Changes as adopted by FSRA Membership on October 9, 2004
QUICK LINK: By-Laws
CONSTITUTION
Article I - General Provisions
Section 1. Name.
The name of this association shall be "The Florida
Scholastic Rowing Association" (hereinafter the Association).
Section 2. Purpose.
The purpose of the Association shall be:
a. To promote rowing as a sport among the youth of Florida;
b. To conduct an Annual Scholastic State Championship
Regatta open to Scholastic Association Members and an Annual Youth State
Championship Regatta open to Youth Association Members, subject to such
rules and regulations as may be hereinafter adopted;
c. To carry out such activities as may be allied
or incidental to these general purposes.
Section 3. Type of Organization.
The Association shall be maintained as a permanent
organization and shall function as a nonprofit organization under the requirements
of Section 501 (c) (3), as amended, of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 4. Powers.
The Association shall have all powers now or hereafter
authorized by or vested in the Association by:
a. Federal or state statute or common law, or
b. The provisions of this Constitution and its By-Laws.
Section 5. Limitation of Activities.
The Association shall not be conducted or operated
for profit, and no part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit
of any member or individual, nor shall any of its net earnings or assets
be used other than for its declared purpose. No substantial part
of its activities shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, nor shall the Association participate
in or otherwise intervene in (including publishing or distributing statements)
any political campaign on behalf of any candidates for public office.
Section 6. Equal Opportunities and Eligibility.
The Association shall provide equal opportunity for
participation in its sport to all individuals who are eligible under applicable
state and school division amateur athletic rules and regulations and shall
apply such rules and regulations without discrimination to all competitors;
and shall not deny eligibility to any athlete, except after according such
athlete fair notice and hearing as to the issue of his or her eligibility.
Section 7. Term of Existence.
The Association shall have perpetual existence.
Article II - Membership
Section 1. Association Membership.
a. Youth Association Members shall be organizations
whose function is the active promotion of amateur rowing among Florida
high school students. These teams shall be made up of students who
attend secondary school in Florida.
b. Scholastic Association Members shall be Youth
Association Member organizations who represent or are sponsored by a single
secondary school. These teams shall be made up of students who attend
the same single secondary school.
c. A student shall not represent more than one
(1) Association Member during any one (1) scholastic year without written
permission of both team's coaches, or adult leader in the absence of a
coach, and approval of the FSRA Executive Committee.
d. A non-scholastic team member shall not be in
attendance at a secondary school represented by a scholastic rowing team
without prior written consent of the scholastic team's coach, or adult
leader in the absence of a coach, and approval of the FSRA Executive Committee.
e. Association Members shall meet any other requirements
of the Association for membership as may be established from time to time.
No Association Member may bar from membership in its organization any person
because of race, creed, color, gender, or national origin.
Section 2. Commencement of Association Membership.
Association Membership commences upon payment of
its annual dues prior to and combined with its participation in either
Annual State Championship Regatta. Association Members may then vote
at the next Annual Meeting based on such participation.
Section 3. Team Size for Association Membership.
To become a voting Association Member, a team must
be comprised of at least five (5) students who have competed in recognized
non-exhibition events at either Annual State Championship Regatta.
Section 4. Termination of Association Membership.
If an Association Member does not participate in
at least one (1) of the two (2) Annual State Championship Regattas for
two (2) consecutive years, it shall lose its membership in the Association.
If the conduct of an existing Association Member is found to be violating
the spirit and stated objectives of the Association, it may be removed
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates in attendance at the Annual
Meeting or special meeting.
Article III - Representatives
Section 1. Responsibilities of Representatives.
The management of this organization shall be vested
in representatives of Association Members who:
a. Shall establish general policies of the Association;
b. Approve the annual budget and financial report
of the Association;
c. Establish the annual racing schedule;
d. Plan and conduct the Annual State Championship
Regattas.
Section 2. Number of Representatives per Association
Member.
Each Association Member, as defined in Article II,
shall be entitled to one (1) voting representative.
Section 3. Designation of Representatives.
Each Association Member will determine who will represent
their rowing team from their coaching staff, or adult leaders in the absence
of coaches.
Section 4. Commencement of Representative’s Term.
The term of all representatives shall begin at the
Annual Meeting following their appointment.
Article IV - Officers
Section 1. Officers of the Association.
The officers of the Association shall be a President,
a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and
a Treasurer. The officers shall serve in the dual capacity of officers
of the Association and members of an Executive Committee.
Section 2. Election of Officers.
The officers of the Association shall be elected
by the representatives near the end of the Annual Meeting by either written
ballot or voice vote.
Section 3. Term of Office.
Officers shall serve a term of one (1) year which
begins at the end of the Annual Meeting. Officers may be re-elected.
If an office is vacated for any reason, that vacancy shall be filled by
special appointment by the Executive Committee.
Section 4. General.
a. The officers shall act on behalf of the Association
Members and shall have charge of any property of the Association, subject
to approval of the representatives.
b. No officer or officers shall be authorized
to obligate the Association to any indebtedness without the approval of
the representatives.
Article V - Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.
a. Amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws may
be offered by any representative of an Association Member in good standing.
All proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Corresponding
Secretary so that due notice shall be sent to all Association Members of
the proposed action with the regular notice for the Annual Meeting, at
least fourteen (14) days in advance of the date scheduled for the Annual
Meeting.
b. Any addition, alternation, or amendment made
to this Constitution or By-Laws shall require approval of two-thirds (2/3)
of the representatives present at the Annual Meeting.
Article VI - Dissolution
Section 1. Disposition of Assets.
In the event of dissolution of the Association, the
Executive Committee will meet outstanding obligations from assets on hand
at the time of dissolution. Distribution of any balance of all money
and other property shall be divided in equal shares among those Association
Members in existence that have tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue
Service Code.
Article VII - Effective Date
Section 1. Effective Date of Constitution and By-Laws.
These Articles and any and all subsequent amendments
and By-Laws thereto shall become effective immediately following their
adoption.
BY-LAWS
Article I - Annual Meeting of Representatives
Section 1. Time and Place of Meeting.
a. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be
held near the beginning of the scholastic academic year. The Executive
Committee shall determine the date and location of the meeting and shall
give a fourteen (14) day notice to all Association Members.
b. Special meetings shall be held at the request
of not less than one-third (1/3) of the Association Members after ten (10)
days notice has been given to all Association Members by the Corresponding
Secretary of the Association.
Section 2. Purposes of Meeting.
The purposes of the Annual Meeting shall be:
a. To provide an open forum for the discussion
of matters relating to the annual race schedule and the Annual State Championship
Regattas;
b. To consider and vote on amendments to the
Constitution or By-Laws;
c. To discuss other matters pertinent to the
business of the Association as called for in the Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 3. Representatives Registration and Voting
Privileges.
Representatives shall register at the meeting by
either being recognized by the Executive Committee as a delegate or by
presenting valid identification and a letter of appointment from the Association
Member.
Section 4. Notice of Meeting.
The Corresponding Secretary shall notify each Association
Member in writing at least fourteen (14) days before the Annual Meeting
of the following:
a. When and where the meeting is to be held;
b. The meeting agenda;
c. Notice of amendments to the Constitution as
provided in Article V of the Constitution.
Section 5. The Order of Business for the Annual Meeting.
The order of business for the Annual Meeting shall
be:
- Registration of representatives and roll call.
- Reading and approval of previous minutes.
- Report of Treasurer.
- Report of President.
- Consideration and vote on amendments to Constitution.
- Setting the following year's Membership Dues.
- Discussion of annual race schedule.
- Discussion of Annual State Championship Regattas.
- Junior National Team testing.
- Election of New Officers.
- Committee Assignments.
- Unfinished Business.
- New Business.
- Adjournment.
Section 6. Rules of the Annual Meeting.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall apply.
Article II - Registration and Dues
Section 1. Registration.
All member dues are to be made payable to "Florida
Scholastic Rowing Association" and presented to the Treasurer of the Association,
in
person or by mail.
Section 2. Term of Membership.
The term of all memberships shall be for one (1)
year starting with the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Payment of Dues.
Dues shall be payable at the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Amount of Dues.
The amount of dues for Association Members shall
be set at the preceding Annual Meeting.
Article III - Executive Committee
Section 1. Time and Place of Meetings.
a. The Executive Committee shall meet at least three
(3) weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.
b. The Executive Committee shall also meet at
the request of the President or by a request of not less than one-third
(1/3) of the Association Members to discuss any further matters that may
need to be resolved. Notice of such a special executive meeting shall
be made to each Association Members prior to the meeting. Notice of Association
Member requested special executive meetings shall be made to each Association
Member at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
Section 2. Required Quorum.
Three of the five officers shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Vacancies on the Executive Committee.
In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee,
the remaining members of the committee shall appoint a representative to
fulfill the remainder of the term.
Section 4. De Facto Meetings.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to conduct
necessary business by mail, fax, e-mail, or telephone if, in the judgment
of the President, the urgency of the matter requires such action.
Article IV - Officers
Section 1. Duties of Officers.
a. President.
The President shall preside at all meetings of this
Association and conduct the Order of Business as outlined in Article I,
Section 5 of the By-Laws, and shall enforce all Articles of the Constitution
and By-Laws. In his absence the Vice President shall perform his
duties. In the event of the absence of the President and the Vice President,
a chairman shall be elected by a majority vote of the representatives present.
The President shall also appoint committees, approve
all receipts and disbursements, and shall order meetings of the Association
Members or the Executive Committee whenever in his judgment he may deem
it necessary.
b. Vice President.
The Vice President shall act as an assistant to the
President and, in the absence of the President, shall assume all duties
of the President. The Vice President shall also actively assist new
rowing programs in their development.
c. Recording Secretary.
The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of
each meeting of the Association, as well as the Executive Committee; have
charge of, and be responsible for, all the books and papers of the Association,
except for those of the Treasurer.
d. Corresponding Secretary.
The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible
for notifying members of the time and place of all meetings of the Association;
assist in administering elections; prepare the mailings for the Annual
State Championship Regattas; and conduct correspondence as necessary.
e. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall collect and have charge of all
moneys belonging to the Association, shall deposit said moneys in a timely
fashion in a financial institution approved by the Executive Committee,
shall pay all bills according to the budget or when properly approved by
the President of the Association, and submit a report to the representatives
at the Annual Meeting.
Article V - Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Nominations of Officers.
Nominations for officers of the Association shall
be made at the Annual Meeting by the representatives. The Corresponding
Secretary shall confirm with the nominees not in attendance their desire
to be placed on the ballot.
Section 2. Election of Officers.
Election of officers shall be held by either voice
vote or written ballot. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct
the vote.
Section 3. Distribution of Votes.
The candidates obtaining a majority of votes of the
representatives present for each office shall be elected. In the event
of a tie, the President will receive a vote to break the tie.
Article VI - Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the five
(5) elected officers and shall conduct the business of the organization
supplemental to the items listed in Article I, Section 5, of the By-Laws.
Section 2. Regatta Committee.
The Executive Committee shall solicit volunteers
and appoint a Regatta Committee, as provided for in Article III, Section
1.d, of the Constitution, at the Annual Meeting. The Regatta Committee
shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the Annual
State Championship Regattas of the Association, including judicious use
of funds to produce a quality event.
Section 3. Other Committees.
The Executive Committee shall appoint other committees,
as provided for in Article III, Section 1, of the Constitution, as may
be necessary for the proper discharge of the business of the Association.
Article VII - Annual State Championship
Regattas
Section 1. Date of Annual State Championship Regattas.
a. The Association shall hold the Florida Scholastic
State Championship Regatta, as provided for in Article I, Section 2, of
the Constitution, on the third or fourth Saturday in April of each year,
or by exception as arranged at the Annual Meeting.
b. The Association shall hold the Florida Youth
State Championship Regatta, as provided for in Article I, Section 2, of
the Constitution, on the second Saturday in May of each year, or by exception
as arranged at the Annual Meeting.
Section 2. Regatta Rules.
The Annual State Championship Regattas shall be conducted
according to the Regatta Rules as formulated and enforced by the representatives
and the Regatta Committee as provided for in Article III, Section 1.d,
of the Constitution.
Article VIII - Financial Report
and Disbursements
Section 1. Financial Report.
Each year at the Annual Meeting, a financial report
shall be presented by the Treasurer for the approval by the representatives.
Said report shall set forth cash on hand and in banks, actual revenues
and disbursements for the previous year’s Annual State Championship Regattas,
other revenues and disbursements during the year, and a budget for the
coming fiscal year, from January 1 to December 31.
Section 2. Authorization for Disbursements.
To such an extent as the representatives shall approve
the financial report, such action shall constitute full authority for the
Treasurer to make disbursements out of Association funds for such items
in the report as so adopted. Disbursements for items not included
in the approved report or any disbursement for an item in excess of that
budgeted, shall require the specific approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Authorized Signatures.
Disbursements shall require the signature of the
Treasurer or the President or one (1) other designated officer. Disbursements
of amounts in excess of $500.00 not included in the budget at the Annual
Meeting Shall require two (2) of the three (3) authorized signatures.
