Amended
November 19, 2008
YARMOUTH YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I: NAME
a) The name of the organization shall be the Yarmouth Youth Baseball Association. YYBA shall be the recognized abbreviation for the association’s name.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
a) This association is organized for civic purposes to develop and operate a baseball program in the town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in affiliation with Babe Ruth League, Inc., a New Jersey corporation.
b) In conjunction with such purposes, the objectives of this association are that through the medium of supervised, well-organized, competitive baseball, guided by the Babe Ruth League, Inc., this association will seek to implant in the youth of the town of Yarmouth the ideals of honesty, loyalty, confidence, teamwork, self-respect, courage, reverence, self-control and sportsmanship so that they may be physically and morally better prepared to contribute constructively to the community.
ARTICLE III: ELIGIBILITY AND MEMBERSHIP
a) Any boy or girl, meeting the requirements as to age and residency in the town of Yarmouth, shall be eligible to try out for the YYBA, when he/she shall have completed the necessary registration form(s) stipulated by the YYBA and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in such form(s).
b) The parent(s) and/or guardian(s) of any boy or girl having completed the necessary registration form(s) shall be admitted to membership in the association, which membership term shall continue in force until the registration period in succeeding year.
c) Anyone admitted to membership in the association shall enjoy all the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of such membership.
d) Any boy or girl, meeting the requirements as to age may, if they so desire, continue to play in the YYBA even if they have moved out of town.
ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
a) A Board of Directors, consisting of five (5) elected voting members and the Recreation Director of the town of Yarmouth, if such person is willing to serve, as a non-voting member shall oversee the management of the YYBA.
b) Nomination of candidates for election to the Board of Directors shall be made by any of the five (5) Officers of YYBA or by the manager/coach of any team in the YYBA league. Said nominations shall be made at the last regular meeting prior to the end of the baseball season and the Secretary shall prepare a slate of candidates.
c) Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by written ballot and a majority of ballots cast is required for election. Serving members of the board may, if nominated be re-elected. Elections for membership on the Board of directors shall be held at the first regularly scheduled meeting.
d) Any member-in-goodstanding, Officer or Board member shall be eligible to vote for candidates for the Board of directors and each such person shall have one vote.
e) Each member of the Board of Directors shall serve a one year term. The Executive Board shall be empowered to schedule elections for the members of the Board of Directors
f) No one may, at the same time, serve as a member of the Board of Directors and as the President of the YYBA or serve as a manager of any YYBA team. Likewise, the President may not, at the same time, also serve as a manager or coach of any YYBA team. A Board of Directors member may assist as a coach for any YYBA team. Amended 11/19/2008 One year change to allow president to serve as manager.
g) Whenever a vacancy shall occur on the Board of Directors by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the Board of Directors and the Executive Board, (YYBA officers), shall jointly elect a member-in-good standing to serve out the remainder of the term.
h) The Board of Directors shall oversee the management of the association and the Officers of the YYBA. The Board shall, in good faith, assist the Officers in the proper management of the YYBA and the adherence of the Offices to the By-laws and House Rules.
i) The Board of Directors shall have the power, after a hearing, to remove, by unanimous vote only, any officer, manager, coach or member from office and/or membership in the YYBA in the event of serious misconduct, willful and repeated violation of the By-laws and/or House Rules, criminal action or other acts or omissions deemed seriously or potentially injurious to the YYBA or the children taking part in its activities. The Board of Directors must approve, by a majority vote of all of its members and only after careful consideration, the appointment of all managers and coaches prior to the annual meeting. If, for some reason, the appointment of a manager or coach must be made after the annual meeting, the Board of directors must approve such individuals(s) prior to tryouts.
j) Complaints from any member-in-goodstanding regarding improper conduct of any officer, manager, or coach may be directed to the Board of Directors, which shall take such action as necessary to safeguard the interests of the YYBA, the children it serves, in conformance with the By-laws and/or House Rules.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
a) Day-to-day management of the YYBA shall be the responsibility of the officers of the YYBA. The officers may be collectively referred to as the Executive Board. The following officers of the association shall be elected every even-numbered year for a two (2) year term at the annual meeting: The President and Secretary. The following officers of the association shall be elected every odd-numbered year for a two (2) year term at the annual meeting: The Vice-President and Treasurer. Each such officer shall be elected from names put forth by the nominating committee or by nomination and second from the floor at the annual meeting.in November.
b) At or before the organizational meeting in October, prior to the annual meeting at which the election of officers is to take place, the President shall appoint a nominating chairperson and two (2) members of the active membership to serve as a nominating committee. The nominating committee shall be charged with preparing a slate of one or more candidates for each elective office and present this slate to the President at least one (1) week prior to the annual meeting in November at which the elections will take place.
c) Each officer shall be elected by written ballot and a majority of the ballots cast is required for the election to office. Any serving officer shall be eligible for election or re-election to office. No individual may hold more than one (1) office at the same time.
d) The voting membership of the YYBA shall elect the officers at the annual meeting. The current officers shall each have one vote. There shall be two (2) voting members from each team in the league, namely, the manager and his/her choice of one (1) of the team’s coaches. In the event an officer is also a voting member of a team, he/she will have only one (1) vote. Each team shall have a maximum of two (2) votes, notwithstanding how many managers/coaches may serve as officers.
e) Upon death, removal, absence, resignation or inability of the Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer to fulfill his/her term, the voting membership shall elect an individual to complete the term at the next meeting or as soon thereafter as possible. Prior to such election, the President may appoint a member-in-goodstanding temporarily to the office.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS DUTIES
a) The President shall preside over all meetings of the YYBA and conduct the same in a professional and businesslike manner. He/she shall keep all meetings under control, insuring that the business at hand is properly considered. He/she shall insure that differing points of view receive fair hearing. He/she shall be knowledgeable of, and responsible for and well informed about all the YYBA’s activities, problems and needs. He/she shall have the authority to make emergency appointments, to call special meetings and organize committees and individual volunteers, when necessary, using all of the talented resources at his/her disposal to further the interests of the YYBA and the children it serves. He/she shall not assume any other position within the league structure or the YYBA during his/her tenure. The President may manage a YYBA team.(one year change)
b) Upon death, removal, absence, resignation or inability of the President to perform the functions of his/her office, the Vice-President shall assume his/her purgatives and duties for all purposes. The Vice-President will assist the President in his/her duties. The Vice-President will also be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the Minor League of the YYBA, for reporting on the status of the same at meetings and taking or recommending such actions, as he/she believes will improve the Minor League.
c) The Secretary shall prepare and maintain a true and accurate record of all meetings and other matters before the YYBA. He/she shall also issue all authorized notices to the voting membership and the general membership as required.
d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for, and take charge of, all funds and securities of the YYBA and deposit the same in the name of the YYBA in a depository approved by the Executive Board and the Board of Directors, jointly. The Treasurer shall keep the books and financial records of the YYBA in a businesslike manner. The Treasurer shall pay all reasonable and necessary bills of the YYBA, while also conforming to the By-laws. The Treasurer shall give a report at each monthly meeting and shall be prepared to report and provide a true statement, at any time, on the financial status of the YYBA. The Treasurer shall maintain the books and records in such order as will facilitate their speedy review annually by a certified public accountant.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS AND VOTING MEMBERSHIP
a) Meetings of the YYBA shall be held monthly, unless otherwise agreed to by the membership. The meeting in the month of October shall be the organizational meeting, while that in November shall be the annual meeting. These two (2) meetings shall be held, primarily, to insure that the YYBA is adequately prepared for the upcoming season.
b) At the organizational meeting in October, anyone desiring to serve as a manager or coach in the upcoming season shall be nominated by the voting membership of the YYBA. The Executive Board shall meet between the organizational and the annual meetings to approve, or disapprove, the said nominations in order that the coaching staffs of the various teams are in place for the annual meeting. At the organizational meeting, any member-in-goodstanding desiring to make changes in the By-laws or to the House Rules for the upcoming season may submit the same, in writing, for consideration at the annual meeting in November. At the organizational meeting, the Executive Board shall agree upon an agenda for the annual meeting and any member-in-goodstanding may request that any matter be added to the agenda for consideration at the annual meeting. At the annual meeting the Executive Board shall also solicit volunteers to manage the various committees, jobs or other activities necessary to make the upcoming season a success.
c) The annual meeting in November, shall be devoted to the following: voting for new officers, if applicable, voting on changes to the By-laws and House Rules; determining the needs and formulating a plan for a successful upcoming season; appointing individual volunteers and committees to jobs and duties necessary to insure the success of YYBA in the upcoming season; any other topics, which the voting membership believes important to the success of the organization.
d) The voting membership of the YYBA shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and two (2) members of each team in the league, namely, the manager and his/her choice of one of his/her coaches. The duties of the voting membership shall be to manage the affairs of the YYBA and act on temporary rulings made by the President of the YYBA in the case of emergencies not otherwise provided for by the By-laws and/or House Rules. In the event of said temporary rulings; a vote shall be taken at the next meeting of the YYBA to incorporate the same into the By-laws or House Rules, as appropriate. In the event a member of the Executive board is also a voting member of a team, such individual shall have only one (1) vote. In the event of a tie vote, the Board of Directors shall vote to break the tie. Each team shall have a maximum of two (2) votes, notwithstanding how many Managers or Coaches serve on the Executive Board.
e) “Roberts Rules of Order” shall be the guiding parliamentary rules followed in conducting the business of the YYBA.
f) The President of the YYBA shall call a special meeting at any time or upon the request of four (4) voting members. Such request shall be made in writing, if possible, to the Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the requested meeting.
g) A 2/3 majority of the major league teams must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum for that particular meeting. Changes to the By-laws or House rules must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote. Any other items subject to vote will carry or not by a simple majority vote.
h) The order of business at all business meetings shall include, but not necessarily limited to, the following, unless changed by a motion at the meeting in question:
1. Call to order and roll call
2. Election of new officers (annual meeting)
3. Minutes of previous meeting approved
4. Treasurer’s report read
5. Report on previous business
6. Reports from committees/individual volunteers
7. Old business
8. New business, including proposed changes to the By-laws and/or House Rules
9. Adjourn
ARTICLE VIII: FINANCIAL POLICY
a) The voting membership shall decide all matters pertaining to the finances in the YYBA and it shall place all income in a common treasury directing the expenditure of the same in a manner as will give no individual or team an advantage over any other.
b) The President or his/her designee shall be responsible for all purchases for the YYBA. The Treasurer will, as part of his/her duties, maintain a record of all expenditures and shall account for the same at the request of any voting member. Any purchases in excess of $200.00 must be approved first by the voting members.
c) Unsolicited bequeaths, donations, gifts, and/or contributions may be accepted by a vote of the voting membership and upon such acceptance becomes property of the league. Any monies received shall be placed in a common treasury and any expenditure of the same shall be under the direction of the voting membership.
d) The President or Treasurer shall, if proper, reasonable and authorized, draw and sign necessary checks in payment of YYBA expenditures. The signature of both the President and the Treasurer shall be required on any check in excess of $1000.00.
e) Every voting member of the YYBA shall be entitled to examine the books and records of the YYBA, with the approval of the Executive Board. If the Executive Board denies voting member permission to such examination, such voting member may apply to the Board of Directors for such permission. In such a case, the Board of directors may, by majority vote, order that the examination be allowed. The Executive Board shall be responsible for requiring an annual audit or review of the YYBA’s books and records by a certified public accountant.
f) No additional fee or expense may be charged to any YYBA member without the approval of voting membership.
g) In the event the YYBA shall be dissolved, all cash, equipment and other assets of the organization shall be turned over to the Town of Yarmouth or to a succeeding non-profit organization. Buildings, if any, will go to the Town of Yarmouth.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
a) Any amendment, alteration, change to, or revision of these By-laws or to the House Rules, must be requested, in writing, prior to a regular meeting of the voting membership. It is the preference of the organization that any such changes be proposed at the October organizational meeting and approved, or not, at the November annual meeting in order that disruptions to the YYBA and its affairs be kept to an absolute minimum.
b) A two-thirds majority vote of the voting membership present, shall be necessary to affirm any proposed amendment, alteration, change or revision and the provision by such affirmation shall not be retroactive with reference to any action which may be pending at the time the new provisions are approved.
c) The Executive Board has the emergency power to suspend or alter any By-law or House Rule for one (1) playing season or a maximum of a sixty (60) day period. However, if four (4) voting members object to such suspension or alteration, the entire voting membership shall take up such issue at the next meeting and by two-thirds majority vote may override the Executive Board.
ARTICLE X: EQUIPMENT
a) The Executive Board at the organizational meeting in October shall appoint equipment manager. The equipment manager is responsible for all equipment of the YYBA and shall present an inventory of the same to the voting membership not later than the annual meeting in November.
b) Any returnable portions of the furnished uniforms shall be worn only at YYBA schedules games unless otherwise approved by the Executive Board. At the end of the season, each manager shall provide an inventory of all equipment and it’s condition to the President. Persons failing to comply with these provisions shall receive a one (1) game suspension for the first offense. The Executive Board will review a second offense.
ARTICLE XI: PLAYER AGENT
a) A player agent shall be nominated by the President at the annual meeting to serve a term of one (1) year. The nomination has to be approved by the voting membership present at the annual meeting. The Player agent will make up the 5th position on the Executive Board. The Player agent will assist the vice president in his duties organizing and running the minor league program. Said person will be the laison between the 2 leagues of the YYBA making sure available players are placed on Major League teams correctly.
ARTICLE XII: UMPIRES
Umpires contracted by the YYBA shall uphold all bylaws and house rules put forth by the YYBA. Umpires shall also follow rules of play according to the Cal Ripen official rule book. Said umpires shall follow the code of ethics put forth by the umpire coordinator. Umpires shall be impartial, and not misinterpret rules of the league. All discrepancies shall go to the League president then to the umpire coordinator to determine a fair course of action
ARTICLE XIII: HOUSE RULES
a) The YYBA shall establish and approve a list of House Rules.
b) Any amendment, alteration, change to, or revision of any or all House rules shall be in accordance with the same provisions regarding changes to the By-laws, as set forth in Article IX hereof.
c) The House rules shall supercede any Cal Ripken rule, in all cases.
d) The House Rules are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.