03/24/08
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Division Bylaws
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME AND AFFILIATION
The name of the division shall be The Southern California Division of the United States Fencing Association, Inc.
The Division shall hereinafter be referred to as "THE DIVISION," and the United States Fencing Association, Inc. shall be referred to as "USFA, INC."
THE DIVISION is a duly chartered, subordinate, constituent body of
the USFA, INC., exercising powers given by, performing duties directed
under, and subject to, the Charter and by-laws of the USFA, INC., with
jurisdiction over the following geographical areas in California: Kern
County, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and
Los Angeles County except for the cities of La Verne, San Dimas, Pomona,
and Diamond Bar, which belong to the San Bernardino Division, and that
part of Los Angeles County which lies south of the 91 freeway and east
of the 710 freeway, which belongs to the Orange Coast Division.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
The purposes and objectives of THE DIVISION are:
1. To promote, encourage, and develop the sport of fencing.
2. To provide local competitions and tournaments.
3. To assist Divisional fencers to reach their full potential in
fencing.
4. To aid and assist the USFA, INC. in all its objectives and purposes.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP - DUES - COMPETITIONS
Section 1. Any person residing within the boundaries of THE DIVISION or representing a fencing club within this same area shall be eligible for membership in THE DIVISION. No member of this Division may be a member of any other Division of the USFA, INC.
Section 2. Classes of membership: Membership shall be the same as that designated from time to time by the USFA, INC.
Section 3. Membership may be transferred into this Division provided that the transferee has a current valid membership card from the USFA, INC.
Section 4. Any member in good standing, 18 years old or older at the time of a membership meeting, shall be qualified to vote.
Section 5. Annual Divisional dues shall be determined by the USFA, INC. with the concurrence of THE DIVISION. THE DIVISION may, upon majority vote of the membership, add an additional fee or dues for Divisional expenses.
Section 6. THE DIVISION Executive Committee shall prepare the fencing schedule and shall determine the conditions and restrictions governing the qualifications, entries, and conduct of all competitions under its jurisdiction.
Section 7. Fencers who are found to have entered a competition without being members of the USFA, INC. or who have failed to pay the entrance fee or paid with a check that fails to clear at the bank, will be subject to the following penalties and fines:
a. First offense: warning;
b. Second offense: $25 fine and expulsion from the competition following
the occurrence in which the fencer wishes to participate;
c. Third offense: expulsion for the year.
Section 8. Privately sponsored competitions may be sanctioned and
listed on THE DIVISION's schedule of events, subject to the approval of
the Executive Committee. In order to be so sanctioned, the sponsors must
meet the conditions, qualifications and restrictions established by the
Executive Committee for such events. At least one member of the
Executive Committee shall be present at such approved, privately
sponsored competitions.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS AND DUTIES
The officers of THE DIVISION shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. All officers shall hold office until the following July 31, or until their successors are elected and justified.
The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
Section 1. Chairperson: The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of THE DIVISION and it Executive Committee, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to that office and are not inconsistent with these By-laws. The Chairperson has the responsibility for filing with the Secretary and the Treasurer of the USFA, INC. the annual reports called for under the corporate By-laws of the USFA, INC. and the standing votes of the Board of Directors. The preparation of these reports may be delegated to the Secretary and Treasurer of THE DIVISION. The Chairperson, when acting as presiding officer of the Executive Committee, shall have no vote. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson may cast the deciding vote. The Chairperson may designate a new temporary presiding officer, and then will be able to vote. The temporary presiding officer will have no vote, except in the case of a tie. The Chairperson may, from time to time, assign officers and members of the Executive Committee to chair standing or ad-hoc committees. The Chairperson shall be ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 2. Vice Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson, in the absence of the Chairperson, shall perform the duties of the Chairperson and any other duties assigned by the Chairperson and/or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Secretary: The Secretary shall conduct all official
correspondence, keep a record of the meetings of THE DIVISION, issue
notices to members of all meetings, and perform such duties as may be
assigned by the Chairperson of THE DIVISION or other
proper authority. The Secretary shall be official custodian of the
records of THE DIVISION.
Section 4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, present a budget for the following fiscal year (August 1 - July 31) at the July Semi-Annual meeting. The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of THE DIVISION, receive all moneys, fees, dues, pay all bills approved by the Executive Committee, and preserve all vouchers for such disbursements. The Treasurer shall, at the Semi-Annual meeting of THE DIVISION, submit a report of the financial transactions of the preceding period.
Disbursements of no more than ten dollars ($10) each may be made from a petty cash fund under regulation and control as may be established by the Executive Committee.
All funds of THE DIVISION shall be maintained in a dual signature account, either/and or checking and savings. No amounts above fifty dollars ($50) will be dispersed without Executive Committee approval, and no amounts over twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) shall be dispersed without the approval of THE DIVISION's membership by a majority vote. Said vote may be taken by either mail or at a membership meeting.
The Treasurer will provide upon written request of at least ten (10) members of THE DIVISION a cash balance sheet within one (1) month of the request. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson of THE DIVISION or other proper authority.
Section 5. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined for any year upon majority vote of the members of THE DIVISION voting, in person, at the Semi-Annual meeting. In the event of such a vote, the candidates for the office of Secretary and the office of Treasurer, nominated pursuant to Article VII of these by-laws, shall all be deemed candidates for the combined office.
Section 6. Any officer of THE DIVISION may be removed from office by the following procedure:
1. A petition by twenty-five (25) voting members of THE DIVISION, and
2. An election in which the officer receives less than a majority.
3. The election may be held at either a Semi-Annual meeting or a special
meeting of the divisional membership.
Section 7. The Executive Committee of THE DIVISION is responsible for
the custody and maintenance of all Division equipment.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Composition: The management of THE DIVISION shall be vested in an Executive Committee elected by the members of THE DIVISION.
The Executive Committee shall consist of; Division Officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer), Division representatives and alternates to the USFA Congress (number to be determined by current Division membership), any appointed "at-large" members and a representative from each club within THE DIVISION, if that club is not already represented on the committee.
Section 2. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the members of the Executive Committee, or five (5) members, whichever is the greater.
Section 3. Meetings: Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at least every two months, at such time and place as shall be designated by the Chairperson, and shall also be called upon the written request of five (5) or more members of the Executive Committee.
All Executive Committee members shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours prior notice of all special meetings. All meetings, except those in which disciplinary action is to be taken or contemplated against any Executive Committee member or Divisional member, shall be open to THE DIVISIONal membership.
Section 4. Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to perform his duties may be removed by the Executive Committee using the following procedure:
a. Written notification of the causes for removal must be provided to
the entire Executive Committee, including the member to be removed.
b. At any meeting in which removal of any member of the Executive
Committee is contemplated, three quarters (3/4) of the members of the
Executive Committee must be present.
c. The member so charged has the right to appear at the meeting and
present any arguments against removal.
d. The member who is contemplated for removal has no vote at this
meeting.
e. Three quarters (3/4) of the Executive Committee members present at
the hearing must vote for removal before the member is so removed.
Section 5. The Executive Committee may replace a member who has resigned or who has been removed by the Executive Committee by the following procedure.
a. At any executive meeting where a new member is to be voted upon,
three quarters (3/4) of the members of the Executive Committee must be
present.
b. Three quarters (3/4) of the Executive Committee at this meeting must
cast votes of approval before the new member of the Executive Committee
is so approved.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS
Section 1. Semi-Annual Meetings: Semi-Annual Meetings of THE DIVISION
shall be held in February and July. The date, time, and place for the
Semi-annual Meetings shall be designated by the Chairperson. The
Secretary shall notify the membership of THE
DIVISION by mail of such date, time and place at least thirty (30) days
in advance.
Section 2. Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called at any
time and place by the Chairperson, and shall be called by the
Chairperson upon the written request of not less than twenty-five (25)
members of THE DIVISION. THE DIVISION members must be
given two (2) weeks advance notice of such special meeting.
Section 3. Quorum: a quorum shall consist of those members of THE
DIVISION present in person, and a majority vote of those present shall
control, except as herein otherwise provided.
ARTICLE VII
ELECTIONS
Section 1. A nominating committee of not less than five (5) members, no two (2) from the same club, shall be elected by members at the July semi-Annual Meeting. (A club is defined as one which meets the criteria for sending a team to the National Championships).
Section 2. Nominations shall be filed by the nominating committee with the Secretary of THE DIVISION no later than two (2) weeks prior to the February Semi-annual Meeting. At that time the Secretary will present the nominees to the membership and request further nominations.
Nominations will be kept open for a period of thirty (30) days. Additional nominations may be made during this thirty (30) day period on written petition of not less than five (5) voting members of THE DIVISION. The Secretary will publish a list of all nominees at least one (1) month prior to the July semi-annual meeting. If no additional nominations for office are made, the Secretary of THE DIVISION shall cast, at the July Semi-Annual Meeting, a unanimous ballot for the candidates nominated for office by the nominating committee. Where additional nominations have been made, voting shall be by voting members. The candidate receiving a plurality shall be elected. Votes are to be counted by the Secretary (if not a candidate) and three (3) uninterested voting members of THE DIVISION.
No proxies will be accepted.
Section 3. Election of Division representatives and alternated to USFA
Congress. This special sub-set of the Executive Committee shall be
elected at the February semi-annual meeting. nominations may be
submitted in writing or taken from the floor at the meeting. Candidates
must be willing and able to represent the Division interests at the
annual Pacific Coast Section and the National Congress meetings.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
These Southern California Division by-laws may be amended only at the July Semi-Annual meeting of the membership. Proposed amendments to the by-laws must have been presented to the membership for consideration at the preceding, February Semi-Annual Meeting. An amendment shall be deemed as adopted if it has received a majority of all votes cast by the members present, subject to the approval of the National USFA, INC.
Members of THE DIVISION will be given thirty (30) days notice prior to a vote.
USFA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION
BY-LAWS (revised 2001)