section 2 – Board of Directors
2.0 The board of Directors is the governing body of a not-for-profit. The not-for-profit Board ensures that the Association carries out its mission.
2.01 The Executive Committee includes the Board’s officers – President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
2.02 Directors and Officers:
· The Directors and Officers shall be elected by the membership.
· The term of office for the Directors and Officers shall be from the date of the meeting at which they are elected or appointed until the second annual meeting from their appointment or until their successors are elected or appointed.
2.03 Vacancies:
· The office of a Director or Officer shall be vacated immediately:
· If the Director or Officer resigns office by written notice to the secretary, which resignation shall be effective at the time it is received by the secretary or at the time specified in the notice, whichever is later;
· If, at a meeting of the Members, a resolution is passed by at least a majority of the votes cast by the Members removing the Director or Officer before the expiration of the Director’s term of office
2.04 Filling Vacancies:
● A vacancy on the Board shall be filled as follows:
· A quorum of Directors may fill a vacancy among the Directors;
· If there is not a quorum of Directors or there has been a failure to elect the minimum number of Directors set out in the articles, the Directors in office shall, without delay, call a special meeting of Members to fill the vacancy and, if they fail to call such a meeting, the meeting may be called by any Member;
· If the vacancy occurs as a result of the Members removing a Director, the Members may fill the vacancy by a majority vote and any Director elected to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the remainder of the removed Director’s term;
· The Board may fill any other vacancy by a majority vote, and the appointee shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired portion of the term of the vacating Director. After that, the appointee shall be eligible to be elected as a Director.
Section 3 – Officers & Directors
3.0 Executive Committee:
The Association shall be governed by an Executive Committee made up of the following officers, all members in good standing of the OLA, and elected annually for one (two) year term as provided in the Constitution:
(a) President
(b) Vice President
(c) Secretary
(d) Treasurer
· The Board may appoint such other Officers and agents as it deems necessary, and who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as the Board may prescribe from time to time.
3.01 Office Held at Board’s Discretion:
Any Officer shall cease to hold office upon resolution of the Board. The Executive Committee shall have the power to remove any Executive Committee member who fails to attend three regular Board of Directors meetings in one fiscal year without reasonable notice and just cause.
3.02 Duties:
Officers shall be the signing authorities of the Association and will be responsible for the duties assigned to them and they may delegate to others the performance of any or all of such duties.
The Duties of the Executive Committee Members are outlined in Schedule A
3.03 Directors:
· Members at Large may be elected to specific positions which are defined, for example: VP Rep, VP House League, VP Field, Registrar, Scheduler ……
· The Board of Directors shall have complete power to manage the business, to raise funds in any manner not inconsistent with the policies of the OLA, and to perform all other necessary functions.
· Decisions or actions of the Board of Directors may be overruled by a two-third majority vote of the members.
· Any Director shall cease to hold office upon resolution of the Board. The Executive Committee, on approval of the Board, shall have the power to remove any Board member who fails to attend three regular Board of Directors meetings in one fiscal year without reasonable notice and just cause.
3.04 Committees:
Committees shall be established by the Board of Directors to execute the work of the Association. Chairpersons of the committees shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Each committee chairperson shall select the personnel and promote the activities of his/her committee. All committees (except for the Elections Committee) shall operate under the direction and approval of the Board of Directors.
3.06 Remuneration:
The Directors shall serve as such without remuneration and no Director shall directly or indirectly receive any profit from occupying the position of Director or Executive Member.
Section 4 - Meetings
4.0 Board of Director Meetings:
· Meetings of the Directors may be called by the President or any two Directors at any time and any place with notice as required by this Constitution.
· Regular Board of Director Meetings shall be held (monthly) or at such times and places as are determined by the Board.
4.01 Notice:
· Notice of the time and place for the holding of a meeting of the Board shall be given to every Director of the Association not less than seven days before the date of the meeting.
· Notice of a meeting is not necessary if all of the Directors are present, and none objects to the holding of the meeting, or if those absent have waived notice or have otherwise signified their consent to the holding of such meeting.
4.02 Chair:
The President shall preside at all Board meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. In the absence of the President and Vice President, the Directors present shall choose one of their members to act as the Chair.
4.03 Quorum:
A quorum at Board of Directors meetings will be a simple majority of its eligible voting members.
4.04 Voting:
· Each Director (excluding the Chair) has one vote. Questions arising at any Board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes the Chair shall have the deciding vote.
· Voting at Board of Directors meetings will be by show of hands (unless a ballot is requested) and the results will be recorded in the minutes including abstentions.
4.05 Other Attendees:
· Committee chairpersons may attend meetings of the Board of Directors and have the privilege of speaking on matters relevant to the committee’s function, but shall have no power to vote by virtue of their committee role.
· Any other member may attend Board of Directors meetings and may be granted the privilege of the floor at the discretion of the presiding officer but shall have no power to vote.
4.06 Other Communication Facilities:
· If all of the Directors of the Association consent, a Director may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a Committee by conference or electronic means that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
· A Director participating by such means is deemed to be present at that meeting.
Section 5 – Financial
5.0 Banking:
The Board shall by resolution from time to time designate the bank in which the money, bonds or other securities of the Association shall be placed for safekeeping.
5.01 Financial Year:
The financial year of the Association ends on September 30th in each year.
5.02 Property:
The Association may acquire real and intangible property, including equipment, literature, and other materials for use by and on behalf of the membership. Generally accepted accounting practices shall be used to account for all assets.
Section 6 – Membership
6.0 Classes of Membership:
There shall be the following classes of members all of whom will have voting rights at Annual and General Meetings:
· Registered members in good standing 18 of age and over
· A parent or guardian of a registered member under 18
· Life Members of the Association
6.01 Membership:
Membership in the Association is not transferable and automatically terminates if the Member resigns or such membership is otherwise terminated in accordance with this Constitution or by the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
6.02 Disciplinary Action or Termination of Membership for Cause:
· Any report alleging a breach of Member obligation under the Code of Conduct shall be submitted in writing within 7 days of the event/occurrence.
· The Board may pass a resolution authorizing disciplinary action or the termination of membership for violating any provision of the Constitution.
· Written notice of the Board’s decision will be sent to the member within 14 days of the report.
· The notice shall set out the reasons for the disciplinary action or termination of membership.
· The Member receiving the notice shall be entitled to appeal to the Board by submitting written notice of the appeal to the Secretary within 48 hours of receiving the notice.
· Notice of Appeal Hearing shall be communicated to the Complainant and Member within 7 days and the Hearing will be held within 14 days. Both parties are entitled to be present.
Section 7 – Meetings of Members
7.0 Annual Meeting (AGM):
The Annual Meeting shall be held on a day and at a place within Ontario fixed by the Board. It shall be held after the end of the fiscal year and prior to the OLA Annual General Meeting. The date, time and place of the meeting shall be provided to the membership at least 30 days before the date of such meeting.
The business transacted at the Annual Meeting shall include:
· Receipt and approval of the agenda;
· Receipt and approval of the minutes of the previous Annual and subsequent Special Meetings;
· Consideration and approval of the financial statements;
· Amendments
· Election of Executive and Board of Directors
· Special business as may be set out in the notice of meeting (Life Member approval may be included here)
No other item of business shall be included on the agenda.
7.01 Election of Board of Directors and Officers:
· Candidates for the Board of Directors shall be selected from among eligible members. Nominations for positions may be made from the floor at a general meeting provided that the member so nominated agrees to run.
· The Board of Directors of the Association shall be as follows;
PRESIDENT (odd years)
VICE PRESIDENT (even years)
SECRETARY (odd years)
TREASURER (even years)
REGISTRAR (odd years)
COACHING DIRECTOR (even years)
HOUSE LEAGUE DIRECTOR (odd years)
SCHEDULING DIRECTOR (even years)
SPONSORSHIP & MARKETING DIRECTOR (odd years)
EQUIPEMENT DIRECTOR (even years)
REFEREE IN CHIEF (odd year)
TRAINNING & DEVELOPMENT (even years)
7.02 Assumption of Duties:
Those elected each year shall take office at the start of the first Board of Directors meeting of the new fiscal year.
7.03 Special Meetings:
· The Directors may call a special meeting of the Members.
· The Board shall convene a special meeting on written request of not less than one-tenth of the Members for any purpose connected with the affairs of the Association.
· The current President shall be the chair of the meeting; in the Chair’s absence, the Members present shall choose another Director as chair or if all of the Directors present decline to act as Chair, the Members present shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.
7.04 Notice:
· Not less than 10 days written notice of any Special Members’ meeting shall be given in the manner specified in this document to each Member.
· Notice of any meeting where special business will be transacted must contain sufficient information to permit the Members to form a reasoned judgment on the decision to be taken.
· Notice of each meeting must remind the Member of the right to vote by proxy.
7.05 Error or Omission in Giving Notice:
No error or accidental omission in giving notice of any Board meeting or any Members’ meeting shall invalidate the meeting or make void any proceedings taken at the meeting.
7.06 Voting:
Business arising at any Members’ meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes unless otherwise required by this Constitution provided that:
· Each Member in good standing is entitled to one vote at any meeting;
· Votes shall be taken by a show of hands among all Members present unless a ballot is requested;
· An abstention shall not be considered a vote cast;
· Before or after a show of hands has been taken on any question, the Chair of the meeting may require, or any Member may demand, a written ballot. A written ballot so required or demanded shall be taken in such manner as the Chair of the meeting shall direct;
· If there is a tie vote, the Chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote. If there is a tie vote upon written ballot the motion is lost; and
· Whenever a vote by show of hands is taken on a question, unless a written ballot is required, a declaration by the Chair of the meeting that a resolution has been carried or lost and an entry to that effect in the minutes shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes recorded in favor of or against the motion unless a count is requested.
7.07 Proxy Votes:
· Proxy Votes must be submitted by mail (written or electronic), on the form provided, to the Secretary 48 hours prior to the meeting and must indicate the member exercising the proxy vote.
· Each member in attendance at the meeting is allowed to also exercise one proxy vote.
7.08 Amendments:
· Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed either by the Board of Directors or by a member in good standing.
· Adoption of the amendments shall require a two-thirds vote of the members voting, either in person or by proxy, provided that notice of the meeting and the content of the amendments shall have been announced to the membership at least fifteen days prior to the time at which the vote will be taken.
· Members Amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary thirty days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
Schedule A
Duties of the Executive Committee
Position Description of the President
Role Statement:
· The President provides leadership to the Board, ensures the integrity of the Board’s process and represents the Board to outside parties.
· The President coordinates Board activities in fulfilling its governance responsibilities and facilitates co-operative relationships among Directors and between the Board and senior management, if any, of the Association.
· The President ensures the Board discusses all matters relating to the Board’s mandate.
Responsibilities:
i) Establish agendas aligned with annual Board goals and preside over Board meetings.
ii) Ensure meetings are effective and efficient for the performance of governance work.
ii) Ensure that a schedule of Board meetings is prepared annually.
Ensure that a Board work plan is developed and implemented that includes annual goals for the Board and embraces continuous improvement.
Serve as the Board’s primary contact with the public.
Report regularly to the Board on issues relevant to its governance responsibilities.
Set a high standard for Board conduct and enforce policies concerning Directors’ conduct.
Serve as a mentor to other Directors. Ensure that all Directors contribute fully. Address issues associated with underperformance of individual Directors.
Serve as member on all Board committees.
The President shall be a signing authority of the Association.
Position Description of the Treasurer
Role Statement:
The Treasurer works with the President to support the Board in achieving its fiduciary responsibilities.
Responsibilities:
i) The Treasurer shall have the custody of the funds of the Association and shall keep full and accurate accounts of all assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements of the Association in the books belonging to the Association and shall deposit all monies to the credit of the Association in such chartered bank or trust company as may be designated by the Board from time to time.
ii) The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Association as may be directed by proper authority taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chair and Directors at the regular meeting of the Board, or whenever they may require it, an accounting of all the transactions and a statement of the financial position of the Association.
iii) The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be directed by the Board.
Maintain a high standard for Board conduct and uphold policies and By-laws regarding Directors’ conduct, with particular emphasis on fiduciary responsibilities.
Serve as a mentor to other Directors.
Present to the Members at the Annual Meeting as part of the annual report, the financial statement of the Association approved by the Board together with the report of the auditor or of the person who has conducted the review engagement, as the case may be.
The Treasurer shall be a signing authority of the Association.
Position Description of the Secretary
Responsibilities:
i) Keep a roll of the names and addresses of the Members. Ensure the proper recording and maintenance of minutes of all meetings of the Association, the Board and Board committees.
ii) Attend to correspondence on behalf of the Board. Have custody of all minute books, documents, registers and the seal of the Association and ensure that they are maintained as required by law.
iii) Ensure that all reports are prepared and filed as required by law or requested by the Board.
i) Give such notice as required by the By-Laws of all meetings of the Association, the Board and Board committees.
ii) Attend all meetings of the Association, the Board and Board committees.
The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the ‘Minute Book’ of the Association
i) Each action approved by the Board of Directors which serves to establish new policies or administrative procedures can be designated as a "directive" or "act."
ii) The Secretary can be made responsible for maintaining a file of such directives and be responsible for notifying the membership in writing of their adoption. This is similar to "standing orders," described in Robert’s Rules.
The Secretary shall be a signing authority of the Association
Schedule B
Committees
Elections Committee
· The Elections Committee shall submit to the Executive Committee a written report on the results of their selection process and the results of any Elections from the floor.
· The Elections Committee shall prepare, distribute, and receive the ballots and shall act as tellers for the election, and shall submit a written report of the results of the election to the Executive Committee.
· The Elections Committee shall also notify each nominee of his or her position in the order of finish in the election, and notify successful candidates of the place, date, and time of the organizing meeting of the new Executive Committee.
Schedule C
Life Membership
Life Member
● Is the highest honor that can be bestowed by this Association, and it is awarded only for very distinctive service to the Association.
● Life Members shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Association by the eligible members present.
● Nominations for Life Membership must be made in writing with reasons/biography.
· Builder and 1 player may be nominated per year.
· Nominations must have approval of /3 of Board.
● Presented with bio for approval at AGM – 2/3 majority of eligible voters present to confirm.
● The newly elected Life Member will be notified by letter immediately following the AGM.
· Will be inducted at the following year’s AGM.
Criteria
· Minimum of 10 years of service to the game of lacrosse as a builder or player or identified as having made a significant contribution to Association.
Privileges
· Voting rights at any Annual or General Meeting he wishes to attend.
· Access to all minutes of the Association Board meetings.
Acknowledgement
· Recipients will receive a plaque recognizing their contribution.