Constitution

SAINT MARGARET'S BAY MINOR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

Article 1 - Name

1.1 The name of the organization is "St. Margaret's Bay Minor Basketball Association", hereafter referred to as "The Association", a member in good standing of Basketball Nova Scotia ("BNS") and Metro Basketball Association of Nova Scotia ("MBANS").

1.2 The Association's representative colour is blue and the authorized nickname is "SLAM".

1.3 For the purposes of transacting business, the Association may also be known as the SMBMBA.

Article 2 - Objective

2.1 The Association, operating as a volunteer, not for profit organization, seeks to foster, promote and coordinate amateur basketball, for girls and boys of all ages and ability within established parameters, in the general community of St. Margaret's Bay including the surrounding areas of Hammonds Plains, Tantallon and Timberlea. In addition to encouraging fun, fair play, and fundamental skill development, the Association seeks to give young people the opportunity to learn life skills through sport in a peer setting, which can assist them throughout their lives. Although team success and winning is important, the Association strives to make playing basketball an enjoyable experience for all individual players, as well as coaches, executive, officials and parents.

2.2 SMBMBA is a "Fair Play" organization and strives to attain the values established in this nationally recognized program.

Article 3 - Membership

3.1 The membership shall consist of:

All players, female and male, registered to play basketball for the Association in accordance with BNS and MBANS by-laws or specific Association restrictions, and their parents or guardians.

All persons registered as coaches of the Association.

All persons registered as division coordinators of the Association.

All persons serving on the Association's Executive.

3.2 Members shall receive all rights of participation in association activities as prescribed by the Association until such time as they no longer meet the membership qualifications, fail to provide the appropriate fees, or are deemed to be dismissed due to discipline or other inappropriate activities as prescribed by the Executive.

3.3 The record of all active members will be maintained by the registrar.

3.4 Membership is normally restricted to players from St. Margaret's Bay and surrounding communities, however players outside this residential area may be accepted if such registration is not in violation within any BNS or MBANS eligibility guidelines or policies and sufficient space exists as not to prohibit entry from players within the geographic area.

3.5 The Executive reserves the right to restrict membership, if deemed necessary, due to the number of players registered. Preference shall be given to returning players, and their families, who register during a pre-registration, with new players and the remaining returning players placed on a waiting list if necessary. Requests for late registration shall be referred to the Registrar and may be subject to rejection or late charge fees as prescribed by the Association.

Article 4 - Executive

4.1 The Executive of the Association shall consist of up to fifteen elected board members (Board of Directors) who shall meet within 2 weeks, of being elected at the AGM to elect by consensus the following positions:

There will be a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) responsible for the organization of the Association; and a President responsible for the technical aspects of the Association and who together will be responsible for the overall organizational and technical operations of the Association, by ensuring the by-laws are adhered to and that activities are coordinated and offered in line with the Association's guiding principles. They shall preside at all meetings and one or the other sign all official documents and will represent the Association at official meetings and act as official spokespersons. Although the Executive will provide guidance and decision-making on most matters, it is recognized that in cases of urgency the CEO and/or President, with approval from a quorum of the Executive, shall have the power to act on behalf of the Association. The CEO and/or President, with approval from a quorum of the Executive   have the authority to create Committees or positions to action specific issues or to create certain policies, procedures or guidelines. The CEO and President shall each be one of the signatories for the Association.

President -

Secretary - who shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings at all meetings. S/he shall notify the members of appropriate meetings, and keep an up to date list of the Executive.

Treasurer - who shall maintain the financial records of the Association. S/he shall submit financial statements at Executive meetings and provide an annual report of the Association's financial position. The VP Finance is also responsible for all banking related activities. S/he must be one of the signing authorities of the Association. The registrar will report directly to the VP Finance & Treasurer - who shall plan the annual registration and keep an accurate account of persons registered in the Association and provide such a list to the CEO and/or President and Basketball Nova Scotia as required.

Registrar-

Members At Large - These elected positions have voting powers, however may not specifically be assigned duties but are expected to provide direct support and involvement in the Association's operations on an ongoing basis. It is recognized and acceptable that a member may occupy more than one position on the Executive, however the member would be entitled to a maximum of one voting right.

4.2 All Executive positions are for a term of 1 year or until the board member’s successor is elected, however it is anticipated that persons will accept such positions with an expectation of offering for two years.

 

4.3 Members of the Executive are expected to attend all Board, Special and AGM meetings and are asked to provide regrets to the Secretary if they are unable to attend.

4.4 A quorum of the Association shall consist of a minimum of fifty percent, plus one, of the active elected members of the Executive.

Article 5 - Powers of the Executive

5.1 The Executive is the primary decision-maker for the Association and can prescribe such policies and procedures to provide guidance in the operations of the Association.

Article 6 - Other Positions

6.1 The Executive may appoint the following positions annually to allow for the effective operations of the Association, although such positions are not deemed part of the Executive:

Player/Coach Development Coordinator - who will oversee and ensure the delivery of development clinics for players and coaches.

Facilities Coordinator - through liaison with facility managers, will oversee the scheduling of gyms.

Equipment/Uniform Coordinator - will oversee the inventory control and purchasing/repair of uniforms and equipment for the Association.

Division Coordinators - who are responsible for the coordination and operation of specific divisions. Their duties include coaching recruitment, the organization of teams, scheduling and opening and closing activities.

Article 7 - Meetings

7.1 Meetings shall be called by the CEO and/or President, with a minimum two weeks advance notice, stating the time, place and expected agenda. At least six meetings shall be called annually, generally considered to occur within one month of the AGM and every two months thereafter until the end of the established playing season.

7.2 Special meetings may be called by the CEO, the President or by a quorum of the Executive as deemed appropriate to deal with specific business.

7.3 The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held within sixty (60) days of the end of the regular basketball season, for the reading of reports and election of the Executive for the following season.

7.4 A special general meeting may be called by the Executive at any time, providing reasonable notice is given.

7.5 A special general meeting shall be called upon written request of 20% of the Association membership.

7.6 All matters of policy of the Association shall be decided by the consensus of the Executive. If consensus cannot be agreed upon as determined by the person chairing the meeting, a vote shall be held with a simple majority deciding the issue. In the cases of a tie, either the CEO or the President shall have the authority to break the tie.

7.7 A majority of the Executive shall constitute a quorum, and all attending Executive are provided one vote, with no absentee voting allowed. In the instance when an “in person” meeting cannot be held in a timely fashion, email voting is permitted with the Secretary recording and archiving the votes. 

7.8 With the exception of Special Executive meetings as outlined in 7.2, all meetings will be open to the general membership who are welcome in the role of observer only. Attendance at Special Executive meetings would be by invitation only.

Article 8 - Managers and Coaches

8.1 All Managers and Coaches of teams shall provide their resumes for review and be selected and approved by the members of the Executive or its designate.

8.2 All Managers and Coaches shall be responsible for their team's conduct, their own conduct and wherever possible the conduct of team supporters. The Association has a proud reputation of exemplary coaching conduct and expects all coaches to act in a responsible and mature manner.

8.3 All Managers and Coaches will select their Assistant Coaches, but the selection is subject to review by the Executive or its designate, should such a review be warranted.

8.4 The Managers and Coaches of competitive teams will select their players, with the selection subject to review by the Executive, only in such rare instance whereby there is an allegation of procedural misconduct or a flagrant disregard for fairness. The Association recognizes that such player selections are often difficult and subject to individual opinion, however supports coaches in this area and will intervene only in situations of serious allegations.

8.5 In any instance of misconduct, flagrant disregard or disrespect for a player, manager, coach, parent, supporter, the Association or its members and upon review of the Executive or its designate the individual may be suspended with or without notice. The decision will be final.

Article 9 - Financial Policy

9.1 The Executive shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the Association as outlined in the annual budget, including the setting of fees.

9.2 Funds will be dispersed (i.e. cheque signing authority) on the authority of any 2 of the VP Finance, CEO or President.

9.3 The CEO, President and VP Finance have discretionary powers of expenditures for emergency situations, however shall report these expenditures as soon as possible to the Executive.

9.4 All funds raised shall be used for the purposes of SMBMBA and the Executive shall set fundraising guidelines for all members to follow.

9.5 An annual financial statement shall be produced and publicized for all members on the Association’s website within one month of the fiscal year ending.

9.6 Any audit or review of the documents can be brought forth by motion allowing for a reasonable time to produce such records.

Article 10 - Rules

10.1 The Eligibility, Tournament and Playing Rules of BNS and MBANS, as issued each year through the Office of the Executive Director, shall govern the playing of all games in all divisions.

10.2 The Association reserves the right to modify or alter certain rules for local house league operations through local policies approved and adopted by the Association as long as they do not materially alter the game or be in in material violation of BNS/MBANS standards.

Article 11 - Registration of Association

11.1 The Association shall register each year, in accordance with BNS and/or MBANS by-laws.

Article 12- Affiliation

12.1 For the purposes of discipline, eligibility, rules, dispute resolution or any issue not specifically covered by this Constitution, the Association may utilize protocols established by BNS

Article 13 - Amendments

13.1 This Constitution or any section thereof may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive present at any stipulated meeting, provided, that notice of such proposed change or changes shall be read at a scheduled meeting of the Executive, and that a copy be mailed to Basketball Nova Scotia at least 15 days prior to the meeting at which the proposed change or changes shall be submitted for vote.

Article 14- Dissolution

14.1 If for any reason, the Association ceases to operate for more than one year, any assets shall be dispersed by the last sitting CEO or President of the Association to a registered charity within the Association’s geographic area with some relation to child wellness or otherwise to Basketball Nova Scotia.

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(C) Copyright SLAM Basketball 2012