ARTICLE 1 - NAME

1.1    The name shall be the Western Ontario Soccer League hereinafter referred to as the League

ARTICLE 2 – AFFILIATION

2.1    The League shall be affiliated with the Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association and be subject to and the Rules and Regulations of that body.

ARTICLE 3 - OBJECTIVES

3.1    The object of the League shall be to provide for competition for teams belonging to registered clubs in the senior age category. Divisions may be formed in competitive or recreational levels, both indoors and outdoors.

ARTICLE 4 – HEAD OFFICE

4.1    The Head Office of the League will be in the City of London in the Province of Ontario

ARTICLE 5 - MEMBERSHIP

5.1    Membership will be open to the following:

5.2    Teams belonging to clubs affiliated with the Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association

5.3    Teams of clubs affiliated with other District Associations provided they have the annual play-in out permission from their own District Association and playing-in permission from the Elgin-Middlesex Association.

5.4    New Members will be admitted at the discretion of the executive Committee no later than January 31 of each year

5.5    A Life member may be admitted after receiving two-thirds (2/3) votes at the Annual general meeting.

ARTICLE 6 – MEMBERSHIP FEES

6.1    Annual Membership Fees shall be set by the voting delegates at the Annual General Meeting of the league which shall be held prior to December 31 of each year. Any increase shall be paid prior to January 31 of each year.

6.2    Members wishing to renew their membership shall register on forms provided by the league that must be accompanied by all the required fees and shall be received no later than the Annual General Meeting of each year. Existing teams who have not registered at the Annual General Meeting shall not be allowed a voice under Elections of Officers and new Business.

6.3    New members will be required to pay an initiation fee of an amount set by the voting delegates at the Annual general meeting.

6.4    Membership or Initiation Fees are not refundable after the Draft Schedule has been prepared or February 1 of each year.

6.5    A member failing to pay any fee or bond by the date set for payment shall be declared to be not in good standing and shall not be permitted to participate in any functions of the league.

ARTICLE 7 - MEMBERSHIP OBLIGATIONS

7.1    Teams are responsible for the actions of players, officials and spectators. The team’s parent club is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent players, officials and spectators from threatening or assaulting anyone present at the game, especially game officials. Failure to fulfill these responsibilities may result in a fine, bond and loss of membership.

7.2    The team’s parent club is responsible for keeping any trophies or awards presented to them safe and in good repair. Annual trophies or awards shall be returned to the league upon request. Missing or damaged items shall be replaced or repaired, the costs being charged to the club or individual concerned.

7.3    Team representatives are required to attend all league meetings and shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with standard parliamentary practices

7.4    It shall be the duty of each member to promote the objectives, purposes and aims of the League at all times

7.5    Members, team officials, team representatives and players shall display good conduct and propriety at any game, practice or league sponsored event. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the league in accordance with Published Rules, Fines and Bonds.

7.6    Pay promptly the membership Renewal fee and post bonds as may be specified.

7.7    Verify that all players are properly registered and hold an O.S.A. identification player book/card to be presented to the opposing team upon request before taking part in the game.

7.8    Ensure that any trial player/individual called to play holds a certified playing permit and presents same as required before taking part in the game.

7.9    Verify that the club is represented at League meetings and, when required, be present at executive Meetings.

7.10  Provide the league on an annual basis, with a list of officers/directors and team contacts for the coming season and notify the League of any subsequent changes thereafter.

7.11  Verify that players selected for the representative All-Star team are free from team duties and that they present themselves to the select team as requested.

7.12  Ascertain that the club members, team officers, directors and spectators taking part in the game do so in good decorum, and that they comply with the rules of the league and the Laws of the Game in effect insofar as their involvement is concerned.

ARTICLE 8 – MEETINGS

8.1    Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order insofar as they apply.

8.2    The Annual General Meeting shall be held on or before the second Saturday or Sunday of December in each year. All members shall receive fourteen (14) days clear written notice of the date, time and location of the meeting.

8.3    ORDER OF BUSINESS  - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

         Roll Call

         Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting

         Correspondence

         Secretary's Report

         Auditing Committee

         President's Address

         Committee Reports

         Unfinished Business

         Constitutional Amendments

         Election

         New Business

         Adjournment

8.4     SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

        

8.4.1 The Executive Committee may call a Special General meeting

        

8.4.2 A Special General Meeting must be called within thirty (30) days following the receipt of a written request signed by not less than one third (1/3) of the members who are in good standing.

        

8.4.3 All members in good standing shall receive seven (7) days clear notice of the date, time and location of the Special meeting.

        

8.4.4 Only the business for which the Special General Meeting has been called will be dealt with except with the unanimous consent of the voting delegated present.

ARTICLE 9 - PRESIDING OFFICER

9.1    The President shall preside at all meetings of the league. In the absence of the president the executive Committee shall select a pro temp presiding officer. In the absence of an executive Committee the District can appoint a Commissioner as presiding officer and assume the duties of the President.

ARTICLE 10 - QUORUM

10.1  One third (1/3) of the membership shall form a quorum.

ARTICLE 11 - VOTING

11.1  Those qualified to vote and take part at a General Meeting shall be an accredited delegate of a team in good standing.

11.2  Each team shall have one (1) vote. No person shall represent more than one (1) team. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

11.3  Voting shall be by a show of hands, unless a secret poll is requested. Decisions shall be reached by a simple majority of the votes cast.

11.4  The Presiding Officer shall have a casting vote only.

11.4  Members of the Executive Committee shall have a voice but shall not vote at any General meeting. A member of the executive Committee shall not act as a delegate for any member organization.

11.5  A Life Member shall have a voice but not a vote at any general meeting.

ARTICLE 12 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/AUDITORS

12.1  The business of the League shall be conducted by the Executive Committee comprised of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and a maximum of three (3) Committee Members.

12.2  The election of the executive Committee shall be conducted by a secret ballot at the Annual General Meeting.

12.3  In even numbered years, the President, Secretary and one (1) Council Member shall be elected. In odd numbered years, the Treasurer and two (2) Council Members shall be elected.

12.3  Each year, two (2) auditors may be appointed at the Annual general meeting.

ARTICLE 13 - MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

13.1  The Executive Committee shall meet monthly. Extra meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President. A simple majority of members shall form a quorum.

13.2  A member of the Executive Committee shall be excused from a meeting should a matter arise involving a possible conflict of interest due to a club or team affiliation being placed before the committee

ARTICLE 14 - DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

14.1  The President or Commissioner shall be the spokesperson of the League and shall preside at all meetings of the League. The President or Commissioner shall be a signing officer of the League.

14.2  The Secretary shall be responsible for the administration of the business of the League.

14.3  The Treasurer shall be responsible for the fiscal affairs of the League. The Treasurer shall be a signing officer for the League and may be bonded in an amount set by the executive Committee.

14.4  The duties of the Committee members shall be as decided by the Executive Committee as a whole.

14.5  The executive Committee may select and appoint persons to perform specific duties for the League and pay such remuneration as is appropriate subject to budgetary constraints of the League. The Executive Committee in whole may receive annual honorariums totaling no more than $3,800 for all Executive Committee members collectively (appointed or elected).

ARTICLE 15 - VACANCIES

15.1  The Office of an Executive Committee Member shall be vacated by resignation in writing, by being removed for sufficient cause by the Executive Committee or by the Members of the League at a Special General Meeting.

15.2  Should a vacancy occur, the Executive Committee may appoint a person to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

ARTICLE 16 - FINANCES

16.1  The end of the League’s fiscal year shall be November 30, annually.

16.2  A copy of the financial statement shall be made available at the Annual General Meeting. The auditor’s report will be available at the next Special General meeting following the Annual General Meeting (if applicable).

16.3  The Executive Committee shall authorize the payment of expenses incurred in the operation of the League.

16.4  All deeds, licences, contracts or cheques shall be signed by two (2) of the three (3) signing officers.

ARTICLE 17 - COMMUNICATION

17.1  All communication addressed to the League, unless stipulated otherwise, shall be to the League Secretary.

17.2  Communication from the League to member teams shall be made to the team secretary or listed contact person.

17.3  When a specific date is a requirement, it shall mean a postmark affixed by Canada Post or by a Certified Courier Service receipt.

ARTICLE 18 - STANDING COMMITTEES

18.1  The League may constitute such committees, as it deems necessary to ensure the efficient administration of League business.

ARTICLE 19 - MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS

19.1  The Executive Committee may change the titles or the paragraph numbers for ease of reading.

19.2  Matters not covered in this constitution will be referred to the constitution of the Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association or that of the Ontario Soccer Association

ARTICLE 20 - AMENDMENTS

20.1   All proposed amendments to the constitution must be made in writing and received by the League no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual General meeting. Copies of any proposed amendments will be sent to all members fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.