The Organization existing under these By-Laws is to be known as The Yarmouth-Dennis Youth Hockey Association, Incorporated, hereinafter referred to as the Association
To Maintain and operate a service to encourage young men and women to participate in hockey; to create and maintain a standard of good will and fellowship among young men and women.
a.
Said orgaization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
b.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof.
No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code."
Shall be known as, Yarmouth-Dennis Youth Hockey, PO Box 1076, South Dennis, MA 02660. The telephone number will be that of the presiding President of the Association.
Any legal resident an / or taxpayer residing in the towns of Dennis or Yarmouth and who shall be in agreement with the Purpose of the Association, shall be eligible for membership and agrees to abide by these By-Laws.
Any Member may be bbrought before the Executive Board as hereinafter defined and as herinafter referred to as the Board and my be voted a Member not in good standing for actions not in concert with the spirit of these By - Laws as well as the established Yarmouth-Dennis Youth Hockey Guidelines and Expectations for players, coaches and/or parents.
As used herein, the words "he," "his," or "him," shall have no gender and shall refer equaly to male and female.
There shall be three types of membership as follows:
Any boy or girl living in Dennis or Yarmouth whose age falls within the guidelines for youth hockey as set by the Mass Hockey Inc. and who registers to play in the Association
B.
A Junior Member shall have no voting rights at any Association meeting or meeting of the Board.
C.
Any question on residence must come before and be ruled upon by the Board.
D.
Each Junior Member shall be assessed a tution fee for each session.
The amount of such tuition shall be determined by the Board and made known to the membership prior to the start of tryouts.
E.
No Junior Member may participate in any of his team's on-ice activities unless and until he has paid tution according to the fee schedule and timetable by the Treasurer and approved by the Board.
F.
Outstanding balances past due must be paid in full before a player is allowed to register for the current season.
All members, Juniors (players, Regular, and Associate, shall adhere to guidelines set forth by the Board and ratified by the membership.
These guidelines will be set down in writing, reviewed on a periodic basis by the Board, and given to all members at the start of the hockey season.
The most recent copy shall be kept for ready reference by the Secretary.
G.
Alternate arrangements may be made by the Board relative to tuition payments in cases of hardship.
Any person who is the parent, legal guardian or Bingo sponsor of a Junior Member and who actively participates in most activities of the Association and fulfills obligations to participate in the Association's Bingo fund raiser as determined by the Bingo Committee or has agreed to pay the non Bingo Tuition rate.
B.
A new Member will be considered a regular Member in good standing when nominated by a regular Member at any membership meeting.
C.
Regular Members in good standing shall have full voting rights at any meeting of the general membership or on any voted items brought before the membership either at a meeting or by mail.
D.
A Regular Member will be considered not in good standing if his Junior Member child or the Junior Member child who is guardian, is considered to be a Junior Member not in good standing or if so voted by the Board.
E.
Any Regular Member may be deemed to be not in good standing with the majority vote of the Board for failure to meet financial obligations.
F.
All active coaches in good standing are considered to be regular Members for poting purposes.
G.
Any regular Member not in good standing shall have no voting rights at any meeting of the Association or the Board.
Any person who desires to actively participate in any Association activity and who does not qualify as a Junior Member or Regular Member may be nominated as an Associate Member by any Regular Member in good standing at any meeting of the general membership or the Board unless elected or appointed to the Board pursuant to these By-Laws.
Any person wishing to be considered for a coaching position must submit a written application to the Secretary by a date set by the Board. Coaches shall be of good character and a minimum of 18 years of age and a Member of the Association.
Exceptions to the age requirement may be made upon the recommendation of the Board and favorable action by the Membership at any membership meeting.
A coaches selection committee consisting of eleven (11 members - 2 members not currently from each skating level and the Executive Board Member Elect shall be appointed by the Board.
It shall be the duty of this committee to seek qualified applicants for coaching positions and submit a list of applicants and recommendations to the Board.
B.
Coaches will be appointed by a majority vote of the Board.
C.
Assistant coaches will be appointed by the team coach, subject to the approval of the Board. Assistant coaches shall be of good character and a minimum of 18 years of age.
Exceptions to the age requirement shall be approved by the Board.
D.
All Coaches shall follow all the same rules and guidelines set down by the Board, League, Yankee Conference of Cape Cod, Mass Hockey Inc. and USA Hockey.
E.
The Board has the authority to dismiss all coaches and assistants from their game benches if they have not achieved their appropriate level patch as dictated by Mass Hockey by December 13 of the current season.
F.
In addition to the By-Law regulations, the Board may publish written guidelines from time to time to which all coaches/assistant coaches are expected to adhere.
Article VI - Officers and Executive Board Membership
Section I
Voting members of the Board of Directors will be made up of no less than 20% of individuals who have children actively skating in the program.
Section II
The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Leage Director, Bingo Member-in-Charge, Mid-Cape Ice Arena Representatives, and an Executive Board Member Elect.
Article VIII - Coaches Selection Committee Chairman / Parents Representative
The Coaches Selection Commitee (C.S.C.) will choose a Chairman at ist first meeting following the annual elections of the Association.
The Chairman shall lead the Coaches Selection Committee to perform all duties pursuant to Article V - Coaches, and will represent said committee to the Board.
The Board shall formulate and put into effect all ploicies, rules and regulations as such of the Association.
Section II
The Board shall have general charge of the affairs of the Association, including the power to raise funds for the Association and to direct the administration and application of all such funds for the Purpose for which it was organized. No part of its earnings shall accrue to the benefit of any private individual. All fund raising activities must be approved in advance by the Board.
Section III
The Board will meet on a monthly basis or other times when deemed necessary.
Section IV
In case of the death or resignation or removal for cause of any officer, the Board may appoint a successor for the unexpired term.
A Member shall hold this position for a one year term.
This position carries no voting privileges.
The Registrar will be responsible to work closely with the Association's Secretary. His duties will entail processing all USA Hockey and League registrations and organizing player and coach registration: filing correcting and submitting I.M.R.'s, rosters, and team transmittal forms to the State District Registrar.
All changes and additions to rosters throughout the season will be handled by the Registrar.
The Bingo Liaison shall be a past Bingo Committee Member with detailed knoledge of all aspects of the successful operation of Bingo.
He will be able to periodically attend Monday night Bingo to offer any support/assistance necessary, able to fill in for any position as needed, assist with recruiting/training of new personnel, assist with team scheduling, assist with registration, and in the absence of the MIC, provide membership with Bingo reports at membership meetings.
He will be a board appointed E-Board member with no voting privileges, therefore, must be able to attend most Y-D Youth Hockey meetings.
The coaching representative(s) will consist of up to three individuals and will be appointed by the Board.
They will conduct coaches meetings on a regular basis and will attend practices of all rostered teams fro time to time to ensure the coaches are following the guidelines set down by Y-D Youth Hockey.
They will help establish the standards that our coaches will use to set up their practices.
They will work closely with the Member-Elect to ensure that all new information is being passed onto the coaches.
The annual meeting of this Association shall be held each year following the end of season Awards Banquet
Section II
Monthly meetings shall be held each month unless suspended by a vote of the membership
Section III
Special Meetings of the membership may be called by the President or a majority of the Board at any time by mailing a written notice of such a meeting to the membership at least four (4) days prior to such meeting.
Notices of all special meetings shall state the purpose for which the meetings are called.
Section IV
The Association shall hold at least one general informational meeting per year for all participants in the program - whether or not they have the right to vote.
Article XIII - Nomination and Election of Officers and Executive Board
At the regular meeting held in February of each year, the Board shall elect a Nominating Committee of three who shall submit the names of the nominees for the officers and directors to serve for the snsuing term.
The Nominating Committees shall make their report at the monthly meeting held in March.
The Secretary shall post notice at Tony Kent Arena of pending election 45 days prior thereto, and all Members have the right to submit nominations for the sid officers, and Member of the Executive Board, provided that such nominations are filed with the Secretary no later than 5 p.m. on the 14th day prior to the election.
The election of such officers and directors shall be held at the Annual Banquet in April, and in all cases the voting shall be written ballot.
The nominating committee and at least one non-contested Board Member shall monitor voting procedure and baloting at all times.
The Secretary must receive absentee ballots no later than noon on the day prior to the day of the election.
Regular Members in good standing shall have full voting rights at any meeting of the general membership or on any voted items brought before the membership either at a meeing or by mail.
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular Association meeting by a two-thirds vote of those attending such regular meetings, providing that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the preciding regular meeting; and provided further that published notice shall have been given to all Members at least five (5) days in advance of the date when such an amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said Members that at such meeting a proposal to amend the By-Laws is to be voted upon.
The Association shall have no political affiliation, nor shall any endorsement of any candidate for any public office be made in the Association's name.
At any time during the season, a coach, member or player may be dismissed by the Board for just cause as follows:
A.
A complaint or charge is initiated in writing by the Board and acted upon at any meeting of the Board.
B.
Members of the Associatioon who wish to present complaints or charges must submit a written statement to the Board and be in attendance at the Board Meeting to which the individual involved, if any, will also be invited, in writing, by the Board of Directors.
Failure of the complainant to be present at said meeting may constitute grounds for dismissal of the charges by the Board.
C.
Disciplinary action shall be in accordance with player/coach/parent guidelines as approved by the membership.
D.
Votes taken to dismiss a coach/member/player must require a two-thirds majority of the Board Members in attendance.
The party involved will be notified of the Board's dismissal action within 48 hours by registered mail of the action and advised of this right of appeal at the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
All matters pertaining to any dismissal action shall be held in strictest confidence by all Members involved and only Members directly involved in the dismissal action may attend the Board meeting.
E.
If a member or player is expelled from Y-D Youth Hockey, no refund will be given.
