Local
Bowling Association Bylaws
Introduction
The following document is the mandatory form
of bylaws to be adopted by each BA (men and women) and to be used in
conjunction with the USBC Association Policy Manual. Complete all blanks
where indicated.
The association must abide by state corporate
laws and may adopt additional provisions provided they do not conflict with the
mandatory bylaws or state laws. The appropriate provision of state law takes
precedence over the bylaws.
Notes and footnotes appear only to provide
clarification and examples. Parenthetical statements are for information only.
Article
I
Name
The association is chartered by the United
States Bowling Congress. (USBC must approve the name and jurisdiction of the
association prior to granting a charter.) The name of the organization is the [GMUSBC BA.
Article
II
Nonprofit
Corporation and Charter
Section A. Nonprofit Corporation
The association is organized as a nonprofit
corporation and operates consistent with the requirements of an organization
classified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
(IRC).
Section B. Charter
The association shall be chartered by USBC
and subject to its authority. To maintain its charter, the association must:
1. Provide services for USBC BA members (men
and women only)
2. Adopt bylaws
approved by USBC.
3. Not enact any
bylaws or rules inconsistent with USBC’s bylaws.
4. Adhere to
Performance Standards and stated requirements as set forth in the USBC Association
Policy Manual.
5. Apply for
renewal of its charter every five years.
(See the Suspension
and Reinstatement Chapter for suspension, revocation and appeal procedures.)
Article
III
Purpose
The purposes of the association as stated in
the Articles of Incorporation, include, but are not limited to:
1. Providing equal
opportunity for all in the sport of bowling without regard to race, religion,
age, gender, disability, or national origin.
2. Promoting the
game of American Tenpins.
3. Conducting and supporting
bowling competition.
4. Engaging in any
other activities permitted by an organization classified as tax exempt under
Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC.
Article
IV
Membership
and Dues
Membership is composed of individuals who pay
dues to the association and is in effect from August 1 through July 31.
An individual joining a summer league after
March 15 shall pay the dues that are known to be, or become, effective for the
next current season. On payment of the dues, the individual shall become a member
for the balance of the current season and the next season.
Each individual shall pay national, state
(where applicable) and local dues, except as provided in Rule 100c, Traveling
League and 100j, Mail-o-Graphic League.
Associations will use one of the following
dues structures as applicable to its membership:
The BA members, by two-thirds vote, determine
and adopt local adult dues, if any.
The annual adult membership dues are as
follows:
Local $9.00. (Cannot exceed $10)
State $1.00. (Cannot exceed $ 1)
USBC $10.00 (Cannot exceed $10)
The board may waive all or part of local dues
for:
1. Members of other
USBC associations having a reciprocal agreement with the association.
2. Other groups,
such as, seniors, etc., as determined by the Board.
The association cannot charge additional
non-dues assessments.
Article
V
Board
of Directors - Management
Section A. Board Composition, Authority
and Duties
The management and governance of the
association is vested in the board of directors. The number of directors is
determined by the members.
The
maximum number of directors is 12.
The board shall not engage in any acts
constituting a conflict of interest. The board’s duties include but are not
limited to:
1. Enforcing the
bylaws.
2. Complying with
the USBC Association Policy Manual.
3. Ensuring
adherence to all USBC Performance Standards.
4. Adopting youth
dues, up to the maximum established by USBC (Youth associations only).
5. Conducting
championship level competition for its membership constituency: (men and women).
6. Providing
education, training, evaluations, recognition and other services as determined
by USBC.
7. Implementing
USBC programs.
8.
Selecting/appointing and evaluating the performance of the Association Manager.
9. Approving use of
membership records.
10. Re-rating the
league average of an association member when there is evidence the bowler’s
average does not represent the bowler’s true ability.
11. Conducting
suspension and reinstatement hearings.
(See the Suspension
and Reinstatement Chapter for re-rate, suspension, reinstatement and
appeal procedures.)
Section B. Eligibility
A candidate for the board must be:
1. A member in good
standing of the association at the time of election and throughout their term.
2. Elected or appointed without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, national origin, or age, other than the minimum age of 14, unless state laws mandate a specific age, and be reasonably representative of the membership.
a. Any member of
the board authorized to sign contracts or acting as a signatory on association
accounts must be a minimum age of 18 to meet bonding requirements.
b. A maximum of
three bowling center proprietors may serve on the board at one time. A
proprietor is an individual who is the owner, partner, or corporate officer of
a bowling center or group of bowling centers. Excluded from the definition of
proprietor is an individual who owns 25% or less of the equity shares, or who
is inactive in the management of the bowling center and remains so during a
term as an officer or director. (BA or WBA only.)
Additional
eligibility requirements, if any, will be developed by the nominating committee
to be approved by BA membership.
Section C. Election of Directors
Directors are elected by a majority vote* of
the BA membership present and voting, from:
1) A slate provided
by the Nominating Committee.
2) Nominations from
the floor. Qualifications must be submitted to the Nominating Committee.
Voting will be by ballot if there is more
than one nominee for each position.
THIS IS A FOOTNOTE
*If a majority vote is not reached on the
first ballot, the candidate receiving the lowest vote total is dropped and
balloting continues until a candidate receives a majority vote.
Section D. Term
The
term for a director is (1) one year. The number of years in a term, the number of terms
allowed and a stagger system are determined by the BA membership.
(See the USBC Association Policy Manual
for suggested terms of office and stagger systems. Insert officer and director
stagger system here.)
Section E. Resignation, Removal, and
Vacancies
1. Resignation. A board member may resign from the board of directors
by providing written notice of resignation to the president or, in the case of
the president, to the board.
2. Removal for
Ineligibility. A board member who is
no longer eligible to serve on the board may be removed by a two-thirds vote of
the board when a quorum is present.
3. Removal for
Cause. When a board member is accused
in writing of failure to properly perform the duties of their office or
otherwise engaging in improper or unfair activities or conduct, the board may
conduct a hearing following the Removal Procedures in the Suspension and
Reinstatement Chapter. An appeal may be filed with USBC within 15 days of the
removal. Two-thirds written consent of the full board is required to seek
re-election and/or re-appointment to the board.
4. Vacancies. Vacancies in positions on the board are filled for the
un-expired portion of each term as follows:
a) The president,
with board approval shall fill vacancies in director positions.
b) The board fills
vacancies in officer positions.
Article VI
Officers
Section A. President and Vice President
The officers of this association shall
include a president and vice president. (The association determines if more
than one vice president or a sergeant-at-arms is necessary and defines their
duties and responsibilities to be placed in the USBC Association Policy
Manual.)
Section B. Election
Officers are elected by a majority vote* of
the BA membership, present and voting, from:
1) A slate provided
by the Nominating Committee.
2) Nominations from
the floor. Qualifications must be submitted to the Nominating Committee.
Voting will be by ballot if there is more
than one nominee for each position.
THIS IS A FOOTNOTE
*If a majority vote is not reached on the
first ballot, the candidate receiving the lowest vote total is dropped and
balloting continues until a candidate receives a majority vote.
Section C. Term
The term
for elected officers is (2) two years,
not to exceed three years.
The number of years in a term, the number of
terms allowed and a stagger system are determined by the BA membership. (See
the USBC Association Policy Manual for suggested term limits and stagger
system.)
Section D. Authority and Duties
1. President
a. Presides at all
meetings.
b. Acts as
spokesperson for the association.
c. Appoints
committees, except nominating, with board approval.
|
Note: All committees should be composed of both board members and non-board members. |
2. Vice
President
a. Presides at all
meetings when the president is absent.
b. Performs other
duties as prescribed by the board or requested by the president.
3. Association
Manager
The Association
Manager is:
a.
Selected/appointed by and accountable to the board.
b. Responsible for
implementation of USBC’s Performance Standards.
c. Acting as the ex
officio non-voting secretary/treasurer of the board or such other officer
designation as required by law and determined by the board.
d. Responsible for
other duties as prescribed by the board and in the USBC Association Policy
Manual.
Article
VII
Meetings
Section A. Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting of the BA membership shall
be held at a time and place approved by the board of directors. (See Article IX,
Section D for the time frame for election of delegates and alternates to the
USBC meeting.)
1. Member
Attendance is open
to all members. Voting members, officers and directors must be at least 14
years of age, unless state laws mandate a specific age.
2. Voice and Vote
BA membership, voting
officers and directors of this association, at least 14 years of age, unless
state laws mandate a specific age, have voice and vote.
Members not meeting the above stated criteria
may attend with voice only.
Absentee and proxy voting are not allowed.
.
Responsibilities: BA members shall:
1) Adopt bylaws,
including local dues amount, up to the established maximum.
2) Elect officers
and directors to the board.
3) Elect delegates
and alternates for the USBC and state annual meetings.
3. Meeting Notice
Written notice of
the meeting shall be forwarded to the board and league secretaries, which
should be at least 15 days prior to the annual meeting.
Special meetings
may be called by the president or upon written request of at least three board
members.
4. Quorum
(8) Eight Members constitute a quorum. The
members determine the number.
.
(See the USBC
Association Policy Manual for suggested quorums).
5. Action
A majority vote of
those members, officers and directors present and voting, at a properly
noticed meeting, when a quorum has been established, is required to take
action, unless otherwise provided by law or these bylaws.
Election of
officers/directors requires a majority vote. Absentee and proxy voting are not
allowed.
Section B. Board Meeting
The board shall meet at least quarterly.
Special meetings may be held upon the request of any board member if a majority
of the board approves.
1. Notice.
Written notice for all regular and special meetings shall be forwarded to the
board, which should be at least 15 days prior to the start of a meeting.
2. Quorum.
(8) Eight Board members constitute a quorum. The members determine
the number.
3. Action. A
majority vote of the officers and directors, present and voting, at a properly
noticed meeting, when a quorum has been established, is required to take
action, unless otherwise provided by law or these bylaws. Absentee and proxy
voting are not permitted.
Section C. Parliamentary Procedure
The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules
of Order Newly Revised, governs all meetings.
Article
VIII
Committees
Section A. Standing Committees
The association shall have the following
Standing Committees: Nominating and Finance.
1. Nominating
Committee. The committee reviews
candidates and prepares slates and publicizes criteria and procedures for the
elected positions for the board and delegates/alternates to state and USBC
annual meetings.
(See the USBC Association Policy Manual for
composition of the Nominating Committee.)
2. Finance Committee.
The committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring the annual budget and
other financial matters.
Section B. Other Committees
The president may establish other committees,
with board approval.
Article
IX
Delegates,
Alternates
Section A. USBC Annual Meeting
Delegates and alternates to the USBC annual
meeting are elected by plurality vote* by those members present and voting.
(See Article VI, Section A of the national bylaws for representation.)
Section B. State Annual Meeting
Delegates and alternates to the state annual
meeting are elected by plurality vote* by those members, officers and directors
present and voting.
Section C. Eligibility
1. USBC Annual Meeting. Delegates and Alternates must be:
a. Elected by the
BA members.
b. At least 18
years of age.
c. A member in good
standing of the association at the time of election and throughout their term.
2. State Annual Meeting. Nominees must be:
a. Elected by the
BA members, officers and directors.
b. At least 14
years of age.
c. A member in good
standing of the association at the time of election and throughout their term.
If a member is elected to represent more than
one association to attend the same meeting, the first election shall stand and
any succeeding election shall be declared null and void.
A local association is not eligible to send
delegates/alternates if it is declared delinquent or USBC has revoked its
charter.
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Note: An association that has not processed dues for the current season shall be considered delinquent. |
Section D. Election
Delegates/alternates serve for one year,
beginning August 1, and are elected by:
1. A slate provided by the Nominating
Committee.
2. Nominations from
the floor. Qualifications must be submitted to the Nominating Committee.
3. Plurality vote*.
The election shall be by ballot, except that a voice vote may be taken when the
number of candidates does not exceed the number of positions to be filled.
4. Alternates shall
serve in order of their election.
The election is to be held in compliance with
the USBC or State Annual Meeting requirements at which the delegates will
represent the association.
Section E. Vacancies
Vacancies are filled for the un-expired
portion of each term as follows:
If elected by the
members vacancies are filled by the alternates in the order in which they were
elected. If a vacancy still exists the president fills the vacant position by
appointment.
The appointee must also meet the same
eligibility requirements as elected positions.
.
THIS IS A FOOTNOTE
*A plurality vote is the largest number of
votes cast for a given candidate. The candidate(s) receiving the most votes is
(are) elected.
Article
X
Amendments
Section A. Procedure
Any member of the association may submit
proposed amendments to these bylaws. The local association bylaws may be
amended at any membership meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the officers and
directors and the BA membership present and voting. The amendment must be:
1. Submitted in writing to the Association Manager or
president.
2. Submitted at least (60) sixty days (date or number of days to be set by the BA
membership, officers and directors) prior to the meeting when the association
is considering the proposal. (See Section B for Change in Dues.)
Section B. Change in Dues
Forward a notice at least 15 days prior to
the meeting at which the proposed change is considered to the BA League
Secretaries.
The notice must:
1. Be in writing.
2. Specify the
amount of the change.
3. Specify the
reason for the change.
Notification of any adopted change in dues,
and the reason for the change, will be forwarded, in writing to each BA league
secretary.
Section C. Effective Date
All amendments are effective August 1,
following adoption, unless otherwise specified when adopted.
Article
XI
Fiscal
year
The fiscal year of this association is August
1 through July 31.
Article
XII
Indemnification
Directors, officers, and other authorized
volunteers, employees or agents shall be indemnified against claims for
personal and individual liability arising in connection with their positions or
service on behalf of the association to the full extent permitted by law.