BY-LAWS of
THE
Posted 19 July 2007 -- Updated ????
Article I. The Organization
Section 1. The Iowa State Bridge
League (hereafter: ISBL) is unit 163 of the American Contract Bridge League
(hereafter: ACBL), the primary sanctioning body for tournament bridge in the
Section 2. The ISBL consists of persons residing in the counties listed below. The counties are divided for administrative purposes into the following seven areas:
Area
1: Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Floyd,
Chickasaw,
Area
2:
Area
3: Allamakee,
Area
4:
Area
5:
Area
6:
Area
7: Louisa, Henry,
The areas have
been grouped around the current active local duplicate bridge clubs with the
idea that administration and information best flows to and from persons playing
together on a regular basis at the local duplicate bridge clubs. The counties
are all in
The areas are divided for administrative purposes into the following three zones.
Zone A: Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3
Zone B: Area 4 & Area 5.
Zone C: Area 6 & Area 7.
The zones are approximately equal in terms of ISBL members, about 250.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the ISBL shall be 1 January through 31 December.
Article II. Purposes of the ISBL
Section 1. The principal objectives of this organization are: (a) to preserve and promote the best interests of those playing competitive contract bridge and modifications thereof; (b) to cooperate with and assist the ACBL in the promotion and conduct of contract bridge tournaments; (c) to prescribe rules of eligibility for participation in ACBL sanctioned events within the geographical boundaries of the ISBL in accordance with the rules and regulations of the ACBL; (d) to consider and pass upon reports of dishonest, unethical or disruptive conduct of participants in tournaments and, when necessary, to bar suspend persons found guilty of such conduct from further participation in ACBL sanctioned events; and (e) to promote and develop organization and operation of affiliate clubs within Unit 163 area.
Section 2. Subsidiary objectives of this organization are engaging in such activities as materially contribute to one or more of the principal objectives specified above, supporting worthwhile charities, and promoting all phases of contract bridge.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. Membership in the ACBL shall carry with it membership in the ISBL.
Section 2. Any person is eligible for ISBL membership, subject to ACBL approval, provided that he or she is not, at the time of application, subject to disciplinary action by the ACBL or some district or unit thereof.
Section 3. The ACBL and ISBL may set specific requirements for indications of intent to join them, but may not discriminate against any applicant by denying membership on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, occupation or condition of health.
Section 4. The filing of an application for membership shall bind the applicant to full compliance with and adherence to these By-Laws, the Charter for Unit 163 (ISBL) and the Charter and By-Laws of the ACBL.
Section 5. Except as may be herein otherwise provided, a member shall enjoy and possess all rights of membership equally with all other members.
Section 6. A member remains in good standing unless he or she has failed to pay his or her annual dues or has been disciplined under Article IX, Sections 1 and 2.
Section 7. All members in good standing shall have the following rights and privileges:
(a) To speak, make or second motions, and to vote in person at any membership meeting if the ISBL; to attend and speak at any meeting of the Board provided that each speech s limited in duration and is relevant to the item of business on the agenda.
(b) To receive notices of all membership meetings and all general publications of the ISBL and ACBL.
(c) To vote in the election of Directors to the Board; to be eligible for election to the Board or for election or appointment to offices and committees of the Board.
Article IV. Dues
Section 1. Annual dues is an amount set by the American Contract Bridge League.
Section 2. The board shall have no power to levy any special assessment to be added to the dues.
Article V. Membership meetings
Section 1. The Board must call a membership meeting to ratify any changes in the By-Laws of the ISBL. It may convene additional meetings, directly or by its officers, at its discretion.
Section 2. Notice of a membership meeting must be given at least twenty (20) days prior to its occurrence. The notice must contain an agenda. By-Laws changes must be included in the agenda.
Section 3. Special membership meetings may convened by petition. If a petition calling for a meeting signed by 75 ISBL members in good standing is presented to the Secretary-Treasurer, it must be held at the first convenient opportunity, usually the first sectional tournament thereafter. The provisions of Section 2 apply to these meetings.
Section 4. A quorum for the transaction of business at any membership meeting is fifty (50) members, provided a majority of Areas (see Article I, Section 2) are represented. Membership meetings shall be conducted by the President of the ISBL or, in his absence, by the First Vice-President or, in his absence, by the Second Vice-President, or, in the absence of all three, by a Board member appointed by the President.
Article VI. Board of Directors
Section 1. The affairs of the ISBL shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Section 2. Each of the seven areas of the ISBL will be represented by one person on the board. Each zone will have equal representation on the board. Zone A, having three area representatives, will have one zonal representative. Zones B & C, having two area representatives, will have two zonal representatives.
Section 3. Directors will be elected to two-year terms. Area representatives will be elected in alternate years with Zonal representatives. Each term will be two fiscal years of the ISBL.
Section 4. The Board is empowered to revise area and zone boundaries or increase or decrease the number of areas or zones as part of its power to amend the By-Laws. All revisions, like all changes in the By-Laws, require endorsement by the ISBL membership at a membership meeting.
Section 5. Nomination and election of directors will be done as follows: (a) On or before 15 June each year the Secretary-Treasurer shall notify the ISBL membership, usually by means of the Unit Bulletin, that nominations for directors are in order and should be made by 25 July of that year; (b) Any ISBL (Unit 163) member in good standing (See article III, Sections 2 and 6) may nominate himself or herself by submitting a written letter of intent to the Secretary-Treasurer; (c) Nominees for area director must reside in the area they wish to represent and nominees for zone director must reside in the zone they wish to represent; (d) If no one has declared a nomination for an area directorship or too few persons have declared for the available zone directorships, the Board may nominate one or more persons for the positions in question; (e) If there is but one nominee for an area or Zone A directorship or there are only two nominees for Zone B or Zone C positions, the nominees will automatically be elected for the positions in question. That is to say, there will be no elections in uncontested cases and the Board will not nominate additional candidates after the closing date for the nominations if there is no nominee for each open position; (f) Following receipt of all nominations, both those submitted by individuals and those added by the Board to insure all positions are filled, the Secretary-Treasurer or an agent of that officer will prepare a ballot if there is one or more contested positions. This ballot should be distributed no later than 1 October, preferably sooner. It may be distributed with the Unit Bulletin. A deadline for returning ballots to the Secretary-Treasurer must be specified on the ballot. A public reading of the ballots must be arranged. Contested elections will be decided on the basis of which candidate received the most votes. Ballots must be returned in a sealed envelope signed by the (eligible) voter, a member in good standing of the ISBL. Those seeking anonymity may place their ballot in an unsigned envelope if it is inside a signed and sealed envelope.
Section 6. Each ISBL member shall have the right to vote for one (1) candidate for area representative, one (1) or two (2) candidates for zone representative. Zone A will vote for one zonal candidate; Zones B & C will vote for two zonal candidates.
Section 7. The newly elected Directors shall hold a brief organizational meeting to elect officers. This meeting should usually be held in conjunction with the last scheduled meeting of the out-going Board and new Board members should thus be invited to attend both meetings.
Section 8. The Board shall meet at sectional tournaments sponsored by the unit, with a minimum of two meetings per year. The time and place of each meeting shall be posted or announced by the ISBL President or an agent of the President at the beginning of the tournament. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, Secretary-Treasurer, or any six members of the Board. Notices of meetings must be mailed to all Board members not less than eight days prior to the meeting day.
Section 9. A quorum of the Board is the majority of its members. When there is a quorum a simple majority of those voting is required and sufficient to pass a motion.
Section 10. Only those elected to the Board may vote on motions before the Board. If the Secretary-Treasurer is not an elected representative, the Secretary-Treasurer shall have a vote as an ex-officio member of the Board. If the Secretary-Treasurer is an elected representative, he or she shall have a vote like any other representative, but no additional vote because of the office of Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 11. Minutes of all meetings of the Board shall be distributed within two weeks to members of the Board along with the results of the tournament at which the meeting took place and condensed minutes shall be published in the next Unit Bulletin.
Section
12. Powers and duties of the ISBL Board, in addition to those granted by other
provisions of these By-Laws, the State of
(a) to acquire, hold, administer, maintain, and dispose of all property of the ISBL;
(b) to appropriate the funds of the ISBL as set forth in these By-Laws;
(c) to hire and discharge employees and supervise their conduct and to set their compensations, provided such compensations do not conflict with the rules or policies of the ACBL;
(d) to audit, or request audit of all receipts and disbursements of the ISBL;
(e) to conduct, manage, supervise and control all business of the ISBL, including among other things conducting tournaments;
(f) to censure, suspend, expel or otherwise discipline any member or tournament participant, in accordance with unit, district and national ACBL policies and rules (see Article IX);
(g) to appoint one or more coordinators for events sponsored by ISBL, such as sectional tournaments, regional tournaments, charity events, qualifying rounds of the Grand National Pairs and Teams, and special events benefiting the ISBL.
Section 13. A director who must miss a Board meeting may designate a proxy who shall have voting rights for that meeting. A written statement signed by the absent director designating the proxy by name is required; it must be presented or sent to the Secretary-Treasurer before the meeting begins.
Section 14. Vacancies on the Board due to any cause shall be filled by the Board at its first opportunity, provided the vacancy occurs during the first nine months of the fiscal year.
Section 15. Missing two consecutive meetings without notification of the Secretary-Treasurer and without a reason shall constitute a resignation from the board.
Article VII. Officers
Section 1. The officers of the ISBL are the President, the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President, and the Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2. The president, First Vice-President, and the Second Vice-President must be elected members of the Board. The Secretary-Treasurer need not be an elected member of the Board, but is an ex-officio member with full voting rights.
Section 3. Officers are elected for terms of one fiscal year.
Section 4. Officers shall be elected by the Board at its organizational meeting, which will usually be held in conjunction with the last meeting of the preceding Board. A temporary presiding member shall be elected and conduct the meeting until a President is elected. (Typically the organizational meeting will be called to order by the presiding officer of the concurrent meeting of the outgoing board.)
Section 5. One or more persons may be nominated for each office. If but one person is nominated for any office, that person will declared by acclamation. In contested elections the person receiving the larger number of votes is elected. Secret balloting is required. In case of tie votes, second ballots will be taken.
Section 6. If an officer resigns, that office will be filled at the next Board meeting.
Section 7. Impeachment. Any officer or director may be removed from office or position on the Board for cause at any meeting of the Board.. This action shall require that two-thirds of those present, when there is a quorum, shall so vote. Any person against whom impeachment charges are brought shall be notified in writing by registered mail at least ten days prior to the meeting of the Board at which charges shall be heard. All charges must be included in said notice. Those charged shall have the right to be heard by the Board prior to any vote on such charges and have the right to representation by counsel. Any action taken by the Board is final.
Article VIII. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The duties of the President shall be:
(a) to preside at all meetings of members of the Iowa Unit and at all meetings of the Board of Directors;
(b) to assist and help in arrangements of all tournaments subject to the approval of the Board of Directors;
(c) to be a member ex-officio of all committees
(d) to exercise general supervision over the activities of the Iowa Unit, and to perform such duties as are incidental to the office or which may be conferred upon him by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The duties of the Vice-Presidents are:
(a) to perform such duties as the President or the Board of Directors may prescribe. In the absence of the President, First Vice-President shall assume his duties and in the absence of the President and First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President shall assume their duties.
Section 3. The duties of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be:
(a) to keep on file a roster of all members of the Iowa Unit; to keep on file minutes of all meetings of the membership and of the Board of Directors; to keep on file records of tournaments and other activities; to receive and file reports of Officers and Committees;
(b) to supervise the report of winners, the financial statement, and minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors. To supervise the mailing of these reports to each Director and to such other members as may request them;
(c) to be bonded in accordance with the assets of the Unit;
(d) to have the responsibility of all the funds and securities and property of the Unit, to deposit funds of the Unit as the Board of Directors may desire; to execute, in conjunction with the President or Vice-President, any resolution required by banks for the deposit or withdrawal of Unit funds;
(e) to receive such salary as the Board of Directors may authorize;
(f) to collect membership dues and other income, and to make payments from the treasury upon receipt of certified vouchers or bills. All payments for vouchers or bills shall be make by check;
(g) to supervise in general other activities of the Unit, subject to approval or discretion of the Board of Directors, or supervise or perform such other duties as are incidental to the office.
Section 4. Duties of the Executive Committee are to transfer, disperse or administer any or all League funds in emergencies without vote of the full Board of Directors.
Article IX. Disciplinary Action.
Section 1. No member or participant in ISBL events shall be censured, suspended, expelled, barred from participation or otherwise disciplined until furnished with a written copy of the charges against him or her and provided an opportunity to respond to them. Anyone charged may request a formal hearing conducted by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board or the Executive Committee of the Board. Those choosing a hearing may be represented by or assisted by counsel. Disciplinary actions may be appealed to the District 14 Board or Disciplinary Committee.
Article X. Amendments.
Section 1. Amendments to these By-Laws may be made by the members of the ISBL at a duly called membership meeting (See Article V, Sections 1, 2, and 4).
Section 2. Amendments may be initiated either by the Board or by petitions signed by fifty members of the ISBL who represent a majority of the areas.
Section 3. To pass or alter any amendment to the By-Laws, the concurrence of two-thirds or more of the ISBL members present at a membership meeting and voting on the proposal is required.
Article XI. Tournaments.
Section 1. Subject to the regulations and rules of the ACBL, the ISBL shall have complete authority over all tournaments conducted by it. The Board will exercise this authority either directly or through a local tournament committee organized by a tournament appointed by the Board.
Section 2. The Board, on the advice of local players from various communities, will select tournament sites and dates in accordance with ACBL regulations.
Section 3. Tournament planning and practices are to be in accord with the ISBL document entitled “Standing Rules for Tournaments”. That document may be revised by Board action.
Article XII. Rules of Order.
Section 1. Any technicalities not herein defined shall be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order (Revised).