SLYH By-Laws
SAUGUS LYNNFIELD YOUTH HOCKEY BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME
Section 1: The name of the organization shall be legally known as the SAUGUS LYNNFIELD YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.
Section 2: It shall also be known as SLYHA.
ARTICLE II. AFFILIATIONS
Section 1: This organization shall be governed by the rules of USA HOCKEY and MASSACHUSETTS HOCKEY.
Section 2: In the event of the dissolution of SLYHA, any remaining funds will be donated equally between the Lynnfield and Saugus Public school system and/or Public Library. In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the corporation shall, after necessary expenses thereof, be distributed exempt under IRC Sec. 501 (C) (3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal government, or state, or local government for a public purpose.
Section 3: Eligibility to participate in the SLYHA is not determined by sex, race, creed, or color. SLYHA does not discriminate against any person based upon sex, race, creed, or color.
Section 4: Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Sec. 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted be carried on by a corporation exempt from the Federal income tax under IRC Sec. 501to (C) (3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.
Section 5: No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer, of the corporation, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the corporation), and no member, trustee, director, officer of the corporation or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets on dissolution of the corporation.
Section 6: No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as otherwise provided by IRC Sec. 501 (h) or participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of the statements), any political campaign on behalf of candidates for public office.
Section: 7: The Treasurer shall, at least once a year or at the request of the Board of Directors, prepare a true statement of the assets and liabilities of the corporation for the preceding fiscal year. The statement shall be available to any SLYHA, Inc. at their written request.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE
SLYHA is a non-profit organization operating youth hockey programs for the benefit of the people in Lynnfield and Saugus. The purposes of the corporation are:
- To develop character, sportsmanship, physical fitness, and teach the art of skating to all participating in the program among the youth of Lynnfield and Saugus;
- To promote, encourage and improve the fundamental skills of the youth in amateur ice hockey;
- To associate with other amateur ice hockey associations;
- To instill the necessary attitudes for team spirit and sportsmanship through success and cooperative effort
- To conduct an amateur ice hockey program consistent with the rules and regulations of
- Massachusetts Hockey and USA Hockey;
- To foster fairness, fun, and safety, to perform or participate in other activities that will aid in reaching these objectives.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Active membership shall consist of all parents, step parents and guardians of Saugus Lynnfield Youth Hockey participants who are in good standing.
Section 2: Members of the community with demonstrated interest in the genuine promotion of the program by virtue of their volunteer efforts.
Section 3: Members shall be governed by the provisions of Massachusetts Hockey and/or USA Hockey By Laws, rules and regulation, policies and procedures, codes of conduct, codes of ethics and USA Hockey playing rules and shall enjoy the benefits and privileges herein as long as they are in good standing.
Good standing, is defined as a registered member in compliance by meeting all financial and other obligations within the organization. The term of membership is the fiscal year of the Association. Funds contributed to SLYHA as part of a fund-raising activity do not entitle the contributor to the benefits of membership.
ARTICLE V. GOVERNANCE & JURISDICTION
Section 1: The fiscal year of SLYHA shall end each year on July 31st.
Section 2: The elected governing body of the program shall be known as the "Board of Directors".
Section 3: The members of the SLYHA will agree to abide by the Massachusetts Hockey’s By-Laws, Rules and Regulations and Policies and Procedures.
Section 4: The Board of Director shall implement a document called Operating Procedures, which shall describe, but not limited to, the standard of operations for the program and all SLYHA teams.
ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: All elected officers shall be determined by a vote of the majority (greatest number of votes) of the eligible vote, of the program membership present and in good standing, for a term of one year, to carry out the management of the affairs of SLYHA. A Director may succeed themselves for an indefinite number of terms by a majority vote.
Section 2: A Board of Directors composed of not more than 21 elected directors shall manage the property and affairs of SLYHA. The duties and definitions shall be outlined in the Operating Procedures document.
Section 3: All Officers shall have the responsibility to conduct and attend the Board of Directors meetings, having one vote per Officer, regardless of how many positions that board member holds.
Section 4: A "quorum" of at least 51% of the Directors must be present at any Board meeting, and must include at least two executive officers for valid voting to take place.
Section 5: Any elected or appointed officer may resign and/or withdraw from their position or membership in the Association at any time, upon written notice of their intent to the president or secretary of SLYHA.
Section 6: A vacancy on the Board of Directors shall be filled, for the remainder of the year, by an election held among the remaining members of the Board at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 7: The Board may appoint up to three additional directors for a term of one year to serve special functions within the Association.
ARTICLE VII. RESIDENCY REPRESENTATION
The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of 40% of the elected positions from the Town of Lynnfield and a minimum of 40% from the Town of Saugus. The balance of the elected positions shall come from residence of the Town of Lynnfield, the Town of Saugus, and/or out of town members or volunteers. In the event there is insufficient number of nominees from each community to fill Board of Directors vacancies, the residency requirement contained in this section shall be waived.
ARTICLE VIII. EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1: The Executive Board shall have five members and be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate past President(if applies).
Section 2: The Executive Board, under the direction of the President, shall prepare policies, programs and budgets for discussion, revision and approval by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
Section 1: The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote (greatest number of votes) of the members present at any general membership meeting, provided written notice in local paper and on the SLYHA website, of the proposed action has been given to each member ten days prior to the time action is to be taken.
Section 2: Amendments may be proposed in writing by any member to the Board of Directors, who shall notify the membership in accordance with Section 1.
Section 3: Notification of approved amendments to the By-Laws must be submitted to Program Certification/Massachusetts Hockey, and upon Massachusetts Hockey’s approval to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as required by law.
ARTICLE X. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Section 1: The Board of Directors shall determine all fees and assessments.
Section 2: The Board of Directors shall set, at the start of each season, rules regarding payments and payment schedules, and shall see that every member receives a copy of those rules.
Section 3: In the event that a player is to be suspended for non-payment, that player shall be notified at least seven (7) days prior to suspension by the President or Treasurer, in writing.
Section 4: The President shall notify the Coaching Director of all pending suspensions, as soon as possible.
Section 5: Only the President or Treasurer may recommend suspensions of players for financial matters to the Board of Directors with a simple majority rule.
Section 6: No program funds shall be used by anyone without the Board of Directors approval.
Section 7: No special dues, schedules or rates shall be set without authorization of the Board of Directors.
Section 8: All finances and financial matters shall be under the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 9: The President, Treasurer or Secretary shall be the only endorsees authorized to disperse SLYHA funds. All funds are to be dispersed by check and require the signature of the Treasurer.
Section 10: All funds and property of this corporation shall be used and distributed exclusively for carrying out the purpose of the corporation as set forth in Article III. No team or individual within SLYHA shall be permitted to raise funds for any specific team or individual, for any purpose without written permission of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI. ELECTIONS
Section 1: Election of officers shall be at the "Annual Membership Meeting".
Section 2: Prior to the election of officers, at the "Annual Membership Meeting", a report shall be given by the President and the Treasurer. The Treasurer's report will reflect the financial condition of the program to the date of the annual meeting.
Section 3: Voting will be by individual ballot and no eligible member, or member in good standing shall cast more than one vote. Proxies or votes in absentia will not be recognized. The right to vote shall be provided to each parent/guardian of minor players, coaches, and any other volunteers in the program in the process for nomination and election of Directors. More than one adult member of each family shall be eligible for nomination and election to the Board of Directors.
Section 4: Candidates shall be nominated from the floor during the annual membership meeting. Acceptance or refusal of candidacy may be made by absentee letter.
Section 5: The first Board of Directors meeting, after the annual membership meeting, shall constitute a "transition" meeting attended by all board officers; incoming, outgoing, and incumbent. The purpose of this meeting will be to insure a smooth transition in those areas where there is a change in officers. Officers shall take office at the end of this meeting.
Section 6: At least fifteen (15) days prior to the Annual Meeting, written notice of the time and place shall be posted on the website, in the local newspaper and in locations frequented by the members. The active membership at the Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum. A quorum for regular or special meetings shall consist of a simple majority of voting members of the BOD (half plus one) and must include at least two (2) executive officers, one of which must be either the President or Vice President.
ARTICLE XII. MEETINGS
Section 1: "General Membership Meetings" and Board of Directors Meetings may be called by the President, Secretary or a majority of the Board of Directors. Officers have the only eligible vote in a general meeting.
Section 2: Board of Directors meetings shall be scheduled at least once a month during the regular hockey season and shall be open to the membership.
Section 3: The agenda of the General Membership Meetings will be set by the President or Secretary. Additional agenda items may be proposed by any voting member in attendance at the meeting.
Section 4: An "Annual Membership Meeting", for the purpose of electing officers, shall be held each year in the spring toward the end of, or immediately following, the regular hockey season.
Section 5: Notice of the Annual Membership Meeting shall be published in the local paper and on the SLYHA website at least one week prior to meeting.
Section 6: Notice of the General Membership Meetings shall be published on the SLYHA web site at least one week prior to meetings.
Section 7: Order of business for regular meetings:
- Members and guests sign in
- Call to order/President’s remarks
- Minutes of the previous meeting
- Treasurer’s Report
- Director’s Reports
- Committee Reports
- Old Business
- New Business
ARTICLE XIII. PARENT CODE of CONDUCT
The Program shall adopt and distribute to all members a code of conduct which may from time to time be amended, for parents, other family members and spectators at games and practices which shall set forth appropriate rules of behavior, the violation of which could present grounds for action by the Board to restrict or prohibit attendance by particular individuals at the Program games and/or practices if the Board so votes.
ARTICLE XIV. SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION
Section 1: An active member may be suspended, expelled or otherwise disciplined, after due notice and an opportunity for a hearing, for conduct detrimental to the Association including failure to meet financial obligations, by a majority vote of the Discipline Committee. The Secretary shall provide at least ten (10) days notice to the person against whom discipline is being prior to a scheduled hearing.
Section 2: Except in the case of suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary action imposed by operation of the USA Hockey playing rules, disciplinary actions shall only be taken after a hearing by the appropriate authority.
Section 3: Any summary suspension must be in writing and given to the individual affected and the writing shall inform the individual of his/her right to request a hearing within seven (7) days of being notified of the suspension. Any hearing requested hereunder shall be conducted according to the provisions of paragraph B of ARTICLE XIV in the Massachusetts Hockey annual guide.
ARTICLE XV. OUTSIDE REPRESENTATION
The President shall be the official representative of SLYHA in all areas which come under their jurisdiction. However, the President may appoint another Board member to represent SLYHA.
ARTICLE XVI. RULES OF ORDER
The rules contained in "Robert's Rules of Order" (Newly Revised) shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and where they are not inconsistent with the by-laws of the organization.
ARTICLE XVII. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Any officer or director may be removed from office as a result of failure to fulfill the duties of said office, or for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Program. Said removal must follow the following procedures:
Any circumstance, rule or regulation not covered herein, shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Directors.
We, the undersigned, representing at least a quorum of the Executive Officers of the Board of Directors of the Saugus Lynnfield Youth Hockey Association, Inc. does hereby attest that the by-laws contained within this document, are the latest revision of the Saugus Lynnfield Youth Hockey Association By-laws, as voted by the general membership of the Association on________________2020.
These Bylaws shall supersede all other by-laws established before this date, and shall be the governing by-laws of the Saugus Lynnfield Youth Hockey Association until such time as the general membership of this organization shall elect to alter or amend them.
- A petition stating the charge shall be filed with the President and signed by two-thirds of the Board of Directors.
- The Secretary shall notify, in writing, each Board member ten (10) days before the question will be placed on a meeting agenda.
- Said officer or director shall be given written notice of the charge at least ten (10) days before the question will be placed on a meeting agenda.
- The petitioners shall present their case first; said officer or director shall be heard second; and the vote taken third. A two- thirds vote of the Board of Directors shall be necessary to remove said officer or director from office.
- Should said officer or director be the President, the Vice- President shall preside over the removal proceedings. No removal proceedings shall be based upon the same evidence, more than once.
ARTICLE XVIII. AUTHORITY TO BIND
- No member of this program shall contract for or enter into any agreement, or otherwise obligate this program, financially or otherwise, without proper authorization from the Board of Directors.