2008
THE
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. NAME
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS
ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
ARTICLE VIII. FINANCES
ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION
ARTICLE X. ORGANIZATIONAL RULES
ARTICLE XI. INERPRETATION
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE I. NAME
This organization shall be known as The Central Pennsylvania Youth Football League, which shall be referred to in this Constitution as, The League.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The League is organized for the following purposes:
A. To organize, operate, supervise, encourage and conduct football games and related activities for youth;
B. To provide supervised football games and related activities in an atmosphere that develops unity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm while maintaining safe and sound mental, physical and moral conditions at all times;
C. To encourage each participant to learn self-discipline and the value of teamwork;
D. To mold participants into better citizens of their local communities.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS
A. The founding members of The League are as follows:
CAMERON
JOHNSONBURG SHAMROCKS
KANE TORNADOES
RIDGWAY ROCKETS
B. New members may be accepted into the League by written application to the Admissions Committee. Upon determination by the Admissions Committee that the application is complete and that the applicant is qualified for membership, a new member will be accepted when approved by a 2/3 majority of the governing board at 2 consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Directors.
C. A new member shall not have a boundary which conflicts with that of an existing member unless the existing member authorizes the new member to operate in its area.
D. In order to remain a member in good standing, each franchise must:
1. Provide a complete program for all eligible weight classes consistent with the program provided by other members;
2. Timely pay its annual registration fee;
3. Abide by all of the provisions of this Constitution and enforce the provisions of this Constitution with respect to all coaches, players and fans;
4. Show up for all games scheduled by the League for its teams, unless due to extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the member. Where extenuating circumstances are claimed, the member must provide written explanation within 72 hours of the infraction to the Executive Board. The team not showing up must pay the referee fees.
E. A penalty shall be assessed against any member failing to have a representative present for every regular meeting of the Board of Directors. The penalty to be assessed shall be as follows:
1. First meeting - $10.00
2. Second meeting (same calendar year)- $20.00
3. Third meeting (same calendar year) - $50.00
4. Fourth meeting (same calendar year) – Probation
A new member on probation will be denied voting privileges for the remainder of the calendar year and shall be required to pay a new application fee as would a new member.
F. A member which is not current in the payment of all fines will not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Board of Directors and may be subject to expulsion from The League.
G. The Board of Directors shall have the power to impose fines against members for violation of this Constitution by the member or any of its coaches, players or fans. The amount of the fine shall be recommended by the Executive Board and must be approved by the Board of Directors at a meeting for which the member to be subjected to the fine is given prior notice and an opportunity to be heard.
H. A member will only register players from within its boundaries set by The League at the time of the member’s admission. Any participant from outside of the member’s approved boundaries may only be registered after prior notification of the member within whose boundaries the participant resides. Violation of this rule will cause the member to be declared ineligible for post-season play. Notification shall be given on a form approved by the League.
I. Each member shall provide The League Secretary, no later than the June regular Board of Directors meeting, a complete list of all coaches and assistant coaches, including their names, addresses, home and work telephone numbers. Notification of any change of coaches shall be given to the League Secretary within seven (7) days after any change occurs.
J. Each member shall be responsible to obtain and keep on file all governmental certifications (including Act 34 and 151) required for all coaches working with that member.
K. New members shall meet the following requirements:
1. Each new member shall pay a franchise fee of $300 in addition to all regular League fees;
2. A new member will serve a two-year probationary period. At the end of each year, the Board of Directors must vote to permit the new member to continue with The League. After the probationary period is completed, the member receives a certificate of membership. If the new member fails to abide by this Constitution during its probationary period, the Board of Directors may expel the member upon a majority vote. If a new member is expelled during the probationary period, there will be no refund of the franchise fee. When the new member completes its probationary period, The League shall refund to the member $200 from its franchise fee;
3. A new member will not be accepted prior to the February meeting of the Board of Directors. After acceptance, the new member must attend the monthly meetings but will have not vote until the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting in July of the new member’s first year;
4. No more than two (2) new members can be admitted to The League in any one season. However, the Board of Directors, may, by unanimous vote, admit more than two members in any season.
ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The affairs of the League shall be under the governing control of the Board of Directors, which shall consist of one representative designated by each member. Prior to the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, each member will submit in writing the name of its representative and an alternate representative. Where the designated representative of a member is unable to attend a meeting, the alternate representative may attend instead and exercise the right to vote for that member.
B. Board of Directors shall at their annual meeting elect the members of the Executive Board.
C. Board of Directors shall establish the fees and charges to be assessed to members and to participants in the League.
D. Except where otherwise provided by this Constitution, all action by the Board of Directors shall be by a majority vote of those eligible to vote.
E. A quorum necessary to conduct a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be one more than one half of the total number of Directors entitled to vote.
ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD
A. The Executive Board of the League shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
B. Members of the Executive Board shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors and shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Members of the Executive Board may also serve as Directors.
C. Nomination for members of the Executive Board shall be made at the November meeting of the Board of Directors. Nominees must either be incumbent officers, commissioners, past officers and current member representatives or alternate representatives who have attended a minimum of six regular meetings of the Board of Directors in the current calendar year.
D. Nominations shall be made and balloting shall be done for each officer separately in the order set forth in Section A of this Article. The majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary to elect each officer.
E. If a vacancy occurs in any office because of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
F. President - the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall generally supervise and control all business and affairs of the League. The President shall establish a president’s advisory committee, which will provide support on fiscal planning and league structure.
G. Vice-President - in the absence of the President, or in the event of his/her ability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice-President shall be a member of and responsible to supervise the following committees: Awards, League Admissions, Publicity, Rules, Scheduling, and Weigh In.
H. Secretary -the Secretary shall be responsible for all of the records of the League and shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Board; shall see that all notices are given in accordance with provisions of the Constitution, or as required by law; shall keep a register of the addresses of all officers and directors; and, shall generally perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary or as may from time to time be assigned by the President. The Secretary shall also be responsible for the publication and distribution of all materials presented by the committees. The Secretary is responsible for providing the minutes of the previous meeting at the next monthly meeting. Copies of the minutes can be obtained upon request.
J. Commissioners -at each annual meeting the President shall appoint such Commissioners as are necessary for each program conducted by the League. The Commissioners shall attend and report on the activities of each program at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors and at such other meetings as directed by the President. The Commissioners shall have no voting privileges as Commissioners. Officers and Directors may also serve as Commissioners.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
A. The standing committees of The League shall be as follows:
1. Rules -shall be responsible for review and revision of all proposed rules and will make recommendations for any changes to the Board of Directors.
2. Scheduling -shall be responsible for recommending total number of games and playing dates, as well as supplying updated maps to each member's playing field.
3. Awards -shall be responsible for recommending and procuring appropriate awards as provided by the Board of Directors.
4. Publicity -shall be responsible for all in-season publicity as required by the League.
5. Weigh-In -shall be responsible for setting and implementing weigh-in rules and regulations and submitting to the Board of Directors for approval. Weigh-In committee is responsible for obtaining all current member boundary maps and setting up a committee to provide recommendations on how to handle all boundary disputes to the Executive Board.
6. League Admissions -shall be responsible for giving information of League to interested Organizations regarding League Bylaws, and getting information from and about Organizations interested in joining the League.
7. Championship Day -shall be responsible for recommending a location, date and time for the games, and for organizing and staffing the game.
8. The Vice-President's Committee -shall be responsible to review participant's applications and waivers and present recommendations to the Executive Board for improvements to be made available to all members.
9. Referee Committee -shall be responsible for recruitment, utilization and conduct of League referees.
B. The President shall be responsible for the appointment of members to each standing Committee. The Vice-President shall be an ex-officio member of all the Committees specified in Article V (G) set forth above.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
A. Annual Meeting -the annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held during the month of November of each year at a time and place within the territory of the League, as set by the Executive Board.
B. Regular Meeting -a regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held each month at a time and place set by the Board of Directors. A schedule of the regular meetings shall be established at the annual meeting.
C. Special Meeting -special meetings may be called by the President, two other officers or upon written request of four Directors. Written notice of any special meeting, stating the place, day and hour, and the purpose for the meeting shall be sent to each director at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time of the meeting.
D. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings, except where the same my conflict with this Constitution.
E. A majority of the Board of Directors then qualified to vote shall constitute a quorum for all meetings.
F. Any issue that is to be brought before the Board of Directors should be addressed by the Director-Representative of that Member at least one week prior to the meeting at which the issue is to be discussed.
ARTICLE VIII. FINANCES
A. Board of Directors shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the League. The finances shall be managed in a manner that will give no individual or member any advantage over another.
B. No purchase shall be made without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
C. No officer may enter into a contract or execute any instrument in the name of on behalf of the League without the prior consent of the Board of Directors.
D. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by at least two officers.
E. All funds of the League shall be deposited to the credit of the League in such banks or other depositories as of the Board of Directors may select.
F. For all purposes, the fiscal year of the League shall coincide with the calendar year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
G. All purchases in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) must be made after competitive bids are received from at least two (2) different sources and are reviewed by the Board of Directors. All such bids shall remain on file with the League for a minimum of two (2) years.
H. The Executive Board shall institute a policy relative to the preparation and acceptance of an annual budget, and shall prescribe the form in which the budget and all financial statements are to be present. The annual budget is to be prepared no later than April of each year.
ARTICLE IX. DISSOLUTION
A. In the event of dissolution of the League, all funds and physical equipment, if any, will be divided equally among existing members.
B. It is the right of any member in the League to withdraw at any time. A withdrawing member shall not be entitled to the receipt of any funds except as otherwise provided in this Constitution.
ARTICLE X. ORGANIZATIONAL RULES
A. Current year rule change forms will be issued at the regularly scheduled April meeting of the Board of Directors. Any member may submit a proposed rule change for the upcoming season at this meeting.
B. Changes, additions, or deletions in the Rule affecting age, weight, or grade requirements must be adopted no later than the regular April meeting.
C. Any change in the rules must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI. INTERPRETATION
A. Where any dispute arises regarding interpretation of this Constitution, or any rules passed hereunder, the interpretation of the Executive Board shall control.
B. All decisions made by the Executive Board and the Board of Directors are final and cannot be appealed.
ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended only by the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Board of Directors. Any proposed change in the Constitution must be presented prior to a regular meeting and notice of the proposed change must be given to the members of the Board of Directors prior to the meeting.