Lowell Area
Select Soccer Organization
BY-LA
Effective:
July 1, 1997
ARTICLE
I.
ASSOCIATION NAME
Section
1.
NAME
The name of this association shall be the Lowell Area Select Soccer
Organization, hereinafter referred to as “LASSO”, “LASSO Soccer”, or
“the Organization”.
ARTICLE
II.
MISSION
Section
1.
MISSION STATEMENT
LASSO Soccer is an organization of select soccer players and their
families, based in Lowell and open to surrounding areas, with the goal of
promoting competitive soccer by fielding select teams within the GVSA and
developing individual players to their highest potential.
ARTICLE
III.
AFFILIATIONS
Section
1.
AFFILIATIONS
The Organization is formed with the intention of promoting competitive
soccer within the geographical area it serves.
To this end it shall affiliate itself with the Grand Valley Soccer
Association (GVSA), the Michigan Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), the United
State Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), and US Soccer, and shall abide by all rules and
regulations of such organizations, in so far as they are applicable to the
Organization.
Section
2.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The Organization shall work cooperatively with existing organizations
involved in the development of players
and in the promotion of the Game of Soccer (hereinafter referred to as “the
Game”) insofar as such cooperation remains within the spirit of
Article II above. In
particular, LASSO Soccer shall work cooperatively with the Lowell Area YMCA in
the development of individual soccer players and in the use and development of
soccer fields within the Lowell area.
ARTICLE
IV.
MEMBERSHIPS
Section
1.
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
Any Player who meets the following criteria will be
considered a member in good standing within the LASSO Organization:
A.
Resides within the Organization Boundaries (to be reviewed annually):
West of, and including, Ionia county,
North of, and including, Caledonia and Freeport,
South of, and including, Greenville,
East of, and including, Grand Rapids.
B.
Meets the age requirements of the team on which the player will play:
e.g. A player on a U-10 team must be under 10 as of July 31st
for the same year in which
the Fall season will begin. Each
player must show evidence of age by providing a certificate of birth to
Organization officials. A copy of
each player’s birth certificate must remain on file with the GVSA.
C.
Players must compete in open tryouts within his or her age group:
Acceptance onto a team and into the Organization is
dependent upon performance during the open tryouts.
D. Follows and conforms with
all Rules and Regulations as described in
Article IX below as well as all Rules and Regulations
of the GVSA, MSYSA, and USYSA. Players
are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the Laws of the Game
as amended by the USSF.
Section
2.
ADDITIONAL GENERAL MEMBERS
Because LASSO Soccer is a youth organization, parents and guardians of
each Player are considered to be among the general membership of the
Organization. In addition, all
Coaches and Team Managers are considered to be members in good standing within
the Organization regardless of any relationship, or lack thereof, to any
Players.
ARTICLE
V.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section
1.
SPAN OF CONTROL
The business affairs and property of LASSO shall be managed and
controlled by a Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as “the Board”, consisting
of elected officers as set forth in Article VI below.
Section
2.
REGULAR DIRECTORS’ MEETING
The Board of Directors shall hold regular monthly
meetings at a time and place
the
Board shall determine. Presently,
the first Tuesday of each month is reserved for a regular Board meeting.
Written notice of the times and places of the Board meetings
shall
be provided by publication in the LASSO newsletter and the LASSO website, should one exist or by
verbal notification to all Coaches and Players.
Section
3.
ANNUAL MEETING
The Board of Directors shall hold an Annual Meeting of the general
membership of the Organization during May or June each year prior to the Fall
tryouts. The purpose of this Annual
Meeting shall be report the current fiscal position of the Organization and to
elect a new Board of Directors for the following year as described in Article
VII.
The Secretary shall provide written notice of the time and place of the
Annual Meeting to Coaches and Players no later than fifteen (15) days prior to
the meeting. Notification may be made by newsletter, the LASSO website or publication in the
local newspaper. Such notice shall
specify the Board of Directors nomination and election procedures as well as any
business which the Secretary anticipates will be presented at the Annual
Meeting. Failure to indicate all
matters which may ultimately be presented for consideration shall not affect or
hinder the actual proceeding.
Section
4.
SPECIAL DIRECTORS’ MEETING
Special Meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called at any time by the President or by any three (3) members of the Board.
Written or verbal notice, three (3) days in advance, shall be provided to
all incumbent Board members by the Secretary.
Section
5.
QUORUM
At least a majority of the voting Board membership must be present to
validly conduct corporate business.
Section
6.
VALIDITY OF BOARD ACTIONS
The acts of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which a
quorum of the Board is present shall constitute official acts of the Board.
Additionally, if a majority of the Directors shall severally or
collectively consent, in writing, to any action to be taken by LASSO, such
action shall be valid as though it had been authorized at a meeting of the Board
of Directors.
Section
7.
VACANCIES IN OFFICES
If the office of any Director shall become vacant by reason of death,
resignation, disqualification, or otherwise, the remaining Directors may, at any
regular or special Board meeting, by a majority vote, appoint a successor, from
the general membership to serve the remainder of such Director’s term until a
successor is duly elected and qualified.
Section
8.
EXCESSIVE ABSENCES
Any Director who shall be absent from three (3) consecutive regular
meetings of the Board shall stand automatically removed unless such action is
excused by resolution of the remainder of the Directors.
Section
9.
ANNUAL REPORT
At the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall submit a report to
the general membership on business done during the current fiscal year, together
with a report of financial transactions and statements, and the condition of the
Organization’s tangible property.
ARTICLE
VI.
OFFICERS
Section
1.
ELECTIVE OFFICES
The Organization’s Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) elected
members. These directors shall be elected by the general membership
according to the procedures established in Article VII below.
Directors shall hold office for terms of one (1) year from the date of
election. Directors may stand for re-election. All terms will expire at the conclusion of the Annual
Meeting.
At the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual
Meeting, the elected Directors shall amongst themselves decide who shall hold
the title of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Registrar.
No two (2) of these offices of the Organization may be held by the same
person. Any Board Member who does
not assume the duties of one of these Offices, as described in Article VI,
Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 below, is
expected to serve in another substantial capacity within the Organization. Refusal to assume such duties shall be considered behavior
detrimental to the Organization and is grounds for removal by unanimous vote of
the other members of the Board.
At the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual
Meeting, the elected Directors shall appoint the following non-voting members to
the Board of Directors: Director of
Coaching, Field Director, Equipment Manager, Referee Coordinator, Director
of Marketing and Sponsorships, and Web Master. The
voting members of the Board of Directors
may also hold up to one (1) of the non-voting positions described above.
Section
2.
PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall chair the
Annual Meeting and an Special Meetings, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of
the Organization, shall sign all LASSO Soccer contracts and obligations along
with the Secretary, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and
boards appointed by the Board of Directors.
The President shall prepare the annual report for presentation to the
general membership at the Annual Meeting.
Section
3.
VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the
President. In the event that the
President shall be removed from the Board of Directors for any reason, the Vice
President shall perform all of the President’s functions until the end of the
next Annual Meeting. The Vice
President shall be the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, and be
responsible for enforcing all disciplinary actions.
In addition the Vice President shall perform such other duties as may be
delegated by the Board of Directors.
Section
4.
SECRETARY
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Membership and Board meetings in
writing, and shall retain the official copies of said minutes as a permanent
record. The Secretary shall attend
to the giving and receiving of all notices of the GVSA, and shall sign, with the
President, all contracts authorized by the Board of Directors, unless signature
of such contracts be otherwise determined by the Board.
The Secretary shall recommend to the Board an editor to oversee the
publication of the LASSO Soccer newsletter, should one exist.
The Secretary shall have charge of the membership books and other such
books and papers as the Board of Directors may direct, all of which shall, at
any reasonable times, be open to the examination of any Director, Regular
Member, or Supporting Member. In
addition, the Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be delegated by
the Board of Directors.
Section
5.
TREASURER
The Treasurer shall have custody and keep accounts of all money, funds,
and property of the Organization, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
The Treasurer shall render such accounts, and present statements to the
Directors and the President as may be required.
The Treasurer shall deposit all LASSO funds which may come into his/her
hands into such bank or banks as the Board shall designate.
The Treasurer shall keep all accounts in the name of Lowell Area Select
Soccer Organization, and shall exhibit the books of account at a mutually
agreeable time and place upon request by any Board Member.
The Treasurer shall cooperate with the Registrar to solicit and gather
membership information and fees. The
Treasurer shall be responsible for preparation of the LASSO budget, to be
approved by the Board, and shall be responsible for the preparation of all
financial statements and annual reports.
Section
6.
REGISTRAR
The Registrar is charged with the proper registration of all LASSO teams,
players, coaches, and managers to conform to GVSA, MSYSA, and USYSA rules.
In fulfilling these duties, the Registrar, in conjunction with the
Treasurer, shall propose to the Board, prior to each season, the fee structure
for the season. Following the
adoption of proposed fees, the Registrar shall coordinate registration of all
Players, Coaches, and Team Managers, and shall collect all fees and registration
documentation from the membership. The
Registrar shall assist the Secretary in maintaining the proper names in the
Organization Mailing List. The
Registrar shall promptly turn over to the Treasurer all moneys collected, which
shall always be payable to LASSO Soccer, never to a specific individual.
The Registrar shall indicate registration requirements for all teams,
players, coaches, and managers and shall work with the GVSA Registrar to ensure
valid registrations.
ARTICLE
VII.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section
1.
NOMINATIONS
Any Player, Coach, or
Player’s parent may nominate any person to the Board of Directors by
communicating such nomination to the Secretary no later than three (3) days
prior to the Annual Meeting.
Section
2.
BALLOT PREPARATION
The Secretary shall cause the nominations to be placed on a suitable
ballot for purposes of conducting the election.
The Secretary shall make available the list of nominated persons prior to
the Annual Meeting for inspection
by any Player, Coach, or Player’s parent.
Additional write-in nominations can be taken from the floor during the
Annual Meeting prior to the ballots being cast.
Section
3.
VOTING
Each Player, Coach, Assistant
Coach or Team Manager possessing a current USSF/MSYSA Player Pass present at the
Annual Meeting shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each of the offices to be
filled. Players may allow either parent to cast a vote in their
place. The Secretary
or his/her designee shall control the election by checking off each voter
against the official team rosters from the current season as the votes are cast.
At the conclusion of the election, a committee of tellers appointed by
the President shall count the votes and determine the results.
The Chairperson of said committee of tellers shall report the results to
the President and Secretary prior to the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
All ballots shall be retained as an official record of the election for a
period of one (1) year until the next regular election.
Section
4.
ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE
Newly elected Board Members
shall take office immediately at the end of the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE
VIII.
COMMITTEES
Section
1.
EXECUTIVE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected and appointed (if
any) Members of the Board of Directors as given in Article VI. This
is the only standing committee within the Organization.
Section
2.
AD HOC
The President and the Board of Directors may appoint Ad Hoc committees as
they may from time to time deem necessary.
Such committees shall expire as their express purpose is fulfilled, or at
the end of the fiscal year in which they are appointed.
ARTICLE
IX.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Board of Directors shall adopt, and amend as necessary, official
Rules and Regulations of the Organization.
These Rules and Regulations shall be in full compliance with the Rules
and Regulations of the GVSA, MSYSA, US Soccer, and USSF.
ARTICLE
X.
LOANS, CONTRACTS, CHECKS, LEGAL ACTIONS
Section
1.
RESTRICTED ACTIONS
No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the GVSA, and no evidences of
indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by resolution of the
Board of Directors and duly signed by the President and Secretary.
Section
2.
SIGNATURES
All legal documents, except checks and contract agreements for field use,
shall be signed by the LASSO President and Secretary.
All checks, drafts, and money obligations shall be signed by the
Treasurer and one other authorized Board member who has been issued
signatory rights.
Section
3.
LEGAL ACTIONS
No action or proceeding at law or inequity shall be brought by the GVSA
without the approval of the Board.
ARTICLE
XI.
FINANCE
Section
1.
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall end June 30th of each year.
Section
2.
DIRECTION OF MONEY AND RESOURCES
All money, property, and rights coming into possession of, or assets
belonging to the Organization, regardless of source shall be used only for
promoting, advancing and developing the purposes or objectives of the GVSA as
provided in the by-laws.
Section
3.
COMPENSATION
No Officer or Member of the Organization shall receive any compensation
from LASSO Soccer for time or services rendered, except that officers and
members may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred by them incidental to
activities on behalf of the Organization, and then only at the discretion of the
Board.
ARTICLE
XII.
NOTICES
Section
1.
SUFFICIENT NOTICE
Any notices required by statute or these Bylaws to be given to the
Organizations members or directors, unless otherwise specifically provided in
statute or Bylaw, shall be deemed sufficient if published in the LASSO
newsletter or LASSO Website (should one exist), depositing the same in a U.S. Post Office
collection box, addressed to such member or director at his/her last known
address.
Section
2.
WAIVER
Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given under the
provisions of these Bylaws, a
waiver thereof in writing signed by the persons entitled to said notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent notice.
ARTICLE
XIII.
AMENDMENTS
Section
1.
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of
Directors, if such amendments are ratified within thirty (30) days by a majority
of a quorum of the Regular or Supporting Members
attending the Annual or Special Meeting.
ARTICLE
XIV.
ADOPTION OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws were approved by a vote of those present at the organizational meeting held on July 1, 1997 and are effective as of the same date.
Upda
For
the Board of Directors,
Jeff Sweet, President
Rhea Anes, Secretary