1: NAME
This organization shall be known as
the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League, Inc., hereafter referred to as PVJSL.
2: OBJECTIVE
The objective of the PVJSL is to
develop and promote a vital and exciting soccer program among the participating
clubs
This will be accomplished through
programs of organized competitive soccer play and programs designed to educate
and develop players, coaches and
referees.
3: PURPOSE
To develop and foster good
sportsmanship and conduct among all participants and coaches, and to encourage
parents, relatives, and friends to support the league and its purposes in an
active and constructive manner.
4: DESCRIPTION AND GOVERNING BODY
The PVJSL shall be an association of
soccer clubs within Western Massachusetts. The BOARD OF DIRECTORS shall be
responsible for setting policy objectives, providing for game scheduling,
league rules, officials, and league organization. The governing body of the
PVJSL will be the Board of Directors hereafter referred to as the BOD which
shall consist of the following: President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, League Coordinator, and Registrar. The elected board members shall
be elcted at the annual general meeting (AGM) which
will take place within 2 weeks after the end of Spring play at a specific date
and place determined by the BOO.
4a. Exexutive
Director: The
Board of Directors at their sole discretion shall retain an Executive Director
to oversee the daily operations of the league.
4b. Qualifications: The Executive Director must have a
background in management with strong written, verbal, and organizational
skills. The Executive Director must not be an active coach, manager,
director, or officer of any organization affiliated with MYSA.
5. NOMINATION AND ELECTION
Elections will be held every year.
The President, Secretary, and Registrar will be elected on the even numbered
years, and Vice President, Treasurer, and League Coordinator will be elected on
the odd numbered years. (see Article 10-Tenure)
6: VACANCIES
Any officer vacancy may be filled by
the BOD. Once filled, notification of the interim appointment will be made to
the executive council membership of record. The membership will have 14 days
from the postmarked date of the notification to request a special meeting to
fill the officer vacancy. In the absence of action by the membership, the BOD
appointment will stand.
7: RECALL AND REPRIMAND
Any officer can be recalled for
reasonable cause by due process and a two thirds vote of the executive council
membership at an annual general meeting or special league meeting. A petition
for recall signed by a majority of the vofng
delegates must be presented to the secretary. He/she will then call a league
meeting to deal with the recall matter. An officer can be reprimanded for
reasonable cause including, but not limited to, non-performance of duties,
and/or conduct improper or inappropriate to their position. A reprimand can be
given after due process and a two-thirds vote of the BOO at a regular or
special BOO meeting. A petition for reprimand must be signed by at least four
voting members of the BOO. The results of any reprimand hearing will be
communicated to the league membership. In the event that the officer in
reprimand does not comply with the results of the hearing, then he/she shall be
suspended from his/her duties and his/her position shall be considered vacant.
8: POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND ACTIONS
The business of the league shall be
managed by the BOO who exercise all powers of the organization, except as otherwise
provided by law, the constitution, or the bylaws.
9:
OFFICES HELD
The president, treasurer, and
secretary shall be different individuals. Any other two offices may be held by
the same individual.
10: TENURE
Each officer of the Board shall hold
office for two years after their election. Any director may resign by giving a
written resignation to the BOD or to the secretary. Resignations are effective
upon receipt unless otherwise specified and accepted by the BOO. In the event
that a director should miss three consecutive meetings without due excuse, the
remaining majority members of the Board may declare his/her position vacant.
(see Article - Nomination & Election)
lOa:The Executive Director’s Term: WIl be at the sole discretion of the
BOD. The Executive Director may be replaced by a majority vote of the BOD for
just cause, within a minimum of 14 days notice given.
11: DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
President: The president shall call
meetings of the executive council, preside at these meetings, appoint
committees, and perform other duties associated with this office.
11a:Vice President: Vice president shall preside at
meetings in the absence of the president and shall oversee the league’s referee
coordinator position.
11b:. League Coordinator: League Coordinator shall establish
a schedule for league play. He/she will also be responsible for assigning
division coordinators and supervising their duties.
11c: Secretary: Secretary
shall maintain the league records, give adequate notification of all meetings,
record the minutes of these meetings, and handle all league correspondence. In
the absence of the secretary, a secretary pro-tem shall be appointed by the
president.
11d: Treasurer: Treasurer shall deposit all funds,
pay all bills, and maintain adequate records of all league financial
transactions. The treasurer shall present a written report to the executive
committee at least once each season including the end of the fiscal year.
11e: Registrar: Registrar shall be responsible for
managing all registrations and validating all team rosters. The Registrar will
be responsible for all communications with MYSA regarding appropriate
registering and rostering of players.
11f: Executive Director: The Executive Director will report
to the BOD and his /her duties will include, but not be limited
to, the following: team
registrations, game scheduling, player registration. league rule infraction
investigations, referee assignments in coordination with the referee assigner,
referee payments, payment of other league obligations. The Executive Director
will perform the above duties based on his/her discretion.
12: MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the league shall be
open to teams representing any community, subdivision or organization in
Western Massachusetts. Membership shall be contingent on adherence to the
league constitution and bylaws, and such other rules and policies as
established by the BOD. Members must also be in good standing with the
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association. They must also adhere to all rules and
regulations established by MYSA, USYSA.
12a. Application: Application for membership by new
teams shall be made in writing to the league secretary by the date established
by the BOO each season. New teams must adhere to all rules and regulations and
be duly recognized by MYSA prior to full acceptance to the league.
12b: Loss of Membership: Any team or organization may be
dropped from membership for repeated violation of league rules, for conduct
that is detrimental to the league and its stated purposes, for failure to meet
its financial obligations, or for any other cause that would warrant
dissociation. Expulsion shall be ratified by two-thirds vote of the executive
council.
13: EXCUTIVE COUNCIL:
An Executive Council of the league
shall be established each soccer year. It shall consist of two representatives
per club with one to ten teams and three representatives for clubs with eleven
or more teams. Representation will be based on the number of teams
participating in the current season. A club will receive 1/2 vote per team for
the total number of teams registered in the current season. BOD members may not
act as executive council members. Changes to an organization’s executive
council membership once the soccer year begins must be declared in writing and
submitted to the BOD prior to the new member attending an executive council
meeting. Proxy voting is allowed. Authorization must be in writing and someone
from your club must be named as voter.
13a. Executive Council Meetings: A minimum of two regular meetings
at times and places to be determined by the Board of Directors shall be held
per season. The annual meeting shall not be counted as one of the regular meetings.
If fifty percent of the total council is present at a meeting it shall be
considered a quorum, Decisions of the Board of Directors can be overturned by a
two-thirds vote of the entire executive council.
13b. The
Executive Director Attendance: The
Executive Director may attend, at the invitation of the BOD, all Executive
Council meetings as a non-voting member.
14: NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
The president shall appoint a
nominating committee in May of each year consisting of not less than three
persons who shall nominate candidates for election as officers for the coming
year. The report of the nominating committee shall be submitted to the league
president or secretary at least ten days prior to the annual meeting. Nominated
individuals running for the Board of Directors will be voted on at the annual
meeting, and should be made known to the membership ten days prior to the
annual meeting.
15: OTHER COMMITTEES
The president shall appoint such
other committees as deemed necessary to implement any league function or
activity.
16: REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS:
The Board of Directors shall hold a
minimum of quarterly meetings. One shall be held at least six weeks prior to
the AGM of the league to prepare the agenda, reports, and recommendations to be
presented at the ACM, The new Board of Directors shall hold a meeting as soon
as practical after the ACM for the purpose of organizing itself, implementing
the actions taken at the ACM, and to conduct regular business.
17: SPECIAL BOARD OF DIRECTOR
MEETINGS:
The Board of Directors may hold
special meetings as they deem necessary. The secretary may call special
meetings whenever requested by the president, by three or more directors, or as
required by the constitution.
18. NOTICE OF MEETINGS:
A notice of every meeting of the
Board of Directors, either in writing or by verbal communication, shall be sent
to each
director at least seven days before
such meeting. The notice will state the agenda, place, date, and hour of the
meeting.
Announcement of intent to hold a
future meeting given at a prior meeting of the Board of Directors fills all the
requirements of notification.
19: QUORUM:
Four individuals who are directors
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board
of
Directors.
20: ACTION AT MEETINGS:
Matter shall be decided by a vote of
the majority present unless a different vote is specified by law, the
constitution, and/or by-laws. Each member of the Board of Directors has only
one vote regardless of the number of offices they hold. The president only
votes to break a tie.
21: ACTION BY CONSENT:
Any action by the Board of Directors
may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereof is signed by all
directors entitled to vote and filed with the records of the Board of Directors
meetings. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a
meeting.
22: OTHER OFFICERS (NOT VOTING):
Referee Coordinator is appointed by
the Board of Directors of the league. The referee coordinator may be asked to
attend any and all Board of Director meetings for his/her advice and input
regarding league play.
23: FINANCIAL POLICIES:
PVJSL is a not-for-profit league.
The activities and programs of the PVJSL shall be managed by a budgeting and
review process. A budget for the season will be submitted at the first
Executive Council meeting for each season for review. The budget should
include, but not be limited to, items or events the PVJSL BOD expect to
participate in or sponsor,
i.e. ODP District, Referee Courses,
Coaches Courses, etc.
24:
FISCAL YEAR:
The fiscal year of the league shall
be September 1 through August 31.
25:
AUDIT POLICY:
An audit shall be performed
consistent with the laws governing the league, The treasurer will select an
auditor with the approval of the Board of Directors. The results of the audit
shall be reported to the membership within thirty days of the date of the
auditor’s report.
26: EXECUTION OF INVESTMENTS:
All deeds, leases, transfers, bonds,
notes, and other obligations authorized to be executed by an officer of the
league in its behalf, shall be signed or authorized by the president or
treasurer, except as the Board of Directors may generally, or in particular
cases, be determined by majority vote.
26a. Check Authorization: The president and/or treasurer
shall be authorized to sign checks on behalf of the league. Any bills other
than official’s fees for more than $1000 shall be approved by two league
officers prior to payment,
27: SOURCE FEES:
Team membership fees and payments
are recommended by the Board of Directors and voted on at an executive council
meeting before such fees and payments can take effect. If no action or
agreement is reached regarding fees or payments the existing ones shall remain
in effect.
28: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION:
Amendments to this constitution may
be made in writing and submitted to the Board of Directors at least fourteen
days prior to the meeting, at which time such amendments are to be considered.
Any amendments shall be approved by two-thirds vote of the executive council
members present at the meeting, providing a quorum has been accomplished.
29: LIABILITY:
The league shall not be responsible
or held liable for any injuries sustained by individuals participating in its
program or by spectators.
Ths constitution approved and accepted
by two-thirds vote of the Executive Council on January 21, 1996.
