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.