CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE FORD EMPLOYEES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE FORD EMPLOYEES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION PREAMBLE WE, the employees of the Ford Motor Company, who are actively interested and engaged in the recreational activity of Softball, in order to make this activity available to a greater number of Ford employees, to achieve a uniform pattern of league organization and a high degree of inter-league co-operation, to assist in obtaining additional and maintaining current playing facilities and to promote the benefit of this activity in the interest of all concerned, do adopt the following Constitution to be the final authority in shaping our course toward these ends: Article I -- Name and Objectives Name The name of the organization shall be: FORD EMPLOYEES SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION and may be referred hereinafter and in other proceedings and records of the organization by the acronym, FESA. Incorporation FESA is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Michigan. Use of Assets The income or assets of FESA will not be used, in whole or in part, to the direct or indirect benefit of any individual and will be employed only in the pursuit of FESA's objectives as set forth herein. Objectives The objectives of FESA are: To develop fellowship and understanding between employees of the Ford Motor Company, to provide them with a sound program of physical and social recreation and to insure that the playing facilities are adequate and maintained in the best possible playing condition. Article II -- Membership Qualification for Membership Acquirement and maintenance of FESA membership will be subject to the provisions set forth herein and in the FESA rules. Eligibility Employees of the Ford Motor Company and non-employees who are actively engaged in the activity of softball at Ford Motor Company as player, coach, captain or manager with any team in any league organized under this constitution shall be eligible for membership in FESA. Classes of Membership Membership in FESA may be Regular, Associate or Honorary class.

2 Regular Membership Any Ford employee (active, temporarily laid off or retired), who signs a FESA player's contract, that is properly and completely filled out, signed by the team manager and approved by the league secretary, shall hold a Regular Membership in FESA. The term of membership will be for one year. Section 5 Associate Membership Any individual, who is not a Ford Employee, who signs a FESA player's contract, that is properly and completely filled out, signed by the team manager and approved by the league secretary, shall hold an Associate Membership in FESA. The term of the membership will be for one year. Section 6 Honorary Membership The FESA Executive Board, may, upon its own motion or pursuant to petition by any member league, confer Honorary Membership upon those qualifying through extraordinary contribution to the pursuit of the FESA objectives. Section 7 Team Membership Fees Each team will be assessed an annual fee to cover the cost for participation in the FESA softball program. This fee will vary from year to year and may vary from league to league, but will be shared equally by the teams in each league. It will cover the team's share of the cost of field maintenance, liability insurance, balls, game officials (this part of the fee may be paid directly to the umpire at the game site(s), at the discretion of the league), trophies, and other incidental costs associated with the operation of the FESA softball program. Section 8 Player's Membership Fees Each player will be assessed an annual membership fee, the amount to be determined by the manager of the team on which the player plays. These fees will be applied to paying his team's share of the Team Membership Fees. Section 9 Disposition of Player's contracts Players' contracts, accompanied by membership fees, must be turned in to league secretaries before the players participate in any league games. League secretaries must turn over all contracts to the FESA secretary by June 1 of the year for which the contracts are valid. The FESA secretary will validate the contracts and maintain a file of contracts for a period of one year after the season in which the contracts are valid. Article III -- Officers and Elections Executive Officers The Executive Officers of FESA shall be a President, a Vice President and a Secretary-Treasurer elected by a majority of the qualified electors present at the Winter election meeting. Executive Board The Executive Board of FESA shall consist of the Executive Officers, one representative officer from each of the member leagues and the Fields Manager for Rotunda Fields. If one individual holds more than one position, that individual shall cast only one vote in matters before the Executive Board. Electors Qualified Electors shall be FESA Executive Officers and one representative officer from each of the member leagues.

3 Fields Manager The Fields Manager for Rotunda Fields shall be selected by a majority of the Qualified Electors. Section 5 Tenure A properly elected Executive Officer will serve for a period of one year. Officers may be elected to as many successive terms as deemed necessary and proper by the qualified electors. Section 6 Nominations Nominations for office shall be made from the floor and a reasonable opportunity to propose and discuss candidates must be allowed. Only members of the Executive Board are eligible for Executive Office. Section 7 Elections Elections of Executive Officers shall be held annually at the regular January meeting of the Executive Board. For two or more candidates, election will be by written ballot with one vote to each qualified elector. Election will be by majority of the qualified electors present. If there is only one candidate, election will be by acclamation. Article III -- Officers Duties President The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings, if present. He shall be empowered to rule on questions of order and shall submit all proposals to a vote after adequate discussion. He shall appoint such standing and temporary committees as may be required in the conducting of FESA business. He shall have the responsibility of approving all expenditures of FESA. He shall direct the Secretary-Treasurer to notify members of upcoming meetings. He will have the authority to carry on the business of FESA in the absence of the Executive Board but must make a report of all transactions, in conjunction with the Secretary-Treasurer, at the next Board meeting. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of his absence. If the presidency is vacated, he shall assume the duties until the office is filled by a special election. Secretary-Treasurer He shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall present them for approval at the succeeding meetings. He shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all FESA records. He shall be responsible for all correspondence carried on by FESA. He shall be responsible for the maintenance of financial records and the preparation of an annual budget to be submitted to the Board for approval at the January meeting. He shall publish all general notices and correspondence to the membership and shall give due notice of forthcoming meetings to qualified Board members. He shall notify members who have been named to serve on standing or temporary committees. He shall keep membership rosters and receive membership fees. He shall keep an account of receipts and disbursements, be accountable for funds, sign all checks drawn on the FESA bank account and prepare financial statements for review at regular meetings. Fields Manager The Fields Manager shall conduct all business with other companies and concerns, including non-ford teams, leagues and associations, involved with the day to day operation of the FESA softball program and with the upkeep and maintenance of the Rotunda Fields softball complex, where the majority of the FESA softball program is conducted.

4 Article IV -- Appointive Committees Policy Committee The Policy Committee, consisting of the Executive Officers and such members as shall be deemed advisable and appointed by the President, shall study the means best suited to achieve the aims of FESA. It shall be the duty of this committee to recommend action designed to accomplish approved objectives and to direct the efforts of FESA along a course dictated by prudence and good sense. Rules Committee The Rules Committee, consisting of at least three members of the Executive Board appointed by the President, shall review the rules used the previous softball season and establish which should be changed or modified to effect a better program for the upcoming season. The rules they devise should tend toward the acceptable standard in order to facilitate and assist the organization of new leagues and smooth out the operation of those already established. It shall also be the function of this committee to recommend championship playoff procedures which may be used to determine intra-league and company championships. Liability Insurance Committee The Liability Insurance Committee consisting of the Secretary-Treasurer and at least three Board members will review available insurance programs and procure the one which will be the most financially efficient while at the same time providing the necessary liability coverage demanded by the economic times and the Ford Motor Company. They will make reports to the Executive Board and recommendations for action to be taken. Membership Committee The Membership Committee, consisting of at least three members appointed by the President, shall endeavor to enroll as many new teams and leagues in the Association as possible. Article V -- Meetings Meeting Dates Meetings will be scheduled by the President, the annual budget and election meeting in the Winter (January, February or March), and others as dictated by the needs of the softball program that is currently in progress. Quorum A Quorum will consist of at least a majority of the members of the Executive Officers and Executive Board being present at the meeting. Order of Business The order of business to be conducted at meetings shall be the reading of the Minutes, the reading of Reports, action on Bills, discussion of Old Business, discussion of New Business and Adjournment. Action on Motions Action on motions and on by-laws from the floor shall be viva voce (the affirmative answer 'aye' the negative answer 'no'). A popular majority shall insure passage.

5 Article VI -- Enactment, Amendment and Repeal of By-Laws Enactment New By-laws may be proposed, discussed and voted on at any meeting mustering a quorum. A majority is sufficient for passage. Amendment and Repeal By-laws may be amended or repealed by the same procedure as that provided for passage in. Effective Date All new By-laws or Amendments to or repeal of existing By-Laws shall be considered in force immediately unless repealed or amended at the same meeting. Balloting Balloting on Amendments to this constitution and either new By-Laws or repeal of old By-Laws shall be by secret ballot of the Qualified Electors (unless by acclamation), in which case they will passed as in. Balloting may also be by electronic vote ( ), in which case a two-thirds majority of Qualified Electors is necessary for passage. Revised -- March, 2007