WASCO  AMERICAN   LEGION   BASEBALL   LEAGUE

 

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

 

ARTICLE I:  Name

The organization will be known as WASCO AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL LEAGUE.

WASCO AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL LEAGUE is a State of Illinois not-for-profit organization

 

ARTICLE II: Objectives

The objective of the League is to implant firmly in the boys and girls of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage, and respect for authority, within the environment of the sports program provided.

These objectives will be achieved by providing supervised competitive athletic programs.  League Officials, managers, assistant managers, and members are to keep in mind that the attainment of exceptional athletic skills and the wining of games are secondary.  The type of leadership extended to these boys and girls is of prime importance.

 

ARTICLE III: League Membership

Player Member:

Any child residing within the Town of Wasco, Campton Township, St Charles or surrounding area that meets the age requirement of the respective league is eligible for active player membership.

Age is calculated as of April 30th of the year in which the games are played.

                                                           

                                                            Spring ages                 Fall ages

            Pee Wee League                      5-6 years old                4-5 years old

            Instructional League                  7-8 years old                6-7 years old

            Minor League                           9-10 years old              8-9 years old

            Major League                           11-12 years old            10-11 years old

            Pony League                            13-14 years old            12-13 years old

            Colt League                              15-18 years old            14-17 years old  (Must be in                                                                                                     high school)

 

Regular Members:

The parents of all registered player members, or anyone standing in loco parentis, will be considered a regular league member.

Other adults who have an active interest in the League and regularly participate in the activities of the League as a manager, coach, umpire, worker, or League Official will also be considered a regular member.

Regular members will be expected to perform reasonable services for the League as required by the managers, commissioners, and League Officials.

 

ARTICLE IV: Government

The government of the League will be under the direct control of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.  The Board of Directors will be composed of the following members, who will be entitled to one (1) vote per member (one person-one vote).

Board of Directors:    Officers:                       President                     

                                                                        Vice President             

                        Treasurer                     

                                                                        Secretary                     

                                    Commissioners:            Commissioner - Pee Wee League

                                                                        Commissioner - Instructional League

                                                                        Commissioner - Minor League

                                                                        Commissioner - Major League

                                                                        Commissioner - Pony League

                                                                        Commissioner - Colt League

                                    Directors:                     Director of Concessions

                                                                        Director of Equipment

                                                                        Director of Field Maintenance

                                                                        Director of Fundraising

                                                                        Director of Public Relations

                                                                        Director of Registration

                                                                        Director of Scheduling

                                                                        Director of Technology

                                                                        Director of Travel and Tournaments

                                                                        Director of Umpires     

                                                                        Director of Special Events                                       

Executive Committee:  The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members of the Board:

                                    President

                                    Vice President

                                    Treasurer

                                    Secretary

                                    Member at large (nominated and elected from Board)

                                    Member at large (nominated and elected from Board)

                                    Member at large (nominated and elected from Board)

 

Any person wishing to serve on the Executive Committee must first attend 6 meetings as an active board member to be eligible.

Board Member Terms of Office:

A “Term of Office” begins on November 1^st of the current year and runs until October 31^st of the following year.

-The current Board of Directors will confirm the President to a 1-year term

-The current Board of Directors will elect the Vice President to a 1-year term. 

-The current Board of Directors will elect the Treasurer to a 2-year term. (Elected in even numbered years)

-The current Board of Directors will elect the Secretary to a 2-year term. (Elected in odd numbered years)

-The current Board of Directors will elect commissioners to a 2-year term. (Elected in even numbered years)

-The current Board of Directors will elect directors to a 1-year term.

-The current Board of Directors will elect Executive Committee members at large to a 1-year term

Board Nominations:

All potential nominees for Board positions shall present themselves to the Executive Committee prior to appointment or general election.

The Executive Committee shall have responsibility for the nominating process.

Board Elections:

The Board of Directors general elections shall occur at the regularly scheduled meeting in October.

To be eligible to serve as President, any such candidate will need to have served on the board for at least 1 full year.

To be eligible to serve as Vice President, any such candidate will need to have served on the board for at least 1 full year.

Board Quorum:    

A quorum of the Board of Directors will be defined as one of the executive officers (President – Vice President -Secretary -Treasurer) in attendance and 50% plus 1 of active Board members in attendance.

                             Note:   The Presiding League Official may call for an “unofficial” meeting              if a quorum does not exist; this is not mandatory and is at the discretion of                           the Presiding League Official.  At the “unofficial” meeting, regular league                           business may be conducted but all decisions must be ratified at the next                          regularly scheduled board meeting.

Emergency/Special Meetings:

An emergency/special meeting may be called by a majority of the board of directors or majority of the Executive Committee.

There must be a 24-hour notice with agenda.

A standard quorum is required.

 

Board Voting:       

For any issue requiring a Board vote, a quorum of the Board must be present at the regularly scheduled Board of Directors meetings. 

Any eligible Board member may vote via a verbal or written proxy via any Board Member, if he/she so chooses.  The Secretary is responsible for keeping track on eligibility and advising the Board Members.

The President shall only vote in the circumstance of a tie vote.               

 If a Board member misses 2 consecutive regularly scheduled board meetings or attends less than 50% of the regularly scheduled board meetings their vote shall be suspended.  His/her vote is reinstated at the beginning of the next meeting they are in attendance after complying with attendance requirement. 

 

For all elected positions within the league, the candidate must achieve 51% affirmative votes of voting members to take office or to serve the position.  An abstention is considered a vote for purposes of this section. In the event 3 or more persons are running for a position and 51% vote is not achieved, the top 2 candidates will be on a secondary ballot for a run off and are then required to achieve the 51% affirmative vote.  In the event 2 or fewer persons are on the ballot and the 51% is not achieved, the position will be considered unfilled and another election will be called by the president or a majority of the executive committee at a future date.

Board matters not involving elections, disciplinary proceedings or Constitutional or By-Laws changes may be voted upon by the Board with a motion by e-mail, generated by a board member in good standing, and sent to all other members.  If seconded by another board member, there will be a 3 business day deliberation and the standard for a successful passing of motion is being an affirmative vote, by return e-mail to the Secretary.  Only eligible board members will be allowed to vote for motions generated by email.

Tie Vote:              

In the event of a vote being conducted and a tie develops from that vote the League President will vote to break the tie.

Voting Methods:       

Votes will be verbal yea/nay (as it is also called “by general consent”) unless motion for good cause to make a roll call or ballot vote, with the following exceptions:

                -Election of board members and travel coaches will be by ballot vote.

                -Removal, suspension or dismissal of manager, league official or board                                        member will be by roll call vote unless motion for good cause to make a ballot         vote.

                -Financial matters over $500 will be by roll call vote.

Resignations, Discipline, and Termination:

Any regular league member, league official, or Board member may end their involvement with the League by submitting their resignation.

The League President or any 2 members of the Executive Committee may suspend any player, manager, or Board Member pending a hearing before a quorum of the Board.  Upon the suspension of said member, their responsibilities within the League cease until it is determined as to what disciplinary actions will be taken.

The Board of Directors will have the power to discipline, suspend, or remove any member of the Board of Directors

NOTE:  If a Board member is the individual who is being disciplined, suspended or removed that member does not have a vote in the Boards decision concerning them.

Replacement of Open Board positions:

The Executive Committee may temporarily appoint any open Board position by a simple majority vote.

The Board of Directors will confirm said appointee by a simple majority vote at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

 

ARTICLE V: Executive Committee

Duties:

The duties of the Executive Committee will include but not be limited to the following:

The Executive Committee shall:

-Meet as needed but not less than monthly at an agreed upon time and location

-Act as the Nominating Committee

-Represent and champion each commissioner and director

-Oversee the long range planning for Wasco Baseball

-Authorize spending of any itemized budget request in between regularly scheduled Board meetings (specifically not to include capital expenditures) with the Board of Directors ratifying said expenses at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

-Set and approve agenda for meetings of the Wasco Board of Directors

-Establish playing rules for the league to be approved by the Board

-Establish and maintain deadlines for league operations, business, and calendar to be approved by the Board

-Oversee and recommend capital expenditures to be approved by the Board

-Serve as a liaison to town, township, county, and state officials as it pertains to baseball matters

-Be responsible for reviewing the financial statements prior to the regularly scheduled Board meetings and recommend approval by the Board of Directors

-Oversee the Budget Committee (Treasurer to act as Chairman of Budget Committee)

-Establish bylaws to be approved by the Board

-Be responsible for enforcement of the Constitution, Bylaws, league rules, deadlines, job descriptions, and compliance with all league matters.

 

ARTICLE VI: Meetings

Attendance by Wasco Board of Directors members is required at all regularly scheduled meetings.  Members unable to attend for any reason should contact the Secretary or President before said meeting.  Beginning with the 4^th month of the current term, if a board member has missed more than 51% of the meetings since the beginning of the term, he/she will be suspended from all board duties, pending dismissal, which will be decided by the Board.

The Board of Directors meeting will be scheduled on a once a month basis throughout the year on the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 8:00 pm at a Board approved location.

An annual public meeting will be held each year in February.  A notice of this meeting will be communicated to the public by posting on the Wasco Baseball web site.

A general report by the Treasurer, and league reports by each Commissioner will be presented at the meeting.  Members may bring up for discussion any League related issues at this meeting.

The Secretary is responsible for notifying all Board Members. 

A quorum of the members of the Board is required to hold a meeting. 

Regular Meetings order of business/agenda:

            1.      Roll Call

2.      Approval of minutes from the previous meeting                                        

3.      Correspondence

4.      Reports of Committees

5.      Reports of Commissioners

6.      Reports of Directors

7.      Election of Board members

8.      Unfinished business

9.      New business

10.   Adjournment

Any item to be placed on the agenda must be submitted to the Secretary twenty four (24) hours prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting for approval.

Reports from Committees, Commissioners, or Directors shall be submitted to the Secretary 1 week prior to the meeting for distribution to the Board of Directors.

 

         ARTICLE VII: Financial Policy

The Board of Directors shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances of the Wasco Baseball League, bearing responsibility to conduct the financial affairs of the organization using sound business practices.

The Board will set the annual registration fee for player members. 

The Board will approve all fundraising activities. 

The Board must approve private contributions of funds or property to individual teams. 

All solicited and contributed funds will be for the common treasury of the League. (Except for designated gifts or donations for specific activities or capital expenditures)     

Expenditures of monies greater than $100 shall be required to be approved by full board vote unless authorized to be approved under executive committee duties.

Financial reports will be prepared by Treasurer for monthly meetings and will include but are not limited to the following:

            -Previous Month Profit & Loss statement

            -Year to date Profit & Loss statement  

            -Balance sheet 

            -Transactions list          

            -Bank balance summary

The Board of Directors will oversee the preparation and acceptance of an annual budget, which will be prepared by January 1^st and presented at the regularly scheduled January meeting.   

 

 ARTICLE VIII: Playing Rules

The official playing rules of the Wasco Baseball League as set forth in the Bylaws will be binding on all managers in each age group of the Wasco Baseball League.

 

ARTICLE IX: Managers

The respective League Commissioner will select the manager of each team, with approval from the Board.

Commissioners will be responsible for the selection of teams according to the Wasco Baseball League Bylaws. 

Teams will be selected with the prime objective of creating a balance of talent on each team.  The manager will be responsible for the actions of his team on the field.

The manager will instruct their team in the fundamentals of the skills of the game and be responsible for the conduct of their team when on the field. 

The manager will select coaches, schedule and implement field maintenance, co-ordinate the activities of the parents who help during games and organize committees as necessary.

 

 ARTICLE X: Amendments

The Constitution and By-Laws or any section thereof may be amended or repealed by a 2/3rds majority vote of the Wasco Baseball Board of Directors, provided that written notice of such proposed change shall be delivered to each member of the board at least seven days prior to the meeting, at which time such proposed changes shall be submitted to a vote.  Prior to actual vote, each member shall be allowed three uninterrupted minutes to discuss his or her position on the issues.

 

                                                ARTICLE XI: Board Member Duties

 

These are currently being updated by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to more accurately describe and reflect the actual jobs being done within the league at this time.

 

Article XII

All league matters shall be governed by the rules set out and in the priority of application of the Wasco Baseball Constitution, By-Laws, and League Handbook.  Roberts Rules of Order shall apply to matters of procedure in the event they are not addressed in the above documents.

Revisions

1. Updated and revised the following: Article II, Article III, Article IV, Article VI, Article IX and added “Revisions” section.  December 14, 2006.