CONSTITUTION: Bend South Little League
League ID Number: 4370511
ARTICLE I - NAME
This organization shall be known as the Bend South Little League, hereinafter referred to as “BSLL.”
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVE
SECTION 1
The objective of the Local League shall be to implant firmly in the children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect for authority, so that they may be well adjusted, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy and trustworthy citizens.
SECTION 2
To achieve this objective, the Local League will provide a supervised program under the Rules and Regulations of Little League Baseball, Incorporated. All Directors, Officers and Members shall bear in mind that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill or the winning of games is secondary, and the molding of future citizens is of prime importance. In accordance with Section 501-(c) -(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, the Local League shall operate exclusively as a non-profit educational organization providing a supervised program of competitive baseball and softball games. No part of the net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and which does not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1
Eligibility - Any person sincerely interested in active participation to further the objective of this Local League may apply to become a Member.
SECTION 2
Classes - There shall be the following classes of Members:
(a) Player Members - Any player candidate meeting the requirements of Little League Regulation IV shall be eligible to compete for participation. Player Members shall have no rights, duties or obligations in the management or in the property of the Local League.
(b) Regular Members – Any adult person actively interested in furthering the objectives of the Local League and volunteering financially and/or with time to the success of the league. Regular members have no duties, obligations or voting rights in the management or in the property of Little League. All Committee Members, Managers, Coaches, Volunteer Umpires, Parents etc.
(c) Board of Directors - Board of Directors shall include any person sincerely interested in active participation to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the Local Rules upon election committed to the term of 2 years and signed the Board Member Code of Conduct as hereinafter provided. The secretary shall maintain the roll of membership to qualify voting members. Only Regular Members in good standing are eligible to vote at General Membership Meetings. Positions for the Board of Directors are as follows:
President
Vice President of Baseball
Vice President of Softball
Director of Coaches
Secretary
Treasurer
Safety Officer
Player Agent Baseball and Softball
(d) Officers of the Board – Officers of the Board shall include any person sincerely interested in active participation to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the Local Rules upon election and signed the Board Member Code of Conduct as hereinafter provided. The secretary shall maintain the roll of membership to qualify voting members. Only Regular Members in good standing are eligible to vote at General Membership Meetings. Positions for the Officers of the Board are as follows:
Umpire-In Chief (UIC)
Equipment Officer
Field Officer
Sponsorship Officer
Information Officer
Merchandising Manager
Uniforms Officer
Marketing/Public Relations/Social Media Officer
Conflict Officer
Members-at-Large: The board shall also have the addition of 2 or 4 Members-at-Large (3 Members-at-Large will not be allowed so that the board will retain an odd number of Members
As used hereinafter, the “Board” shall mean Board of Directors and Officers of the Board unless otherwise stated.
SECTION 3
Suspension or Termination: Membership may be terminated by resignation or action of the Board as follows.
(a) The Board, by a two-thirds vote of those present at any duly constituted board meeting, shall have the authority to discipline, suspend, or terminate the membership of any Member of any class, including managers and coaches, when the conduct of such person is considered detrimental to the best interests of the Local League and/or Little League Baseball, Incorporated. The Member involved shall be notified of such meeting, informed of the general nature of the charges and given an opportunity to appear at the meeting to answer such charges.
(b) The Board shall, in the case of a Player Member, give notice to the manager of the team for which the player is a Player Member. Said manager shall appear, in the capacity of an adviser, with the player before the Board or a duly appointed committee of the Board. The player’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may also be present. The Board shall have full power to suspend or revoke such player’s right to future participation by two-thirds vote of those present at any duly constituted meeting (quorum is required).
ARTICLE IV - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
SECTION 1
Definition: A General Membership Meeting is any meeting of the membership of the league (including Special General Membership Meetings, Section 7). A minimum of one per year (Annual Meeting, see Section 6) is required.
SECTION 2
Notice of Meeting: Notice of each General Membership Meeting shall be delivered personally, electronically, or by mail to each Member at the last recorded address in advance of the meeting, setting forth the place, time and purpose of the meeting. A ten (10) day notification will be sent to the regular membership for any general membership meetings that occur.
SECTION 3
Quorum: At any General Membership Meeting, the presence in person or representation by absentee ballot of 50% shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present, no business shall be conducted.
SECTION 4
Voting: Only Board Members in good standing shall be entitled to make motions and vote at General Membership Meetings. However, the Board may invite, admit and recognize guests for presentations or comments during General Membership Meetings.
SECTION 5
Absentee Ballot: For the expressed purpose of accommodating a Regular Member in good standing who cannot attend the Annual Meeting, or any General Membership Meeting at which new Board members will be elected, an absentee ballot may be requested and obtained from the Secretary of the League. The absentee ballot shall be properly completed, signed and returned in a sealed envelope to the Secretary prior to the date of the election. The Secretary shall present all absentee ballots to the Election Chairman (appointed at the meeting) on the date of the meeting, prior to the voting portion of the election process.
SECTION 6
Annual Meeting of the Members: The Annual Meeting of the Members of the Local League shall be held the third Sunday in September at a location and time specified by the board for electing new Members/Committee members, electing the Board, receiving reports, reviewing the Constitution, appointing committees, and for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting.
- The Membership shall receive, at the Annual Meeting of the Members of the Local League, a report verified by the President and Treasurer, or by a majority of the Board, showing:
- The condition of the Local League, to be presented by the President or his/her designate.
- A general summary of funds received and expended by the local league for the previous year, the amount of funds currently in possession of the local league, and the name of the financial institution in which such funds are maintained.
- The whole amount of real and personal property owned by the Local League, where located, and where and how invested.
- For the year immediately preceding, the amount and nature of the property acquired, with the date of the report and the manner of the acquisition, the amount applied, appropriated or expended, and the purposes, objects or persons to or for which such applications, appropriations or expenditures have been made.The names of the people who have been admitted to Board membership in the Local League during such year. This report shall be filed with the records of the Local League and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting. A copy of such report shall be forwarded to Little League International.
At the Annual Meeting, the Members shall determine the number of Board Members to be elected for the ensuing year and shall elect such number of Board Members.
SECTION 7
Special General Membership Meetings - Special General Membership Meetings of the Members may be called by the Board or by the Secretary or President at their discretion. Upon the written request of a minimum of five members, the President or Secretary shall call a Special General Membership Meeting to consider the subject specified in the request. No business other than that specified in the notice of the meeting shall be transacted at any Special General Membership Meeting.
SECTION 8
Rules of Order for General Membership Meetings and Regular Meetings of the Board - Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of General Membership meetings, and all regular meetings of the Board, except where same conflicts with this Constitution of the Local League.
ARTICLE V – VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE BOARD
SECTION 1
NOMINATING COMMITTEE – The first phase of the election procedure process should be executed at least a month before the election.
Establish a Nominating Committee, which should consist of at least three board members and any number of regular members. The Nominating Committee’s purpose is to ensure that there will be enough persons interested in being on the Board to fill all the possible positions. Its purpose is NOT to limit the potential number of nominees. It should also attempt to ensure that there are enough persons interested in individual positions as officers on the board.
SECTION 2
NOTIFICATION FOR VOTING IN NEW MEMBERS – Notice to the annual meeting shall be sent to the general membership within 10 days of the meeting taking place. Included in the notification shall contain;
The location, date and time of the meeting.
A statement of intent to vote in new membership; including the number of openings and positions available.
An invitation to volunteer for the board and participate in the election
A summary of job descriptions, requirements, time constraints, and other commitments a part being on the BOD
A copy of the Code of Conduct Form
Instructions on how to elect to be put on the voting roster and deadline to add yourself to the ballot.
SECTION 3
VOTING IN NEW MEMBERS – The following voting process should happen as a part of the annual meeting.
All regular members must sign a copy of the code of conduct. They must be active and in good standing to be eligible to vote and/or become a nominee for election to the Board.
Board of Directors positions are a two year term
Absentee ballots may be obtained IN PERSON from the Secretary. The ballots should have several blank lines equal to the maximum number of persons who could serve on the Board of Directors that year. The absentee voter then fills in the number of names desired IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE. The ballot should then be returned IN PERSON to the Secretary IN A SEALED ENVELOPE to be delivered to the Election Chairman at the meeting, still in the sealed envelope. (NOTE: Because Robert’s Rules of Order no longer recommends it, proxy voting is to be discouraged in local Little League elections.)
When the election portion of the annual meeting takes place, the first order of business is to determine if a quorum is present. Quorum for many leagues is one-third of the total registered regular members, or a number of percentage acceptable to the local league regular membership at a meeting in advance of the annual meeting.
Once quorum is established, it is proper to determine how many members are to be elected to the board. The local constitution establishes a number that should be elected but this number can be increased or decreased depending on need by a two-thirds majority of the membership present.
After the number of Directors to be elected has been determined, the nominating committee will report and present the established required number of candidates who have been screened and have accepted to serve if elected.
After the nominating committee’s report is accepted, the nominations shall be opened to the floor and any regular member may nominate another regular member as a candidate for election to the Board.
After the membership present has completed their efforts to nominate additional members, the nomination procedure will be closed by affirmation of the membership.
Every regular member will receive one ballot and will list names of eligible candidates in the number to be elected determined previously in the meeting.
The appointed Election Chairman, the clerks and tellers will gather and count the ballots. The total number of ballots shall be no more than the number of members present, except if the league has a provision for absentee ballots and which have been properly obtained and returned to the Secretary of the league in a sealed envelope prior to the election.
The persons in the number specified to be elected who have the highest number of votes by a majority vote (50 percent plus 1) shall become the new Board. The only exception is the number of managers and coaches elected to the board must be a minority. (Regulation I (b)).
Following the election, the board shall meet as a body and elect the officers of the board from within the membership of the board. This shall occur on the next board meeting following the Annual Meeting.
The Secretary of the board, as the first official responsibility, shall notify Little League International, the Regional Director and the District Administrator of the election and the identity of the officers so proper communications may commence with the new Board on or after October 1st, or whenever the fiscal cycle begins for the local league.
ARTICLE VI - BOARD
SECTION 1
Authority: The management of the property and affairs of the Local League shall be vested in the Board.
SECTION 2
Increase in number: The number of Board Members fixed at the Annual Meeting may be increased at any General Membership Meeting or Special Meetings of the Members. If the number is increased, the additional Board Members may be elected at the meeting at which the increase is voted, or at any subsequent General Membership Meeting. All elections of additional Directors shall be by majority vote of all Regular Members present or represented by a properly executed and signed absentee ballot filed with the Secretary prior to the election meeting.
SECTION 3
Vacancies: If any vacancy occurs in the Board, by death, resignation, or otherwise, it may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Board Members at any regular Board meeting or at any Special Board Meeting called for that purpose. Board Members wishing to continue shall be allowed to do so without a re-vote for up to 3 years of service. At the end of the third year, the board member must be re-voted by the general membership to be on the board. This will also reset their service term. Each year at least 50% of the board shall be required to be voted in by General Membership.
If a board member is not in good standing, or other members of the Board wish to have the member replaced, the Board can remove the board member by a vote prior to the annual meeting where majority vote elects to remove that member from their current seat. Once the board member is voted off of the board seat, the role will be filled by vote as described in the annual meeting.
Should a Board Member elect to move into a new role on the board, open through vacancy, they can be voted into that role prior to the annual meeting by a majority vote within the current Board Members.
SECTION 4
Board Meetings Notice and Quorum: Regular meetings of the Board shall be held immediately following the Annual Meeting and on such days thereafter as shall be determined by the Board.
(a) The President or the Secretary may, whenever they deem it advisable, or the Secretary shall at the request in writing of
Board, issue a call for a Special Board Meeting. In the case of Special Board Meetings, such
notice shall include the purpose of the meeting and no matters not so stated may be acted upon at the meeting.
(b) Notice of each Board meeting shall be given by the Secretary personally, electronically or by mail to each before the time appointed for the meeting to the last recorded address of each Director.
(c) 50% of Members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present, no business shall be conducted.
(d) Only members of the Board may make motions and vote at meetings of the Board. However, the Board may invite, admit and recognize guests for presentations or comments during Board meetings.
SECTION 5
Duties and Powers: The Board shall have the power to appoint such standing committees as it shall determine appropriate and to delegate such powers to them as the Board shall deem advisable and which it may properly delegate.
The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the Local League as it may deem proper, provided such rules and regulations do not conflict with this Constitution.
The Board shall have the power by a two-thirds vote of those present at any regular Board or Special Board Meeting to discipline, suspend or remove any Board of Director or Officer of the Board of the Local League in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article III, Section 4 (a, b).
SECTION 6
Rules of Order for Board Meetings: Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all league meetings, including Board meetings, except where same conflicts with this Constitution of the Local League.
ARTICLE VII - AFFILIATION
SECTION 1
Charter: The Local League shall annually apply for a charter from Little League Baseball, Incorporated, and shall do all things necessary to obtain and maintain such charter. The Local League shall devote its entire energies to the activities authorized by such charter and it shall not be affiliated with any other program or organization or operate any other program.
SECTION 2
Rules and Regulations: The Official Playing Rules and Regulations as published by Little League Baseball, Incorporated,
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, shall be binding on this Local League.
SECTION 3
Local Rules, Ground Rules and/or Bylaws: The local rules, ground rules and/or bylaws of this Local League shall be adopted by the Board at a meeting to be held not less than one month previous to the first scheduled game of the season, but shall in no way conflict with the Rules, Regulations and Policies of Little League Baseball, Incorporated, nor shall they conflict with this Constitution.
The local rules, ground rules and/or bylaws of this Local League shall expire at the end of each fiscal year and are not considered part of this Constitution. (See Article XI, Section 7 for the fiscal year of this league.)
ARTICLE VIII - FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING
SECTION 1
Authority: The Board shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the Local League and it shall place all income including Auxiliary funds, in a common league treasury, directing the expenditure of funds in such manner as will give no individual or team an advantage over those in competition with such individual or team.
SECTION 2
Contributions: The Board shall not permit the contribution of funds or property to individual teams but shall solicit funds for the common treasury of the Local League, thereby to discourage favoritism among teams and to endeavor to equalize the benefits of the Local League.
SECTION 3
Solicitations: The Board shall not permit the solicitation of funds in the name of Little League, Incorporated unless all of the funds so raised be placed in the Local League treasury.
SECTION 4
Disbursement of Funds: The Board shall not permit the disbursement of Local League funds for other than the conduct of Little League activities in accordance with the rules, regulations, and policies of Little League Baseball, Incorporated. All disbursements shall be made by check, or league credit or debit card. All checks shall be signed by the Local League Treasurer and such other officer or officers, or person or persons, as the Board shall determine.
SECTION 5
Financial Transparency: No Board Member, authorized to disburse funds, shall be the spouse or family relative of the League President or Treasurer or have direct access to league funds. The use of a league credit or debit card is permitted, given than the card is returned to the League President, Treasurer with receipt for all purchases made within three (3) days of the purchase date.
SECTION 6
Compensation: No Director, Officer, or Member of the Local League shall receive, directly or indirectly any salary, compensation, or emolument from the Local League for services rendered as Director, Officer or Member.
SECTION 7
Deposits: All moneys received, including sponsorship and fundraising, shall be deposited to the credit of the Local League at the current financial institution on record for the BSLL, which is Summit Bank.
SECTION 8
Fiscal year: The fiscal year of the Local League shall begin on:
___ October 1 and shall end on September 30.
(Note: The above fiscal year must be chosen if the Local League intends to qualify under the Little League Baseball, Incorporated, Group Tax ID Number.)
SECTION 9
Distribution of Property upon Dissolution: Upon dissolution of the Local League and after all outstanding debts and claims have been satisfied, the Members shall direct the remaining property of the Local League to another Federally Incorporated entity which maintains the same objectives as set forth in Article II of this Constitution, which are or may be entitled to exemption under Section 501-(c)-(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any future corresponding provision.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by a majority vote at any duly organized meeting of the Members provided notice of the proposed change is included in the notice of such meeting.
Draft of all proposed amendments shall be submitted to Little League, Incorporated, for approval before implementation.
This Constitution was approved by the Little League Membership on (date) ____________
President’s Name (Print) _________________________________________
President’s Signature _________________________________________ Date ________________
Little League ID No. ________________________________________________________________
Federal ID No. (if available) __________________________________________________________
State ID No. (if available) _____________________________________________________________
Make one copy for the District Administrator and copies for the Local League. Send original to Regional Headquarters. This Local League’s Constitution on file at Regional Headquarters (most recently-accepted copy) is the official Constitution of this Local League.
Little League Baseball, Incorporated does not limit participation in its activities on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual preference or religious preference.