CONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK UMPIRES ASSOCIATION

Revised June 20, 2013

NOTE: As referred to in this constitution, He, wherever mentioned shall be deemed to mean He or She.

ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION

Section 1.  This organization shall be known as the “Central New York Softball Umpires’ Association”.

Section 2.  The purpose of the association shall be to promote Multi-Sports by creating and maintaining an interest in all its phases, making it attractive to all who enjoy clean, wholesome and competitive sports.

Section 3.  The Association shall operate on an established fiscal year commencing January 1 and ending on December 31.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Any qualified person may apply for membership in this Association with an application accompanied by the established membership fee.

Section 2.  There shall be two types of membership in the Association as follows:

A. Umpire Membership:  Any person who is considered as a qualified umpire by the membership committee may apply for membership.  This membership entitles an umpire to the right to be considered for assignment in CNYSUA sanction leagues or tournaments.  Each umpire shall receive a membership card and a rule book.

B. Honorary Membership:  Honorary membership may be awarded and conferred upon such persons, as may be deemed worthy of such honor, upon unanimous vote of the Executive Board.  Honorary members will be awarded a letter of commendation and a CNYSUA membership card.  An Honorary Member is not required to pay any fee to the Association and is not eligible to work any games.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1.  The Officers of the Association shall be as follows:

A.  President:  The President shall be the Chairman of the Executive Board; he shall serve as the chairman of all business meetings of the Association; he shall supervise the Association’s business and activities; he shall create any and all committees deemed necessary and define the duties of each committee so created except for those defined in the association by laws; he shall make appointments and carry out other duties as may be set forth in this constitution.  He shall act as the spokesperson for the Association at all public gatherings or designate an alternate.  He shall have the authority to call a meeting of the Executive Board at any time provided each member is given adequate advance notice of such meeting.

B. Vice President:  The Vice President shall assist the President in insuring that the Association’s operations, activities, and programs are run in accordance with procedure as set forth in this Constitution.  The Vice President shall report directly to the President and shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President or in the event of his death, inability, or refusal to act, or in the event for any reason it shall be impractical for the President to act personally.  When so acting, he shall have the powers of and be subject to all restrictions upon the President.  He shall have such further duties as may be set forth in this Constitution.

C. Secretary:  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Association and all meetings of the Executive Board, record the official minutes of the meetings and keep the same in the official records of the Association.  He shall assist the President in conducting all official correspondence for the Association; he shall edit all Association bulletins, furnishing same to those persons entitled to receive them; he shall have them in his possession and under his control; he shall maintain a history record of Association Tournaments.  He shall maintain the official roster of membership.  In general, he shall perform all duties incidental to the office of Secretary and have such other duties and exercise such authority as from time to time may be delegated or assigned by the President.  The Secretary shall report to the President.

D. Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall receive and receipt all money and securities received in the name of the Association; he shall deposit all funds in the name of the Association in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated by the Executive Board; he shall prepare an annual statement relative to the Financial matters of the Association and present same at the last scheduled meeting in September and , in general he shall perform all the duties of the office of Treasurer and have such other duties and exercise such other authority as from time to time may be delegated or assigned by the President or Executive Board.  He shall report to the President.  He will have available a financial report at all business meetings of the Association.

E. Secretary-Treasurer:  Should the Membership so desire at the last scheduled meeting, the office of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.

F. Umpire-in-Chief:  The Umpire-in-Chief shall be the sole authority for answering questions pertaining to the playing rules; he shall be responsible for official playing rules interpretations; he shall be responsible for the assigning Umpires to Association approved leagues and tournaments.  He shall conduct clinics for umpires whenever it is feasible and practical to do so as well as observe and critique umpires.  The Umpire-in-Chief shall report directly to the President.    

Section 2.  The Executive Board of the Association shall be as follows:  President, Vice President,

Secretary, Treasurer, Umpire-in-Chief, immediate Past President and Vice President, and one (1) elected member for each ten (10) active members.  The Executive Board shall have powers and duties as are enumerated herein.

A. The Executive Board shall handle such administrative affairs of the Association as may require action between meetings or as may be assigned by the membership.

B. A majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE IV – ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

                Section 1.  Election of Officers shall take place every two (2) years at the last scheduled meeting of the year.  An annual salary shall be paid to all Officers at the first meeting in August each year and shall be as follows:

                                                President - $550                                               Secretary - $475

                                                Vice President - $500                                      Treasurer - $475

Section 2.  Election of Executive Board members shall take place every two years at the last scheduled meeting of the year.

Section 3.  Elected positions are as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer), Umpire-in-Chief and Executive Board members.

Section 4.  The Nominating Committee shall consist of members appointed by the President.  The Nominating Committee shall present a list of interested candidates to the membership two meeting prior to the election meeting.  Any members interested in running for office and not mentioned at this meeting shall let it be known to the Nominating Committee and, at the meeting directly preceding the election meeting, all members interested shall be mentioned.  After the Nominating Committee has made its recommendations, additional candidates may be nominated from the floor on election night.  All persons nominated shall be qualified as to members in good standing and all nominees must have paid their subsequent year’s dues as governed by the Association.

Section 5.  Election to be by ballot and a plurality vote shall elect.

Section 6.  Any vacancies in the elective Officers, except President, shall be filled at the next regular meeting of the Association, provided notice of such election shall have been sent to the membership.

ARTICLE V – APPOINTMENTS

Section 1.  All committees shall be appointed by the President.

Section 2.  The President may appoint one or more Sergeant-At-Arms.  Such appointment is good for one (1) year.

Section 3.  The President may appoint a Parliamentarian.  Such appointment is good for one (1) year.  In the absence of the Parliamentarian, the President shall be the Parliamentarian.  All meetings are to be conducted by Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 4.  A Tournament Director shall be appointed by the President.  Such appointment is good for one (1) year.

Section 5.  Should any vacancies exist on the Executive Board, the President shall appoint a replacement at the next immediate Association meeting with approval by the Executive Board.  Such replacements are for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

Section 1.  Two (2) interpretation meetings will be held in April.

Section 2.  Other meeting, designated special meetings, may be called at the discretion of the President or a majority of the Executive Board.  Advance notice of such meetings shall be sent out by the Secretary or the President.

Section 3.  Special meetings may be called by the Secretary on written request of five (5) members stating the purpose of such meeting.

ARTICLE VII – SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Section 1.  A Salary shall be paid to each officer of the Association at the last scheduled meeting of that year.

Section 2.  All expenses of the elective Officers when incurred in the business of the Association shall be submitted to the Executive Board.  Upon approval, reimbursement shall be made from the funds of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII – TREASURY WITHDRAWLS AND RECEIPTS

Section 1.  The Association’s Treasurer shall promptly pay all budgeted debts.  The approved budget shall be considered as the authority to pay such debts.

Section 2.  Unbudgeted debts $50 and under may be paid by the Treasurer with the consent of the Officers upon receipt presentation.

Section 3.  Unbudgeted debts in excess of $50, except as defined by Article VII, Section 2, above, must be approved by 2/3 vote of the entire Executive Board.  The Association shall not be responsible for debts made by individuals not following this procedure.

Section 4.  A detailed financial statement shall be submitted to the Association at the first scheduled meeting in the succeeding year.

Section 5.  The Association’s President, Vice President and Treasurer will be bonded.

ARTICLE IX – TOURNAMENTS

Section 1.  Amounts to be charged as entry fees for such Tournaments shall be left up to the discretion of the tournament committee.

Section 2.  It shall be left up to the tournament committee to decide on an acceptable method to control team roster and classification of A, B, C, or D Teams.

Section 3.  No teams shall be considered as sanctioned by the Association if all applicable fees and registrations are not promptly paid to the Association.

Section 4.  Tournament sponsor must be specified.

Section 5.  All entry forms and team rosters of teams entering a tournament must be approved by the Tournament Director.

Section 6.  No change to a team roster will be allowed after the team has begun play in its first game during a tournament.

Section 7.  A deadline for accepting entries in a tournament shall be set by the Tournament Director and approved by the President.

Section 8.  If a tournament shall be scheduled on a two-loss elimination plan, it can only be changed at the site of the tournament, by the Tournament Director, after the starting date of the tournament has begun and it is determined that it would not be feasible to attempt to continue on the double-loss plan due to weather conditions or other acts of God.  A substitute [plan will be decided at the time keeping in mind what would be best for the out of town teams.

ARTICLE X – OFFICIALS

Section 1.  All tournaments and leagues played under the jurisdiction and administration of the Association shall employee or use only umpires who are registered with the Association.

Section 2.  In tournaments, two umpires shall be used in each game yup to the semi-finals.  Four umpires may be used in the semi-finals and six in the finals.

Section 3.  In all tournaments, the umpires shall report to the Umpire-in-Chief or acting representative.

Section 4.  The Umpire-in-Chief shall make every effort, when called upon, to conduct clinics for umpires and other interested advocates of softball.

Section 5.  Umpires shall study all the rules in the Association’s book.  All duties and responsibilities of umpires shall be governed by the Association’s rule book.

Section 6.  The umpire shall wear a uniform prescribed by the Association.

ARTICLE XI – OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES

Section 1.  The Umpire-in-Chief shall serve as the chairman of the Playing Rules Committee and the Playing Rules Interpreter.

Section 2.  It shall be the responsibility of the Playing Rules Committee to make recommendations for changes in the playing rules of the Association.  All changes in playing rules must have the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3.  The Associations Official Rule Book shall be used in all games played under the

jurisdiction and administration of the Association.

Section 4.  Protests will be accepted and decided only ion the manner described in the appropriate rule book of playing rules.

Section 5.  League rules supersede Association rules.

ACTICLE XII – ACTS OF DISBARMENT

Section 1.  Acts of disbarment may include:

A. Physical attack on an umpire or other tournament official or Association Officer during a game or immediately following a game, played under the administration of the Association.

B. Team member using audible obscene language or displaying flagrant actions considered as unsportsman like gestures.

C. By participating in or permitting a fraud to be perpetrated.

D. Any member of the Association who refuses to submit funds to the Association that are due to the Association.

E. Submitting a bad check to the Association.

F. Purposely using false information to hurt the Association.

Section 2.  A player or other participant who has committed an act of disbarment may be suspended immediately.  He may apply for a hearing for a trail by the Executive Board of the Association.

Section 3.  Evidence presented at the trail in a proper manner and from any source will receive the consideration of the Executive Board.

Section 4.  Any suspension may be appealed to the Executive Board.  The appeal must be heard and a decision rendered within thirty (30) days of the suspension.

ARTICLE XIII – PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1.  In all matters not covered by the Constitution or the By Laws of the Central New York Softball Umpires Association, Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure shall be consulted as the proper authority, and said rules shall be followed as though they were a part hereof.

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUION

Section 1.  This constitution may be amended at any meeting, when the proposed change was read at two [previous meetings and a written notice of the change was delivered to the Secretary and two thirds (2/3) of those present affirm the proposed change.  All changes shall take place immediately upon ratification.

Section 2.  This Constitution may also be amended at the last scheduled meeting of the year without previous notice, provided the proposed change received one hundred (100) percent of the vote of those present and voting.